Good Reads
Posted on July 30, 2008 | Filed Under Fitness, Nutrition
About this Post
Permalink | Trackback |
|
Print This Article | 1 Comment
Struggles that Strengthen
Posted on July 29, 2008 | Filed Under Inspiration
About this Post
Permalink | Trackback |
|
Print This Article | 1 Comment
July Pictures
Posted on July 28, 2008 | Filed Under Pictures, Uncategorized
Abi and Linda’s Birthday
About this Post
Permalink | Trackback |
|
Print This Article | 1 Comment
Experiment….
Posted on July 26, 2008 | Filed Under Fitness
I figure if 77 zealous inches can do this whole writing questions on her blog and asking people to answer them, I can too! But only fitness questions and only to better educate you, my faithful two readers.
Ok so this is for Libby, I’m not sure if she’ll answer or not but hey, it doesn’t hurt to try. Libby is a certified personal trainer, not to mention she’s in awesome shape, so I always enjoy picking her brain.
Question time
How many times a week do you recommend working out?
A: It depends on the individual person’s goal. For general health and fitness three times a week of vigorous exercise is enough. For someone who training for a particular event, or someone who’s very into fitness, I’d say up it to about four to five times a week. I workout five times a week, but only four of those are one-hour weight and cardio sessions and the fifth is just a 40 minute cardio session. With resistance training especially you need to make sure you’re giving your muscles recovery time, whether that means just doing weights, say three times a week, and resting your muscles in between those days (although you can still do cardio the other days). Or whether it means training one muscle group one day and a different muscle group the next, and another the next, etc. (split-training). Although even with that you should have at least one or two no-weight-training days a week. For people who are very into their fitness routine they have to be careful not to overtrain, which has the opposite effect in every way. A common sign of overtraining is that you’re training as hard as ever, but your performance is consistently getting worse, rather than improving. This drop in performance is usually accompanied by changes in mood (depression etc), as well as joint and continuous muscle pain, fatigue, loss of appetite, lack of results (due to not giving your body adequate recovery time), etc. Consistency is the key with your workout plan. I don’t recommend exercising seven times a week. You should give your body at least one rest day, without doing any form of vigorous exercise. As much as you body needs vigorous exercise, it also needs time to heal. Sometimes having one or two days off exercise a week is just what people need, as when your muscles have completely recovered you can punch in a much more intense workout the next time around, and get even better results. At least I’ve found that with my own training.
Do you think stability balls are useful tools, or are they just another gimicky thing that gives you ok results, but not anything more exceptional then your average plank position could give you?
A: Stability balls are extremely useful tools. I use them sooo much. The ball can transform a basic exercise into a super challenging, more effective move. Doing any exercise on a stability ball (as opposed to doing it on a steady surface) ups the intensity by a huge amount because you have to recruit all sorts of little extra muscles to stabilize yourself on the ball, that you wouldn’t be using otherwise. (And the more muscles you use in any given exercise, the harder the exercise will be, and thus the greater the results.) Take for example, a regular chest press with two dumbbells, on a bench. You are targeting your pecs primarily as well as your arm muscles. However, take this onto a fitball. Roll yourself down till your head is resting on the ball and begin the chest press while keeping your hips up and abs switched on, and suddenly you’re working your glutes, hamstrings and abs as well. Trust me, you’ll feel the difference. =). Or try doing push ups on a ball instead of regular push-ups. You’ll feel the burn in your abs 100 times more. This applies to taking any exercise from a stable surface, on to the ball. There are so many ways you can take an exercise to a new level just by using an exercise ball.
I’ve been looking into getting a kettlebell, how do you feel about them? Are they a good fitness tool that’s worth the money, or is it something where a dumbell would work just as well for the different kettlebell exercises?
A: Kettlebell workouts can be very time efficient as the entire body can be trained with relatively few exercises. When you train with kettlebells you tend to have to work at a very high intensity. This explains why kettlebell lifting is gaining a reputation for rapidly stripping body fat. It’s held differently than a dumbbell so you can use it in so many more ways than a dumbbell. There is a very large variety of exercises you can perform with kettlebells so it’s pretty worth it thing to get, in my opinion. The main thing I’d suggest is making sure that you learn to use it properly. There are DVDs available in regards to safe kettlebell exercise technique. Also many kettlebell lifts are ballistic or explosive in nature so this type of training is best suited to individuals who already have some experience with weight training. Overall I’d recommend kettlebells, especially if you need a change in your exercise routine or have hit somewhat of a plateau and if you like intense training.
How do you feel about artificial sweeteners? The Devil, or not so much?
A: Well firstly, they are unnatural, and full of chemicals, and I am pretty much against most processed foods, as the bottom line is that the body was not designed to deal with foreign substances like artificial preservatives and chemicals. Too much processed food just clutters up your system. Having a natural, and as clean a diet as possible, is always the best way to go both for your weight and your health. With the artificial sweeteners some are worse than others and I know that Aspartame is probably one of the worst one as they have done all sorts of studies on it and have linked it to scary things like cancer, etc. On the other hand, artificial sweeteners do save you calories, but there’s growing evidence that they can increase your appetite for sweets and carbohydrates as well, causing you to eat more later in the day anyway. So you end up not really saving any calories. Also, studies have shown that artificial sweeteners can stimulate high insulin levels in your body, and having high levels of insulin promotes fat storage. There’s an alternative to them though. I’m not sure if you’ve heard of Stevia. It’s an all-natural alternative sweetener and it’s is not artificial like the other chemical sweeteners It’s a natural non-caloric herb that’s been used for thousands of years in some parts of the world. It is a South American herb and when dried into a powder, has sweetness about 200-300 times stronger than sugar. Here’s their website: http://www.steviva.com. You can find it in most health shops here, and probably other countries as well.
If I only had 20 minutes to workout and you were training me what kind of workout would you put me through?
A: Umm, let’s see. I would put you through a total body circuit training program including both strength training and short-burst intense cardio exercises (making sure you had a heartrate monitor on, and that throughout the entire workout your heart rate was consistency up and at a challenging level: ie at least minimum 70 percent of your maximum heart rate…). I’d make sure to include exercises that work every major muscle group in your body, utilizing total body movements. (A big benefit of utilizing total body movements [working more than one muscle group at a time, also known as compound exercises] is that they require a very large energy expenditure which means that you burn a lot of calories during a short time of training.) Some examples of exercises I’d include in the circuit would be: alternating leg lunges with bicep curls, push ups, burpees, leg raises off a bench for your abs, assisted pull-ups, squat jumps holding weights…going straight into overhead presses, single leg tricep-dips, deadlifts, jumping lunges, etc. I’d go thru the circuit twice taking approx 15 minutes, with about a two minute rest between the first and second circuit. I’d probably end with five minutes of boxing as well. Something like that, anyway. =) It’s much more about the intensity of your workout, rather than how long how you spend working out, that gets you good results.
Yay! I’m so happy Libby Answered. Thanks Libby for those insightful well thought out answers.
TTFN
About this Post
Permalink | Trackback |
|
Print This Article | 5 Comments
Noooooo
Posted on July 25, 2008 | Filed Under Dance
Will is gone! For all of you who have no clue what I’m talking about, I’m referring to Will on SYTYCD. He was pretty much my favorite dancer, and definitely the most talented dancer on that stage. Darn you America for voting him out!
I’ll leave you with a couple of my favorite routines he did…sniff
About this Post
Permalink | Trackback |
|
Print This Article | 2 Comments
Quote of the week
Posted on July 24, 2008 | Filed Under Inspiration
“No man has ever risen to the real stature of spiritual manhood until he has found that it is finer to serve somebody else than it is to serve himself.”—Woodrow Wilson (1856-1924), 28th president of the U.S.
About this Post
Permalink | Trackback |
|
Print This Article | Leave a Comment
A Few Of My Favorite Things
Posted on July 23, 2008 | Filed Under Fitness
Keep your backside from doing a backslide
Feel free to thank me when you can’t walk up the stairs, laugh, sneeze, or breathe without pain…
No one said Fitness was painless, amen?
About this Post
Permalink | Trackback |
|
Print This Article | Leave a Comment
What Happens When I Get Ahold of Steve’s Computer
Posted on July 23, 2008 | Filed Under Foolishness
[11:02:30] Steven Martin: Hi Jules
[11:02:42] … you’ve been looking very pretty these days
[11:02:53] Jules: wow Steve
[11:03:00] … thank you
[11:03:25] Steven Martin: We’re really going to miss you when you leave
[11:03:33] Jules: awww…..
[11:03:42] … you’re making Chuck green with envy right now
[11:03:47] … strangely, I like it
[11:03:58] Steven Martin: Well tell Ducky I fooled you all!
[11:04:03] … this is Tonnie
[11:04:05] Jules: damn you
[11:04:17] … do you know how long I’ve been waiting for Steve to say that?
[11:04:42] Steven Martin: yeah me too
[11:04:44] … oh well
[11:04:51] … now I have something to blog about
[11:04:52] … cheers
[11:04:53] Jules: keep on dreaming…..
[11:06:18] Steven Martin: Heh
[11:06:20] … oh well
About this Post
Permalink | Trackback |
|
Print This Article | 1 Comment
Update
Posted on July 21, 2008 | Filed Under Misc
I’ve moved rooms,yet again.
John and Abi are gone..*sniff*
I recently got a little correction (from a person who shall remain nameless) about the fact that I don’t run with my heart rate monitor. Apparently it’s like driving without a spedometer, which according to him is a BAD idea. In any case I feel sufficiently chastised and I will resume wearing my heart rate monitor.
My new room is really shiny.
I still am trying to remodel this here blog and until I do I’m finding it very difficult to stay inspired to post.
Of all the titles for my blog that people came up with, my favorite’s are, “Fit Thoughts” “Think Fit” “Body=Temple” and “Better, Faster, Stronger” any thoughts on those? Any other suggestions?
TTFN
About this Post
Permalink | Trackback |
|
Print This Article | 2 Comments
I’ve Been Tagged
Posted on July 15, 2008 | Filed Under Uncategorized
WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE? No.
WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED? Um last week.
DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING? Yep, it’s dead sexy.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT? Roast Beef.
IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU? Yes, because then I would have a cool running partner, who has lots of shoes to share with me 
DO YOU USE SARCASM A LOT? I wanna say yes.
DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS? Yes.
WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP? Hard to say.
DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF? Sometimes.
DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG? In some ways yes.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM? Moose Tracks, and Starbucks Java Chip.
WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE? I’d love to say something deep, but honestly I’m not that deep so I’m gonna go with their bodies, and whether they are in shape or not, which leads me to my next thought, what do they do to be so fit?
RED OR PINK? Red
WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF? My intensity, and my inability, at times, to let the little things go.
WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST? I miss alot of people right now, My workout partner, Steph, is at the top of the list though.
WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU ATE? Almonds
WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW? Michael talking
IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE? red.
FAVORITE SMELLS? Coffee brewing in the morning.Nice Mens cologne
WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE? My Daddy
FAVORITE SPORTS TO WATCH? NBA, Gymnastics
FAVORITE FOOD? Japanese
SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS? Happy endings.
LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED? Hancock
SUMMER OR WINTER? Fall
HUGS OR KISSES? Neither
FAVORITE DESSERT? Cheesecake
WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING NOW? Case for a Creator
WHAT IS ON YOUR MOUSE PAD? Detroit Shock Womens Basketball Team(twas a gift)
WHAT DID YOU WATCH ON TV LAST NIGHT?Nothing..but I did watch Heroes on my computer.
FAVORITE SOUND? Rain.
And I guess I tag Libby, and Ruthie
About this Post
Permalink | Trackback |
|
Print This Article | 1 Comment