Well, it is finally here. My web site is up and I am now taking subscriptions to my monthly coaching newsletter. My site is www.askcoachb.com.
This newsletter will guide you through to living a healthier lifestyle. it is not another diet or exercise program. I do not believe in diets and do not train anyone to diet. I teach people how to change thier lives a little at a time so there is very little effort. It becomes second nature after awhile.
The exercises are set up to be completed in 10 to 20 minutes. Anyone can do them from the young to the old, the fit to the not-so-fit, men and women. You determine your intensity which determines your results. No equipment or gym membership is needed. You save thousands a year over traditional methods that don't work for everyone.
On top of all that, you will get two reports for free when you sign up. These reports provide you with the tools needed to start losing weight NOW! There is much more information on my site so go to www.askcoachb.com now.
For $9.95 a month you have little to lose (except for weight) and a lot to gain. You can also email me directly at coachb@askcoachb.com. What are you waiting for? It is almost the new year!
Monday, December 29, 2008
Thursday, December 18, 2008
The Only One That Matters is YOU!
There are so many reasons that people go on diets or start an exercise program. They may want to look good for a vacation, family pictures, class reunion or any other event where they don't want to look "bad". Other reasons are because someone says something to them. It could be someone being mean or someone who means good. It could be a friend, a spouse or even your doctor.
Most, and I mean close to all, fail to accomplish their goal or stay at the proper weight. It is because they are not doing it for the most important reason. YOU!
You have to want to do it for yourself, not for someone else. If you want it, you can do it properly and stay with it. This is the number one reason why people who have become successful at maintaining a healthy weight stay there with little to no trouble.
A case in point is from the show "The Biggest Loser" which just ended the season a couple of days ago. A couple of weeks back, one of the trainers (Bob) was trying to explain to one of the women that she needs to want to lose the weight for herself, not just to win the game. He used the first season winner as an example. That person was so intent on 'playing the game' that when he left the show, he didn't know what to do. He gained all of the weight he had lost plus!
To add more to this point, the woman who won was not concerned with the game. Her first priority was to repair her relationship with her mother. She accomplished that and realized that as they got deeper into the season. Her second focus was on losing the weight. This became her only focus after her mother was voted off. She wanted to feel better about herself. The result was that she lost almost half her body weight. The women who was so intent on winning the game came in third.
Bottom line, look deep down inside. If you are overweight you know you have some problems. Look to find what causes you to eat poorly. Don't say that you are happy with yourself if you are overweight to obese. You are lying to yourself and anyone else you say this to. But that doesn't matter. You need to want to get healthy for yourself.
Once you have decided this, act on it. My monthly newsletter will be available next week. It will guide you to a better and happier lifestyle. It is going to be an easy transition. No diets, bland or complicated foods. No spending hours in gyms or running miles and miles. It will become second nature and you will wonder why you didn't do this before.
Stay tuned to this blog for the release of my web site.
Most, and I mean close to all, fail to accomplish their goal or stay at the proper weight. It is because they are not doing it for the most important reason. YOU!
You have to want to do it for yourself, not for someone else. If you want it, you can do it properly and stay with it. This is the number one reason why people who have become successful at maintaining a healthy weight stay there with little to no trouble.
A case in point is from the show "The Biggest Loser" which just ended the season a couple of days ago. A couple of weeks back, one of the trainers (Bob) was trying to explain to one of the women that she needs to want to lose the weight for herself, not just to win the game. He used the first season winner as an example. That person was so intent on 'playing the game' that when he left the show, he didn't know what to do. He gained all of the weight he had lost plus!
To add more to this point, the woman who won was not concerned with the game. Her first priority was to repair her relationship with her mother. She accomplished that and realized that as they got deeper into the season. Her second focus was on losing the weight. This became her only focus after her mother was voted off. She wanted to feel better about herself. The result was that she lost almost half her body weight. The women who was so intent on winning the game came in third.
Bottom line, look deep down inside. If you are overweight you know you have some problems. Look to find what causes you to eat poorly. Don't say that you are happy with yourself if you are overweight to obese. You are lying to yourself and anyone else you say this to. But that doesn't matter. You need to want to get healthy for yourself.
Once you have decided this, act on it. My monthly newsletter will be available next week. It will guide you to a better and happier lifestyle. It is going to be an easy transition. No diets, bland or complicated foods. No spending hours in gyms or running miles and miles. It will become second nature and you will wonder why you didn't do this before.
Stay tuned to this blog for the release of my web site.
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Weight Watchers is Finally Getting It!
I always let everyone know that I don't believe in diets. So why would I be writing about Weight Watchers?
The answer is simple. They finally woke up and realized I am right! It has been on the news here more than once that Weight Watchers is changing their program. Not a little change, but a major overhaul. They are changing the program to advocate a healthy lifestyle.
Weight Watchers, Jenny Craig, South Beach Diet and countless others all claim that you will lose a lot of weight over a short period of time. If you stick with the program and follow exactly what they say to do, you will. I have never disputed that people lose weight.
The problem with diets is that they are too restrictive. Plus, when someone says "I am going on a diet", it indicates that some day they will be off the diet. And they will. They will also gain back all the weight they lost plus a few extra pounds.
This is because it is designed for short term results. A better approach is what I have advocated. Learn to live healthier. In other words, develope a healthy lifestyle. This is done gradually over time. You need to unlearn bad habits and replace them with good ones. Unless you know what to look for, you need to have a lifestyle coach.
I am not sure exactly how Weight Watchers intends to run their program. They are not releasing the details until the new year. But what I can pretty much guess is that it is going to cost a few bucks! They have a lot of overhead to cover. They are releasing this because they want to increase revenues.
Your alternative. Go with my program. I have been coaching healthy lifestyles for a long time now. It is not an experiment. It is also not a way to "get rich". Anyone who knows me understands that I have a passion for helping people. That is why I am going to be unveiling my newsletter within the next couple of weeks. It will teach you how to live a healthy lifestyle simply. It does not have to be hard.
Keep following this blog. Shortly I will reveal a charter member price and some free bonuses for subscribing to my newsletter. The web site is almost complete and when it is done, my blog followers will have the first opportunity to get in to this program that will change your life forever.
The answer is simple. They finally woke up and realized I am right! It has been on the news here more than once that Weight Watchers is changing their program. Not a little change, but a major overhaul. They are changing the program to advocate a healthy lifestyle.
Weight Watchers, Jenny Craig, South Beach Diet and countless others all claim that you will lose a lot of weight over a short period of time. If you stick with the program and follow exactly what they say to do, you will. I have never disputed that people lose weight.
The problem with diets is that they are too restrictive. Plus, when someone says "I am going on a diet", it indicates that some day they will be off the diet. And they will. They will also gain back all the weight they lost plus a few extra pounds.
This is because it is designed for short term results. A better approach is what I have advocated. Learn to live healthier. In other words, develope a healthy lifestyle. This is done gradually over time. You need to unlearn bad habits and replace them with good ones. Unless you know what to look for, you need to have a lifestyle coach.
I am not sure exactly how Weight Watchers intends to run their program. They are not releasing the details until the new year. But what I can pretty much guess is that it is going to cost a few bucks! They have a lot of overhead to cover. They are releasing this because they want to increase revenues.
Your alternative. Go with my program. I have been coaching healthy lifestyles for a long time now. It is not an experiment. It is also not a way to "get rich". Anyone who knows me understands that I have a passion for helping people. That is why I am going to be unveiling my newsletter within the next couple of weeks. It will teach you how to live a healthy lifestyle simply. It does not have to be hard.
Keep following this blog. Shortly I will reveal a charter member price and some free bonuses for subscribing to my newsletter. The web site is almost complete and when it is done, my blog followers will have the first opportunity to get in to this program that will change your life forever.
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Gain 10 Pounds Over the Holidays
Well, another major "eating" holiday down and three more weeks of parties, treats, and another "eating" holiday. You see it many times about diet tips and to eat this and try that. The problem is that trying these tips is just like trying a new diet. It is hard to do!
If you don't already live a healthy lifestyle, my tip to you would be to spend the next three weeks looking into how you can start one. This is contrary to what most trainers and diet gurus will tell you. That is becasue they want your business and they want it NOW!
On Thanksgiving Day most Americans consume 3,000 calories on average for one meal. That is more than most people should consume in a single day! There are ways to cut back but it is about learning how over time. Not overnight.
Another statistic shows that the average weight gain over the holiday season (Christmas season) is 10 pounds. That is a lot for that short of period. However, if you try the recommended tips and tricks from the gurus before you are ready or before you know why, you will probably give up quickly and end up gaining more than 10 pounds.
My recommendation is to enjoy the holidays. I want you to suceed in making a positive change to your life. Make a New Years resolution to live a healthier lifestyle. Then sign up for my monthly newsletter and I will coach you from month-to-month on the best way to accomplish this so that you do reach your goals.
My program is not a lose weight fast gimmick. Losing weight too fast is not good for the body and in order to achieve rapid weight lose requires great sacrifice. Then when it is over you still have not learned how to live healthier on a daily basis so you will gain all of the weight back plus several more pounds.
Keep checking back to this blog each week. I will have my web site up with all the details in about 2 to 4 weeks. I am going to be offering charter memberships and special bonuses. Until then, enjoy your family and friends.
If you don't already live a healthy lifestyle, my tip to you would be to spend the next three weeks looking into how you can start one. This is contrary to what most trainers and diet gurus will tell you. That is becasue they want your business and they want it NOW!
On Thanksgiving Day most Americans consume 3,000 calories on average for one meal. That is more than most people should consume in a single day! There are ways to cut back but it is about learning how over time. Not overnight.
Another statistic shows that the average weight gain over the holiday season (Christmas season) is 10 pounds. That is a lot for that short of period. However, if you try the recommended tips and tricks from the gurus before you are ready or before you know why, you will probably give up quickly and end up gaining more than 10 pounds.
My recommendation is to enjoy the holidays. I want you to suceed in making a positive change to your life. Make a New Years resolution to live a healthier lifestyle. Then sign up for my monthly newsletter and I will coach you from month-to-month on the best way to accomplish this so that you do reach your goals.
My program is not a lose weight fast gimmick. Losing weight too fast is not good for the body and in order to achieve rapid weight lose requires great sacrifice. Then when it is over you still have not learned how to live healthier on a daily basis so you will gain all of the weight back plus several more pounds.
Keep checking back to this blog each week. I will have my web site up with all the details in about 2 to 4 weeks. I am going to be offering charter memberships and special bonuses. Until then, enjoy your family and friends.
Monday, November 24, 2008
Take Me Off Your Email List
Everyone who has followed my blog knows that I am creating a newsletter to help anyone who wants help in living a better lifestyle. Statistics have shown that obesity is on the rise. There are also studies showing that weight problems rise even more during economic tough times. This is due to the fact that everyone looks for "cheap" meals which almost always happen to be very high in calories, fat, sugar and carbohydrates.
Now I am going to stray from what this blog is about. I get these "chain emails" from friends and family and their friends and family and so on. They range from polictial to religious to items about animals, kids, global warming, the war, etcetera, etcetera, etcetera. I don't mind much. I'll glance through them and then delete. I usually do not pass them on though unless I think there is some real value to someone.
This is where I have a problem. I used these emails to obtain a list of people to start sending out early notices and information about my upcoming newletter. They are the same people who are on every list. And we don't get just one. So what I am getting at is these people don't mind getting these mindless, and sometimes highly controversial, eamils. They don't ask to be removed from the email list because they keep getting them. So why do they want to be off mine? I am not asking for anything. It is not controversial, political or religious.
The point is that something of value, where there is greater than a 60% chance they need, they don't want! Why? I am sure they are many people who can give me their theories but will we truly know? Probably not. Does it matter? No.
The final point here is that I am available to help whoever wants my help. If you are even slightly over weight and say you are fine with that then so be it. You are not only lying to me but to yourself. No one is happy being over weight. There may be pyschological issues to deal with but you are not happy. Or you may have just settled on this state because it is easy.
If you ever get a chance to meet me you will see that I mean what I say. I truely want to help as many people as I can. Maybe it will be you or someone you know. I don't want people to waste a lot of money and not see any results. My system works for those that choose to participate. Keep following and you will soon see my new web site and program for those that wnat to change.
Have a safe Thanksgiving and don't eat too much!
Now I am going to stray from what this blog is about. I get these "chain emails" from friends and family and their friends and family and so on. They range from polictial to religious to items about animals, kids, global warming, the war, etcetera, etcetera, etcetera. I don't mind much. I'll glance through them and then delete. I usually do not pass them on though unless I think there is some real value to someone.
This is where I have a problem. I used these emails to obtain a list of people to start sending out early notices and information about my upcoming newletter. They are the same people who are on every list. And we don't get just one. So what I am getting at is these people don't mind getting these mindless, and sometimes highly controversial, eamils. They don't ask to be removed from the email list because they keep getting them. So why do they want to be off mine? I am not asking for anything. It is not controversial, political or religious.
The point is that something of value, where there is greater than a 60% chance they need, they don't want! Why? I am sure they are many people who can give me their theories but will we truly know? Probably not. Does it matter? No.
The final point here is that I am available to help whoever wants my help. If you are even slightly over weight and say you are fine with that then so be it. You are not only lying to me but to yourself. No one is happy being over weight. There may be pyschological issues to deal with but you are not happy. Or you may have just settled on this state because it is easy.
If you ever get a chance to meet me you will see that I mean what I say. I truely want to help as many people as I can. Maybe it will be you or someone you know. I don't want people to waste a lot of money and not see any results. My system works for those that choose to participate. Keep following and you will soon see my new web site and program for those that wnat to change.
Have a safe Thanksgiving and don't eat too much!
Monday, November 17, 2008
Lose 25 lbs and 3 Inches From Your Waist!
A study from the University of North Carolina discovered the people consume 450 calories a day from beverages. This is two times as much as what was consumed 30 years ago. This will add an extra 23 pounds of weight per year that needs to be burned (most likely just carried around as extra weight)!
Beverages are the most difficult calories to gauge because there are no visual clues like other foods. However, these are the easiest to cut from your diet. Reviewing what you consume and making better choices will help you lose weight. People have lost as much as 25 pounds and 3 inches off their waist from just changing this one aspect of their daily diet.
Here are the 20 “worst” items to drink:
Worst Light Beer
Samual Adams Light (12 oz)
· 124 calories
· 10 grams carbohydrates
Worst “Healthy” Drink
Glaceau Vitamin Water (20 oz)
· 130 calories
· 33 grams sugar
Worst Soda
Sunkist (12 oz)
· 190 calories
· 52 grams sugar
Worst Beer
Sierra Nevada Stout (12 oz)
· 210 calories
· 20 grams carbohydrates
Worst Lemonade
Minute Maid Lemonade (20 oz)
· 250 calories
· 68 grams sugar
Worst Tea-Like Substance
SoBe Zen Tea (20 oz)
· 275 calories
· 70 grams sugar
Worst Energy Drink
Rockstar Original (16 oz)
· 280 calories
· 62 grams sugar
Worst Iced Tea
Lipton Iced Brisk Lemon Iced Tea (20 oz)
· 325 calories
· 81 grams sugar
Worst Juice Imposter
Arizona Kiwi Strawberry (23.5 oz)
· 360 calories
· 84 grams sugar
Worst Chocolate Milk
Nesquik (16 oz)
· 400 calories
· 10 grams fat (6 grams saturated)
· 60 grams sugar
Worst Chai Tea Drink
Caribou Coffee Large Chai Tea Latte
· 420 calories
· 47 grams sugar
Worst Kid’s Hot Beverage
Cosi Kid’s Hot Chocolate (12 oz)
· 436 calories
· 60 grams sugar
Worst Summer Cocktail
Pina Colada
· 625 calories
· 75 grams sugar
Worst Coffee Alternative
Starbuck’s Venti White Hot Chocolate
· 640 calories
· 23 grams fat (15 grams saturated)
· 76 grams sugar
Worst Hot Coffee
Starbuck’s Venti 2% Peppermint White Chocolate Mocha
· 660 calories
· 22 grams fat (14 grams saturated)
· 95 grams sugar
Worst Blended Fruit Drink
Baskin-Robbins Pomegranate Banana Fruit Blast Smoothie (32 oz)
· 1,020 calories
· 232 grams sugar
Worst Frozen Coffee Drink
Cosi Gigante Double OH! Arctic (24 oz)
· 1,033 calories
· 35 grams fat
· 177 grams carbohydrates
Worst Smoothie
Jamba Juice Peanut Butter Moo’d Power Smoothie (32 oz)
· 1,170 calories
· 169 grams sugar
Worst Milkshake
Baskin-Robbins Large York Peppermint Pattie Shake (32 oz)
· 2,210 calories
· 103 grams fat (64 grams saturated)
· 281 grams sugar
Worst Drink in America
Baskin-Robbins Large Heath Bar Shake
· 2,310 calories
· 108 grams fat (64 grams saturated)
· 266 grams sugar
The Worst Drink in America by the Numbers:
73: the number of ingredients in this milkshake
66: teaspoons of sugar in this drink
11: the amount of Heath Bars you have to consume to equal the calories
12: average number of minutes to consume the drink
240: minutes on the treadmill, running at a moderate pace, to burn off these calories
My advice is to stick to water: no calories, no fat, and no carbohydrates. If you need to have a little more flavor, make sure you check out these 3 items on the nutrition label. You need to get these as low as possible. When you cut out these calories, you will lose weight.
This is a sample of the coaching tips I will be giving in my newsletter. Stay tuned for the first issue to come out soon. Until then, follow this simple tip and see the results
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Rising Risk for Obese Kids
Ultrasound imaging reveals accelerated evidence of heart disease in obese children. What this means is that they have middle-aged arteries! A glimpse inside the neck arteries of obese children and teens reveals cardivascular systems more like 45 year olds. This has been seen in children as young as 10 years old!
Obese children and teens, especially those with abnormal cholesterol levels, should focus on diet and exercise to prevent early aging of their arteries, new research suggests.
A study at the University of Missouri Kansas City School of Medicine says that more than half of the 70 youngsters ages 10 to 18 enrolled in the Children’s Mercy Hospital study had a “vascular age” about 30 years older than their actual age, putting them at risk for early heart attacks, stroke — and death. That finding might also hold true for many more young people in the United States, where more than a quarter of kids ages 2 to 19 are considered obese.
Changing diet and increasing exercise can slow and perhaps stop deterioration. This new research is a reminder to take steps to prevent obesity and high cholesterol before children’s arteries grow older than their years.
This is a sad state. Parents who keep feeding their children a poor diet and not get them to exercise are only hurting them. They are actually putting them in danger of shortening their lives. But I believe the problem is with the whole family. Typically, fat parents will raise fat kids. This may be a bold statement and hard for people to hear but it holds a lot of truth. If you don't believe me, spend some time at one of the Walt Disney parks and just observe the people.
One way to reverse this is to live a healthy lifestyle as a family. Eat balanced meals and better snacks. Does that mean a child has to forgo the cake at a birthday party? No it doesn't. If you eat well all week, ONE piece of cake will not hurt. Do some physical activity as a family.
My monthly coaching newsletter is a great place to start. There are tips on how to change to a healthier lifestyle so that it becomes second nature. There are great tasting, easy to make recipes that the family can enjoy. The exercises can be done by anyone at any age and in any physical condition. Make it a family affair.
My newsletter will be out soon. Follow this blog for future news. Until then, celebrate life; be good to yourself.
Obese children and teens, especially those with abnormal cholesterol levels, should focus on diet and exercise to prevent early aging of their arteries, new research suggests.
A study at the University of Missouri Kansas City School of Medicine says that more than half of the 70 youngsters ages 10 to 18 enrolled in the Children’s Mercy Hospital study had a “vascular age” about 30 years older than their actual age, putting them at risk for early heart attacks, stroke — and death. That finding might also hold true for many more young people in the United States, where more than a quarter of kids ages 2 to 19 are considered obese.
Changing diet and increasing exercise can slow and perhaps stop deterioration. This new research is a reminder to take steps to prevent obesity and high cholesterol before children’s arteries grow older than their years.
This is a sad state. Parents who keep feeding their children a poor diet and not get them to exercise are only hurting them. They are actually putting them in danger of shortening their lives. But I believe the problem is with the whole family. Typically, fat parents will raise fat kids. This may be a bold statement and hard for people to hear but it holds a lot of truth. If you don't believe me, spend some time at one of the Walt Disney parks and just observe the people.
One way to reverse this is to live a healthy lifestyle as a family. Eat balanced meals and better snacks. Does that mean a child has to forgo the cake at a birthday party? No it doesn't. If you eat well all week, ONE piece of cake will not hurt. Do some physical activity as a family.
My monthly coaching newsletter is a great place to start. There are tips on how to change to a healthier lifestyle so that it becomes second nature. There are great tasting, easy to make recipes that the family can enjoy. The exercises can be done by anyone at any age and in any physical condition. Make it a family affair.
My newsletter will be out soon. Follow this blog for future news. Until then, celebrate life; be good to yourself.
Monday, October 27, 2008
20 Million Under the Age of Five are Obese
Here is some more information backing up some of my last blog entry. Another study finds that eating fast will contribute to someone becoming over-weight.
"People who eat quickly until full are three times more likely to be overweight, a problem exacerbated by the availability of fast food and the decline of orderly dining habits, Japanese researchers said on Wednesday. The findings, published in the British Medical Journal, highlight how eating styles, and not just what or how much is eaten, can contribute to an obesity epidemic fueled by the spread of Western-style affluence in many parts of the world."
Around 400 million people are obese according to the World Health Organization (WHO). What is really disturbing is that 20 million of them are under the age of five. Being obese raises the risk of diseases like type 2 diabetes and heart problems. One way adults can help children not become over-weight is to encourage them to eat slowly and provide a calm atmosphere during their meals.
The child obesity problem is a very said fact. Children should be out running around having fun. When I went to school I can only remember two kids in my class that were considered over-weight, one was probably obese. Now it is normal to have a class full of over-weight kids.
My exercise program, along with monthly coaching tips, can be imnplemented with children. None of the movements are complicated and there is no equipment needed. It combines cardio with strength training using body weight. This program is not for body builders. They need a special program. It is for everyone else who is looking to live a better, healthier life.
Stay tuned for more information on becoming part of this monthly coaching session. If you are over-weight or looking to loose a few pounds, I guarantee you will loose weight with this program. It can be a family event on a daily basis for 10 to 20 minutes. You will feel better after the first month and will want to keep going.
"People who eat quickly until full are three times more likely to be overweight, a problem exacerbated by the availability of fast food and the decline of orderly dining habits, Japanese researchers said on Wednesday. The findings, published in the British Medical Journal, highlight how eating styles, and not just what or how much is eaten, can contribute to an obesity epidemic fueled by the spread of Western-style affluence in many parts of the world."
Around 400 million people are obese according to the World Health Organization (WHO). What is really disturbing is that 20 million of them are under the age of five. Being obese raises the risk of diseases like type 2 diabetes and heart problems. One way adults can help children not become over-weight is to encourage them to eat slowly and provide a calm atmosphere during their meals.
The child obesity problem is a very said fact. Children should be out running around having fun. When I went to school I can only remember two kids in my class that were considered over-weight, one was probably obese. Now it is normal to have a class full of over-weight kids.
My exercise program, along with monthly coaching tips, can be imnplemented with children. None of the movements are complicated and there is no equipment needed. It combines cardio with strength training using body weight. This program is not for body builders. They need a special program. It is for everyone else who is looking to live a better, healthier life.
Stay tuned for more information on becoming part of this monthly coaching session. If you are over-weight or looking to loose a few pounds, I guarantee you will loose weight with this program. It can be a family event on a daily basis for 10 to 20 minutes. You will feel better after the first month and will want to keep going.
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Exercise Can Prevent Bone Disease
Osteoporosis, or bone disease, is a condition where bones become brittle and break easily. It is most common in women but can also affect men. There is an estimated 10 million Americans that are affected by this disease. A strong family history of osteoporosis is a big risk factor.
Peak bone mass is achieved in your 20's. From childhood up to about 30 years old weight-bearing exercises such as jumping and running can help build sronger bones. After 30 you should avoid smoking and excessive drinking. You should also get good nutrition including calcium and vitamin D. Studies show that weight-bearing exercises help prevent bone loss, maintaining your current bone strength.
Exercise must be weight-bearing to stimulate the bones to become strong and dense. Perform weight-bearing aerobic activities like running, jumping, racquet sports, dancing, basketball, hiking and high-impact fitness classes. My "Journey to 300" routines utilize body weight or dumbbells along with aerobic activity that lasts between 10 to 20 minutes per session. Low or no-impact activities such as cycling and swimming are good for overall fitness but don't help bone mass.
Older people should also perform flexibility and balance routines to avoid bone-breaking falls. Statistics show that one in two women over 50 will suffer an osteoporosis-related fracture, most commonly of the hip, spine or wrist.
Unfortunately there are no guarantees that this will prevent osteoporosis. It can help it from getting worse so don't delay another day. Start exercising and you will have a long and productive life.
Keep an eye out for my monthly newsletter coming soon. It will have nutrition information, great tasting receipes, my "Journey to 300" exercise routine (a new routine every month), sport specific exercises and much more. I guarantee you will lose body fat and start to feel better within the first month. I am going to launch it with a special offer of $9.95 per month. You would be locked into this rate for as long as you continually subscribe. The price will go up for new subscribers after the initial offer but you will receive even more information for the same low price of $9.95. I will also be throwing in a special report for free. Details to come soon.
Peak bone mass is achieved in your 20's. From childhood up to about 30 years old weight-bearing exercises such as jumping and running can help build sronger bones. After 30 you should avoid smoking and excessive drinking. You should also get good nutrition including calcium and vitamin D. Studies show that weight-bearing exercises help prevent bone loss, maintaining your current bone strength.
Exercise must be weight-bearing to stimulate the bones to become strong and dense. Perform weight-bearing aerobic activities like running, jumping, racquet sports, dancing, basketball, hiking and high-impact fitness classes. My "Journey to 300" routines utilize body weight or dumbbells along with aerobic activity that lasts between 10 to 20 minutes per session. Low or no-impact activities such as cycling and swimming are good for overall fitness but don't help bone mass.
Older people should also perform flexibility and balance routines to avoid bone-breaking falls. Statistics show that one in two women over 50 will suffer an osteoporosis-related fracture, most commonly of the hip, spine or wrist.
Unfortunately there are no guarantees that this will prevent osteoporosis. It can help it from getting worse so don't delay another day. Start exercising and you will have a long and productive life.
Keep an eye out for my monthly newsletter coming soon. It will have nutrition information, great tasting receipes, my "Journey to 300" exercise routine (a new routine every month), sport specific exercises and much more. I guarantee you will lose body fat and start to feel better within the first month. I am going to launch it with a special offer of $9.95 per month. You would be locked into this rate for as long as you continually subscribe. The price will go up for new subscribers after the initial offer but you will receive even more information for the same low price of $9.95. I will also be throwing in a special report for free. Details to come soon.
Friday, October 3, 2008
What Exercise and Drug Abuse Have in Common
There is a study that found that youngsters and teens who reported exercising daily were half as likely to smoke as thier sedentary counterparts, and 40% less likely to experiment with marijuana.
Now if that isn't motivation to get your children away from the TV and outside getting some good ol' fashion exercise, than I don't know what will. That is definetly a big relief for me because my son is very active playing sports. He still loves his video games but we monitor the amount he plays and so far so good. I know this doesn't get me off the hook as far as drugs are concerned but it should keep the odds in our favor that he will never touch them.
But it is not just children this applies to. As you have heard from me and probably countless others, exercise is good for your weight, your heart, your bones and many other things. But now there is some evidence that it could also help to prevent addiction to drugs or alcohol.
Exercise is already being used in drug treatment clinics as a distraction to the cravings. To this point there has been little formal research on the effects. Research is now starting to determine the effects on preventing addictions.
Brown University has done some research where they took smokers to the gym three times a week as part of a smoking-cessation program. What they found was that this doubled women's chances of successfully kicking the habit.. They also gained half as much weight as women who managed to quit smoking without exercise.
Here are some other benefits from exercise performed with lab animals and people:
Now if that isn't motivation to get your children away from the TV and outside getting some good ol' fashion exercise, than I don't know what will. That is definetly a big relief for me because my son is very active playing sports. He still loves his video games but we monitor the amount he plays and so far so good. I know this doesn't get me off the hook as far as drugs are concerned but it should keep the odds in our favor that he will never touch them.
But it is not just children this applies to. As you have heard from me and probably countless others, exercise is good for your weight, your heart, your bones and many other things. But now there is some evidence that it could also help to prevent addiction to drugs or alcohol.
Exercise is already being used in drug treatment clinics as a distraction to the cravings. To this point there has been little formal research on the effects. Research is now starting to determine the effects on preventing addictions.
Brown University has done some research where they took smokers to the gym three times a week as part of a smoking-cessation program. What they found was that this doubled women's chances of successfully kicking the habit.. They also gained half as much weight as women who managed to quit smoking without exercise.
Here are some other benefits from exercise performed with lab animals and people:
- Rats were less likely to ingest amphetimines if their cages had running wheels.
- In people, exercise acts as a mild antidepressant and relieves stress.
- Baby monkeys who do not play enough in childhood have problems controlling aggression when older. They also tend to bunge-drink when offered alcohol.
- In rats, physical activity increases production of growth factors and stem cells in key brain regions important for learning and mood; increases formation of blood vessels; and strengthens communication networks between brain cells.
With all of these benefits and so many more, why isn't everyone exercising? There are lots of excuses but they can all be overcome. I am creating a monthly coaching newsletter that will give instructions on what you should accomplish during the month. There will be work out routines that require no equipment and little space. The routines will take between 10 to 20 minutes to complete. Anyone can do this in the morning 3 to 5 times a week. You WILL lose weight and feel better. Your children will even be able to perform these routines with you. Stay tuned for more information on how you can be a part of this.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Coaching for a Healthier, Happier Life
I have a lot of followers of my blog according to the statistic reports but I don't get too many comments. That is not a bad thing. I am hoping that people are getting some good information that has helped them. A few have commented that they are using some of my tips which is definetly good.
There is a poll on my blog that I would like everyone to consider taking. It is very simple. Would you like to receive a monthly newsletter to coach you to a healthy lifestyle?
My idea is to have an exercise routine that you would perform 3 to 5 times a week for the entire month. There would be progression tips so you can vary the intensity. My routines that I have developed and use can be done anywhere. All you need is a 6 foot by 6 foot area (a little more if you are taller). It can be done in your bedroom, livingroom, hotel room or even cruise boat cabin! (I am going to try and get some sailors to try out the program. If they can successfully use the program in a submarine with their busy schedules then this would work for anyone - stay tuned)
The newsletter would also have a healthy, easy to prepare meal. No tofu or turkey burgers! This would be everyday meals that can be prepared easily. I do not believe in diets. I have never dieted and I never will, nor will I advocate to a client to diet.
There will be other tidbits of information such as new health studies, supplements and other items in health news. It will be written for the every day average Joe and Jane. No fancy medical jargon or show-off fitness terms. Just plain english.
In general, I would like to provide coaching tips through a monthly newsletter to help out as many people as possible. If I can make even a small difference in a lot of lives, wouldn't that be a good thing?
Take the poll and leave me a message on this post telling me what you think. Also, sign up to be a follower of this blog. That is another new item I have added.
Till next time, be happy, live healthy.
There is a poll on my blog that I would like everyone to consider taking. It is very simple. Would you like to receive a monthly newsletter to coach you to a healthy lifestyle?
My idea is to have an exercise routine that you would perform 3 to 5 times a week for the entire month. There would be progression tips so you can vary the intensity. My routines that I have developed and use can be done anywhere. All you need is a 6 foot by 6 foot area (a little more if you are taller). It can be done in your bedroom, livingroom, hotel room or even cruise boat cabin! (I am going to try and get some sailors to try out the program. If they can successfully use the program in a submarine with their busy schedules then this would work for anyone - stay tuned)
The newsletter would also have a healthy, easy to prepare meal. No tofu or turkey burgers! This would be everyday meals that can be prepared easily. I do not believe in diets. I have never dieted and I never will, nor will I advocate to a client to diet.
There will be other tidbits of information such as new health studies, supplements and other items in health news. It will be written for the every day average Joe and Jane. No fancy medical jargon or show-off fitness terms. Just plain english.
In general, I would like to provide coaching tips through a monthly newsletter to help out as many people as possible. If I can make even a small difference in a lot of lives, wouldn't that be a good thing?
Take the poll and leave me a message on this post telling me what you think. Also, sign up to be a follower of this blog. That is another new item I have added.
Till next time, be happy, live healthy.
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Miracle Weight Loss? NOT!
I have heard a lot about gastric-bypass surgery and have even attended training seminars on how to train people who have undergone this process. There is a "menu" of bariatric operations to chose from. But this is not the miracle weight loss solution that everyone should be looking at. In fact, 4 in 10 patients develop complications within the first six months! I was hesitant to undergo shoulder surgery to repair major damage so there is no way I would consider someone cutting me open and messing with my intestines and stomache.
One procedure actually sections off part of the stomache to limit food consumption and then shortens the intestine so that less is absorbed through your system. Guess what? This means you have to learn how to eat differently. So what is the difference between having an invasive procedure to just eating better on your own? Both are creating new habits but the surgery is adding risk, not to mention the cost of the surgery and post-operative care.
After the suregery, they teach you how to eat tiny, frequent meals. A good trainer or nutritionist can do that without lifting a knife. You also have to take supplements to get the vitamins you are not receiving because of the quick passing through you intestine. You can take supplements without surgery ( I recommend a good multivitamin at a minimum, even if you are eating properly).
One woman profiled had lost 160 pounds after 15 months. That is 2 to 2 1/2 pounds per week. You can do that with a proper diet and exercise too. This same woman also said that after 7 months from the surgery, she had developed an agonizing ulcer on the new inner seam bewteen her stomache and intestine that required another operation. You wouldn't get that with a proper diet and exercise.
She was also rushed into emergency surgery one day when she doubled over in pain. She had an intestinal hernia. Her bowel had snagged on a slit in her abdominal wall. That wouldn't have happened with a proper diet and exercise.
She had to have a fourth procedure to ease the pain of the abdominal scarring. The gastrointestinal pain had become so severe she could barely eat. One day she couldn't flex her right foot then within weeks her limbs began to tingle, her energy evaporated and her weight plummeted. She stopped menstruating and she felt like dying. She had a disorder called bariatric beriberi. A new term based on extreme thiamine deficiency caused by the surgery. That wouldn't happen with a proper diet and exercise.
There is a general perception that this is a shortcut to being thin. It is not. It takes just as long as if you had a proper diet and regular exercise, yet all of the risks are eliminated. The media hypes this surgery and it is deceiving. They even go as far as to say that this surgery can help type 2 diabetes. Well dah...! If you loss weight you reduce the risk and can even reverse it in some cases. Why are they associating this with the surgery when it is the weight loss? They also say in one study that obese people who have the surgery extend their lives up to 7 years over those that don't. Again...dah...! Weight loss does that too. it is a sales pitch and a very dnagerous one at that.
Here are some more sombering statistics. The death rate for gastric bypass surgery is between 1 in 1,000 and 1 in 200. Other problems patients have had after surgery include vomiting, diarrhea, infections, hernias and respiratory failure. Up to 40% can suffer nutritional deficiency, potentially resulting in anemia and osteoporosis; siezures and paralysis have been reported in extreme cases. Some have even had bizarre neurological problems.
Here is the summary on gastric-bypass surgery. You can shed up to 70% of excess weight within 18 months but will gradually regain 20 to 25% of what was lost (because you haven't learned to exercise). If you are extremely obese (BMI > 40) you merely shift to obese. Obese can drop to overweight (BMI of 25 to 29.9). Only 10% ever drop to a normal BMI of 18.5 to 24.9. You risk all of the probelms listed above. You have to relearn how to eat properly as a lifetime commitment.
Here is exercising and proper diet. You can shed ALL of your excess weight within 18 to 24 months (depends on how much you need to lose). You relearn how to eat properly without starving yourself. You get more energy. You feel good. It is a lifestyle change that is easier and pain free if done correctly with a good trainer.
Final word here is to stop looking for the easy way because there is none. Human beings are meant to exercise and eat balanced, natural foods. Eat more fruits and vegetables. Cut out sugars and processed food. Trust me. You will be better off and will live a longer, healthier and more productive life.
One procedure actually sections off part of the stomache to limit food consumption and then shortens the intestine so that less is absorbed through your system. Guess what? This means you have to learn how to eat differently. So what is the difference between having an invasive procedure to just eating better on your own? Both are creating new habits but the surgery is adding risk, not to mention the cost of the surgery and post-operative care.
After the suregery, they teach you how to eat tiny, frequent meals. A good trainer or nutritionist can do that without lifting a knife. You also have to take supplements to get the vitamins you are not receiving because of the quick passing through you intestine. You can take supplements without surgery ( I recommend a good multivitamin at a minimum, even if you are eating properly).
One woman profiled had lost 160 pounds after 15 months. That is 2 to 2 1/2 pounds per week. You can do that with a proper diet and exercise too. This same woman also said that after 7 months from the surgery, she had developed an agonizing ulcer on the new inner seam bewteen her stomache and intestine that required another operation. You wouldn't get that with a proper diet and exercise.
She was also rushed into emergency surgery one day when she doubled over in pain. She had an intestinal hernia. Her bowel had snagged on a slit in her abdominal wall. That wouldn't have happened with a proper diet and exercise.
She had to have a fourth procedure to ease the pain of the abdominal scarring. The gastrointestinal pain had become so severe she could barely eat. One day she couldn't flex her right foot then within weeks her limbs began to tingle, her energy evaporated and her weight plummeted. She stopped menstruating and she felt like dying. She had a disorder called bariatric beriberi. A new term based on extreme thiamine deficiency caused by the surgery. That wouldn't happen with a proper diet and exercise.
There is a general perception that this is a shortcut to being thin. It is not. It takes just as long as if you had a proper diet and regular exercise, yet all of the risks are eliminated. The media hypes this surgery and it is deceiving. They even go as far as to say that this surgery can help type 2 diabetes. Well dah...! If you loss weight you reduce the risk and can even reverse it in some cases. Why are they associating this with the surgery when it is the weight loss? They also say in one study that obese people who have the surgery extend their lives up to 7 years over those that don't. Again...dah...! Weight loss does that too. it is a sales pitch and a very dnagerous one at that.
Here are some more sombering statistics. The death rate for gastric bypass surgery is between 1 in 1,000 and 1 in 200. Other problems patients have had after surgery include vomiting, diarrhea, infections, hernias and respiratory failure. Up to 40% can suffer nutritional deficiency, potentially resulting in anemia and osteoporosis; siezures and paralysis have been reported in extreme cases. Some have even had bizarre neurological problems.
Here is the summary on gastric-bypass surgery. You can shed up to 70% of excess weight within 18 months but will gradually regain 20 to 25% of what was lost (because you haven't learned to exercise). If you are extremely obese (BMI > 40) you merely shift to obese. Obese can drop to overweight (BMI of 25 to 29.9). Only 10% ever drop to a normal BMI of 18.5 to 24.9. You risk all of the probelms listed above. You have to relearn how to eat properly as a lifetime commitment.
Here is exercising and proper diet. You can shed ALL of your excess weight within 18 to 24 months (depends on how much you need to lose). You relearn how to eat properly without starving yourself. You get more energy. You feel good. It is a lifestyle change that is easier and pain free if done correctly with a good trainer.
Final word here is to stop looking for the easy way because there is none. Human beings are meant to exercise and eat balanced, natural foods. Eat more fruits and vegetables. Cut out sugars and processed food. Trust me. You will be better off and will live a longer, healthier and more productive life.
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Anti-Aging Trick
I just read an article about the best anti-aging trick that backs up my coaching on overall health. The experts say that the closest you can get to the Fountain of Youth is ... drum roll please... start eating less!... cymbal crash.
Restricting your calories can add up to 5 years on your life. Even the scientists who are cautious about anti-aging hype say it works. Eating less cuts the risks for some diseases and by allowing all body cells to hang in there longer.
"There is plenty of evidence that calorie restriction can reduce your risks for many common diseases including cancer, diabetes and heart disease," says Saint Louis University researcher Edward Weiss. "And you may live to be substaintially older."
At the University of Florida's Institute on Aging a study showed that eating just 8% less and exercising a little more over a lifespan can reduce or even reverse aging-related cell and organ damage.
Scientist still do not know why this works. They theorize that it lowers the metabolic rate and causes the body to generate fewer damaging "free radicals". One theory is that it decreases a thyroid hormone which then slows metabolism and tissue aging.
So how much less are they talking about here? The experts say that the general rule of thumb is to start eating about 15% less starting at age 25. But this is based on a typical healthy adult diet of about 2,000 calories. Thast means that this really applies to less than 1/3 of the population.
So what about everyone else? It is logical to state that this relates to all people no matter what thier shape or current health is currently. Start slowly by cutting 300 to 500 calories out of your diet today. Skipping desert or substituting a turkey sandwich (without nayonnaise or any special dressings) for that fast food burger will cut your calorie intake by at least 300 to 500 calories. A nutritional diet and exercise are important to any weight management program. After a few weeks look for ways to cut out another 300 to 500 calories. If you continue to do this along with an exercise program, you will lose weight and gain years on your life.
Eating fewer calories also reduces age-related chronic diseases such as cancers, heart disease, and stroke. That's important because it suggests ways to not just make us live longer, but allow us to age more gracefully, healthwise. The best way to implement all of this is to get a good personal trainer.
Restricting your calories can add up to 5 years on your life. Even the scientists who are cautious about anti-aging hype say it works. Eating less cuts the risks for some diseases and by allowing all body cells to hang in there longer.
"There is plenty of evidence that calorie restriction can reduce your risks for many common diseases including cancer, diabetes and heart disease," says Saint Louis University researcher Edward Weiss. "And you may live to be substaintially older."
At the University of Florida's Institute on Aging a study showed that eating just 8% less and exercising a little more over a lifespan can reduce or even reverse aging-related cell and organ damage.
Scientist still do not know why this works. They theorize that it lowers the metabolic rate and causes the body to generate fewer damaging "free radicals". One theory is that it decreases a thyroid hormone which then slows metabolism and tissue aging.
So how much less are they talking about here? The experts say that the general rule of thumb is to start eating about 15% less starting at age 25. But this is based on a typical healthy adult diet of about 2,000 calories. Thast means that this really applies to less than 1/3 of the population.
So what about everyone else? It is logical to state that this relates to all people no matter what thier shape or current health is currently. Start slowly by cutting 300 to 500 calories out of your diet today. Skipping desert or substituting a turkey sandwich (without nayonnaise or any special dressings) for that fast food burger will cut your calorie intake by at least 300 to 500 calories. A nutritional diet and exercise are important to any weight management program. After a few weeks look for ways to cut out another 300 to 500 calories. If you continue to do this along with an exercise program, you will lose weight and gain years on your life.
Eating fewer calories also reduces age-related chronic diseases such as cancers, heart disease, and stroke. That's important because it suggests ways to not just make us live longer, but allow us to age more gracefully, healthwise. The best way to implement all of this is to get a good personal trainer.
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
Aging Baby Boomers
Baby boomers is the largest generation in the history of the US. These are people born between 1945 and 1964 and account for 76 million people. I am at the tail end of this and have had to deal with plenty of issues because of it. That would be a whole different type of blog.
What I want to address is the health of these and the many Americans that are older. Do you realize that there are 41 countries with longer life expectancies than the US? The life expectancy in the US ranges between 69 and 80 with an average of 77.6 years. There are three main reasons for this: poor insurance coverage, large immigrant population and the obesity epidemic.
Face it, Americans live in excess. Have you seen how many all-you-can-eat buffets there are? I live in the largest tourist destination in the world and we have a bunch of those. I was at a fitness seminar this weekend in the heart of the tourist area and I ate at one of those restaurants. There was very little that was healthy for you and people piled up their plate, several times, and ate everything!
I digress. Approximately 85% of all baby boomers will have the following chronic diseases by the age of 65: hypertension, coronary artery disease and diabetes. That is over 64 million people! And to top it all off, 75% of all American deaths are due to stroke, coronary artery disease and cancer. These can be prevented.
Of the three reasons for the US life expectancy being shorter than other countries I am going to address one of them here. It is the poor health insurance issue. Most of the countries that have longer life expectancies have health plans that are monitored or controlled by the government. The people pay higher taxes so everyone is covered. I am not advocating this only pointing out a fact. So the first issue is that everyone is covered, not just the people who can afford it.
The second, and I think most important, is that our health care system treats diseases, not prevent it. There needs to be prevention so the health care system can be used more effectively to take care of the real issues caused by accidents, genetics and natural causes.
This is where exercise comes in to play. Contrary to what some people may believe, exercise can not cure any disease. Exercise prevents deconditioning which preserves function and independence. It will also improve the quality of life.
It is never too late to start. Programs can be started at any age with any conditions. A good personal trainer will be able to work with you and any issues you may have. If you are diabetic, you can still work out. You just need to take a few precautions that others may not have to take.
My recommendation is that if you are not exercising and eating properly than you need to start now. Seek advice from knowledgable professionals. Once you start to feel better you will not want to stop.
What I want to address is the health of these and the many Americans that are older. Do you realize that there are 41 countries with longer life expectancies than the US? The life expectancy in the US ranges between 69 and 80 with an average of 77.6 years. There are three main reasons for this: poor insurance coverage, large immigrant population and the obesity epidemic.
Face it, Americans live in excess. Have you seen how many all-you-can-eat buffets there are? I live in the largest tourist destination in the world and we have a bunch of those. I was at a fitness seminar this weekend in the heart of the tourist area and I ate at one of those restaurants. There was very little that was healthy for you and people piled up their plate, several times, and ate everything!
I digress. Approximately 85% of all baby boomers will have the following chronic diseases by the age of 65: hypertension, coronary artery disease and diabetes. That is over 64 million people! And to top it all off, 75% of all American deaths are due to stroke, coronary artery disease and cancer. These can be prevented.
Of the three reasons for the US life expectancy being shorter than other countries I am going to address one of them here. It is the poor health insurance issue. Most of the countries that have longer life expectancies have health plans that are monitored or controlled by the government. The people pay higher taxes so everyone is covered. I am not advocating this only pointing out a fact. So the first issue is that everyone is covered, not just the people who can afford it.
The second, and I think most important, is that our health care system treats diseases, not prevent it. There needs to be prevention so the health care system can be used more effectively to take care of the real issues caused by accidents, genetics and natural causes.
This is where exercise comes in to play. Contrary to what some people may believe, exercise can not cure any disease. Exercise prevents deconditioning which preserves function and independence. It will also improve the quality of life.
It is never too late to start. Programs can be started at any age with any conditions. A good personal trainer will be able to work with you and any issues you may have. If you are diabetic, you can still work out. You just need to take a few precautions that others may not have to take.
My recommendation is that if you are not exercising and eating properly than you need to start now. Seek advice from knowledgable professionals. Once you start to feel better you will not want to stop.
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Simple Fixes to Delay Diabetes
There is plenty of research and documentation on diabetes. The number of people who have diabetes keeps rising year after year. There are about 246 million adults world wide that have diabetes and this accounts for 6 percent of all global deaths. Type 2 diabetes accounts for about 90 percent of all diabetes and is closely linked to obesity and physical inactivity. The International Diabetes Federation estimates more than 380 million people will have a form of diabetes by 2025.
There is now new research that backs up my style of keeping healthy. Researchers stated that the study shows that lifestyle changes can make a big difference. Drinking less alcohol, eating more vegetables and exercising can prevent or delay the onset of diabetes.
"This study has shown that ... group-based interventions targeting lifestyle changes such as diet and exercise produce a durable and long-lasting reduction in incidence of type 2 diabetes," the researchers wrote.
This goes back to my five factors for a healthy lifestyle. Those factors are nutrition, supplementation, resistance training, cardiovascular training, and personal assistance. The fifth factor is what is mentioned in the previous comment by the researches of this latest study, "group-based interventions".
Diabetes can damage the eyes and kidneys, and also leads to heart disease, stroke and limb amputations. Does anyone really need any more reason than that to want to live a healthy lifestyle?
There is now new research that backs up my style of keeping healthy. Researchers stated that the study shows that lifestyle changes can make a big difference. Drinking less alcohol, eating more vegetables and exercising can prevent or delay the onset of diabetes.
"This study has shown that ... group-based interventions targeting lifestyle changes such as diet and exercise produce a durable and long-lasting reduction in incidence of type 2 diabetes," the researchers wrote.
This goes back to my five factors for a healthy lifestyle. Those factors are nutrition, supplementation, resistance training, cardiovascular training, and personal assistance. The fifth factor is what is mentioned in the previous comment by the researches of this latest study, "group-based interventions".
Diabetes can damage the eyes and kidneys, and also leads to heart disease, stroke and limb amputations. Does anyone really need any more reason than that to want to live a healthy lifestyle?
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Calories in Water?
Since when does water have calories? I have been seeing all of these commercials on water that has less calories than another water. Why? Because every business is looking for an edge. Beverage companies are now adding flavors, vitamins, minerals and other things in water in order to increase their market share.
Water should have zero calories, zero fat, zero protien, zero carbohydrates, zero everything! Just plain old water is what your body needs. There are some waters that have flavorings. As long as they have zeroes on the nutrition label you are fine.
Now I am going to take this a little further. Sports drinks. The adds say "if you sweat you lose electrolites and they need to be replaced". That is not entirely accurate. If you work out for 20 to 30 minutes you should be sweating. but you do not sweat enough that you need to drink a sugary sports drink. Sports drinks are good if you work out for more than an hour. Even then I would recommend you drink the less sugary stuff like Gatorade's G2. The regular sports drinks are really made for athletes that work long and hard almost every day. Water is plenty good for the rest of us.
My recommendation for anyone trying to lose weight is to look at what you are drinking every day. Even drinking diet colas should be replaced with water. I like to use the guideline of one ounce of water for every pound of weight. For instance, if you weigh 180 pounds then you should drink 180 ounces of water every day. that equates to 11.25 16 ounce bottles of water. That is a lot of water but it is effective in keeping you hydrated when working out and will aid in losing weight. You could also be more conservative and figure out how many cans of soda you drink in a day and aim to drink that much in water instead.
The bottom line is plain water is the best thing for you. Never mind the hype.
Water should have zero calories, zero fat, zero protien, zero carbohydrates, zero everything! Just plain old water is what your body needs. There are some waters that have flavorings. As long as they have zeroes on the nutrition label you are fine.
Now I am going to take this a little further. Sports drinks. The adds say "if you sweat you lose electrolites and they need to be replaced". That is not entirely accurate. If you work out for 20 to 30 minutes you should be sweating. but you do not sweat enough that you need to drink a sugary sports drink. Sports drinks are good if you work out for more than an hour. Even then I would recommend you drink the less sugary stuff like Gatorade's G2. The regular sports drinks are really made for athletes that work long and hard almost every day. Water is plenty good for the rest of us.
My recommendation for anyone trying to lose weight is to look at what you are drinking every day. Even drinking diet colas should be replaced with water. I like to use the guideline of one ounce of water for every pound of weight. For instance, if you weigh 180 pounds then you should drink 180 ounces of water every day. that equates to 11.25 16 ounce bottles of water. That is a lot of water but it is effective in keeping you hydrated when working out and will aid in losing weight. You could also be more conservative and figure out how many cans of soda you drink in a day and aim to drink that much in water instead.
The bottom line is plain water is the best thing for you. Never mind the hype.
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Interval Training and The Biggest Loser
Each week I watch the show The Biggest Loser. For those who do not know what that is, it is a reality program where they have a group of obese people. These people are trained by personal trainers and also have to compete in various events. Like other reality shows, someone gets voted off the show each week until there are 3 or 4 left. On this show, the two lowest weight losses for the week go up for elimination. The rest of the group votes on who gets eliminated.
This season they are competing as couples. A few weeks ago, something on the show happened that they never explained. What really perplexed me was that the trainers acted like they didn't know what was going on. Let me explain what happened.
There is one couple where the wife worked really hard in her workouts. She never stopped and she always pushed herself. The husband, on the other hand, would stop and take a lot of rests. The trainer would yell at him to continue and he would run on the treadmill for three or four more steps and then stop. The trainer and other contestants would be upset with him. They considered him a slacker. As a side note, the wife stated that she didn't think he took any more breaks than anyone else. It sure didn't look that way to anyone else.
When it came to weigh in you would think that he wouldn't have as much weight loss as everyone else. That is where everyone was wrong. The wife lost 1 pound while he lost 8 pounds! About half the group lost less weight then him. Everyone was amazed and shocked. They couldn't understand how he did less work but lost more weight.
The answer is interval training. By him stopping or slowing down to catch his breath and then trying to get back to a high intensity he actually ended up burning energy more efficiently. There have been numerous studies showing the benefits of interval training. There are many ways to perform effective interval training. Granted, the way this guy performed benefited him that time but I would bet that he would not show the same gains for very long.
Try this interval training on a treadmill, elliptical or bike for one week and see if you show good results. Warm up at a slow to moderate pace for 5 minutes. Work out at a high intensity for 2 minutes then cut the intensity in half for 3 minutes. Go back to a high intensity for 2 minutes then half intensity for 3 minutes. Do this for a total of 4 times then cool down at a low to moderate intensity for 5 minutes. This is a 30 minute workout that will burn a lot of calories. Perform this rourine for 3 to 5 days and check the results. As long as you haven't changed your eating habits you should lose weight.
Depending on the person, I would make recommendations to either continue this program or I would change it to challenge the body some more. With proper interval training you could lose significant amounts of weight in a reasonable amount of time. Interval is only one piece of a proper and complete training program to better your health.
As a final note, I watch the Biggest Loser because I really enjoy seeing people improve themselves. I really like seeing the transformations at the end. If you haven't seen this show, check it out on Tuesday nights on NBC. They also give some trainer tips and you can see some of the exercises they perform to get them into shape.
Try the interval training above and comment back on how it worked out for you.
This season they are competing as couples. A few weeks ago, something on the show happened that they never explained. What really perplexed me was that the trainers acted like they didn't know what was going on. Let me explain what happened.
There is one couple where the wife worked really hard in her workouts. She never stopped and she always pushed herself. The husband, on the other hand, would stop and take a lot of rests. The trainer would yell at him to continue and he would run on the treadmill for three or four more steps and then stop. The trainer and other contestants would be upset with him. They considered him a slacker. As a side note, the wife stated that she didn't think he took any more breaks than anyone else. It sure didn't look that way to anyone else.
When it came to weigh in you would think that he wouldn't have as much weight loss as everyone else. That is where everyone was wrong. The wife lost 1 pound while he lost 8 pounds! About half the group lost less weight then him. Everyone was amazed and shocked. They couldn't understand how he did less work but lost more weight.
The answer is interval training. By him stopping or slowing down to catch his breath and then trying to get back to a high intensity he actually ended up burning energy more efficiently. There have been numerous studies showing the benefits of interval training. There are many ways to perform effective interval training. Granted, the way this guy performed benefited him that time but I would bet that he would not show the same gains for very long.
Try this interval training on a treadmill, elliptical or bike for one week and see if you show good results. Warm up at a slow to moderate pace for 5 minutes. Work out at a high intensity for 2 minutes then cut the intensity in half for 3 minutes. Go back to a high intensity for 2 minutes then half intensity for 3 minutes. Do this for a total of 4 times then cool down at a low to moderate intensity for 5 minutes. This is a 30 minute workout that will burn a lot of calories. Perform this rourine for 3 to 5 days and check the results. As long as you haven't changed your eating habits you should lose weight.
Depending on the person, I would make recommendations to either continue this program or I would change it to challenge the body some more. With proper interval training you could lose significant amounts of weight in a reasonable amount of time. Interval is only one piece of a proper and complete training program to better your health.
As a final note, I watch the Biggest Loser because I really enjoy seeing people improve themselves. I really like seeing the transformations at the end. If you haven't seen this show, check it out on Tuesday nights on NBC. They also give some trainer tips and you can see some of the exercises they perform to get them into shape.
Try the interval training above and comment back on how it worked out for you.
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