Showing posts with label timing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label timing. Show all posts

Friday, 17 April 2020

Take Ownership of Your Health: Hold Yourself Accountable

Over the years, I've conducted extensive research on health topics such as obesity, osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease. I have also studied theories of behavior change. What jumps out at me the most is how many of these conditions are preventable. Yes, there are non-modifiable factors however, it is our behaviors that are causing damage to our health and wellness. Essentially, we are all aware of our unhealthy behaviors and the consequences associated with them. I feel like I'm a misfit in society because I actually enjoy physical activity, going to the gym and pushing my body to its limits. I was also criticised heavily because it took me nearly two weeks to finishing watching the third season of Stranger Things. Let that sink in. We live in a society where it is the norm to watch an entire season of a television series over a weekend, let alone one day and this is completely acceptable, even encouraged. I feel like I have to justify why I don't binge watch television, why I wake up early to exercise and why I restrict processed foods (among many other ingredients) from my diet.
My reason is simple, I do it for my health. Health is a priority to me and I want to face the daily challenges of life with the least amount of pain, discomfort and illness as possible. I'm not a machine, I get sick on occasion and I have a history of injuries. I watch television and movies and I'm known to indulge in a meal or snack of the unhealthy variety on occasion. I try to keep my immune system optimal and reduce my risk of injury through strength and flexibility training. Let's examine exercise. Most of us know that it is beneficial to our health, not just physically but emotionally as well. Increased levels of physical activity have the potential to lower the risk of obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease (among many more) according to multiple sources. We know that being inactive increases the risk of the mentioned conditions, yet many of us choose to do nothing about it. There is a disconnect between what we know and what we do. Do we not prioritize our health and quality of life? Do we get distracted with the ease of technology and everything available at the touch of a button? Do we know how many deaths can be prevented each year by modifying our behaviors?
So much of what we experience is preventable if we take the necessary precautions. We don't have to wait until we get diagnosed to make a change. We can make changes so that we don't get diagnosed. We do have the time if we make it a priority. We can find a plethora of excuses why we don't exercises of we can focus on reasons why we should. I can honestly say that I am 100% responsible for all of the injuries I've sustained in my lifetime. Whether it was negligence, ignorance or ego, I was at fault and I take full ownership of that. Now let's take ownership of our health and strive for progression.


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Saturday, 11 April 2020

Weight Loss: How Meal Timing Affects Results

If you have wondered whether it's best to exercise in a fasted state, before eating breakfast, or to eat breakfast and then have your workout session, I will weigh in here.
For years we have been told breakfast is the most important meal of the day and you must eat a good, nutritious breakfast in order to have the best exercise session. But is that really true? Here are a few benefits of exercising in a fasted state which just means, before you eat your breakfast or whatever your first meal of the day ends up being if you intermittently fast, as I do.
Fasted exercise improves levels of glucose and insulin, lowering risk of insulin resistance and Type 2 diabetes;
As I explain in Today is Still the Day, exercising in a fasted state is particularly effective for fat loss as it lowers both total body weight and body fat percentage. Exercising after eating only reduces body weight;
It curbs food intake for the remainder of the day, resulting in an overall energy deficit of about 400 calories;
It may boost growth hormone and production of testosterone, which prevents depression and optimizes tissue regeneration;
People who skipped breakfast and worked out on an empty stomach had better working memory in the mid-afternoon and reported less mental fatigue and tension later in the day than those who ate cereal before exercising.
It helps prevent depression.
Exercise and fasting together cause oxidative stress, which helps counteract muscle aging.
So I think it is safe to say if fat loss and improving muscle health is your primary goal, working out fasted would be the way to go.
Another huge bonus is that exercising while fasting for more than 14 to 18 hours (which you might do if you practice intermittent fasting) likely activates as much autophagy as if you were fasting for two to three days by increasing AMPK, NAD+ and inhibiting mTOR. Autophagy is the process whereby the body cleans out damaged cells, in order to regenerate newer, healthier cells. It occurs during prolonged fasting.
So should you never eat before exercising? It is not appropriate for everyone. It depends on your age, when you last ate, whether or not you're pregnant, medication use, medical history, fitness level, whether or not you are metabolically flexible and the type of workout you engage in. If you feel weak, dizzy, nauseous or lightheaded, you probably should eat something before working out. I certainly wouldn't recommend a bowl of cereal, by the way. A light protein meal like a small whey protein shake is a good choice.
As with all things, it is always best to listen to your body and use wisdom to find what works best for you.
Do you eat before you exercise or do you routinely exercise in a fasted state?
Ann Musico is a holistic health coach and independent nutritional consultant. She has developed a "3-D Living Program" to assist her coaching clients in achieving vibrant health and wholeness - spirit, soul and body. Visit her website at https://www.threedimensionalvitality.com to learn more about the "3-D Living Program," her book, Today is Still the Day, as well as the coaching packages she offers. Subscribe for her free monthly newsletter and weekly email messages.


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/10245926https://ezinearticles.com/?Weight-Loss:-How-Meal-Timing-Affects-Results&id=10245926