I’m breaking my usual Monday-Wednesday-Friday update routine because I wanted to let you know about something I’m really excited about. As you know, I’ve been a huge promoter of Body By Boyle Online since it was first launched several months ago.

Mike Boyle’s work has had a profound impact on my training philosophies and methodologies. I’ve been fortunate to have had the opportunity to read his books, watch his DVDs, attend his seminars, and visit his facilities at BU and MBSC. He’s also been an incredible mentor, always making himself available to me if I have questions about anything from sports hernia referrals to running a private training facility. Moreover, I’ve learned and continue to learn a lot from his disciples (Sean Skahan, Mike Potenza, Darryl Nelson, Devan McConnell, Kim McCullough, and Jaime Rodriguez…to name a few).

In short, Boyle has had a remarkable impact on the hockey training and development industry as well as strength and conditioning as a whole. This is, in large part, a result of his dedication to continuing education. In fact, if there’s one thing that he taught me that I had to highlight as THE most important thing, it’s that I should never stop learning. In this way, I’ll always stay on top of my game, be aware of new information, and put my athletes in the best environment to succeed.

It is for that reason that I place so much value in Body By Boyle Online and why I know you’ll benefit so much from it as well. That brings us to today’s exciting announcement.

A couple weeks ago, I got an email from Boyle and Kevin Larrabee about them relaunching their site in a way that makes the content more easily accessible and costs less. Instead of having me try to describe all the changes to you, I thought it would be easier if I had Kevin (the other Kevin) come on and do a quick interview about it.

Enter Kevin:

Me: First off, congratulations to you and the rest of the Michael Boyle Strength and Conditioning staff for being ranked the #1 Gym in America. That’s quite an honor! As you know, I’ve been a huge supporter of BodyByBoyleOnline since you guys first launched it. Looking through the programs provides invaluable insight into Coach Boyle’s underlying philosophies and methodologies, and the constant content updates are outstanding. In fact, we use many of the presentations as continuing education for our staff during our weekly meetings. Can you talk a bit about what changes you’re making to the subscription options with this “re-launch” and what lead you to make these changes?

KL: Thank Kevin! We are bringing everything that has helped make MBSC the #1 Gym in America to BodyByBoyle Online. With the relaunch we had two major goals. First off we wanted to make the content as easy to assess as possible. For us, that meant duplicating all of our content for a website, and in doing so offering multiple qualities of the videos for those with fast or slow connections.

Second, we wanted to created a second membership level for those that might not want to do online training and just want the rich educational content that we have put together. To be honest over half of our members simply come to watch the staff meeting videos as well as the exclusive seminars that we film. For example we just filmed the 2011 MBSC Winter Seminar that featured Dan John as well as Mike. We understand that many people want to go to more seminars, but the time and cost of travel is just too high. So for those people, we now offer a standard version of BodyByBoyle Online at a reduced rate of $39.97/month (for now). Of course all of our current members will also be given access to the website as part of their Platinum membership ($59.97/month).

Me: Although the site is “Body By Boyle”, he’s not the only content contributor to the site. Can you provide some insight into some of the other guests you have add content?

KL: I think that is what makes BodyByBoyle Online so great and a pleasure to produce. We have had speakers come in to the facility to do private seminars for our staff. In the last couple months we have had Sue Falsone form Athlete’s Performance present and do a hands on about the thoracic spine, Nick Tumminello came in to talk rotary training, Chris Frankel did a lecture and hands on about suspension training, and always have guests stopping by, especially when the Perform Better Circuit is coming through town. This just goes to show you how much Mike values continuing education and how important it is for you to be one of the best in this field.

Me: I think one of the things that causes people to hesitate sign up for sites/services with monthly memberships is a fear that the information will stagnate. Can you talk about what plans you guys have for the site in the future and what members have to look forward to?

KL: Trust me when I say you have an ongoing stream of new content. We film our staff meetings each week, our guest speakers, F.A.Q. with Mike where he goes in depth on subjects and answers questions from the members, and we are even dipping into the vault with some classic Boyle videos. All you need to do is take a look at Mike’s shorts to see the videos are 15 years old or so. But the best part, is that the videos from the past are even more relevant now than they were then. One of the VHSs that Mike has converted to digital video is his olympic lift video where he goes through the various lifts. Guess what, we still use the same coaching steps as he did back then.

We have also made digital versions of Mike’s current DVD offerings such as the three DVD set he just produced and released a few months ago.

Me: Thanks Kevin. I appreciate you taking the time to be with us today. I look forward to seeing the content additions over the upcoming months!

To your success,

Kevin Neeld

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It’s that time again. Last year my friend Joe Heiler (the brains behind SportsRehabExpert.com) hosted the best free sports performance teleseminar series I’ve ever heard of. It was loaded with great, usable information from some of the world’s top professionals in strength and conditioning, physical therapy and athletic training. Now he’s back, with a better line-up than ever.

Check out this list of presenters:

  1. Sue Falsone – PT Athletes’ Performance
  2. Ron Hruska – PT, Postural Restoration Institute
  3. Dr. Mike Leahy – Sports Chiropractor and inventor of ART
  4. Thomas Myers – ‘Anatomy Trains’ author
  5. Brian Grasso – IYCA
  6. Greg Roskopf – Muscle Activation Technique
  7. Brian Mulligan – PT – Mulligan Technique/Joint Mobilizations with Movement
  8. Dr. Warren Hammer – Chiropractor, Graston Technique Instructor, Fascial Manipulation
  9. Dan John – Strength Coach, author ‘Never Let Go’
  10. Gray Cook – PT, FMS

I’ve personally learned a ton from Sue Falsone, Ron Hruska, Thomas Myers, Brian Grasso, and Gray Cook so I always enjoy hearing them speak and picking up some new info. The other presenters I’m not as familiar with, but am equally as interested in their talks. Many of these presenters are inventors or instructors of manual therapy techniques that I fully support. I’ve found professionals with that type of background tend to have a profound understanding of how the body works and how to manipulate it to optimize performance. This always makes for an interesting discussion.

Having heard every second of last year’s interviews, I would have gladly paid $100+ to listen to all of them…but I didn’t have to.

You will survive another day…

Like last year, Joe is allowing you to register to listen to all the interviews for absolutely free. Joe’s a great guy, but that’s not the only reason why he gives away all this great info. Many times, people go over to the site to register for the teleseminar, realize how much other incredible info is at SportsRehabExpert.com and end up signing up for a membership. It’s a win-win.

I’ve known Joe and been a member at SportsRehabExpert.com for a little over two years at this point and have really enjoyed the content he’s put together. Here’s what I want you to do:

  1. Go to this link and register for the 2011 Sports Rehab to Sports Performance Teleseminar
  2. While you’re there, peruse around the site for a bit and check out some of the stuff he has to offer. If you think there’s some good stuff that you can integrate into your training programs, then register for a trial membership (it’s only $1 for 14 days!)

To your success,

Kevin Neeld

P.S. Go register! It’s completely free. If you can’t make some of the calls, no biggie. There’s nothing to lose, but a ton of great information to gain! Register here now >> 2011 Sports Rehab to Sports Performance Teleseminar

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Today we have a guest post on beta-alanine supplementation for hockey players from Danielle LaFata, MA, RD, CSSD, CPT, who is one of the nutritionists that does a lot of work with hockey players at Athletes Performance. I’ve started recommending beta-alanine to more of our players at Endeavor and they love it. It seems to help them push through their conditioning work.

Enter Danielle:

“Hockey demands the need for quickness, agility, performing at a high intensity, quick recovery, muscular endurance as well as coordination and strength. Also, delaying the onset of fatigue is key to maintaining performance levels.  Fatigue can be classified through a decrease in energy stores such as ATP, phosphocreatine and glycogenic substrates as well as accumulation of metabolites for instance ADP, inorganic phosphate, hydrogen ions (H+), and magnesium.

During high intensity activities, such as hockey, the glycolytic and phosphagen systems are used resulting in metabolic breakdown products such as increases in hydrogen ions leading to metabolic acidosis.  When the body cannot clear the hydrogen ions quickly enough they bind with pyruvate to produce lactic acid.  Excessive increases in blood lactate have been shown to hinder performance with a concomitant decrease in coordination and skill.  Athletes are no stranger to the burning sensation brought on from lactic acid.  In order to help regulate lactic acid levels researchers have found a compound called carnosine, which can buffer this rise in hydrogen ions, thus increasing parameters such time to fatigue and VO2 max/oxygen uptake.

Carnosine is a di-peptide that is formed by the amino acids beta-alanine(BA) and histidine.  Not only has it been found to decrease hydrogen ion production, ultimately increasing pH levels, but also acts as an antioxidant, inhibits protein glycation and because of its hydrogen ion buffering it may augment excitation-contraction coupling improving work output.  Although it is carnosine that ultimately improves work capacity through the listed functions, it is the non-proteogenic amino acid, beta-alanine (BA), that needs to be consumed in order to increase intramuscular and plasma carnosine levels.

Although there are no studies to date on the use of beta-alanine on hockey players, we can deduce from the current literature that BA may be a beneficial ergogenic aid.  Many studies have shown oral doses of BA at 4-6 grams per day, in divided doses, improved total work done, time to exhaustion and VO2 max.  There have also been a few studies showing benefits on performance when combining beta-alanine and creatine.  However, BA needs to be taken for a minimum of 30 days, in order for carnosine to saturate the muscle and be effective.  The beta-alanine we use and find effective is a brand called Carnosyn® and comes in tablet form. “

References
Zoeller RF, et al. Effects of 28 days of beta-alanine and creatine monohydrate supplementation on aerobic power, ventilatory and lactate thresholds, and time to exhaustion.  Amino Acids. 2007;33:505-510.
Smith AE, et al.  Effects of beta-alanine supplementation and high-intensity interval training on endurance performance and body composition in men; a double-blind trial. JISSN. 2009;6:5.

Hoffman JR, et al.  Short-duration β-alanine supplementation increases training volume and reduces subjective feelings of fatigue in college football players. Nutr Res. 2008;28:31-35.

Stout JR, et al.  Effects of 28 days of beta-alanine and creatine monohydrate supplementation on the physical working capacity at neuromuscular fatigue threshold.  J Str Cond Res.  2006;20:4.

Hill CA, et al.  Influence of b-alanine supplementation on skeletal muscle carnosine concentrations and high intensity cycling capacity.  Amino Acids.  2007;32:225-233.

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