Dr. Weil's Vitamin Advisor

Wednesday, January 1, 2025

Simply Exercise: Tips for a Healthier Lifestyle

Tip #1 -

Find Joy in Movement

Exercise doesn't have to mean spending hours at the gym or investing in expensive gadgets. Anything that gets your body moving is beneficial. Walking, biking, dancing, gardening, weight lifting, swimming, playing sports, house cleaning, and even playing with your kids are all great ways to incorporate exercise into your daily routine.

Tip #2 -

Schedule Your Workouts

Just like any important appointment, schedule your exercise time. Our busy lives often leave little room for self-care, but by adding exercise to your daily to-do list, you're more likely to stick with it. Whether you have a set time each day or need to vary it, find what works best for you. Exercising with a friend can also provide the motivation you need.

Tip #3 -

Exercise for Energy

Even if you feel too tired to exercise, give it a try. You might be surprised at how energized you feel during and after your workout. Exercise is also a fantastic stress-reliever, which can help combat fatigue caused by stress.


Tip #4 -

Keep It Interesting

Routine can lead to boredom, so mix up your workouts. If you're tired of walking, try cycling. Alternate weight lifting with cardio exercises, or try new activities like bowling or tennis. Joining a team can also add a social element to your fitness routine.

Tip #5 -

Warm Up Properly

No matter what type of exercise you choose, always start with a warm-up. Stretching helps prevent muscle damage and gets your blood flowing, preparing your body for a more effective workout. Just five minutes of warm-up can make a big difference.

Monday, November 13, 2023

Unveiling the Secrets to Optimal Health: A Comprehensive Guide to Nutrition and Healthy Eating

In the pursuit of a vibrant and energetic life, understanding the core elements of nutrition and adopting healthy eating habits play a pivotal role. In this comprehensive guide, we delve into the essential vitamins, minerals, and macronutrients that fuel our bodies, explore various dietary patterns, and shed light on special diets like vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options.

Essential Nutrients: The Building Blocks of Health Vitamins: Powerhouses of Wellness

In the realm of nutrition, vitamins stand as crucial catalysts for various bodily functions. From the immune-boosting vitamin C to the bone-strengthening vitamin D, each plays a unique role in maintaining overall well-being.

Minerals: Foundations for Strong Health

Minerals are the unsung heroes that contribute to the structural integrity of our bodies. Dive into the significance of minerals like calcium, iron, and potassium, understanding how they support everything from bone density to muscle function.

Macronutrients: The Fuel for Peak Performance

A balanced diet is incomplete without a focus on macronutrients—carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. Discover the optimal ratios that cater to your individual needs, ensuring sustained energy levels and optimal physical performance.

Dietary Patterns: Tailoring Nutrition to Your Lifestyle Balanced Diet: Crafting Harmony in Every Meal

Achieving a balanced diet involves incorporating a variety of foods that collectively provide the necessary nutrients. Explore the art of balancing proteins, carbohydrates, and fats, creating a symphony of nutrition in every bite.

Mediterranean Diet: A Culinary Journey to Health

Embark on a gastronomic adventure with the Mediterranean diet. Rich in fruits, vegetables, olive oil, and lean proteins, this dietary pattern not only promotes heart health but also tantalizes the taste buds.

DASH Diet: Lowering Blood Pressure, Elevating Health

Designed to combat hypertension, the DASH diet emphasizes fruits, vegetables, and low-fat dairy while minimizing sodium intake. Uncover the science behind this approach and its transformative effects on cardiovascular health.

Special Diets: Catering to Unique Preferences and Needs Vegetarianism: Embracing Plant-Powered Nutrition

Delve into the world of vegetarianism, where plant-based foods take center stage. Learn how a well-planned vegetarian diet can provide all the essential nutrients while offering a sustainable and compassionate lifestyle.

Fueling Athletic Performance with a Vegetarian Diet Sustaining Energy Levels

A well-structured vegetarian diet proves to be an energy powerhouse. Complex carbohydrates from whole grains and fruits provide sustained energy, crucial for the demanding training regimens of combat sports.

Veganism: A Compassionate Journey Beyond Diet

Explore the ethical and health aspects of veganism, going beyond food choices to encompass a lifestyle that avoids all forms of animal exploitation. Discover how a vegan diet can align with your values and contribute to overall well-being.

Beyond the Plate: A Holistic Lifestyle

Veganism transcends diet, evolving into a holistic lifestyle. Fighters embody a commitment to non-exploitation, extending compassion to all aspects of life.

Gluten-Free Living: Navigating the World of Gluten Sensitivity

For those with gluten sensitivity or celiac disease, adopting a gluten-free diet is essential. Uncover the intricacies of gluten-free living, from alternative grains to label reading, ensuring a safe and nutritious culinary experience.

Frequently Asked Questions: Addressing Your Nutrition Queries

1. What is the significance of vitamin supplementation in a balanced diet? 2. Can the Mediterranean diet be adapted to accommodate specific dietary restrictions? 3. How can I ensure I'm meeting my protein needs on a vegetarian or vegan diet? 4. Are there potential health risks associated with gluten-free diets? 5. Is the DASH diet suitable for individuals without hypertension?

Conclusion: Empowering Your Journey to Wellness

In conclusion, prioritizing nutrition and adopting healthy eating habits is a transformative step towards a vibrant and fulfilling life. Whether you embrace a balanced diet, explore the Mediterranean or DASH approach, or follow a special diet like vegetarianism, veganism, or gluten-free living, the key lies in making informed choices that resonate with your unique needs. Embark on this journey with knowledge as your compass and let the nourishment you provide your body be the cornerstone of your well-being.

Saturday, July 26, 2014

University City resident wins national Golden Gloves championship

University City resident wins national Golden Gloves championship



remember it being a very aggressive fight,” said Holmes, 36. “She used her height and weight to smother her punches. Coach (Krishna) Wainwright told me you never put your hands down, never stop fighting. Coach Tony (Douglas) says leave everything in the ring.”


Read more here: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2014/07/25/5059559/university-city-resident-wins.html#.U9LBJ6VQIJE.facebook#storylink=cpy

Friday, June 28, 2013

Designing and Implementing a Training Program for Athletes by David Horne

There are several key elements when it comes to designing a training program.


For example, take the requirements for a speed training program. An athlete must establish a good foundation of strength before participating in plyometric training. The athlete must also work on technique prior to jumping straight into an intensive speed program. An athlete must also establish a good level of flexibility before performing the explosive movements of many of the training methods. After understanding all of the components that make up speed you will now be able to begin to design a program that bests suits you and your needs.

First of all let's talk about the various stages and phases of a training program.

Periodization refers to the various cycles of a training program where the training stimulus changes in a structured way. The training programs may vary amongst different coaches and athletes but they all address the components of flexibility, endurance, strength, speed, recovery and power training.

The Three Cycles are: Micro cycles will often consist of a 7-14 day training phase; Meso-cycle consist of a 4-6 week training phase and a Macro-cycle consists of the entire term of a training cycle. It is often represented by one year in length.

Planning often takes into account the stage of season the athlete is in. The three stages are pre-season, in-season and post season.

The pre-season is a progressive training program that prepares the athlete for the competitive season. The in-season is where the athlete is in continuous competition and is often in a maintenance phase. Gains are achieved through match play. The final stage is the post-season which occurs after a competitive season and mainly comprises of rest, rehabilitation and recovery.

There are several key principles to consider when designing a training program:

Specificity refers to selecting the appropriate exercises and drills that are specific to the demands of your sport. To take this one step further you must also analyse the specific movement patterns and needs of the specific positions with in your sport. For example a tennis player who serves and volleys will require more emphasis on speed in a forwards direction following the serve where as a baseline player will work more on lateral speed.

Variety is required for the purpose of helping the athlete to maintain motivation and interest in training. It is our human nature to get bored quickly so if you have the exact same training routines then you will become bored and find these sessions monotonous. Variety can still be achieved while choosing sport and position specific exercises.

Overload is a key concept to constant improvements. An athlete will improve when they are subjected to gradually and progressively increasing training loads. There are a number of ways of to increase the load such as increasing the duration of training, the frequency of training and increasing the intensity at which you train.

The athlete must be consistent and disciplined when it comes to their training. Each fitness component must be trained on a regular basis according to their specific program.

Facility availability is very important to a coach. It is great if you have unlimited access to a gym, courts or playing field. However, it is not always the way as many teams may be required to use one field. This is where you need to plan your sessions around other teams and find a fair balance between all.

Sports such as college tennis where there may be twelve players on a team, may only have access to three courts which will force the tennis coach to become more creative in their training programs so that players can practice both singles and doubles.

Individual differences amongst athletes are often ignore by sports coaches. Many coaches fall into the old traditional methods of training every player as if they were all the same and possessed the same physical qualities. It is important to identify the individual differences amongst athletes and then assist each athlete on an individual basis to become stronger in the areas that they need to improve on.

If you are prepared when conducting a training session then everything will seem to run a lot smoother. Also, it is important to have a back-up plan in case of inclement weather. Have all of your equipment ready in advance. If you wait until your training session is about to begin then you are likely to face problems of missing or having broken equipment that could affect your training session.

Assess your training program. The key to improving a training session is for the coach to step back every now and then and to really study the group when they train. This will help the coach see what works and what doesn't work.

Keeping records involves having a notepad on hand so that you can record any results as they occur. If you try and wait until the end of training to collect the results or times from the athletes then many will have forgotten their scores. Learn to take your own personal notes immediately after training as this will help you to make the necessary modifications to your future training sessions.

Skill demonstration is essential in order for all athletes to undertsand how to complete the drill. You must allow sufficient time to clearly describe and demonstrate each exercise or test to be performed. I also have found it worthwhile to explain to the athletes why they are performing these specific exercises and how they relate to their goals. If the athletes understand why they are training a certain way then they are likely to try harder.

It is also important to understand group placement when demonstrating these exercises. The best formation is to have all of your athletes in a single file or semi-circle as this way they all will have clear vision of your demonstration.

Group instruction is important in order to allow time to speak to the athletes while in a group rather than trying to yell out to all of the stations. You will have more of their attention when they are together. Allow for this group instruction to be included into you initial group introductions.

Problem identification is where a coach must be able to identify problems that may occur or stop an activity when it is not being performed correctly. The coach must also be able to move from one drill to another when required.

Flexibility is required when programming. You must learn to be flexible and respond by altering your initial training plan if a certain variable changes.

Design a training program that is progressive and provides continuous stimulus in developing the desired improvements in speed.

Identify each drill by giving each drill a name your athletes will be able to remember that drill when asked to perform it in the future. Often the best name for a drill is one that describes the actual movements of the exercise.

Explain the goal of each drill and make sure that your athletes understand why they are performing a certain exercise. They will train harder when they know why they are performing certain drills.

Simple to complex progression with drills and exercises. Make sure that you start with the simple drills first and then progress to the more difficult and demanding drills during a cycle. This is most important when performing plyometric exercises.

Equipment needed for the various speed training drills include cones, mini-hurdles, resistance bands, stop watches, taped lines, note pad, whistle, plyo-boxes, stairs, jump ropes, medicine balls, tape measure, agility ladders, sleds, stability ball and stretching mats.

A well designed training program is essential for all athletes. An athlete will be more likely to acheive greater gains in technique, fitness and all other areas if their training sessions are structured and goal orientated.

David Horne is a former professional tennis player who has created several online sports web sites including Sports eBooks which is the Ultimate Sports eBook Directory for all sports fans!

Article Source: Free Articles ArticleSnatch Article Directory

Saturday, March 9, 2013

Some Diet Ideas.


Ironman Triathlon--Some Diet Ideas.

Author: Ray Fauteux
Training diets come in dozens of shapes and sizes. It will just make you crazy! Trying to figure out what to eat and what not to eat. Especially when you start doing some serious training and you are HUNGRY when you get home. Well the good news is that I've tried pretty well all of the major diets over the years(and some not so major)and can cut out much of the guesswork for you. And no, I don't have a degree in nutrition. I earned my credentials in the kitchen and at the dinner table.

In the early years most of us Ironman beginners had no clue about diets. Most of us used the world famous, much loved seafood diet. You see food and you eat it.

Seriously though, after a few years it started to dawn on me how important diet was when training for an event as physically demanding as the Ironman. I think I can honestly say that I took something good out of every diet I ever tried. Well almost.

A few years ago, I tried one diet for 4 months that maintained all you needed was lots of protein and not much carbo. Against my better judgement but just to see what would happen, I gave it at try.

After 4 months on this diet, I entered a 10km race and shortly after the gun went off(oh, about 5-6 seconds)I knew I was in trouble. I had zero energy and of the over 100-- 10km races I have entered over the years this was my worst time(by far).

I think I can say with much certainty that an endurance athlete should never go on a high protein, high fat, low carb diet! It may work for a segment of the population, but is certainly not meant for everyone.

From all the reading I've done, and all the diets I've tried I'm 100% certain that carbohydrates are the key to the ideal Ironman Triathlon diet. I'm not talking simple carbs here. Really try and avoid sugar...stay away from those cakes and cookies--that ice cream and chocolate. For the year or so you dedicate to accomplishing your Ironman dream, stay focused on your diet. Trust me, it will be all that much more fun to indulge when its all over.

If anything, I went overboard on the carbohydrate scale. It was a major part of my diet. It isn't for everyone. Just make sure that on a percentage basis that your carbohydrates are always higher then your protein and fat intake. Try and keep your protein and fat at about the same percentages. Some of the best carbohydrate sources are pasta, brown rice, whole wheat bread, pretty well all vegetables and a controlled amount of fruit because they have lots of sugar. I found I was making one major mistake though. I always used white pasta and ate tons of potatoes because I knew they were one of the purest forms of carbohydrate. Much to my surprise a few years ago my doctor said my bad cholesterol was too high. After talking about my diet we narrowed it down to too many high-glycemic carbohydrates. The white pasta I ate every day and all the potatoes. So now I ALWAYS use whole wheat pasta and I cut out potatoes and substitute with sweet potatoes. Problem solved.

For protein you have several preferable choices. Egg whites are awesome. Give the yolks to your neighbor who is on that OTHER diet. Or have scambled eggs with 3 egg whites and one entire egg. Limit yourself to 3 or 4 whole eggs per week. From the Dairy aisle your best bets are lowfat cottage cheese, plain yogurt( not those fruity ones)and skim milk. From the meat aisle(if you eat meat)chicken and turkey white meat(yes, and take that skin off-that's where most of the fat is stored), and a small amount of lean beef maybe once, but not more than twice a week. Fish of course is just a great choice. There is nothing wrong with canned tuna or salmon. Don't foget about legumes, and also soya products are a staple now of many Iroman Triathletes.

The fat part of your diet will often be found in the protein you eat. There will be fat in the cottage cheese and the chicken or turkey or beef you might eat. There will be fat in the 3 or 4 whole eggs you eat every week if you choose to. There will be a small amount of fat in the skim milk. Fish will also provide some fat, and I know its expensive, but salmon is awesome for protein and fat(Omega oil). The oil I prefered and used for years is vigin olive oil. That is until I came across coconut oil. Now I use both. A less expensive option is canola oil. Try having vinega olive oil and coconut oil tossed in your salad and top it with cottage cheese. A great example of complex carbs, good fat and protein.

Some notes:condiments(ketchup, mustard, mayonaise, salad dressings etc)should be used sparingly. Cheddar cheese is fine, but try and stick to 6-8 ounces per week. Your best cheeses are hard cheeses. Number one choice is parmesean(grated)for your pasta. Don't use jam..too much sugar..I just really, really like peanut butter and it is o.k. in controlled amounts if you buy the real thing that has a half inch of oil on the top and is a pain to mix(but hey! that means its the right one). DON'T use the peanut butter that has icing sugar mixed in it and no oil on the top. They add the icing sugar so they can make it smooth for you and you don't have to mix it at home.

As far as your beverage choices, use skim milk as I mentioned above. Don't be afraid of aspartame. It is a far better choice than sugar and allows you to use sweetners in your coffee etc. So that means you can drink diet pop on occasion(with aspartame)Another really good choice is crystal lite(they also use aspartame) if you prefer a sweeter option to water(like I do). And whoever said drink 6 0r 8 glasses of water a day, has got to be kidding. I would have to GAG down that much water every day.

I've discovered that what you eat really goes a long way to determining how thirsty you are and how much water you drink. I believe if you eat an extraordinary amount of carbohydrates like I do, you require less water. Don't forget, fresh vegetables for instance are up around 75-80% water. And I have a huge salad every day. Beer or wine is o.k. in extreme moderation. Maybe three drinks a week and drink light beer. Getting drunk is not a great idea when you are on an Ironman Triathlon training Diet. It causes dehydration and will pretty well ruin your next few days training.

A FEW IMPORTANT NOTES: Don't get me wrong. When you are out on long rides and runs 2 hours duration and more, be very sure you have lots of water or some type of fluid replacement. Don't go nuts on drinking water while training however. More and more information is coming out about athletes taking too much water and flushing out too many nutrients and causing physical problems as a result.(hyponatremia)

Also: As far as the amount you eat.

You are training for an Ironman Triathlon. When I mention diet, I'm not talking the amounts you eat. I'm talking about the food you choose to eat. Trust me. One day if you go for a training swim followed closely by a 50 or 60 mile bike ride, you are going to be hungry. Don't worry yourself about HOW MUCH you eat. When you are really training, your body will tell you how much you need to eat. I like to call it my "appestat."

I have "never" measured, or worried about the amount I eat when I'm in training. I am 145-150 pounds and eat tons!! I know everyone has a different metabolism, but just the same, you will know darn well when you have had a hard training day. Eat accordingly.

In many sports, not just triathlon, athletes will train religiously for months and not realize their full potential because of an improper diet.

Don't let this happen to you.
About the Author:
My name is Ray and after a 20 year career in Ironman triathlons, I decided to create a site called "Ironstruck" that has training and racing tips for the beginner triathlete/novice ironman. Come for a visit..... http://triathlon-ironman-myfirstironman-ironstruck.com
Article Source: ArticlesBase.com - Ironman Triathlon--Some Diet Ideas.

Wednesday, August 8, 2012

Two Contrasting Styles Lead to Semifinals

LONDON — Two women on the United States boxing team — the flyweight Marlen Esparza and the middleweight Claressa Shields — are assured of winning Olympic medals after winning their bouts on Monday to advance to the semifinals.

Thursday, August 2, 2012

Carolinas Boxing Invitational

Carolinas Boxing Invitational Saturday, Aug 18 4:00p Revolution Park Sports Academy, Charlotte Top champion boxers from throughout the Southeast converge for the summer's biggest amateur Olympic style boxing event at the new $10 million dollar Charlotte Sports Academy on Remount Road. Read more here: charlotteobserver.com/boxing

Carolinas Boxing Invitational Saturday, Aug 18 4:00p to 7:00p atRevolution Park Sports Academy,Charlotte,NC Top champion boxers from throughout the Southeast converge for the summer's biggest amateur Olympic style boxing event at the new $10 million dollar Charlotte Sports Academy on Remount Road. 15-16 bouts of non stop action featuring featherweights to heavyweights sanctioned by USA Boxing. Read more here:

events.charlotteobserver.com/charlotte

Friday, December 23, 2011

5 Helpful Things to Do to Start Your Personal Fitness Program

Our society has so many food choices that it is easy to pack on the extra pounds. Also our day to day jobs are less physical as they where 100 years ago so we have more sedentary life styles. We know there are benefits involved when we exercise and cleaning up or diet. However, most of us know don't know how or where to start.

So where do we begin? Or is the question: How do we begin?

The very first thing you need do is go to your doctor and get the approval to start exercising. Your doctor may also provide some helpful tips as well.

After you get the "OK" from your doctor, try these 5 things to help you get started:

Make the Choice to Start Exercising and Eating Right

Making the decision to do something provides a form of commitment you made to your self. Deciding that you need to change behavior creates new possibilities. When you say to your self "I need to get in shape", it means something. You should be answering these questions in your mind: When can I work out? What exercises do I need to do? What foods should I be eating? Make your self think about the commitment you just made. Only then you can let go of the past and take steps to move forward.

Write Down What You Do

You need a reference that is realistic towards your weekly activity. Write down everything you do during the week. This should include work hours, commuting hours, nights spent with your spouse, your child's activities and anything else you can think of that you do. You should also include what you do on weekends. You should make a list for each day of the week. Here's why.....

Some people set lofty goals like working out for 2 hours a day. This can be due to an old saying, "More is Better". However, this is not the case. Knowing your schedule will help you set realistic goals and help you find a few hours a week to start exercising. You'll have a visual perspective on what you can and can't do with your routine.

Research and Get Information

Most people do not have enough information before they start a work out program. So how do we get the information we need? The good news is we live in the information age. Take advantage of your favorite search engine and learn a little bit about fitness and nutrition. However, do not go overboard and lose focus. Find a source of information you like and take notes. Find the simplest and easiest workouts and nutrition tips. Don't over load yourself with information.

If you have the money, hire a personal trainer for a few sessions to help you get started. Hiring a personal trainer is a great way to get started because you have made a commitment to meet someone to workout. Your goal is to have the trainer show you the basics on exercise and eating healthier. It may also be safer to learn how to perform the exercises (especially if you have not exercised for a while).

Create a Simple Plan and Set Realistic Goals

Keep it Simple! Following a simple plan while on a hectic schedule is much easier than following an elaborate plan. You should have a plan of which days you want to work out and one goal to change your eating habits for the next few weeks. For example, "I will work out for a half an hour for 3 days this week. I will eat a little less each meal." Simple is success.

Execute Your Plan

Now that you have a plan, all you need to do is follow it. This is another big step. You should look at your plan every day upon waking. You need be mentally prepared for the great day ahead of you. Having your daily schedule in hand will help you achieve your goals for the day. When you complete your workout for the day, highlight it or cross it off your list. It will show you that you accomplished something for yourself. No matter what you must execute. This will be the hardest (and most rewarding) step.

I hope these things help you get started on a new life of physical fitness. Life is filled with making decisions, knowing your commitments, getting information, planning and execution. Try these approaches for yourself and you will see that having your own workout and nutrition program is not as far fetched or complicated as you think.

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

5 Great Tips On Exercise

1. Common Mistake: Failure to set goals. Do you exercise without a clear goal in mind? Having a clear goal set is a critical step in exercise and weight loss success. Tracking your progress in a journal will help ensure you see your improvements, will help motivate you and help you meet your ultimate goal.

2. Common Misconception: No Pain, No Gain. Pain is your body's way of letting you know something is wrong. Do not ignore this. When you go beyond exercise and testing yourself, you will encounter physical discomfort and need to overcome it. An example of this would be training for a marathon. It is important that you have the "base training" before getting into the advance training. The base training develops the body and gets it ready for extensive training. You need to learn to "read" your body. Is the heavy breathing because you are pushing your body or could it be the beginning of a heart attack. Exercise is important. Do it correctly and you can do it for the rest of your life.

It is normal for you to hurt after you exercise, but it must be done gradually with a good amount of rest periods to allow proper healing. There are two common problems here with beginning exercisers. You can cause long lasting damage to muscles, tendons and ligaments if you work out while you are in pain, without allowing enough rest time to heal. You might find yourself in constant and long lasting pain if you do this which means that you will no longer be able to exercise.

If you wake up the next morning after you exercised and can barely drag your aching body out of bed because everything hurts, you are going to be less motivated to exercise at all. Constant pain is a sure way to kill your exercise program.

3. Common Mistake: Sacrificing Quality for Quantity. When you are ready to increase the number of reps of a particular exercise, and strengthen the corresponding muscles, instead of forcing yourself to do a little more each time try decreasing the number of reps in a set but increase the number of sets. Also, back off to half your usual number of reps but add a couple of more sets. You will feel less tired and will be able to gain strength in your fast-twitch muscles.

4. Common Myth: Weight Training Makes Women Bulky. Weight training for a woman will strengthen and tone muscle, burn fat and increase metabolism, not build mass. Women do not produce enough of testosterone to build muscle mass the way that men do.

5. Common Mistake: Over-Emphasizing Strengths. You should start focusing on your points rather then what you are good at. This will help you balance things. For example, if your lower body is stronger than you upper body, then try to work only on this area one day a week.

Being smart about how you exercise will take you a long way. It is important to have a healthy body so get out there and start exercising today.

Monday, December 19, 2011

5 Components of Physical Fitness




The components of physical fitness are:

* Cardiorespiratory (CR) endurance - the efficiency with which the body delivers oxygen and nutrients needed for muscular activity and transports waste products from the cells.

* Muscular strength - the greatest amount of force a muscle or muscle group can exert in a single effort.

* Muscular endurance - the ability of a muscle or muscle group to perform repeated movements with a sub-maximal force for extended periods of times.

* Flexibility - the ability to move the joints or any group of joints through an entire, normal range of motion.

* Body composition - the percentage of body fat a person has in comparison to his or her total body mass.

Improving the first three components of fitness listed above will have a positive impact on body composition and will result in less fat. Excessive body fat detracts from the other fitness components, reduces performance, detracts from appearance, and negatively affects your health.

Factors such as speed, agility, muscle power, eye-hand coordination, and eye-foot coordination are classified as components of "motor" fitness. These factors most affect your athletic ability. Appropriate training can improve these factors within the limits of your potential. A sensible weight loss and fitness program seeks to improve or maintain all the components of physical and motor fitness through sound, progressive, mission specific physical training.

Principles of Exercise

Adherence to certain basic exercise principles is important for developing an effective program. The same principles of exercise apply to everyone at all levels of physical training, from the Olympic-caliber athlete to the weekend jogger.

These basic principles of exercise must be followed.

Regularity

To achieve a training effect, you must exercise often. You should exercise each of the first four fitness components at least three times a week. Infrequent exercise can do more harm than good. Regularity is also important in resting, sleeping, and following a sensible diet.

Progression

The intensity (how hard) and/or duration (how long) of exercise must gradually increase to improve the level of fitness.

Balance

To be effective, a program should include activities that address all the fitness components, since overemphasizing any one of them may hurt the others.

Variety

Providing a variety of activities reduces boredom and increases motivation and progress.

Specificity

Training must be geared toward specific goals. For example, people become better runners if their training emphasizes running. Although swimming is great exercise, it does not improve a 2-mile-run time as much as a running program does.

Recovery

A hard day of training for a given component of fitness should be followed by an easier training day or rest day for that component and/or muscle group(s) to help permit recovery. Another way to allow recovery is to alternate the muscle groups exercised every other day, especially when training for strength and/or muscle endurance.

Overload

The work load of each exercise session must exceed the normal demands placed on the body in order to bring about a training effect.

Saturday, December 17, 2011

Becoming a Healthy Eater

Becoming A Healthy Eater
Being a healthy eater requires you to become both educated and smart about what healthy eating  actually is.  Being food smart isn't about  learning to calculate grams or fat, or is it  about studying labels and counting calories.
Healthy eating is all about balanced and moderate eating, consisting of healthy meals at least  three times per day.  Healthy eaters eat many different types of foods, not limiting themselves to one specific food type or food group.
Eating healthy requires quite a bit of leeway.  You might eat too much or not enough, consume  foods that are sometimes more or less nutritious. However, you should always fuel your body and  your brain regularly with enough food to keep  both your mind and body strong and alert.
A healthy eater is a good problem solver.  Healthy eaters have learned to take care of themselves and their eating with sound judgement and making wise decisions.  Healthy eaters are always aware of what they eat, and know the effect that it  will have on their bodies.
When someone is unable to take control of their eating, they are also likely to get out of control with other aspects of life as well.  They could end up spending too much, talking too much, even going to bed later and later. 
You should always remember that restricting food in any way is always a bad thing.  Healthy eating is a way of life, something that you can do to enhance your body or your lifestyle.  If you've thought about making your life better, healthy eating is just the place to start.  You'll make life easier for yourself, those around you, and  even your family. 


Tuesday, September 27, 2011

The tournament, which is presented by the Charlotte Boxing Academy, will feature some of the best amateur male and female boxers from North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, Georgia and Tennessee.

Charlotte, NC- Sugaw Creek Recreation Center will host the 14th annual Queen City Amateur Boxing Invitational on Saturday, Oct. 1, 2011 at 4 p.m. Admission is $5 for ages 12 and under and $10 for ages 13 and over.

The tournament, which is presented by the Charlotte Boxing Academy, will feature some of the best amateur male and female boxers from North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, Georgia and Tennessee. Boxers will compete competing in three categories: Youth (ages 8-14); Senior Youth/Novice (ages 15-16); and Open (ages 17 and older).

The Charlotte Boxing Academy is a nonprofit organization created in a partnership with Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation and the Police Athletic League. This tournament is sanctioned by USA Boxing Inc., the national governing body for amateur boxing in the United States.

Sugaw Creek Recreation Center
943 W. Sugar Creek Road
Charlotte, NC 28213

http://ping.fm/T6vl2

Queen City Boxing Invitational



The tournament, which is presented by the Charlotte Boxing Academy, will feature some of the best amateur male and female boxers from North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, Georgia and Tennessee.

Charlotte, NC- Sugaw Creek Recreation Center will host the 14th annual Queen City Amateur Boxing Invitational on Saturday, Oct. 1, 2011 at 4 p.m. Admission is $5 for ages 12 and under and $10 for ages 13 and over.

The tournament, which is presented by the Charlotte Boxing Academy, will feature some of the best amateur male and female boxers from North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, Georgia and Tennessee. Boxers will compete competing in three categories: Youth (ages 8-14); Senior Youth/Novice (ages 15-16); and Open (ages 17 and older).

The Charlotte Boxing Academy is a nonprofit organization created in a partnership with Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation and the Police Athletic League. This tournament is sanctioned by USA Boxing Inc., the national governing body for amateur boxing in the United States.

Sugaw Creek Recreation Center
943 W. Sugar Creek Road
Charlotte, NC 28213
(704) 596-0107

Sunday, June 19, 2011

Acid and Alkaline Foods In the PH Miracle PH Diet

Acid and alkaline foods in the pH miracle diet


The main concept behind the pH miracle diet is to maintain a balance of pH in the foods that you eat. The human body is slightly alkaline and therefore it is better for your health to eat a diet composed of alkalizing foods. When you eat too many acidic foods, your system becomes unbalanced and it can cause a whole host of problems, including weight gain, poor concentration, fatigue and depressed immunity that can lead to more serious conditions.

The pH miracle diet relies on lists of foods that are acidic (to be avoided) and alkalizing (to be emphasized). The alkalizing foods are better for your health and help to balance the pH of your body. While acid, alkaline and pH are common terms, many people do not understand exactly what they mean and what they have to do with nutrition and health.

The word "basic" comes from the Greek word "basis" which means foundation. "Basic" relates to the properties of acidity and alkalinity. These conditions are determined at the foundation of the cells that the foods are made up of. So an external treatment does not change a food from acid to alkaline. Foods are acid or alkaline at their base, or foundation.

Acid and alkaline are chemical opposites. Whenever these bases interact with acids, there is a struggle between them and salt is the result. In the chemist's lab, these interactions are very simple and straightforward. However, in our bodies, the interaction becomes more complex because of the scale at which acids and bases meet.

However, science can make some generalizations about the effects of acids and alkaline in the human digestion system. Acidic foods are acid forming in the human body. They make blood, lymph and saliva more acid and cause a lower pH number. Alkaline foods make blood, lymph and saliva more alkaline and cause a higher pH number.

Just for reference, the "normal" range for saliva pH is between 7.3 and 7.4. Most people, however, are too acidic and have a pH that is much lower. They are burned out, tired and their bodies are starving for balance. Under the influence of acidic foods the muscles fatigue easily. You literally slow down because your body cannot produce the same physical results as before.

The free radical oxidation that occurs when you eat acidic foods makes you age faster. Vitamins and minerals are not absorbed as readily. Friendly bacteria in the small intestine die, which puts the digestive system off balance. Further hurting the function of the intestine is the fact that a high level of acidity inhibits the ability for intestinal walls to absorb nutrients. Cells become stressed with the toxins that build up and cannot remove them. The vast majority of bodily systems cannot run at full capacity.

On the other hand, alkaline foods have a wide variety of benefits to your health. Eating them improves your muscle output. They also have antioxidant effects in the body. They increase assimilation at the cellular level and allow cells to operate in the manner that they should. There is a reduction of parasites and yeast overgrowth with the use of alkaline foods. Alkaline foods promote deeper and more restful sleep, more youthful skin and relieve suffering from colds, headaches and the flu. Alkaline foods promote abundant physical energy.

Perhaps the most important differences between acid and alkaline foods are their relationship to cancer. Cancerous tissues are acidic, and health tissues are alkaline. When oxygen enters an acidic solution it combines with hydrogen ions can form water. Oxygen helps to neutralize the acid, but acid prevents oxygen from reaching tissues where it is needed. When oxygen enters an alkaline solution, the two hydroxyl ions combine with the solution to create one water molecule and one oxygen atom. The sole oxygen atom is free to go to the next cell and bring the benefits of oxygen to all of the tissue in the body. At a pH of slightly above 7.4, cancer cells become dormant. Studies show that at pH 8.5, cancer cells die and healthy cells live.

Alkalizing the diet has many benefits, in addition to cancer prevention. The alkaline food list is a selection of choices that will benefit your health when you start incorporating them into your body.







Monday, March 28, 2011

Boxing Champ Terri Moss Gives Fitness TipsMar 24th 2011 2:30PM / by Blane Bachelor

Don't let Terri Moss's easy smile, 5-foot-1, 108-pound frame or the fact that she's a grandmother fool you: This former undercover narcotics officer packs a serious punch. Literally. The Atlanta-based Moss, who's 45 and also known as "The Boss," is the Guinness Book of World Records holder as the oldest female boxing champion and competed as a top-ranked fighter for most of her career. Now retired, she runs a women's boxing fitness program at Decatur Boxing Club, trains fighters and runs Atlanta Corporate Fight Night, an amateur charity event. Here, she discusses her career, ACFN and why boxing is such a great workout for women.

http://ping.fm/uUGVq
Boxing - Prize Fight inks 16-year-old
http://ping.fm/R7CHE
By Gary Digital Williams After almost 200 amateur contests and numerous championships, 16-year-old Dusty Harrison of DC will take the plunge into the

Saturday, March 26, 2011

Eating Healthy On The Run



 



Whether your traveling on the go or around the  home, you don't need to give up Healthy Eating  simply because you are on the run.  The fact is,  healthy eating is even more important when your  trying to keep up with a busy schedule.

Having a good Diet will help your body to handle Stress better.  As you hustle about, a healthy Meal is probably the last thing you think about.  The following Tips can help you eat when your on the go.

Restaurants With tempting menus, large portions, and a festive atmosphere, it's easy to skip healthy eating.  It's okay to splurge every now and then, although you'll Pack on a lot of Weight if you make it a habit.   When you eat out at restaurants, always be smart  about it.

Airports An airport can be a very stressful place, although you shouldn't scrap your diet because of it.  Eat because you are hungry, not because of stress,  boredom, or to kill time.

In your car Keep some healthy snacks in your car at all times,  so that when you get hungry - you have them.

At home  Evenings and mornings are busy times in most homes. Making the time to eat can be hard, although you shouldn't run out the door without eating breakfast first.  Cereal with milk, a banana, muffin, or even  a bagel is a great way to start the day.

Anytime you are on the go, always make sure that you make the right food decisions.  You can take healthy food with you if you need to, so that you have it when you need it.  Eating healthy on the go is easy to do, once you know how.  Never sacrifice healthy food for junk, as your body will regret it later.





Friday, March 18, 2011

Becoming A Healthy Eater


Becoming A Healthy Eater



Being a Healthy eater requires you to become both educated and smart about what healthy Eating  actually is.  Being food smart isn't about  learning to calculate grams or Fat, or is it  about studying labels and counting calories.

Healthy eating is all about balanced and moderate eating, consisting of healthy meals at least  three times per day.  Healthy eaters eat many different types of foods, not limiting themselves to one specific food type or food group.

Eating healthy requires quite a bit of leeway.  You might eat too much or not enough, consume  foods that are sometimes more or less nutritious. However, you should always fuel your body and  your brain regularly with enough food to keep  both your mind and body strong and alert.

A healthy eater is a good problem solver.  Healthy eaters have learned to take care of themselves and their eating with sound judgement and making wise decisions.  Healthy eaters are always aware of what they eat, and know the effect that it  will have on their bodies.

When someone is unable to take Control of their eating, they are also likely to get out of control with other aspects of life as well.  They could end up spending too much, talking too much, even going to bed later and later.

You should always remember that restricting food in any way is always a bad thing.  Healthy eating is a way of life, something that you can do to enhance your body or your Lifestyle.  If you've thought about making your life better, healthy eating is just the place to start.  You'll make life easier for yourself, those around you, and  even your family.