Month: August 2014

I wanted to post this question and answer from the guy that created the Turbulence Training program, Craig Ballantyne,  because I know how many people just run through their cardio without doing it the right way. It is not a pleasant jog or a sprint you are looking for but instead something in between that you should strive for. Read on….

Question About Cardio
Craig, I’ve been told to exercise in my “fat burning zone”. What’s the best cardio method for loss.

Answer:

Creator of Turbulence Training

Cardio is not the only solution.

Clearly it adds to the energy deficit and overall calorie balance that favors fat loss.

BUT it’s not the “be all end all” of fat loss success – and that is anecdotally supported by the number of over distance runners.

I almost never recommend long, slow cardio…simply because no one I train or consult with has the time for this, and it doesn’t work any better than shorter, less frequent, more intense interval training sessions.

Five or six days of 45-minute cardio sessions in my fat-burning zone? Yeah right, like anyone has time for that.

If I told you that you could get the same results (or better, as recent research suggests) in three 20-minute interval sessions each week as you could from three or five 45-minute slower cardio sessions each week, which would you choose?

Yes, intervals feel about 10x’s harder than regular, slow, boring cardio. And yes, you won’t be able to read your people magazine when doing intervals. And you might breath a little heavy. So if you’re worried about sweating, than maybe fat loss isn’t for you.

But if you don’t mind going against the crowd, intervals are worth every second for the superior results.

Now here’s one reason why Turbulence Training may actually work better for women than men…

More women tend to start Turbulence Training after having spent months or years using slow cardio and light (if any) s. And selfishly, I could not be any happier – because when these dedicated women start using the shorter, more intense strength and interval sessions they make rapid progress and make me look like a genius.

The accolades come pouring in…I have dozens of testimonials from women thanking me for saving them TIME while helping them finally breakthrough stubborn fat loss plateaus (and eliminating the pain from their overuse injuries that occurred due to high volumes of cardio). Their words make me feel like a million bucks because the Turbulence Training workouts are making these women feel like a million bucks.

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Should I become a vegetarian? That’s a question many people ask themselves after reading articles or maybe books about diet, health and nutrition. There is so much conflicting information about which diet is healthiest, or best for loss, that subjects like this can be very confusing indeed.

There is no single answer for everyone. Aside from all the theories about whether it’s healthier to eat meat or not, you ultimately have to do what feels best to you.

For many people, it’s best to experiment with different diets until you find one that works best for you. You can, however, take some important facts into consideration when it comes to the vegetarian question.

The Problem With Meat

A lot of what’s wrong with meat today has to do with the way it’s prepared. If you have heard about the conditions at modern factory farms, you may know that the animals are kept very close together, which can cause illness.

To prevent or treat these diseases, they are given powerful antibiotics. These, of course, remain in their system after they are slaughtered and eventually make their way into the bodies of people who eat meat.

Are these antibiotics harmful to humans?

The evidence is inconclusive so far, but people who prefer to eat a natural diet but who don’t want to give up meat should consider eating organic meat.

In addition to antibiotics, there’s the question of growth hormones, which are often given to animals to maximize their growth -and profitability. Again, there is no definite evidence that these are harmful, but often when it comes to issues like this, by the time the evidence comes out, it’s too late for people who have been consuming the product for years!

What is true for meat is also true for animal products, such as eggs, milk, cheese and butter. If you want to be safe or stick to a more natural diet, once again, the solution is to go organic.

Is A Vegetarian Diet Healthier?

Some people feel that it’s more ethical to be a vegetarian, as meat-eating does involve killing animals. This is a complicated question, and one that everyone has to decide for themselves. What about the health issue?

One of the main reasons why some people claim that a vegetarian diet is healthier (aside from the issues mentioned in the previous section, which can be gotten around by consuming organic animal products) has to do with saturated fat. This is a somewhat controversial subject.

It is generally conceded that trans fats are unhealthy. These are found in junk foods like deep fried and hydrogenated foods. It is also agreed upon that monounsaturated fats, the kind found in foods like nuts, avocados and coconut and olive oils are healthy.

These fatty acids are beneficial to your body and can help lower your cholesterol. Saturated fats, which are found in animal products, are the subject of debate.

Many nutritionists have claimed that these fats are not good for you. However, others, influenced by the research of Weston Price, have concluded that many traditional people around the world have been eating high fat animal foods for thousands of years (think of the Eskimos, who have lived largely on whale) with virtually no heart disease or cancer.

So, while there is still much debate on this subject, it would probably be an oversimplification to say that a vegetarian diet is healthier. The fact is, whether you eat meat or not, you should try to eat the most natural, preferably organic, foods you can find.

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If outdoor fitness has been your road not taken, summer may be perfect time to ditch those climate-controlled Pilates classes and take a hike.

“The Green Mountains of Vermont is the gym in our backyard,” said Jimmy LeSage, owner of the New Life Hiking Spa in Killington, Vermont. “You get to be in nature. It’s more tranquil.”

Although the spa offers other activities, its centerpiece is hiking, which can mean anything from a leisurely nature jaunt to an arduous trek up a mountain.

“You get stronger, you lose , you de-stress,” said LeSage, a former ski bum who has been ushering -conscious clients through the Green Mountains for more than 20 years.

Hard economic times may be driving more budget-conscious Americans to move their fun, and their fitness, out of doors. The Outdoor Foundation, a nonprofit association of the outdoor recreation industry, reported that participation in hiking grew by nine percent in 2008.

Traversing hills, especially while carrying a backpack, burns calories, strengthens muscles and can prove addictive enough to uproot even the most stubborn couch potato, according to Dr. Patty Freedson of the American College of Sports Medicine.

Hiking is Not Just One Hill

“Hiking doesn’t take a lot of skills and can be done with group support,” she said. “Most important, it’s enjoyable. If you can get a sedentary person to do one or two miles and sustain it, that would be great.”

The Fatpacking company, based in Hull, Massachusetts, likes their hiking-for–loss treks spiked with camping and wilderness training.

“I also call it ‘fitpacking’ because people don’t want to tell other people they’re going to Fatpacking,” said company founder Steve Silberberg.

Silberberg, who left a career in computer programming to indulge his inner boy scout, said his expeditions, while geared to loss, are not for the morbidly obese or the faint of heart.

“It’s not for couch potatoes or ‘Big Loser’ types,” he said, referring to the popular television show that helps people lose . “Over steep terrain with a huge pack on your back, you get a cumulative fatigue. Thighs and butts tend to get a bit bigger because of increased muscle mass. Body composition changes a little bit.”

Bree Gotsdiner, an occasional co-guide, said people often use Fatpacking treks to jumpstart a diet.

“People always lose fat, always gain muscle,” she explained. “(Food) portions are limited to what we carry,” the former firefighter, said, adding all guides are EMT and wilderness certified.

“You need different skills when you’re in the forest than when you’re in the city.”

Hiking is a Tough Workout

Silberberg said the most important thing to pack on a hike is a good attitude, but he admits the expeditions may not be for everyone.

“We hike whether it’s rain or shine or snow,” he said. “If you think you’re going to be unhappy without electricity or plumbing, maybe it’s not for you.”

This winter Fatpacking plans to tackle the Haute Route in the Alps. But that journey may see clients forgoing sleeping bags for warm beds.

“We work with what’s available,” Silberberg explained. “People are not as willing to camp out if they know that there’s an inn a mile away.”

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