I don’t know about you…but there are some nutritional terms that seem somewhat vague to me. They sound important, and I know they are, but I’m not necessarily sure exactly why. One of those terms is “antioxidants”. So when I read an article recently explaining why antioxidants are vital to our athletic performance, I was excited to finally understand more about them. I decided to copy the article for my 9 Kid Fitness readers as I think you will also be interested in the subject! … [Read more…]
Why You Need to Know about ORAC for Optimal Health
April 26, 2012 by Leave a Comment
An Update on My Vitamix
April 23, 2012 by Leave a Comment
Yes, it’s worth it’s weight in gold. That’s what I can say at this point about my new Vitamix. When I first got it, I was all about the green smoothie. I kept tweaking it until I mastered it in taste and ingredients (at least my taste…my husband still isn’t a fan of the wheatgrass component). But I can now admit to be a true Vitamix cheerleader because I’ve finally gone beyond blending fruits and veggies for a smoothie or shake. Yesterday I made minestrone soup and apple cobbler with the machine…and both were delicious, and the best part…totally fresh! [Read more…]
In the End, Exercise is a Decision
April 18, 2012 by Leave a Comment
Like so many things in life, exercise involves a decision
A recent article I read mentioned a study that looked at motivation and exercise. The results of the study were not only interesting but also confirmed what I have thought about exercise for a long time…that we fluctuate in our motivation to exercise, sometimes even on a weekly basis. Researchers from Penn State University recruited 33 college students and assessed over a ten-week period both the students’ weekly intentions to be physically active and their activity levels. During each of the ten weeks, participants were instructed to log on to a website and to rate their intentions to perform physical activity for the week ahead. To assess physical activity, participants were instructed to wear pedometers each day for the first four weeks. The team found that for many of the participants, the motivation to exercise fluctuated on a weekly basis, and these fluctuations were linked to their behavior. The results appear in the current issue of the Journal of Sport & Exercise Psychology. [Read more…]
Exercise and Menopause
April 10, 2012 by 1 Comment
Menopause is a normal part of a woman’s life that is brought on by declining levels of estrogen and progesterone, which trigger the end of regular menstrual cycles. While the onset of menopause is typically around age 52, it actually begins “silently” in a woman’s 40s, according to the National Institutes of Health. Many women wonder whether exercise can help with some of the symptoms of menopause, and especially with weight gain that often creeps in as we age. [Read more…]
Keys to Optmizing Lean Muscle Development – High Intensity Training (How to Use Cardio Training to Develop Strength
April 4, 2012 by Leave a Comment
I recently wrote on 9 Kid Fitness about the myth of “developing” long, lean muscles. Shortly afterward I received an email from trusted sports physical therapist Alan Tyson about “optimizing” lean muscle development ( a subtle, yet much more accurate way to say it). Instead of explaining in my own inadequate words, I decided to reprint the entire article here. Note how Tyson says to avoid ALL sugar and fruit juices two hours after exercise. Most of us are familiar with High Intensity Training HIT (or High Intensity Interval Training) and Tyson explains it further here… [Read more…]
My Full Spring Calendar Forces me to Make Workouts More Efficient
April 2, 2012 by 2 Comments
I don’t know about you, but spring is crazy around here. By crazy I mean busy, busy, busy. This spring we have two graduations and a First Holy Communion within one month and that’s not to mention all the other things that come along during this time of year…senior prom, exams, and finishing up homeschooling for the little guys. Needless to say, exercise will have to be short and sweet during April, May, and June. Did I say sweet? The right word is more like powerful/mean/efficient – you pick! My nutty upcoming schedule has got me thinking again…what is the most efficient workout schedule for our busiest times? [Read more…]
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