January 31, 2020January 31, 2020

3 New Ways to Deal with Injuries

Why do injuries happen?

Minor injuries like light muscular strains might actually be a good thing. If you can recover from a little something in 7-10 days, it’s certainly not the worst thing that could happen. I can think of way worse things.

There are worse things! We might just need to learn new ways.

So here is a short list of things that might help you in the process of recovery and wellness.

1. Muscular imbalances become apparent

It can be valuable to look for the root cause of a recurring concern. Often times we do need to strengthen the glutes more and get hip flexors feeling better.

2. Consider the neural component.

Our brain sends the signal that moves us. How we move is important, so it is important to be mindful of our movement.

Good to know about this.

Focus on posture, core, glutes.

3. Ankle and calf health shouldn’t be ignored.

It might be beneficial to perform barefoot exercises, especially including a balance component.

Apparently human ancestors have only been standing upright for 5 million years or less and the sun is several billions of years old.

It’s interesting to note that the human foot seems to have flattened out. The animals shown here appear to have hand-like function with their feet in some ways.

We did spend a lot of time barefoot which we certainly do less of in modern times.

Opportunity to Learn about the Self.

Mindfulness and mind-body connection support you in the process.

So long as you use it an opportunity to learn, then I think that you can heal from this.

Meanwhile, the cure may just be apparent in the process itself.

Follow the blog so that you can learn more about fitness related topics.

In case you are looking for something a bit more natural that might work with the body, I am a long time customer of this brand on Amazon and also Amazon associate:

Antioxidants are F** awesome!

January 28, 2020January 28, 2020

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Transforming your 2020 Body through Global Fitness Science

Recently, our studio launched the OTF transformation challenge 2020.

The challenge is in its second of eight weeks and it encourages healthy behavior through workout frequency and recovery.

Throwback pic at the studio after a sweaty workout

I am always interested in what Orangetheory shares with people.

Just the other day, Dr. Rachelle Reed, Director of Global Fitness Science at Orangetheory Fitness, had some responses related to the Orangetheory Fitness Transformation Challenge 2020.

Five Quotes about Fitness Science from OTF Director:

“Starting on the floor (rower) can be beneficial if your main goal is improving strength; that way, you can prioritize great form with a heavier load during the floor block!”

Prioritize great form with heavier loads. Develop that high quality, long-lasting, balanced muscle tone to give you opportunities for freedom.

“Helping members improve their health behaviors is the main point of the Transformation Challenge.”

We invite people to consume foods in the colors of a rainbow and post pictures of beautiful nutrient rich meals for the other supportive people in the Facebook group.

“Check into your nutrition pre- and post-workout to make sure you are fueling your body properly!”

If you are struggling with energy and recovery, you should definitely consider pre and post-workout. I almost take it for granted myself since I experimented with so many supplements through vendor gifts. In case you’re wondering, my favorite energizer for coaching and for morning and working out has to be Matcha + Chlorella. I just love the smooth energy and how it impacts my cognitive and metabolic function.

“We expect our members to lose 1-3% body fat over an 8-12 week period! Of course, this depends on so many factors – like what you eat, how active you are, your sleep quality and quantity, etc.”

Okay, let me share my honest opinion here while supporting OTF at the same time. I think she is referring to the average of members, they will lose 1-3% body fat over an 8-12 week period.

This may be true for average. Average, you are not!

May you transform magnificently! If you really need something, you will find the way. The truth is that recovery is the key to transformation. Workouts need to be challenging and varied, while recovery is the other 23 hours.

If you aren’t getting the result, believe that something might need to change.

With nutrition and rest, seven weeks is plenty of time to make a difference.

Besides, even if you lose 0% body fat, but you still did high intensity workouts 3x per week consistently, that still counts for some success as it benefits health, fitness, and longevity!

“The American College of Sports Medicine, recommend that adults participate in at least 150 minutes of aerobic activity each week plus at least 2 days of strength training on all major muscle groups, in order to enjoy the benefits of an active lifestyle. But, there is a dose response relationship, so a bit more (like 300 minutes and 3 days of strength training) can have slightly better benefits associated. This translates to about 3 classes of OTF a week, plus [everyday active movement]”

I think, “3 days of strength training,” would represent nearly three hours of strength training. Most people can agree that Orangetheory does not provide that amount of strength training per three Orange 60’s. Therefore, it could be beneficial to perform more strength exercises at home or a convenient location.

Maybe you could do some slow and controlled push-ups at home just before you eat a meal. Try to get a nice pump in your chest, shoulders, and triceps with a slow and controlled push up where you actually feel each and every muscle fiber contracting. Even two or three sets of 5-15 push ups a few times a week can make a big difference.

A lot of people have random weights or implements at home that they can use for bicep curls or exercise bands for glute bridges and deep burn in the glute muscles.

I love great workouts!

I often want to give people heavier loads just by putting weight in their area.

I do think the key to gaining strength at OTF is to be pro-active about your own challenges.

Try to eliminate as many muscular imbalances as possible.

Hope you found this useful.

Make sure to follow the blog for updates.

Shoutout to all of the OTF people that I’ve come in contact with over the years and to the people reading now!

Nourish up!

Body Composition Fat Loss Fitness Orangetheory Seattle

January 27, 2020

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5 Reasons Your Body Love Carbs

Would it be sweet to enjoy carbs and be lean 365 days a year?

This doesn’t have to be such an unusual concept.

Activity + nutrients + recovery = fit body.

Most active people can thrive on a balanced diet that includes plenty of fats, proteins, and yes, CARBS!

I’m here to give you a brief list of the benefits of various food known for containing high carbohydrates.

1. Some of the best fiber in the world comes from foods high in carbohydrates.

Various types of beans, lentils, and peas are very high in fiber. Berries like raspberries contain significant amounts of fiber. These foods also provide most of their calories from carbohydrate sources and that isn’t a bad thing. Keep reading for more.

2. Fiber is an extremely important energy source for anti-aging purposes.

I just wrote, “anti-aging,” in the title for more effect.

The truth is that all cells benefit from the energy extracted from fiber. It’s true that our human cells are unable to extract and absorb energy from fiber, but that is actually a good thing because it allows the gut microbiota to break down and utilize the fiber.

As a result, beneficial bacteria in the gut can convert fiber into short-chain fatty acids that can be used as energy directly within the human cells.

I believe that fiber is one of the key elements for fat loss because it’s a nutrient that provides no calories in the traditional sense, yet it gives valuable cellular energy provided through bacterial fermentation that occurs inside the gut. Furthermore, this energy is particularly beneficial in the organs and brain so that the systems in the body can operate functionally.

3. Genetic expression is altered through nutrition.

Fiber impacts your genes, yes.

Components of dietary fiber may influence gene expression indirectly through changes in hormonal signaling, mechanical stimuli, and metabolites produced by the intestinal microflora. In addition, consumption of water-soluble fibers may lead to changes in gene expression mediated through indirect mechanisms that influence transcription rates. In the large intestine, short-chain fatty acids, including butyric acid, are produced by microflora. Butyric acid can indirectly influence gene expression.

Let’s look at cranberries for more:

Cranberries possess a distinctive composition of phenolic compounds, including three classes of flavonoids (flavonoids, anthocyanins, and proanthocyanidins), catechins and an assortment of phenolic acids that induce various biological effects, such as antioxidant, enzyme activity modulation, and gene expression regulating effect.

4. Carbs before a workout can make your workout better and help you feel improved mood afterwards.

It makes sense that if you fuel a high intensity workout with something that includes carbohydrates, you’ll have more energy to be productive during the workout. You might be able to do something you’ve never done before. Then after the workout, you feel great. You go have a nutrient dense meal with balanced carbs, fats, and protein and you recover your body.

You burn fat while you sleep.

5. Carbohydrates are delicious.

I read a story about a tribe of people who would go hunting for animal meat and they were very serious about it. They would be stalking some animal in the jungle, forest, or plains and then somebody would notice the buzzing of a bee. All of a sudden, they forget about the animal and go hunt for the honey because that was more valuable to them.

Honey: The O.G. Carb. Don’t let refined sugar replace this nutritional badass.

There are obvious survival reasons for why humans have developed a taste for the sweet. Truthfully, not many experiences in life are more enjoyable than having the flavors and sweetness of foods dancing in your mouth. I acknowledge that.

I would never expect somebody to stop enjoying food just to get lean and ripped abs. I’m here to tell you that there is a balance that can be achieved and that healthy food can be delicious with a little bit of planning and creativity. The more practice you get at preparing healthy food, the more you can look forward to eating that which actually nourishes you.

In Carbclusion,

Carbohydrate containing foods support health of the gut microbiome, promote healthy inflammatory response, provide nourishment of the cells, and may even promote anti-aging.

Quality is everything when it comes to carbs, and portions are also important. The best part of carbohydrates for people looking to burn fat is definitely fiber. The fiber helps to make you feel more satiated while still giving the cells plenty of energy via bacterial metabolites.

Antioxidants are the next best component of foods containing carbs. It’s important to maintain healthy levels of inflammation (not too much, not too little) because if the inflammation is too high, then disease is more likely. For disease to exist in your body, there must be inflammation. Consuming antioxidant-rich carbohydrates is beneficial for managing inflammation.

Follow the blog for more on fitness, nutrition, and more.

I’ll keep writing, you keep coming.

Body Composition Fat Loss Fitness Nutrition, Immunity, and Digestion

June 10, 2019

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Five Things Trainers are thinking while coaching your group fitness workout.

Coaches are thinking a lot of things during a session.

Here are five to share with you today.

1. What is that smell?

Actually, this is not the case much of the time. Probably because I get used to it and don’t notice it much anymore. I know most people would prefer not to pass gas during a class but sometimes it’s accidental or they need release badly. Bless everybody, I’m sure we all have a story!

2. Safety is priority.

My priority is to execute the workout in a safe, highly effective and fun way. That means keeping an eye out for neutral spines and opportunity to improve the upper back mobility of an individual.

3. I am impressed by people’s efforts and also need to know who needs some love.

I try to think about how every person has had a different day so far coming into this workout. For some people, we’re working out at 5 AM. For other people, we’re at 5:30 PM. I want people to know that I am amazed by their efforts and I want to validate all of your accomplishments.

4. Put the group first, so that they can put their best selves first.

The nice thing about Orangetheory Fitness or group workouts is that even though you are in a group atmosphere, you can often work at your own pace and feel that you are truly getting our own workout. That’s why I am invested in how the group is working effectively towards success.

Scroll for another one.

5. Stay in the moment.

Even though it is tempting to think about what you are doing that Saturday night, it’s unfair to the other people if you’re not thinking about them. Staying focused on other people can truly be your gift or your passion because of the value that it provides.

If you like this, follow the blog!

Blog & Personality Fitness Orangetheory Fitness Seattle Orangetheory Seattle

May 27, 2019May 27, 2019

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Top 10 Benefits of Having Low Body Fat

Here are some benefits of getting down to a lower body fat that might help you stay focused this year.

Benefits of Low Body Fat Percentage:

1. Exercises become less challenging and you become more capable.

When your body is functioning in a lean condition, every movement requires less power than before because now you have decreased excess body fat.

Everything from running, jumping, to burpees and even squatting become less challenging to perform. As a result, you will be able to do more volume, run faster, jump higher, and you will need to add additional resistance to exercises like squats because you have already overcome your bodyweight.

2. Clothes fit better.

I am assuming that you are also working out, not simply dieting to lose body fat. Due to your exercise, you should have some lean muscle to fill out the contours of your clothing while having a V-shape torso for the men and hourglass figure for the women.

3. More confidence in your appearance.

Even though having low body fat does not mean you will magically have more confidence, there is a good chance that you will gain confidence from all of the challenges that you had to overcome and also from being able to standing up tall due to your superior posture and presentation.

These benefits can definitely help with your dating life/marriage and your professional life as you have interactions that are no longer dragged down by issues of confidence and self-esteem.

4. You will probably live longer.

Unfortunately, most people will get diseases at some point. For you, the low-body fat individual, these diseases may be delayed much further than the average person. So while some people may be getting major illnesses in their 50’s and 60’s, the person with lower body fat has a better chance of sticking it out until the 80’s and 90’s and beyond before succumbing to some inevitable fate.

Basically, people with lower body fat are likely to have an additional 20-30 years of quality of life than people who eat the Standard American Diet every day.

5. Society treats you better.

Not something that is ideal, but something that is common. People who have a fitter appearance are perceived to be more attractive and of higher social status. With low body fat, people are likely to make positive assumptions about you such as ability to have discipline, a healthy social/dating life, and better career options.

6. Increased athleticism.

Being athletic is not reserved for people who play sports all of the time. You can become quite athletic through structured training regimens and also by decreasing your body fat at the same time.

With lower body fat, you will be able to move your body more efficiently and possibly have more impact for yourself or for your team.

7. You may have less inflammation in the body.

Body fat CAUSES inflammation. When a person has excessive body fat, it actually increases the release of inflammatory cytokines in the body and makes it even harder to burn fat.

The best way to manage inflammation is through healthy nutritional and lifestyle choices.

8. The older you get, the more rare and special you will be.

People in their 40s, 50s, and 60s, or beyond who have low body fat and healthy muscle tone are a rarity. Having low body fat into the middle and older ages is a sign of health, status, and overall discipline. If this is you, congratulations because you are seen as being more attractive and desirable for many social reasons.

9. You have more confidence in your body.

You can take your shirt off now. The beach? No problem. The pool? No problem. You might even start showing off subtlety or explicitly. Physical confidence can be fun, exciting, and alluring. And the best part is that you know that you earned it.

10. Your life is priceless.

If you are lean and fit, it is worth more than any sports car or any mansion or any material item. Having your health, physically and mentally, is something that should never be taken for granted. You could lose it today. So go out and do some good with your lean self.

You must NEVER fat-shame others.

My fit friends, fat shaming is unacceptable just as fit-shaming is. You never know a story of a person until they actually share it with you. I don’t think that having a lean body is the ultimate goal for everybody nor should it be. The pursuit of health is more important than having ripped abs — therefore we must support our fellow people no matter their shape, size, age, or any other criteria related to appearance.