Celebrity fitness instructor visits 336th

Published March 20, 2008
By Airman 1st Class Joshua Chapman
92nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs

FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. -- As Air Force fitness standards become more stringent, members of the world's dominant Air, Space, and Cyberspace power hit the gym harder than they ever have before. Still, exercise isn't enough to build rock-hard biceps or to sculpt a finely chiseled mid-section. Sometimes we need extra advice from the pros.

The 336th Training Group was honored this Tuesday to receive Strive Fitness Enterprises representative, author and fitness expert Grant Roberts. Mr. Roberts is one of Hollywood's top trainers (he trained actress Hilary Swank for her role in Million Dollar Baby); he has won the National Heavyweight Championship; he's an expert on nutrition and exercise; and he's the author of The Unified Diet, a guide to understanding the science of nutrition.

He arrived early Tuesday morning to speak with Airmen about the newly acquired fitness equipment at the 336th gym, and to offer nutritional guidelines to help airmen get into the best shape of their lives.

"Strive equipment will push you beyond any physical limit that you've ever experienced through a technique called muscle confusion." Mr. Grant said. "Each setting in this system allows you to recruit different muscle fibers, pushing your body to build your muscles more effectively and more efficiently."

So what makes the new equipment so special? How is it that these machines, more than others, can target so much more musculature?

Mr. Grant describes the machines as being more or less like any other, but he argues that there is one essential difference between this machine and the rest.

"What makes this Strive Equipment so special is the cam," he emphasizes, pointing to the pivot joint near the arm rest, "Without it, it's essentially no different from any other machine out there!"

The cam allows the exerciser to control where the weight should have the most impact. If, for example, the weight is too heavy at the beginning of the rep where the initial lift takes place, then the user can very easily adjust the cam to place less weight at the beginning, allowing for a more effective "pump."

"Hardcore" weightlifting enthusiasts, don't be abashed. Grant points out that while free weights will always remain a highly effective method for muscle growth, "they lack the muscle-confusing aspects that are inherent in Strive." It's for this reason that Grant suggests the body builder incorporate Strive into their weekly routine to help fight the onslaught of a muscle-building plateau - a body builder's greatest milestone.

Likewise, Grant suggests that those looking to lose weight should not avoid muscle building strictly in favor of cardiovascular exercise, such as running and bicycling. Grant points out that "when you increase musculature in your body, you increase your metabolic potential, allowing you to lose more weight, faster."

Grant stressed nutrition as the most important factor in building a healthy lifestyle and muscular body.

"The ultimate diet will consist of 55 percent fats, 35 percent proteins and 10 percent carbohydrates." he said. "The problem is that most people have this model backwards, eating nearly 65 percent carbohydrates, 25 percent fats and 10 percent proteins. This is what's making them gain unwanted body fat."

Mr. Grant issues out this final warning for those who remain ignorant to the call of a healthy lifestyle: "This is the first time in history that our children's life expectancies are shorter than our own ... I would say that 70 percent of that problem could be traced back to nutrition, and the other 30 percent has to do with our activity levels. We have got to take control of this situation."

Editor's Note: To find more information about Grant Roberts and his philosophies on healthy lifestyles visit www.grantrobertsfitness.com.