Since the beginning of time, there have people in this world, who have always needed some one to make sure they stayed in line, to keep them in check.  These “said” people have always been a threat to our way of life and have always needed to be bullies to get what they want.  The people they have threatened and have been bullying around have always had the need to be protected and watched over by others.  What was left was a select few who have taken it upon themselves, for the most part, to be a part of something greater than themselves. A small percentage of the population decided to become a watchdog for threats in the midst and a servant and protector to the rest of the great people of this world.

THESE MEN AND WOMEN, ARE, HAVE BEEN, AND ALWAYS WILL BE WARRIORS.

These men and women have, and always will be there when you need them most.
No questions asked. Period.

These men and woman are your Marines, Soldiers, Airman and Women, Sailors, and Guards.  They are there for you, so you don’t have to be. “That’s nice of them.”

As long as they are there in our stead, why wouldn’t we do everything we can do to assure that they are taken care of when they return home.  “It’s only fair”.

For many, many years our military has made the ultimate sacrifice and traveled abroad to risk life and limb in order to defend our right to do what we do.  Whatever ever it is that we do.  They have put themselves in danger’s way on a daily basis so we don’t have to.  Sure, some of us aren’t in a great place right now in your lives, but for most of us, we probably wouldn’t trade places with them. Not now, not ever.

As more of our military takes to the world on missions to save lives, and destroy the enemy, more and more troops are coming home tired and ready for a well deserved break.  Thank God.  Not that I don’t think they’re supposed to be where they are, I’m just glad more and more are making it home alive.  Put the young troops in, they’re ready to go and want to go.  Send the tired one’s home.  Give them a break and congratulate them for their service and their sacrifice.  In any case, they’re coming home alive and that’s great. My love and my infinite gratitude goes out to those who unfortunately perished while doing their job so we didn’t have to.

Many different organizations that support veteran affairs at any level are working on overtime.  Think about it, the more and more we come home, the more and more resources are being depleted.   We need more and we need a lot more!!  I don’t think I’m going to hold my breath while waiting for our government to take care of them.  God bless em, they’re trying as hard as they can, but it’s just a lot for them to take on in such a depressed economy.  Hopefully our government realizes what sacrifices are being made by these men and women, boys and girls in many cases, and they start to focus on that instead of making sure that a bank or two don’t go out of business.  (Just a thought)

Anyway, our economy in all it’s depressed glory is our fault. We did it, and we need to take accountability for it and move on.  Stop blaming the government, stop blaming the car manufacturers, stop blaming everyone.  We all did it.

But our troops did not.  They were too busy saving lives and taking names to screw up our economy. Remember?

Why should they have to continue to sacrifice? It’s our turn to take care of them.  Sounds like a good idea to me anyways. Why should they be left without any support when they come home because we screwed up our economy while they were away. Imagine coming home from all of that “WAR” and you can’t find a job.  You have just spent the last year or two in the desert  and now you have to come home to the United States of America and live on the street because you can’t find a job and there’s no support from good ole’ Uncle Sam.  Now imagine you are disabled, because of your efforts abroad. Not on my watch.

I know this article is a little off topic from my typical babble, but I found this to be extremely motivating, so I had to talk about it a little. I hope that’s cool with you.

I want to say a couple of words because I am guilty.  Guilty as “not charged”. I’m charging myself for not paying attention to this. I charge myself for not doing my part other than going to a veterans day parade and getting all charged and patriotic when I’ve had a couple of drinks.

See, I to, have been there. I too have stepped on those yellow footprints on Parris Island.  I have been deployed all over the world and spent my first year as a twenty one year old, in the Middle East during Desert Shield and Desert Storm.  (no beer there).  I’m not trying to gloat, I’m just trying to bare my embarrassment of not doing my part for our new troops.  When I was over in the Middle East, we would get boxes upon boxes and bags upon bags of random mail and care packages.  We were getting fan mail from all of you back home.  Hoards and hoards of schools would send us letters and packages full of things from Cassette tapes (yeah that’s right, cassette tapes), to pictures, to snacks.  If you’re reading this I bet you remember doing that as a kid or as some one’s parent.  We got more random mail than we did our own mail. Our mail took forever and a day.  (No internet back then, no FaceBook, no phones).  That was a long time ago though..

Basically my point is that if your reading this and remember writing those letters or filling those boxes, then our military must be full of those kids that were sending me letters and telling me how proud they were and how wonderful they thought what we were doing was.  Now it’s them out there and I am embarrassed to say that to some degree I have abandoned them.  Shame on me.  So thank you twice. Thanks for helping me through my time and thank you for your time. For that I can never repay you.

Luckily there are folks out there that are doing their part and doing it in a huge way.

I just heard about a guy who is walking 7,000 miles across the US in honor and in service of our returning troops. “Don’t I feel like a tool”.

SPC Troy Yocum, has decided to take a stroll across the United States with one intention, one Mission. “To further spread the word that our American Heroes are fighting just as hard at home as they do overseas.” They hope to provide a peace of mind and lay the foundation for military families in need to help them succeed. Troy will literally put one foot in front of the other, crossing the great states of America to reach people and help spread the importance of helping our military families.

Troy and his dog, Emerson Elaine Eskridge the Superdog “Emmie”, will hike 7000 miles across America while drumming to raise a goal of $5 million for struggling veterans.
On April 18th, 2010 Troy will begin a journey throughout Kentucky that will take him to several well visited areas. Troy will be hiking the bases at over 20 MLB/Minor League Baseball stadiums with the help of Louisville Slugger and Bionic Gloves and hopefully many more.

The journey will take 15 months passing through 30 states and 38 large cities. Troy will have to average over 20 miles a day while enduring each season. The idea for the hike has been evolving since Troy joined the Army in 2001 but it is now when our economy is struggling and military families are in most need that he will put one foot in front of another. STEPPING UP TO HELP.

This next excerpt was taken off of Yokum’s website:

“Our soldiers are ready at a moments notice. They don’t pick their battles, but when called to service they respond. Keeping our enemies at bay. Our heroes are champions of freedom not eager for war but willing to sacrifice.

One for the need of many. Many veterans live by this military code and have done so when our country needed it the most. Now it is our NATIONAL HEROES who need our help and its time that we all stand by them with honor.

While one soldier may miss holidays, a birthday, or a birth of a child, others may suffer mentally and develop anxiety, depression or PTSD. Some even sacrifice much more by being injured by road side bombs, being shot or taking shrapnel. Some have even had to pay the ultimate price.

In any case, we ask a lot of our men and women in uniform and when in their time of strife, who can they call on?”

That pretty much says it all as far as I am concerned.

I would personally like to thank Troy for what he is doing for the men and women who have defended our rights and will continue to do so regardless of how they get treated back home.

Twisted Stone is going to contribute 100% of all proceeds from this campaign to Troy’s mission.

If you would like to do your part in helping Troy with his mission and helping the families of thousands of veterans throughout the nation please visit Troy’s website  and make a donation of either time or money. That is up to you.

However, we will be contributing 100% of all proceeds of the Twisted Stone/Drum Hike campaign.

Anyone who buys one of the T-shirts below will be helping families of veterans throughout the US.

Again all proceeds go to Troy. We get nothing.

If you have any interest in the shirts below please click on the appropriate link, otherwise please find it in your heart to help out the cause directly and follow along with Troy and Emmie on this wonderful, dangerous and very honorable mission which they are about to embark upon.

Thanks again Troy from all of us and hopefully when you’re heading through Michigan, we will get a chance to meet up.

To Donate Directly On Troys Website Please Click Here

To Follow Troy and Emmie on their Journeys Click Here

Grocery stores are designed to work against us. They are loaded with food that looks amazing and healthy. It’s like walking into an Apple store and thinking you need one of everything, not knowing how you survived before the new iPhone and iPad (which are very cool by the way). Pretend the grocery store is a track and stay on the outside lanes, don’t go in the middle! You will find fruit, veggies, deli, and just about everything you need on the outside aisles. Once you venture down the lanes, boxes of packaged “food” will jump into your cart. I love cheddar Goldfish, Cheeze-Its, and Oreos as much as anyone. I have realized that if I buy a box, normally I’ll empty it with 12 hours single-handedly. Instead of buying the normal snacks, grab some apples, carrots, bananas, Nutella, or yogurt… and start changing your habits.

There are a ton of boxed dinners that aren’t that bad for you but wouldn’t it be more fun to make it yourself? Cooking teaches you about food and you will learn what you really enjoy. Tons of good recipes are on-line and we will start sharing some of our favorites on Twisted Stone.

The basic principle is to buy REAL food, mix it together, and eat a great meal. Learn where food comes from. Cut down on eating meat. I’m not trying to turn you into a vegetarian, just be aware of where the meat came from. If it’s from a local farm up the road, perfect. If it’s from a enormous stockyard in Oklahoma, skip it. Our bodies are pretty damn amazing but they are not made to process 90% of the food that is sold in most grocery stores. Next time you’re eating, think about the ingredients, how many there are, and if you honestly think it sounds like something we should have. Pepsi and Coke will take the rust off a nail in 24 hours! Water will not do that.

Nutrition should never be an extreme endeavor. There are way too many diets are out there, the Caveman Diet, South Beach, Low-Carb…  All you have to do is eat food you can trace the roots of and your life will change for the better. Drink more water, clean up the food, and finish the night with a great beer or glass of wine.

Have fun with your food. Cook with your roomates, friends, wives, husbands, or whoever is around, and notice the changes.

Secondly, I would like to wish you all “Happy Holidays”.  I celebrate Christmas with my family and friends so I may let a Merry Christmas slip out on occasion. Nothing wrong with that, right? So, Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas to all. It’s looking like snow for us on Christmas and that’s always a great experience, except of course if you had to travel in it.  Plan ahead, leave 2 minutes early and get to the airport on time.  Talk about FREE content. That advise is priceless and you didn’t have to pay a dime for it. Call it my Holiday gift to you. Now you won’t be late for dinner.

We have been working on a few other really great pieces of fresh content for the site for the last few months. Yes, even better than that last bit I just shared with you. We would like to post them on our site, but we were thinking about promoting a membership site instead.  Of course all of the content would be free to start and once you’re in you’re in, but we would like to eventually have a premium area on our site as well.  For now we are looking to add some training videos, diet plans, race and gear reports and maybe a forum for members to communicate with each other about there own stuff. I know there are sites like this already, but we are going to try to do some different stuff.  I’m not sure what that is yet, but that’s our plan.  Anyway, the reason for all of this babble is to find out what you guys think we should be putting in the members area.  If you have any ideas of what would make for good content, we would love to hear it.  We have a lot of great stuff coming up, but we would also like to know what you want to see, hear or read about. You will know as soon as I know when this membership thing happens. I will post it somewhere, I’m sure.  When it does happen though, you should probably try to get in while it’s all free.  It could be free forever, but who knows. Stranger things have happened.

Below is a small form to fill out if you have any ideas for the site or just want to say hello. Keep it clean, you never know who’s reading these emails.  By filling out the form below, you become an automatic member whenever we go live.  Once you’re in you’re in.  Free for life.  If you don’t have any ideas but just want to be kept in the loop and become an early member, you can fill out the form below as well, just to say hello.  By filling out the form below you would be helping us out tremendously.  I know, I’m always asking for favors, but this is the last one. For now.

So help us out, let us know what you would like to see, hear or read about and we will try to do just that. Remember, this is about mountain biking, any type of mountain biking.  XC, DH, Tandem, Freeride, Endurance, Extreme, you get the point. Anything and everything that has to do with Mountain Biking and all things mountain biking. Plus some great cross-training fun stuff too. Please note that we may publish your question or suggestion in our blog if we think that there are more of our members who may show some interest. We may use your first name to credit your your input.  (Your email will NEVER be published)

Thanks in advance and Happy Holidays

Uli (T. Stone)

Yes Please!!

I’m not sure what the correlation between mountain biking and beer is, but I like. I like it a lot. Remember in the movie “Old School” starring Will Farrell, the part when he’s sitting under the beer bong at the frat party and he says, “It just tastes so good when it first hits your lips.”  He is sooo right.  That first sip of beer after an epic ride is like the cold nectar’s of the gods. Even if it has been sitting in your truck for the last couple of hours under the sun, it still tastes like a small slice of heaven in a bottle. Cold or not, drinking a beer after an extremely grueling ride has become one of my favorite past times.  Unfortunately, the more I ride the more I drink it. It’s like an endless cycle. (no pun intended)

There’s no doubt that many great accomplishments such as a long trail ride should be rewarded with some bottle clinking, but is there more to it? Is it more than the mere comradery of the ride or the fact that it just taste’s so damn good? Do our bodies actually crave it? I know mine does. Sure, a nice drink of water after a ride is a great idea, but most of the time I just bypass the water and go straight for the Belgium White, or the Pale Ale. What is it about beer that just makes you want to drink it?

One thing’s for sure, beer is is more than 90% water, and since we’re about 80% water, give or take a percent or two, we can be very well drawn to each other by the laws of attraction. Haven’t you heard the saying “like attracts like” or “Birds of a feather flock together”?  Anyway, being that beer is mostly water, that means it contains a lot of minerals that we often miss out due to bottled and filtered water. Beer is certainly no replacement for water, but it is full of much needed nutrients and minerals after a hard physical activity such as mountain biking.

Some claim that drinking beer is also good for the heart. Certain studies show that drinking beer in moderation can reduce your cholesterol levels and increase the level of antioxidants in your body. So dump the wine and instead go out and crush yourself on a bike ride and drink a moderate beer or two. Your heart will thank you. I know that I always feel the love after knocking a few delicious beers back after a ride.

Another reason for mountain bikers to enjoy a nice beer after a workout is that beer does not contain fat. That’s right. No fat. What about my beer belly then? Well hopefully you ride enough so that your beer belly is almost gone. But, beer bellies are not caused by beer. Well directly anyways. Beer belly’s are caused from the alcohol in the beer, but since beer is really low in alcohol you have to drink a lot of beer to get a beer belly. The alcohol in the beer is a diuretic, which dehydrates you, which in turn reduces or slows down your metabolism. I think that’s how it works. Again, I’m no expert, it’s just what I’ve been told.

The theory of carb loading is also valid in this scenario. Consuming carbs within 15 minutes of a grueling workout is crucial to the recovery process of your muscles. Eating or drinking a high carb snack after a workout can make all the difference in refueling your body. The longer you wait the less of a benefit you get. So drink up.

I don’t want to sound like beer is the cure all for a tired and blown out body after an intense workout, but it sure does taste good, has some real health benefits and really brings a social aspect to the joy of riding.  Of course always remember that all things are good in moderation, and consult a physician prior to any extensive workouts.

So whether you’re out riding for a long time and have climbed to your hearts content, or are just tooling around in the back woods in your neighborhood, remember to always keep a beer handy for after your ride, it’s good for you. But why would you listen to me? I’m not a doctor nor do I play one on TV.

Next time we’ll discuss the different types of beers that cater to our little world.

Here’s to your health. Cheers.

T.Stone

As an athlete you want to be the best you can. To reach the top you need to train, train, and train and train again. But what do you need to train and how do you train? A specific training program designed for your specific needs is the answer. Every type of sports differs, when you want to shoot for the top, details make the difference. You as an athlete are unique, your body is unique and that’s what gives you the edge. But you have to know what your strong points are and your weaknesses are.

To know what your strong points and weaknesses are, you need to understand the basics. Every athlete and trainer in your type of sport has knowledge of what is the best basic training program. This is based on knowledge gained over the past years. Athletes and trainers in the past have tried different programs and strategies to learn with the goal to become the best. Understanding the basics will make you understand what you need to do next. You need to benefit from this knowledge by learning the basics and fully understand them and then pick out those topics can give you an extra edge. You can only benefit if you understand your body and the type of sport your in.

When it comes to sports nutrition programs the same logic applies. You must benefit from knowledge that has been gained over the past years. The supplements in these programs can give you that little bit extra. Although this can be true you will need to consult a specialized physician. The physician can tell you if these supplements are beneficial for you and if they are really needed.

If you work out every day of the week, recovery is very important. The body needs to recover after intense training and competition. There are drinks available containing carbohydrates and protein that are really beneficial. The protein will help the muscles recover faster from workouts, enhance the immune system, and elicit a positive response in spite of stress during training. The carbohydrates will refuel the muscle and restore the glucose supply in the muscle.

While training, the cells will be damaged by free radicals. The intake of multivitamins and antioxidants can help the cells to restore and fight the amounts of free radical that have entered the body.

Energy drinks or energy gels must contain carbohydrates which are known to sustain energy in spite of regular stressful and tiring trainings. Carbohydrates also replenish the fatigued muscle and liver glycogen and prevent dehydration.

Supplemental protein must be taken in as well as it promotes muscle recovery, enhances the immune system, and makes one stronger in spite of stress. Both carbohydrates and protein must be taken in during or in-between heavy workouts. Multivitamins and antioxidants are equally essential as well as high performance products.

HMB supplements are mostly recommended as they have been proven to significantly improve aerobic endurance, hasten recovery from stress, and reduce levels of fat in the body. Furthermore, fats in the body are further reduced if the supplements are coupled with Carnitine.

Although many products in sports nutrition programs for different types of sports are the same, the difference lies in the amount, timing, and regularity of intake of the supplements. These products will only give the best results when you understand how they work and when you need to take them. Always consult a sports physician who can help determine your specific needs.

Author Resource:-> Bryan Wong is the owner of the nutrition website

www.GetEasyInfo.com/nutrition > – A great website that shares quality Info, News and TIPS on Nutrition. Get Free good food for athletes recipes at => http://www.GetEasyInfo.com/nutrition

Article From ArticleSlide.com

Nutrition and sports performance is a complex and essential relationship for serious sports men and women to understand and it can help them achieve success in their chosen sport. Sports nutrition also aids injury prevention and speeds up recovery times from an injury. The correct diet and fluid intake coupled with appropriate training is the difference between winning and losing. Fueling the body with the right nutrition can be key to success.

Good sports nutrition promotes brain function and muscle activity. Physical training and performance requires the right diet (quantity and quality) that will provide the athlete with energy. Each sport has its own individual requirements as does each individual sports man and woman. These requirements dictate the nutritional demands of training and competition. Sports nutrition applies scientific methods to the applications of the sport to provide a diet that meets the needs of both athlete and discipline.

Sports performance is fundamentally affected by dehydration. The importance of water and fluid replacement in sports nutrition is paramount to supporting the activity of tissue cells in the body. These cells carry nutrients and oxygen around the body, eliminating toxins and removing excess body heat. During physical exercise, body heat increases and water is lost through evaporation or sweating. In hot environments, sports activity can attribute to sweat losses of 4-5 pints an hour. Water loss is partly offset by metabolic water produced from proteins, carbohydrates and fat metabolising in the body. However, sports nutrition dictates that hydrating the body properly requires fluid intake before, during and after activity.

A sports nutritionist will calculate fluid losses by measuring body weight before and after a session to determine how much fluid is required. Optimum levels should never be exceeded as overloading on fluids can lead to stomach discomfort and breathing difficulties during the activity. Modern sports nutrition recommends special carbohydrate-electrolyte drinks for intense activity that has a longer duration but water is typically recommended for low to moderate level activity.

A diet rich in carbohydrate and low in fat improves long-term and short-term sports performance. High-intensity exercise requires more carbohydrates to ensure the liver and muscle glycogen levels are high. High liver and muscle glycogen levels improve performance and glycogen present in the liver is a source of glucose for the brain (important for concentration, alertness and reaction time). A wide range of carbohydrates are required to ensure essential vitamins and minerals are present. Potatoes, bananas, pasta, bread, vegetables, cereals and porridge are a good source of carbs for sport.

Protein plays an important role in sports nutrition by building muscle and repairing it. Athletes should aim to eat a range of foods that will provide the necessary levels of protein. Foods such as lean meat, fish, eggs, beans and pulses, milk, yoghurt, cheese and cereals will provide protein needs. High protein sports nutrition does not necessarily lead to greater muscle mass as excess protein in the body is metabolised or excreted. The extra amount of food required for sport is usually enough to provide the correct intake of protein without resorting to increased portions or protein supplements. High-protein diets can be expensive and will decrease the bank balance before increasing muscle mass. A good sports nutritionist can ensure there are adequate nutrients and calories for an athlete to support the requirements of their sport.

About the Author:

Shaun Parker is a leading nutritionist and dietician in London, with many years of experience.

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – Sports Nutrition, Success Fuel

The key to riding long distances is food and drink.

Sure, training is important—but nutrition and hydration are even more vital. According to ultramarathon rider and coach John Hughes of Boulder, Colorado, “Nutrition, not necessarily training, is the limiting factor in endurance cycling.”

The reason? Even the best-trained riders pack only enough muscle fuel (glycogen) for a couple of hours of hard cycling. Fluid stores vanish even faster.

For everything from century rides to multi-day tours, remember these time-tested tips: 

• Enjoy the Last Supper. Eat aggressively the night before a long ride so your muscles are crammed with glycogen the next morning. Emphasize carbohydrates such as pasta, vegetables, bread, whole grains, and fruit. Don’t forget dessert!

• Don’t Skip Breakfast. Cycling’s smooth pedaling motion means you can eat just before a long ride without risking stomach upset. You’ll need a full tank. Cycling consumes about 40 calories per mile, or 4,000 calories in a century ride.

Three hours before the start, eat about 60 grams of carbohydrate if you’re an average-sized woman, 80 to 100 if you’re a man. (Cereal, skim milk, a banana, and a bagel with jam equals about 90 grams of carb.) Many riders find that adding some protein and fat, like scrambled eggs or an omelet, keeps their stomach satisfied longer.

• Prehydrate. Fluids are as important as food. Drink at least eight big glasses of water the day before the ride. If you don’t, your performance and comfort may plummet by mile 50. During the hour before the ride, sip 16 ounces of a sports drink.

• Eat and Drink During the Ride. Drink before you feel thirsty. Your sensation of thirst lags behind your need for liquid, so grab your bottle every 15 minutes and take a couple of big swallow (about four ounces). About every 30 minutes, eat 20 grams of carbohydrate—the equivalent of half an energy bar, several fig bars or half a banana. Some riders prefer smaller portions more frequently.

On unsupported rides, use a backpack-style hydration system and carry food in your pockets. Stop at convenience stores along the way, if necessary. Most organized rides have aid stations every 20 miles or so, but always carry food and fluid just in case.

• Hydrate After the Ride. No matter how much you drink on a long ride you’ll finish dehydrated. Weigh yourself before and after, then compare the figures. Lost weight means you’ve failed to replace the fluid you’ve sweated out. Drink 20 ounces of water or sports drink for each lost pound of bodyweight.

How do you know you’ve caught up? Your urine will be pale and plentiful, and your weight will be back to normal. Rehydrating is especially vital during multiday rides. If you get a little behind each day, by the end of the week you’ll be severely dehydrated, feeling lousy, and riding poorly.

• Eat for Tomorrow. Muscles replace glycogen better if you consume carbohydrate immediately after riding. So within 15 minutes of getting off the bike, eat or drink 60 grams of carbohydrate (if you’re an average-sized woman) or 80 to 100 grams if you’re an average male.

The re-fueling process becomes progressively less efficient as time passes. Eat or drink a high-carb snack while chewing the fat with your riding buddies.

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