Core Exercises - Why Are They Essential?

Core exercises are often misunderstood. Find out why you should do them, and why you need core strength and stability for any activity.

 Core exercises are vital in protecting your spine. Whether it's from everyday activities (e.g. lifting, twisting, bending) or sports performance, and crucially for you everything in-between.

Forget about linking core workouts with 6-pack abs. For those you need fat burning exercises. Get used to associating core exercises with your spine. That's how you'll get the best out of them.

Your core consists of your abs, back and pelvis. Why should you evenly strengthen all parts of your core?

Here are the 2 main reasons:

1) Avoid injury and back pain.. There are loads of reasons why we get back pain (see your doctor before any exercise for back pain). But most back pain is caused by muscle imbalances.

Weak lower back muscles and strong abdominals commonly lead to injuries. Combined with weak upper back muscles, you're prone to poor posture. Even worse if you're heavily overweight.

2) Improve your performance in ANY activity.. Your every movement is stabilised by the core muscles. No matter what sport or exercise you do, a strong core will give you that extra edge.

The stronger your core is, the better control you will have, meaning a higher quality and efficiency of that movement. Simply put, it'll be safer and easier to move your arms and legs faster and with more power. That equals better performance.

Core Exercises:

There are loads of exercises that work each part of your core separately. But to get started, do core exercises that work a combination of your abs, back and pelvis.

Your focus is on finding those deep core muscles, with subtle movements. Move on to more specific (and challenging) back and ab exercises, once you have control of these:

Deep Muscle Contraction..

Lie flat on your front and relax.
Keeping your back and hips still, lift your stomach up towards your back.
Focus your mind on the deep muscles.
When done correctly, this is a very small movement.
Hold for 5 seconds and relax.
Repeat 5 times.
Progress by holding it for longer each time, aim for 2 minutes or even longer.

Once you're used to this movement, practice it wherever you are (lying, sitting or standing). During everyday activities (e.g. standing in a queue), or even during other exercise (e.g. riding your bike).

That small movement is the basis of all your core exercises. Always focus on first contracting your deep core muscles, then initiating other exercise movements.

Plank..

Place your forearms flat on the floor and clasp your hands (create an upside down V-shape).
Lift your body so that your forearms and feet take the weight.
Focus your mind on the deep core muscles.
Aim for a straight line between your neck and ankles.
Hold for 5 seconds and relax.
Repeat 5 times.
Progress by holding it for longer each time, aim for 1 minute or even longer.

 

 Bridge..

Lie on your back, knees bent and feet flat on the floor, arms by your side.
Lift up your hips, let your shoulders and feet take the weight.
Aim to keep your feet below your knees, and a straight line from shoulders to knees.
Hold for 5 seconds and relax.
Repeat 5 times.
Progress by holding for longer each time, aim for 1 minute or even longer.

You'll feel the pressure in your lower back and bottom. Focus on working your whole core to keep your hips up. Never take the weight on your neck.

Core exercises are essential for everyone, of any age and any fitness level. There's no better prevention for back pain. Do a variation of general core exercises, and specific back and ab exercises, and you'll really FEEL the difference

9 Supermarket Mistakes

Mistake #1: You go to the grocery store following a workout.

It seems logical to hit the supermarket at a time when you want to restore depleted glycogen stores as fast as possible, but after a workout you're probably more hungry than usual. When you're hungry, everything is more appealing and you'll buy foods that aren't ideal for your healthy eating plan. This happens even if you know better! For years we've avoided shopping while hungry, but when we were on vacation recently, we headed to the store after a long run and we were ravenous. We left the store with all sorts of unhealthy foods, like cookies and even processed cheese (gulp!). We regretted it later.

The Fix: Either carry your post-workout snack or meal with you or head directly for that meal after your workout. Go to the grocery store another time, or at least wait until after you've eaten! And if you MUST go food shopping, plan exactly what you will buy before you enter the store.

Mistake #2: You forgot your grocery list.

This means you no longer have a game plan, which in essence means everything is "game." Yep, the Chips Ahoy, the Cheetos and the Entenmann's cake may all end up in your cart.

The Fix: If you left your list at home, sit in the car (or simply stand at the entrance of the store) and take a couple of minutes to rewrite your list before you start shopping. The time spent is well worth it! Include healthy foods like vegetables, fruits, non-fat dairy products, whole grains, eggs, legumes and lean proteins. By focusing on all of the healthy foods, you won't think about including the foods that aren't so healthy.

Mistake #3: You mosey through the store.

It's fun and relaxing to spend time in the grocery store (We love it—after all, we're in the business of food!), but the longer you stay there, the more likely you are to buy food that you will soon wish you hadn't.

The Fix: Shop quickly and as though you are on a mission (you are!). Stay focused on your list so you can get your items and move on. Be sure to shop the perimeter of the store, where you'll find produce, lean meats and the dairy case. For the remaining items, only go down the aisle of the specific item you need. Pssst… this works! Tammy was in California last week and her daughters leisurely led the way aisle by aisle and they ended up with far too much junk in the cart. This week, they were back on track, only shopping the perimeter of the store—and coming home with healthy items. Phew!

Mistake #4: You avoid frozen produce and assume it's not as nutritious as fresh.

Despite good intentions to prepare a nutrient-packed meal with plenty of vegetables, you often find rotten or wilted produce in your fridge and your plan is thwarted. In the past, this happened to us, too, and we can tell you it completely derailed our healthy eating plan.

The Fix: Stock up on frozen produce—it stays good for up to a year! Frozen is just as healthy as fresh and, in some instances, is even healthier and contains more nutrients than fresh because it's frozen immediately after being picked, meaning the nutrients are intact. Fresh produce, on the other hand, may have traveled for two weeks from the farm to the grocery store and lost nutrients over time and during exposure to heat or light. We love frozen veggies—they taste great, are always in season and accompany nearly every meal we make. And best yet, we never have to worry about them going bad!

Mistake # 5: You fall for the claim on the front of the food package.

Have you ever picked up a food because the label on the front says "healthy," "organic," "all-natural" or "low-calorie," but pay no attention to the Nutrition Facts Panel? Often we find that our clients are duped by clever marketing. For instance, a popular cereal boasts, "lightly sweetened." There's no FDA regulation for this claim. (The FDA regulates the use of "sugar-free," which means the food contains less than 0.5 grams of sugar per serving, and "no added sugars" or "without added sugars," which mean that no sugar or sugar-containing ingredient was added during processing.) You would expect a "lightly sweetened" cereal to have a few grams of sugar. Not so! Most of these cereals have upwards of 14 grams (3-1/2 teaspoons)! Compare that to 1 gram of sugar in Cheerios.

The Fix: Read the Nutrition Facts Panel. It's the only way to know what you're actually getting. And be sure to pay special attention to the serving size on the nutrition label.

Mistake #6: You buy a food simply because it's organic.

This is one of the most common mistakes we see. Just because a food is "organic" doesn't mean it's healthy or that it's good for you. Organic cookies are still cookies. Organic chocolate…still chocolate. Organic ice cream, well you get it.

The Fix: Even when you buy an organic food, read the nutrition label. Make sure that food is not loaded with sugar, artery-clogging saturated fat or bloating and bad-for-your blood pressure sodium.

Mistake #7: You pay no attention to salt.

Salt makes you hungrier, thirstier and it increases cravings. Plus, when you eat a lot of salt, (think soy sauce, deli meats, canned soup, processed foods, restaurant meals, fries, chips) the body responds by holding on to water to dilute the sodium and maintain it at the proper concentration, which is why you weigh more and look bloated with a distended stomach. Plus, too much salt increases your risk of high blood pressure and stroke.

The Fix: Again, it comes down to reading labels. To help avoid the risk of high blood pressure, keep your sodium intake to 2,400 – 3,000 mg or less per day. (The American Heart Association recommends no more than 3,000 mg of sodium per day for healthy adults.

Mistake #8: You buy granola for breakfast thinking it's a healthy choice.

Although granola can be healthy, it typically is packed with sugar, calories and, in many cases, hydrogenated oils. One small bowl can set you back upwards of 600 calories and 12 teaspoons of sugar!

The Fix: Go for whole grain, unprocessed oatmeal or high-fiber, low-sugar, whole-grain cereal. Then add your own berries or fresh fruit.

Mistake #9: You purchase a food that normally wouldn't be considered healthy because the label claims it's "made with real fruit."

Unfortunately, a bottle of juice or a box of fruit snacks with photos of fruit on the label doesn’t mean it contains fruit (think Pop-Tarts). Many products with this claim contain no real fruit at all and instead contain food dyes and nearly half of their weight in sugar. Eek!

The Fix: Plan on getting your fruit servings from the real deal. If you don't see actual pieces of fruit as you eat, don't count on getting fruit from the food.

Source Tammy Lakatos Shames and Elysse /ACE

Calisthenics Workout

Calisthenics workout programs are a traditional and integral part of any training program because calisthenics workout programs require minimal" equipment and can be performed in almost any location. Calisthenic exercises & workouts, depending on how they are performed, can be used to develop flexibility, muscle strength, muscle endurance, and/or muscle power.

Here we will discuss the benefits and proper use" of calisthenics within the training environment.

The Muscle Strength-Endurance Continuum

Muscle strength and, muscle endurance exist on a continuum. Given that muscle strength is the amount of force generated by one repetition and muscle endurance is the ability to exert force repeatedly over time, improving muscle strength will improve muscle endurance.

The first occasion depends on individual fitness level and how many repetitions can be performed. Individuals who can only perform a low number of repetitions during a calisthenics workout programs (less than 10-12) will develop muscle strength.

Those who can perform a higher number (more than 10-12) will develop muscle endurance. For example, when you first start doing pull-ups you may only be able to perform 9 repetitions. At this point, you are developing muscle strength. As your performance improves, and you are able to perform over 12 repetitions, you begin to develop muscle endurance.

The second occasion occurs where calisthenics workout programs are modified to overload the muscles so that they contribute to strength development.

This can be achieved by any of the following:

Adding weight (e.g., pull-ups or push-ups while wearing a weighted pack) Using a buddy for resistance (e.g., having a buddy sit on your hips while doing bent over calf raises; buddy- assisted leg extensions) Exercising on one side of the body only (e.g., one-legged squats or calf raises) Modifying the exercise (e.g., elevating the legs during push-ups) Super sets/pyramids These modifications can be particularly helpful if weight training facilities are not available and a strength workout is required.

If your one repetition maximum weight is increased, your sub-maximum multiple repetitions can be performed with more weight (resistance).

Muscle strength is developed by performing low-repetition (6-12), high-resistance exercises. When more than 12 repetitions can be performed, the resistance should be increased, and the repetitions decreased.

Muscle endurance is developed by high-repetition (>12), low-resistance exercises.

A set for an exercise is the number of repetitions performed per unit weight.

Increasing the number of repetitions per set develops endurance. For example, if an individual can perform only 10-12 sit-ups using proper technique, the exercise will develop muscle strength.

Once an individual can perform over 15 repetitions per set, muscle endurance is being developed.

Note that strength and short-term efforts have no effect on aerobic capacity because the aerobic/endurance system is not recruited with maximal or heavy loads. In contrast, sustained efforts with a light load recruit the aerobic system and have minimal effect on strength.

Generally, activities of longer duration require more muscle endurance. You should modify your training programs according to the principles of strength and endurance specific to mission requirements.

Muscle strength and endurance are both essential for extreme fitness performance. Muscular strength is also required for many team sports. Muscular endurance is needed when work is required over longer periods of time.

The goal of calisthenics workout programs should be to develop complete muscular fitness (i.e., strength, endurance, and power). Muscle strength provides the foundation for muscle endurance and power. An adequate strength base not only improves performance, but also decreases the likelihood of injury.

For this reason it is recommended that at least two strength workouts (low-repetition [10-12 reps], high resistance exercises per muscle group per week), be part of your calisthenics workout programs.

Traditional calisthenics workout programs performed two to three times a week will develop and maintain muscle endurance. Plyometric exercises when necessary, can also be used to develop muscle power.

Training schedules, lack of exercise equipment, and inadequate nutrition can keep you from maintaining required fitness levels.

Calisthenics workout programs, however, are practical for almost any situation because they can be performed anywhere with minimal equipment. Moreover, calisthenics workout programs can also be modified to provide a strength workout.

 

 Source Thomas Martin, Go

 

Introduction to the Balance Board

The balance board is a fitness piece of equipment that offers an efficient and enjoyable way to train your balance. It also improves your motor coordination skills, and it strengthens your core. Many people also practice on it because they feel calmer and more relaxed after a session.

Skiers and surfers used it first so they can practice their skills during the off-season. It is now used in therapeutic setting (knee rehabilitation, children with developmental disorders, proprioceptive training) and in fitness training. Athletes continue to take advantage of this fitness tool to improve their performance.

 You can easily acquire a balance board to exercise at home. It offers a fun way to strengthen your balance and your core. The difficulty depends on the type of board you are using. Some of them are very easy to practice on. Little kids and elderly people can use them safely. While other boards are much more challenging and require great skills.

There are 4 types of balance boards.
Rocker Boards
It improves static balance and is an easy way to start
Rocker-roller Boards
More challenging, they improve dynamic balance.
Wobble Boards

They offer a good comprise between the rocker boards (easy) and the other boards with un-attached fulcrums (the rocker-roller and the sphere-and-ring boards).
Sphere-and-ring Boards
The base is un-attached and the board can move in all direction making these types of balance boards the most challenging ones.

Balance boards can be very challenging causing falls, sprained joints, and sometime broken bones! So you need to take it gradually and start easily. Choosing the right balance board is the first step to a safe practice. Start with an attached board (rocker or wobble) as they are easier to use than the non-attached. Starting with easy exercises to gain confidence is important. 

Here are 4 movements you can start with:
1. Stand with both feet, and rock the board left to right, and front to back and have the edge touch the floor. Do it for 2 to 3 minutes.
2. Roll the board in a circle touching the edge on the floor. Do it for 2 minutes.
3. Balance the board trying to keep the edges off the floor as long as you can.
4. From exercise 4, squat slightly (45 degrees). Repeat 10 times.
These 4 basic movements will help you improve your balance, strengthen your core, and increase your stamina.
It also has been linked with less falls during old age.

Source Moutassem Hammour .Chir

It’s long been a question among exercise professionals – should you exercise before breakfast ?

It’s long been a question among exercise professionals – should you exercise before breakfast, or is it better to get some calories in before you work out? Recent research suggests that exercise before breakfast can have some benefits – especially for men.

Researchers in New Zealand, led by Associate Professor Dr Steve Stannard, worked with two groups of novices for a month. The subjects pedalled up to 75 minutes a day, with some of them eating a high-carbohydrate breakfast first, while others training with their stomachs empty. Researchers then conducted blood tests to assess the effects of the training and the eating protocols on their fitness and weight loss. 

 So was exercise before breakfast beneficial? What the researchers found was that those subjects who trained without having breakfast first had a greater ability to store glycogen – an advantage for athletes. They also had a greater ability to burn fat. Researchers concluded that because the subjects who trained without eating breakfast were stressing their bodies a bit more during training, they showed a faster rate of adaptation, and consequently improved performance levels.

Interesting as this research is, it does need to be put into the context of other findings. For while it appears that training in a glycogen-depleted state can have benefits for endurance athletes, it does not help athletes who are strength training.

To maximize the benefits of strength training it is essential that your body has sufficient fuel to work out effectively – working out without sufficient calories in your body will comprise your workout, and will therefore actually reduce its effectiveness.

Similarly, for competitive endurance athletes who need to train hard, the positive adaptations that can occur from working out on an empty stomach are likely to be offset by the diminished performance during the training session. Therefore it is recommended that athletes in training use this method judiciously, perhaps once a week.

Finally, as Dr Stannard noted, these findings only apply to men – women should eat breakfast before a workout, as they tend to get more from exercise if they take a moderate amount of carbohydrates before they start working out.

The bottom line? For men whose main aim is to lose weight, performing their cardio workouts on an empty stomach can have positive adaptations and increase weight loss. However, for all others, this technique should be used with caution.

Source Netfit 

The Paleo Diet, What Is It?

After a lot of chatting around the Team table, we decided to cover Paleo, what is it and to you our members a detailed brief ..

The Paleo Diet is an ancient way of eating that just may be able to improve the quality of your modern life. The theory behind Paleo is that our genetic makeup is still very similar to that of our caveman ancestors who lived during the Paleolithic Era more than a million years ago. And that we can benefit by following the diet of those primitive but rugged people. 

 

 

 Agriculture, the farming of plant crops for food, has only been practiced for the past 10,000 years. The Paleo belief is that this is not enough time for us, as a species, to properly adapt to the intake and digestion of these food types. That more time is required for the human metabolism and physiology to adjust to foods like wheat and other grains, legumes (beans) and dairy products. And this is one reason why we have so much lactose intolerance, so many people have wheat allergies and complain of indigestion and acid reflux disease. 

The Paleo diet is basically the diet of the caveman: lean meats and seafood, fresh vegetables and fruit and seeds and nuts. This diet avoids all processed foods, meaning, if it's packaged, don't eat it. The main ingredient to Paleo eating is lean animal protein in the form of beef, pork or seafood. This also includes organ meat like tongue, liver and sweetbreads.

Dairy is out since cavemen did not tend to herds of cows, sheep or other animals. Eggs, however, are allowed as the cavemen probably were able to occasionally gather eggs from nests. Nuts and seeds are also permitted and are an important source of €good€ fats, the polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats. Our bodies require fat in order to function properly and these good fats will not contribute to heart disease and high blood pressure. They do contain calories, however, so if you're trying to lose weight you'll want to watch your intake of nuts and seeds. But by following the Paleo diet, you will increase your metabolism, which will allow you to increase your intake of nuts and seeds without gaining weight.

But the sky is the limit pretty much when it comes to fruits and vegetables. You can eat as much of those as you like and any kinds with one exception. Stay away from potatoes. But anything that is green is great. Green leafy vegetables provide high amounts of fiber, they are rich in folic acid, vitamin C, potassium and magnesium, all essential nutrients. And the same for fruit, though again, if you're trying to lose weight you should avoid the high fructose fruits such as grapes and melons and eat more citrus. 

A good rule of thumb with Paleo is to avoid foods that come in a box or other such packaging. But there are a few other foods you'll want to stay away from that you may not consider to be packaged foods. Those include grains, sugar and dairy products. So no bread, cookies, pasta or alcohol. No sodas, candy or other sweets and no syrup on your pancakes. Wait, no pancakes! And of course, no butter, cheese or milk. This diet may seem very limiting. But there are many testimonials that the benefits gained from following this diet can be liberating, even life changing. 

 

Keep It Moving, Even in Pain

Joint ache or discomfort? Try RICE.

We rely heavily on our knees and hips for mobility. All our movements, be it standing or dancing depend on these two largest joints of our body, the hips and knee. No wonder these joints are easy strained with a lifetime of carrying body weight and co-ordinating movement. Therefore, it is no shocker that practically everyone complains of hip and knee pain. As you age, these joint endeavour much more pressure causing severe discomfort and constraining routine movement. If left unchecked, these could also lead to permanent damage to the joints and curb mobility.

For this reason it is highly essential that one takes good care of their hip and knee joint to avoid future inconveniences. There are many ways with which one can take care of minor injuries. RICE is an easy self-help measure to aid in easing the pain and discomfort of any joint. This is an excellent first aid for any type of joint injury. RICE stands for:

Rest. It is advised to limit vigorous activities that could severely damage the injured area. Avoid activities that could add pressure to the injured joint.

• Ice. An ice pack made at home or purchased from the stores can be used to apply on the injured area. This helps in reducing the pain and swelling. Keep the ice pack for 20 minutes on the injured portion with a 20 minutes interval in between. A layer of cloth is to be used on the skin before placing the ice pack to avoid frostbite.


• Compression. To reduce swelling an elastic bandage or neoprene support is to be used. This will also help in speeding up the recovery process. Be careful to not wrap it too tight as it could hamper with the normal flow of blood.


• Elevation. It is always best to elevate the injured leg using a pillow or a stool. This will avoid pooling of blood in the injured area and also reduce swelling.

If you are suffering from prolonged pain and long term stiffness you can opt for Heat therapy. Ice is considered best during the initial days of the injury to lessen the swelling and enable prior flexibility. However, if the pain persists, you can also try heat therapy. You can use heating pad or hot towel to supply heat to the injured joint. Make sure that the heat is not too much to cause blisters or burns on the body. The heating pad or towel should only be warm and not hot.

It is also medically advised that you continue your daily routine movement even if you are dealing with arthritis pain or any ache from overuse injury. One can also follow these joint-friendly options listed below to maintain an active lifestyle:

• elliptical trainer


• stationary bike (recumbent or upright)


• tai chi , soft yoga


• swimming, water aerobics, or water walking


• rowing machine


• Short walks throughout the day, instead of a long walk.

Unfortunately, if the pain is still prominent even after trying all these above mentioned methods, one might have to opt for surgery. If the damage to the joint is acute and prolonged, your consulting physician would advise you for a partial or total joint replacement. These surgeries could be risky as well as costly in the western countries and therefore many patients consider medical treatment abroad.

Source Paula F

The 80/20 Rule Of Double Under Jump Rope Training

If you do not know, Double Under Training is a game of very small adjustments until your technique becomes as finely tuned as a Steinway and Sons Piano. Your ability to do more double unders while reducing your fatigue factor is all about efficiency.

 

 

The 80/20 rule also known as the Pareto Principle states "that, for many events, roughly 80 percent of the effects come from 20 percent of the causes". As this principle holds true in business, economics, and software development; I, too, believe it is true for double under training.

After coaching and observing CrossFit athletes for over two years I can truly say that if you improve or fix 20 percent of your double under technique, you will improve your overall jump rope efficiency by 80 percent or greater.

You must keep in mind that the adjustments are usually so small that most athletes fail to realize which adjustments they have made. For this reason, many athletes fall into a revolving cycle of reverting back to bad habits. Using all of your senses to accomplish your training goals is the key to lasting success.

Every individual has a different road map to their ultimate double under (PR) personal record. Below are three suggestions on how you can accomplish your goals.

1. You must identify your 20 percent that needs to be adjusted. Find a good cable jump rope with efficient handles. A good rope handles about 5 -10 percent by itself. Find a good partner or coach who has an eye for proper jump rope technique and get a few suggestions from them on what changes you may need to make.

2. Learn, Feel, Remember, and then Repeat. Once you get a good rhythm of 15 to 20 double unders in a row, don't forget it. You want to be able to feel your way back into proper technique if you have not done double unders in awhile.

3. Continue to practice your newly discovered adjustments until they become second nature. You want to be able to do the movement and not have to think at all.

As your efficiency continues to improve, you will undoubtedly start making adjustments on the fly while conducting the movement. The ability to clip your toes and still continue without stopping is an ideal scenario. Efficiency in recovery after a mistake is just as important as a smooth and mistake-free execution.

 

Source Izaac Wilkins/ Ezine

What Is an AMRAP Workout? Burn Fat and Build Muscle Fast

Have you exhausted yourself doing the same old routine week after week? Are you looking for something new to mix up your workouts? It's time to answer the question "what is AMRAP!" Whether you're a beginner and just starting to workout or at a more advanced level, you're likely heard this acronym thrown around by many trainers.

So what is AMRAP? It's a term and style of workout that become popular by crossfit enthusiasts. It stands for As Many Rounds (or sometimes Reps) As Possible. Workouts are structured where you have a set amount of time to do as many exercises as you can. Most AMRAP routines are around twenty minutes long, but you will come across some set at 10, 15, 30 minutes or other variations of length for the workout. Most trainers feel that AMRAP workouts are the best fat burning workouts you can do!

 A good example of a beginners AMRAP circuit workout would be a 6-minute time frame. Perform 5 deadlifts, 10 pull-ups, and 20 double unders (double unders mean swinging the rope up a bit higher than usual while swinging the rope twice under your feet). Perform as many rounds of this routine as you can in a 6-minute time frame. AMARAP workouts can vary greatly. It's really not about the individual exercises as much as it is about the sequence, duration, and combination of all the exercises in the routine. As you get better, you can even begin to customize your own AMRAP workouts. Incorporate all muscle groups for an intense workout that will leave you feeling exhausted by the time you finish!

Incorporating AMRAP workouts or HIIT workouts into your routine is a great way to mix it up and challenge your muscles to grow in a new way! Don't think you can just turn your current workout into a fat burning AMRAP routine just like that. You most likely will need to lower the amount of weights you'd use normally. Remember the goal is the high intensity, low rest period concept rather than focusing the amount of weight you're moving. Take a standard bicep curl for example. You may be able to lift a 20 pound dumbbell, however if you're doing a bicep exercises in an AMRAP workout, you'd want to lower that weight significantly so you can perform a higher quantity until failure.

AMRAP style workouts are one of the best you'll find to burn fat and tone muscle! You're journey to a healthier and sexier you starts today!

Andrea Ager- CrossFit Tabata

 CrossFit Athlete Andrea Ager performs an insane Tabata workout consisting of an array of staple CrossFit movements, and also takes a minute to chat about Tabata and CrossFit in general.

What Is HIIT Cardio Training?

The most typical HIIT exercise that people normally do is all-out sprinting for twenty seconds or so followed by up to a moment of much slower jogging or even strolling through the recovery phase.

What are the advantages of HIIT?

HIIT is a good tool for extra fat reduction.

You burn up more calories during the session alone than you would throughout slow cardio, and investigation shows that your metabolic process is boosted for up to 24 hrs soon after your HIIT session. That suggests you are burning even extra calories post-exercise.

What are some of the negatives of HIIT?

HIIT is incredibly powerful and can necessitate a excellent offer of time to recover from the workouts. It is not unheard of to be ready to do no far more than two or three HIIT sessions per week. Your physique wants time to recover from the intensity of the training and you will need to allow your system to recover absolutely previous to starting a new HIIT session.

1 of the most successful methods to get in form speedily and burn off off entire body body fat is to use HIIT Instruction. Large Intensity Interval Instruction (HIIT) is to physique unwanted fat what kryptonite is generally to Superman: Deadly. You can burn up fat extra quickly and get in superior form when you accomplish HIIT instead than just steady state cardio. Plus you can do it faster. That's what a excellent physical exercise need to do.

When you complete HIIT, you change intervals involving small intensity to durations of significant intensity for distinctive period intervals. For instance, you'd jog at a sluggish speed for ninety seconds then sprint all out thirty seconds. You would then jog for 90 seconds once more with a sluggish speed then yet another thirty 2nd all out burst. You would manage that anywhere from twenty minutes to 30 minutes. You will be fully put in when you are finished.

 

The key thing is to make certain that your very own intensity levels differ from reduced to large. Really don't go from a good intensity degree of two to an the stage of intensity of 5 and also think that is likely to full the work. You have to have to move from a 2 with a nine or ten. That is what results in this complete point effective. This will function awesome important things if you do the idea appropriately.

HIIT Workouts That You Can Complete Now.

90 seconds of walking and thirty seconds of sprinting. Execute this three to one ratio if you are new to HIIT or when you simply need to have a quick aerobic work out. You should carry out 8 cycles with this for a overall of 16 min's. Do a rapidly warm-up previous to and relax after.

60 seconds of strolling along with thirty seconds sprinting. Here the ratio is a 2 to one so it is a very little a lot more intensive. ten cycles ought to be fifteen minutes. sixteen cycles would be about twenty minutes. If you have a superior groundwork of cardio by now you can perhaps get started right here and do just fine.

60 seconds of jogging and sixty seconds of sprinting. The adhering to the ratio will be one to one. 

 Source Herbert Chase

 

Is the Kipping Pull Up Cheating?

On the pull-up bar, the kipping is oftentimes referred to as the "cheating" pull up, however, this exercise, like the dead hang, can give you outstanding complete body benefits. The reality is, it requires some ability to master.

What is the Kipping?    It is a cutting edge pull up technique that not only targets muscle tissues, from top to bottom, but also may get your heart racing! 

While the kipping doesn't seem like a total pull-up, it is the precise movement adopted from gymnastics.You will know if you have done this properly of you were able raise yourself up by using your hips to thrust you upwards! It really is smooth and ultra powerful and is also the whole body exercise. 

 

  There is not any room for muscle isolation in kipping routine. The kip allows you to lead with your shoulders as much as your hips, while you throw your feet behind you.Differences between the Dead Hang and the Kipping The rigorous, dead hang is the usual traditional exercise that comes to mind when you think of pull ups. This is a muscle-building procedure that increases and contracts the muscles of your upper back and arms, generally the lats, biceps, and forearms. 

The other parts of the person's body is designed to remain in sufficient tension to hold a rigid structure. You begin by hanging on the bar with your arms completely extended. 

The elbows and shoulders are the only parts of the body that are expected to move. All your other joints need to stay on practically still, as they shouldn't help with the force production needed to perform the routine.On the other hand, the kipping begins with the pop from the hips that powers the body up and over the bar. Once it is completed, you continue in a quick, rhythmic fashion.

By way of effectively lifting the body with the very least amount of upper body pulling, this is a far more efficient method for raising the face on the bar. Athletes who practice kips can achieve much higher numbers with a kip as opposed to the strict dead hang.In doing the kipping pull-up your hips are forward, your feet should be in the opposite direction. 

In the same manner, when the feet are frontward, the hips should be backwards. This means that the feet is always in reverse position of the hips and shoulders. 

Your body need to either be in the front similar to a half moon shape along with your hands and feet at the back, or the body must be in a half moon shape the reverse way with your shoulder and hips at the back and feet and hands forwards.From this two pull up styles which do you think is the best?

It actually depends on the person. Sure, the dead hang pullups is the classic variation. Nonetheless, the kipping pull up is capable to become a lot more efficient. 

Either physical exercise will provide a huge benefit, the kipping requires much more coordination and use of hips, as the dead hang generally requires a lot more energy.

Source Sam Stevens

The Pursuit Of Better...

Developing A Workout Routine

If you are focusing on improving your health by losing weight and getting fit, one healthy habit you should not overlook (aside from improving your nutrition) is developing a workout routine.
Naturally this can be a bit awkward especially when starting out for the first couple months. It takes a considerable amount of effort to remove yourself from the couch or bed and get that body moving again. For many, it will be a slow process as your legs, arms, and body get used to exercising.
However once you make it past that initial stage and are able to exercise for 30 minutes to an hour, you've crossed the first and most difficult hurdle. Now the fun can really begin!
The Importance of Developing A Workout Routine

 

  The next item of business is figuring out exactly which activities you want to continue doing on a weekly basis which is why developing a workout routine can really help.
One important point to remember in regards to exercise is that you don't want feelings of boredom to creep in. These thoughts can fester leading you to slowly give up this healthy habit and that's the last thing you want to happen.

This can be compared to the types of foods you eat. It would become extremely boring to eat the same meal each and every day. Who would want to eat in this manner unless you absolutely had no other option?
You should consider exercise in the same way. Doing the same workout day after day may be fine for a couple of months but eventually you may get bored with this routine. Granted this is not true for everyone, and if you are able to run the same course 4-5 times per week month after month, then by all means stick with that.

However for those of you who like change and want to have a diversified portfolio of workouts, then creating a workout routine can really help keep you motivated and focused.
Naturally before you can create a workout routine, you need to not only have some options, but also the abilities to do the activities safely and properly. That's not to say you can't try out something new like a sport or activity you've always wanted to learn. If that's the case just be sure you get someone who is qualified to teach you how to do the activity properly.

Personally, my workout routine has grown immensely over the past two years. When I first started exercising, the only activity I did was walking - four times a week for about an hour at a time.
Sure that doesn't sound all too exciting, but my 300 pound self at the time could only handle that amount of activity safely.

After a couple of months, walking turned into hiking, then a couple of months later into jogging. Once I was able to run for an hour without feeling completely drained afterwards, I knew I had developed a newfound endurance and energy level I had not enjoyed in over a decade.
Over the past year I have experimented with a number of different activities. I started playing tennis again, attending a local Bootcamp class, biking with my dog, snowboarding regularly during the winter, a gym membership to my local LA Fitness, and even did the Insanity at-home workout program to see what that was like.

 

  These days I have a consistent workout routine that I usually stick with week after week. Monday and Wednesday is Bootcamp class, Tuesday and Thursday is tennis, and I usually either run or bike my dog on Friday and on one of the weekend days.

Maintaining this diverse workout routine keeps me motivated to stick with my plan every week. Best yet, I never go more than two days in a row without some type of exercise.
If you have had issues sticking with a consistent fitness routine, developing a workout routine so you can regularly exercise which will not only get you into better shape but you'll lose weight too! The best of both worlds.

Source Gregory L. Gomez

TRX Suspension Trainer - Why It's Far better Then Heading to the Fitness center

TRX Equilibrium Lunge - Quadriceps

TRX Suspended Pike - Abdominals, hip flexors

TRX Suspended Hip Press - Hamstrings, glutes, again extensors

If you don't have a TRX nevertheless, get your personal TRX Suspension Trainer!

Figures have revealed that a lot more than 50 % of U.S. citizens experience from metabolism-connected sickness because of to lack of activity and unhealthy diet regime. In this rapidly-paced, competitive globe, many of us merely do not have the time to go to gymnasium. When they attempted to work out they faced a lot of distinct difficulties. The most significant problem was that they did not have a great deal of workout machines and of study course, there constantly wasn't a fantastic deal of place to work out.

Possibly you can picture how difficult it must be to consider to workout on board a ship or a submarine. On the other hand, lugging close to a Smith device, Complete Health club or even a Bowflex just doesn't function. As a result, they all set their heads collectively and developed an workout system that was produced from the webbing of their parachutes. This permitted them to complete bodyweight workouts, at many diverse angles. This permitted them to remain in shape and produce their core muscle tissues.

Nevertheless, if you are not that acquainted with the TRX suspension exercise, allow me inform you that it's primarily a workout gadget that employs your body's weight as the resistance. There is no need for plates, resistance bands, or electrical power rods.

Considering that its first development it has been constantly enhanced on.

 

 

Today, the suspension cords have grips connected to make it easier to workout. Furthermore, they are created so that you can simply attach them to a wall, fence or even a tree. At present there are hundreds of different workout routines that you can use with the TRX teaching system. A lot of of the brand identify gyms supply TRX coaching to their members. It has grow to be that well-liked due to the fact it does develop benefits.

Retain some of these guidelines in brain as you carry on to uncover further TRX suspension trainer reviews.

Each single a single of us right now is turning into a lot more concerned about our wellbeing. As a outcome many of us have decided on to make adjustments to our lifestyles. Not only are we choosing to try to eat food items that are healthier and more dietary, but we're also starting up to recognize that working out on a regular basis is a necessity instead than an exception. One particular thing's not modified tho' - we nevertheless uncover it hard to suit a regular work out in to our frantic schedules. So it helps make sense that we're looking for options other than likely to the fitness center.

That's exactly where the TRX Suspension Trainer arrives in... The TRX trainer is a straightforward principle - but awesomely executed. The idea is primarily based on suspension teaching employing your entire body excess weight. Suspension teaching includes a set of adjustable straps and pulleys that are suspended securely from an overhead stage. The TRX trainer can be employed just about everywhere, as lengthy as you have a door, or a wall/ceiling wherever you can attach it to.

 

Source Enrique Johnston

The Food Lies We Tell Ourselves

Straight from our Community registered dietitian nutritionists, we get a firsthand look at some of the lies clients tell themselves when it comes to rationalizing what they eat. Unfortunately, these little untruths can quickly sabotage a healthy diet. Could you also unknowingly be ruining your healthy eating plan by telling yourself these little white lies? Read on to learn the truth.

 

Food Lie #1: I need to snack frequently to keep my metabolism up.

You may have heard that you shouldn’t wait too long between meals to prevent your body from going into “starvation mode”—a time when your body conserves calories to prevent depleting its energy stores. Think back to the caveman days when humans wouldn’t eat for days; their bodies would become efficient at holding on to what they ate so they could survive until the next time they were able to have a successful hunt. The theory is that this may be happening on a smaller scale when you wait too long to eat.

So you try to prevent this scenario and overcompensate by making sure you eat something every few hours. The problem is, if you’re attempting to eat several mini-meals throughout the day, the calories add up. Even a couple of energy bars throughout the day can add an extra 500 calories, contributing to a body-fat gain of 1 pound per week! You may think that bar is keeping your metabolism revved up—but even if it is, the additional caloric burn won’t contribute 500 calories (or anything even close to that!) each day.

Solution: If there is more than four to five hours between your lunch and dinner, allow yourself one small fiber- and protein-filled, mid-afternoon snack—but no more. A hardboiled egg and a piece of fruit, for example, would be a great choice.

Food Lie #2: I can eat whatever I want because I just burned off a lot of calories during my workout.

Although the treadmill or the elliptical (or your spin teacher) may all tell you that you burned 800 calories, this is usually not true. Unless you weigh 200 pounds and run for an hour, you won’t burn close to that many calories. If you are eating without much restraint after a workout, this is likely having a negative effect on your waistline. For many people, not only do they rationalize that they can eat a lot of food after a workout, they also feel hungrier after working out and tell themselves it’s because they burned a lot of calories. Unfortunately, appetite after a workout tends to increase to a much greater degree than the amount of calories you actually burned.

Solution: Eat to fuel your workout and refuel, not to replace the calories you think you burned. If you notice that your hunger increases a lot after you exercise be sure to drink extra water and fill up on veggies to help to satisfy your appetite without consuming too many calories.

Food Lie #3: It was just a few bites.

Just because you didn’t order it and it wasn’t on your plate, doesn’t mean those bites of your significant other’s burger, fries or dessert won’t add up. Ditto for the small piece of cake in the break room. A few daily extra bites may seem forgettable, but they can easily set you back 100 calories (or more!) each day. Although that may not seem like much, over the year that will set you back ten pounds!

Solution: If you find yourself having those little bites here and there, cut them out completely for two weeks and track your weight. If you are like our clients, you’ll notice a difference on the scale.

Food Lie #4: The bag (carton, box, or whatever you just finished off) was almost empty.

Plow through an already opened bag of chips, box of cookies or carton of ice cream and it’s easy to believe there wasn’t much in there. If you don’t portion food out on a plate first so that you can see how much food you truly are eating, it’s easy to tell yourself you didn’t eat much.

Solution: Easy! Simply portion your food on a plate and eat from that—you won’t be able to trick yourself into thinking you ate less than you did!

Food Lie #5. You need that electrolyte drink.

Sure, that brightly colored, sweetened drink filled with electrolytes might seem necessary, but unless you’re exercising intensely for more than an hour (and most people aren’t) you really don’t need it. It just adds extra calories.

Solution: Stick to water, seltzer or another calorie-free fluid, unless you are exercising for more than an hour.

Food Lie #6. You ate it because it gives you extra nutrients.

Every food seems to be fortified these days. Even if it has extra calcium, additional B vitamins or added fiber, it’s still not reason enough to eat it. After all, cookies with added calcium are still cookies. Don’t justify eating the chips because the label claims they have added fiber.

Solution: Get your nutrients from your food. If you want a small indulgence, choose it because it’s an indulgence and not because it’s providing you with nutrients.

 Source : Tammy Lakatos Shames and Elysse (“Lyssie”) Lakatos

Delicious Protein Pancake Recipes

Delicious Protein Pancake Recipes

Pancakes, hotcakes, flapjacks…whatever you call them, these tasty thin, flat cakes of cooked batter may be delicious for breakfast, but can ruin all your hard work in the gym. White flour, sugar, and a lack of protein make most pancake recipes less than ideal for your post-workout meal. But you don't have to designate them to your “cheat meal” because we've tweaked the ingredients to make them a healthy recipe for recovery.

It has been well documented that the meal immediately following your workout is key for repair and recovery. The winning combination of high-quality protein and “smart carbs” (fruits, vegetables, unrefined grains—all high in fiber) will help your body replenish your spent glycogen stores and repair damaged muscle tissue. Studies have shown that a small amount of protein (10 to 15 grams) consumed with carbohydrate right after training promotes muscle gain and prevents excessive protein breakdown.

Traditional pancake recipes are high in carbohydrates and low in protein. The key to boosting more protein in pancakes is adding two key ingredients—whey or plant protein powder and cottage cheese. To improve the carb quality of this recipe, swap out the refined, white flour for high-fiber old-fashioned oats. You can also add ground flax seeds or chia seeds to the recipe to further boost the protein and fiber, as well as add in some healthy fats.

We’ve taken our favorite Protein Pancake basic recipe  to give you a gluten-free, high-protein pancake batter that you can “rock” three ways: Chocolate Chip Protein Pancakes, Banana Walnut Cinnamon Protein Pancakes and Blueberry Lemon Protein Pancakes.

Protein Pancakes

Makes 8 pancakes ~ Serving size 2 pancakes

    3 eggs (2 egg whites + 1 egg)
    ¼ cup unsweetened rice milk or unsweetened vanilla almond milk
    ¾ cup old-fashioned rolled oats (dry uncooked)
    1 tsp. baking powder
    1/3 cup low-fat cottage cheese
    1 tsp. honey (preferably raw)
    1 scoop vanilla protein powder (whey or plant) we use our favorite Isalean Pro 
    1 Tbsp. unrefined coconut oil

Directions:
1. Place all ingredients in a blender (except coconut oil) and blend until smooth.
2. Heat a nonstick pan or griddle over medium-high heat. Add 1 Tbsp. unrefined coconut oil to pan. When it melts and is hot, ladle 2 Tbsp. of batter onto the griddle. Let cook 2 to 3 minutes, or until light golden color develops on bottom; flip and cook another 2 to 3 minutes. Repeat with the remaining batter

 Chocolate Chip Pancakes

Add 5 dark chocolate chips on top of each pancake. Let cook 2 to 3 minutes, or until light golden color develops on bottom; flip and cook another 2 to 3 minutes. Repeat with remaining batter.

Banana Walnut Cinnamon Pancakes

 Add 4 slices of bananas, 1 tsp. walnut pieces and a sprinkle of cinnamon on top of each pancake. Let cook 2 to 3 minutes, or until light golden color develops on bottom; flip and cook another 2 to 3 minutes. Repeat with remaining batter.


Blueberry Lemon Pancakes

Exercises and Workouts - How To Monitor Your Recovery Rates

As you go about your fitness plan, one of the vital things you must be sure you're doing is monitoring your recovery levels. If you aren't doing this and happen to be training just a little too intensely, this could really put you at risk of the "overtraining syndrome" over a period of time.

Sometimes this can creep up on you as well, so one minute you'll be fine and the next, you're just not feeling it during your workout sessions.

By keeping closer tabs on your recovery rates, you can adjust your program if need be before you get to that point so that there's no issue.

Let's go over how to monitor your recovery rates so you know precisely what to be doing...

1. Check Your Morning Heart Rate. First, one of the best ways to ensure you aren't moving into overtraining mode is to check your heart rate first thing in the morning, just after waking. If you suddenly notice your heart rate is elevated higher than normal, this indicates your body is working way too hard - and there's a good chance your training demands are overpowering your recovery capabilities.

 

 This is the first sign telling you cutting back for a few days would be highly ideal.

2. Time Your "Bounce-Back." Next, also take a good look at your bounce-back time. How long does it take you to bounce back from each workout session you do?

Are you able to recover quickly or do you spend the next few hours really feeling the effects of the session?

If you're managing recovery with training, you should bounce back fairly quickly - within 20 to 30 minutes of the workout or so.

Those who don't may need to look at either their...

• training intensity or duration, or
• else their post workout nutrition

to see if something needs to be changed there.

3. Look At Your Motivation. Finally, also consider looking at your motivation levels. Are you feeling motivated to hit the gym? You may think low-motivation is just a psychological issue, but it can actually be derived from your body not being ready to hit the gym again.

If fatigue is building, your body knows this and it will make you less than motivated to get that next session in.

So, keep these quick tips in mind and make sure you are always monitoring your recovery rates. It will really pay off over the long run and keep you coming back for more with those workout sessions.

Although managing Type 2 diabetes can be very challenging, it is not a condition you must just live with. Make simple changes to your daily routine - include exercise to help lower both your blood sugar levels and your weight.

Source By Beverleigh H Piepers

Choose to Do Difficult Things

Thinking is easy, acting is difficult, and to put one's thoughts into action is the most difficult thing in the world: Johann Wolfgang von Goethe.

I remember sitting around bored in my buddy' Don's studio on a cold winter morning in Chicago many years ago. We pretty much had nothing to do. It was miserable outside. The wind was blowing hard and we had a few feet of snow covering the ground. The roads had been largely been cleared and cars were able to move about the streets, but getting around certain places on foot was really for the hardcore and the stupid. Mounds of snow from snows plows impeded foot traffic.
We got restless, as we usually did when we got together, and looked at each other with that 'What the H-- do we do now?" look on our faces. Don was a great training partner; 7 years my junior, short, muscular and strong. I used to hate trying to catch up with him on our mountain runs, because he could power up hillsides. My own measure of success was knowing he could never beat me in flat full-out distance. We were very competitive and fed off the others energy. 23 years after meeting him, we still talk about fitness, and our passion for working out.

I said to him, "It's so cold we should go for a run!" I half-heartedly meant it. He shouted back "Yeah! that would be cool!" I think he half-heartedly meant it. After going back and forth shouting, "Yeah!" Yeah!" "Yeahhh!" We got so pumped up and decided to do it. Two obnoxious guys psyching each other up. We got up and peeled out the door and at the last-minute decided to wear only our shorts, socks and shoes as protective gear. Bare-chested was cool.

Commit to an Action
Getting started was the hardest part of the run but we committed to an action. We tore down N. Sheridan Road and towards Lakeshore Park Drive. The wind cut at our faces and I felt the chill on my nose and hands. We decided to go as far as we could. We would head towards the Navy Pier, circle around and then return. We carried no money for a hot drink or a cab ride back in case we experienced failure. In our dumb minds, failure wasn't an option and we were doing something cool. I wasn't a spring chicken anymore. I did plenty of snow runs but never distance and without cold-weather protection. The pain in my chest, face and fingers was becoming apparent. The Navy Seals can teach people a lot about how it feels to freeze.

Choose Your Attitude
Loads of drivers honked their horns or gave us the thumbs up sign. An occasional driver would shout out his window and say something like, "Hey dumb*&%&! Put some clothes on!" But that only motivated us more. Several runners were out too, dressed in caps, mufflers, gloves, leg warmers and heavy jackets. We received odd looks, smiles and laughter. Some flipped us the bird. Thanks Chicago!

We hopped, high-footing one shoe after the other, in areas where the snow came up above our knees. Don cut around the edge of frozen Lake Michigan and I followed behind. Our feet were wet and cold. The sun was our saving grace. It got a bit warmer and the wind died down at times but I couldn't feel any sensation in my hands, chest or face. Moving my lips was difficult. I'm sure Don felt the same but we pressed on. My chest color was light-purple from frost nip and I couldn't easily open or close my hands. We were too far out to turn back. I didn't want to.
We'd circled around the Navy Pier, past staring tourists and hit our loop point. I was catching up quick to Don. Near the lake he took a good, running 15 foot leap off a stone wall, gave a Tarzan shout, landed flat-footed while dropping into a shoulder-roll on a snow bank and got up. He took off running and never looked back at me. I was stunned.

 

  Visualize Success and Don't Panic
I got to the edge and looked down. It was far. Don knew the terrain because Chicago was his stomping grounds but I didn't. My thought was, "With my luck I'm going to break my ankle landing in rocks and stones." Don didn't look back. His shape shrank into the distance. I stepped back a good distance, sprinted and took a strong plunge off the side, trying to land exactly where he landed. I yawped, hit the ground, completed my crappy ninja-roll and stood up happy. No broken bones. 20 plus miles more and we would be home. I was sick for weeks with the flu.
Over the years, we've done many longer runs; gotten pinned in the woods during a storm, ran out of water during a speedy run through the Saratoga Gap, and we once lost our map. This run had its own challenges and was very fun. I was with my best mate. The conditions were horrible, our protection was limited, we had no resources but the challenge helped us further realize how tight we were. Tonight, after writing this article I called Don. We laughed out loud. In 3 days he was headed to Arizona to continue training for a major event.

Good memories.
Do Something Difficult
Doing difficult things makes you a stronger person. It means intentionally taking an action toward something you know will not be easy and yet the end result will be increased confidence. You'll have the self-knowledge that you can do the things you say you can do. When people are thrust into a survival situation one of the biggest problems they'll have is how to cope mentally with the situation. Psychologists agree there will be a lot of conflicting emotions to deal with.
I don't always feel like doing the things I need to do such as work, clean, or exercise. Thankfully I'm married to a wife who is a nutritionist and fitness instructor and keeps me healthy. She encourages me to work out and stay disciplined to achieve our goals. Many studies show that it's not the physically strong or those with the best equipment who make it through a disaster. Those who survive are ready to handle the unexpected and are willing to adapt to changing situations. They choose to be optimistic, don't panic, and dig deep for inner strength by finding the important things worth fighting for; family, country, God, whatever it is... have a purpose.

You can't choose your situation but you can choose your attitude to it. You cannot choose whether you are going to be kidnapped or in a terrorist attack. One way to get an attitude shift is by training your mind just as you train your body, incrementally. And you do this by doing difficult things. Get out of your comfort zone. This way when disaster strikes you'll be more prepared mentally to handle it.You'll have an easier time not panicking, staying upbeat and less likely to mentally flag.

In Conclusion
Commit to an Action. Take a sober look at the situation. Make a checklist of your equipment, location, distance to the nearest help, weather etc.Make a decision. Don't wait around procrastinating.
Choose Your Attitude. Don't waste energy worrying. Choosing to stay optimistic is a skill you can develop. Every time you do something difficult you build confidence. And every time you build a well-honed survival skill you build confidence.

 Visualize Success. Imagine some of the difficult things you did before and how good it felt to do complete it. Imagine the steps you took to finish that task and this can prevent you from panicking.
Don't Panic. Panicking can cause you to do irrational things. Not being calm can worsen your situation. Getting out of panicking is taking steps to assess the situation logically. Are you alive? Yes. Do you have food? Yes. Are you bleeding? Go through a checklist and realize that as long as you're breathing there's hope.
 

 Keep Doing Difficult Things. Keep finding ways to challenge yourself. Learn knew survival skills by reading books and then practicing to see if they work. Take classes offered in your area. There are running clubs, shooting clubs, martial arts clubs where you can pair up with a mentor and learn how to improve your skills. Surround yourself with people who are willing to do difficult things.
Lastly, have fun. But know, one day everything you know may be used for a serious moment in your life.
Some Semi-Difficult things to Do:
Rappelling for the first time from a high distance, especially if you are afraid of heights.
Sitting for hours without moving in the brush. Patience can drive a person crazy.
Long distance hiking with a heavy pack and see if you can keep up with seasoned ruckers.
Carrying a heavy stone or log on your shoulder while traveling over hills a good distance.
Boxing someone stronger and faster than you.
Parachuting or Skydiving for the first time.
Fasting for a week while exercising. Go below your needed caloric intake.
Eat foods that you are not used to, either raw or cooked (insects, fish, snails etc.) that give you a gag reflex.

Run rapids in a canoe.

Asking someone for help.
Give those things a try. Hang around people who are motivated, positive and encouraging. You will go far.

Article Source: Michael_Kurcina Ezine

WHY DO WE FAIL?

Are Two-a-Day Workouts Right for You?

 

 For many people, boys and young men around the country are likely suiting up for two separate football practices a day for a tradition known as “two-a-days.” There are three primary reasons for the two-practice-a-day tradition:

• Practicing in the early morning and late afternoon is a way to beat the worst of the heat.
• Two practices a day are required to get the athletes in game shape.
• Athletes need the extra time and practice to learn and commit complicated plays to memory.

Two-a-day training programs are typically divided into two sessions, one focusing on technical training and the other focusing on tactical training. The first type of training session is referred to as technical training because it focuses on the technical conditioning needed for a specific sport. Technical training can be high intensity to improve overall fitness level and refine sport-specific skills. The second type of training session is referred to as tactical training because it is structured to teach the strategies and tactics that all players need to know to function successfully as a team. Tactical training is designed to be lower in intensity to allow players to learn the movements so they are eventually able to execute plays reflexively as a reaction without needing the time for conscious thought or cognitive processing.

Are two-a-days beneficial for you?

For people with specific fitness goals, could organizing your workouts into two training sessions a day provide any benefit? The answer, of course, depends on a number of variables. To determine whether two-a-day training might be right for your needs, ask yourself the following questions:

What is your existing fitness level?

What is your specific outcome or training goal?

What do you need to improve to be successful and achieve your goal?

And, most importantly, how much time can you dedicate to your workouts?

If your reason for exercising is to improve your general health or overall fitness level, then two-a-days might not be necessary. If the goal is to achieve a specific outcome (whether performance- or appearance-based), then working out twice a day might be the most effective way to achieve that goal.

Here are a few examples where organizing two-a-day workouts might be helpful for achieving a specific goal. Of course, there are a number of variables that would determine the specific training program, so keep in mind that this list is designed to simply provide a few ideas. 

The Olympic Weightlifting Lifts: The Snatch and the Clean and Jerk. Both of these exercises require a high degree of mobility and technical movement skill, as do a number of the kettlebell lifts. If you want to improve your technical skill for specific lifts, consider training for movement skill in the morning and the actual lifting, or specific strength training, in the afternoon. The morning sessions should be bodyweight only to focus on improving range of motion, mobility and dynamic flexibility, while the afternoon workout should focus on the high-intensity training required to improve strength and power.

Adding muscle mass or developing the definition required for a figure or body-building competition requires a high volume of training for both strength training to improve muscle size and low-to-moderate cardio training to burn fat. A two-a-day training schedule might feature body part-specific strength training in the morning to increase lean muscle and definition, combined with an afternoon session dedicated specifically to cardiovascular training for burning excess calories and unwanted fat.

Specific Strength- and Power-based Competitions (e.g., Powerlifting, Strongman or CrossFit). For people training for these types of competitions, two-a-day workouts could be organized into a morning session using external weights to focus on specific strength or power exercises that will be an integral component of the competition. The afternoon session could be focused on bodyweight exercises to improve core strength, mobility or explosive jumping power to support the work being done with the external resistance. 

Obstacle Course Races (e.g., Spartan Race or Tough Mudder). If your training goal is to participate in these races, you might want to split your workouts into morning runs that alternate between distance for aerobic endurance and sprinting for anaerobic strength and afternoon strength-training sessions to improve the muscular strength and coordination required for successfully overcoming the obstacles.

Marathons, Triathlons or Ultra-marathons. If your fitness goals include training for pure endurance races, it might be a good idea to split workouts into two sessions per day to increase the volume of training required for success. For endurance races, it might be necessary to focus on a specific cardiovascular endurance session in the morning for volume training and an afternoon weightlifting session to improve the strength endurance of the legs and core muscles, which can help improve running efficiency and stride rate.

Source Pete McCall MS Ace