posted by Fitness Focus |
May 15, 2012 00:34
Anytime someone is unhappy with their shape, they automatically think of diets first. I certainly can’t blame them, since they consume good portions of television programming, from news of post-pregnancy starlets returning to athletic shape in record time to late night infomercials that prey on our exhausted minds to facilitate an impulse purchase. And then there are those who always ask: will dieting work for me? The answer is yes. They were actually conceived to work for everyone. But there’s a catch.
Diets are designed to work in the short term. They’re not intended for sustained weight loss. This means that within a month or two your body has lost all it can lose and you’ve plateaued at about 85-90% of the original mass. This naturally comes with all the side-effects of hunger: grumpiness, weakness, chemical imbalance, low energy and the instinctive knowledge that you’re doing something wrong. That’s just your body’s way of telling you that without an actual lifestyle change, things just aren’t going to change. A reduction in the number of calories ingested is not the same as calories burned. In effect, it’s practically the opposite, since fasting brings with it fatigue, which makes it difficult to exercise enough to burn calories in the first place.
But the biggest reason for avoiding diets is their effect on muscle. They not only cause it to atrophy during periods of caloric restriction, but they destroy it by reducing the metabolic rate. This doesn’t cause muscle to turn into fat, but for all intents and purposes, once muscle mass has been reduced, the arrival of fat is a natural reaction to the panic mode that the body has been forced into.
According to a recent study published by the New England Journal of Medicine, the relapse and cravings suffered by dieters are not only behavioural but physiological. The body simply keeps producing hunger hormones even years after the diet, eventually leading to relapses. What’s more, according to a new report published in the journal Cell Metabolism, during caloric restriction certain hunger inducing neurons actually consume one another, further boosting the hunger signal and prompting the urgency to consume.
According to a UCLA study, dieting often has the opposite effect of the desired weight loss. Whether it is a fad diet, crash diet or other abrupt caloric restriction, your body will react negatively to it. In fact, several studies now show that dieting is a consistent predictor of future weight gain. The answer is simple: moderate consumption and regular exercise. It works. And let’s not lose sight of the fact that prevention works even better. This is why efforts should be focused on preventing weight gain initially – in particular for young people - rather than counting on the ability to lose it later.
Written by Claudiu Popa, in Canfitpro Magazine
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Tags: Saskatoon Gym, Saskatoon Gyms, Saskatoon Gym Members, Weight Loss, Health Club, Health & Fitness, health, Gym Memberships, Gyms in Saskatoon, Nutrition, Diet and Nutrition, Diet Tips
Informational | Nutrition | Weight Loss
posted by Fitness Focus |
April 6, 2012 15:41
It's time again for our favorite article from Saskatoon Well Being Magazine. Our Favorites usually revolve around diet andnutrition; and here is another great write up about healthy eating for those who are on a vegetarian diet, or wanting to incorporate a vegetarian aspect to their diet.
Vegetarians often return to meat after months or years because their lack of knowledge on how to be a healthy vegetarian catches up with them. To be successful at vegetarianism, you must understand what your body needs and where to find it. We have compiled a list of food alternatives and supplement suggestions so you can be a thriving vegetarian just like some of the staff of Saskatoon Well Being Magazine.
Meat AlternativesThe ever-growing popularity of vegetarianism has necessitated the appearance of companies that create meat substitutes that look, smell, feel and taste like real meat products. Some companies that produce realistic vegetarian meats include Yves, Amy’s Kitchen and Gardenburger. Non-meat versions of hamburgers, hot dogs, ground beef, beef and chicken strips, sandwich meats, sausages, roast beef, meatloaf, chicken burgers, chicken nuggets and even turkey are available. Many of these products can be used directly as substitutes for real meat. For example, instead of using ground beef on nachos, one could use the vegetarian version, ground soy. SeitanThis substance is made by rinsing wheat flour with water until the starch dissolves, leaving the gluten behind. The resulting gluten is a spongy mass with a similar texture to meat and can be used as a non-soy- based meat alternative. Seitan can be fried, steamed, baked or eaten raw. In North American grocery stores it can most commonly be found flavoured with shiitake or Portobello mushrooms, coriander, onion or barbecue and other sauces. TofuTofu is made by coagulating soy milk and pressing the curds into blocks. Tofu has very little smell or taste on its own and picks up flavours from other foods easily. It is low in calories and fat and high in iron and protein. It can be used in a variety of both sweet and savoury applications and is featured prominently in many Asian cuisines. It can be used in soups and desserts and can easily replace animal proteins in many recipes, including stir fries and salads. TVPTVP stands for textured vegetable protein. This is an animal protein substitute made from defatted soy flour, which is a by-product created from the process of making soybean oil. It is fibrous and spongy in texture and comes in granules, chunks or flakes. It has little flavour of its own, but easily absorbs the flavour of whatever it is cooked with. It can be used to replace animal proteins from ground beef, lamb or even fish in dishes such as chili, spaghetti sauce, tacos and burritos. TempehLike tofu, tempeh is made from soybeans, but has a different taste and texture. Tempeh is shaped into patties or cakes and has a slightly nutty flavour. Tempeh also contains more protein, dietary fibre and vitamins than tofu. It can be used in chili, stir-fries, sandwiches, stews and soup recipes. You can even buy tempeh bacon! LegumesUsing legumes such as lentils, chickpeas, kidney beans, peanuts, soybeans and bean sprouts as an alternative to animal proteins found in meat is a great way to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes, since these foods are significantly lower in saturated fats. Legumes are valuable sources of protein, iron and fibre.Keep in mind that while beans are good sources of protein, they are not complete proteins, which means they don’t carry the entire spectrum of amino acids that your muscles need. Be sure to eat beans with rice or another carb source like cornbread to complete the proteins you’re ingesting.
Much more to read, go to How To Be A Healthy Vegetarian
By Tyler Kalmakoff & Sarah Stefanson
Fitness Focus Saskatoon
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Tags: Gyms in Saskatoon, Health Club, Health & Fitness, Saskatoon Gym Members, Saskatoon Magazine, Well Being Magazine, Weight Loss, Saskatoon, Saskatoon Fitness Centres, Nutrition, Diet Tips, Fitness Center
Informational | Nutrition | Weight Loss
posted by Fitness Focus |
April 1, 2012 16:27
Spring is upon us, Saskatoon! Time to get outside and enjoy the weather after the dark winter months; and our Outdoor Boot Camps are starting May 14th for Members and Non-Members. This year we'll be offering early morning and evening workouts to suit everybody's schedule.
Evening Outdoor Boot Camps with Robin run May 14th - June 25th, Mondays at 6:30pm
Morning Outdoor Boot Camps with Jenn run June 5th - July 12th, Tuesdays & Thursdays at 6:00am
Spots are limited, so come down to the gym to reserve your spot with the Desk Staff today.
If you have any questions about availability or prices contact us at (306) 244-6413 or info@fitnessfocus.ca
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Tags: Bootcamp, Gyms in Saskatoon, Saskatoon Gym, Health & Fitness, Health Club, Health and Fitness, Saskatoon Gyms, Training, Weight Loss, Workout, physical fitness
Personal Training | Weight Loss
posted by Fitness Focus |
February 20, 2012 18:11
Here is another great article from February's issue of Wellbeing Magazine
Try Low Glycemic, Complex Carbs. This paragraph could have been titled Control Your Insulin because that’s essentially what you’re trying to do here. Carbs coming from foods like yams, sweet and red potatoes, whole grains, oatmeal and brown rice are made of long chains of sugar and are digested far more slowly than higher glycemic and, oftentimes, more processed carbs like white bread, instant rice, candy, fries and many cereals like Cheerios and Corn Flakes. Because lower glycemic carbs take longer to break down, not only do they make you feel more satisfied and full, but they also help maintain more consistent blood glucose levels in your body—the key to fat burning.
The more quickly carbs enter your bloodstream, like with high glycemic foods, the more your body responds by flooding itself with insulin. Large, inconsistent spikes in insulin fatigue you and inhibit your body’s fat storing processes, which can lead to health problems over the long run.
By Tyler Kalmakoff
This is a very indepth article and has much more information about managing your carbs than you see here. check out Saskatoon Well Being
posted by Fitness Focus |
February 2, 2012 02:15
Issue #2 of Saskatoon Well Being Magazine is out this week . Well Being Magazine is a well written and comprehensive magazine about everything to do with your overall health and wellness. You can get your copy, free at the gym now. You can also find it at any of their other locations throughout Saskatoon. Check the website, http://www.saskatoonwellbeing.com/, for a preview and where else in the city you can find it.
Ladies, there is a great article about your weight training on Page 24.
Fitness Focus Health & Athletic Centre
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Tags: Saskatoon Magazine, Saskatoon Gyms, Gym, Fitness, wellness, Workout, Weight Loss, physical fitness, Diet and Nutrition, Fitness Centre, health club
Informational | Weight Loss
posted by Fitness Focus |
December 4, 2011 11:48
Its that time of year again; Fitness Focus Gift Certificates are available for anyone you might know in Saskatoon that is looking for a gym. Gift Certificates are available for everything from Regular Memberships, Group Fitness and All Service Memberships. Gift Certificates can also be added to existing memberships.
Please contact Fitness Focus at info@fitnessfocus.ca or at the club.
posted by Fitness Focus |
November 30, 2011 14:06
Many Canadians believe they don't have enough time to exercise or eat healthy meals, the Heart and Stroke Foundation says....
A recent poll by The heart and Stroke Foundation reaveals some fairly predictable results about people's levels of physical activity. Read this article(linked below), it might give you a different perspective about how you view your physical activity levels and how productively you spend your time; not necessarily in the gym, but staying physically healthy in general.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/health/story/2011/11/28/heart-stroke-foundation-online-poll.html
Fitness Focus Health & Athletic Centre
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Tags: Saskatoon Gym Members, Fitness, Gym, Gyms in saskatoon, Gym Memberships, Health & Fitness, Health Club, Saskatoon, Weight Loss, Workout, Exercise
Informational | Weight Loss
posted by Fitness Focus |
June 7, 2011 16:27
Just because it's finally nice outside doesn't mean it's time to let go of all the progess you've made from Fall through Spring. The Group Fitness Studio is still packed with a great class lineup, so when fall rolls around again you don't have to be "that person" wishing you hadn't traded all your workouts for a patio during the summer.
It may take a little extra motivation to make that trip to the gym over the summer when you are trying to take advantade of every minute of sun we get. Keeping your focus will result in the difference between reaching and maintaining your goals in the gym and in your overall fitness, versus starting from the bottom when the weather turns cold and you decide you've taken enough steps in the opposite direction.
Everyone gets busy during the summer months, but don't lose sight of the importance of getting at least 30 minutes of exercise per day.
Zumba, Spin, Boxercise Tabata, MetCon and much more; see The Aerobics Schedule for classes and times!
http://www.fitnessfocus.ca/schedule.aspx
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Tags: group fitness studio, group fitness classes, exercise, saskatoon gyms, gyms in saskatoon, zumba, spin, spinning, boxercise, step, aerobics
Classes | Gym Membership | Weight Loss
posted by Fitness Focus |
May 30, 2011 13:55
The 2011 Annual Outdoor Spring Bootcamp is filling up! Outdoor Bootcamp will be running twice a week from June 7/11 through July 14/11. There are still a few spots available! To reserve yours or for more information; please contact us by phone 244.6413, email us at info@fitnessfocus.ca, or come down to the club
posted by Fitness Focus |
April 20, 2011 17:22
Outdoor Bootcamp Will be starting soon! Outdoor Bootcamp will be running twice a week from June 7/11 through July 14/11. Spots are limited! For information on times and price or to secure your spot; please phone 244.6413, email us at info@fitnessfocus.ca, or come down to the club.
Outdoor Bootcamp is not included in any Kijiji Deals or Groupon Offers
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