Advice From Jack LaLanne
“Al Gore may not have invented the Internet, but Jack LaLanne, who passed away on January 23, did invent modern fitness.
Sometimes called the “Godfather of fitness,” Jack was born in 1914, a time when circumstances ensured we got enough exercise. Back then, people engaged in a great deal of physical labour and activity in their everyday lives, but as mid-century approached technology started doing more of our work for us (not too mention junk food became more prevalent), and as a society we started to get fatter.
Jack saw it coming, and worked hard to do something about it. He opened one of the first health clubs in the United States in 1936 and launched a daily fitness television show in the ’50s that lasted for 34 years. He combated the medical establishment of the time, which considered vigorous exercise dangerous, and became well-known for completing numerous implausible feats of strength and endurance to prove that his training methods made people healthier and more functional.”
Jack LaLanne was truly a leader and he passed away recently. His life is quite remarkable, and he left us with lessons on how to live your life. Click here for Jack’s lessons!
Down Low On Vitamins
Click this link here to an article from Chatelaine’s about how to choose the best vitamins.
Burn More Fat
From Women’s Health, check out the link here for the details.
- Go to bed earlier
- Eat more protein
- Go organic. “Canadian researchers report that dieters with the most organochlorines (pollutants from pesticides, which are stored in fat cells) experience a greater-than-normal dip in metabolism as they lose weight, perhaps because the toxins interfere with the energy-burning process. In other words, pesticides make it harder to lose pounds. “
- Stop sitting. “Missouri University researchers discovered that inactivity (4 hours or more) causes a near shut- down of an enzyme that controls fat and cholesterol metabolism.”
- Drink cold water.
- Eat spicy-hot food.
- Eat breakfast.
- Drink caffeine for a metabolism jolt.
- Eat more fiber.
- Eat iron-rich food.
- Get vitamin D.
- Drink milk. (low fat, though…)
- Eat watermelon. “The amino acid arginine, abundant in watermelon, might promote weight loss, according to the Journal of Nutrition.”
- Stay hydrated.
Weight Lifiting Boosts Metabolism for Hours
“..[U]nlike aerobic exercise, lifting has been shown to boost metabolism for as long as 39 hours after the last repetition. Similar findings have been noted for intervals, which are short, all-out sprints interspersed with periods of rest.
Read more: http://www.menshealth.com/mhlists/ab_strategies/Exercise_the_Right_Way.php#ixzz1C5Z9GRPp
New Canadian Fitness Guidelines
…have been released this Monday! Click here for the full article.
“The guidelines, released Monday, call for an hour a day of moderate to vigorous activity for children and teens ages 5 through 17. That doesn’t mean just strolling to school, but exerting themselves enough to sweat a little and breathe harder through activities like bike riding, skating or running around the playground.
At least three days a week, kids and youth should also engage in tougher exercise that makes them sweat and get out of breath, like running, swimming or rollerblading, the guidelines say.
Adults and seniors need 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous activity, or a total of 2.5 hours a week, in bouts of 10 minutes or more.
They are also advised to add muscle and bone-strengthening activities using major muscle groups at least twice a week.”
Spinach The Superfood
Spinach! From Chatelaine…
- Spinach is an excellent source of calcium: By supplying 100mg of calcium in every 100g serving, spinach is an excellent alternative to dairy for its ability to support healthy bone growth and prevent the onset of osteoporosis.
- Spinach can help you relax: Spinach is one of the highest sources of dietary magnesium. Magnesium is necessary for smooth muscle relaxation of the arteries, as well as for hormone development in our adrenal glands to cope with high stress levels.
- Spinach is high in folate: Folate is important for everyone,
but necessary for expectant mothers to ensure proper neurological development of the fetus in early stages of growth. So stock up on spinach to nourish your baby’s nervous system! - Spinach is a great source of protein: There may have been some truth to the old Popeye cartoons. Spinach is one of the only vegetarian sources of protein that contains a complete amino acid profile to rebuild muscle tissue and support collagen growth, which helps to maintain healthy skin and mobile joints.
- Spinach can help protect your eyesight: Spinach is high in lutein, a phytonutrient in the carotenoid family. Lutein specifically targets the eyes to avoid the macular degeneration associated with aging. It’s an antioxidant for the eyes that maintains healthy vision.
There are many ways to cook with spinach. My fav way is just wilting it in a pan with a bit of spray or olive oil, salt, pepper and lemon juice. Try it with garlic, mushrooms or with a peanut sauce. Google “spinach recipes” and you come up with lots of ideas. Also, add tore up pieces of spinach to pastas, soups and omelettes.
The World’s Most Powerful Eating Strategies
Men’s Health asked international nutrition experts, cooks and international Men’s Health editors for tips on healthy eating from their homeland. Click here for the tips!
Why Your Abs Aren’t Toned From Crunches
From EverydayHealth.com:
Q: I do crunches religiously, but I don’t seem to get more toned in my abdominal region. What’s my problem?
A: You may need to spend less time doing crunches and more time on the treadmill, stair climber, or stationary bike. Contrary to popular belief, abdominal tone doesn’t come from doing a million crunches. In fact, you may already have abs of steel — they simply may be covered by a layer of insulation. So, instead of doing 10 or 15 minutes of crunches, try doing three to five minutes of exercises targeting different abdominal muscles as well as your lower back; focus on using good form and really tightening those muscles. Then spend the extra five to seven minutes burning fat with a cardio activity such as running or cycling.
Smart Weight Loss Solutions
Sonoma Diet author Connie Guttersen answers the following weight loss questions on EverydayHealth.com:
We all make New Year’s resolutions, and often these resolutions involve weight loss or fitness goals. But many of us quickly lose traction and don’t achieve our goals. What are the psychological and emotional reasons behind these failures?
What is the biggest mistake people make when making a resolution? Are you setting yourself up for failure when you make a New Year’s resolution to lose weight or get fit?
What are three things you can do to improve your chances of success before you make a healthy lifestyle change?
Why is it so hard to keep the weight off after a diet, and what can you do to maintain weight loss?
How can you rearrange your life to make it easier to avoid diet temptations?
What advice do you have for people who just don’t like to exercise or who avoid it for other reasons?
It’s easy to make excuses when you’re juggling work and family responsibilities. How can you make time for your resolutions in a hectic schedule?
Which Style of Yoga is Best For You?
I enjoy yoga classes and couldn’t believe how much more flexible I got after a 4 week class. I really enjoyed the wall poses, being upside down. You can also do yoga at home, just google “yoga video” and you can find some at-home routines. You can borrow some DVDs from your library. You can look up routines on iTunes.
But what style is for you? Click here to find out your style between:
- Iyengar
- Ashtanga
- Power Yoga
- Hot Yoga
- Yin
I Want My Sexy Back! 
