General Fitness article by Ben on Monday, February 08, 2010 5:16:06 PM EST
A few of the trainers at the studio that I train out of entered an indoor rowing championship this past weekend and we won for the second straight year! The corporate challenge consisted of 8 people per team - 6 men and 2 women and was the combined team average for the 500 meter row.
I'm not going to lie... this was BY FAR one of the hardest things that I have done in a really long time! I was totally exhausted at the end and I can't believe how trashed my body felt after only a minute and a half of full out exertion! My quads were so tight and sore after I finished from all the lactic acid and my head was pounding which I presume was from oxygen deprivation to my brain! And even though I completely bonked during the row and totally ran out of gas with more than a hundred meters to go, I still managed to do it in 1 min 29 sec! Not bad for only a week of preparation.. I think I'm going to actually work on my technique a bit this year and shoot for 1:26 next year!
General Fitness article by Ben on Saturday, January 30, 2010 2:40:57 PM EST
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to walk on a couple of upside down miniature Bosu's? Well now you can find out with Reebok's revolutionary new shoe called the EasyTone walking shoe! Reebok claims these innovative new shoes will help you achieve a firmer butt and leaner legs by "increasing foot and ankle instability" and forcing you to activate deeper muscle fibers while you're walking.
Skechers has also launched a similar shoe line called Shape-Ups. The "Shape-Up" walking shoe has a rounded sole and claims that it too can help tone leg muscles, promote weight loss and improve posture.
Now these shoes might sound pretty cool and totally cutting edge but if you ask me, they're just a big, corporate marketing scam and it blows me away how gullible consumers can be sometimes! I mean, check out this incredibly cheesy ad that Reebok launched to promote the new shoes! Could they have found a scrawnier spokesmodel? And why do they keep panning the camera over to her non-existent, flat butt!? Maybe she should take her own advice and start hitting the streets in those EasyTone walking shoes, it might help her get some better muscle tone!
General Fitness article by Ben on Saturday, January 23, 2010 5:05:25 PM EST
I came across this article again the other day and thought I'd share it with anyone that hasn't yet heard of the inspirational story of Team Hoyt. Team Hoyt is a father-son racing team that has competed together for over 30 years and have completed over 1000 races. This in itself is a huge accomplishment but what makes this story really special is that Rick Hoyt has cerebral palsy and is a spastic quadriplegic and his father Dick has pushed him across the finish line in his wheelchair every single race!
Their life story is pretty amazing. Rick was born without the ability to speak but was eventually able to communicate with his parents when he had a custom computer built for him in 1972. His first words.. Go Bruins! I think this is so cool because the Boston Bruins made it to the stanley cup finals that year and that was the moment his dad knew that Rick was a hockey and sports fan like any other kid!
In 1977 Rick asked his dad if they could compete in a 5 mile charity run to benefit a local lacrosse player who had been injured. Dick had never been a runner but agreed to push his son in his wheelchair and complete the race together. After they crossed the finish line Rick told his father "Dad, when I'm running, it feels like I'm not handicapped anymore!" After this realization, Dick decided to dedicate his life to racing and giving his son that feeling of freedom as many times as he could! Since that first 5 mile race, Team Hoyt has gone on to compete in hundreds of marathons, duathlons and triathlons, including 6 ironman competitions!
I think this story is absolutely amazing and shows the undeniable strength and will that lies in every one of us. And if Rick can overcome all of his disabilities and go on to become a Boston University graduate and his dad can push him across a thousand finish lines, just imagine what you could do if you set your mind to it!
Diet & Nutrition article by Marlaena on Thursday, January 14, 2010 3:55:15 PM EST
Lately I’ve received a few emails asking about diet and weight loss so I figured I’d post a couple sample meal plans that’ll give people some examples of healthy eating and smarter food choices. It’s recommended to eat 5-6 small meals a day or every 2-3 hours to keep your metabolism going and help prevent binge eating. So try to eat your breakfast first thing in the morning and stop eating approximately 3 hours before bed.
We’re currently working on a brand new nutrition section that will be launched in a few months and I’ll be contributing to that regularly, posting meal plans, recipes, cooking tips and more! It’ll also include a calorie counter and food journal so you’ll be able to keep track of the foods you eat which will definitely help keep you more accountable to your goals!
Sample Meal Plan
* Breakfast
2 slices of whole grain toast
2 tbsp peanut butter
1/2 cup of grapes
1 cup of skim milk
* Snack
1 oz of cheese
I apple
* Lunch
Turkey wrap
3 slices of turkey breast
1 whole grain wrap
1/2 cup peppers
1/4 cup of bean sprouts
* Snack
1/3 cup of hummus
3 finn crisp crackers
* Dinner
Grilled Chicken and Green Beans
3 oz of skinless chicken breast
1 cup of green beans
1/2 cup cooked brown rice
1 tsp olive oil
Sample Meal Plan
* Breakfast
Breakfast Wrap
1 scrambled egg with red pepper & green onion
1 ounce light havarti cheese
1 orange
1 cup of skim milk
* Snack
1/2 cup of strawberries
low fat yogurt
* Lunch
Chicken Sandwich
2 oz grilled skinless chicken breast
roasted peppers, spinach, tomato,
onion & mustard
*Snack
15 almonds
1 small banana
* Dinner
3 oz lean beef
1/2 cup sweet potato
Large salad with 1 tbsp dried cranberries
2 tbsp cashew nuts, 1 oz feta cheese, balsamic vinegar,
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Disclaimer: The information provided on this site is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment for any medical conditions. Consult with a healthcare professional before starting any diet, exercise or supplementation program, or if you have or suspect you might have a health problem.