Stress can be defined and measured in a number of ways, but there is no denying that chronic stress takes both a mental and physical toll on the human body. A wide body of research has documented stress’s physical consequences, such as reduced immune system function and increased illness, both weight gain and weight loss, reduced sleep, fatigue, and more.
Hypertension, a very specific cardiovascular condition linked to stress, is…
Last time I did a positive review on some of iMetabolic’s products and now I am ecstatic to announce that the iMetabolic guys are giving away some of their goodies to one lucky TweakFit reader. As I’ve said in the review, these items contain macronutrient ratios that are pretty ideal for workout day nutrition and rest day nutrition (see review for details on which is which). Without further ado, let’s get…
2
There are so many options in the grocery store aisles and new products pop up daily. For these reasons, I can easily make grocery shopping into a several hour event. I personally like to know what I am buying and eating, so I examine food labels, read ingredient lists, and compare products. Unlike many, I actually enjoy my long grocery shopping excursions and sometimes even look forward to them. For…
2
Valentine’s Day is fast approaching and many people are concerned as to what they should get their loved ones.
I want to help out those who celebrate the holiday by offering suggestions on fitness-related gift ideas.
Gifts for Her:
Females love to get new workout clothes! I know it helps me with my motivation in the gym. My favorite brands are Nike, Under Armour, and Lululemon Athletica. (Price range: depending…
1
Hello tweakfit.com followers. After the hustle and bustle of the holidays and a recent move to the beautiful island of Oahu, I am back with more tips to keep you all fit and fierce. As I am writing this post, I am in a hotel room in Honolulu, since the lease for my apartment does not begin until February. One of my biggest challenges over the past week has been…
An oft-forgotten benefit of exercise is its effects on bone health. As adults get older, bones become more brittle and develop pores. While women are more likely to develop osteoporosis, this condition is also common in men, as is osteoarthritis.
Interestingly, the worst thing you can do when you develop osteoarthritis or osteoporosis is to become less active. An abundance of research has demonstrated that resistance training is effective for…
2
It’s been 2012 for almost three weeks. How are your New Year’s resolutions going so far? If you’re the type to use the New Year as an excuse to redefine your fitness goals, I imagine you’re still mostly on track. But if you haven’t been severely challenged yet, or haven’t thought about abandoning your resolution altogether, you likely will in the near future.
The one-month period is a critical measuring…
With the holidays upon us, I though I might reach out to Tweakfit readers, Santa Claus, and anyone else who might be listening and provide the top fitness-related products I’d love to have this year. Here’s my list, and why I know they will help me get in better shape this year.
1. Garmin Forerunner 910XT
Why: It’s really, really cool. With all the features of its predecessors, the 910…
Ever wonder why you seem to prefer those early morning runs, or tend to work out harder late at night? A recent review, published in the Journal of Sports Science & Medicine, highlights yet another factor that can possibly be contributing to your ability to perform your best in the gym. A group of researchers from New Zealand believe that by understanding your body’s natural rhythms and response to light,…
Recent research (e.g., Willardson, 2007) highlights the numerous benefits of core stability training for a variety of outcomes. A strong core region takes pressure off the lumbar spine and can prevent injury to the lower back. Core stability training is becoming increasingly popular in sports conditioning programs as well, as it can improve the transfer of force between the upper and lower body. Core stability can also promote better balance,…
2
Gyms are great. I love putting on gym clothes, walking to my car, driving 20 minutes, finding a parking sport, doing 30 minutes of cardio, performing a weightlifting circuit, and then heading back out in the cold to drive home again (it’s really cold where I live right now). Since I have so much time to kill in my life, I try to take a one hour workout and turn…
1
A quick internet search of weight loss programs will provide more information on the subject than any normal human being could possibly digest. From low-carb diets, protein-based diets, rotating carbohydrate intake, and popular weight-loss programs such as Jenny Craig, Weight Watchers and Nutrisystem, you won’t have any trouble finding sites that claim they’ve discovered the secret to losing weight.
I’ve written about some of these diets in other posts, but…
1
The goal of building muscle in weight lifting is known as hypertrophy. Different than simply increasing strength or power, hypertrophy is an increase in the size of the muscle’s contractile area as a result of greater contractile proteins and a greater number and size of myofibrils in each fiber. Unlike maximal strength training, hypertrophy is best-achieved with just moderate loads. Therefore, to build the most muscle, you don’t always need…
1
Have a big competition coming up? Or are you simply an active person and want to eat in a way that will provide a maximum amount of energy for the day? For optimal energy, you need to master the art of the pre-competition meal. Much of the pre-competition meal is common sense, but some popular misconceptions exist as well. Follow these guidelines to have your body ready to perform at…
We’ve all likely heard of the concept of periodization with respect to planning our exercise programs. For those who haven’t, periodization is the systematic variation in volume and intensity of exercise in order to reach a high level of performance at the right time of the year. Originally developed by Dr. Tudor Bompa to allow rowers to “peak” during the most important competition of the year, the common exerciser can…
2
Have you had a difficult time losing the last 10lbs? Do you feel that no matter what you try, fat does not come off your body? The truth is many people struggle with fat loss. Whether it is because of a misconception of what to do, or that they are just not applying the principles of fat loss properly, shedding pounds has been complicated for the masses. One of the best…
6
It never fails. Whenever I am in a discussion with non-runners and the topic comes up, someone in the room always says, “Running 26.2 miles can’t be good for you.” Here’s another common one: “I can’t run because I have bad knees.” Others like to point to specific cases where marathon runners have suffered (sometimes fatal) heart attacks. Let’s analyze each of these situations individually and then perhaps we can…
3
As athletes and exercisers reach a certain level of training, they undoubtedly begin to understand some of the shortcomings of the human body. Despite proper nutrition, a well-designed workout schedule and plenty of rest, the body still fatigues, gets injured and varies almost daily in its physical capabilities. This may lead to a great deal of frustration when you fall short of a goal — especially when other competitors or…
6
Dance is a universal language that inspires, invigorates, and reconnects us with ourselves and others. I remember my mom taking me to my first West African dance class at the age of 5. To this day I can still recall the way my heart trembled with excitement as the beat of the drums carried my body into exhilarating whirls and twirls. Dance will move your body and soul weather you…
5
Up until now, it’s been hard for me to contain my excitement about a stealth project that was demoed to me about a month ago. Since everything is official now, I am excited to announce the release of FitRabbit, an awesome mobile fitness app for the iPhone that aims to help motivate people to stay healthy.
Here are some reasons why I love about FitRabbit and why I think you should…
