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Archive for the ‘Fitness’ Category

Get in Shape and Build Muscle Fast With Proper Goal Setting

Friday, December 4th, 2009
get in shape
Derek Manuel asked:


Goal setting is one of the greatest keys to success of all time. Think of goals like road maps. If you don’t have a destination, how will you get anywhere? When you know exactly where you want to go, it is much easier to plan out and execute.

Goals, especially when written down and given a deadline, build your motivation and persistence. When you can picture yourself in the future of how you want to look and when you want to achieve it by, it will create a burning desire and faith to achieve it.

So how should you set your goals to get in shape and build muscle fast? One of the best methods of goal setting is a formula taken from Napoleon Hill’s fabulous book, “Think and Grow Rich.” It consists of six steps:

Napoleon Hill’s Six Step Formula for

Success Step 1: Define exactly what it is you desire

Step 2: Determine exactly what it is you intend to give in return for your desire

Step 3: Establish a definite date when you intend to accomplish your desire

Step 4: Create a definite plan of how you will carry out your desire

Step 5: Write a clear and concise statement of exactly what it is you desire, what you intend to give in return, how you plan to carry out your desire, and the exact date when you intend to accomplish your desire

Step 6: Read allowed your written statement at least twice daily, once in the morning, and once before going to bed.

Let’s go with the above example of wanting to gain 25 pounds of muscle and plug it into these six steps. You will notice I use the word “will” instead of the word “want.” This is because wanting something implies you may not get it. Saying that you will get something forces your subconscious mind to act accordingly. This may sound silly or ridiculous to those who are new to this type of concept, but trust me, it works!

Example:

Step 1: I will gain 25 pounds of muscle

Step 2: I will commit myself to weight training and proper dieting consistently until my goal is reached

Step 3: I will reach my goal on June 1st, 8 weeks from today

Step 4: (Here, for instance, will be the workout program from my book)

Step 5: “By the first day of June, 8 weeks from today, I will have an additional 25 pounds of muscle on my body, which will come to me throughout the 8 week period. In return for this new muscle, I will commit myself to weight training and proper dieting consistently until my goal is reached. I believe that I will gain this muscle. My faith is so strong that I can picture myself exactly how I will look with it.”

By following this proven formula for success, you will be engraving in your subconscious mind what it is you intend to accomplish. When it is really ingrained in your subconscious mind, it will create a state of faith and desire that is so strong that nothing can stop you.

Writing your goals down is always much more effective then just keeping them in your head. When you have a goal in your head, it tends to have more of a wish or hope effect, aimlessly floating around within your mind without any sense of urgency of action. When you write it down, you give it concrete form, you make it tangible.

The difference between dreams and goals is that goals have deadlines. When you write your dreams down and give it a deadline, you have created a goal; you have created urgency, something you can begin moving towards right now with whatever tools you have to work with.

If you truly want to get in shape and build muscle then start writing out your goals today. Follow this formula for goal setting combined with the correct work out routines for muscle building and the battle will already be half fought.



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Treadmill weight loss workouts to build a leaner, healthy and fit body.

Friday, November 13th, 2009
weight loss
Saurya Ghosal asked:


ill weight loss is one of the more successful methods of losing weight. Treadmill weight loss helps individuals to loose weight by implementing workout routines on a treadmill machine. A treadmill weight loss workout enables user to build a healthy and fit body. Doctors, medical specialists, gym trainers and health specialists provide treadmill weight loss workout tips to individuals who desire to lose weight, build body sculptures and get into shape.

Treadmill walking workouts for weight loss have consistently provided quality results and lasting benefits. These exercises allow people to work at their own pace to burn calories effectively.

Using a good treadmill workout program has worked for many people and individuals. Treadmill workouts not only enable users to lose weight but also help users to maintain their weight loss. Treadmill weight loss is achieved by performing workouts on treadmills by virtually any age group and individuals of any activity level.

It helps people to lose weight and maintain weight loss by implementing a treadmill workout routine. A sensible, healthy and planned diet that will help users to shed their weight by unwanted pounds is implemented with along with the workout. While performing workouts on treadmills to reach treadmill weight loss targets, users need to be consistent in their planned workouts. Treadmill weight loss can be achieved if the user spends a certain length of time on the treadmill machine.

Treadmill weight loss workouts make the user walk or jog on a treadmill for certain time length and at least 5-6 days per week. Treadmill weight loss requires workouts that user spends 45 minutes or more per session on a treadmill machine. Consistency in treadmill workouts is the key to the success of treadmill weight loss.
Initially treadmill weight loss workout starts at a nice and easy pace but over the period of time the intensity and length of the workouts is increased to achieve the targets of treadmill weight loss exercise. During treadmill weight loss workout users need to keep in mind that they have their body moving for as long and fast as they can and still remain comfortable. The faster the pace during treadmill weight loss workouts on a treadmill, the more calories will be burned which will eventually lead to weight loss. Regular workouts on a treadmill increase the body’s metabolism and make more weight loss.

Treadmill weight loss exercise is the best way to lose weight provided users plan their workouts on a treadmill and make it a daily habit. Consistency in maintaining workouts is the key to success of treadmill weight loss.

Treadmill weight loss tips during walking workouts on a treadmill include maintaining a proper posture of the body, keeping the head up, relaxing the neck, swinging the arms at sides, holding the tummy in, keeping the hips relaxed & loose and concentration on breathing. Treadmill weight loss tips also include listening to music, watching TV, or talking to a friend next to you to avoid the boredom during treadmill weight loss workouts.

Treadmill weight loss workouts include numerous programs. Making treadmill weight loss workout a daily habit makes achieving weight loss ambitions more likely. Incorporation of 3-4 treadmill workout sessions each week is a planned program of treadmill weight loss. Forcing the body to become conditioned to more intense workout is another treadmill weight loss program. Treadmill weight loss sessions or interval workouts cause people to burn more calories and make the workout less monotonous. Treadmill weight loss workout includes swinging of arms and variety of arm movements during walking workouts, which increases the metabolic rate and causes weight loss.

Treadmill weight loss workouts help users to achieve their weight loss goals and have a positive impact on all aspects of their life including fitness, the way they look, the way they walk, etc. Treadmill weight loss workout on a treadmill machine is a simple way to reach weight loss goals.



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Staying Fit While Working From Home

Sunday, November 1st, 2009
fitness nutrition
M. D. Robinson asked:


Despite what many may think, working from home takes a lot of time and a lot of work. Im sure you have heard someone say, They dont really have a job, they just work from home. That statement could not be farther from the truth! Running a home business takes almost all of your time. Therefore, many other things drop down on your priority list. Probably one of the first ones to drop is fitness.

When you have a never ending to do list, a house that never seems to get clean and family and or friends who demand attention, its understandable that exercise can take a back seat. But, it should not.

Exercise offers so many important benefits that it should always be part of your weekly routine. Of course, we all know that exercise can help you stay slim and fit. But, do you also know about all the other great results of exercising? Daily physical activity reduces stress and can help you sleep better two things that are especially beneficial to busy at home workers and business owners. Fitness helps keep you healthy and has been linked to reducing the risk of some diseases and to warding off depression. Researchers also believe that strength training can help prevent osteoporosis. If that still does not convince you to get moving, then keep in mind that exercise also improves self esteem, increases stamina and ultimately helps you be able to do continuous work for longer. What more could you ask for?

It all sounds great, right? But you still dont think that you can find any time in your hectic schedule for staying in shape. Dont worry. There are a lot of creative ways to fit it in. Below are some tips to help you get started.

Schedule time for working out. When you work at home it is so easy to work around the clock. To help avoid his think of yourself as having a traditional office job. In most office jobs when you go home for the night you leave work behind and concentrate on personal things. Even though going home for you may simply be walking down the hall, you need to set boundaries in order to find time for you.

During working hours, take several 5 to 10 minute breaks and run up and down the stairs or even just walk. This will also help rejuvenate your mind.

Sitting in front of a computer can be hard on your body, especially your posture. So, find a comfortable place where you can occasionally stand to do your computer work.

Its not necessary for you to find 30 continuous minutes for working out. You will get just as much benefit if you break your exercise into small chunks. Try 10 minutes before you start work, 10 minutes at lunch and 10 minutes after work (re-read above if you just said you have no after work time).

If you dont want to spend a lot of time in the kitchen but still want to eat healthy, cook large portion meals on the weekend that you can freeze. Then simply defrost and warm for dinners during the week. This saves you the time of having to make dinner and you dont have to compromise calories as you would if you instead opted for take out.

One great advantage of working at home is that you can workout over your lunch hour while never leaving your office plus you dont have to pack your workout clothes and toiletries to take with you to work. This saves you travel time, which you can instead spend on grabbing a healthy bite to eat. And, if you dont have any face to face meetings scheduled, then you dont have to worry about looking perfect after your workout.

If you have not already done so, invest in a good hands free headset for your phone. This is a great way to multi task because your hands are free to do other things while you concentrate on your conference call. You can even do some simple (but worthwhile) exercise moves. Some good choices are squats, tricep dips, lunges, wall push-ups, etc.

Keep healthy snacks available for when you need an energy boost or simply just need something to chew on to help you get through some tough work. Dont forget to keep water on hand and sip some all throughout your day.

Purchase an exercise stability ball. While there are dozens of great toning exercises you can do with the ball, its also beneficial to simply sit on it. Try sitting on it instead of a chair for even short periods throughout your day. This will help build your core strength (your trunk area).

Dont forget the importance of stretching. Take a couple of minutes every hour to stand up and stretch your entire body.

As you can see, exercise offers huge benefits even with just a small amount of effort. And if you have kids, by exercising you also set a great example. So, to help you, your business, and your family its time to stop making excuses and just start moving!



Kansieo.com

Fat Loss – 3 Major Mistakes Almost Everyone Makes

Friday, October 23rd, 2009
fat loss
Did you know that fat loss does not have to be an enormous struggle? If you have had trouble with this in the past then this statement may seem a little extreme, but you must understand that it is true.

This article will outline three common fat loss mistakes with diet and exercise. Please pay attention to the whole article because you should avoid these common fat loss mistakes at all cost!

There is so much information out there that it is time to set the record straight about 5 of the most common mistakes that so many people make when trying to achieve effective and long lasting fat loss.

Mistake #1: Not keeping a food log

Permanent fat loss without keeping an accurate food log is next to impossible. If you were trying to save money, wouldn’t you want to keep a record of where you were spending the most?

The same concept applies to keeping a food log. It is absolutely amazing how much we sometimes underestimate how much food we eat. Fat loss occurs when we consume less calories then we currently do. It really all comes down to that!

By having a record of what foods you are eating and what time you are eating them you are laying a roadmap that you can consistently tweak and adjust until you reach your goal!

If you are trying to lose fat and are not currently keeping a food log, go buy one online or get a notebook you can use as soon as possible. But beware, you may have to spend extra money on new clothes very soon if you do.

Mistake #2: Focusing too much on slow cardio

Did you know that slow cardio can be one of the worst ways to achieve long lasting fat loss? This may seem very counterintuitive but bear with me.

Slow cardio can be effective for burning calories and can work well in the short term. It is in fact very good for your cardiovascular system and for preventive measures. For fat loss, the same principles do not necessarily hold true.

What happens is that when you do the same cardio workout (30-60 minutes) at a slow pace, your body adapts very quickly. If you go too slowly, you will not burn significant calories or even break a sweat. You see, once your body adapts, it becomes more efficient at doing the same workout. Once this happens, you burn fewer calories with each repeated workout.

If you went outside to run a mile right now, it might feel pretty difficult. But if you ran a mile 5 times a week for 2 months, it would get a lot easier. What happens is the same workout becomes less and less of a challenge the more you do it. As a result, you burn less calories due to the fact that the same workout is not as challenging as it once was. For fat loss, this is one of the worst ruts to fall into.

Trying to lose fat with doing the same cardio workout over and over is sure to lead to a plateau and almost all your results will come to a screeching halt.

The solution is to use a different method of cardio called interval training. It is faster, more effective, and burns lots more fat calories than slow cardio.

Mistake #3: Avoiding strength training

Fat loss that is permanent largely depends on your body composition and your diet. One of the best ways to do this is to increase muscle mass!

The more lean muscle mass you have, the more calories you will burn while exercising and at rest. It has been said that every pound of additional muscle burns approximately 60 more calories per day.

If you gained just 3 pounds of lean muscle mass, that would come out to an extra 1260 calories per week! Combine this with reducing your daily calories by 300 and you are losing approximately 1 pound per week!

Many people think that strength training will not help their fat loss efforts because of the myth that is makes you “big and bulky.” This belief is a huge mistake! Unless you are eating and training specifically for huge muscles you will have nothing to worry about. If you are training for fat loss you are training to make your body smaller. It simply cannot respond by getting bigger.

Conclusion

These are just a few of the biggest fat loss mistakes that so many people make. That being said, fat loss does not have to be a struggle. You just need to take in less calories and burn more. Making the right food choices and exercising the right way will help you lose fat faster and easier than ever before!



By: Tom Gifford

About the Author:

Are you confused about how you should eat and exercise to lose body fat? If so, I would like to extend you an invitation to stop by my website at Fat Loss and check out two chapters of my new book The Great Cardio Myth. I am Tom Gifford, Certified Personal Trainer, and I love helping people just like you learn what it really takes to reach your goals!



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The Quickest Way to Lose Weight

Friday, October 23rd, 2009
lose weight
John Mowatt asked:


How can I lose weight as quickly as possible. I have heard this question so many times that I have lost count. A great many people want to lose many pounds as rapidly as they can. This is not hard to understand if you are greatly overweight and have now decided to correct your weight problem.

There is unfortunately no simple answer that is right for everyone. The quickest way to lose weight depends on so many factors which vary from individual to individual.

In some cases your weight is influenced by your genes. In others it is simply consuming too much food. Often a lack of exercise and a sedentary lifestyle are the cause. In all cases you are simply consuming more calories than you expend in your daily life.

Someone who is engaged in hard manual work will obviously burn off a lot more calories daily then an office worker,who sits at a desk all day. An active youngster who plays a lot outdoors and runs around burns a lot of calories. A child who sits watching TV a lot is liable to become overweight.

We all know how many seriously overweight people are to be seen everywhere we go. Obese adults and youngsters are seen everywhere. An inactive lifestyle combined with overeating is the cause in most cases. The sad result is diabetes and heart problems for too many people.

The only safe way to lose weight quickly is to lower your expectations to a more reasonable rate of weight loss. You can lose weight rapidly but don’t expect miracles. You have decided that you should lose weight as fast as possible,but you must first decide on just how many pounds you really want to lose?

There is no safe way to lose a great amount of weight quickly. On a good diet exercise program most people lose one pound per day safely or a bit more if you are quite a bit overweight.

That is the quickest way to lose weight. There is no way that you can reasonably take off 30 pounds in a week. Some of the dieting ads you will see around try to make you believe that that this can be done but please don’t be suckered –it just can’t.

The quickest way to lose weight is to get on a really good weight loss program which is based on the latest research data. All the evidence is that these programs really work well and you will lose weight quickly on them.

So my recommendation for the fastest way to lose weight is to aim for about one pound per day,or a little more if you are really overweight. Don’t take the word of some con artist that he can show you how to lose 30 pounds in a week. It simply is not true. You can lose weight rapidly but not that fast.



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Free Natural Weight Loss Plans

Thursday, September 24th, 2009
weight loss plan
Chung Leong Yu asked:


Fitness is on the rise now and everybody is beginning to take note of it. There are many reasons people exercise, some wants to look **** like celebrities, some wants to change how they look because they are shy of their own body and some pursue fitness just for health sake. Catering for this increasing demand, many fitness programs have been created and made available to the public through bookstores, internet, gyms and health clubs. Some of these programs are over priced and are not really researched and developed.

Since these weight loss programs are so easily available, you do not really have to go to a gym just to exercise and lose weight. There are many weight loss programs out there that can help individuals that want to get fit. The problem is that there are too many programs out there and this makes people hard to decide which one to follow. Here are some summaries on some popular weight loss programs out today.

Atkins New Diet Revolution by Dr. Atkins.

This is a low carb high fat diet. One can eat as much vegetables as possible and meat, but cut out the carbohydrates. Foods like bread, pasta, cereal and rice are not allowed but you can go crazy on the salad dressing and bacon because there is no limit on fat. But be careful, at the end of the program, you will feel deprived of fiber and calcium. Do not forget, fruits and grains are also not allowed.

Carbohydrate Addicts Diet by Drs. Heller.

This is another low carbohydrate eating plan. The only thing different from the Atkins diet is that it allows fruits and grain products. Just be careful on the carbohydrates and do not over load on the reward meal because they tend to be too high on fats and saturated fats.

Choose to Lose by Dr. Goor.

This is a diet where fat is restrained. Participants are given a fat budget and he or she is given the freedom to spend it. There is no limit on the carbohydrate intake on this diet. One can also eat meat, poultry and low fat dairy including seafood. Vegetables, fruits, cereals, bread and pasta are allowed. This is a fairly healthy fat loss plan but watch triglyceride levels though. If high, trim down the carbohydrates and tuck in more of the unsaturated fats.

The DASH Diet.

This diet is a about eating moderate amounts of fat and protein but high on carbohydrates. Its main job is to lower down blood pressure. It follows the traditional food pyramid and encourages eating a lot of whole-wheat grains, vegetables, fruits and low fat dairy. But some dieters think that this diet advocates too much eating to induce weight loss.

Eat More, Weigh Less by Dr. Ornish

It is a vegetarian diet plan and it is very strict on low fat eating. Advocates eating glow food but warn on eating non-fat dairy and egg whites. This diet is poor on calcium and restricts eating of healthy foods like seafood and poultry.

Eat Right for Your Type.

This diet is an interesting on because it is based on blood type. Encourages plenty of meat for individuals with the type O. But some diet plans for some blood types are nutritionally imbalanced and way too low in calories. Anyway, this diet is not proven to be affective.

The Pritkin Principle.

This diet is about eating low calorie dense foods. These foods are called watery foods and it can make one feel full. Vegetables, fruits, pasta, oats, soups, salads and low-fat dairy are allowed. Proteins sources are limited to lean meat, seafood and poultry. This is a food diet that provides low amounts of saturated fats and high amounts of vegetables and fruits but it low on calcium and limited lean protein sources.

Volumetrics.

It is another low calorie eating plan. The diet recommends the same food like the Pritkin diet but the difference is that it does not allow fatty or dry foods like popcorn, pretzels crackers. This is a reasonable healthy weight loss plan.

The Zone.

This diet allows moderate eating of carbs and protein. It encourages low-fat protein foods like fish and chicken and advocates eating lots of veggies, fruits and grains. This diet is also lacking of grains and calcium.

Weight Watchers.

A diet that is high in carbohydrates, moderate on fats and proteins.

Weight watchers diet is a very healthy and flexible diet plan. Encourages dieters to plan their own meal instead of following a set of rigid eating plans.



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Top 10 Fitness Tips For Weight Loss Exercise

Sunday, September 20th, 2009
fitness nutrition
Tracie Johanson asked:


If you’ve been scanning the expert advice columns looking for weight loss tips, we have good news for you! We’ve compiled a top ten list of tips on losing weight with exercise. This free advice is guaranteed to help you lose inches, burn fat, and look absolutely fantastic! So what are you waiting for? Check out this fitness advice guide now…..

1) Our first fitness tip is that it’s important to exercise regularly. While that’s been sound advice for years, unfortunately very few people are following it. Only 45 percent of adults are getting the recommended minimum: 30 minutes a day, at least four days a week. Considering that aerobic capability starts to diminish after missing only two weeks of workouts, it’s clear that consistent exercise is the key to success.

2) Another fantastic exercise tip is that, to achieve significant weight loss, it is imperative to participate in both cardiovascular (aerobic) and resistance (strength) training. What’s the difference? Aerobic exercise burns fat so you’ll lose weight today, while resistance training maintains and tones muscle so you’ll keep that fat off tomorrow. To be truly fit for life, you need both types of exercise at least four times each week.

3) Change the intensity of your workout. One way to do this is to turn up the resistance on the strength machines. Another way is to wear wrist or ankle weights while you exercise. Even small adjustments to your workout will make a difference. Changing the intensity not only keeps exercise more interesting for you, but it also challenges your body to blast through any conditioning plateaus you may be stuck on.

4) Although there’s lots of good advice out there regarding when you should exercise, the best health tip you’ll ever find on this topic is simply to exercise when it’s best for you. Don’t get confused by claims that morning workouts are better for weight loss, or that evening exercise burns more calories. Instead, get your workout in whenever you can. Follow this fitness tip, and chances are good you’ll end up exercising more, period.

5) To get the maximum benefit from your weight loss exercise, get a workout buddy. This is a good safety tip and an excellent workout tip too. Arrange to meet a friend at the gym, at a specific time, and on a specific day. Write it down in your planner or type it into your PDA. Treat it like a regular business appointment and you’ll be less likely to find some excuse to skip out. When you know that a friend is waiting for you there, you’re much more likely to get yourself down to the health club.

6) Wear comfortable clothing and shoes, and don’t overdo the makeup. When you’re getting ready to exercise, beauty tips and other beauty advice will only distract you from your goal. Instead of trying to look great while you exercise, focus instead on exercising to look great. If you haven’t already, consider joining a women’s only health club where you can feel comfortable and really focus on weight loss results – not on your appearance or the guys in the gym.

7) Check your heart rate every ten minutes to make sure you’re staying within your target heart rate zone. Not only will this help you burn more fat by maintaining your exercise intensity, but it will also keep you safe by preventing you from exceeding your maximum recommended heart rate. For even more accurate measurement, consider purchasing a heart rate monitor.

8) To guarantee a great workout, remember your diet tips and nutrition advice. To maintain muscle and get the most benefit from exercise, your body needs quality fuel and adequate hydration. Without the proper nutritional balance, the quality of your workouts will suffer and your body will not respond appropriately.

9) Remember to breathe deeply during exercise sessions. Taking full, deep breaths will deliver more oxygen to your muscles and make them more efficient.

10) Our final exercise tip is to stay away from the fads and instead focus on the benefits of exercise. When you start relying on gimmicks and ‘magic potions’ to help you lose weight, you’ll put less emphasis on the only proven method to achieve life long results: consistent exercise.

Take these fitness tips for weight loss exercise to heart, and you’ll soon find that you’re getting more out of each workout. Results will come faster, and the pounds will disappear. But don’t let this be the end of your research. There’s a good supply of health advice, nutrition information, and free medical advice to be found on the internet and at your local library, so keep learning! The only thing you have to lose is the weight!



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Suzanne Sommers Weight Loss Plan

Tuesday, September 15th, 2009
weight loss plan
Sveinung asked:


For an ever growing number of people, it has become very important to be concerned about their various weight issues. Perhaps it is one of the signs of the increasing complexity of modern life that diseases and various other afflictions has become a constant feature of human existence in the years after the turn of the millennium. Everywhere you turn people are concerned about what they are putting into their bodies. And that is a good thing that can potentially impact the condition of life many years from now. Many people who are fairly young, disease-free and otherwise in the pink of health have even begun to concern themselves with the intricacies of dieting and healthy eating. This concern has led almost everyone to plan carefully what foods to buy when grocery shopping.

One of the clearest indications of the widespread importance that people place upon their health these days is the proliferation of various alternative health books. Some of these are little more than quickie, crash diet guides that can actually adversely affect your health in the long term. Like in all areas that deal with health issues, it is important to seek a reliable and safe course of action.

Care should be taken to ensure that when you embark on a personalized weight loss plan, that it is the ideal one for you based on a number of different factors. You should take into consideration for example your age, your present health condition, your lifestyle and your family background especially in terms of genetic predisposition to certain diseases. In some instances, even your race or ethnic background can come into play when talking about certain diseases.

The Suzanne Sommers Weight Loss Plan is one plan that takes all these various considerations into account, all in the interest of finding the ideal solution for your weight loss needs. It has long been known that as people grow older their metabolism works at a much reduced rate. The Suzanne Sommers Weight Loss Plan helps you to get around your metabolism which may have slowed to a crawl at this point with a series of diets and life style changes that help you tone down and stay fit and lean, without feeling that you are depriving yourself unnecessarily. Through a scientifically-developed eating pattern that is custom made to your own health and fitness requirements, you will be able to enjoy a healthy appetite while reaping the benefits of dieting. In essence, you can eat practically as much as you want (within the guidelines of the plan of course) and still continue to lose weight! What’s more, if you maintain the changes that will be introduced in this plan you can keep that weight off for the foreseeable future. The bottom line is: a healthy, balanced diet that is a) tailor made to your specific requirements b) that allows you to eat as much as you want without feeling guilty and c) still allows you to lose and maintain your weight, is possible the best way to lose weight and still feel great.



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Personal Trainer Fitness Tips

Monday, September 7th, 2009
fitness nutrition
David Leonhardt asked:


Can there be anything that has a greater impact on our happiness than how well we feel physically? Exercise and proper nutrition can play a vital role in our mood and our sense of well-being.

Exercise is all about keeping your body-well tuned. A well-tuned body can handle everything better, including everything that is happening in your body at a microscopic level. When one’s body is happy, so is one’s countenance.

Nutrition is about getting the right ingredients to your body to cook up optimum health. If money can’t buy happiness, health can…or at least, it can help you avoid unhappiness.

Both exercise and good nutrition help you feel energized, which is an important component in motivation, in extroversion, it feeling optimistic and in so many other key indicators of happiness. Happiness is about much more than fitness, but fitness should not be overlooked.

I asked Atlanta-based personal trainer Corey Ritter to provide a few fitness tips for increased energy and reduced stress, that I could share with my Daily Dose of Happiness newsletter subscribers:

Personal Trainer Fitness Tip #1:

Eat lean protein every three hours! Proteins main function: Help build and maintain healthy muscle. Which in-turn will help increase your metabolic rate to assist in burning body fat. Good sources: Egg Whites, Chicken Breast, Sirloin Lean Steak, Lean Ground Turkey, Fresh Fish, Protein Shakes.

Personal Trainer Fitness Tip #2:

Walk around the block. There are many benefits to be gained from walking. These can include more energy, deeper and more satisfying sleep, stronger leg muscles, lower body fat, higher metabolic rate, and reduce stress! Everyday for 20-30 minutes at a brisk walk. Preferably first thing in the morning!

Personal Trainer Fitness Tip #3:

Stretch, Stretch, Stretch. Anytime, but at least once a day one week before the wedding. Increases flexibility, reduces stress, improve coordination, increase circulation and it feels good, just to name a few benefits. Hold each stretch for a minimum of 10-30 seconds, repeat 2-3 times.

Personal Trainer Fitness Tip #4:

Avoid simple carbs! Their rapid absorption increases the chances of sugar converting to fat! Stay away from foods like: Bagels, pies, cakes, potato chips, many ready-to-eat cereals, white pasta, white bread, juice drinks with added sugar, alcohol, candy, soda pop, and syrup!

Personal Trainer Fitness Tip #5:

Drink plenty of fresh, clean water. Yes, I know that you have probably heard this one over and over again. But there’s a reason for that – it’s that important! It aids in fat loss, detoxifies the liver and kidneys, and carries away waste from the body. It is recommended for best results to consume 8 10-ounce glasses of water per day.

There you have it, five top fitness tips from one of North America’s top personal trainers. Following these tips should help you become both healthier and happier. Are they easy? No, especially not with billions of dollars of advertising telling us we can eat chips and soda pop, and pressure from all sides to cram more things into the hours some of us might otherwise be exercising. Do what you can. Any improvement is better than none, right?

Happy fitness.



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Nutrition – Meat. It’s What’s For Dinner!

Monday, August 31st, 2009
fitness nutrition
Tracie Johanson asked:


This series of articles has been taking a look at nutrition, and any look at nutrition just wouldn’t be complete without examining meat. Long considered the ultimate staple of the American diet (meat and potatoes anyone?), meat is the usually the centerpiece of our meal.

High in iron, zinc and protein, meat is important (or should be important) to all of us. The question is, what kind of meat is healthiest and which is most affordable?

Some meats are simply too high in saturated fat for regular consumption. Examples include most beef steaks, fatty pork chops, and of course the traditional breakfast meats (sausage and bacon). There are, however, quite a few meats that deliver all the good nutrition we seek without loading us down with artery-clogging fat.

CHICKEN:

Hands down, the best choice for healthy and affordable meat is that old favorite the chicken. Choosing white meat portions (breast) will significantly reduce our fat intake. Chicken ****** is one of the primary foods of bodybuilders, some of the healthiest people on the planet. The most economical way to purchase chicken ****** is usually to buy the bags of flash-frozen fillets; these can be found for $1.49 to $1.99 per pound.

A boneless skinless chicken ****** (3 oz. serving) delivers only 3 grams of fat (5% of RDA) and 0.86 grams of saturated fat (4% of RDA). That’s about 1/2 the fat in even the leanest cuts of beef! Be aware, however, that the ‘dark’ meat on a chicken is not nearly as healthy as the ****** – a boneless skinless chicken thigh has 9.2 grams of total fat and 2.6 grams of saturated fat. That’s triple what we find in the chicken ******.

A good way to incorporate more chicken into our diet is to substitute skinless ground chicken for ground beef. When used in a recipe (tacos, spaghetti, etc.) it’s hard to tell the difference, and the health benefits are huge. Be sure to look for skinless ground chicken though, because if the package doesn’t say skinless then it’s guaranteed to be high in fat.

Finally, don’t forget about that popular chicken alternative: the turkey. It’s not just for Thanksgiving anymore!

BEEF:

Beef. It’s what’s for dinner. Many of us just couldn’t imagine going without our daily beef serving, but have we considered the cost to our health? It’s all too tempting to save some money and buy the ‘high fat’ ground beef instead of the leanest. It’s also true that the fattiest cuts are the least expensive (chuck is a great example).

But beef doesn’t have to aid our expanding waistline! Take the time to compare nutrition facts on the different cuts, which you can get from your butcher or from beef.org. One of the healthiest cuts of beef is the flank steak which, when prepared correctly, is absolutely delicious! Top round is also quite low in fat, although it tends to get tough when served as a steak.

Love burgers? A great way to enjoy healthy and tasty ground beef is to purchase a top round roast and ask the butcher to grind it into ground beef (make sure he or she trims off the excess fat first). If you have trouble making this grind ’stick’, try adding a raw egg to the mixture before forming into hamburger patties.

When shopping for beef, look for the words ’round’ or ‘loin’ in the name of the cut. Eye of round roast, for example, boasts only 4 grams of total fat and 1.4 grams of saturated fat. Don’t be afraid to ask the butcher to trim off some of the excess fat – most grocery stores will do this for free.

PORK:

No other meat has been transformed into such ‘fatty’ variations, from sausage to bacon to salami. For those of us who are pork lovers, however, there is hope! It is possible to buy lean(er) cuts of pork!

The tenderloin is the leanest cut of pork: a 3-ounce serving contains 139 calories and 4.1 grams of fat, which is roughly comparable to a skinless chicken ******. Other lean cuts (based on a 3-ounce serving) include boneless loin roast with 165 calories and 6.1 grams of fat; boneless sirloin chops with 164 calories and 5.7 grams of fat; boneless loin chops with 173 calories and 6.6 grams of fat, and boneless ham (extra lean) with 123 calories and 4.7 grams of fat. A 2-ounce serving of Canadian-style bacon contains 86 calories and 3.9 grams of fat.

FISH:

In the lean meats contest, fish is hands-down the undisputed winner. Unlike the fats in most ‘meat with feet’, the fats we find in fish are primarily the healthy omega fats.

Although there are literally hundreds of different ways to buy and prepare fish, many of us find fresh fish to be expensive. Halibut, swordfish, shark and others start at $8.99 per pound. It is possible, however, to buy fish without ‘breaking the bank’.

Look for salmon on sale, and consider buying the whole fish to save money. It’s not unusual to find quality salmon for $2.99 or less per pound – which is less expensive than the leanest cuts of beef.

Of course, canned fish is typically very inexpensive and delivers a powerful nutritional punch. Consider, for example, canned tuna fish. One can of tuna provides 32.5 grams of protein and only 2.5 grams of fat. Even better, that same can of tuna has zero grams of saturated fat. Talk about a wonder-food! Look for canned tuna on sale, when it’s possible to stock up the pantry at 4 cans for $1.

THE BOTTOM LINE:

The bottom line is that we can all enjoy meat without adding to our own ‘bottom’ line. Take the time to learn which cuts are the leanest, look for them on sale, and stock up when the price is right.

We’ll see you at the butcher counter!



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