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By
Charles Staley, B.Sc, MSS
Director, Staley Training Systems |
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One of the societal trends that
I enjoy observing is our instinctual distrust of technology.
This trend encompasses nearly every segment of society, but
today, I'd like to discuss technophobia from a fitness/nutrition
standpoint:
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- "Processed" food: We
all tell anyone who'll listen to avoid processed food, right?
But factually, food processing is what allows most of us to reach
an old age that was impossible only 100 years ago. Cleaning and
disinfecting processes, pasteurization, refrigeration, and insecticides
are all examples of advances in food processing that have greatly
reduced food quality, quantity, and food-borne illness and disease.
- Weight-training machines: I don't
use them myself, and I'll try to talk you into free weights, but
there are uses for machines, particularly for physical therapy
purposes.
- Plastic bottles: I constantly
read and hear about the dangers of drinking from plastic bottles,
and my point here is not to debate the merits of this argument,
but rather, to examine the merits of not using plastic bottles-
could you imagine using glass (or some other material) for all
of your food and drink packaging?!?! Even technologies that have
downsides usually have upsides, which should be considered before
abandoning said technologies.
- Stability balls: I frequently
suggest that they're over-rated and over-used, but they do have
some legitimate uses.
- The internet: I once remember
Louie Simmons saying something along the lines of "If you
wanna get strong, get off the damn internet and get in the gym!"
I get that, but still, this is how we all communicate, learn,
and share ideas.
- Vaccinations: Do they cause autism?
I have no idea, but they've unquestionably saved millions of lives.
- Air conditioning: In Europe, people
(especially older generations) tend to distrust AC, as well as
ice- they're both seen as unhealthy. On the other hand, 120 degree
temperatures (which we see every summer here in Arizona) are also
unhealthy.
- Shoes: Ever see Nike Free's and
Vibram Five Fingers? The manufacturers of both are trying to convince
you that shoes are e-v-i-l. Me? I like shoes!
- Cooking: The raw-food advocates
love to align cooking with all things evil. The fact is however,
that cooking is a marker of advanced civilization. It also prevents
a number of food-borne diseases. It also increases the nutritive
value of many foods- for example, lyopene is only of value when
the tomato is cooked.
- "Unnatural:" We tend
to trust "natural" and distrust the opposite. But many
natural things are unhealthy, even deadly: tobacco, botchalism,
cobras, arsenic, and sloth, just to name a few. Would you prefer
training on a stability ball (unnatural) or lying on the couch
(natural)?
- Artificial sweeteners: Some are
safer than others, and again, I'm not attempting to debate the
dangers, but rather, remind you of the benefits: they stop you
from eating sugar. And that's significant.
- Microwave ovens: Most people today
consider them safe, but does anyone remember when they first came
out?
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The way to keep technology
in perspective is to think of it as a tool that has (in
most cases) both positive and negative attributes. If the
positives outweigh the negatives, the technology in question
is useful.
If you have additional examples,
I'd love to hear them- just click the "discuss"
link below to share your thoughts!
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About
The Author
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His colleagues call him
an iconoclast, a visionary, a rule-breaker. His clients
call him “The Secret Weapon” for his ability
to see what other coaches miss. Charles calls himself
a “geek” who struggled in Phys Ed throughout
school. Whatever you call him, Charles’ methods are
ahead of their time and quickly produce serious results.
His counter-intuitive approach and self-effacing demeanor
have lead to appearances on NBC’s The TODAY Show
and The CBS Early Show.
Currently, Charles competes
in Olympic-style weightlifting on the master’s circuit,
with a 3-year goal of qualifying for the 2009 Master’s
World Championships.
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