Tuesday, April 14, 2009

The Effects of Aerobic Exercise on Lean Tissue

There are many theories out there about aerobic or cardiovascular exercise breaking down the lean tissue in the body. Aerobic exercise (exercise w/oxygen) should be a vital part of your regular fitness program. You are not only burning calories but you are using the most important muscle in your body - the heart.

As your heart is pumping blood throughout the body you are increasing the amount of oxygen and the size of the blood vessels in your body. These blood vessels supply oxygen to the tissues including your muscles. The oxygen also carries out waste products to help with recovery and growth of tissue.

So what type of cardiovascular activity is best for you and your goals? Running, jogging and jumping rope are all examples of high impact aerobics and may tend to break down muscle tissue, burn more calories and with the presence of an improper nutrition program may lead to muscle loss. Walking, cycling and stair climbing are examples of non-impact to low or low impact cardiovascular activities that will potentially minimize the breakdown of muscle tissue.

Determining what your ultimate goals are, whether overall weight loss, body fat loss or gaining lean body mass, will help you determine what type of cardiovascular exercise is best for you to reach your goals. It is very important to choose a type of exercise you will enjoy and will not cause boredom.

Cardiovascular exercise must be performed for no less than 20 minutes. A slow, steady and long duration program will achieve greater fat loss results when done on a consistent basis. One tip to achieving faster results is to complete your aerobic activity first thing in the morning prior to breakfast with plenty of water.
Since your body has been burning calories during the nights sleep, body fat will be utilized as energy in the absence of glycogen in the blood stream.

In conclusion, the muscle tissue in your body is vitally important for longevity and ultimate weight control. By incorporating a regular weight training and cardiovascular exercise program in your daily routine, you can add years to your life and life to your years!

Wes Greer is the owner of the Fitness Together Personal Training studios in Ponte Vedra, Mandarin, and Atlantic Boulevard. Email wesgreer@fitnesstogether.com, call 904.285.3236 or visit www.FTJACKSONVILLE.com for more information.

Wednesday, April 8, 2009

The 'D' Word - DIET!

Today is the day you will never ‘diet’ again! Your new definition of diet is your DAILY INTAKE OF ENERGY TREATS! Your daily eating plan and your 5 meals a day is your diet. No deprivation, all real foods, no packaged or pre-cooked foods. Just a good, healthy eating plan. Think S-F-H, (small, frequent and healthy)!

Let’s stop and think about the foods people had to eat way back in the 1800’s: vegetables grown in the ground, fruit off the trees, animals that were hunted, fish that were caught in the river or sea, and grains that were picked. Have you ever heard of an ‘obesity epidemic’ in the 1800’s? Of course not! Not only were ALL of the foods natural, but energy was expended every time someone was hungry – there were no supermarkets!

200 years ago, there were no pasta primaveras, cheese enchiladas, or chili rellenos and definitely, no pizza! Unfortunately, those days were much more primitive and cooking was done over a wood burning fire. There were no microwaves or fancy ovens, no food processors, pasta machines, or even refrigeration. Whatever was caught or gathered that day was eaten. Think of what you eat daily. Do you think you eat ANYTHING that is one day fresh?

If our society could get back to the basics by eating all-natural foods, more fruits and vegetables, fresh fish instead of red meat (primarily because we do not perform manual labor enough to burn the calories in red meat) and less sugar and flour products, we would never have to watch what we eat again. Of course, activity level would need to be increased since the pioneers and Indians walked or rode horses for transportation. As you know, this burns more calories that sitting in a car or at a desk.

If we could incorporate the ways of our ancestors by eating more natural foods and exercising more intensely, we could improve so many aspects of our lives like:

- increased mental and physical energy
- higher metabolism
- increased muscle mass
- body-fat reduction
- improved body image and self esteem
- improved mood
- ALL heart related health issues

Remember to never use the ‘D’ Word again. Common sense eating combined with exercise is the way to better health. Period.

Wes Greer is the owner of the Fitness Together Personal Training studios in Ponte Vedra, Mandarin, and Atlantic Boulevard. Email wesgreer@fitnesstogether.com, call 904.285.3236 or visit www.FTJACKSONVILLE.com for more information.

Wednesday, March 18, 2009

HOME EXERCISE EQUIPMENT, BUYER BEWARE

As a fitness studio owner, I often have people ask me for advice regarding the purchase of exercise equipment for their homes. They’ve seen the infomercials and want the convenience and results so often promised by those marketers.

My standard answer is that after about two weeks, this equipment will likely become a very expensive clothes line.

You see, for every person that asks me for advice on making such a purchase, someone else has a story for me about buying that stuff and never using it, at least not for what it was intended. It does work well, though, as a clothes hanger or as filler for that extra space in your garage.

I also like to point out that when you have a complex medical issue, you don’t normally choose to practice home medicine. You go to an expert, a medical doctor. Likewise, with a complex legal issue or tax issue, you go to the experts, lawyers or accountants.

What is more complex, or more important to us, than our bodies?

It only makes sense to work with a professional, a personal trainer, rather than purchase expensive equipment for home that you don’t know how to use and likely won’t use regularly.

The Federal Trade Commission has published the following advice regarding home exercise equipment:

“If you're considering buying exercise equipment, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) offers this advice: Evaluate advertising claims for fitness products carefully. Exercise — with or without special equipment — is essential for good health. But be skeptical of claims that you will lose several pounds, inches or pant sizes in a short time (for example, "7 inches in 7 days" or "3 dress sizes in one month"). Even when combined with dietary supplements or specialized breathing techniques, it is virtually impossible for most consumers to achieve such major changes in appearance in a few days or weeks.

“The FTC advises consumers to:
·
“Ignore claims that an exercise machine or device can provide long-lasting, easy, "no-sweat" results in a short time. These claims are false: You can't get the benefits of exercise unless you exercise.
·
“Question claims that a product can burn fat off a particular part of the body — for example, the buttocks, hips or stomach. Achieving a major change in your appearance requires sensible eating and regular exercise that works the whole body.
·
“Read the ad's fine print. The advertised results may be based on more than just using a machine; they also may be based on restricting calories.
·
“Be skeptical of testimonials and before-and-after pictures from "satisfied" customers. Their experiences may not be typical. Just because one person had success with the equipment doesn't mean you will, too.
·
“Do the calculations when you read statements like "three easy payments of ..." or "only $49.95 a month." The advertised cost may not include shipping and handling fees, sales tax, and delivery and set-up fees. Find out the details before you order.
·
“Get details on warranties, guarantees and return policies. A "30-day money-back guarantee" may not sound as good if you have to pay shipping on a bulky piece of equipment you want to "return to sender."
·
“Check out the company's customer and support services. Call the advertised toll-free numbers to get an idea of how easy it is to reach a company representative and how helpful he or she is.”

The FTC has obviously seen and investigated a lot of problems with home exercise equipment. Of course that doesn’t mean it is never a good idea, but the old adage, “BUYER BEWARE” certainly is important when considering such a purchase.

Most people find it very difficult to follow through with an effective exercise program at home, even if they get good equipment. They need expert advice and they need accountability to succeed. If you are serious about getting the health and wellness benefits of exercise, go to an expert, a professional personal trainer.

Wes Greer (wesgreer@fitnesstogether.com) is owner of Fitness Together Ponte Vedra, Mandarin and Atlantic. As a degreed and certified health/fitness expert, Wes has a Free report “9 Secrets for Maximum Weight Loss Results in Minimum Time!” to be downloaded at your disposal. Go to www.FTJACKSONVILLE.com for the report, contact information, and more information about Wes and his company.

Wednesday, February 4, 2009

Don't Stress Over Exercise

Face it, we live in a fast paced, high tech, competitive and often troubled society. The result is chronic stress. We all know that stress causes serious problems. Researchers have found that the people most likely to be stressed, those with a Type A personality, are two to three times more likely to die from coronary heart disease. Second, and related, stress can actually make you FAT.

Before discussing why exercise is the best antidote for stress, it is helpful to understand why stress has these effects on us. It boils down to the simple fact that our bodies cannot tell the difference between stress caused by a physical threat, one we must physically fight or run away from, and the chronic, emotional stress we are most likely to face everyday. Since the human body can’t tell the difference, it reacts the same way to both, by providing maximum strength and energy to fight or run. This is done by releasing the hormones adrenalin, cortisol and insulin. The result is 5 – 10 minutes of quick energy due to the release of stored fuel in the body (fat and glucose). That’s great if you must fight or run away from a physical threat, but really, when was the last time you did that?

Unfortunately, when we face our most common stressors, we are sitting at our desk or behind the wheel. We don’t physically fight or run. Instead, we remain sedentary. So what happens to all that fat and glucose in our blood stream that was supposed to give us quick energy? The job of the third hormone released by the body, insulin, is to get the fat and glucose out of the blood stream and store it for future use. The insulin often does this so well that we feel hungry. So the insulin stores the fat and glucose as fat, most of it saved in the middle section of the body. We eat more because we are hungry, and that gets stored too. If we face prolonged or chronic stress, this cycle is repeated over and over, storing more and more fat on our midriffs and sometimes even leading to an additional problem from insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes.

The very best treatment for stress and all of its negative effects is NOT found at the drug store, but in the gym. Exercise is the cure, plain and simple. Physically, exercise burns fat and glucose, reduces cholesterol and triglycerides, improves all cardiovascular functions, and keeps hormones balanced. It helps our bodies work efficiently. Mentally, exercise calms our negative emotions and actually stimulates positive biochemical changes that improve mood and relieve pain. A fit person can deal with stress much better than people who are sedentary.

So, exercise IS the answer. BUT be careful. Too much exercise will only add to the stress. Doing an exercise improperly or doing the wrong exercise could hurt us. In addition, we need a proper balance of aerobic and weight resistance exercise for optimal results. Variety and periodic change in the exercise routine is also important. The best advice is to seek the help of a professional. And, if you have not exercised recently, consult with your physician before starting.

The researchers continue to find more evidence of the harmful effects of chronic stress and its resulting, serious consequences to our health. That’s the bad news. The good news is that, with each discovery, the best cure is the same, a properly designed exercise program. We may not be able to eliminate the causes of chronic stress, but we can deal with it better. Exercise today = less stress tomorrow!

Wes Greer is the owner of Fitness Together Ponte Vedra, Atlantic, and Mandarin. For more information on how exercise relates to stress, contact wesgreer@fitnesstogether.com, call 904-285-3236 or visit www.FTJACKSONVILLE.com

Thursday, January 22, 2009

Top 5 Diet tips for January

1) Think Natural, Natural, Natural.
There’s a saying, “if you can’t grow it, pick it, or kill it don’t eat it!” I’m vegetarian so I leave out the kill it part but I’m sure you get the idea of what I’m saying.
With so many different fad diets out there it can get really confusing knowing what to eat. However, as long as you keep Natural, Natural, Natural in mind you can’t go too far wrong. If it comes in a box or has a wrapper be wary of it.

2) Small and frequent is best
Small frequent meals work on a number of levels to boost your metabolism and increase the fat burning process. They also help reduce cravings and the subsequent cheating that follows. Start every day with a hearty breakfast and then plan to eat a small meal every 3 hours after that.

3) Sometimes under eating is keeping you overweight
This one takes your getting your head around but sometimes under eating is putting your body into starvation mode. Then, when you do eat the food is stored in the most efficient manner – as fat! If you’re taking in less than 1200 calories and still not losing weight try increasing your food intake from good natural foods spread out over the day into 5-6 small meals.

4) Increase your protein intake and essential fatty acids
Protein and good fats have been shown to increase the metabolism and help build lean muscle. They also have the added benefit of increasing the feelings of fullness from a meal.
New research is also recognizing a connection between Omega 3 fatty acids and a reduction in belly fat.
Remember that your protein and essential fatty acids can come from a wide variety of sources including nuts and seeds.

5) Give your body a day off
Don’t be afraid to sometimes give your digestive system a days rest. The benefits of fasting are both physical and spiritual. There’s something very powerful in abstaining from food for a day. and it’s really not as hard as you may initially think. Make sure you stay well hydrated and be careful if you have to drive long distances.

Yours in health & happiness

Giles Wiley

Thursday, January 15, 2009

Putting some WHY in your

Hi friend
We're in to the second week of January and many people will have already "forgotten" about their New Years resolutions...

There are 5 crucial steps to Goal setting and if you miss just 1 step you'll find your goals fall flatter than a pancake.

Step 1: Know exactly WHAT you want - be really clear on your goal. Don't just say you want to lose weight - say you want to lose 15 pounds by April 15th!

Step 2: Know exactly WHY you want to achieve this goal. This is the step many people gloss over with answers such as, "because I feel fat!".You need to go deeper on this step - you need to find your pain, "because I worry my spouse doesn't find me attractive any more and that my co-workers make fun of me behind my back!"If this step doesn't leave you feeling either really bad or really excited then you haven't gone deep enough.

Step 3: KNOW THE PRICE you'll need to pay to reach your goal. What will it take to realize your goal - "exercise 5 times per week, 3 sessions of resistance training and 2 sessions of interval training plus modify my diet and sleeping patterns!"

Step 4: BE WILLING to pay that price. Acknowledge at the outset of your goal setting that you must be willing to put in the hard work necessary to achieve your goals.

Step 5: Actually PAY the price. This is where most goals and dreams fall flat. You need to actually do what it takes to realize your goals you can't just day dream your way to them.

If you really set your mind to it - if you truly decided that nothing would stop you - you could achieve just about anything!!

Cheers to your health & happiness

Giles Wiley

Wednesday, January 7, 2009

Goal Setting

If you are like a large majority of the population your resolution probably has something to do with trying to get that “few extra pounds off “.

Well I want to talk about realistic goal setting. I have seen other people do it and I have also been guilty myself, of setting unrealistic goals.

If the goals you set are not realistic chances are your not going to achieve them which lead to discouragement and eventually if not immediately giving up. An example of an unrealistic goal would be “I’m going to lose 50 lbs in 2 months “. I am not saying it’s impossible but it’s definitely an unrealistic goal.

A more feasible goal would be “I am going to lose 50 lbs in 6 months”. Nobody wants to quit but it’s easy for people to get thrown off course when goals become too overwhelming. I suggest taking your long term goal and breaking them up into multiple short term goals.

If your goal is to lose 50 lbs don’t say “I'm going to lose 50lbs in 6 months”. Break it down, “I am going to lose 5 lbs in 2 weeks”. After 2 weeks, assess how you did and then set another short term goal.

This will help you get your focus off “the light at the end of the tunnel”. If you focus on the end of the tunnel or the future too much, it’s easy to trip over the present, causing the future to become you giving up on your goal.

Just remember you control your own destiny and if you want something bad enough you can achieve it! With the right attitude and realistic goal setting you can achieve the resolution that so many people wind up giving up on.

Yours in health

Joe