Body Fitness
Foods for Energy
Thursday, October 20, 2011 Shabi Silva Body Fitness
Food is fuel for the body, and by adjusting your dietary patterns, it is possible to increase energy naturally, and have a healthy steady supply to get you through each day. Fuel your body with energy-boosting foods and you can increase your energy levels fast and naturally. Read on and find out how.
First consider changing your eating patterns. Eat small and frequent meals. Maintain a steady supply of nutrients to your body and increase your long-term energy levels. Also, make sure your bigger meals are in the middle of the day rather than at night. Your digestion is naturally tuned to be more effective during the day, allowing your body to break down food for energy more effectively.
Next, incorporate proteins and whole grains into your diet. Complex carbohydrates in whole grains take longer to break down in your body, which helps to keep your energy levels steady throughout the day. Examples of whole grains include pasta, brown rice and oats. Insufficient protein is a common reason for fatigue. Keep some almonds and nuts at the workplace for a quick and convenient protein snack.
If for some reason you can’t maintain a balanced diet, consider taking a multivitamin supplement. Deficiencies in minerals such as magnesium can reduce magnesium levels. The recommended daily intake of magnesium is around 300 milligrams for women and 350 milligrams for men.
Lastly, drink more water and cut down on caffeine. Dehydration can lead to fatigue so keep your body hydrated throughout the day. Overuse of caffeine can lower blood sugar levels and as a result sap your energy levels.
By Recent Health Articles
5 Ways to Boost Your Energy Levels
Energy is essential in this sleep-deprived, high-speed, modern world. Here are 5 simple ways to recharge your batteries and increase productivity and energy levels. If your energy reserves are running low, consider implementing a few of these recommendations over the next few weeks and see how you feel:
1. Get a good night’s sleep.
Getting the right amount of sleep at the right times is critical to staying energized during the day. Eliminate as much light as possible from your bedroom as light interferes with the body’s circadian rhythm thereby interfering with sleep. Avoid napping during the day especially in the late afternoon.
2. Get your body moving – exercise.
Implement at least 20 minutes of cardio exercise at least 4 times a week. By expending energy on a regular basis, you actually boost your energy levels. Do it regularly but do not push yourself to the point of exhaustion.
3. Slow down and do less.
Evaluate your to-do lists and list down your priorities. Get rid of the less important items. Schedule leisure time for yourself. Stress from any source is an energy zapper, and will have an adverse impact on your general health.
4. Eat small but frequent meals.
By maintaining a steady supply of nutrients to your body, you increase your long-term energy levels. Incorporate proteins, wholegrains, high-fibre vegetables and nuts into your diet to maintain balanced blood sugar levels. Also, make sure your bigger meals are in the middle of the day rather than at night.
5. Cut out energy zappers from your diet.
Fluctuations in blood sugar can cause plummeting energy levels. Decrease or cut out refined sugars from your diet. Caffeine intake should also be limited to the mornings. Overuse of caffeine especially in the afternoons will lower energy levels after they give you an initial kick.
By Health Articles
5 Instant Natural Energy Boosters
We all have days when our energy is low. Days when we have an insanely busy day, a full schedule, or are suffering from lack of sleep and an energy slump strikes mid-afternoon. Here are some instant ways to put a spring back into our step even on the days when we feel dog-tired.
1. Drink more water.
Dehydration causes fatigue, so keep your body hydrated throughout the day. Caffeine can jumpstart your body initially but too much, and you’ll see your energy levels plummet. Start your day with a glass of water, enjoy your daily coffee fix if you must, then switch back to water.
2. Stretch.
Regular stretching not only keeps your muscles and tendons healthy, it also keeps the brain’s arteries unclogged. Maintaining a free flow of oxygenated blood to your most vital organ is an excellent way to increase vigor in your life.
3. Get a whiff of citrus.
The smells of oranges, lemons and grapefruit have been shown to be energizing, so drop a slice or two into your water. You can also incorporate citrus-infused shampoos and body washes into your showers. For a quick midday refresher, get a whiff or two of citrus-scented essential oils.
4. Listen to music.
Plug in that ipod and take a few minutes to listen to your favourite music. Put together a personalised soundtrack that you can listen to while getting ready in the morning, during the morning drive to the office or to tune out to when you need a midday recharge. Music can sharpen our mental focus and boost our moods.
5. Hang out with friends who cheer you.
Co-workers, friends and family make the good times great and the bad times bearable. Even just chatting with the postman or the barista can help boost our energy levels and power you through to lunch.
By Current Health Articles
Top Natural Ways to Increase Energy
Forget about energy drinks and coffee. It is possible to increase energy naturally, and have a healthy steady supply to get you through each day. By adjusting your personal eating, sleeping and exercise patterns, you can fight tiredness and boost your energy level fast and naturally. Read on and find out how.
1. Getting adequate sleep at night is key to staying energized throughout the day. Try to sleep at the same time everyday and aim to get at least 7 hours of quality sleep. Eliminate as much light and other distractions from your bedroom as possible in order to get the best quality sleep possible. Avoid napping during the day especially in the late afternoon.
2. Try to add at least 20 minutes of cardio exercise into your daily routine. Do it regularly but do not push yourself to the point of exhaustion. Exercise is an excellent metabolism booster. Not only will exercising regularly boost your energy during the day, it will also help you sleep better at night, provided you don’t exercise up to 3 hours before bedtime.
3. Your body needs fuel to keep your energy levels up. The following are things to watch out for food in your diet.
• Drink more water.
Dehydration causes fatigue, so keep your body hydrated throughout the day.
• Cut down on caffeine.
Caffeine may give you that initial kick but overuse of it will lower blood sugar and consequently energy levels.
• Eat more protein.
Insufficient protein is a common reason for fatigue. Pack some almonds and nuts for a quick and convenient protein snack or have a hard-boiled egg for breakfast.
• Watch out for excess sugar.
Excess sugar causes fluctuating blood sugar levels, which can result in plummeting energy levels. Try to decrease all forms of refined sugars, including the “hidden sugars” in low-fat foods.
• Eat small and frequent meals.
Maintain a steady supply of nutrients to your body and increase your long-term energy levels. Incorporate proteins, wholegrains, high-fibre vegetables and nuts into your diet to keep blood sugar levels balanced.
By Health Tips
Why You Should Attend Pilates Classes?
Saturday, December 4, 2010 Shabi Silva Body Fitness
A large number of fitness lovers became interested in Pilates ever since it became a famous exercise program. As compared to other exercise programs, it is not concerned on increasing cardiovascular fitness like running. On the other hand, it is mainly focused on performing body movements using your mind. Intense focus is needed to execute Pilates routine since proper breathing and correct body alignment is a must. It can be said that it is quite similar to yoga since it’s done gradually using controlled movements and breathing. The main focus of pilates classes is to develop flexibility, strength, balance and coordination. Additionally,all you need are some equipments to complete your work-out. These equipments are Pilates mat, magic ring and comfortable clothing. If you already have them, then read on why you should attend Pilates classes:
Build strength.Pilates is great for building strength which starts from having a strong midsection.Core training is the emphasis of Pilates classes where you have to perform routines using your abdominals. Stretching and resistance training is heavily incorporated in the exercise itself which is why joining pilates classes is like joining a gym but not lifting heavy weights. Bulky muscles would be a thing of the past and you will have more toned and leaner muscles.Enhance stamina. This is one reason why many athletes incorporate pilates in their exercise program. Almost all sports activities require endurance especially during training season. In everyday living, people need stamina in performing the tasks assigned to them which can include staying long hours in front of the computer or walking around office buildings. No matter what task, enhanced stamina prevents you from getting tired easily.
Added flexibility. As people grow older, flexibility becomes limited causing their bodies to ache. Enrolling in pilates classes can add flexibility so you can prevent injury from sudden turns or movements. Pilates makes the muscle fibers longer thereby making a person more flexible and experience less muscle soreness. For this reason, many dancers also do pilates.
Develop balance. This seems unimportant but having the right balance especially for women prevents them from dangerous hip injuries. Also, men who like to play sports like basketball would prevent slips and falls if they are more balanced.
Indeed, joining pilates classes is one great way to totally improve your appearance and make you stronger too.
Why Pilates Ring Exercises Can be Good For You
One of the remarkbale things about Pilates is that there are very few equipments needed so health buffs do not need a large space when performing the routines. To be more specific, the most likely objects that you need are pilates ring and pilates mat. The pilates mat help you avoid slipping on the floor and cushioning your body in some movements. Plus, it enables you to move easily even on a hard floor. Another important equipment - the pilates ring, also known as the magic circle can provide resistance in some routines. Pilates rings have different resistance levels depending upon a users skill level. Also, it is a versatile but affordable tool which can be bought for less than $30 from any fitness store.
Pilates ring exercises can be done to supplement the basic routines in a pilates program. Usually, pilates ring exercises are used by practitioners of Windsor pilates. It can be effectively used in toning several areas of the body creating a sculpted and lean look. There is no need to go the gym to lift heavy weights and experience soreness afterwards. Likewise, pilates ring exercises can do away with heavy equipment to grow your muscles. Although using this equipment does not mean that there won't be any muscle soreness after doing pilates exercises, however, the pain is tolerable since the magic circles resistance level can be adjusted. As you increase strength, the level of pilates ring exercises can also be changed.
Another interesting feature of pilates ring exercises is that you can exercise almost anywhere. Even while on vacation, you can perform them in the comforts of your bedroom. There are numerous Pilates ring exercises DVDs that you can buy which makes your routines easier to follow. You can also search videos online that shows sample of pilates ring exercises so you can compare whether your'e using the pilates ring correctly. Several pilates classes also require students to use pilates ring since they often include pilates ring exercises in their routine to add variety. You have to diligently practice your pilates ring exercises in order to get the results you need. No matter how functional an equipment maybe, commitment is still the key to the success of an exercise program.
Vital Pilates Mat Exercises for Beginners
Pilates mat exercises are set of exercises that can be done using a Pilates mat. As a beginner in pilates, you would realize that in order to perform advance pilates routines later, you must learn how to stabilize your body against movement. When you stabilize the body before executing any moves, you are in a way warming it up and protecting it from any injury. Stabilizing the body requires you to do some fundamental pilates mat exercises which can go a long way in strengthening your body and building control. There are some essential pilates mat exercises that you must master in order to gain the full benefits of a pilates program for beginners. Dont be deceived thinking that pilates mat exercises are easy, in fact, they can really be challenging enough. Now, bring out that pilates mat and try the following routines: Spine to Mat This is very fundamental and easy but really important. To do this, simply lie on the floor on your back. Try to raise your legs in the air with your toes reaching for the ceiling.You would notice that your back's vertebra is sinking to the floor as your spine elongates. Slightly lower your legs to the floor and if you observed that your back started to arch up, then your abs are still weak. Sure sounds simple but it's a great way to check if your back is already strong.
Spine peeled off from the mat Since you now learned how to anchor your spine to the mat, it's time to peel it off from the mat. Lie on your back with bended knees and feet flat on the floor.This is known as the neutral position. Place your hands on the back of your head with your arms to the sides. Inhale through the nose and gradually raise your back lifting the pubic bone. Hold for two seconds then exhale as you slowly bring down your back to the floor. Feel each vertebra as it touches the floor. Inhale slowly. Perform three times.
It is highly preferable that you do the given basic pilates mat exercises as some sort of a warm-up. Placing your body in a neutral position can help properly align your vertebra so you can safely proceed with other routines later on.
Very Basic Pilates Exercises for Beginners
Physically active individuals willing to try pilates for the first time are excited to do the routines they have watched on TV shows or public advertisements. However, like any type of fitness program, some things are required that would help in doing the routines. It is necessary to wear comfortable and light clothing that would allow you to perform the routine. Purchase a good pilates mat that’s at least ½ inch thick since it would serve as your cushion against the floor. Select a quiet place where you can do pilates exercise for beginners that would enable you to focus on to the routines. Once you have the necessary materials and a good location, try performing the pilates exercise for beginners: Warm Up – Typically, an exercise begins with a proper warm-up. Stretching is a good start so you can warm up your body. In the case of pilates exercise for beginners, the warm up can be done lying down on your back. A fundamental routine that you have to learn is the neutral position which is neccessary for any pilates exercise for beginners. The neutral position involves raising your knees with hip width apart and holding for a few seconds. Then, you slowly bring down your back on the floor.
The Hundred This is the most basic pilates mat work that every beginner must do. The purpose of this exercise is to wake up the body and warm it up for harder routines later. Simply lie on your back and bring your knees to your chest. Remember to curl your head and shoulders as you lift them up from the mat. Gradually reach for your legs at a certain level ( bent at 90 degrees). The arms have to move upward and downward while breathing for five counts. You have to do this with ten breaths. Repeat ten times.
The Roll Up - First, lie down on your back. Raise your arms to the ceiling and gradually go all the way up. Again, curl your head and shoulders as you roll your way up placing your head towards your knees.Then, slowly roll back to your first position and lie down with your arms reaching out.
The Reformer : Basic and Vital Pilates Exercise Equipment
Pilates practitioners have long understood that it takes persistence to get the desired results from Pilates program. One must persevere and constantly strive to repeat the routines until mastery is achieved. Pilates is not just any cardiovascular exercise where all you have to do is repeat movements. Instead, it is a unique form of exercise where you must focus your mind to control body movements. Aside from the mental discipline required to perform Pilates, there are also some traditional equipment that avid Pilates followers must know. This important pilates exercise equipment is known as the Reformer. This article would elaborate further on the important role of a Reformer in acquiring that Pilates sculpted body. Most individuals who see a Reformer for the first time assume that this pilates exercise equipment was used to torture people during the medieval period. Technically, the reformer is known as the Universal reformer or the rack. Picture your self squeezing in a contraption that occupies 3 by 8 foot space which seems rather small. Then, wrap your toes around a bar and cling to a pair of leather handles which you have to pull back and forth. It seems absurd or even unthinkable that such pilates exercise equipment can really do wonders for your body.
Seriously,this bedlike platform which slides back and forth allows Pilates buffs to do different types of exercises through several positions like lying on your back, on your knees and even standing. Like the mat, this unique pilates exercise equipment is as good as the Pilates mat for beginners. Nowadays, a large number of fitness buffs believe that they only acquire decent resistance training by going to the gym. However,the reformer is more functional and versatile than gym equipment which can really make your body exercise in a safe manner. Among the benefits of using a reformer are proper body alignment, better blood circulation, improved enhanced endurance, complete work-out for the vertebra, stretched spine and a lot more. It's really a whole body work-out that would not only sculpt your body but enhance balance and control as well. Indeed, the reformer is an essential pilates exercise equipment that a beginner can learn to appreciate. To check out different reformers, browse online and see various models.