728-15

Sunday 5th February 2012
 

Crossfit: The Workout For the Insane

There is a difference between wanting to work on a slim, muscular physique and being totally insane. The Crossfit program is bordering on insanity. When I first read the story in Muscle Magazine, I was humming along, browsing through the story and then the bottom fell out of my stomach. These men were putting their bodies through torture in order to better how they looked? Or were they?

Crossfit centers on workout confusion. During the course of the program, no two workouts are ever the same. The muscles scream, 6 days a week sure, but each day different muscles are worked from different angles and through different methods.

The workouts are strictly bare. Which means, no music to listen to, no mirrors to pump in front of and no slouching out of a workout. These men are there because they want results beyond those that show through muscle size. They want to change their body from the inside out.

Crossfit is a not a new concept and the gyms are located all over the United States and Canada. There are no state of the art gadgets and gizmos, just what you need to work out and a white board showing you and everyone else in the room just how well you are doing at torturing that physique.

By the end of the program, those huge franchise gyms will look like high school players and you will have graduated to the pros. If you dare to take Crossfit for a ride, watch of for Fran.

Tagged , | Leave a comment

Scientific Evidence Proves Atkins Not Harmful to the Heart

From the onset of the Atkins Diet Revolution, scientists were trying their best to knock this diet phenom out of the water. There were constant questions surrounding the long term effects of a diet high in fat and calories. But, people lost weight and a lot of it. The supporters of the Atkins diet stood by their words and their research and today, they are being proven right.

After years of study, the Atkins diet has been proven to be less than harmful on the body. As a matter of fact, in long term study, the people who maintained the Atkins diet for more than 10 years, were in better health than those who ate a lower calorie, higher carbohydrate diet.

The Atkins diet is based on the bodies need for energy. Carbohydrates are utilized as the first energy source due to their quick burning nature. After the carbohydrate stores are used up, usually within the first three days on the diet, the fat stores are then used as the primary energy source. Since the body takes longer to burn the fat, the Atkins diet followers are less hungry and feel fuller longer after a meal.

Pair this knowledge with the fact that studies have also shown higher protein diets keep the hunger at bay for longer periods, and you will have the main reason why the Atkins diet works.

The trouble with the Atkins diet is staying on the diet long term. Many people view the diet as a way to lose weight and then fall right back into their carbohydrate stacking days. In order for the health benefits to be optimized, the lower carbohydrate diet needs to be maintained for a lifetime. In the later phases of the Atkins diet, many people choose to eat between 100 and 150 grams of carbobohydrates a day.

Friendly Reminder: Always consult your Doctor before starting any new diet plan!

Leave a comment

Does the 10 Minute Trainer Really Work?

Tony Horton is all over the television claiming that he can get your body in shape with just 10 minutes a day. At the heart of the program are people who just do not have the time to workout everyday. People like moms all over the world. But, does the series really work the way Tony says it will work?

From the buzz all over the Internet the simple answer is yes. But, why?

The methodology used in the 10 minute series is called stacking. Instead of doing cardiovascular exercises, then muscle toning and flexibility, the series covers all in the same 10 minutes. The body is smashed will toning, cardio, more toning, flexibility, yoga, cardio again and then…all done!

The program offers more than just an exercise video. Tony has covered tracking your progress, fixing meals and snacks in 10 minutes, and he includes all of the tools you will need to make your body the golden goddess you always dreamed of.

Medically sound? There is a question that is hard to answer. The medical community stands by the fact that you need 30 to 45 minutes of moderate exercise a day. But, they have stated that 3 10 minute workouts will do the same thing as 30 minutes all together.

If you are looking to get off the couch and start a simple exercise routine you can stick with, the 10 minute trainer is one that is quick, easy and it works.

Leave a comment

Fitness Tips for Overweight Exercisers

As spring arrives, everyone is stepping out of their homes in order to start this new season on the right foot. While the common recommendation for overweight exercisers is to consult a doctor before beginning any weight loss or exercise plan, few actually follow the recommendation. Overweight exercisers need to understand the rules of exercise as they pertain to the overweight and not the rules as society has put forth.

The first rule, and probably the most important, is the use of exercise machines. Exercise machines are built for the “normal” or “ideal” weight person. For the overweight exerciser, this means the numbers that appear on the calories burned screen have little or no bearing on the overweight users real calories burned. In order to effectively note the calories burned, keep track of your heart rate throughout the exercise and the length of time spent at an elevated heart rate. Online calculators asking your current fitness level, weight and age will help to determine the correct amount of calories burned.

The second rule for overweight exercisers is to take it easy. The target heart rate range for optimal exercise results will be achieved more quickly by the overweight exerciser than an exerciser that is not overweight. So, pushing yourself to the point of exhaustion will not help you in any way. As a matter of fact, it may hurt you because the next day, your body will be so very tired that you will not want to exercise again.

Being overweight and exercising is a great choice for both weight loss and overall health. But, when exercising as an overweight person the rules are all different. Overweight people have more weight to push and this will raise the heart rate more quickly.

Leave a comment

Dieting Mistakes Top Ten

Most Americans could stand to lose a pound… or ten. But too many of us make the same mistakes when we’re trying to lose weight, sabotaging our efforts and leading to frustration. Here are some dieting mistakes many people make. Try to avoid them…

1. Skipping Meals

Surprisingly, deprivation alone does not a diet make. In fact, eating smaller, more frequent meals or including small, healthy snacks between meals can prevent putting your body into its “famine mode,” in which it begins storing more fat to provide energy when food is scarce. Furthermore, most experts agree that those who eat a light breakfast lose weight faster than those who don’t.

2. Failing to Include Exercise

Losing weight is about burning more calories than you consume. A sensible exercise program burns calories and leads to better overall fitness. Besides, muscle cells burn more calories than fat cells.

3. Following the Fads

Sorry to burst your bubble, but there is no “silver bullet” when it comes to weight loss. Jumping from diet to diet in the search for the Weight Loss Grail will usually leave you frustrated, unsuccessful, and, because of buying all those books, videos, and special foods, probably poorer.

4. Weighing Too Often

Sustainable weight loss is gradual, not sudden. Also, your weight will normally fluctuate during the month, especially if you are a woman. If you have included exercise as part of your regimen, you’re probably also building muscle, which is denser than fat. For all of these reasons, checking your weight every day can be frustrating and undermining to your long term goals. Weigh regularly, and at the same time of the day (preferably first thing in the morning). But don’t obsess, and don’t do it too often.

5. Banning Favorite Foods

What could be a more discouraging prospect than realizing you would never again taste your favorite dish? Unless you have a severe medical condition and have been so advised by your doctor, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t continue to enjoy sensible, controlled, occasional portions of your favorite food. “Control” is the key.

6. Thinking Too Short Term

This is related to #4. Approach your weight loss goal as a long range objective. Your weight loss will be healthier, and you’ll be less frustrated by normal fluctuations. Try some freezer meal recipes to plan ahead on your diet…

7. Too Much Protein, Too Few Carbs

Your body needs carbohydrates, especially if you’re exercising regularly. Once again, moderation and control are the keys.

8. Not Enough Water

Insufficient hydration is bad for you, and adequate hydration can help you have more energy and can even boost your metabolism. At the very least, poor hydration makes it difficult for you to get the most from your exercise.

9. Inconsistency

Whatever you do to lose weight, you’ll have better success if you persist and get on a maintainable and realistic schedule. Too many fitness resolutions fail because they are too complicated, costly, or difficult to schedule. Make your routine work with your lifestyle, not against it.

10. Eating Out Too Often

When you eat in a restaurant, you lose control over your portion size and the ingredients. Enjoy a nice meal out every so often, just don’t overdo it.

Tagged , , | 2 Comments