Core Training is Critical for Good Health!

Training your core is one of the most important things you can do for your body! I'm talking about simply strengthening the muscles in your abdominals and lower back. These are the muscles that provide stability for your entire body. With the amount of sitting we do everyday, so many of us have weak cores and pay dearly for it.

In a relatively short amount of time, you will see significant benefits. A strong core will improve your posture, reduce your probability of injury, alleviate back pain, increase your overall power and functionality, as well as define your mid-section.

A great place to start is to make a conscious effort to "engage" your core muscles while you watch television, read a book or drive to work. Not by sucking in your gut, but by contracting your abdominals by pulling your belly button into your spine. It's also good to do exercises a few times a week that target your abdominals and lower back specifically. Some of my faves include the plank, bicycle, superman and bird dog.

Healthy Egg Nog Alternative

Thanks to Janice here's a delicious low-fat Egg Nog recipe for you to try. The regular store bought variety will cost you up to 350 calories per cup and isn't nearly as good for you.

Egg Nog (low fat)

Ingredients:

Egg substitute equal to 6 eggs

2 cups skim milk

1/4 cup sugar

1 tsp vanilla

1 cup low fat frozen yogurt

1/2 tsp. nutmeg

Combine ingredients in a blender and mix. Chill for 4 hours in the refrigerator. Sprinkle with nutmeg and enjoy! Makes 10 1/2 servings.

Holiday Fitness Fun!

It's tempting to put off your exercise program until January. Well, why not make it fun & get the whole family involved. Here's a Christmas Boot Camp game to try over the holidays that our class had some fun with this session. Feel free to change up the exercises to suit your audience and add variety.

"12 Days of Boot Camp" - (to the tune of the "12 Days of Christmas")

Do the first exercise, then the second and first, then the third, second and first etc... until you've completed all 12 exercises.

Here's how it goes...

On the first day of boot camp our instructor had us do:

• 1 Ballet Twirl

On the second day of boot camp our instructor had us do:

• 2 Lunge Jumps
• 1 Ballet Twirl

On the third day of boot camp our instructor had us do:

• 3 Burpies
• 2 Lunge Jumps
• 1 Ballet Twirl

On the fourth day of boot camp our instructor had us do:

• 4 Plank Jacks
• 3 Burpies
• 2 Lunge Jumps
• 1 Ballet Twirl

On the fifth day of boot camp our instructor had us do:

• 5 Sumo Squats
• 4 Plank Jacks
• 3 Burpies
• 2 Lunge Jumps
• 1 Ballet Twirl

On the sixth day of boot camp our instructor had us do:

• 6 Twists
• 5 Sumo Squats
• 4 Plank Jacks
• 3 Burpies
• 2 Lunge Jumps
• 1 Ballet Twirl

On the seventh day of boot camp our instructor had us do:

• 7 Suicide Runs
• 6 Twists
• 5 Sumo Squats
• 4 Plank Jacks
• 3 Burpies
• 2 Lunge Jumps
• 1 Ballet Twirl

On the eighth day of boot camp our instructor had us do:

• 8 Grapevines
• 7 Suicide Runs
• 6 Twists
• 5 Sumo Squats
• 4 Plank Jacks
• 3 Burpies
• 2 Lunge Jumps
• 1 Ballet Twirl

On the ninth day of boot camp our instructor had us do:

• 9 Butt Kicks
• 8 Grapevines
• 7 Suicide Runs
• 6 Twists
• 5 Sumo Squats
• 4 Plank Jacks
• 3 Burpies
• 2 Lunge Jumps
• 1 Ballet Twirl

On the tenth day of boot camp our instructor had us do:

• 10 Squat & Kicks
• 9 Butt Kicks
• 8 Grapevines
• 7 Suicide Runs
• 6 Twists
• 5 Sumo Squats
• 4 Plank Jacks
• 3 Burpies
• 2 Lunge Jumps
• 1 Ballet Twirl

On the eleventh day of boot camp our instructor had us do:

• 11 Ski Jumps
• 10 Squat & Kicks
• 9 Butt Kicks
• 8 Grapevines
• 7 Suicide Runs
• 6 Twists
• 5 Sumo Squats
• 4 Plank Jacks
• 3 Burpies
• 2 Lunge Jumps
• 1 Ballet Twirl

On the twelfth day of boot camp our instructor had us do:

• 12 Push-ups
• 11 Ski Jumps
• 10 Squat & Kicks
• 9 Butt Kicks
• 8 Grapevines
• 7 Suicide Runs
• 6 Twists
• 5 Sumo Squats
• 4 Plank Jacks
• 3 Burpies
• 2 Lunge Jumps
• 1 Ballet Twirl

Strategies for Fighting the Holiday Buldge (Part 2)

Now that party season is in full swing, this is not the time to loose control. Here are a few additional strategies for minimizing that stubborn holiday weight gain.

1) Get 80% of the pleasure for 20% of the Calories

The first bite always tastes best. Scientist say that the more we eat of a certain food the less pleasure we derive from eating it. So instead of depriving yourself altogether, enjoy just a bite or two of your favourite dessert.

2) Beware of Liquid Calories

Use caution and moderation when indulging in alcoholic and other sugary. The calories add up quickly, with most containing anywhere from a 100 to 250 calories per beverage. Alcohol, in particular, tends to also make us feel carefree, leading us to indulge in other delicacies more than we should. So the best strategy is to drink at least 2 glasses of water for every alcoholic or sugary beverage you consume. That way you can spend more of your calorie budget on those delicious holiday treats.

3) Bring a Healthy Option

It's a potluck and you need to bring something. Go for the fruit plate or veggie tray and load-up. Green veggies and most fruits have a high water content and are rich in fibre, making you feel fuller longer.

Strategies for Fighting the Holiday Bulge (Part 1)

Most people gain at least a few pounds leadingup to Christmas and New Years. The bad news is weight gained over the holidays usually isn't lost during the rest of the year. The cause of course is too much food and too little exercise. Over the next few weeks I'm going to share with you a few strategies that will help you enjoy the holidays and not have any regrets come January 1.

1) Eat before you party

Do you really think you will be able to resist your favourite delicacies when you're starving?Having a protein shake or maybe some low-fat yogurt and berries before heading out to a big holiday dinner or party should help you fight your temptation to binge.

2) Ramp up your Cardio

With all the parties, decorating, shopping and other festivities, this is when people typically cut back on their workouts. Make it a priority not to let this slide. You'll burn max calories by increasing your cardio workouts during this time; and it's especially effective to go for a hard workout right before a holiday meal. For the next few hours your metabolism is on fire and is much more effective at burning off high-calorie, high-fat food, which will otherwise lead to unwanted pounds.

3) Last will Come First

When it comes to eating, SLOW DOWN. Pretend you're in a race where being the last to finish is the target. It takes 20 minutes for our brains to tell us we're full, so the slower you eat the less calories you will likely consume.

Developing a Workout Plan that's Right for You...

It all comes down to your fitness goals. Are you looking for increased strength, reducing body fat or maintaining your current fitness levels? Here are a few things for you to consider when developing your weekly regime.

How often should you workout & for how long?

The minimum prescription for aerobic exercise is 30 to 60-minutes, 3 to 5 times a week. Those that are trying to reduce body fat, should be on the higher end of these ranges. To tone and build muscle mass, strength training should typically be performed 2 to 3 nonconsecutive days per week with each session lasting 30 to 45-minutes. If your goal is increased strength, at least 1 or 2 of your strength training workouts needs to include medium to heavy weights with a combination of medium (12-15) and low (8-11) repetitions. Your last repetition should be difficult with good form or you need to up the weight. Experts are saying that adding in 2 or more weekly circuit training workouts (that combine high repetition strength training and cardiovascular fitness with minimal breaks) can dramatically improve your overall fitness levels. These workouts are amazing for blasting fat & calories, improving cardiovascular fitness and building lean body mass.

What about my body type?

Another important factor to consider is your body type. In the 1940's Dr. William Sheldon divided people into one of three categories. Mesomorph's build muscle easily and do not have to work hard to keep fat off. Ectomorphs fight for every ounce of muscle they gain. They tend to be flat chested and have a delicate build. While, Endomorphs have no trouble building muscle but tend to fight hard to lose body fat. They are more at risk for heart disease, diabetes and being over weight. Considering your specific makeup, here's a quick guideline:

Mesomorph: 3-4 cardio sessions a week (30-45 minutes each), 2-4 strength workouts per week (45-60 minutes each) - vary workouts with light, medium and heavy weights

Ectomorph: 2-3 cardio sessions a week (20-30 minutes each), 2-4 (30 minute strength workouts each week) - use medium to heavy weights

Endomorph: 4-5 cardio sessions a week (30-60 minutes each), 3-4 strength workouts per week (30-45 minutes each) - use light to medium weights

Please let me know if you have questions or need help with setting up a workout regime that's right for you. It's also important you consult with your physician before staring any new exercise program.

Green Tea: One of the World's Healthiest Beverages

The Chinese have known about the health benefits of green tea for hundreds of year. They've used it for centuries to treat everything from headaches to depression. More and more studies both in Asia and the west are confirming that green tea provides some very important health benefits.

The secret ingredient in green tea is a powerful antioxidant called epigallocatechingallate (EGCG), which is known to inhibit growth of cancer cells and kill cancer cells without hurting healthy tissue. It is also known to lower cholesterol levels which can lead to heart attack and stroke. There is also more and more research showing that green tea can help dieters. It seems to help increase your bodies metabolic rate, inhibit the absorption of fat and can act as a natural appetite suppressant. It has been shown to be an effective means of preventing blood clots, dental decay as well as inflammation in the body (like arthritis). It can also help strengthen your immune system.

With all these benefits, it's a great idea to drink green tea regularly. Just be careful how much you drink, especially close to bedtime. It contains caffeine - about 1/3 to 1/2 of what you'd find in a regular cup of coffee. I also just discovered that drinking any variety of tea (including green tea) can inhibit your ability to uptake iron. So if you know you're on the low side, avoid this tasty beverage around meal time.