Thursday, August 20, 2009
Reduce Calories and Reduce Unnecessary Time Spent Working Out
Basically by eating less and staying somewhat active each day, you can reduce the amount of time you spend working out each week. It sounds simple, however most people tend to eat too many calories and simply burn those off when they go to the gym.
This is also partially attributed to people eating the post workout shake as well. Most people don't need to consume a drink after the completion of their workout since they are already overeating to begin with. I see many people at the gym who have been training for months or even years and look the same or in some cases worse.
The bottom line is if fat loss is your goal real progress can be made with a reduction in calories consumed. There is no need to become a gym rat.
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Fasting for fat loss!
Just the other day I came across a very interesting study that was published in Acta Physiologica Scandinavia - The journal of the Scandinavian physiological society. In this study the effects of a 3-day fast on human metabolism was examined. The authors found the typical benefits that are associated with fasting:
- No decrease in energy expenditure - in other words no metabolic rate slow down
- A decrease in RQ - indicating an increase in fat burning
- Increased blood flow -
- Decreased blood insulin levels - Considered to be one of the major health benefits of fasting
- Increased glucagon levels - more reliance on body fat as a fuel source
- Increased Growth Hormone levels -Google this for all the health benefits
- Increased noradrenaline - More fat burning hormones
- No increase in cortisol -This is linked to increases in fat and losses in muscle mass
It is also very important to note that the body burns the same amount of calories during a fasting day vs. a non-fasting day (about 2000 Kcals), however during fasting a lot more of these calories are coming from fat. And, since the subjects were not eating any fat while fasting, this fat must have been body fat. Another interesting finding was that the majority of this fat was stomach fat. While fasting for 3 days straight may be a bit too close to Ghandi for me, this study does add evidence to the idea that fasting can be an effective method of reducing calorie intake and increasing fat burning without negatively effect metabolic rate, or muscle mass.
I prefer and have success with fasts as little as 16 hours. My last meal is 6 pm and my next meal is at 10 am the following morning.
Monday, August 10, 2009
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Is six meals a day a good way to lose weight or just another fad to promote protein powders and meal replacement bars?
I’m sure there is a small group of people who might even does very well eating 6 meals per day, and actually have the time to do it…but please, if it doesn’t work for you then let the 6 meals a day idea fade away just like every other industry driven fad.Find the simplest easiest method of reducing the amount of food you eat, while still allowing you to actually enjoy the foods you eat, and then use that method.