Born Athlete

Experience has taught me that athleticism is largely influenced by genetics. My opinion is based purely on personal observation of myself and the hundreds of children I taught from ages 5-17 during my 6 year period as a physical education teacher. Although a few studies have been done to find conclusive indicators in children to determine their propensity to excel at sports. But the controversy caused by drawing blood and performing biopsies on adolescences limits the depth at which scientists can explore the idea.

Exceptional speed, agility, coordination, eye-hand coordination, balance, strength, flexibility and reflex action are qualities you have to be born with. No amount of coaching will up-grade one's genetic potential. You either have it, or you don't. Average built individuals can make some measurable gains to their performance, but the improvement will be marginal compared to what the physically gifted can do.

My redeeming quality is speed and agility. I have been blessed with a muscular structure predominately composed of fast-twitch muscle fibers (fiber types most responsible for explosive power and muscular size). I started to become comparably conscious of my physical abilities at age 6, when I realized how easily I could change direction and quickly sprint to another point to avoid playmates in games of chase and catch. Inspired by watching Bruce Lee duel Chuck Norris in the coliseum scene from the movie 'Way of The Dragon', I started pursuing martial arts at age 7. At age 10 I discovered the importance of strength, when I went tagging along with my older cousin and his friends to the local gym. Ironically, it was a Gold's Gym. By fifteen I had compiled a laundry list of interests which included football, basketball, soccer, track and field, weight training, taekwondo, volleyball, skiing, baseball, hockey, skating, BMX, skateboarding, swimming, softball and gymnastics. Eventually, I settled into martial arts and boxing as my favorite activities, and I have been lucky enough to experience some success competing in both activities.

But I don't consider myself special, you can find my like at a crowded playground. Just spend an hour watching kids play. Certain youngsters will standout compared to their peers. Individuals that jump higher, cross the monkey-bars quicker and run and dodge better than their counterparts. Everything you are capable of being in a lifetime is genetically decided by age 5. Consequently, it is not unheard of for American amateur and professional basketball scouts to comb intercity basketball courts looking for 8-14 year old kids to become the next Michael Jordan. Signs of skill start to emerge at an early age. Tiger Woods showed an innate ability to play golf at age 4. Wayne Gretzky displayed an unbelievable eye for tracking, and then reacting to a fast moving hockey puck long before he reached his teenage years. He probably could skate before he could walk. Most good athletes have one thing in common, regardless of the sport they play. They showed the ability to athletically achieve as children.

However just possessing natural ability isn't enough to get to the top of a sport. Other influences such as coaching, finance, access to equipment and venues, aptitude and attitude also play an important role. Talent has to be natured to produce competitiveness. But the process begins with being born exceptional. Rarely can a physically average individual soar to the top of a sport. That's why under-dogs that beat the odds are so celebrated by sports fans.

Those that can rise to the top of more than one sport are few and far between. Talent to perform well in one event does not necessarily carry-over to do well in another sport. Even if someone possesses a diverse and abundant amount of talent, it's not practical to train for different sports at the same time. Being the best is a full-time job. It's better obtained when an individual's attention is not divided. Otherwise you have the scenario of being the jack of all trades, but the master of none. Once I started boxing, I put martial arts to the side to focus my attention solely on boxing.

All this to say, 'you are what you are'. You have to play the game of life with the uniform you were issued.

P.S.

Neither my mother nor my father have an athletic bone in their bodies; go figure.

1 Set Versus Multiple Sets

Are you heavy in the rat race, and wondering how can I possibly squeeze anymore time out of the day to exercise? Simple, do just one set of an exercise to failure to be all that you can be.

As of yet there are no strong scientific studies that indicate performing multiple sets of an exercise increases muscular hypertrophy or strength better than doing a single set of 8-12 repetitions to failure. This holds true whether one is a novice or an experienced weight trainer.

Advocates of multiple set routines might argue that they have personally observed significant increases in their strength and size performing exercises for 3-6 sets, therefore more must be better. But past and present clinical studies continually indicate that performing 1 set of an exercise comparably elicits near-equivalent results to doing multiple sets. Any differences are nominal.

Understandably, it is difficult for most people to wrap their minds around the idea of just performing a single set, especially when they are seeing good results from doing 2 or more sets of an exercise. But as my mother often told me, "if you do it right the first time, you won't have to do it again".

You Get What You Pay For

These treadmills look like they belong in a hamster’s cage. Why is the fitness equipment in most condominium gyms so horrendous? Low grade equipment is fine for someone casually using the device in their home, but it should not be placed in commercial fitness settings or community workout areas. Over-the-shelf fitness equipment is not manufactured with components that can withstand the constant beating that multiple users will inflict upon it.

As Seen On TV

There is no need to provide a long-winded professional critique, when I can sum up the 'Sauna Belt' in two words (it's crap)! Any advertisement for a product that begins with the title of this post should be avoided at all cost, because chances are the product will not work well; or not at all. Legitimate manufactures of health/fitness equipment do not hock their products on late night info-commercials preying on the fears of the disenchanted like some cheap snake oil salesperson.

The Sauna Belt does nothing to burn fat, but instead can burn your skin. The weight loss experienced by using this product is merely a reduction in water through sweating. That means the second you relieve your thirst with a glass of water, you're back to square one.

Don't be a sucker. The models shown on TV didn't get ripped abs and slim midsections by using the Sauna Belt. They are simply paid to sell you dreams.

If you unfortunately purchased one of these dream catchers, I suggest you either throw it away or give it to someone as a gag gift.

Nothing worth while comes easy... I learned that from a smart woman.

Every breath I take, every step I make, I'll be missing you.

I genuinely miss the mega entity of sports in the US in general, but I particularly miss the 'NFL' the most. As a die-hard Dallas Cowboys (aka America's team) fan it is hard for me to maintain my deep animosity and disdain for the Washington Redskins (aka Deadskins) and their misguided derelict fans, when my abusive editorials and gestures go unheard and unseen.

Basketball runs a very close second to football. I miss the drama of college hoops during 'March Madness' and the excitement of the 'NBA' play-offs.


I will never take designer discount department stores for granted ever again. The price of Under Armour and Nike Dri-Fit anything costs a small fortune in Malaysia.


Malaysia does not have a nation-wide debit/credit card system, which means I have to carry cash with me at all times. I miss this little convenient gem.

I absolutely miss American beef. I would kill for a Philly cheese-steak.

I miss Christmas at home. I also wish the politically correct self-righteous idiots would stop insisting the symbol of Christmas be called a spirit tree.

I miss Mexican food! I have yet to find a suitable substitute for my beloved chicken burrito from Chipotle.

Don't get me wrong warm tropical weather gels with me very well, but it would be nice to throw on a hoodie, lace up the Timberland's and stroll through some snow covered woods every once in a while.

More than anything, I miss my family and friends. If there is one of you I didn't say "I love you" to before I left for Malaysia, I'm saying it now.

Pain in the ass

The 5 sets of heavy squats I performed two days ago are giving me residual attitude. Sitting for more than 5 minutes results in spontaneous Rigor Mortis. Luckily I have the VibroGym (vibration platform) to jump start the blood circulation in my rump-shaker.

P.S.

I just returned from a stroll up to KLCC from City Square and discovered that stepping up to curbs, scaling small flights of steps, sudden changes in direction and maneuvering across uneven pavement are now monumental geriatric tasks for me.