Lacking Money in Building a Fitness Center
But money is the key variable in his equation for success, and it's something that he hasn't yet received. Although almost all of the major companies send him equipment, and though he lectures both nationally and internationally on sports training and the abuse of steroids, he hasn't yet received the backing necessary to create the Institute he envisions. "Eventually we're hoping, because of all the media exposure, some Fortune 500 companies will associate themselves with us," he says. "Because we're doing good things that are good for the industry, and good for the health of America, we're looking for people who will help us."
"With a million we could have a toll-free number, a newsletter, educational seminars, rotating seminars, special conferences, video tapes, pamphlets--and that's to do it right," he says. With that much money he could also hire a full-time researcher and a staff. Goldman says he's already put several hundred thousand dollars into the project, money earned from his practice, lecturing, his salary as a clinical instructor at the college, and from book royalties. He estimates that he needs at least $150,000 a year just to maintain the facility.
Most manufacturers agree that a watchdog organization is needed and that Goldman is the man for the job. "The technology, particularly in electronic equipment, is progressing so fast that the buyers don't even have the technical background to develop an opinion," says Michael Hoffman, Corporate Communications Manager for Life Fitness, the makers of Bally equipment.
"He offers third party validation of our machines," says Paul Bryne, Vice President of Marketing and Sales at Precor. "It's a lot better than having someone in the company do the testing." Tom Doyle, Director of Research and Information for the National Sporting Goods Association feels the same way. "Anytime you have someone who is outside the industry, who is not a manufacturer, providing independent data, that's good. It's good for manufacturers and consumers."
Some of Goldman's colleagues, however, are unenthusiastic about his qualifications for his self-appointed role. "I'm not quite sure that someone like Dr. Goldman setting up an independent watchdog sort of bureau is the way to go," says Peter Raven, Ph.D., President of the American College of Sports Medicine. Goldman is criticized for his unscientific evaluations. "As far as I know, he hasn't published (his equipment evaluations) in any scientific journals," says Jim Skinner, Ph.D., Director of The Exercise and Sport Research Institute at Arizona State. "He should go to a forum where he can be questioned by his peers."
Goldman shrugs off the criticism by saying, "We're still in the infantile stage of our research. We hope, in the future, to do physiological studies, but at this point in time, our reports are prospective" (which means they haven't been completed).
Goldman, despite his critics, is good communicator and applied researcher. His lectures on fitness training and anabolic steroids have taken him to Spain, Japan, and Australia and he is a voice in the industry. "All the industry players want to have him like them," says Hoffman of Life Fitness. "But he's got to make a decision. If a product is poor, he has to say that... He's got a choice. He can either stay generic or become a Ralph Nader. I don't think he'll have a value if he's generic."
Goldman has remained neutral rather than writing about equipment that doesn't pass his tests. "I don't want to waste copy space by saying how bad something is," says Goldman. We're not in the industry to hurt people. Manufacturers are damaged only by exclusion."
Yet Raven believes that Goldman is on the right track, and this is the way he could please both the manufacturers and the critics. "People want to know, if you want to build up your shoulders, which equipment is the most effective," he says. "It sounds basic, but this is needed." And this is where Goldman is probably most comfortable. "Basically I'm a jock," he says. "I just happen to be in medicine. I'm really more of an athlete than I am a physician."
"With a million we could have a toll-free number, a newsletter, educational seminars, rotating seminars, special conferences, video tapes, pamphlets--and that's to do it right," he says. With that much money he could also hire a full-time researcher and a staff. Goldman says he's already put several hundred thousand dollars into the project, money earned from his practice, lecturing, his salary as a clinical instructor at the college, and from book royalties. He estimates that he needs at least $150,000 a year just to maintain the facility.
Most manufacturers agree that a watchdog organization is needed and that Goldman is the man for the job. "The technology, particularly in electronic equipment, is progressing so fast that the buyers don't even have the technical background to develop an opinion," says Michael Hoffman, Corporate Communications Manager for Life Fitness, the makers of Bally equipment.
"He offers third party validation of our machines," says Paul Bryne, Vice President of Marketing and Sales at Precor. "It's a lot better than having someone in the company do the testing." Tom Doyle, Director of Research and Information for the National Sporting Goods Association feels the same way. "Anytime you have someone who is outside the industry, who is not a manufacturer, providing independent data, that's good. It's good for manufacturers and consumers."
Some of Goldman's colleagues, however, are unenthusiastic about his qualifications for his self-appointed role. "I'm not quite sure that someone like Dr. Goldman setting up an independent watchdog sort of bureau is the way to go," says Peter Raven, Ph.D., President of the American College of Sports Medicine. Goldman is criticized for his unscientific evaluations. "As far as I know, he hasn't published (his equipment evaluations) in any scientific journals," says Jim Skinner, Ph.D., Director of The Exercise and Sport Research Institute at Arizona State. "He should go to a forum where he can be questioned by his peers."
Goldman shrugs off the criticism by saying, "We're still in the infantile stage of our research. We hope, in the future, to do physiological studies, but at this point in time, our reports are prospective" (which means they haven't been completed).
Goldman, despite his critics, is good communicator and applied researcher. His lectures on fitness training and anabolic steroids have taken him to Spain, Japan, and Australia and he is a voice in the industry. "All the industry players want to have him like them," says Hoffman of Life Fitness. "But he's got to make a decision. If a product is poor, he has to say that... He's got a choice. He can either stay generic or become a Ralph Nader. I don't think he'll have a value if he's generic."
Goldman has remained neutral rather than writing about equipment that doesn't pass his tests. "I don't want to waste copy space by saying how bad something is," says Goldman. We're not in the industry to hurt people. Manufacturers are damaged only by exclusion."
Yet Raven believes that Goldman is on the right track, and this is the way he could please both the manufacturers and the critics. "People want to know, if you want to build up your shoulders, which equipment is the most effective," he says. "It sounds basic, but this is needed." And this is where Goldman is probably most comfortable. "Basically I'm a jock," he says. "I just happen to be in medicine. I'm really more of an athlete than I am a physician."
How to build yourself the perfect six-pack stomach
Are you health-conscious but too busy to go to the gym? Looking for a way to work off a few unwanted ounces? In the first of a daily series of collectible articles, Jennai Cox, The Times fitness editor, has some valuable advice.
In their active search for a better body, men and women are divided into halves, roughly at around the waist. While men seek perfection from the stomach up, the female
focus tends to be on what lies around the hips and below and use ab machines. In the area in-between, however, they share an interest: almost everybody wants a flatter tummy.
Sleeker abdominal muscles certainly look more attractive, but they also perform an important function. Along with the lower back muscles our abdominal muscles help to keep us upright.
"The spine is like a tent pole and the muscles which surround it are the guide ropes providing stability," says James Marshall, a sports consultant and exercise instructor. "They also facilitate movement, allowing us to twist, jump, move
forwards and back. Without strong "abs" we are more prone to falls and injury."
Because the average person fails to use them as much as they should, the shape of the abdominals often disappears. Women lose 0.5lb of lean body tissue and put on 1lb of weight per year from the age of 14, resulting in a net increase, by the time they are 21, of 10.5lbs. The effect occurs later in men, mainly in their 20s, but if either are inactive the situation is even worse.
"Part of the problem is we are not naturally as active as children anymore," says Marshall. "Some people have never even learnt how to use their abdominal muscles. Learning, or relearning, how to access and put them to work is a start to
achieving a better looking stomach."
This five-day set of exercises, the last of which appears on Friday, will start you on your way to a more taut tummy. Collect each exercise and follow them at least three times every week. Remember to stay hydrated and avoid exercising on a full
stomach or first thing in the morning, when you are probably at your stiffest. Warm-up by ensuring that you have been fairly active for five to 10 minutes prior to the session.
The first step in this exercise is the pelvic tilt. First lie on your back with your knees bent and your feet flat on the floor. Slowly contract your stomach muscles until your pelvis tilts forwards.
Maintaining this tilted position, place your hands on your thighs and move them towards your knees. This will cause you to raise your shoulders.
Lower your torso again slowly and repeat the movement up to 30 times. By the time you have finished your abdominal muscles should feel suitably worked, although you should cease the workout if you feel any discomfort.
Tomorrow: the Dorsal Raise
The next stage in our five-day exercise plan will help to tighten not just your abdominals but also your gluteal muscles (they are the ones in your buttocks) and back muscles. Talk to your GP before beginning a new exercise regime. Do not attempt physical activity if you are unwell or recuperating. It's best to discuess your workout routine with your trainer for more effective weight management.
In their active search for a better body, men and women are divided into halves, roughly at around the waist. While men seek perfection from the stomach up, the female
focus tends to be on what lies around the hips and below and use ab machines. In the area in-between, however, they share an interest: almost everybody wants a flatter tummy.
Sleeker abdominal muscles certainly look more attractive, but they also perform an important function. Along with the lower back muscles our abdominal muscles help to keep us upright.
"The spine is like a tent pole and the muscles which surround it are the guide ropes providing stability," says James Marshall, a sports consultant and exercise instructor. "They also facilitate movement, allowing us to twist, jump, move
forwards and back. Without strong "abs" we are more prone to falls and injury."
Because the average person fails to use them as much as they should, the shape of the abdominals often disappears. Women lose 0.5lb of lean body tissue and put on 1lb of weight per year from the age of 14, resulting in a net increase, by the time they are 21, of 10.5lbs. The effect occurs later in men, mainly in their 20s, but if either are inactive the situation is even worse.
"Part of the problem is we are not naturally as active as children anymore," says Marshall. "Some people have never even learnt how to use their abdominal muscles. Learning, or relearning, how to access and put them to work is a start to
achieving a better looking stomach."
This five-day set of exercises, the last of which appears on Friday, will start you on your way to a more taut tummy. Collect each exercise and follow them at least three times every week. Remember to stay hydrated and avoid exercising on a full
stomach or first thing in the morning, when you are probably at your stiffest. Warm-up by ensuring that you have been fairly active for five to 10 minutes prior to the session.
The first step in this exercise is the pelvic tilt. First lie on your back with your knees bent and your feet flat on the floor. Slowly contract your stomach muscles until your pelvis tilts forwards.
Maintaining this tilted position, place your hands on your thighs and move them towards your knees. This will cause you to raise your shoulders.
Lower your torso again slowly and repeat the movement up to 30 times. By the time you have finished your abdominal muscles should feel suitably worked, although you should cease the workout if you feel any discomfort.
Tomorrow: the Dorsal Raise
The next stage in our five-day exercise plan will help to tighten not just your abdominals but also your gluteal muscles (they are the ones in your buttocks) and back muscles. Talk to your GP before beginning a new exercise regime. Do not attempt physical activity if you are unwell or recuperating. It's best to discuess your workout routine with your trainer for more effective weight management.