Fit Your Life Now

Archive for the ‘weight loss’ Category

Mark’s Daily Apple

Saturday, June 26th, 2010

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I recently came across a website dedicated to “primal living” written by a man named Mark Sisson, and I’m hooked. It’s called MARK’S DAILY APPLE and I’ve added a permanent link to the right. It’s a great site, with day after day of new and interesting articles. Under his ABOUT ME section he discusses his personal health philosophies as the following:

“In a nutshell:
- fresh, organic, unprocessed food – no junk!
- daily activity – whether it’s the gym or a walk along the beach, it all counts
- plenty of quality sleep
- plenty of water, no soda or sweetened drinks
- antioxidants galore – the key to limiting stress
- a good fish-oil supplement

- lots of essential fats, reckless amounts of vegetables, and clean protein
- time for fun – don’t take anything too seriously – ethical behavior – because what goes around comes around
- taking responsibility for yourself and your life – openness to new things and ideas”

I’ve highlighted the two that I don’t really agree with. Those are both two things that you have likely heard from several different sources, but guess what: there is no real science to back that up. Those ideas have been disseminated by so many media outlets (magazines, infomercials, tv news, websites, etc) that we no longer question it, but where’s the evidence? I’ve never seen any. He has his own line of nutritional supplements which science has shown do next to nothing for you, so that tells you his incentive to advocate them.

But what I really like about this guy’s website is he is all about questioning everything. On that same “About Me” page he says just that. He gently jokes that you shouldn’t even always take his word for it. Ask questions, find out for yourself, and take your health into your own hands. YES! I love it!

Towards the end of a great article about a new SHAMPOO-LESS MOVEMENT he shares the following nugget of wisdom:  “Our bodies, left to their own devices, really can take care of themselves.” YES! You don’t need expensive supplements, or freaky-crazy detox diets. Just make good choices to give your body the tools it needs, and you’ll be fine.

He brings all kinds of interesting information to you, like THIS REVIEW OF A BOOK CALLED THE VEGETARIAN MYTH

Tabata

Monday, June 7th, 2010

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If you’ve never heard of Tabatas you are missing out. Here’s a crash course.

A fitness research scientist by the name of Izumi Tabata did extensive research in work-to-rest ratios and which ones produced the greatest changes in VO2 max in test subjects.

What he came up with is now known simply as a Tabata. The concept is easy, but the workout itself is not.

For 20 seconds you do as many reps of the activity as you possibly can, and then you rest for 10 seconds. You do this for only 4 minutes, and then you are done. You can do this with just about anything. Push-ups, box jumps, you can even do a Tabata run on a treadmill. In the case of the treadmill though, make sure you pick a speed and an incline that are at or near your limit for 20 seconds. What I mean is, by the end of that 20 seconds you should feel like you need that 10 second break.

Previously on this website I have recommended CROSSFIT as a great source for challenging, and interesting workouts. The classic CrossFit “Tabata This” workout consists of the following:

Tabata Rowing machine
Tabata Squat
Tabata Pullup
Tabata Pushup
Tabata Sit-up

There is a 1 minute rest between each. Stick to that time signature! Don’t cheat and take longer rests. Your smallest set for each movement is your score for that movement. For example, if you start out on your squats with 20 reps your first 20 seconds, but then by the final squat set you’re all the way down to 3, then 3 is your score. When you’ve completed all five Tabatas, then total up all your scores for each to get your total score. The rowing machine is scored by calories on the computer.

If you don’t have access to a rower, you can substitute in kettlebell swings, or dumbbell swings.

CLICK HERE FOR A SWING DEMO VIDEO.

20 Reasons to Lose 20 pounds

Thursday, February 18th, 2010

As if you really needed to be given more reasons than you already know, MEN’S HEALTH put out this handy little LIST OF REMINDERS why it’s STILL the best idea you ever had.

Like this gruesome gem:

“Twenty pounds of warm human fat can refill every bottle in an empty case of beer, with enough left over to fill your blender.”