This is the show I plan on competing!
Saturday, January 8, 2011
Friday, January 7, 2011
New Nike Training App
I recently downloaded the new Nike Training App and I love it. It is a full-body training App and it includes 90 drills of strength, cardio, interval and core training. The App allows you to choose your goals and your level of fitness (beginner, intermediate or advanced) so everyone can do it regardless of fitness level. The length of the workouts varies from 15 to 45 minutes and they include a warm-up at the beginning and stretching at the end. Each workout includes a step by step video demonstration. You can select music from your iTunes Playlist to set to your workout. A Nike professional trainer guides you throughout each step of your workout but you can pause your workout at any time to view the video instruction. Finally, when you are done you get a summary of your workout (which can be posted on Facebook). After completing a series of workouts there is an opportunity to get Rewards! The rewards vary from personal training advice to recipes for smoothies.
I started using the intermediate level and so far have done the 30 minute workouts. The workouts I’ve done so far are certainly challenging. Whenever I don’t feel like going to the gym I do train with my Nike App at home. I basically use them instead of boring cardio machines. In addition to the cool things about this App, the best part is that it is “free”!
I started using the intermediate level and so far have done the 30 minute workouts. The workouts I’ve done so far are certainly challenging. Whenever I don’t feel like going to the gym I do train with my Nike App at home. I basically use them instead of boring cardio machines. In addition to the cool things about this App, the best part is that it is “free”!
Monday, January 3, 2011
Happy New Year
Face it, 2011 isn't going to change shit. You are not going to wake up January 1st with all your problems gone. Everyday is the start of a new year, a new you. So why don't you make your 'fresh start' today ?
My 13 year old nephew had the quote above on his Facebook page and I liked it so I told him that I would use it. I liked it because it is so true. Every year people create New Years Resolutions (NYRs), only to give up on them 3, 4 weeks or months later. NYRs are only goals and they can be set at anytime so why give up on your NYRs half way thoroughout the year? Just set a new GOAL!
I never really create NYRs, but instead I create goals for myself. One of the goals I have this year is to do another competition. I am looking at one in early June. It's a Fitness Universe competition. I think my body is better suited for that federation. Once the promoter provides more information for this event (later this month), I will post details. The countdown starts now!
My 13 year old nephew had the quote above on his Facebook page and I liked it so I told him that I would use it. I liked it because it is so true. Every year people create New Years Resolutions (NYRs), only to give up on them 3, 4 weeks or months later. NYRs are only goals and they can be set at anytime so why give up on your NYRs half way thoroughout the year? Just set a new GOAL!
I never really create NYRs, but instead I create goals for myself. One of the goals I have this year is to do another competition. I am looking at one in early June. It's a Fitness Universe competition. I think my body is better suited for that federation. Once the promoter provides more information for this event (later this month), I will post details. The countdown starts now!
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
What's Wrong with People?
I work with this woman who lost some weight, about 20 pounds and she looks great, absolutely great and the weight lost suits her physique - she has a relatively small frame so the weight lost looks great on her. Her weight loss is a result of exercise (cardio and weight lifting) and eating healthier. Now who wouldn't be happy for her, right? Of course not everyone. Another person I work with happen to mention her weight lost to me and she actually said the following "I told her that she didn't need to lose that much weight, before she had some good size, big hips and looked healthy". I had to bite my tongue when she said this although I've heard her said before that "fat people are healthy" before. Needless to say, this woman is at least 60 pounds overweight and can't walk up a flight of stairs without getting out of breath, and she thinks that she is healthy! What the f*#$%! The sad part is that she really believes this! I really, really need to rant about this...
This is the same woman who for Thanksgiving Dinner her family had 8 regular sized pies (4 pumpkin, 4 apple and 2 sweet potato) to serve 10 people. Do you really need 8 pies for 10 people? This is the same woman who always asks for extra dressing when she orders salads. This is the same woman who every year (since 2007) says that she is going to start kick boxing. This is the same woman who stops for dinner at the food court at the local mall on her way home. This is the same woman who eats pork rinds? Whatever the hell pork rinds are or made off. You think someone needs to give her a clue because she is clueless!
This is the same woman who for Thanksgiving Dinner her family had 8 regular sized pies (4 pumpkin, 4 apple and 2 sweet potato) to serve 10 people. Do you really need 8 pies for 10 people? This is the same woman who always asks for extra dressing when she orders salads. This is the same woman who every year (since 2007) says that she is going to start kick boxing. This is the same woman who stops for dinner at the food court at the local mall on her way home. This is the same woman who eats pork rinds? Whatever the hell pork rinds are or made off. You think someone needs to give her a clue because she is clueless!
Saturday, November 13, 2010
The Dark Food of Food Science
I recently read this article in the "Experience Life" Magazine which is the magazine we get with out Lifetime Fitness membership. It is an extremely interesting and enlightening article. The link to this article is below:
Below is a snippet from the article by Catherine Guthrie.
Show me a chicken nugget and I will show you the world. The world, that is, of highly palatable foods engineered by the food industry to go down easily — in some cases, to quite literally “melt in the mouth” — while also stimulating us to crave more.
Commercial foods like chicken nuggets, French fries, chips, crackers, cookies and pastries are designed to be virtually irresistible. And, for a lot of reasons most of us don’t fully understand, they are.
http://elmag.com/ScaryFoodScience
Below is a snippet from the article by Catherine Guthrie.
Show me a chicken nugget and I will show you the world. The world, that is, of highly palatable foods engineered by the food industry to go down easily — in some cases, to quite literally “melt in the mouth” — while also stimulating us to crave more.
Commercial foods like chicken nuggets, French fries, chips, crackers, cookies and pastries are designed to be virtually irresistible. And, for a lot of reasons most of us don’t fully understand, they are.
http://elmag.com/ScaryFoodScience
Monday, November 8, 2010
4 Drinks to Avoid
1.Coffee drinks with full-fat dairy, artificial flavorings and extras such as chocolate sprinkles. These can pack as many calories (and fat) as a meal. A better option is a plain coffee with soymilk or, better yet, antioxidant-rich green tea.
2.Sugary cocktails. Whether it’s a margarita or a pina colada, cocktails pack a double dose of calories due to alcohol and sugar - some can top 800 calories in one drink. Better options are a glass of red wine (60-100 calories) or a light beer (about 100 calories).
3.Non-juice "juice drinks." Before buying juice, read the label and make sure it is 100 percent juice (not just “made with” real juice) and check for sweeteners and calories. Many of these products are no better than drinking sugar water. Even 100 percent juice can spike blood sugar and promote weight gain, so mix it with plain or sparkling water or green tea to lower the glycemic load.
4.Soda. There just isn’t anything nutritious about soda, whether it’s diet or regular. If you’re a soda addict, break the habit by eliminating soda as a treat, and stop reaching for it automatically with a meal or as a thirst quencher.
2.Sugary cocktails. Whether it’s a margarita or a pina colada, cocktails pack a double dose of calories due to alcohol and sugar - some can top 800 calories in one drink. Better options are a glass of red wine (60-100 calories) or a light beer (about 100 calories).
3.Non-juice "juice drinks." Before buying juice, read the label and make sure it is 100 percent juice (not just “made with” real juice) and check for sweeteners and calories. Many of these products are no better than drinking sugar water. Even 100 percent juice can spike blood sugar and promote weight gain, so mix it with plain or sparkling water or green tea to lower the glycemic load.
4.Soda. There just isn’t anything nutritious about soda, whether it’s diet or regular. If you’re a soda addict, break the habit by eliminating soda as a treat, and stop reaching for it automatically with a meal or as a thirst quencher.
My New Gym - LA Fitness
As a result of my recent move, I had to change health clubs and unfortunately I am no longer with Lifetime Fitness. I really liked Lifetime. Unfortunately I had to find a new gym and it wasn't easy. I ended up getting a membership with LA Fitness. So far I have not been there too frequently because I am also working out at home doing P90X and kettle bell workouts. The purchase of my membership included a training session with a trainer. Honestly, I wasn't impressed. Of course during my workout with this trainer, I was asking a lot of questions. It's my nature to ask questions, I feel that's how you learn, by asking questions. This trainer was a bit annoyed by my questions, and I wasn't impressed by his answers. I guess his clients don't generally ask him questions. This guy didn't want to explain to me why he was making me do10 sets and 10 reps of each exercise. Of course after the training he proceeded to try to sell me training packages. NOT! I was not at all interested, I've trained with many trainers and I have only found a few that I really like mainly because they want to train me the same way as they train their clients who never or rarely workout. Basically they trainer didn't do any type of fitness assessment to determine my fitness level. Some men can't even do a pull up and most women cannot so why on earth is this trainer looking at me like I am crazy when I tell him that I want to do pull-ups.
On my second visit to LA Fitness, another trainer approached me wanting to workout with me (another way of trying to sell me a membership). I tell him that I working legs so he takes me to the Smith Machine to do squats. No thanks I said, I prefer using the squat rack. I don't like using the Smith Machine for squats since it reduces the range of motions. Instead I tell him that I want to do squats using the cage. So we then head over to the cage and then he suggests getting me one of those pads that goes around the bar. Nope, I said to him, I don't use those. Most trainers will tell you that it is best not to use those and I've read it many times. So I was not impressed. Upon asking him about his certification, I find out that his certificate isn't from an ACE, ISSA or any where I know but from some weekend course he took at LA Fitness. Whatever, this dude wants me to train with him? Not gonna happen in this lifetime! I wish there was a Lifetime Fitness closer by my house or work!
On my second visit to LA Fitness, another trainer approached me wanting to workout with me (another way of trying to sell me a membership). I tell him that I working legs so he takes me to the Smith Machine to do squats. No thanks I said, I prefer using the squat rack. I don't like using the Smith Machine for squats since it reduces the range of motions. Instead I tell him that I want to do squats using the cage. So we then head over to the cage and then he suggests getting me one of those pads that goes around the bar. Nope, I said to him, I don't use those. Most trainers will tell you that it is best not to use those and I've read it many times. So I was not impressed. Upon asking him about his certification, I find out that his certificate isn't from an ACE, ISSA or any where I know but from some weekend course he took at LA Fitness. Whatever, this dude wants me to train with him? Not gonna happen in this lifetime! I wish there was a Lifetime Fitness closer by my house or work!
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