Nutritional Advantage for Athletes

This is a note that I received from Sal Lombardo, founder of the Orlando Scorpions and owner of The Next Level Baseball Education.

I founded and presently run an organization for amateur baseball players called the Orlando Scorpions. It is made up of primarily young men ages 15-18 who want to play baseball at the next level which is either college or pro. We just celebrated our 15th year in existence and are proud to say that we plan on continuing the tradition for many years to come.

Our website: www.orlandoscorpions.com might give one a better idea of our mission which is to get kids to college and/or pro baseball. We presently have had over 150 kids go to college and about 50 who went pro.

For the last 6 years I have run a training facility, Next Level Baseball Education, where we teach hitting, pitching, etc. to kids from 10 years old to pro players in their 20’s. But most important, we train the players to maximize their potential and to get them to their Peak Performance through the following 4 areas of discipline.

1. Functional Fitness
2. Bio-Mechanical training
3. Mental / Emotional stability
4. Nutrition

For the longest time, I am not proud to tell you, we were extremely diligent about the first three areas but simply told the clients to “go get your nutrition somewhere”! Partly because I personally didn’t think it was my place and the other part of me just didn’t want to “fool” with it. I was wrong! Luckily I discovered, after some research, the company that fit all my criteria for having Nutritional Products in my facility & organization.

1. They Must Work
2. They Must be Safe
3. They MUST be approved by NCAA, MLB, etc
4. They Must taste good

Of course, AdvoCare products did just that and the rest is history.

Once the players from the Scorpions and the clients from the Next Level saw my level of commitment to these good nutritional products they followed suit. They believe in me and know that I would never, ever allow anything in my place or in my organization that would be anything less than outstanding! Because of that, and subsequently, our Orlando Scorpions teams are all in. By that I mean that I have asked each and every one of the players on those teams to respect the fact that this organization is an exclusive user of these world class supplements.

I would never force them to drink our “Kool aid” as it were, but I do expect them to respect our level of commitment to the products. So I asked them to refrain from bringing those “other” drinks with their labels on the bottles to any of our dugouts or playing fields. If they use the “other” products they need to take the label off or put it into another type of water bottle so I do not see the brand name. I took it a step further by having water bottles made up with the Orlando Scorpions logo on one side and the AdvoCare logo on the other stating that we are “Proud to use AvoCare Nutritional Products Exclusively”!

Needless to say it is working for our kids as they see an improvement in their performance. It is working for our facility and our amateur organization and I am in the process of duplicating the efforts with other friends in the baseball world that do the same thing that I do.

Oh, by the way, many of the player’s families signed up for the 20% discount.


Coach Sal Lombardo
President, Next Level Baseball Education, L.L.C. (Indoor Training Facility), www.thenextlevelbaseball.com

Manager, Orlando Scorpions
www.orlandoscorpions.com

Co-Founder and Board Member, Florida Collegiate Summer League (FCSL)
www.floridaleague.com

Associate Scout, Atlanta Braves

AdvoCare Advisor

Sunday in the Sun

It was a bright, sunny afternoon when the youth athletic development crew showed up. Despite the heat we stayed well hydrated and did the vast majority of our workout in the shade. ;-)

The class started with a warm-up progressed in to pushups, pillar holds, double leg lifts, side pillar holds, hops and jumping jacks. After 15-20 minutes of working out we moved to the main field and enjoyed a game of 1-hand touch football.

The kids had a great time and it never ceases to amaze me how much they forget about things once the "play & fun" begin.

Also, good luck to all of our "Vipers" who start their baseball tournament this week.

Metairie Update

Another warm summer evening, another great workout last Thursday night in Metairie. After a few minutes of loosening up and getting that heart-rate up, we dove head first into the interval sets that consisted of 30-20-10 second periods of strength, cardio, and recovery. The exercises included side lunges, bicycles, standing twists, marching drills, push-throughs, skips, and others. The workout was challenging yet manageable, and I hope everyone walked away feeling proud of what they've accomplished. Although I understand that we may get a bit too winded to converse much, my facial-expression-reading skills tell me that everyone in the group is working hard and pushing their limits, overcoming the urges to stop early or not finish. And please trust me when I say that this mental aspect of our workouts - this training of the mind to resist the temptation to quit and to keep going especially when you feel like that's the last thing you can do - is just as important as the physical training of the body. It's a skill that needs to be practiced, and the more you do it, the easier it becomes. But don't think of it as all hard work! The feeling of accomplishment, satisfaction, and pride that you get out of this concerted effort to persevere is one of the best feelings you can get. So keep at it, y'all! Stay focused, have fun, work hard, and reap the benefits!

Be healthy, be happy.

Sincerely,
~PG

Sunday Challenge - FitFunCamp

Who said workouts had to be boring? Today's workout started with a dynamic warm-up followed by a mix of 50-10 interval circuits mixed in with several longer cardio circuits.

Tricep dips, picnic table pushups, ladder hops, front/back hops, side-to-side hops, overhand and underhand grip pull-ups, calf raises and wheelbarrow (good for a few laughs). This morning's group pushed each other, encouraged each other and laughed together throughout the morning workout.

The Norco and West Bank crews are really putting the heat on the Destrehan crew to get in gear on Sunday mornings. I think they may even throw out a challenge to everyone real soon. Look out.

Remember, results will be seen once you are coming 3 times per week. You are ultimately responsible for your results and Team Xcelerate is here to help and guide you along the way. Keep up the good work.

Have a great Sunday and we'll see you tomorrow night, 7:15, @ Shriner's Field.

Summer Training begins

For the first night of Teen Athletic Development, mother nature reminded us that if we choose to live and train in a tropical climate, we better be prepared to battle the elements. Right as 6:00pm rolled around, the sky turned dark, the air temperature dropped a few degrees, and humidity sky-rocketed. In a few minutes, the sky opened up and for the rest of the evening it was raining, alternating between periods of light drizzle and intense downpours. The rain was refreshing though, and the first workout of the summer was an excellent one. Except for a short, light warm-up jog, we stayed under the cover of a gazebo, where we completed a circuit of of leg, arm, and ab exercises. For the leg sets, we alternated between sets of leaping lunges and jump-squats as well as step-up-jump-downs and high-knees. For the arms, we used the benches to do dips and and push-ups and then took turns on a Powerbase to work the shoulders (and good running form) with resistance arm swings. And for the ab sets, we did sets of crunch-holds and leg raises (to work upper and lower abs) and side-crunches and side-raises (to isolate the obliques).

All in all, great workout. Expect something drastically different, yet just as challenging and satisfying on Wednesday.

Also, please remember there are morning runs on Mon/Wed/Fri at 6:30 am as well as quick mini workout sessions on Mon/Tue/Wed evenings at 7:00pm.

***In other words, there are plenty of opportunities to come out and train. Don't miss them.****

Be healthy, be happy...

Sincerely,
Phillip Glotser

Family Fitness Fun

On Saturday, May 30 Team Xcelerate offered a FREE FitFunCamp (adult) and Youth Athletic Development class in Destrehan, LA at the East Bank Bridge Park.

Coach Phillip Glotser had the kids working out in one area learning how to jump and land, cartwheels, hops to cones and several other fun activities.

While the kids were having fun the adults were on and around the basketball court going through a rigorous workout which included a circuit of Squats, Lunges and Reverse Lunges all 10 times each followed by Core exercises which included Front Pillar Holds, Reverse Pillar Holds, Pushups and running in place in between each Core exercise. They also performed wall push-ups and tricep dips using benches at the picnic tables.

The program ended with the adults and kids enjoying some group activities using color patterns. Each adult paired up with one or two children and hopped, skipped or ran to various colored cones on command.

It was a great way to start our Saturday. Keep an eye out for more FREE Saturday classes from Team Xcelerate and/or join our 7 week Summer Fitness program starting on Sunday, June 7, 2009. FitFunCamp and Youth Athletic Development programs will be offered. Contact teamxyg@gmail.com to learn more.

6 Healthy Food Switches for Weight-Loss Success

Making good food substitutions rather than going to extremes will ensure your weight-loss and healthy food changes results last beyond two weeks. Forget rigid, elimination diets; here are six ways to lose weight and make a healthier lifestyle change without feeling deprived.

Milk
Use fat-free or low-fat milk instead, and look for flavored coffees or sugar-free syrups to improve that cup of java.

Make smoothies by blending fat-free milk with low-fat or fat-free yogurt, a banana, frozen strawberries and honey to taste.

Use low-fat milk when making mashed potatoes.

Bread
Instead of serving bread with soup, add a tablespoon of bulgar wheat or a 1/2 cup of brown rice to your homemade recipe.

As a change-up from bread sandwiches, generously fill whole-wheat tortilla wraps with chunks of fresh-cooked chicken, coriander, lettuce and red pepper, adding a teaspoon of low-fat mayonnaise.

Potatoes
Switch to sweet potatoes or yams. Cut up the sweet potatoes and roast in a hot oven for 30 minutes, sprinkled with sea salt and a little olive oil, or lightly boil and mash with a small amount of butter.

Boil some couscous to fluff up and serve with grilled fish or meat.

Filling Fruits
Dried fruits come into their own in the winter months and make excellent after-dinner desserts. Put dried apricots, prunes and pineapple chunks in a pan and cover with a little orange juice. Bring to a boil, then let stand for 20 minutes so the fruit can absorb the juices. Sprinkle with a little cinnamon and serve with spoonful of low-fat yogurt.

Cheese
Get into the habit of buying low-fat varieties. Keep a tub of low-fat or fat-free cottage cheese on hand to mix in with fresh fruit or sprinkle with Splenda and cinnamon for a sweet treat.

Sprinkle a teaspoon or two of freshly grated Parmesan over your pasta, a little of its big-hitting flavor goes a long way.

Poultry and Meat
Trim off fat before cooking.

Always roast chicken on a rack in a roasting tin, so the saturated fat drains off.

If you plan to marinate the meat, use lean strips of pork or beef.

Anybody who wants more information can contact TEAM XCELERATE the IYCA Certified professionals in New Orleans and the River Parishes.

Team Xcelerate welcomes parents and family members to participate in the Youth Athletic Development program or FitFunCamp for adults. Try the program, for FREE, today. Parents can also get involved in our FitFunCamp and experience an whole new way to get and stay fit.

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Top 10 Youth Nutrition Tips

It is our responsibility as parents to start developing good habits for our children in all aspects of life. Nutrition is no different. We need to start building a solid foundation of habits that lead to higher levels of performance and health. Below I have put together 10 simple tips that you can use immediately to get your kids eating better.

1. Breakfast. A good breakfast includes eggs, cheese, meat, whole wheat toast or English muffin, juice (100% variety) and some water. Notice that a good breakfast does NOT include Pop Tarts, Cereal, Toaster Strudels, Donuts, Muffins, or any other processed garbage. This tip is number 1 for a reason. We need to start getting our athletes used to eating a large healthy breakfast.

2. More water, less sugary stuff. Kids need to get used to drinking water as the main beverage. Read the labels of Gatorade or Powerade. It is not a good idea to have them downing that much sugar. Same goes for soda. Would you want them eating 10 teaspoonfuls of sugar at one sitting?

3. Less Drive Thru. This goes for all drive through. If you can get it at a drive thru, you probably don't want it in your body or your child's. If you are in a pinch for time, go to a sub shop and order something that looks like grilled chicken, or steak wrap accompanied by a small bag of chips and some water.

4. Fruits and Vegetables. Try to find a couple of each that your kid likes and start putting them in lunches and dinners immediately. Don't send a granola bar to school, send a baggie of fresh berries or a banana. Start small so they are not overwhelmed.

5. Home cooked meals. These should make up the majority of the kids' diet. This is where they will get the most nutrients that will fuel their active lives. Look for recipes on Team Xcelerate and in future e-newsletters.



6. Get rid of big pasta dinners before games. The old carb loading feasts that often accompany a team dinner are a waste of time. Overloading on starchy pasta that isn't really good for you in the first place is a bad idea. The kids will have better results from a normal healthy meal.

7. Cell Phones/Video Games. While not really a nutrition tip, I thought this was a good opportunity to sneak this in. I have no problem with giving them a phone for emergency purposes or when they are going to need to be picked up, but kids should be interacting with each other, not with a screen and key pad. Video games are fine as long as they are limited and reminded to get up and go play.

8. Candy Bars. Candy bars are filled with crap. If kids really like them, try to trade them for Clif Bars, ProGrade Cravers or other healthy alternatives. These things are delicious and are made from mostly organic ingredients and would be a much better snack.

9. Meal Size. Kids are at an important age where portion control is crucial. They shouldn't be eating until they can't move; this only cements habits of overeating in the future and keeps our obesity problem in American going. Teach them to eat until satisfied not stuffed. I hate seeing obese kids; it is usually not their fault.

10. Don't become restrictive. Just because I have given you these tips doesn't mean you need to restrict everything and make their diets strict. Use them as guidelines and remember that they are still kids. What is going overboard? Drive thru more than once every 10 days is no good, but neither is counting their calories or grams of protein consumed. Find a happy medium and start building good habits.

Baseball & Softball Prehab

Read what Jim Silvestri PT,cred. MDT has to say:

Press Release: Baseball & Softball Prehab

Mardi Gras...Kids Still Play!!

Happy Mardi Gras! We still have a few hours left in this holiday. I was fortunate to spend the day with my family and relax while watching the parades. I watch hundreds of people, on floats, throwing/giving away trinkets, beads and other small items just for fun. We give to have fun. It makes us happy to give. Adults and children lined the street to enjoy this citywide party, waiting to catch beads and trinkets.

The crowds are waiting for music and floats.

But, what I saw before the parades arrived made me smile. It summed up the entire weekend I just spent in Louisville, KY at the IYCA Summit.

I watched as my step-daughter approached a group of children, strangers, in the street and became playmates within seconds. They were jump roping, in the street, as a group and making up all kinds of variations. Squat, lunge, jump, run, skip. All things I saw in a simple round of jump rope.

It was spontaneous play at its best. Young kids need to play and have fun. Adults need to remember that and give some thought to the restraints we place on everyday life.



Let's put FUN back in kid's play. And of course if your kid gets to see the Mach 5 then the day is complete. ;-)