Nutrition and Losing weight..what is it going to take??

Nutrition and losing weight...what is it going to take??!!

I used to think losing weight and getting fit involved 3 things....cardio, strength and nutrition...and that each were equally important.

After countless clients and hours spent at the gym, I no longer believe they are equal.  For someone to be healthy and strong, yes....to decrease fat from fat cells...no.

If my clients do not have their food intake at the right level and eating healthy
, the scale will usually not budge.  Of course, all human beings are unique and this does not apply across the board, but generally speaking, this is what I'm witnessing.  In myself and in others.

I read numerous books and articles, watch documentaries and check in with other sites from trainers and across the board it is apparent that we are fighting a war against food/chemical dependencies (sugar, high fructose corn syrup, msg) and it can be demoralizing and difficult to win.  Food companies want people to buy their products so often these foods are laden with additives to engage our senses and keep us coming back for more.

Each of us has to decide that enough is enough.  The mindset has to be on tackling the cravings and addictions.  I have found that food addictions usually take between 10-20 days to overcome.  Like other addictions, we need to turn off the deep rooted desire by staying away from the food or additive that is causing our problem. 

And that isn't always easy.

I advise reading labels, researching nutrition facts for each food online and checking caloric, fat, and sodium levels of restaurant offering prior to leaving the house.  Getting fit takes more effort than just working out at the gym.  It has to involve research on your part.  You have to be interested and knowledgeable about what is in your foods. 

Once you are "in the know" about your food...you can start to make healthier choices.  Find out how many calories are entering your body and what is in those calories.  Do you need to increase healthy calories?  Or decrease sugar/sodium/saturated fat? 

Keep working out...keep moving and training but remember that if your goal is losing stored fat in your body it is essential to focus on your clean and nutrient dense food intake!

The Benefits of YOGA

The benefits of YOGA ...

I frequently receive calls from people interested in trying yoga  and they immediately apologize..
                             "I am NOT flexible...I will probably not be any good at yoga"

This is not their fault and I know it comes from how yoga is depicted in the media.  Many pictures you see in magazines or online have a sculpted male/female in adorable yoga clothes in a crazy and extreme yoga pose...

Pul-lease!  I never teach those poses...most of us wouldn't live through them!  (I'm kidding, of course).  But, truly it is so important that people understand that yoga is so many things and is going to assist you, to help you to become healthier, happier, more flexible, and stronger. 

I would love it if you were already all of those things, but most of "real" folks aren't.

MORE FLEXIBILITY - Yoga can help you become more flexible.  Poses should be slow, controlled and help you gently get into a position that provides for a nice strength to lengthen muscles calmly.  Each participant should always feel safe getting into and out of a pose and each should feel a "good" strength not pain.

GAIN STRENGTH - Some yoga classes contain poses that cause you to build strength in various parts of your body.  A plank will provide for a stronger core, chest and triceps in addition to other muscles.

RELAXED MIND - Yoga is slow and focused on the moment.  When we let go of the past and try not to involve the mind in the future, all we have left is the space and time we are involved in.  That moment is usually peaceful and free of obstacles and frustrations.  Practicing being in that place is very calming.

SLOWER HEART and BREATH RATE - When we focus on our breathing, we can decide to slow it down and allow it to be deeper and more filling.  Breathing in this way will slow the breath and expand the lungs which in turn actually increases lung capacity.

In the next post, we will add more of the benefits of yoga...and please feel free to comment on benefits you have noticed for yourself!

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