Mike Furci Columns
Furci ArchiveDid you know? (06/19/2009)
It's not your wisdom or your mother-in-law: Did you know that naturally occurring hydrogen peroxide causes your hair to gray? Mike drops that nugget, along with gems about exercise and cholesterol, the effects of ice and massage on muscle recovery, and a fat tax proposed by the state of New York.
Q&A with Mike Furci (06/03/2009)
Will weightlifting stunt the growth of a teenager? Good question. Mike has the answer to that one and others, touching on topics ranging from the tempo of exercises, the connection between weight loss and creatine, and the benefits of chiropractic care.
Evolution of the Unhealthy American, Part 2: Our deteriorating diet (05/20/2009)
We are what we eat, and Mike shows that Americans eat way too much sugar and processed foods. In the second of this three-part series, Mike explains how Americans are getting bigger and unhealthier all the time, and compares American diets to those in France, Japan and, well, the Stone Age.
Did you know? (04/29/2009)
Did you know that vitamin D, which isn't a vitamin after all, can help prevent cancer? Mike drops a dime on the "sunshine vitamin," and finds a link between obesity and bad sex, soy foods and low sperm count, and the really icky things found growing on the equipment in the gym.
Evolution of the Unhealthy American, Part 1: We're a fat, unhealthy nation (04/08/2009)
Americans are getting bigger and unhealthier all the time, and it didn't happen overnight. Mike explores the Evolution of the Unhealthy American, looking at the stats on obesity and weight gain along with the associated health risks in the first part of his ongoing three-part series.
Q&A with Mike Furci (03/25/2009)
Tempo isn't just for the dance floor. Mike provides answers to the question of how to pace your exercises to achieve maximum effect. He also addresses the topics of which foods to eat to lose weight and how to eat them to drop the pounds.
Did you know? (03/11/2009)
Myths, misconception and the almighty dollar pervade much of our comprehension about health and fitness. Luckily, Mike is ready to fill in the gaps with information about the "right" amount of water, the effect of salt on the body, and how the AMA makes decisions on endorsements.
Training the pros: A chat with Ed Downs (02/16/2009)
How does one come to train athletes like Carlos Boozer and Alonzo Mourning? A great idea, 14-hour days and plenty of sweat equity. Ed Downs tells Mike all about his patented Downs Fitness System and how he convinced Miami-area moguls to support youth fitness.
More About Mike
Mike Furci graduated from Bowling Green State University in 1988 with a Bachelors of Science in Health Education. His curriculum included extensive training in anatomy and physiology, laying the foundation for his future in fitness and sports specific training. He owned and operated Club Olympia Fitness Center in Westlake, Ohio for more than 10 years.
Mike is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) as recognized by the highly acclaimed National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA). This certification requires continuing education and a four-year degree in a related field. Mike has used his education and knowledge to train athletes in a variety of sports, including golf, football and baseball. He also works with clients participating in triathlons and marathons. His education and expertise allow him to train his clients in accordance with their specific sports or activities as well as for increased fitness and wellness.
Mike is also a competitive bodybuilder and has won several overall titles, including the 1999 Mr. Ohio. He has been bodybuilding for more than 20 years. This experience has also allowed him to train and consult with many aspiring bodybuilders as well as people interested in getting into shape and looking their best.
Mike has appeared on many news stations as a fitness consultant. Mike's qualifications allow him to offer expert information on all aspects of health, fitness and sports specific training.
Send any questions you have to mike@bullz-eye.com.
Mike's Fitness Blog
Courtesy of Bottom Line Fitness
Exercise tips for couples: I once had a girlfriend that asked me if I would train her if she signed up at my gym. Since she hadn’t exercised in years, I was generally excited that she was taking an interest in her health again and that she had asked me for help.
After two or ... [Continued at Bottom Line Fitness. Comments?]
Ten simple steps to getting stronger now: Follow these 10 steps by Men’s Fitness.com to gain more strength (and essentially, more muscle).
1.) Own the "big four."
The squat, deadlift, bench press, and shoulder press are the best strength-building exercises, period. The chinup and row are great moves too, but don't make them the focus of your workout — ... [Continued at Bottom Line Fitness. Comments?]
Barbell Workout for Hard Gainers: If you only have access to a barbell, try these workouts from MensFitness.com:
Workout I
1 Front Squat
Sets: 5 Reps: 5 Rest: 90 sec.
Start with the barbell on the supports of a power rack at about shoulder height. Grab the bar overhand and raise your elbows until your upper arms are parallel ... [Continued at Bottom Line Fitness. Comments?]
Improve your golf game with these exercises:
The New York Sports Clubs shares some tips to get your body in golf shape for when you attack the links this summer.
Big Bertha – Driving power from your legs and arms will increase your yards. Grab your driving club and get started:
Stand with feet a little wider than shoulder ... [Continued at Bottom Line Fitness. Comments?]
Build the Ultimate Sandwich: Men’s Fitness.com helps you create a healthy lunch that actually tastes good with their guide to building the ultimate sandwich.
GO WITH THE GRAIN
Just because the bread's brown doesn't mean it's good for you. Check out the ingredient list. "Whole wheat" should be the first thing listed—not "refined grains," which have ... [Continued at Bottom Line Fitness. Comments?]
Lose weight faster by doing cardio between sets: Men’s Fitness.com has three tips to how you can shed pounds in a quicker amount of time:
1.) TRY CARDIO BETWEEN SETS
Go about your weight workout as normal but instead of resting between sets, perform light cardio such as jumping rope, doing jumping jacks, or hitting a heavy bag for between ... [Continued at Bottom Line Fitness. Comments?]
Headache Remedies: Men’s Fitness.com offers a couple of tips to help understand your headache’s source and the key to making it go away.
MIGRAINE
Symptoms: Intense, throbbing pain, usually on one side of your head, accompanied by nausea and/or sensitivity to light or sound. Not fun. It's uncommon for men in their 20s or ... [Continued at Bottom Line Fitness. Comments?]
The Skinny Guy Workout: If you’re a hard gainer, you’ve likely tried all kinds of workouts trying to add size to your frame. But as Men’s Fitness.com points out, your problem probably lies somewhere in between working out too much and not eating enough.
MF.com highlights three exercises to do for all hard gainers, as ... [Continued at Bottom Line Fitness. Comments?]
America’s Unhealthiest Restaurants: YAHOO! Health handed out grades for the unhealthiest restaurants and some might surprise you:
D-
On the Border
On the Border is a subsidiary of Brinker International, the same parent company that owns Chili's and Romano's Macaroni Grill. It should come as no surprise then that this chain is just as threatening to ... [Continued at Bottom Line Fitness. Comments?]
Boost Your Metabolism: Men’s Fitness.com details a couple ways to help give your metabolism a boost.
Drink More Water
When researchers measured people's metabolic rate before and after downing about 16 ounces of water, they found a rise in calorie-burning capability. The water had a lasting effect as well: Even after 30 minutes, drinkers ... [Continued at Bottom Line Fitness. Comments?]