Supplements for Women

Women today find themselves bombarded with all types of daily stress. The stress to be wife, mother, breadwinner, and so much more, leads many women to ignore their diets and put themselves in nutritional danger. Many ladies face the dangers of heart disease, cancer, joint problems, and a myriad of other problems mainly because they are not getting the right foods to help keep up with the demands of their lives. Even those that do eat right may not be getting enough nutrients because of the highly processed and refined foods that make up so much of the Western diet these days. Taking supplements either in individual form or combined into multivitamins can take some of the stress out of your life.

The top supplements that women should take are:

A Quality Multivitamin – A high quality multivitamin that includes iron is the number one best supplement for a busy woman. It will provide most of the vitamins and minerals you need to protect yourself from the stresses of daily life. Make sure you choose a quality manufacturer where the source of the nutrients can be researched. You also want to find a vitamin that does not cause you gastric upset and is easily digested.

Omega-3 Fish Oil – Because of the high level of stress most women of today are under, the next supplement that is important are omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3 fatty acids are found in fish oil and contain EPA and DHA which are two building blocks for brain and heart health. Fish oil helps to reduce heart disease, lower triglycerides, control blood pressure, reduce chronic inflammation (which leads to many disease and has been linked to breast cancer), reduce memory loss, fight age related macular degeneration, and lessen episodes of depression. Fish oil is almost a miracle supplement for women. It is suggested that you take 1-3 grams of fish oil per day to gain the maximum benefit.

Calcium Citrate – Women suffer from bone loss and age related osteoporosis more than men. Taking calcium can help to stop this trend. Taking calcium citrate every day not only helps to control bone loss, but can also cut down on the physical and mental stress of your menstrual cycle.

Vitamin D – Getting a sufficient quantity of vitamin D in your diet is difficult so taking a supplement is your best bet. Vitamin D will help to fight many of the cancers such as breast, ovarian, and colon cancer.

Iron – Women who do not get enough iron can suffer from anemia, fatigue, headaches and paleness. During menstruation, a woman loses iron as well. Too much iron can be harmful, so ask your doctor what the best dose will be for you.

Magnesium – Magnesium can be very beneficial to women. Magnesium can help with PMS by decreasing premenstrual cramps and emotional upset due to hormonal changes.

The right balance of health, diet, fitness and supplements will aid in maintaining a healthy lifestyle in women.

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Making a Splash with Underwater Cycling

Underwater cycling or aqua cycling is an underwater workout that is starting to make an appearance in Europe and North America. Underwater cycling brings the stationary bike into the pool. Before making a splash in recreation centers around the world, it was used as a form of physical therapy for injured athletes. Most people know classic cycling from their fitness studio: several stationary bicycles are arranged in a circle. In the front sits the trainer who gives instructions against the background of motivational music. The participants simulate cycling up and down mountains and valleys, and cycle seated or standing. This sport is however not suitable for everyone because it puts a lot of strain on the joints. If you ‘shift’ the bicycle into the water, everything looks quite different. The motion sequences are especially gentle because of the effect of the water and are even more fun. Special water bikes have been developed for this that weigh a little more and don’t rust.

The natural movements in water protect the joints and relieve the spine. Falls, impacts and sudden movements are prevented. This makes underwater cycling highly suitable for rehabilitation and gentle muscle building after injury and for those with spinal disk problems.

Water is the elixir of life, and the underwater massage has a positive effect on the skin, tissue and muscles. The skin is supplied with blood and tightened, and it encourages the purging of the tissue. The water pressure also adds a bit of a massage feeling to the legs that can reach deeper muscles, which is believed to help lose more calories.

The body stays cool even while working out because you are submerged in water. You still get the cardiovascular and fat burning benefits from cycling but it also helps those people with bone or joint ailments and lessen inflammation. Aquacycling improves the performance of your heart and circulation and has an invigorating effect on the spine, core, legs and butt. This is effective endurance training for increasing physical and mental well-being. An underwater cycling workout is challenging but doesn’t feel as hard as a regular cycling class.

Underwater cycling is still very new in many areas (and we’re not aware of any underwater cycling classes in our local San Jose area as of yet), but keep an eye out.  It could be coming to your city soon!

Plyometric Workouts

If you are an athlete who takes part is sports that require speed, agility and vertical power such as basketball and volleyball, then a plyometric workout will enhance your game. Plyometrics are specifically designed to help increase your vertical leap and better your ability to explode into sudden bursts of speed.Plyometrics leads to better body posture, improved balance and flexibility. Plyometric workouts come in many shapes and forms depending on the specific goals of the athlete. Having a regular plyometric workout is an important part of any strength and conditioning program. It is suggested that you do plyometrics only three or four days a week. Doing it every day could cause serious damage to your body. It is important to give yourself ample rest in between workouts to avoid injury.

Plyometrics have numerous benefits including stronger muscles and tendons and a better nervous system. Muscles are strengthened by the quick and rapid exercises. It trains your muscles to convert strength into speed. In plyometrics you place stress on your tendons as you workout. Over time, your tendons would become elastic and stronger. Stronger tendons mean fewer injuries. The rapid movements involved in plyometric workouts are also training your nervous system to react faster. Quick muscle contractions need rapid signals to your brain in order for you to perform. As you continue to train, you’ll notice your movements will become quicker.

If you’re new into plyometrics, start with something simple. Try the workout below.

As with any exercise, you must start by warming up your muscles through some stretching and jogging around for a few minutes. Using a jump rope for a few minutes is a good way to warm up as well.

Mini Plyometric Workout:

  1. Begin by performing 10 Jump Squats. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart. Squat deep, keeping your knees behind your toes, abs tight and chest out. Jump off the floor explosively and as high as possible, landing back in a squat position. Land softly by using your leg muscles and engaging your core throughout.
  2. After you have completed 10 squat jump repetitions, go right into your Plyometric Push-Ups. Get into a regular push-up position, lower your chest to the floor and explosively push off, forcing your hands to leave the floor. Land and lower your chest to the floor again, then push up again into your next rep. Keep your body straight with your abs tight throughout the exercise.
  3. Another great exercise is to do Lunges. This exercise helps build the muscle in your quads. You can use dumbbells or you can start without any weight. Start in a standing position and lunge forward with one leg until your knee is at a 90 degree angle and then push yourself back to a standing position. Repeat with the other leg. Make sure to keep your torso upright when performing the lunge.
  4. Try some Step Ups. For this exercise you can use a bench or a chair. Start by standing in front of the bench and then putting one foot flat on the bench and step up on the bench. Step back down to the floor and repeat with the other leg.

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Exercise Motivation: 20 Reasons To Start Exercising (Part 2)

Exercise motivationI’m back with the second half of my list of 20 reasons to start exercising.

If you missed Part 1 of my exercise motivation post, you can see it here.

Remember, if you find yourself losing motivation to exercise–print out this list and post it somewhere so that you have a constant reminder of the benefits of exercise.  The hardest part of working out is just getting up and getting started.

Use reasons 11-20 below to help you get motivated to get up and off the couch!

Ten MORE Reasons to Start Exercising

11. You’ll lose the jiggles: Regular exercise tightens flabby arms, legs and waistlines. So wave goodbye to the jiggles with a solid exercise program.

12. You’ll increase insulin sensitivity: Researchers at Laval University in Quebec discovered that exercise improved insulin sensitivity dramatically. Peak after-meal insulin levels dropped by more than 20 percent after as little as 3 weeks of consistent exercise.

13. You’ll sleep better: Do you toss and turn for hours before falling asleep? Exercise is a powerful sleep aid. Your tired muscles encourage your body to quickly fall asleep so they can get their overnight repair work done.Regular exercise helps you sleep better

14. You’ll lower your risk of heart disease: Regular exercise strengthens your heart and makes it more resilient against disease. A sedentary lifestyle is a major risk factor for heart disease, so rest assured that consistent exercise is your ally against disease.

15. You’ll feel great: Vigorous exercise releases natural endorphins (happy hormones) into your blood stream that dissolve pain and anxiety. You’ve probably heard of ‘runner’s high’, this can be achieved by any great workout.

16. You’ll lower your risk of diabetes: Studies show that exercising as little as half an hour each day can dramatically reduce your risk of diabetes. If you are at risk of diabetes, or already have diabetes, regular exercise is the most effective treatment for reversing the disease.

17. You’ll meet cool people: You could benefit from a group of new, energetic friends, right? Gyms, bootcamps, workout centers and even the jogging trail are all great places to connect with fun new friends.

>>>>>>oh, and there’s always lifeSport Fitness bootcamp in San Jose if you need FUN people with whom to work out  😉 

18. You’ll increase your endurance: Do you ever get out of breath when walking up stairs or through the mall? Regular exercise builds your endurance for everyday activities.

19. Your doctor will be impressed: How many times has your doctor given you the lecture exercising more? Exercise regularly and get your MD off your back!

20. You’ll look amazing: Are you happy with the shape and size of your body? Regular exercise works wonders on your physique. Within a few weeks you’ll see shape and tone in all the right places.

Are you ready to alleviate your anxiety by taking action? Good!

 

Committed to your success,

 

Becky

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Image credits

Exercise Motivation  Quote

Sleeping baby

Nuts – I Love Nuts

Nuts may be small, but they are packed full of nutrition. Most nuts are filled with heart-friendly fats, vitamins, proteins and minerals. Good things do come in small packages. Almonds
Almonds are a favourite among most nut eaters. They are rich in calcium and are one of the lowest-calorie nuts. An ounce (30g) of almonds has about 6 grams of protein and 14 grams of fat. Apart from that, they are also rich in vitamin E, magnesium, potassium and fiber. Antioxidants that are present in almonds help fight inflammation, lung cancer and cognitive decline associated with aging. Almonds remove ‘bad’ cholesterol from the body and help clean up the colon. The natural oils and rich fiber content in these nuts nourish the lining of our digestive tract.

Pistachios
Each pistachio nut has only 3 calories. These nuts have lutein and zeaxanthin, which are relatives of beta-carotene. These components may help in reducing the risk with macular degeneration associated with aging.

Pecans
Pecans are rich in beta-sitosterol. This plant steroid is found to relieve symptoms associated with BPH (enlarged prostate). They contain high levels of anti-oxidants that help reduce unhealthy oxidation of LDL cholesterol in blood, helping us fight heart disease. An ounce (30g) of pecan has about 200 calories of energy and contains 3 grams of protein and 21 grams of fat. Recent studies have shown that pecans have the capacity to lower one’s bad cholesterol and promote heart health. They are rich in vitamin E, calcium, folic acid, magnesium, zinc and fiber.

Walnuts
Walnuts are sort of a super food. The anti-inflammatory benefits of consuming walnuts are particularly helpful for people suffering from arthritis and asthma. Walnuts are a source of ‘good’ cholesterol rich in ALA, an omega-3 fatty acid that protects the heart and reduces bone breakdown. The ellagic acid present in these nuts is known for its cancer fighting character.

Hazelnuts
Hazelnuts contain a type of vitamin B that helps prevent heart disease, certain cancers, birth defects and Alzheimer’s disease. These nuts contain an amino acid known as arginine and magnesium which relaxes the blood vessels and eases out blood pressure. Hazelnuts are particularly good for dieters as they taste like a treat and keep them filled for longer.

Cashews
Cashews have less fat than most nuts. They are rich in anti-oxidants that are heart friendly, containing omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids in doses almost equal to what is found in some fish. Cashews are rich in copper, iron, zinc and magnesium. They keep your energy level at a high no matter what activity you are doing.

Nuts make for great snacks, but because they are rich in calories, it is important to know how much you are eating and control your portions. Nuts contain vitamins, minerals, protein, fiber and anti-oxidants all of which are important in a healthy lifestyle. The fat and fiber content in nuts make them very filling and satisfying. Replace your chips, cookies, donuts and other high calorie snacks with nuts, the better alternative snack food. Eating nuts help contribute to good health.

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Exercise Motivation: 20 Reasons To Start Exercising (Part 1)

Motivation to Get Off The Couch The goal of this blog post is to motivate you to take action. Our lives are busy, and exercise motivation can be a real sticking point when you feel your plate is already too full.

I’ll be blunt, though, and tell you that even if you’re busy, it would be a good idea to re-prioritize a few areas in your life to make time for exercise.  If you don’t, you’re eventually going to be sidelined by issues related to poor health and a sedentary lifestyle.

In order to get you motivated to make a lifestyle change, 

I’ve got a list of 20 rewards that you will gain from regular exercise.

I’ll go over the first 10 rewards here, and follow up with another 10 rewards next week.

Do yourself a favor and print this list and post it where you’ll see it every day.

When you need motivation or encouragement, simply read over this list and take action. 

Remember that action alleviates anxiety.

10 Reasons  to Start Exercising

1. You’ll reset your body: Exercise has been described as a giant reset button. A good workout will block appetite swings, improve your mood and even help you sleep.

2. Your clothes will fit better: Consistent exercise will tone and tighten your body, causing your clothes to not only fit better, but to look nicer.

3. You’ll be less stressed: You have enough stress in your life—it’s time for a break ;-). A good workout invigorates your muscles, leaving you relaxed and less stressed.

4. You’ll have more energy: WebMD tallied research studies and concluded that 90% of them prove exercise increases energy levels in sedentary patients. Next time you feel fatigued, fight it with the most powerful tool available: exercise.

5. You’ll be stronger: Exercise improves muscle strength and endurance, two things that you use throughout each day. When you exercise consistently you’ll be pleasantly surprised when difficult tasks begin to seem easy.You get strong when you exercise

6. You’ll be less likely to binge: Exercise has a powerful anti-binge effect on the body. This is due in part to an increase in sensitivity to leptin, a protein hormone which has an appetite-taming effect.

7. You’ll burn calories: You know that excess body fat is made up of stored and unused calories. Rage war against stored fat with calorie-blasting workouts.

8. You’ll be more confident: Who doesn’t wish they walked and talked with more confidence? A consistent exercise program will do just that. As your body becomes more fit, watch your confidence sky-rocket.

9. You’ll have fun: Believe it or not, exercise can be extremely enjoyable. Remember how fun it was to run around as a child? Tap into your inner child as you find a mode of exercise that gets you excited.

>>>>(side note:  If you’re not currently having FUN when you work out, puuuullleeeaaasse contact me about a free trial at a lifeSport Fitness boot camp in San Jose!!)

10. You’ll reduce your blood pressure: Exercise has been proven more effective than medication in reducing blood pressure to normal levels. A single workout has been shown to reduce blood pressure for the day and regular exercise reduces overall blood pressure in the long run.

I think the hardest part about regular exercise is simply getting started.

Hopefully these first 10 reasons have motivated you to get your workout gear on.

I’ll be back with another 10 reasons next week!

 

Committed to your success,

 

Becky

 

Image credits:

Couch Potato

Strong Women

Unbroken Family – Making the most out of shared time with your kids

Kids enjoy having hands on experiences with their parents. Parent and child bonding time is becoming a lot more scarce, not only for broken families, but also due to this fast-paced modernized society. Our kids need us to spend time with them. Kids develop values, security, positive self esteem and the ability to make good connections with others when parents spend positive time with them. Think of the time we spend with our kids now as an investment in their future. Spending quality time with your kids will make up for some of the quantity lost. Make sure you schedule something special a couple times a month. Your kids will remember the quality time they shared with you.

Things to do with your kids:

  • Baking/Cooking. Something that gets you involved in working with your kids, while giving you time to talk and bond with a delicious outcome in the end.
  • Turn off the television and electronics (phones included). TV’s and game consoles are major time suckers. Not much quality time is spent in front of the television. Everyone is only interested in what they are watching or the game they are playing. Try spending a quiet night in playing a few board games. Concentrate on the people in front of you ignore the texts, and social media sites for one night.
  • Find something you all enjoy doing together. Skating, skiing, hiking, take a bike ride or heading to the local recreation centre to enjoy their pool or facilities.
  • Do a date night. Let them have your undivided attention that night. Do dinner and a movie, or mini-putt and ice cream. Special time for just you and your kids.
  • Engage in a project together. Fix up an old car, put together a scrapbook, or build a fort or tree house. When you can work together on a common goal, you’ll be spending quality time together with an end result that you all can be proud of.

Spending whatever time you have with your children provides them with opportunities to learn and to be heard. Most of all, it provides you and your children with time to connect. It’s these connections that make your children feel loved. Children will not forget meaningful one-on-one time.

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Managing Holiday Debt

Every year around mid-January it happens, we get reminded of all those purchases we made over the holiday season as the credit card bills start to come in. After the holidays you may find yourself with a lot of debt. It always seems that no matter how hard we try we always spend more money than we wanted to at the holidays. Getting this debt paid off should be your priority for the New Year.

Make a list of your holiday credit card debt. Make sure that you put all the debt you accumulated during the holiday season. This will help you to face what you have so that you can have a plan of action to get it paid off in a timely manner. Facing the debit is the first step to getting rid of it.

Make changes in your spending habits so that you can push some of that money to paying off your debts. The best way to accomplish this is to make another list of the things you spend money on each month. Things such as expensive coffee can be reduced and that extra money can go to pay off the holiday debt you have.

Clean out your closet and try to sell those items you do not use. You might be surprised as to the amount of money you can raise to send directly to the credit card company to get your balances reduced. Make sure that you part with those things that are sitting around and haven’t been touched in years.

If you aren’t able to pay off the balance right away, there may be some options you can try to save you a little money down the road. Sometimes you can find one credit card with a lower interest rate that you can do a balance transfer on. For small to medium debts, sometimes this can be a great way to get a handle on things. Combining a bunch of smaller higher interest debts into one lower interest debt can usually not only help to keep things organized, but may save you money in the long term as well. Even if it is five or ten dollars, try to always pay more than the minimum. If you feel that you can budget even five dollars over your minimum monthly payments do so.

Contact your service providers. Sometimes all you have to do is ask. You may be able to get a promotional rate with your household bills such as gas and electric, and you can then use the money you save to put towards your credit and debts.

Finally, use your experience from this past holiday season for next time. Begin planning now for 2014 Christmas. Use Boxing Week sales to get gifts for the next holiday season. Pick up gifts during the year as you see them on sale. And most importantly, start saving now for Christmas. Putting away $10-$25 a pay will go a long way when it comes to shopping for Christmas 2014. You won’t have to put anything on credit when you go and spend next time.

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Keeping Those Resolution

Another year has flown by and here you are at the beginning of the next year. Resolutions. Everyone makes them, but they’re not always the easiest thing to keep. By the end of January it’s a well-known fact that most quick-out-of-the-gates New Year resolutions have started to lose a lot of momentum, some even coming to a grinding halt. You’ve chosen your resolutions and now is the time we need to work on keeping them! Here are five tips to use to stay on track with your New Year’s Resolutions.

  1. Write down your resolution – Writing down your resolutions and keeping them in front of you, seeing them every day is important. If it’s read daily it eliminates the “I forgot about it” excuse. Seeing it every day and having it written raises the level of accountability.
  2. Define the purpose of your resolution – We usually make resolutions because we recognize something in our lives needs to change. This means that many of our resolutions are not changes that can be made in a short time span of one year, but instead a life-long alteration. Write down the purpose of your resolution. For example, instead of writing down ” I want to lose weight,” include the reasons why “I want to get off my medications”. Keeping the purpose in front of you will help fuel your drive.
  3. Reward yourself – Anytime you have a long term goal, rewards are important in keeping you motivated. Reward the steps towards your goal you achieve. And look at a reward as an encouragement. Hang a smaller size in your closet – it will help you keep up that exercise routine.
  4. Tell others – Share with others the resolutions you’ve made for the year. As your friends and family ask you about your progress, the accountability will help you stay motivated so you can give a good report.
  5. Get some sleep – You may be wondering what sleep has to do with staying motivated. Believe it or not, your lack of sleep may be why your motivation is waning. Getting enough sleep will help give you the energy you need to stay focused on all you have to do throughout the day. This can make the difference between going to the gym and sacking out on the couch.

As you set your goals, keep in mind some of the reasons that resolutions often fail and consider the potential roadblocks to achieving you goals. Facing these roadblocks up front will prepare you to overcome them. Log your progress along the way. This log can help you through tougher times along the way when you may feel like giving up. It is encouraging to see how far you have come already and motivate you to keep going. Even baby steps will get you a little bit closer to your goal. And last, but not least, remain flexible and willing to adjust your plan if necessary. Sometimes you may need to take a detour along the way so it is very helpful to be flexible. Don’t get discouraged and let this throw you completely off course. Stay committed and keep going. Good luck. Here’s to a very happy and successful New Year!

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Beat the Winter Blues with Exercise

Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) also known as winter depression, winter blues or seasonal depression is a mood disorder that affects many during the dark, cold winter months. People experience mood changes during the winter that find them sleeping more, having little energy and may also leave them feeling depressed. Adding a good dose of daily exercise can help beat these mood changes.

Stay Consistent
You can only benefit by exercise by staying consistent. Allow yourself time each day to do some kind of physical activity. Visit your gym for a workout and on off days, head out for a walk with the family. If your time schedule is tight, break it up into segments of ten minutes for example. Consistency makes you more productive. The more productive you are, the more you will accomplish.

Strength Train
Strength training has many benefits for you. It will help with looking good and adding to your self esteem. If you tend to gain weight this time of year, the increased muscle mass will help aid those unwanted pounds by boosting your metabolism. You will also have an increase in energy so you will not feel so lethargic all the time and be tempted to sleep so much. If you tend to get sick this time of year, strength training will help boost your immune system.

Do Your Cardio
Cardiovascular exercise holds many benefits for you. It is great for relieving stress. You can run or walk off pent up frustrations, disappointments and anger. You will have more clarity after a bout of aerobic exercise. Cardio exercise increases your metabolism. It will help you control the body weight normally gained this time of year. Your heart will become stronger. You can lower your blood pressure, cholesterol, and heart attack risks through regular aerobic exercise.

Add in Friends
Find a fitness buddy. Friends or family can help motivate you and keep you going. If you don’t have someone to join you, attend a group exercise class. Group exercise classes are a great place to make new friends, learn new exercises, and relieve stress. Being social can also help with the feeling of depression.

The benefits of exercise last longer than quick-fixes such as comfort-eating, smoking, or drinking coffee/tea, all of which may contribute to the problem. While exercising you body produces endorphins or feel-good chemicals which will make you feel instantly better and happier. Don’t let the winter blues get you down. Get out there and fight them with daily exercise! You’ll end up benefitting in many other ways.

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