The Case Against NSAIDs

The Case Against NSAIDs
Written By Calvin Sun

When I was in the Army, the panacea for all ailments was a couple of 800mg ibuprofen and a canteen of water. We called it “Ranger Candy” or “Vitamin M” and we joked that all the Army doctors graduated from the Motrin School of Medicine. In college, I learned that the old RICE acronym (Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation) is sometimes spelled with an extra “I”… as in ibuprofen. My guess is that you have been told to take ibuprofen at some point in your life by a doctor,

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A Case Against Mixed Grip Deadlifts

A Case Against Mixed Grip Deadlifts
Written by Michele Vieux

It’s a stronger grip hold than the traditional, double-overhand (pronated) grip and most athletes are able to lift more weight while using it – two strong cases for using the mixed grip (one hand pronated and one hand supinated) for the deadlift. But are those enough to risk imbalance and injury – two strong reasons NOT to habitually use this grip in your training?

I had the pleasure of recently attending one of Julien Pineau’s Strongfit seminars and there were many eye-openers in his theories that I have been able to use to make meaning of certain circumstances with my own body that,

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A Case Against Mixed Grip Deadlifts

A Case Against Mixed Grip Deadlifts
Written by Michele Vieux

It’s a stronger grip hold than the traditional, double-overhand (pronated) grip and most athletes are able to lift more weight while using it – two strong cases for using the mixed grip (one hand pronated and one hand supinated) for the deadlift. But are those enough to risk imbalance and injury – two strong reasons NOT to habitually use this grip in your training?

I had the pleasure of recently attending one of Julien Pineau’s Strongfit seminars and there were many eye-openers in his theories that I have been able to use to make meaning of certain circumstances with my own body that,

Read More

Nutrition Case Study: A Vegetarian Who Wants to Gain Lean Mass

Nutrition Case Study: A Vegetarian Who Wants to Gain Lean Mass
Written by Fritz Nugent

To preface all case studies, I must quickly introduce how we approach nutrition at Invictus. We look at habits, and specifically those surrounding the areas of sleep, movement, stress, and nutrition. We conduct in-person or virtual meetings, and from those conversations, we help our clients identify opportunities and craft small and actionable habit changes to work on. Every client’s solutions are COMPLETELY different. Some of the conversations I’ve had get into some crazy stuff. OK, onto case study #1.

I work with a vegetarian who lives in Germany.

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Unrelentingly Positive: Todd’s Fight Against Cancer

Unrelentingly Positive: Todd’s Fight Against Cancer
Written by Invictus Member Rachel Ragosa

Todd Bechtel is one of the most positive and uplifting people I have had the honor of speaking with at Invictus. As a seasoned firefighter with over 20 years experience, he is no stranger to challenging situations. However, when he was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of prostate cancer, he used his emotional and physical strength to defy the odds. We have a lot to learn from his experience.

Todd was always an active and healthy guy.

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Our Top 3 Supplements For Joint Pain

Our Top 3 Supplements For Joint Pain
Written by Calvin Sun

Is your training program taking a toll on your joints? Or perhaps the ravages of time have begun to catch up to your orthopedic health? If you’re experiencing joint pain or soreness, you might be tempted to reach for a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug like aspirin, ibuprofen (known on the street as Advil or Motrin) or naproxen (aka Aleve).

In a previous blog post titled, “The Case Against NSAIDs”, I discussed why ibuprofen, aspirin, and other similar drugs might not be ideal when it comes to managing inflammation in a health-conscious athlete.

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How to Become a Wall Baller in 3 Simple Steps

How to Become a Wall Baller in 3 Simple Steps
Written by Kaitlyn Kassis

The keys to becoming a baller at wall balls – a Wall Baller – is 1) to be able to identify the common faults in the movement and whether you are falling victim to any of them; and then 2) know how to fix your issue(s). This might take a little help to identify and a little practice to fix, but here’s my list of the common faults when performing wall balls and what to do about them.

1) Ball Positioning
The most crucial component of wall ball efficiency is the position from which the athlete catches and throws the ball.

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Should You Supplement with Glutamine?

Along with creatine and BCAAs, L-glutamine (glutamine) is a supplement that is one of the most popular yet misunderstood in the fitness industry. Based on current research and anecdotal evidence from our own clients, glutamine is a safe and effective supplement for gut health, immune function, recovery for athletes, and curbing sugar cravings.

Should You Supplement with Glutamine?
Written by Calvin Sun

I often get questions from clients and readers about the function of glutamine, the benefits it can provide, and its proper usage. The purpose of today’s article is to answer some of these common questions and provide you with enough information to decide whether or not glutamine should be a part of your supplement regimen.

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How To Stop A Cold Dead In Its Tracks

How To Stop A Cold Dead In Its Tracks
Written by Calvin Sun
(Originally Published February 28, 2017)

You know the usual symptoms: that tickle in the back of your throat, that first sniffle of the nose, or maybe your joints start to feel a little achy and you suddenly feel tired for no reason. You feel a cold coming on and you have no idea how to stop it. Most of my clients are either busy professionals or competitive athletes, and both groups are composed of high-performers who can’t afford to get sick.

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How to Become a Wall Baller in 3 Simple Steps

How to Become a Wall Baller in 3 Simple Steps
Written by Kaitlyn Kassis

The keys to becoming a baller at wall balls – a Wall Baller – is 1) to be able to identify the common faults in the movement and whether you are falling victim to any of them; and then 2) know how to fix your issue(s). This might take a little help to identify and a little practice to fix, but here’s my list of the common faults when performing wall balls and what to do about them.

1) Ball Positioning
The most crucial component of wall ball efficiency is the position from which the athlete catches and throws the ball.

Read More