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Posts Tagged ‘benefits’

This is 90% of your fitness success …

Monday, February 21st, 2011

Achieve Fitness Success With These 5 Food Tips

No matter what your fitness goals — whether it’s to lose fat and reshape your body or pack on some serious muscle — you’ll need proper nutrition to get you there.

In fact, I’d say that 90% of your success is going depend on what you put in your mouth.

That’s right… Nutrition is the number one deciding factor of whether or not you’re going to achieve your goals this year.

That said, there are a few “rules” you can follow that can make things a bit easier and make your diet easier to stick to over the course of this new year.

Tip #1 – It’s all about calories

When it comes to fat loss, the success formula is pretty simple.

Eat less. Move more.

Put differently, you need to burn more calories than you take in.

One great tip to make sure you’re creating a calorie deficit is to weight everything.

If a meal calls for 4 ounces of chicken, then grab a food scale and weigh it. You’d be surprised at the difference between what you think 4 ounces should look like and what it really is.

Tip #2 – Focus on protein at each meal

Whether you’re eating 3 times a day or 6 times a day — each of your meals should be centered around a lean meat.

Great choices are chicken, fish and turkey.

Eggs are good too, despite all the negative things you hear about them.

Having protein with each meal will leave you feeling fuller, boost your metabolism to burn more fat, and help keep your blood sugar and insulin levels from spiking too much at any given meal.

Tip #3 – Drink water or unsweetened tea

One of the easiest ways to get way too many calories in a single day is through liquids.

Sodas, juices and softdrinks are chock-full of a calories.

The best alternative is to steer clear of all those empty calories and instead drink water or unsweetened tea.

I know the thought of just drinking water or tea isn’t too exciting but believe me — your waistline will thank you.

Tip #4 -Avoid packaged foods

Stay clear of foods that come in a bag or box. These are things like donuts, chips, cookies, etc.

All these are incredibly high in calories and are devoid of any worthwhile nutrients.

Tip #5 -Reward yourself once a week

Once  you’re eating healthy on a regular basis, it’s important you reward yourself with a “cheat” meal once a week.

This is a meal where you can have ANYTHING you want.

Having this once-a-week break from your diet helps you stay on track, keep you sane, and let you indulge in any cravings you may have had throughout the course of the week.

In all it’s a crucial part to being able to “stick” to a healthy nutrition plan long-term.

So there you have it. Follow these 5 food tips and you’ll be in good shape for the rest of 2011.

That’s why if you haven’t already, I highly recommend you take advantage of your FREE Week of Personal Training .

During this week, you’ll receive detailed information on how to get fit and trim, execute an exercise program that’s tailored to YOUR body and experience our one-on-one personal training. You won’t be disappointed!

There’s no obligation and it’s totally and completely free. To get started, click here.

Register now for our next FITT Camp starting Monday 8/23

Thursday, August 19th, 2010

Check out our next FITT Camp session on Monday Aug 23rd for FREE!  Register now at http://www.bootcampsintucson.com/registration.html

For more information about  our 4 week FITT Camp check out our website at http://www.bootcampsintucson.com



Is Walking or High Impact Aerobics More Beneficial In Increasing Bone Mass?

Tuesday, March 16th, 2010

Walking Can Be a Bone Booster

Experts have recommended high-impact aerobic exercise as a means for increasing bone mass, but a review of 24 studies on aerobic exercise and bone mineral density in women suggests that walking just 30 minutes per day a few days a week is enough to moderately increase overall bone density.A team of researchers from the Massachusetts General Hospital Institute of Health Professions in Boston analyzed studies that followed predominantly sedentary women assigned to aerobic exercise programs lasting 16 weeks or more.Walking was the preferred form of exercise by most participants. Compared to non-exercisers, the regular exercisers increased their bone mass by about two percent.Exercise helps strengthen bones because it forces them to bear weight, which is why high-impact exercise elicits even greater gains in bone density.The fact that walking and other low-impact activities are also beneficial, however, is particularly encouraging given that many women find high-impact exercise painful or difficult to master.Experts recommend women follow a program that combines both aerobic activity and weight training, which also increases bone mass, to lower their risk of developing osteoporosis.

Source: Annual meeting of the American Public Health Association, October 24, 2001.

http://www.acefitness.org/healthandfitnesstips/healthandfitnesstips_display.aspx?itemid=201

Here’s How Exercise Reduces Stress:

Tuesday, March 9th, 2010

Physical activity — whether it’s a relaxing walk, bicycle racing or meditative tai chi — helps relieve stress.

By now, you should know that exercise does your body good. But did you also know that virtually any form of exercise can decrease the production of stress hormones and counteract your body’s natural stress response? It’s true. The same regular exercise routine that helps prevent disease and builds muscle can also help you better manage stress.

How does exercise reduce stress?

Exercise increases your overall health and your sense of well-being, which puts more pep in your steps every day. But exercise also has some direct stress-busting benefits.

  • It pumps up your endorphins. Physical activity helps to bump up the production of your brain’s feel-good neurotransmitters, called endorphins. Although this function is often referred to as a runner’s high, a rousing game of tennis or a nature hike also can contribute to this same feeling.
  • It’s meditation in movement. After a fast-paced game of racquetball or several laps in the pool, you’ll often find that you’ve forgotten the day’s dilemmas and irritations and concentrated only on your body’s movements. As you begin to regularly shed your daily tensions through movement and physical activity, you may find that this focus on a single task, and the resulting energy and optimism, can help you remain calm and clear in everything that you do.
  • It improves your mood. Regular exercise can increase self-confidence and lower the symptoms associated with mild depression and anxiety. This can ease your stress levels and give you a sense of command over your body and your life.

How to get started

Every successful exercise program begins with a few simple steps.

  • Consult with your doctor. Begin any new fitness program by consulting with your health care provider, especially if you have a history of heart disease or other risk factors.
  • Walk before you run. Build up your fitness level gradually. Excitement about a new program can lead to overdoing it and possibly even injury. Plus, if you begin your program slowly, chances are better you’ll stick with it.
  • Do what you love. Don’t train for a marathon if you dislike running. All forms of movement — from horseback riding to swimming — can increase your fitness level while decreasing your stress. The most important thing is to pick an activity that you enjoy.
  • Pick a time and stick to it. Although your schedule may necessitate morning workouts some days and evening activities the next, carving out some time to move every day helps you make your exercise program an ongoing priority.

Motivation to keep moving

Starting an exercise program is just the first step. Here are some tips for sticking with a new routine or reinvigorating a tired workout:

  • Set some goals. It’s always a good idea to begin or modify a workout program with a goal in mind. If your primary goal is to reduce stress in your life and recharge your batteries, your specific goals might include committing to walking during your lunch hour three times a week or, if needed, finding a baby sitter to watch your children so that you can slip away to attend a spinning class.
  • Find a friend. Knowing that someone is waiting for you to show up at the gym or the park can be a powerful incentive. Working out with a friend, co-worker or family member often brings a new level of motivation to your workouts.
  • Change up your routine. If you’ve always been a competitive runner, take a look at other less competitive options that may help with stress reduction, such as Pilates classes or yoga. As an added bonus, these kinder, gentler workouts may enhance your running while also decreasing your stress.

Exercise = less stress

Whatever you do, don’t think of exercise as just one more thing on your to-do list. Find an activity you enjoy — whether it’s an active tennis match or a meditative meander down to a local park and back — and make it part of your regular routine. Any form of physical activity can help you unwind and become an important part of your approach to easing stress.

This article was taken from Mayoclinic.com

To learn more about stress management  click here

Finding Balance With The 7 Aspects of Wellness

Tuesday, March 2nd, 2010

There is a simple road map that can guide you on the journey toward more balanced living. The 7 Aspects of Wellness are your key to harmonizing all the major life areas that work together to create a whole and complete life.

Balance is based in total wellness, and total wellness is more than just emotional health or physical fitness. The 7 Aspects—Emotional, Physical, Intellectual, Social, Environmental, Occupational and Spiritual—encompass every square inch of your life, and practicing positive habits in each of these areas will help you find total wellness.

Emotional Wellness is the life area that involves your internal landscape—your personal thoughts and feelings. How you cope with stress is a huge component of your Emotional Wellness and has a big effect on your sense of mental balance. As you explore your Emotional Wellness, you journey into self-discovery. This means getting comfortable with who you are by building positive self-esteem and learning about emotional self-care. Basically, when you’re comfortable in your own skin, you don’t get knocked down as easily by the frustrations of daily life.

Physical Wellness focuses on finding optimum physical fitness. When you hear the term “physical fitness,” you may envision hours spent working out and eating nothing but salad. That might be Physical Wellness for some, but it doesn’t have to mean that for you! While exercise and eating healthy foods are part of the Physical Wellness equation, so are adequate rest and hygiene. Physical Wellness isn’t about having the “perfect” body. In fact, at times the drive for physical perfection can create emotional and physical imbalance. Physical Wellness means living a lifestyle based on habits that support healthy bodily function and longevity.

Intellectual Wellness helps you fall back in love with life and sparks your imagination. It isn’t “school.” It’s learning for learning’s sake, about whatever you want to discover. Reading, visiting museums, watching television shows and movies on interesting topics, writing and creating your own art are all keys to balance in the aspect of Intellectual Wellness. From finding hobbies to learning new, practical skills, the words to keep in mind when working toward Intellectual Wellness include “exploration,” “wonder,” and “discovery.”

Social Wellness is about relationships. Friendships, family, romance, and how you treat the cashier at the grocery store are all aspects of your Social Wellness. Social Wellness involves your ability to foster intimacy in relationships while maintaining supportive boundaries; respecting the needs of others, as well as balancing a social life with personal responsibilities. When your Social Wellness is in order, you feel both supportive and supported. Social Wellness is about the give and take that occurs in healthy relationships so that everyone feels nurtured and loved.

Environmental Wellness is probably the most overlooked wellness aspect of the seven. You might not realize how much of an effect your environment plays in your sense of balance, but your mood is heavily influenced by the people, places, and things around you. When your space is clean and clutter free, you feel better. You also feel better when you connect with nature and care for your natural environment. Acts of caring, whether extended to your personal surroundings or the world at large, create simultaneous feelings of self-care.

Occupational Wellness is something we all deal with. Even if you’re in school or a stay-at-home mom, you have an occupation. Discovering Occupational Wellness means exploring our true purpose and calling in life, learning to cope with work stress, working toward our goals, and finding a career that lines up with our ultimate dreams. Your occupation is what you’ll spend most of your time doing, so you want it to feel meaningful. This requires taking directed steps to get in touch with who you are and what you want from your chosen career.

Spiritual Wellness has an enormously broad definition. We each have our own, individual spiritual journey, and Spiritual Wellness deals with how we seek meaning and purpose in life, our connection with the universe, and a relationship with a higher power, if we so choose. You can explore Spiritual Wellness as part of a faith-based community, but it’s not necessary. Spiritual Wellness means clarifying your beliefs and values so that you can truly live by them.

If you focus on each of the 7 Aspects of Wellness, you’ll find balance and feel better!

This information was taken from

http://www.selfgrowth.com/articles/Finding_Balance_With_The_7_Aspects_of_Wellness.html

 
 
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