Ways to make your life better: 30 minutes at a time

Tuesday, September 24, 2013

Go Nuts Over Nuts: Good for Mind and Body



Hopefully you already know that a handful of almonds is a great way to stave off hunger and fill your growling tummy with some fiber and healthy fats. Did you also know that it may be protecting your memories?

Studies show that the use of olive oils and the consistent eating of walnuts and almonds may help prevent dementia and other memory defecits in the future. 

Exercise, on a regular basis is also proven to keep your brain healthy and sharp as well. 

Check out the findings below.

Nutty finding: Olive oil, nuts can protect your brain

May 20, 2013 at 6:32 PM ET


It might seem against all logic, but adding a little olive oil or a handful of nuts to your diet each day may help keep your mind clear, researchers reported on Monday. It’s the same diet that’s also been shown to reduce deaths from heart attacks and strokes.

The researchers found that people who ate these healthy fats were less likely to show the early signs of dementia than those who stuck to a more traditional diet. And this was done in Spain -- where people are already eating a so-called Mediterranean diet.

“Our findings support increasing evidence on the protective effects of the Mediterranean Diet on cognitive function,”Miguel Martinez-Gonzalez of the University of Navarra in Spain and colleagues reported in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry.

The findings come from a large and well-publicized trial that showed the Mediterranean diet rich in fruits, vegetables, olive oil and a little wine can cut the risk of heart attacks and strokes by 30 percent. Martinez and colleagues took a part data on 500 volunteers from their own study center, who were followed for more than six and a half years after starting the diet.

A Mediterranean diet includes lots of salad, fruit, vegetables, nuts, a little fish, a little lean meat, a small amount of cheese and olive oil. Wine is also served at meals. In the main study, 7,400 volunteers got extra counseling, and either a weekly supply of extra-virgin olive oil or mixed nuts -- walnuts, almonds and hazelnuts.

The volunteers, aged 55 to 80, were all at high risk of heart disease because of diabetes, a family history of the disease, high blood pressure, unhealthy cholesterol levels -- or they were overweight or smokers. They were randomly assigned to either add more extra-virgin olive oil to their daily diets, a daily handful of the mixed nuts, or just a standard diet with advice to cut fat.

Such “randomized” studies are considered more powerful, because people don’t choose which diet to adopt -- and so other outside factors don’t interfere with the results. For instance, people who choose to eat nuts might also dislike meat, or they might like sweets, or they might exercise more or less than people who don’t think much about eating nuts.

Read more here

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Thursday, September 19, 2013

Sneaky "Healthy" Foods That Make You Fat

Don't you hate it when you think you are doing everything right and get on the scale at the end of the week and have gained 2 pounds? How can that be??  When your trainer keeps your workout routine productive and personalized like we do here, the next thing to look at is your diet.

Even if your pantry is stocked with high fiber snacks and organic pastas from the whole food co-op, there is a chance that those "healthy" foods are secret sugar-boosters that throw off your whole metabolism. 

Check out this enlightening article from Shape.com

7 Foods a Nutritionist Would Never Eat

And why you shouldn’t either!
 
1 of 7
Rice Cakes
 
 
They may have been touted as the ultimate diet food during the low-fat/no-fat craze of the late 1980s and 1990s, but don’t be fooled. Rice cakes can have a glycemic index rating as high as 91 (pure glucose has a rating of 100), making it the kind of carbohydrate that will send your blood sugar on a roller coaster ride. This is bad for weight loss and for your health.
Read more here:  http://www.shape.com/healthy-eating/diet-tips/7-foods-nutritionist-would-never-eat

Friday, September 13, 2013

Lessons from a Swimmer

http://www.diananyad.com
Recently Diana Nyad fulfilled a dream she'd been working to achieve for a very long time. She completed a swim 110 miles from cuba to Florida's Key West.  She swam through shark infested waters, through jelly fish, difficult conditions that had stopped her on other previous attempts.

This time, at the age of 64, she made it.

Is she an inspiration. Damn right she is. 

Whether she had completed her goal this time or not, she continued to try, again and again, and in that pursuit, she showed the world the soul of an athelete. She challenged herself and never gave up.  She stubbornly pursued her self-appointed challenge.  This time. As she always knew she would. She succeeded. 

We all have Diana Nyad in us.  I believe this and I believe in each of my clients and bringing out your athletic soul. 



Check out more about Diana Nyad here...

http://www.diananyad.com/

Monday, September 9, 2013

Sugar Free Drinks = Weight Loss for Kids (and Adults!)


It's no secret that soda is bad for you, and your kids, but sugary soda is undeniably part of the obesidy problem and studies have proven it. 

Obesity rates in children have increased by 100 percent since 1980s.  Since then, kids consume an extra 300 calories per day, largely in the form of high sugar soft drinks

A study from the Netherlands found that children given high-sugar soft drinks for 18 months
gained weight while kids given sugar-free drinks didn't.

Replacing high-sugar drinks with calorie-free beverages prevents weight and fat gain in children.
(New England Journal of Medicine, 367: 1397-1406.2012)


Getting your kids started on healthy and deliscious beverages early is key in getting them to make healthy choices life-long.  Here are some great drink ideas to get you and your  kids away from the sugary sodas and into much better habits.

Aqua Frescas:  

These are basically fruit-infused waters that are refreshing and good for you. Easy to make at home, kids will love to make up their own recipes, and you'll love that they are eating and drinking healthy. Here are a few recipes to get you started: 

Citrus Cucumber Water

Ingredients
  • 1 large lemon, sliced
  • 1 large lime, sliced
  • 1 large orange, sliced
  • 1 large cucumber, sliced
  • 1/2 gallon of water
Instructions
  1. Place all fruits and vegetables in a glass pitcher.
  2. Add water.
  3. Allow to infuse for two hours before serving over ice.
Orange Water

Orange Mint Water

Ingredients
  • 3 large oranges, sliced
  • 10 mint leaves
  • 1/2 gallon of water
Instructions
  1. Place mint and orange slices in a pitcher.
  2. Add water.
  3. Infuse for two hours in the refrigerator.
  4. Pour over ice.
  5. Serve garnished with an orange slice and a sprig of mint.

Cucumber Melon Aguas Frescas

Ingredients
  • 1 large cucumber, sliced
  • 1/4 honeydew melon, cubed
  • 1/4 cantaloupe, cubed
  • 1/2 gallon of water
Instructions
  1. Place melon and cucumber in a glass pitcher.
  2. Add water.
  3. Allow to rest, refrigerated, for two hours.
  4. Serve over ice.
  5. Garnish with melon balls skewered on a swizzle stick.

Watermelon Basil Aguas Frescas

Watermelon Water
Ingredients
  • 2 cups of seedless watermelon, cubed
  • 10 to 12 basil leaves
  • 1/2 gallon of water
Instructions
  1. Pour water over melon and basil.
  2. Refrigerate for two hours.
  3. Serve over ice.
  4. Garnish with a sprig of basil.

Citrus Coriander Aguas Frescas

Ingredients
  • 1 large lemon, sliced
  • 1 large lime, sliced
  • 1 large orange, sliced
  • 1/4 cup cilantro leaves
Instructions
  1. Pour water over citrus fruits and cilantro.
  2. Refrigerate for two hours.
  3. Serve over ice.
  4. Garnish with an orange slice and sprig of cilantro    (get more at:  http://gourmet.lovetoknow.com/Fresh_Fruit_Infused_Water  )

Tomato, Cranberry and Orange Juice are also healthy choices that can substitute for sodas.

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Thursday, September 5, 2013

Snack and Burn: Guilt -Free Snacking That Boost Your Metabolism

Snacking guilt-free seems like a fantasy, but there are deliscious snack options that taste so good you will avoid your trainers eyes the next day.  Discovering the savory flavors of metabolism-boosting seeds and leguimes makes all the difference.  Check out this undeniably good recipe from Health.com for a taste that is good and good for you.



Sunflower Lentil Spread




Ingredients

  • 1 (15-ounce) can lentils, rinsed and drained
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper
  • 2 tablespoons sunflower seeds
  • 1 celery stalk, finely diced
  • 1 scallion, finely diced
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
  • 2 pitas, halved

Preparation

1. Combine lentils, lemon juice, salt, and pepper in a blender; process until smooth.
2. Stir in sunflower seeds, celery, scallions, and parsley.
3. Microwave pita at HIGH 1 minute. Serve with spread.





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Tuesday, September 3, 2013

Bad Vibes: Vibration Training is Ineffective!

What's all the Buzzzzzzz about with Vibration training? Really, that is all it is, buzzz, buzzz, buzzz.  Like many types of "fad" training, Vibration training is starting to shake apart.  And the studies are proving it. 

Training on a vibration platform is less effective that weight training alone- according to a study led by Ezio Prestoni from the  University of Bath in the UK.

Vibration involves doing basic exercises, such as squats, push-ups, lunges, and modified pull-ups on a vibrating platform. Vibration is transferred to the feet, hands, and butt, which are in contact with the vibration plate or handlebars. 

Vibration activiates stretch receptors in the muscles, which triggers thousands of small relfex muscle contractors.  Vibration training in ineffective in moderately fit people.
(journal strength conditioning research, 26:2495-2506.2012)

Here's even more evidence... Already in 2009, researchers were already disregarding claims that vibration training would help increase hormonal levels that advertisers for the work out headlined.  Check out this article...

More Evidence to Indicate Whole Body Vibration to be Ineffective



By    |   Sunday, April 26, 2009
Filed under: Culture and Society, Sports
Tags: , , ,
Researchers from the Institute of Sport and Recreation Research, Faculty of Health and Environmental Science and Auckland University of Technology in New Zealand conducted a review of existing research and their findings are published in the March 2009 (Volume 23, Number 2) edition of the National Strength and Conditioning Association’s Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research.
In an earlier article I discussed the researchers’ conclusion that WBV does not enhance speed. However, in a paper titled “Vibration Training: Could it Enhance the Strength, Power or Speed of Athletes?” the researchers found a lack of reliable evidence to support the use of WBV in other areas, as well.
Online access to the journal is provided for NSCA members only.
A common claims made in sales materials and web sites is that WBV training has a positive impact on hormonal levels, specifically that testosterone and human growth hormone (HGH) levels are raised as a result of standing on these vibrating platforms. The authors of this review discuss the results of three studies that have been done to determine the effect WBV has on the endocrine system.
A study conducted by Kvorning et al (“Effects of Vibration and Resistance Training on Neuromuscular and Hormonal Measures”, 2006) combined exercise with vibration to determine if WBV had a positive effect on the endocrine system. Twenty-eight untrained subjects were split into three groups: vibration-only, vibration and body weight squats, and body weight squats only. Testosterone levels increased similarly for the vibration/squat group and the squat-only group and there was no increase seen in the vibration-only group.
These findings are in line with two other studies. DiLoreto et al (“Effects of Whole Body Vibration Exercise on the Endocrine System of Healthy Men,” 2004) saw no increase in testosterone or HGH levels in 10 men who stood on a WBV platform for 25 minutes and Bosco (“Hormonal Responses to Whole Body Vibration in Men,” 2000) observed an increased in HGH and smaller increase in testosterone for subjects who squatted on a vibrating platform.
The findings of these researchers in this review of current and reliable studies stand in stark contrast to the claims made by companies marketing WBV platforms.
With regard to improving an athlete’s strength the authors of this review analyzed five studies; three studies observed strength benefits and two studies found no benefits. The authors of this review found a variety of study design inconsistencies that call into question the positive results.


Read more here: http://blogcritics.org/more-evidence-to-indicate-whole-body/

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Wednesday, August 28, 2013

Tale of the Tape...Worm: How Far is Too Far for Weight Loss?

There was a recent news story about woman in Iowa who ingested a tapeworm as a means to limit her food intake and consumption.  This was her weight loss solution and alternative to healthy eating habits and a reasonable workout routine.

It nearly killed her.

Apparently, ordering and ingesting tapeworms, which is seen as a blight and deadly sickness in many underdeveloped countries, is a diet solution offered by scammers on the Internet.  It makes me wonder how someone would get that discouraged to try such a thing.

Discouragement over weight loss plateau is natural, but there are ways to break through a plateau or start your diet and weight loss routine that will make it an enjoyable experience that pays -off, and won't require a doctor's visit. 

Read more about this unusual story below... yuck.  :)

Iowa woman tries 'tapeworm diet', prompts doctor warning  

Aug. 16, 2013 at 1:25 PM ET


An Iowa woman recently discovered something worse than being overweight: swallowing a parasitic worm in order to drop a few pounds.

The woman went to her doctor and admitted she’d bought a tapeworm off the Internet and swallowed it, says Dr. Patricia Quinlisk, the medical director of the Iowa Department of Public Health. The woman's doctor, understandably, wasn’t sure of what to do in such a situation, and so he contacted the state’s public health department for advice. This week, Quinlisk relayed a warning and treatment advice in her weekly email to state public health workers.

“Ingesting tapeworms is extremely risky and can cause a wide range of undesirable side effects, including rare deaths,” Quinlisk wrote in the email, as the Des Moines Register reported Friday. “Those desiring to lose weight are advised to stick with proven weight loss methods — consuming fewer calories and increasing physical activity.”

There are a few different kinds of tapeworms, but it’s the beef tapeworm, or Taenia saginata, that is usually used in these sorts of quick weight-loss schemes, Quinlisk says. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, advertisements touted “easy to swallow,” “sanitized tape worms” as a weapon against fat – “the ENEMY that is shortening your life,” as one vintage ad recently showcased by the National Women’s History Museum's website reads.

More recently, reports surfaced that dieters in Hong Kong were swallowing tapeworms to lose weight. And in 2009, Tyra Banks did an episode of her talk show in which she interviewed women who said they would be willing to swallow a tapeworm if it really meant they could easily drop a few pounds.
Taenia saginata -- Scoleces of Taenia spp. The scolex of T. solium contains four large suckers and a rostellum containing two rows of large and small ...
CDC
Here's what a tapeworm looks like. Lovely, isn't it? This is the Taenia saginata, or beef tapeworm, which is the one usually associated with weight loss schemes.
Quinlisk says that the capsules sold in the past by snake oil hucksters, and online today, likely contain the microscopic head of a Taenia saginata.

“When people would order from snake oil medicine kinds of people a weight loss pill, it would be the head of a Taenia saginata … and it would develop into a 30-foot-long tapeworm in your body,” Quinlisk says. “The worm would get into your gut – it’s got little hooks on the head – and it would grab onto your intestine and start growing.”

And, technically, this parasitic infection, called taeniasis, does cause weight loss.
“Tapeworms will cause you to lose weight because you have this huge worm in your intestines eating your food,” Quinlisk says.

At a dangerous, disgusting cost. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention include “weight loss” and “loss of appetite” in its list of the symptoms of taeniasis – a list also including abdominal pain and upset stomach. Quinlisk adds that this could kill you.
Also from the CDC: “The most visible sign of taeniasis is the active passing of proglottids (tapeworm segments) through the anus and in the feces. In rare cases, tapeworm segments become lodged in the appendix, or the bile and pancreatic ducts.”

To get the parasite out of a person's body, doctors will usually prescribe an anti-worm medication like praziquantel or niclosamide, which force all the muscles in the worm's body to contract, killing it. The tapeworm will then harmlessly pass through the intestines and out of the body.
Years ago, Quinlisk volunteered for the Peace Corps and spent time in Nepal, where she would see people suffering from tapeworms they swallowed while eating undercooked, infested meat. The tapeworms made these Nepalese Quinlisk saw very ill, robbing them of many nutrients their food would have otherwise provided for them.

“I can’t imagine anybody doing this on purpose,” she says.
Diet historian Susan Yager, "just cannot believe" people would use tapeworms to shed pounds. Yager, who studied the history of diets in America for her 2010 book, “The Hundred Year Diet: America’s Voracious Appetite for Losing Weight,” says if people used tapeworms as a weight loss method, either now or 100 years ago, it’s likely a very small number. The CDC, for example, says that the number of new tapeworm cases is probably fewer than 1,000 – and many of those cases may be from undercooked beef or pork.
Taenia saginata -- Adults of Taenia spp. Adults can reach a length of 2-8 meters, but the scolex is only 1-2 millimeters in diameter.
CDC
Taenia saginata -- Adults of Taenia spp. Adults can reach a length of 2-8 meters, but the scolex is only 1-2 millimeters in diameter.
“Probably, some people have done it. I have no question in my mind that people have done everything in the world to try to lose weight,” Yager says. “But I don’t think it was ever widespread."
The only other diet that even halfway compares to the over-the-top nature of the tapeworm diet, Yager says, might be the hCG diet, in which dieters inject themselves with a hormone found in the urine of pregnant women. The hCG diet was popular in the 1960s and ‘70s and experienced a resurgence in recent years.
Then there's “absolute fasting.” Proponents of this one say you can live your life in exactly the way you always have; you just don’t get to eat any more, ever again, Yager says.

Read more here: Today's Health

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Tuesday, August 27, 2013

Garden Fresh Veggies Make for Great Meals

There is nothing better than fresh veggies from the Farmer's Market or a Patio Garden or Organic section from your grocer. Preparing them the right way means making the most of all the great nutrients and vitamins that feed your muscles and make the most of all the work you do at the gym.

Check out these healthy and tasty recipes from the NY Times ... feel free to bring in a sample to FND next time you come in!


Roasted pepper and a vinaigrette dressing infuse a chewy, savory mix of rice and farro.

I had a tiny amount of farro in my pantry and odds and ends of different grades of brown rice, so I combined them. I like the contrasting textures and flavors of the rice and farro, infused with the flavor of the roasted pepper and the vinaigrette.
3/4 cup brown rice
1/4 cup farro
Salt to taste
1 large red pepper, roasted and diced
1 cup diced cucumber
2 ounces feta, crumbled or cut in small cubes (plus additional for garnish)
1/4 cup basil leaves, cut in slivers, torn or chopped
1 to 2 teaspoons fresh thyme leaves
2 tablespoons sherry vinegar or red wine vinegar
1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1 small garlic clove, puréed
5 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
Freshly ground pepper
1/2 6-ounce bag wild arugula, rinsed and dried
1. Cook the rice. Combine with 1 2/3 cups water and salt to taste in a medium saucepan, bring to a boil, cover, reduce the heat and simmer 45 minutes, or until there is no more water in the pot. Turn off the heat, cover the pot with a dishtowel, return the lid, and let sit for 15 minutes. Transfer the rice to a wide bowl or a sheet pan and allow to cool completely.
2. Meanwhile cook the farro. Combine with 3 cups water and salt to taste in a medium saucepan, bring to a boil, cover, reduce the heat and simmer 45 to 50 minutes, until tender. Turn off the heat and allow the farro to sit in the hot water for another 15 minutes, then drain and place in a paper towel-lined bowl to cool.
3. In a large bowl, combine the rice, farro, diced roasted pepper, diced cucumber, feta, basil, and thyme.
4. In a small measuring cup or bowl, whisk together the sherry and balsamic vinegars, salt to taste, Dijon mustard and garlic. Whisk in the olive oil. Pour over the grain mixture, add freshly ground pepper, and toss the mixture well.
5. Line individual salad plates or a platter with arugula. Top with the salad. Garnish, if desired, with more crumbled feta, and serve.
Yield: Serves 4 to 6
Advance preparation: The salad can be prepared through Step 3 a day ahead of time.
Nutritional information per serving (4 servings): 385 calories; 21 grams fat; 5 grams saturated fat; 2 grams polyunsaturated fat; 13 grams monounsaturated fat; 13 milligrams cholesterol; 41 grams carbohydrates; 4 grams dietary fiber; 206 milligrams sodium (does not include salt to taste); 8 grams protein
Nutritional information per serving (6 servings): 257 calories; 14 grams fat; 3 grams saturated fat; 2 grams polyunsaturated fat; 9 grams monounsaturated fat; 8 milligrams cholesterol; 27 grams carbohydrates; 3 grams dietary fiber; 137 milligrams sodium (does not include salt to taste); 5 grams protein
Martha Rose Shulman is the author of “The Very Best of Recipes for Health.

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Thursday, August 22, 2013

Don't Fall into the Fitness Fad Trends: Be Strong and Be Smart with Your Work Out Choices

We see a lot of fitness, diet and work out fads come and go.  Overall they are full of lot's of promises and little pay-off. The 7 minute fitness trend is the current Buzz that unfortunately leads people down a primrose path towards physical injury and workout-burnout. 
Check out this current article on the trend in the Dallas News:

How few minutes of exercise can you get away with? 

  LESLIE BARKER
Staff Writer
Published: 19 August 2013 05:30 PM
Updated: 19 August 2013 05:31 PM

In the futuristic world of winsome dreams, cheeseburgers have single-digit calories; workouts, single-digit minutes.
Well, hold tight to your jet pack. The magic wand has been waved — not for cheeseburgers, but it seems so for workouts. Cases in point:
Research published in the American College of Sports Medicine’s Health & Fitness Journal touts the effectiveness of a strength-training workout using only body weight and lasting merely seven — albeit very uncomfortable — minutes.
A Norwegian study found that four minutes of high-intensity activity — heart rate at 90 percent of maximum capacity — shares similar benefits to four such efforts separated by three minutes of downtime.
The benefits of high-intensity training have been known for a while, experts tell us. But in our busy lives, new research on shorter and shorter workouts continues to tantalize, especially when compared with the 150 weekly minutes of exercise recommended by the ACSM.
Three months after “The Scientific 7-Minute Workout” story appeared in The New York Times magazine and its Well blog (wellblog.nytimes.com), it’s still among the top five viewed stories on the newspaper’s health website. Don’t let the numbers fool you, experts caution. Caveats abound.
“What’s important to remember is that there’s no magic in any of this,” says Allen Jackson, chairman of the department of Kinesiology, Health Promotion and Recreation at the University of North Texas.
The point, he says, “is getting active, the muscle groups you’re working, the specificity of training.”
It’s also the level of intensity, which, in order to make the exercises effective, has to be extreme. Four minutes at 90 percent of maximum heart rate is hardly casual.
“That’s the highest range of intensity that the American College of Sports Medicine recommends,” he says. “The highest! The highest! That’s Michael Phelps!”
Benjamin Levine, medical director of the Institute of Exercise and Environmental Medicine at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas, puts it this way:
“Here’s the deal. We talk about exercise as medicine. Like any drug, exercise has a dose and a frequency. You can take a baby aspirin once a night or two to four times a day and get different effects.
“Exercise is the same way. Different types of exercise probably affect different systems in different ways.”
Working out for the 150 recommended minutes spread over a week, for example, burns more calories than the shorter bursts. That’s something to keep in mind if you’re exercising to lose or maintain weight.
The trick of intervals, Levine says, is that they “allow you to do something harder for a short period of time and allow you to build up to that level of intensity. If it’s just longer periods of lower intensity you do, you’ll never be able to do more.”
Plus, the shorter bursts offer positive physiological results.
“When you do high-intensity aerobic intervals, you have a nice change in the heart,” Levine says. “The heart muscle gets stronger, your muscles get stronger and better able to utilize oxygen.”
Without a doubt, Jackson says, “short bouts of intensive activity have performance benefits and health and fitness benefits. It’s true.”
There are problems inherent with these, he cautions: a “potential risk for injury,” or a “cardiovascular event” because the heart is working extremely hard.
“More moderate, longer-term exercise will have lower risk for injury. Joggers get injured. Walkers don’t very much. The drawback? It takes more time, and time is definitely a barrier.”
Still, saying a workout will last four minutes, or seven, or even shorter periods of time isn’t entirely accurate, Levine says.
“Of course you have to warm up. There’s recovery between,” he says. “Nobody should think you put on your shoes and in four minutes you’ll be finished.”
Additionally, these aren’t workouts just anyone can plunge right into, Jackson says.
“My concerns are about injury and about someone who really isn’t ready to do a high-intensity exercise bout,” he says. “You just can’t start that off. It just isn’t a good idea, especially when you talk about sedentary people going all-out.”
Still, he and Levine do agree that shorter stints can have a place in a workout regimen.
“Four minutes,” he says, “would be better than no minutes. But make sure you’re ready to do those four minutes.”
Here are some tips for incorporating single-digit workouts into your own regimen:
Go slowly. If you’re just starting out, do each segment slower. As you build strength and confidence, pick up the speed.
Use it on a time-strapped day. “If you’re normally a jogger but can’t do your 30 minutes, and can get a hard run of four or five minutes in? Sure, do it,” Jackson says. “Why not?”
Build in intensity. That’s the principle of interval training, he says. “Swim two lengths easy, one hard.” Or go at a normal pace on the elliptical trainer and then “for a few minutes now and then, go after it.”
Try the four-minute-intervals-four-times workout. “We affectionately call it the 4-by-4,” says Levine, who incorporates this at least weekly into his other training. For the four-minute segments, you go all-out. Between each, go slower — heart rate at 50 or 60 percent of maximum — for three minutes.
As each four-minute segment winds down, you should feel ready to stop, he says. At the end of the three-minute cool-downs, “you should be able to say, ‘OK, I’m ready to go again.’”
“Patients with heart disease, with heart failure, with diabetes, with hypertension — everybody can do it. At the end of the day, it ends up being as hard as you can go for four minutes and keep going.”\

Read more at: Dallas News

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Monday, August 19, 2013

Eat Smart: Foods For Entrepreneurs

Hi Friends,
I know you are busy. You are making it happen. You got a great career, family, busy, busy life. That's why you come to Fitness North Dallas! A quick workout and you are on your way!  But sometimes when you are on the go, you are not always eating right.

Keeping your body functioning at Peak Levels is what it is all about. Working out is part of that, but you have to eat right. Fuel your body to make it all happen. Check out this article from DemGem about feeding the Entrepreneur in YOU.

 
The Entrepreneur’s Diet to Increase Health and Brainpower


 
Wednesday, March 27th, 2013 



The entrepreneur’s diet can be key to business success.  As entrepreneurs and business owners, we’re often busy and tend to always be on the go.  Eating right can be overlooked.

Maintaining a healthy diet, even when things get hectic, will help to keep you healthy, increase brainpower and ensure you’re working at the best of your abilities.

Fruits and Veggies

Fresh, local, organic produce is an easy and fast way to eat healthy.  Keep lots of your favorite fruits and vegetables on hand so you’re prepared when hunger strikes.

They are high in various vitamins and can help prevent illness.  There’s truth in the old saying, “An apple a day keeps the doctor away”.

“Smart” Foods

Research has proven that adding certain foods to your regimen can increase memory and brainpower.

Blueberries can improve learning capacity and motor skills.

Avocados are almost as good as blueberries for the brain; they contribute to healthy blood flow, lower blood pressure and increase brain function.

Beans are a quick, easy and economical way to boost your energy and brainpower.

Pomegranates offer potent antioxidant benefits, protecting the brain from damage from free radicals.  If you don’t have time to wrestle with the fruit’s tiny seeds, go for pomegranate juice (just be aware of the added sugar).

Nuts and seeds improve cognitive abilities.  Try walnuts – they can improve memory scores and functions.

Whole grains promote blood flow and cardiovascular health, and a healthy heart means a healthy brain.

Deep-water fish like wild salmon are rich in the omega-3 fatty acids essential to brain function. Sardines and herring contain the same goodness.

Freshly brewed tea provides a caffeine fix, and enhances memory, focus and mood.  Tea also has potent antioxidants.

Dark chocolate is the best bet to satisfy your sugar cravings.  With powerful antioxidants and natural stimulants (including caffeine), it enhances focus and concentration.  Even better, it stimulates the production of endorphins that help improve mood.



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The Entrepreneur’s Diet to Increase Health and Brainpower

Wednesday, March 27th, 2013
The Entrepreneur’s Diet to Increase Health and BrainpowerThe entrepreneur’s diet can be key to business success.  As entrepreneurs and business owners, we’re often busy and tend to always be on the go.  Eating right can be overlooked.
Maintaining a healthy diet, even when things get hectic, will help to keep you healthy, increase brainpower and ensure you’re working at the best of your abilities.
Fruits and Veggies
Fresh, local, organic produce is an easy and fast way to eat healthy.  Keep lots of your favorite fruits and vegetables on hand so you’re prepared when hunger strikes.
They are high in various vitamins and can help prevent illness.  There’s truth in the old saying, “An apple a day keeps the doctor away”.
“Smart” Foods
Research has proven that adding certain foods to your regimen can increase memory and brainpower.
Blueberries can improve learning capacity and motor skills.
Avocados are almost as good as blueberries for the brain; they contribute to healthy blood flow, lower blood pressure and increase brain function.
Beans are a quick, easy and economical way to boost your energy and brainpower.
Pomegranates offer potent antioxidant benefits, protecting the brain from damage from free radicals.  If you don’t have time to wrestle with the fruit’s tiny seeds, go for pomegranate juice (just be aware of the added sugar).
Nuts and seeds improve cognitive abilities.  Try walnuts – they can improve memory scores and functions.
Whole grains promote blood flow and cardiovascular health, and a healthy heart means a healthy brain.
Deep-water fish like wild salmon are rich in the omega-3 fatty acids essential to brain function. Sardines and herring contain the same goodness.
Freshly brewed tea provides a caffeine fix, and enhances memory, focus and mood.  Tea also has potent antioxidants.
Dark chocolate is the best bet to satisfy your sugar cravings.  With powerful antioxidants and natural stimulants (including caffeine), it enhances focus and concentration.  Even better, it stimulates the production of endorphins that help improve mood.
- See more at: http://www.demgen.com/the-entrepreneurs-diet-to-increase-health-and-brainpower#sthash.gTndsPkV.dpuf

The Entrepreneur’s Diet to Increase Health and Brainpower

Wednesday, March 27th, 2013
The Entrepreneur’s Diet to Increase Health and BrainpowerThe entrepreneur’s diet can be key to business success.  As entrepreneurs and business owners, we’re often busy and tend to always be on the go.  Eating right can be overlooked.
Maintaining a healthy diet, even when things get hectic, will help to keep you healthy, increase brainpower and ensure you’re working at the best of your abilities.
Fruits and Veggies
Fresh, local, organic produce is an easy and fast way to eat healthy.  Keep lots of your favorite fruits and vegetables on hand so you’re prepared when hunger strikes.
They are high in various vitamins and can help prevent illness.  There’s truth in the old saying, “An apple a day keeps the doctor away”.
“Smart” Foods
Research has proven that adding certain foods to your regimen can increase memory and brainpower.
Blueberries can improve learning capacity and motor skills.
Avocados are almost as good as blueberries for the brain; they contribute to healthy blood flow, lower blood pressure and increase brain function.
Beans are a quick, easy and economical way to boost your energy and brainpower.
Pomegranates offer potent antioxidant benefits, protecting the brain from damage from free radicals.  If you don’t have time to wrestle with the fruit’s tiny seeds, go for pomegranate juice (just be aware of the added sugar).
Nuts and seeds improve cognitive abilities.  Try walnuts – they can improve memory scores and functions.
Whole grains promote blood flow and cardiovascular health, and a healthy heart means a healthy brain.
Deep-water fish like wild salmon are rich in the omega-3 fatty acids essential to brain function. Sardines and herring contain the same goodness.
Freshly brewed tea provides a caffeine fix, and enhances memory, focus and mood.  Tea also has potent antioxidants.
Dark chocolate is the best bet to satisfy your sugar cravings.  With powerful antioxidants and natural stimulants (including caffeine), it enhances focus and concentration.  Even better, it stimulates the production of endorphins that help improve mood.
- See more at: http://www.demgen.com/the-entrepreneurs-diet-to-increase-health-and-brainpower#sthash.gTndsPkV.dpuf

Saturday, August 17, 2013

So Many Smoothies, So Little Time....

We all know how great smoothies are. Great tasting, fast and easy, they are packed with vitamens coming from fruits and vegetables most people wouldnt eat if they were prepared any other way.  Smoothies can also be created with very specific target benefits in mind.

Ask Men magazine did a collection of smoothie recipes to boost the memory, energy and immune system. Check them out.

The Ultimate Smoothie Selector

Boost your brain, build muscle, and help your heart -- with a blender
Posted Date: August 1, 2006
Depending on what you toss in them, smoothies offer a wide range of immediate heart-saving, muscle-building, brain-juicing, mood-boosting benefits. We provide the building blocks and the blueprints -- all you need to do is liquefy.

BRAIN BOOSTER SMOOTHIE

The berries here aren't just super food for your brain; they offer an important cancer-fighting bonus.
1/2 c fresh or frozen blueberries
1/2 c fresh or frozen raspberries
1 c pineapple OJ
1/2 c low-fat vanilla yogurt
1 c ice

BERRY BERRY SMOOTHIE
Using all unsweetened fruit, this recipe delivers an antioxidant whallop without the sugar.
1/2 cup frozen unsweetened raspberries
1/2 cup frozen unsweetened strawberries
3/4 cup unsweetened pineapple juice
1 cup soy milk or 1% milk

MEMORY AID SMOOTHIE
This low-calorie smoothie is a good source of fiber, phytochemicals, and antioxidants. Blueberries in particular contain compounds that can help prevent cataracts, cancer, constipation, and memory loss.
1/2 c orange juice
1 pint nonfat vanilla or peach frozen yogurt
2 1/2 c sliced peaches
3/4 fresh or frozen blueberries

MUSCLE BUILDER SMOOTHIE
This mix features the brawn-building power of protein from both peanut butter and whey.
2 Tbsp peanut butter
1 banana
1/3 c whey protein
1/2 c fat-free chocolate frozen yogurt
1 c fat-free milk

BETA BLAST SMOOTHIE
This smoothie is a muscle-rejuvenating, beta-carotene-filled, orange-colored wonder.
3 small ice cubes
2 apricots (sliced and pitted)
1/2 papaya (frozen in chunks)
1/2 mango (frozen in chunks)
1/2 cup carrots
1 tablespoon honey

HEART HELPER
The fiber from the fruit teams with the artery-protecting antioxidants and healthy monounsaturated fats of the peanut butter to keep your ticker tickin'.
1 banana
1/2 c raspberries
1 Tbsp peanut butter
1/2 c nonfat chocolate frozen yogurt
1 c fat-free milk


KICKSTARTER SHAKE
This recipe helps produce wake-up chemicals in the brain.
1 c skim milk
2 tablespoons frozen orange juice concentrate
1 c strawberries
1 kiwifruit

SMOOTH OPERATOR
The yogurt aids digestion, while the mango and juice boost immune response.
1/2 c pitted cherries
1/2 c mango
1/2 c low-fat vanilla yogurt
1 c pineapple OJ
1   c ice



For more, check out Ask Men Magazine Online.

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