Archive for the ‘Fitness’ Category

Iron Man Nutrition Great For Antiaging Program

Tuesday, June 23rd, 2009

I came across this very good video by triathlete Ben Greenfield on the nutritional requirements for athletes training for the Iron Man. As most of you would know, the Iron Man is the elite fitness event in the triathlon circuit. Whilst most of you will not be training for such an event, you are very likely to be preparing for a hiking holiday, skiing holiday, or other event requiring endurance. Quite frankly, even looking after children during the holidays can be an endurance test to some!!

During preparation for such an event, the body must be correctly nourished to build muscle, not fat, and to ensure that it receives sufficient antioxidants and anti-inflammatories to aid muscle building and damage to joints and muscles - all characteristics we try to achieve with an antiaging nutrition and fitness program.

I urge you to take a look – you can download a powerpoint slide deck to follow along – as the slides in the video are not easy to see, but Ben makes a great job of talking to each point.

 

Visit http://www.bengreenfieldfitness.com/ironman for the powerpoint.

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Posted in Anti-Aging Program, Diet, Fitness, Muscle Building, Supplements | 4 Comments »

Want to Lose Fat – Then Get Out of The Way of Your Body

Sunday, March 15th, 2009

There are so many fat loss programs that it is confusing to many people as to which program works best. What most people don’t realise is that many of these programs actually work against you and make you put on fat, increasing your body weight.

The reason for this is that fat loss is a very individual process. Our bodies are naturally designed to maintain an optimal fat layer, but we subvert that process by overloading it with the wrong types of food and exercise.

This is why some people who undertake an intensive cardio program in the hope of burning fat and adding muscle, but losing weight, often find to their dismay that they have actually gained fat.

The same fat gain result can occur with those who adopt a starvation diet.

A series of studies on fat loss carried out in 2007 investigated the impact on women of selected exercise and diet programs, in particular focusing around the use of high intensity interval exercise and the mediteranean diet which is high in fish oil and nuts.

The results of this fat loss program study may surprise you…check it out!

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Posted in Fat Loss, Fitness, Weight Management | 4 Comments »

Get Fitter By The Hour

Saturday, February 14th, 2009

With a lot of us feeling like we have to put in more effort to keep our jobs and businesses from falling into the hands of the recession, it is easy to feel like there is no time for keeping fit. For those who feel they have no time to exercise and become strong and healthy…just read the following;

Total Hours Per Week = 168

  • Sleep at 8 hours a night = 56
  • Work = 40 hours
  • Travel = 10 hours
  • Meals [3 a day at 1 hour each] = 21
  • Personal & Household at 2 hours a day = 14 hours
  • Family time at 2 hours a day = 14 hours

A total of 155 hours. That still leave 13 hours a week for an exercise program or something else. Even if you work 50 hours a week, you still have 6 hours a week to spend on other activities.

Not convinced….well then take it hour by hour. Evey hour take 5 minutes to do some type of exercise. Desk workout, sit ups, squats, push ups [wall or floor], walking the stairs. Not only will you end up spending about 8 hours a week exercising, you will be less stressed from taking mini-breaks.

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Posted in Anti-Aging Program, Fitness | 1 Comment »

Using Weight Training To Prevent Osteoporosis

Wednesday, April 4th, 2007

Osteoporosis is far too accepted as being inevitable.  Sure, loss of calcium from the bones increases as we age – but rather than just accept it, why not look at why it happens and do something to prevent it.

People do not do anything about osteoporosis until it becomes a problem. Yet it never needs to BE a problem. It has been scientifically proven in multiple studies that weight training prevents osteoporosis. So if osteoporosis is an issue for you – then add this it to your fitness goals

“Aim to not lose ANY bone density”

So how does weight training work to prevent osteoporosis? (more…)

Posted in Anti-Aging Program, Fitness, Treatments | 2 Comments »

Fitness Reduces Negative Effects of Menopause

Sunday, April 1st, 2007

Until recently it was believed that there were no positive beneftis associated with increased physical fitness and menopause. However, recent study results now show the physical activity may help ease symptoms and increase quality of life during menopause.

About 1.5 million American women reach menopause each year, at an average age of 52. Between 80 to 85 percent of these women experience symptoms such as hot flashes, night sweats, irritability, anxiety or emotional instability.

Both aerobic walking and anaerobic yoga classes provide a better quality of life and reduced negative effects of menopause compared to not exercising. Improvements include mood and physical improvements.

Cardiorespiratory fitness has the greatest impact on helping women cope with menopause with the least unpleasant symptoms. This has positive mental health and quality of life outcomes.

Fitness improvements either directly or indirectly impact the symptoms of menopause, and should be regarded as an integral part of menopause medical interventions.

The Society of Behavioral Medicine. http://www.sbm.org

Posted in Anti-Aging Program, Fitness, Treatments, Wellness | 9 Comments »

Study Proves Exercise Builds Brain Cells

Wednesday, March 14th, 2007

We have long recognised that exercise decreases stress, boosts energy, and increases mental performance. But recent studies led by Dr Scott Small, a neurologist at Columbia University Medical Centre in

New York, have shown that physiological changes also occur that may be the key to keeping us mentally fit. The research found that exercise boosts brainpower by building new brain cells in a brain region linked with memory and memory loss.

Study & Findings

Tests on 11 healthy adults undergoing a three month aerobic exercise program showed exercise generated blood flow to a brain region called the dentate gyrus, which resulted in growth of new brain cells. This part of the hippocampus is known to be affected in the age-related memory decline that begins around age 30 for most humans.

The changes were detected using MRI scans of the brain before and after exercise. They also measured the fitness of each volunteer by measuring oxygen volume before and after the training programme. The more fit a person got, the more blood flow the MRI detected.

The next step for the research is to identify the exercise regimen most beneficial to improve cognition and reduce normal memory loss.

Nicola

Posted in Aging, Anti-Aging Program, Fitness, Mind Power | 3 Comments »

Are You Really As Fit As You Think?

Saturday, March 10th, 2007

 

Whether you are in the part of the world that is entering summer, or that part entering winter. A change of season normally brings with it a change of activity. In the summer it’s out with the tennis racket, golf clubs and sailing gear. In the winter its explosive team field sports, snow skiing and more intense gym training.

 

Wherever you are, and whatever sporting activities you prefer, one thing is common to us all. We perform better and are more likely to avoid injury if we are fit for the purpose. So I like to use the few weeks around the changing seasons to prepare myself physically for changes in activity.

 

When we consider entering cold climates, we ensure our cars have anti-freeze and the snow chains are in the boot. We need to take the same precautions with our bodies.

 

Each activity has its own unique movements, and it doesn’t take much to work out what these are. Golf and tennis both use explosive movements, but only tennis needs higher cardiac endurance fitness. Knowing the fitness requirements for your sport and measuring yourself against those fitness requirements is key to not only your performance but also your prolonged enjoyment.

 

On the Antiaging-Wellness.com we have a number of body measures and fitness tests that will help give you a start. Remember, check with your medical advisor before you undertake any new physical activity.

A typical testing program includes:

A comprehensive fitness test is usually carried out by a Fitness and/or Medical Professional using gym equipments and special measuring equipment. However, there are a number of tests you can carry out at home that give you sufficient accuracy to use effectively in any fitness program.  The range of measures includes:

Once you have completed these tests, you are better equipped to design your Fitness Program for the season. Watch for the next blog on designing your own anti-aging fitness program.

Nicola

Posted in Anti-Aging Program, Fitness | No Comments »