OPTIMUM CONDITION

Route 66 Road Trip

2009-02-09T10:09:00.001-08:00

Lon & I just came back from a Route 66 road trip that we took to Williams, Arizona and then on to the Grand Canyon. We stopped in this little town called Oatman that was right on Route 66. What's significant about it is that the descendants of the original burros used to mine the gold back in the 1800's still live there up in the mountains. They come down daily for food (usually from the people in the town). Here's some pics of me with them. The one nipped me because after feeding him a carrot he still wanted more and I was out of em'!

New Toyhauler

2008-08-20T12:24:00.000-07:00

Check out our new Adrenaline Blast toyhauler we recently got. It's got everything we need--stove, microwave, frig, toilet, shower, sink, A/C, heat, a place to sleep, and even a sofa. We got to break it in when we took it to Silver Strand for a surf trip. It's 15 foot inside & really sweet! The desert is going to be a lot nicer this dirtbike season!

Back on Track

2008-08-13T17:43:00.000-07:00

I'm finished with physical therapy, but still doing some rehab on my own. My knee's healing quite nicely & I'm back to surfing, hiking, lifting & even did a little wakeboarding a couple weeks ago. The doc wants me to wait a little while longer before going back to Jiu-jitsu & I definitely need to invest in a good set of motorcross knee braces before riding my dirt bike again. Flying back to my hometown for a wedding this weekend, so check back later.

Tore My MCL in My Right Knee

2008-06-19T13:33:00.000-07:00

We were out riding the dirt bikes down in Tecate on Saturday, and went for a nice trail ride. Everything was great until we went up a 45 degree hill & I didn't have enough speed to make it to the top. When I stuck out my right foot because the ground was really soft, I torqued my knee and ended up tearing my medial collateral ligament.

This is definitely slowing down my lifestyle, and I'm ready to be back to normal as soon as possible. I go back to the doc on the 27th, and we'll see how it's healing up. So far so good, I've been using ice, compression, elevation, Ibuprofen, and mobilization techniques. The swelling has gone done drastically as well as a lot of the pain. I also plan to use a soft-tissue mobilization technique as well as physical therapy, cold-laser, and ultra-sound to progress the healing.

I hope to make a speedy recovery as quickly as possible.

Just Finished the Parkinson's Walk

2008-04-19T18:19:00.000-07:00

We had a great time at the Parkinson's Walk again this year. My client Gale pushed his wife, Mary, in her wheel chair. At the finish line, Mary surprised us all and walked across the line displaying true spirtit!

Join Us for the Upcoming Parkinson's Walk

2008-04-08T14:17:00.000-07:00

Once again Team Optimum Condition will be participating in the upcoming annual Parkinson's 5K Walk & Fun Run. The event will be Saturday, April 19th at Liberty Station in Point Loma & will start at 9 a.m. Please join us for a morning or fun that will help over 50,000 San Diegans affected by Parkinson's Disease. If you can't join us, please consider sponsoring our team by making a donation that goes towards a great cause. Hope to see you there!

New Corrective Exercise Specialist Credential

2008-01-28T08:48:00.001-08:00

Well, I just passed NASM's Corrective Exercise Specialist certification. For those of you that don't know, I've been studying for it for the past few months. This will open up a lot of doors for me in the area injury. Assessments to identify and then correct muscle imbalances that lead to pain and ultimately injury if not treated, is the cornerstone of corrective exercise.

You'll be hearing more about this in the near future, especially in my newsletter. If you're not signed up to receive it, you can do so on my website at www.OptimumCondition.com

New 2006 Honda CRF 250X

2007-12-12T08:40:00.000-08:00

Just picked up a new bike this week, so we'll definitely be going to the desert this weekend to break it in. I outgrew the Kawy KX100 after just a couple months & was able to get a smokin' deal on this brand new 06'. Anyway, this is just a stock photo I pulled off Honda's site, but at least you can see what it looks like.

It's a 4-stroke, and green stickered, so I won't have a bunch a restrictions like I had with the little green machine. You'll be seeing more pics of this one!

My Workouts

2007-10-16T07:24:00.000-07:00

People always ask me about how I work out, so I figured I would just post it on the blog. I would much rather be outdoors than in, whenever possible. Therefore, you will never usually find me in a gym on the weekends. Since I don't train clients on the weekend, I reserve that time for family and friends. I try to hike, mountain bike, and surf in the warmer months. As of lately, we have been motocross riding as much as possible, and usually head down to Tecate or out east.

Of course, with a busy schedule it's not always easy to fit as much outdoor activity in during the shorter days of winter, so sometimes I have to resort to doing my conditioning in a gym. I still fit in biking, lots of walks, and some running with my dog, Fender, on a regular basis.

I always manage to get 4 days of strength training in during the week as well. Most of these workouts are done at the gym, but sometimes if I'm pushed for time I'll do a backyard workout using plyometric and body weight exercises.

And don't forget grappling. I try to train in Brazilian Jiu-jitsu submission grappling 2x a week. That usually means 2 a days, as I go to the gym in the morning and then grapple at night. I hurt my knee a few weeks ago, and have had to take a little time off. But BJJ has been a constant for me for the last 5 or 6 years.

So there you have it--4 days of strength training, 2 days of BJJ, 3-4 days of cardio conditioning exercise, fun stuff on the weekends, and lots of exercise with my dog!

Just Back from Oregon

2007-09-10T17:46:00.000-07:00

We just returned from an awesome backpacking trip through the Rogue River wilderness up in Oregon. We started off white-water rafting (Fender went too!) then backpacked up to the Seven Lakes area, about 5500 feet in elevation. Since we had water access from all the lakes & were able to filter our water, that made the pack in a lot lighter. It was a beautiful area and we had an awesome time. Check out the photos!

Brought Home the Silver!

2007-07-04T10:39:00.000-07:00

I took 2nd place at the South Bay Open & brought home the silver for the women's feather weight division. It was a good learning experience & I definitely have a better understanding of the point system now. I plan to compete in as many tournaments as I can from here on out, so you'll be hearing a lot about them in the future. Thanks for all the support!

Jiu-Jitsu Tournament this Weekend

2007-06-26T22:25:00.000-07:00

Hope life has been treating you grand. This weekend I'm competing in the 4th Annual South Bay Open Brazilian Jiu-jitsu Tournament up in Carson City. I'm hoping to place in the top 3 of the women's feather weight division. I've been training hard & cutting calories to make the weight division comfortably, so I'm feeling confident. Check back soon to see how things turned out!

Posture Assessments & Corrective Exercise Prescription

2007-05-15T14:55:00.000-07:00

This has been the year for continuing education, that's for sure. Prior to the SASTM seminar I attended in Chicago, I took a seminar here in San Diego through the Egoscue clinic called Pain, Posture & Performance. I teaches the practitioner/ trainer how to identify posture dysfunction & then to prescribe exercises to help correct the problem, ultimately resulting in improved posture & a decrease in pain.

After quite some time figuring out how to incorporate it into my practice in order to really help people, I think I've finally got it. This initial program will consist of a consultation & questionnaire to help identify posture dysfunction, followed by posture photos, & 6 initial exercise therapy sessions to improve the problem. This program will work in conjunction with chiropractic care.

I discover that I seem to get more & more clients with pain and/ or posture problems that need addressing before focusing on fitness training. Especially in groups of people over the age of 50. This discovery is what prompted me to look into a therapeutic modality that could assist in this area.

So if you are one of those people living with chronic back or joint pain, posture assessment & corrective exercises may be a possible solution for you!

Ride 4 AIDS 25 Mile

2007-04-20T15:42:00.000-07:00

Here are some pics from our most recent charity event that Opimum Condition participated in...the Ride 4 AIDS bike ride. It was a lot of fun, and I was worried about my husband being able to complete it after his recent bout with kidney failure due to an allergic reaction that he sustained. But he did terrific!

It was a beautiful day, & the ride started from Spanish Landing & then went uphill for 10 miles to the Cabrillo National Monument, then back down & looped around Harbor Drive. It was a lot of fun, & the funds went to UCSD AIDS research.

Check out the pics!

Sound Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization Technique

2007-04-19T21:50:00.000-07:00

I just returned from a seminar in Chicago put on by David Graston, called Sound Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization. SASTM short, is a technique which uses instruments to detect and break down areas of fibrosis, or chronic inflammation.

The microtrauma inflicted with the instrument initiates the healing process, followed by ice and stretching, ultimately resulting in restored function when combined with strength training.

It is used to treat such conditions as plantar fasciitis, patellar tendinitis, chronic sprains, muscle strains, shin splints, hip pain, plus a number of other conditions. I hope to soon be incorporating this into my practice by working closely with doctors who have already diagnosed the problem.

Optimum Condition site has new look

2007-04-19T16:02:00.000-07:00

We've been very busy here at Optimum Condition adding all sorts of new information to the website. If you haven't seen it yet, take a peak & let me know what you think, you're feedback is always important to us.

We're attempting to make the site more user friendly, & we have many more changes coming in the near future. We are in the process of adding Online Personal Training Memberships as well as Nutrition Plan Memberships, and we've gotten off to a great start already with 3 memberships in the first week alone!

You will notice more regular postings from here on out, as we are changing the way we do things around here now, so please check back periodically for new info pertaining to your health & fitness.

My Conditioning Program

2006-07-21T10:46:00.000-07:00

I've decided to switch my own training program up some-at least until I finish remodeling the kitchen, as I don't have much time nowdays. Rather than do a 4-day split routine with legs on Monday and Thursday, and upper body on Tuesday and Friday, I've gone to a whole body workout made up mostly of compound exercises, in a circuit format. It seems to be working out really well, and it's really been kicking my butt. I was inspired by one of my clients, Christian. Anyway, it's enabling me to get my workouts done in less time, and I don't have to go to the gym as frequently. I'm mixing in my cardio separately - usually in the morning before I start work through the week on Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, and Jui-jitsu twice a week on Mondays and Wednesdays. It's really agreeing with me so far!

Overview of Our Services

2006-07-06T10:56:00.000-07:00

All of our custom programs & packages are based around the 4 components of fitness:
• Strength
• Endurance
• Flexibility
• Healthy Eating

We offer a dynamic blend of services to build you to your best that will leave you feeling invigorated as well as refreshed. Based on your health, age, goals, schedule, time to devote & access to equipment, we’ll create a unique custom fitness program specifically for you!

If you live outside the San Diego area, we’ll design a Cyber FitnessTM program & either email it to you or send it by regular mail, it’s your choice. For San Diego residents you can also take advantage of our in-home & on-site mobile personal training & kickboxing services.
For more info, visit: http://www.optimumcondition.com/packages.html

Optimum Condition Teams Up for Corporate Wellness Programs

2006-06-27T10:40:00.000-07:00

http://www.CardioHealthScreen.com
Optimum Condition would like to welcome Al Russo of Cardio Health Screen aboard. Al's company offers health screenings to company employee's that measure a person's risk of cardiac disease, stroke, and osteoporosis. Cardio Health Screen is a mobile service that offers on-site streenings using blood, bone density, and cholesterol level tests. Cardio Health Screen and Optimum Condition will be teaming up to offer the very best in Corporate Wellness Programs. Look to hear more about our joint endeavor in the coming future.

New Team Member Signs On

2006-06-25T11:23:00.000-07:00

We'd like to welcome new member and SDPD officer, Christian Mathews, to the Optimum Condition team! Christian is a grappler (BJJ) as well as an awesome surfer, and we look forward to working with him.

Exercising in the Heat

2006-06-20T12:37:00.000-07:00

With the weather getting hotter, it’s more important than ever to stay hydrated and take safety precautions when exercising outdoors. That goes for adults, children, and pets. The ER rooms sees their fill of heat exposure cases every summer, and almost all could be avoided with a little planning. So play it safe and follow these simple steps for avoidance:

1) Plan ahead and do your research on your sport as well as the environment and conditions
2) Bring a portable medical kit
3) Bring adequate fluids for hydrating—it’s better to have leftovers than not enough
4) Let someone know where you’re going
5) Hydrate frequently—often children and pets don’t know to drink on their own, so you may need to encourage them

You can read all of our articles & tips here: http://www.optimumcondition.com/newsletter.html
Now get outside & enjoy the beautiful weather!

Our Mission

2006-06-19T14:11:00.000-07:00

Optimum Condition exists to help people improve the quality of their lives through fitness and exercise. We strive to exceed your expectations by providing you the very best in personalized customer service on your quest to achieve personal excellence. http://www.optimumcondition.com/mission.html

Official Launch

2006-06-18T22:00:00.000-07:00

This marks the official launch of the Optimum Condition business blog!