Continuum Performance

BE ABOUT IT

If the shoe fits wear it!
Eric Belliveau • December 19, 2018

My first question to you is what type of shoes are you training in? Are they specific for the type of training that you do day in and day out? Think about it for a second. Now think about this, would you wear a basketball sneaker to run in? No probably not. If you are primarily training in a weight room then this may be some insight for you!

If you are primarily a weightlifter and are regularly performing any of the Olympic lifts (cleans, jerks, snatches) and are squatting then you might want to invest in a pair of weight lifting shoes. The average running shoe just doesn’t cut it, they are designed to absorb force and create a comfortable platform between your foot and the pavement.

Weight lifting shoes are designed to allow you to use all the force you can apply into the ground. The more force you can apply into the ground the more weight you can lift! The raised heel in weight lifting shoes gives you an advantage through increasing your ankle range of motion. The heel is designed to allow you to have a more upright torso while squatting which can then create a better activation of the correct musculature during the movement. They are also more stable than your average running shoe. This allows you to have a more consistent base to push or pull through during your lifts. Now there are many different brands of weightlifting shoes (I own a pair of inov8 fast lifts) so it would be personal preference based on your own foot and comfort for which one would be the best for you!

If your primary training consisted of some barbell movements, among many other movements, and does not consist of Olympic lifts then a cross trainer or "training sneaker" might be your best bet for a training shoe choice. A good cross trainer will have the qualities of a firm heel, good support (not too flimsy) and light weight. Again, these are more durable and stable than your average running shoe. Your training shoe should just be your training shoe.

The biggest difference that you will find with a training shoe is that it is designed with more lateral support and stability as well as more flexibility in the forefoot, as compared to a running shoe that is designed for primarily forward motion of heel to toe striking.

From my personal experience I will never train in a regular running shoe ever again after training and lifting in a cross trainer (I own a pair of Nike metcons). I feel more stable and honestly more comfortable during my workouts. This is not an advertisement to go but a pair of Nike metcons.

I do want you to think about what you do for your daily/weekly training and workouts. Do you have any ankle, knee and or hip pain? It might be time for a new pair of shoes that can help you bring your training to the next level! Also it's an excuse to buy a new pair of shoes. Who doesn’t like that! #Beaboutit

The Meat Hangover

By Eric Belliveau • October 7, 2020
When it comes to taking meat out of your diet, some people have the idea that they will only see positive changes immediately following this choice. While those positive changes are definitely part of the deal, so is an adjustment period for your body.

We're Trying

By Eric Belliveau • September 23, 2020
We were all thrown on this crazy ride together. Emotions were running high but so were patience, empathy, inclusion, and respect. Most of us could rally behind the #WeAreInThisTogether manta. We wanted to do right by each other - donate to charities, lend a hand, check-in on one another. Do our part. As the days turn to weeks and the weeks into months these dispositions decayed rapidly. I know that this Quarantine order has been going on for a long time. I know that a great number of us do not agree on the why. I know an even greater number of us are “over it”. I am painfully aware of the difference of opinions surrounding the pandemic. It is impossible to NOT be aware of this. This leads us all to frustration, anger, resentment, and the feeling that you are not being heard. Very real and very human emotions! It is okay to feel this way. I am not only writing this from the perspective of a fellow struggling human. I do find myself struggling with everything I mentioned above. Not just daily but multiple times a day. My ability to focus has been challenged by my worry. My ability to create time for myself and focus on self-care has been derailed for fear of other things becoming more pressing. I work on this every day. I am not only writing this from the perspective of one of the business owners who were never given a playbook for this. For weeks on end I thought WTF happened to the business and how would our model need to change and remain viable, how each business owner had to either weather a period in which we were completely shut down or allowed to operate under capacity restrictions, etc. The unknown of what the timeline would bring and whether we would be able to continue our dreams or make an extremely difficult decision of not continuing. This still haunts every one of us daily. I AM very much writing this as a service provider! I am writing this as an impassioned human who genuinely loves what I do for a living. I feel incredibly lucky to be able to have built a career surrounding something I get excited about every day. I am making a stand for all of us that make their living in the service industry. To the receptionist, hostess, waiter, cook, dry cleaner, teacher, technician, barista, utility worker, automobile service technician… It is truly impossible to be inclusive of everyone here.  No one human mentioned above asked for this ‘situation’ we are in. We are sure as hell trying to provide a level of normalcy, service, care, and happiness to the lives in which we choose to serve. With added restrictions, added expense decreased capacity and the fear of being fined or shut down for doing it incorrectly, everyday.

The Meat Hangover

By Eric Belliveau • October 7, 2020
When it comes to taking meat out of your diet, some people have the idea that they will only see positive changes immediately following this choice. While those positive changes are definitely part of the deal, so is an adjustment period for your body.

We're Trying

By Eric Belliveau • September 23, 2020
We were all thrown on this crazy ride together. Emotions were running high but so were patience, empathy, inclusion, and respect. Most of us could rally behind the #WeAreInThisTogether manta. We wanted to do right by each other - donate to charities, lend a hand, check-in on one another. Do our part. As the days turn to weeks and the weeks into months these dispositions decayed rapidly. I know that this Quarantine order has been going on for a long time. I know that a great number of us do not agree on the why. I know an even greater number of us are “over it”. I am painfully aware of the difference of opinions surrounding the pandemic. It is impossible to NOT be aware of this. This leads us all to frustration, anger, resentment, and the feeling that you are not being heard. Very real and very human emotions! It is okay to feel this way. I am not only writing this from the perspective of a fellow struggling human. I do find myself struggling with everything I mentioned above. Not just daily but multiple times a day. My ability to focus has been challenged by my worry. My ability to create time for myself and focus on self-care has been derailed for fear of other things becoming more pressing. I work on this every day. I am not only writing this from the perspective of one of the business owners who were never given a playbook for this. For weeks on end I thought WTF happened to the business and how would our model need to change and remain viable, how each business owner had to either weather a period in which we were completely shut down or allowed to operate under capacity restrictions, etc. The unknown of what the timeline would bring and whether we would be able to continue our dreams or make an extremely difficult decision of not continuing. This still haunts every one of us daily. I AM very much writing this as a service provider! I am writing this as an impassioned human who genuinely loves what I do for a living. I feel incredibly lucky to be able to have built a career surrounding something I get excited about every day. I am making a stand for all of us that make their living in the service industry. To the receptionist, hostess, waiter, cook, dry cleaner, teacher, technician, barista, utility worker, automobile service technician… It is truly impossible to be inclusive of everyone here.  No one human mentioned above asked for this ‘situation’ we are in. We are sure as hell trying to provide a level of normalcy, service, care, and happiness to the lives in which we choose to serve. With added restrictions, added expense decreased capacity and the fear of being fined or shut down for doing it incorrectly, everyday.
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