Fit Talk

Exercise is not enough

Kel — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 23:20:22 +0000

A new report from the US proves exercise on it’s own won’t save you from the risk of Heart Disease……you need to a healthy diet plan as well.

clipped from www.reuters.com

CHICAGO (Reuters) – Exercise will not cut the risk of heart disease in those who are overweight unless they also slim down, according to a study of thousands of U.S. women published on Monday.

“Even high quantities of physical activity are unlikely to fully reverse the risk of coronary heart disease in overweight and obese women without concurrent weight loss,” Dr. Amy Weinstein and colleagues at Boston’s Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center reported.

“Regardless of body weight, (the findings) highlight the importance of counseling all women to participate in increasing amounts of regular physical activity and maintaining a healthy weight to reduce the risk of coronary heart disease,” they concluded.

The risk was next highest for active women who were either overweight or obese, and highest for similar women who were inactive.

Fat cells produce chemicals that can speed up hardening of the arteries and increase inflammation, the researchers said,

“Do you want fries with that?

Kel — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 00:06:49 +0000

You have got to be kidding….the mega mac is here…all 750 calories of it!

If you even think about up sizing this meal you need help….

clipped from calorielab.com

The “FitFlops” that Flopped in Oz

Kel — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 08:22:12 +0000

They flopped here in Australia…..now they’re about to try their luck in the UK…FitFlops.

Personally I think wearing any old pair of flip flops and walking the a thick British bog would give you a better work out than these….and at half the price.

Gimmick?

Read on…I’ll let you be the judge.

clipped from icwales.icnetwork.co.uk

FITFLOPS, the sandals that “give you a workout as you walk” are set to be the must-have footwear in Wales this summer, according to shoe shop owners struggling to cope with demand.

Developed by the Centre for Human Performance at London’s South Bank University, the shoes claim to help tone and trim your thighs and calves while you walk.

The makers of the fitflops say they are engineered to absorb shock, lessen joint strain and reduce back pain with a powerful built-in “micro-wobbleboard”, workout-enhancing effect.

“They were very excited to find something that says it can help tone their bums and thighs without them having to go to the gym.

“And at around �36 a pair, they are not an awful lot of money.”

But she warned that she wouldn’t recommend the fitflops as a type of fitness programme in their own right.

“But anything that can help to keep you in shape and looks good too has to be a good thing.”

Does Strength Training = Weight Loss?

Kel — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 22:48:15 +0000

Good Question…one would think that by the title – “Strength Training” would only help with strength….and does lifting weights help you burn fat?

Over at Liz Harper Fitness this exact question was put to their resident personal trainer (Liz Harper) who answered it beautifully.

Below is a quick summary from the post….you’ll need to click through to the site for more of the content.

clipped from www.lizharperfitness.com

It all begins with cardio….need to lose weight? You need to do Cardio.

So why do Personal Trainers add Strength Training or weight sessions to your workout card if all you want to do is lose weight?

I asked my Personal Trainer and wife Liz Harper why…and as usual things got a little technical, but I eventually got the answer I was looking for.

“The More muscle you have the more you become a fat burning machine” she said.

I like the sound of that….but won’t that mean we’ll bulk up if we pump iron?

“No. If you’re doing at least 3-4 cardio sessions per week which could include aerobics, running, cycling, rowing etc, and one strength training or weights training workout per week you won’t bulk up.”

“The muscle you build will help your body to burn fat more efficiently.”

I’m Carrying Lunch On my Hips

Kel — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 13:55:04 +0000

Agh yes…the old saying – “I just have to look at donut and it goes straight ot my hip”

Well here’s a blog post that asks us to look at weight gain in a different light.

clipped from www.fitwatch.com

Here’s a different way to look at all the extra fat you’re carrying around. See, your body stores any extra calories you eat as fat, right? Your body thinks, “Hey, it might be awhile before we get some food, so let’s stash away all this extra energy.”

So, for every 3500 extra calories you eat, your body gains 1lb of fat.

Let’s say, for the sake of argument (and easier calculations!) that an average, healthy meal is 500 calories (normal portion consisting of protein, carbs and some fat).

That would make 1lb of extra fat the equivalent of SEVEN meals!

Weight loss – 3 things that cause it?

Kel — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 23:25:25 +0000

So you’ve been sweating away in the gym for one whole week now and the weight isn’t exactly stripping off…..why must weight loss take so much time? Why can’t it just all fall off in a week?

It’d save on gym fees…

There are of course more at play when it comes to weight loss than simply sweating it out in the gym.

I came across 3 things that cause weight loss today from dietbites I thought you might like.

clipped from www.dietbites.com

Reduction of calories in the daily diet results in weight loss – but only when the calories are reduced sufficiently below the body’s required daily calories (energy).

Weight loss occurs through activity – but only after daily calories have been met by the body. After this point, excess calories have the potential to be expended via activity OR from the stored energy which is pulled from the fat cells – thus triggering weight loss.

Expended Water Retention – Have you ever hopped onto the scales a few days after you’ve enjoyed an extra salty meal to find that you actually weigh 3 pounds or more lighter? Sodium is King when it comes to retaining water and it generally takes from 2 – 4 days for the effects to vanish, given the fact that an individual has winged themselves off of the salt shaker OR has greatly cut back

The future of Fitness is Here

Kel — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 00:01:44 +0000

Yes it’s true – the future of fitness is indeed upon us….and I have to say…it looks pretty cool.
Funky new touch screen technology is about to replace LED screens in gyms making those workout machines interactive, fun and smarter.
No longer will we see the ladies on the exercise bikes reading magazines while they pedal….new technology means they can watch opera while they sweat…..sweet!

clipped from seattletimes.nwsource.com

Fitness equipment is catching up with tech-savvy, gadget-loving exercisers who are downloading workouts onto their iPods, wearing heart-rate monitors and logging the miles they’ve run to fine-tune their workouts.

For gym rats, the latest cardio and strength machines will do much of the work for them, allowing users to customize workouts and compile their fitness data on home computers so they can keep a close watch on their progress.

For example, someone could plug a USB stick into an elliptical trainer, work out, save the information to the USB and download that into a home computer.

By tracking workouts, exercisers can see whether they’re progressing or need to work harder.

And for some — say those who simply want to exercise without knowing how many steps they climbed — touch screens can morph into television screens. If there’s nothing good on TV, members can plug in iPods and download their own music or video content. Watching a bank of communal televisions is so five minutes ago.

Weight Loss Sunglasses anyone?

Kel — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 07:00:43 +0000

Strange but true – Weight Loss Sunglasses.

I believe they work the opposite way to “Beer goggles” …you see you put these blue sunnies on and food magically appears Fat and Ugly…with Beer Goggles you of course consume a lot of beer and things magically appear Thin and beautiful.

These sunnies are cheap and if they keep me away from KFC I’m up for it.

clipped from www.gizmodo.com.au

If diets have just never worked for you due to your lack of self-control and your love of all things buttery, maybe it’s time for some stupider methods of weight loss. Enter the Weight Loss Sunglasses. Yep, these guys are tinted blue, the “least appetizing colour of the spectrum,” sure to make that ice cream sundae sitting in front of you look downright disgusting. For only US$18.75, I don’t know how you can say no. [Product Page via Book of Joe]

Janet Jackson – Weight Loss Malfunction?

Kel — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 06:13:06 +0000

How often have you thought to yourself “oh I just don’t know how to lose weight….I wish Janet jackson would bring out a book on the weight Loss so I can shed like a star”?

Me too!

But it looks as though she’s releasing one anyway –

clipped from beauty.hollyscoop.com

Janet Jackson is planning on writing a book about weight loss. She’s basing her expertise on her own experiences. Janet’s weight has definitely yo-yo’ed throughout her career, but when she’s thin, she looks damn good. She also seems to be able to shed her extra pounds really fast. Janet says her fans always ask her how she manages her weight, and it inspired her to write the book.

The as-yet-untitled book is expected to be released towards the end of the year.

History of the Exercise ball

Kel — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 06:53:30 +0000

Have ever seen those big bright colored balls that often roll around the floor of the gym?

Until a few weeks ago I thought they were for sitting on in between real exercises. (he he)

Have you ever tried to perform any kind of core strengthening exercises on one of these things? Talk about hard work….

So I decided to some research on this round piece of plastic known as the exercise ball and came across a little history lesson at the “This Mama Cooks” blog today…..please read and follow for more info.

clipped from www.thismamacooks.com

The Swiss ball (also known as a fit ball, gym ball, body ball or exercise ball) was first developed in the 1960s by an Italian plastics manufacturer who came up with a way of making large colorful balls that could be filled with air.

A doctor in Switzerland was the first to use the balls with adults who had orthopedic problems. Therefore, because the balls were first seen used in Switzerland, they became known as “Swiss balls.” The balls were later introduced to the United Sates in the late 80s and since then they’ve been widely employed in fitness programs throughout the world.

The unstable base that the ball provides means that you are working more than one muscle group at a time.