FitSugar

Strength Training IS Important for Weight Loss

FitSugar — Thu, 19 Apr 2007 14:30:00 -0700

Losing weight (and keeping it off) is more complicated than the calories you eat being less than the calories you burn. Without strength training while dieting you risk losing lean muscle mass which is really important to keep your metabolism going.

Your muscles need energy to work, so the more muscle mass you have the more calories you burn over the course of a day. It works like this, for every pound of muscle you gain you will burn 35 to 50 more calories a day. Now that has got to be great incentive to add strength training into your routine if you are trying to lose weight.

Here is another inspirational fact for strength training to build lean muscle: we lose 5% of our muscle mass every ten years after age 35. If you do not intentionally build muscle through exercise you will need to eat 120 to 420 less calories a day to maintain your current weight if you are over 35. I just want to say it is never to early to start building lean muscle - no need to wait until you are 35. So why not start today?

There are so many advantages to strength training, including: benefits to your bones and cardiovascular health, reducing risk of Type 2 diabetes, and protecting your joints.

If you are looking to start a strength training program check out this 4 Minute Starter Arms video. It will get you pumping in no time.

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The Pill vs. Building Muscle

FitSugar — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 03:00:00 -0700

If you're looking to build lean muscle mass, taking oral contraceptives might be interfering with all your hard work. A recent study from Texas A&M University, involving 73 generally healthy women between 18 and 31, found that women not taking birth control pills gained 60 percent more muscle mass than women on the pill during a 10-week time period.

All the women in the study participated in the same whole-body resistance exercise training program and worked out three times a week under the supervision of exercise physiologists, but half were using oral contraceptives and the other half were not. All the women performed the same exercises, same number of reps, at the same intensity. The study participants were also encouraged to increase their intake of protein, by about a third more than nutritional guidelines, to ensure they wear eating enough protein to build muscle mass. After the 10-week workout period, the women who were not on the pill had significantly more lean muscle mass.

Information on both groups hormone levels, when you read more.

A comparison of blood samples between the two groups indicated the women using oral contraception had less testosterone in their system, a hormone necessary for making muscle. In addition, women on the pill had more cortisol in their systems, which is a hormone that helps break down muscle tissue.

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Which Type of Body Would You Rather Have?

FitSugar — Mon, 23 Jul 2007 03:00:00 -0700

I'm sure we are all striving to have healthy bodies, and to maintain a healthy weight for our height. I'm sure you also have a goal in mind for your body. You can be lean, and have toned muscles. Or you can take it a step further and have ripped 6-pack abs and defined muscles. So I want to know...

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Ease Sore Muscles With a Tennis Ball

FitSugar — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 15:00:57 -0700

Getting a massage is not always an affordable option to relieve sore muscles. I use The Stick at home but when I'm on the go it's not something I can take with me. Because of its size, a tennis ball provides on the spot muscle relief wherever you are.

Here's how I've been using mine:

For leg muscles I sit down on the floor with my legs outstretched and place the ball underneath myself where the thigh meets the butt. I slowly move from side-to-side and let the ball work itself over my muscles, placing my hands on the floor for support. This motion can be worked all the way down leg. After that's done, I turn over and place the tennis ball under the front of my thigh and start the rolling motion all over again.
For my back, I place a tennis ball between myself and a wall - this works especially well for the muscles near the neck and shoulders. Lean back into the ball and let it roll back and forth over your muscles.
Use a tennis ball underneath the arch of your foot to relieve tired muscles. Sit down in a chair and place the tennis ball under your foot. Put some pressure on the ball and let it roll up and down the muscles of the foot. This is an easy way to get a great foot massage!

The basic idea is that you can work a tennis ball into a trigger point with just a little bit of pressure. If you need to cover greater surface area, put a few tennis balls into a long sock and tie off the end.

Celebs Like to Shake It

FitSugar — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 05:50:58 -0700

At first, the Power Plate seems like another gimmicky weight-loss product, but its website features endorsements from fit celebs like Madonna, Courteney Cox, and Hilary Swank. On top of that, it's used by over 60 college and pro sports teams, and the Police brought one with them on their reunion tour. That's some serious ~~celeb~~ street cred.

The secret behind the Power Plate is its vibrating plates. The manufacturer claims that if you stand on it for 10 minutes a day, three times a week, you'll lose weight, tone your body, and improve bone density. To really maximize the benefits of the machine, it's encouraged that you do the same exercises you would do on the floor - sit-ups, for example - on the Power Plate.

Cougar Town actress Cox says the Power Plate was essential in shaping her up for her new role: "The Power Plate machine has dramatically changed my workout. I know that every muscle in my body is being ignited in ways that you can't do with traditional training."

To see a video of Cox's trainer Michelle Lovett demonstrating the Power Plate, read more.

They call the technology behind the machine Acceleration Training: the vibrations transmit energy waves to the body that are able to contract muscles 25 to 50 times per second. This is suppose to help stimulate blood flow, work the muscles harder than ever before, and increase strength and flexibility.

Vibration training is not a new thing in the fitness world (remember the black rubber belts that used to go around the waist to shake off fat?), but it's been picking up steam especially as it garners more backing from the medical community and health professionals.

Studies done on the effects of vibration training show that if used properly, it's more beneficial at building lean muscle mass, improving weight loss, and increasing strength and speed than exercise regimens without vibration training. Researchers warn that the machines should not be used for more than 30 minutes a day due to health concerns about engaging the body in high-amplitude vibrations like back pain or blurred vision.

I remain a little skeptical, mostly because I can't get the Shake Weights infomercial out of my head, but my curiosity is piqued. My gym doesn't have a Power Plate yet, does yours? I'd love to hear what you think of this new workout.

You Asked: How to Get Rid of My Ab Flab

FitSugar — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 03:47:12 -0700

Dear Fit,
I'm fairly thin, have muscular thighs from running 20 minutes a few times a week and toned arms from doing yoga, but my belly is pudgy. I heard crunches won't get rid of my gut, but what exercises will?
- Jiggly Middle

We all have areas of our body that hang on to fat, so to hear my suggestions about how to get rid of the extra around your midsection keep reading

Swimming For Weight Loss?

FitSugar — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 13:30:25 -0700

Swimming has gotten a bad rap as an exercise for weight loss. Unlike running, which curbs your appetite, swimming seems to increase it.

Studies comparing swimming with walking and cycling weight-loss programs found that swimmers gained five pounds on average, while the other two groups lost between 17 and 19 pounds. The culprit seems to be the increased appetite that follows working out in water, since swimming lowers your body temp and the body crave calories to help heat it back up. Plus the swimmers weight gain could be attributed to an increase in lean muscle mass, which would have changed their body composition without weight loss.

See how I think you can make swimming part of your weight-loss plan, when you read more.
If you are swimming for weight loss, I don't believe you should give up on the pool entirely - swimming is a great full-body exercise. I do think you should add some cardio training on land. I am a firm believer in cross-training, so adding strength training and walking or running will help burn calories as well as build bone density, which is another benefit of weight-bearing exercises that you miss out on when swimming. When you do finish a swim workout, take a sauna, a steam, hot tub, or a hot shower to help heat your body. Also try sipping on some hot herbal tea as a post-workout drink.

You Asked: End of Summer Detox?

FitSugar — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 06:00:27 -0700

Dear Fit,
Over the Summer I've definitely been overindulging, chowing down at BBQs, eating tons of ice cream on hot days, and drinking more beer and cocktails in a weekend than I would in an entire month the rest of the year. I know it's not the healthiest, but hey, it's Summer and it only comes once a year. I haven't really gained weight, but I feel pretty disgusting. I'm wondering what you think about doing a detox to celebrate the end of my Summer diet, and the beginning of new healthier changes. I was just going to eat raw fruits and veggies, and drink water for two weeks to cleanse out my system.
- In Need of Detox

Well we've all been there, so you're not alone in taking in the goodness of Summer. While everything is OK in moderation, it's nice that you've recognized that you've crossed over that line. So now what to do? To find out if a detox is the answer, read more.

I cannot say this enough but no, a detox is not what you need. Raw fruits, veggies and water are healthy, yes, but you can't live on those alone for two weeks. You want to make sure you're getting enough protein, healthy fats, and other essential nutrients. If you don't, you'll experience symptoms such as loss of energy, headaches, muscle aches, irritability, and digestive issues.

Instead of a detox, what I do recommend is eating a diet full of all the healthy foods you can find including fruits, veggies, whole grains, lean protein, lowfat dairy products, and nuts. Omit or limit the foods that are high in saturated fat, sugar, and alcohol, and you'll instantly feel better. There's no need to shock your system and go raw for two weeks. Just make the commitment to eat healthy, but be sure to allow yourself small indulgences every once in a while. If you deny yourself the things you crave completely, it can backfire and set you back to your Summer ways.

You Asked: Increased Cardio but Gaining Weight

FitSugar — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 08:00:42 -0700

Dear Fit,
I've been increasing my cardio workouts to help me drop the seven pounds I gained after losing my job. Previously I was doing 30 minutes twice a week, but over the last three weeks, I've been doing 30 minutes five or six times a week. I alternate between running, biking, and hiking. I lost a pound in the first week, but now I'm slightly heavier than I was when I started this new routine! When I look in the mirror, I do notice that my muscles have more definition, but the scale is not making me happy. My diet hasn't changed at all, so what gives? Does muscle weigh more than fat, or am I doing something wrong?
- Frustrated About Fat

Losing weight takes a lot of hard work, so it's completely understandable that the scale is upsetting you. To hear what I have to say about this read more.

When it comes to losing weight, try to think about it this way. You want to lose fat, but that doesn't necessarily translate to losing pounds as measured by a scale. Muscle doesn't weigh more than fat, it's just more dense and not as bulky and lumpy as fat. That means a pound of muscle takes up less room than a pound of fat. So by increasing your cardio workouts, you're probably gaining muscle and decreasing your overall body fat. You can tell by how you look in the mirror or by the way your clothes fit.

I know you want to see the number decrease on the scale, but remember that weight isn't an accurate way to determine how healthy and fit you are. Think about your body composition instead, meaning your percentage of body fat. Exercising will make you stronger, so you'll have more muscle and less fat, which is what you want. My advice is to keep up your fitness routine and your healthy diet, and forget about watching the scale. Keep an eye on how lean and toned you look, and that's a much better indication of your progress.

Running Tip: Raise the Incline

FitSugar — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 03:30:35 -0700

If you run like a bounding deer on a treadmill, but as soon as you hit the road outside, you feel more like a stumbling, out of breath snail, here's a tip for building your strength and stamina. When you're running on a treadmill, raise the incline. Even a slight increase will make a huge difference. Since the treadmill belt makes running easier by propelling your feet, the incline will add more of a challenge, so you'll end up using more energy. Gradually work on raising the incline over a few weeks, and you'll find that putting a little more stress on the body with an incline will burn more calories and develop more lean muscle tissue. Then when you run outside, you'll have the endurance and energy to run as long and as fast as you do on a treadmill.