Every morning, I start my day with the same exact routine, whether I am home, in a hotel, or at a friend or family members house.

You see, about 4 years ago, I was having a run of nearly daily headaches.

Every day I went to work, the headache would start about 9 AM.

That meant the daily dose of Tylenol or Advil or some other pain relief pill.

Sometimes it worked a bit, but usually it did nothing.

I knew it wasn’t migraines. I’d had migraines before, and these weren’t that bad. They didn’t stop me in my tracks. They were just that dull, annoying, ache, that never changed, kind of like when the radio dial isn’t quite exactly where it needs to be for the station to come in perfect, and you are stuck with that little bit of static over top of every song that plays.

You know what I mean.

The static where it’s not Ice Ice Baby that’s playing, but Zice Zice Baby.

I knew it wasn’t a sinus infection. I’d had those before, too. I still do to this day. Generally, once in May and once in September my cheeks, forehead, and sinus cavity gets so filled with junk and the tissue so inflamed that every step feels like someone jabbing me in the sinus cavity with a pitchfork. And the only way to sleep is by placing my face on top of my fist so that the skin is pulled off to the side.

And I hadn’t had any head injuries, thank god, so it wasn’t some kind of trauma that had set these things off.

So I began looking at what else could be causing these low-grade daily headaches.

And the hunch that I came to was “maybe I was dehydrated?”

So, the next day, when I got up out of bed, I used the toilet, and I walked straight to the kitchen.

There, I filled up a glass of water, about 12 to 16 ounces, and drank it down. Then, I did it again.

My hunch was that I had somehow gotten myself into a rut of dehydration. I hypothesized that I was going to bed dehydrated, waking up dehydrated, and going through the entire day dehydrated, and this was causing me to have this crazy, nearly hungover, type of headache.

And I was RIGHT.

Once I downed that water, it was like I had hit the re-set button on a bad game of Super Mario and was able to start over from the beginning.

That day at work, it felt awesome to be able to look at other Managers in the eye without having to squint if there was a light behind them. I could sit and have conversations with employees without shuddering in pain if their voice was high pitched. And my workout that night was the best I’d had in a long time.

Every Day Brotherrrrr

So now, every morning, since then, with only a handful of exceptions, I have started the day with the Morning Gulp – 24 to 32 ounces of water, depending on how big the actual glass is, and I always will from now on.

But tomorrow, I am running a new experiment.

You see, my good friend Mark, with whom I train Back and Triceps on Friday mornings, pointed out something that I have been over-looking all year.

The water that I have been pouring down the sink after steaming my vegetables every other day or so, is most likely LOADED with nutrients and vitamins. So, today when I steamed the latest batch, afterwards I poured it into this giant plastic glass, and even though it looks like alien urine, tomorrow, I will be pounding this like a Keystone Pounder instead of just plain water, broccoli stubs and all.

Left-over Water from Steamed
Broccoli, Green Beans, Cauliflower, and Carrots

The idea is that tomorrow I will not only start the day off with a burst of hydration surplus, but also get a shot of vitamins and nutrients along with it.

Can’t wait brother.

Are You Chronically Dehydrated?

A quick google search on dehydration will tell you that an estimated 75% of Americans are chronically dehydrated.

When you consider that it takes only a 1% dehydration level to drastically decrease your mental focus and physical prowess, let alone cause headaches, it is worth it to sacrifice the 30 seconds of your morning in order to jump start your hydration status.

Yep, 30 seconds to fill and chug two glasses of water, first thing in the morning.

Risk of Water Intoxication

Naturally, if you drink too much water, it can reach levels that are considered poisonous, even carrying the names “water poisoning,” “hyperhydration,” and “dilutional hyponatremia.” So, you can’t go overboard here. I am not a doctor and have no idea how to figure out how much is “too much.” So don’t try this until you talk to one about it.

Either way, if you aren’t drinking enough water, you’ll know it when you take a leak throughout the day because your urine will be yellowish, or if you’re really dehydrated, then it will be like neon orange, and you’d better start drinking more water.

Why not get ahead of the curve by drinking it first thing upon waking up?

Start with just one glass.

Give it a try and let me know how you feel by leaving a comment below.

It’s been roughly 6 months since I’ve gotten a legitimate comment on this site. I half wonder if anyone reads this site anymore, since I get no feedback, no props, no complaints, nothing.

All the best in your training,

Jedd

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Like I said a couple of weeks ago, I want to start doing as close to a weekly Q & A as possible. Now that I have a few questions rolling in, I want to tackle one.

First up is Jeff Brown, who is busy training for his sport throughout the week and isn’t sure where to place his strength training for best results all around.

He writes:

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“I train Monday -Thursday from 6:30 to 8:30 MMA, Grappling, MMA, Grappling. 9 times out of 10 The next morning I am Dog tired and don’t want to lift weights. I was wondering with a schedule like this when do you think is the best time to lift and at what intensities. I don’t want to run the risk of overtraining. How can I find the Supercompensation Phase and Act on it?”

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Jeff, thanks for writing in and asking this question, and congratulations on your recent victory. Looking awesome brother!

Jeffrey recently won the 175lb MMA TITLE at Stellar Fights 7 in Harrington DE!

I know from speaking with Jeff in the past on developing his training program, that he works his ass off, which is important. The sheer volume of work this kid is capable of doing is insane. I don’t think I have ever been able to train like that.

However, there is a time for taking it to the limit like that and there is a time to back it down a notch.

I have always looked at training athletes as a balancing act between strength training (working in the gym to build strength and power) and skills training (time on the mat improving your game, specifically).

My suggestion in this case is when you are nearing a fight and there is going to be a lot of time on the mat, striking the bag, rolling and practicing holds, then the amount of time you spend in the gym is going to drop.

Remember, whether you are in the gym lifting weights or if you are int he MMA studio hitting a heavy bag, clenching up with sparring partners, taking and giving shots, working on escapes, etc, all of that stuff entails shock and trauma to the body.

When you’re nearing a fight, you NEED to stay in shape and keep the rust off in order to be in top form when the fight comes up. At that point, the time for building strength is already past you. Now it is time to maintain the strength that you have.

So with your given schedule of high intensity sport-specific fight training Monday through Thursday, my biggest suggestion would be to focus on doing some strength-maintenance training on Friday and/or Saturday.

Since you don’t train MMA on Friday, Saturday or Sunday, these are really your best days. Most likely, you are going to be beat up on Friday, so that may not be an option unless you hit it later on at night, which for some people actually does work out pretty well.

An even better day might be Saturday, in order to work your big movements like Presses, Squats, and Deads, in a low volume manner.

I am talking about a good solid warm-up, and then a few work sets where you stay up around 90% of 1RM in the lifts, followed by a small amount of accessory work, mainly working on treating potentially injury-prone areas, things like the posterior shoulder, lower back, hip mobility – things like this.

So we can call that your weekend workout. Pick the day that works best for you and do the main strength building stuff that day. If you feel well enough to do two workouts over the weekend, AWESOME, but you don’t want to kill your sport-specific training when the week starts back up either.

Specifically, you asked about Supercompensation, which is the body’s ability to adjust itself to a higher level after one training session in order to be better or stronger for the next one. At this stage in the game, this is still possible, given the right amount of rest time, but it is going to come down to many individual factors, for you, Jeff. Diet, sleep time, other stresses to the body like work/labor, bills, etc.

The most important thing for you is to try to find a time during the weekend that you can get some work in on the bigger, multi-joint movements to maintain the strength you have worked so hard to attain.

Another extra workout, on the weekend or during the week if you can handle it, will be a bonus, but the intensity level will most likely be much lower, and then it is a matter of making sure you are replenishing your energy, getting the right food for muscle recovery, and enough sleep to repair damage.

In closing, I will leave you with a quote from Easy Strength, by Pavel and Dan John (a great book I am slowly working my way through):

---

“Competitors, especially fighters, often miss the point of strength training. The barbell is not there to make you a better man or test your mettle; that is what the mat, the ring or the kettlebells are for. And you are not training to become a weightlifter or powerlifter. Iron is a means, not a goal.

Your goal is to excel at your sport, and you lift to get a strength advantage over an opponent of equal skill. And if you hope to be a contender, practicing the skill of your sport must dominate your schedule.”

---

That is a direct quote from Easy Strength, on page 74, and it pretty much goes along with what I have stated.

I hope this helps you, Jeffrey, and anyone else who competes in a sport at a high level. Remember, there is time for periodization, moderating intensity, and also knowing when to bust your ass in the gym, and when to do so on the mat, field, or court.

If you are interested in reading more of Easy Strength, click here.

Although I am working my way through it at a snail’s pace, I am enjoying it heavily. There is literally an interesting, throught-provoking, or entertaining statement on each and every page!

All the best in your training,

Jedd

Check out Easy Strength – Click the Image Below

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Like I said a couple of weeks ago, I want to start doing as close to a weekly Q & A as possible. Now that I have a few questions rolling in, I want to tackle one.
First up is Jeff Brown, who is busy training for his sport throughout the week and isn’t sure where to place his strength training for best results all around.
He writes:

---

“I train Monday -Thursday from 6:30 to 8:30 MMA, Grappling, MMA, Grappling. 9 times out of 10 The next morning I am Dog tired and don’t want to lift weights. I was wondering with a schedule like this when do you think is the best time to lift and at what intensities. I don’t want to run the risk of overtraining. How can I find the Supercompensation Phase and Act on it?”

---

Jeff, thanks for writing in and asking this question, and congratulations on your recent victory. Looking awesome brother!
Jeffrey recently won the 175lb MMA TITLE at Stellar Fights 7 in Harrington DE!
I know from speaking with Jeff in the past on developing his training program, that he works his ass off, which is important. The sheer volume of work this kid is capable of doing is insane. I don’t think I have ever been able to train like that.
However, there is a time for taking it to the limit like that and there is a time to back it down a notch.
I have always looked at training athletes as a balancing act between strength training (working in the gym to build strength and power) and skills training (time on the mat improving your game, specifically).

My suggestion in this case is when you are nearing a fight and there is going to be a lot of time on the mat, striking the bag, rolling and practicing holds, then the amount of time you spend in the gym is going to drop.
Remember, whether you are in the gym lifting weights or if you are int he MMA studio hitting a heavy bag, clenching up with sparring partners, taking and giving shots, working on escapes, etc, all of that stuff entails shock and trauma to the body.
When you’re nearing a fight, you NEED to stay in shape and keep the rust off in order to be in top form when the fight comes up. At that point, the time for building strength is already past you. Now it is time to maintain the strength that you have.
So with your given schedule of high intensity sport-specific fight training Monday through Thursday, my biggest suggestion would be to focus on doing some strength-maintenance training on Friday and/or Saturday.
Since you don’t train MMA on Friday, Saturday or Sunday, these are really your best days. Most likely, you are going to be beat up on Friday, so that may not be an option unless you hit it later on at night, which for some people actually does work out pretty well.
An even better day might be Saturday, in order to work your big movements like Presses, Squats, and Deads, in a low volume manner.
I am talking about a good solid warm-up, and then a few work sets where you stay up around 90% of 1RM in the lifts, followed by a small amount of accessory work, mainly working on treating potentially injury-prone areas, things like the posterior shoulder, lower back, hip mobility – things like this.
So we can call that your weekend workout. Pick the day that works best for you and do the main strength building stuff that day. If you feel well enough to do two workouts over the weekend, AWESOME, but you don’t want to kill your sport-specific training when the week starts back up either.
Specifically, you asked about Supercompensation, which is the body’s ability to adjust itself to a higher level after one training session in order to be better or stronger for the next one. At this stage in the game, this is still possible, given the right amount of rest time, but it is going to come down to many individual factors, for you, Jeff. Diet, sleep time, other stresses to the body like work/labor, bills, etc.
The most important thing for you is to try to find a time during the weekend that you can get some work in on the bigger, multi-joint movements to maintain the strength you have worked so hard to attain.
Another extra workout, on the weekend or during the week if you can handle it, will be a bonus, but the intensity level will most likely be much lower, and then it is a matter of making sure you are replenishing your energy, getting the right food for muscle recovery, and enough sleep to repair damage.
In closing, I will leave you with a quote from Easy Strength, by Pavel and Dan John (a great book I am slowly working my way through):

---

“Competitors, especially fighters, often miss the point of strength training. The barbell is not there to make you a better man or test your mettle; that is what the mat, the ring or the kettlebells are for. And you are not training to become a weightlifter or powerlifter. Iron is a means, not a goal.

Your goal is to excel at your sport, and you lift to get a strength advantage over an opponent of equal skill. And if you hope to be a contender, practicing the skill of your sport must dominate your schedule.”

---

That is a direct quote from Easy Strength, on page 74, and it pretty much goes along with what I have stated.
I hope this helps you, Jeffrey, and anyone else who competes in a sport at a high level. Remember, there is time for periodization, moderating intensity, and also knowing when to bust your ass in the gym, and when to do so on the mat, field, or court.
If you are interested in reading more of Easy Strength, click here.
Although I am working my way through it at a snail’s pace, I am enjoying it heavily. There is literally an interesting, throught-provoking, or entertaining statement on each and every page!
All the best in your training,
Jedd
Check out Easy Strength – Click the Image Below

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The Importance of Nutrition for Athletes
A Guest Post by Strength Coach, Joe Meglio

Let’s face it, many athletes struggle with their nutrition.

I often ask my high school athletes what they ate on that day so far and I usually get answers like pop tarts, a bowl of cereal, a wrap or sandwich and other highly processed food that comes out of a box or wrapper.

Not only are they eating crappy food, but they are barely eating! The problem with poor nutrition is that an athlete cannot expect to perform at their best if they are not feeding their body the proper nutrients it needs to achieve maximum performance. You are what you eat! If you eat like crap, you are going to feel like crap, recover slowly and have low energy levels.

Nutrition Made Simple

The biggest challenge for most athletes is being consistent and making the right food choices. In order to solve this problem, the best approach is to make nutrition as simple as possible. This means don’t complicate it by counting calories and other macronutrients. Instead, athletes should focus on eating nutrient rich foods.
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