Guest Blog Post: Vanessa Alexander from Fat Attack explains the benefits of fitness boot camps…
Fitness boot camps and weight loss weekends are a fantastic way to kick-start your new healthy lifestyle, perfect for when you want that burst of feel-good exercise. Interactive, intense and individually-based, boot camps leave you feeling – and looking – so much better thanks to the fat-burning activities and nutritious meals.
Christine asked: As a 50+ yr old Mrs Average I don’t want to run a marathon or do loads of interval training down the gym. I want to know that as I get older I am doing what I can to keep my body supple and strong, and disease free. I want to be able to run around a bit with my nephews and nieces, walk up a few flights of stairs without getting out of breath, keep my weight under control but still enjoy eating out without feeling guilty, and do a bit of gardening without aches and pains afterwards! So have you got an exercise plan for these goals please? I do feel that a lot of the information out there is geared towards losing weight, building muscles, and being really fit.
Helen asked: I’m 6 months pregnant and feeling in the worst shape of my life! I was very active before falling pregnant.. going to gym and power walking, but I’m worried about exercising for obvious reasons. Can anyone recommend some light exercises I can do that will keep me in shape? Baby is due in Summer and I like the idea of being a yummy mummy!
Answer…
For most women it is absolutely fine to continue exercising during pregnancy, however please ensure you consult your medical professional if you have any concerns, pain, bleeding, previous miscarriages, high blood pressure etc.
Russ asked: I need some advice on trying to build up my abs. I’m on holiday in 8 weeks and my aim is to have a six pack. I currently go to the gym 3 evenings a week and do a variety of crunches. I also run 3 times a weeks for about 30 to 40 minutes.
Answer…
Abdominal definition will only really show if you have a body fat percentage of less than 12%. No amount of crunches will ’spot reduce’ on your abdominal area if this is not the case.
Guest Blog Post: Pat Phillips-Jones from SureSlim Wellness Clinic offers a great introduction to the wonder hormone that is HGH…
HGH (Human Growth Hormone) from the anterior pituitary influences cells in a way that promote the growth of body tissues. HGH is released throughout life however its effects are most dramatic during childhood. At this stage in life, HGH stimulates the growth of skeletal muscle and bones, therefore as a child’s muscle increases in mass, their bone also increases in length.
Jim asked: Hi, I was just reading the post about coffee and it got me thinking about whether eggs are good or bad. There’s so much conflicting advice about how many you should eat a day/week so could someone advise? I try to eat a lot of eggs for protein so is it a good idea to remove the yolks?
Answer…
This is a good question. You are so right about all the conflicting advice that we read about eggs. It is generally the media that portray such conflicting advice but it is the scientific research on this subject which holds the answer.
Ladies. It’s time to conquer your fear of dumbbells, overcome your addiction to aerobics and discover the INCREDIBLE world of weight training for women!
I strongly believe all women should lift weights.
And I am not talking about lifting little 1kg dumbbells either… I mean BIG weights, with POWERFUL exercises like Squats, Deadlifts, Presses and Rows.
Take a minute to read these 5 great reasons why and hopefully you will be converted!
Paula asked: I have just started running after having my second child. My goal is to run a 5km in the next couple of months and maybe a 10km sometime this year. I haven’t done much running before so wondered if you’ve got any good running tips for someone starting out?
Answer…
Hi Paula. The first thing you need to do – if you haven’t already – is buy a good pair of running shoes, preferably from a specialist running store where you can get professional advice on the best type of shoe for you.
Jim asked: I’m interested to know what the latest health and nutrition research into coffee is. I’ve read so many mixed reports. Is it good or bad for you? How many cups should I have a day? Is it better to have decaff?
Answer…
When looking at research it’s always helpful to know who asked the question, all the positive research I’ve found about coffee drinking (there may be others I’ve missed which I’d certainly be interested in reading) has come from Vanderbilt University Institute of Coffee Studies.
Allow me to take you on a 5 minute visual journey. A journey which, by the end of it, will have you understanding your metabolism, your weight and why you struggle to control it.
Imagine a clear bowl…
The bowl holds exactly 2000ml (2 litres) of water. If you were to pour a 2 litre bottle of water into the bowl it would fill up perfectly to the top. A single drop more and it would overflow.
