How Are You Doing with Your Exercise Program?

It's week three of my exercise/wellness program.  Three weeks of practicing what I preach and teach to all my clients who are enrolled in my wellness program.  Guess what?  RESULTS!!!  Clothes fitting better, looking better, feeling great, sleeping like a baby, and getting 'cut up' again.  Not bad for an old bag of bones.  This past Saturday, after 90 minutes of exercise, I found myself shovelling out a parcel of land to landscape, followed by an hour of practice on the motorcyle, followed by more landscaping.  No aches, no pains, lots of fresh air and hey....what's next?!!

Here's Your Healthy Tip of the Day:  Engaging into a lifestyle of health and fitness will not only have you looking good and feeling good about yourself; you will be more open to many adventures and possibilities that you never dreamed of because you had no energy or didn't feel or look good enough to participate.  If you're not enrolled in a wellness plan, why not call or email my office today and find out how you can become your very best!

What To Eat Immediately After a Heavy Workout and WHY!!

Sometimes after a really long and busy day, I go to the gym and workout just to get my ole bag o' bones moving.  I'm not really there to give 'my all', but I'm there to get some cardio, stretch and afterward I always feel better.  This is not a heavy workout, so I keep my next meals of the day light.  But, when I do workout and give it 'my all', I try to be very good to myself and eat a small piece of fruit after all that exercise.  Why fruit?  Well, have you ever noticed that in many gyms, there are green or red apples for members as they exit the facility?  Here's why...
When you workout, your body uses carbohydrates that are stored in your liver and muscle for fuel.  These are called 'glycogen stores'.  This is why marathon runners and triathletes eat a pasta dinner 2 nights prior or one night prior to an event...to store rocket fuel for their endurance sport.  Strenuous activity uses up these glycogen stores and to ensure proper insulin and electrolyte balance, it is prudent to replenish these stores just after a workout.  Now, if it is 12 noon when you finish your strenuous exercise, pasta could be a good idea because you'll naturally work it off during the remainder of your busy day.  But if you're trying to knock off a few pounds or your workout is in the evening, heavy carb loading will actually cause you to GAIN weight, not lose it!  A simple piece of fruit (apples are absorbed quicker than any other fruit and it's a natural carb/sugar source) or Gatorade will be sufficient to keep your sugar and insulin levels balanced.

Here's Your Healthy Tip of the Day:  throw a small apple into the gym bag if your sports facility doesn't have a bowl to offer its members.  If you don't like apples, then a small orange or clementine or pear is nice.  Bananas are always a great post workout fruit and provide an added source of potassium.  Drink water after your intense workout, have your fruit and guess what?  Most likely, you'll be less hungry after you shower and are ready for your next meal.  It's a win-win situation and an easy and inexpensive solution to energy drinks!