AboutBrad J Loomis Expertise I am a WNBF professional bodybuilder and fitness trainer who is well versed in Exercise Physiology and Kinesiology. I am equally well versed in muscle hypertrophy and fat reduction. I have coached male, female, and teenage competitors all to top 5 finishes, 2 with class wins. Competition prep and posing are other subjects I love to teach. I am very good with nutrition, but will admit that I am not a dietician. I hold a Bachelors Degree in Radiologic Science, a Personal Training Certification with the IDEA Health and Fitness Association and am a certified RKC (Russian Kettlebell Challenge) Instructor. I am most knowledgeable in Anatomy, kinesiology and Exercise Execution, especially Compound and Isolation free weight exercises. I also love to answer questions about motivation.
Experience I have won 3 overall titles with the ABA/INBA and several class wins. In August 2008 I won the Overall title for the INBF Washington State Natural Bodybuilding Championships earning my WNBF Pro Card. I have owned and operated "Healthy Bodies Fitness" in Portola, CA for 6 years. During that time I have taught literally hundreds of clients in nearly every way. You name it and I have used it as an avenue for coaching/teaching. One on one personal training, seminars, 10 week challenges, week long courses, group training, step aerobics, what ever it takes to spread the word of health and fitness and keep my business thriving in a small community. I have also authored a book "Design your own NUTRITION" which is being represented by ST Literary Agency.
Organizations I.N.B.F (International Natural Bodybuilding Federation) ABA/INBA (www.naturalbodybuilding.com)RKC I (www.dragondoor.com)
A.R.R.T (American Registry of Radiologic Technologists)IDEA Health and Fitness Association
Publications March 2007 Issue of IDEA Fitness Journal (Member Spotlight)AST Sports Science Website (Interviewed by IFBB Pro Jeff Willet)
Local Paper "Portola Reporter"
Education/Credentials My background is in Health Care. I earned my Bachelors in Radiologic Science and have worked in Diagnostic Imaging for 13 years, thus my vast knowledge of anatomy. I am an RKC Certified Instructor and have a personal training certification with IDEA Health and Fitness Association. The rest of my knowledge comes from frequently reading the journals of The American College of Sports Medicine and American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. There are other journals out there, but those are my favorites.
Awards and Honors As I mentioned above, I am a 7x Natural Body Building Champion.
2003 Novice Overall Champion ABA/INBA Northern Nevada Natural
2004 Open Medium height division winner ABA/INBA Western USA Natural
2006 Open Overall Champion ABA/INBA Naturals Nationals
2007 Open Short class winner ABA/INBA Mr. Millenium and Mr. Reno
2008 Open Overall Champion ABA/INBA Mr. Millenium
2008 Open Middleweight winner INBF Capital City Naturals
2008 Open Overall Champion INBF Washington State Naturals(Earned WNBF Pro Status)
Past/Present Clients To many to list, but I am especially proud to have done consulting with Tony Bennett.
Expert: Brad J Loomis Date: 7/19/2008 Subject: How to lift weights and wood cuts
Question Hey Brad,
I have two unrelated weight training questions- I hope you don't mind.
First off, I heard that when lifting weights, say dumbbell curls, one should lift (contract the biceps) as quickly as you can, but then as slowly as you can release the weight to its starting position. Is this true? If so, why does this help build muscle?
Secondly, when doing oblique wood chops on a Freemotion cable cross machine, suppose I'm chopping from my top-right towards my bottom-left, which oblique am i working? The left or the right one? And suppose I'm chopping from my bottom-left to my top-right, which oblique am I working?
Thanks,
James.
Answer Hi James, and thanks for writing.
The way you describe is how you should lift on every exercise. This is just the basics of exercise physiology and kinesiology. The weight should be heavy enough the you allow the muscle to SLOWLY stretch on the eccentric or elongation phase of the exercise. AKA the downward part of a curl. Then with force, you contract the muscle HARD during the concentric of lifting phase. This is natural for the human body as long as the weight is heavy enough to get the most out of both phases. Even when you contract, the weight should not just "fly" up, if it does the weight is either to light, or more reps need to be done. Even though you are shoving the weight as hard as you can, the muscles should be so overloaded that they are barely able to complete the rep.
On the "wood chops" I am hardly the expert on those as I never do, or teach them. To be honest I question weather those are very effective to begin with. Taking into consideration basic kinesiolgy though, when you are chopping from your left to your right, you should be contracting the right oblique, intercostal, hip flexor etc. It should not matter if it high to low, or low to high, if you are twisting you core from your left to your right, it is your right hip, intercostal, hip flexor etc doing the work.
