Tips from a fitness pro - Tip No. 1: Movement
I'll be away on a business trip for the whole next week... So I won't be able to update here.
The challenge is that for 2 days of work, I'll have to fly for 3 days! (yes that's how far Vancouver is from the rest of the world!) and being on long flights has never been anything that my body looks forward to! I am hoping that I get a chance to go to the hotel gym for at least one night next week.
By the way, I found some great fitness tips from Raphael Calzadilla on the net, and I am going to share a part of them on each post. Here is the first tip:
1. Movement -- Remember childhood? If exercise is a chore, then ask yourself what would be fun. Ask a kid what he/she likes to do for exercise and you'll get "something fun" as the answer. If the thought of weight training and power walking turns you off, then search for aerobic videos, take a belly-dancing class, try Pilates or Power Yoga, join a walking club and meet new friends. Think like a kid again and just have fun.
In many of my articles I discuss the value of strength training, cardiovascular exercise and flexibility. However, if you aren't motivated by traditional methods of exercise, then you have to find an activity that is enjoyable to you. Two to three days per week will be just enough to burn calories and get you on the right track.
Once you've followed this plan for about two to three months, your energy level will increase and you may find that you begin adding strength training and other forms of exercise to your schedule. 2. Nutrition -- Nothing is as important as the fuel you put in your body. You'll need to control blood sugar levels to lose body fat and this is best accomplished by consuming four to six small meals per day. Don't mistake the definition of a meal for a six-course extravaganza. n
A meal could be an egg-white omelet with fruit on the side; oatmeal mixed with some blueberries; a large salad with chicken and a little of your favorite dressing; an apple with a scoop of protein powder or cottage cheese with some fruit. n
I'm referring to them as meals but they're actually small feedings. Each of the meals is comprised of protein, some carbohydrate and a bit of fat. In some cases, the fat is built into the protein. In other cases, it's added to the meal. For eDiets members, this is already taken into account in your nmeal plan and makes life a lot easier because we do all the meal planning for you. n
3. Ratios -- It's unlikely that you'll get a tight and lean body by consuming 80 percent of your calories from carbohydrates. Ratios can vary a bit but consuming more than 55 percent of your calories from carbohydrates is not ideal for fat loss. Many people do well on extremely nlow-carbohydrate plans and others on more moderate-carbohydrate intake. n
As long as you follow the "no more than 55 percent of calories from carbohydrate" rule, you'll be at a good starting point. Try to learn the basics about protein, carbohydrates and fats and how each impacts your body. I'm asking you to do a little homework, but it will be worth it in the long run. n
4. Timing -- I realize four to six meals sounds like a lot but you must keep in mind that the body is always seeking to store fat. If you go long periods without eating (more than five hours), your body begins to sense an emergency and will choose to hold onto stored body fat. In fact, your body would prefer to hold onto fat to accomplish its No. 1 goal of keeping you alive in case of a future famine. n",1] ); //-->
P.S. Raphael Calzadilla is Oprah's personal trainer. He's also trained many celebrities. I personally quite like his approach and his fitness tips seem to have really worked for me.