Which Diet or Product Will Help Me Lose Weight?
As a personal trainer in San Diego, I have heard about hundreds, if not thousands, of new diets. Every time I am in the checkout line at the supermarket, I see a magazine with Jillian Michaels, Dr. Phil or Dr. Oz, where they are sharing their “secrets” to losing some amount of weight in a short period. At home, as soon as I turn on the television, I see a number of commercials about products that will “melt the fat away”. Also, as the owner of a personal training business, I
Protein Supplementation for Recovery
These days, protein supplementation has become synonymous with the “meat head”. For many weight lifting enthusiasts, particularly those looking to build muscle mass, protein shakes are about as important to them as the oxygen they are breathing in. Unlike the quackery advertisements for unproven products with lofty promises, there have been several peer-reviewed studies published that support the claim that protein supplementation can help build muscle mass. So, what if your
Making Time for Working Out
“I don’t have the time to work out.” If you were to ask me, what excuse have I heard above all others-- this would be it. As a personal trainer, not only am I required to draw up effective workout routines for my clients, but also I have to be able to work with the clients to take a look at their schedules to see where we can fit in these workouts. One of the things people must remember is that they do not have to dedicate hours and hours each day to get in shape—that kind of
Extreme Diets
I was just listening to a podcast, in which the host mentioned going on a diet that would have him lose at least a pound a day. Nowadays, it is almost impossible to get through the day without encountering a commercial for a product or diet that promises huge weight loss in a short amount of time. And, in today’s world, we have grown accustomed to getting instant results, which is one of the reasons why Americans are so willing to spend millions for these products. Living in
Is Human Growth Hormone the Fountain of Youth?
Recently, I saw a commercial promoting a product containing human growth hormone (HGH) that claimed to reduce wrinkles, burn fat, increase muscle mass, and, believe it or not, increase sex drive. As with most hormone therapy products, reducing wrinkles was never the intention as researchers were developing an artificial form of HGH. Human growth hormone is a naturally produced hormone from the brain’s anterior pituitary gland. Its primary function is stimulating insulin-like
The Dreaded Plateau
What happened? You were making so much progress, but you haven’t seen any noticeable gains, as of late. Guess what-- this happens to everybody, so there is no need to become demoralized. The cause of the plateau can be related to a number of reasons, such as diet, workout routine, training form, intensity, genetics, etc. Whether you are looking to increase muscular strength or size, or lose weight, a plateau should be anticipated a time or two, so a well-developed strategy an
Do Weight Loss Supplements Work?
The dietary supplement business is huge. In fact, according to the National Institutes of Health, Americans spent over $36 Billion on nutritional supplements in 2014. When it comes to supplements focusing on promoting weight loss, by either promising to “melt fat away” or appetite suppression, supplement companies have been known to be exceptionally aggressive in their marketing campaigns to lure potential customers who have become frustrated from the lack of results obtained
Alcohol and Fitness: Does having a drink kill my fitness goals?
We all know, either from personal experience or listening to others’ stories, that going overboard on alcoholic drinks is not good for the body; but what about drinking moderately? There have definitely been studies indicating benefits from having a drink, such as stress reduction and a good source of nutrients. For example, a glass of red wine is a rich source of potassium, which has been shown to be beneficial for heart health. According to the American College of Sports Me
How Long Should I Work Out?
A common misconception is that one has to spend hours and hours in the gym to get in shape. Unless you are an elite athlete in training camp or contending for the Mr. Olympia bodybuilding competition, you will not have to dedicate that much time for working out. So, how long do we have to work out to get the results we are looking to get? With working all day and taking care of the kids, two hours-a-day at the gym is far too much to feasibly consider. The good news is that yo
Resist the Resolution Burnout
Two weeks ago, you said to yourself and your loved ones that your 2016 resolution was different from those of years past because this was the year you succeed in losing weight. You got your gym membership, picked up a couple sets of workout clothes, and replaced the cookies in your kitchen with fruit. From my experience, the first week into the New Year is typically the most crowded at the gym, and the intensity from some of the patrons can compare to professional fighters in
