Confessions of a Personal Fitness Trainer

Posted on June 24, 2018 by tmsmail

Last year I had a number of clients who started stubbornly on the Atkins diet despite my warnings. Immediately I saw almost profound results in their weight loss. I reminded them it was the loss of water weight, and warned of the strain on the kidneys and the high cholesterol risk.

During this time I was mastering my yoga practice as a complete vegan but found that my immune system had been profoundly compromised and I was currently on my third cold for the fall season.

Atkins was in the media again because of new study results indicating lowered cholesterol. I went to the Atkins book yet again with a more open mind, and decided to try the diet. I liked the contrarian view point to the current AMA position of the low fat diet, which seemed to be producing a society of increasing obesity. Atkins view of sugar as the culprit making you fat, not fat, made sense and the extra work from all the protein for the kidneys… it’s benign. I wanted to use his diet as a tool to get myself entirely off of any sugar.

I started out on the high protein, low carb aspect of the diet. As I reintroduced the animal proteins into my diet I could feel myself get stronger and the colds, finally stopped. I also saw my muscle bellies start to open and swell again. The cold of winter was not as painful as it had been while on my vegan diet.

I then summoned up the courage to start bringing fats into my diet, including bacon, egg yolks, cream cheese, heavy cream, whipped cream, even bacon rinds. On a daily basis I would marvel at having eaten these “forbidden foods” only to awaken the next day thin, svelte. I couldn’t believe this, result! I was loving eating all these foods so familiar yet banished since…childhood

I was in full swing eating the high fat, high protein, low carb diet at the time when the pictures on my website were taken. I felt strong, but I had no energy!!! My walks on the beach were lethargic, I had to force myself to go that extra mile. I was thin but I felt like a beached whale. My love affair with Atkins continued a few more months. I followed his prescriptions religiously.

Eventually I had to add more carbs, I needed more energy. By carbs I mean vegetables, salads and whole grains. At this point I gained back the total of two pounds I had lost on Atkins. Body fat went from 16% to 18%, my energy was better. After 7 months I decided it was time to get the blood checked out and to my horror discovered that my cholesterol which had always been around 150 had rocketed up to 300!! Luckily my HDL to LDL ratio was still at a healthy level. Thanks to my forcing myself to exercise, I kept my HDLs high.

I immediately started drinking hot lemon juice with cayenne pepper every morning to clean my blood. I have now thrown away all the high fat foods and have once again, come back full circle to moderation and balance. A balanced diet. It takes a little more discipline but my energy is back and I can now eat the same meals as my

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How to Live a Successful Fitness Lifestyle

Posted on June 23, 2018 by tmsmail

Dear Deborah

Question From Ann, NewYork City: Every time I begin a fitness program, life gets in the way, I start stalling and before I know it I’ve fallen off the wagon and gained 5lbs. I can’t really afford a personal trainer but I can see how they can help you stay on track. I’ve tried DVD’s and classes with no success. Is there anything out there that can help me?

Answer : Thank you Ann for your honesty, I know many women have similar frustrations while pursuing their fitness lifestyle. There’s a lot of new research out there in the Fitness world and from that dearth of research is a new hybrid of personal trainers. They’re called Fitness Lifestyle Coaches, they can provide both exercise and behavioral guidance and they are a cheaper alternative to a Personal Fitness Trainer. I will address your question in the mindset of a Fitness Lifestyle Coach so you will catch a glimpse of how the lifestyle fitness coaching process can work.

So, lets get down to basics and define fitness, which includes three elements. First you need a cardio challenge where the heart and breathing rate are significantly raised. The second ingredient is strength training where the muscles are challenged with resistance work. Thirdly is Flexibility, muscles need to stretch to maintain mobility. Remember, you get stiff then you get old. Trying to take on all 3 elements in the beginning may feel daunting, so don’t.

Pick one element you enjoy; all three are equally important so choosing one can be the key to starting a lifestyle in which you can consistently participate. Once one element becomes a habit, because you enjoy it, which usually takes 28 days, you can add another. Add each element gradually and in small doses so as not to overwhelm your self. Of course, if you enjoy two or even all three fitness elements, dedicate a small amount of time to each so you experience success with the designated time for each element. Be realistic in your time allotment, if you can’t live up to it you’ll feel like a failure, so choose smaller time frames and experience success. Think ‘do a little less and emphasize success’ and it builds self-confidence.

You need to find what motivates or turns you on, so to get motivated you need a Fitness Vision. This vision entails using your imagination to project into your future. Ask yourself what it would look like to see yourself living your fitness lifestyle successfully after a year or two? Visualize how you’ll look, act, eat, sleep etc. until you can feel it, see it, smell it, breathe it. By making it as real as possible to yourself you’ll start to feel the excitement bubble up in you. Now that’s getting your mojo working for you.

Now set goals for you to make that vision happen. Where am I now? How can I get closer to that vision in 3months/ 6months? On a weekly basis, what do I do? Start with small weekly goals, so you can feel a sense of accomplishment every time you meet your goals. Then every week, add a little more challenge and because you are living up to your goals successfully, your self-confidence grows.

We all know how life gets in the way, that progress is never linear. So

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Portable Fitness Equipment

Posted on June 21, 2018 by tmsmail

Since I first began personal training in 1985 people have stated basically the same goals: To lose fat and gain muscle, improve athleticism, heal the body,increase movement skills, spend little money and train whenever and wherever they wanted. I am pretty sure you want the same, but there’s a problem. Continue reading →

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How To Recognize The Best Flavored Coffee

Posted on June 20, 2018 by tmsmail

Flavored coffee is becoming more and more popular every day, in spite of negative reactions of the classic amateurs of coffee. In this article we cover:

– What flavored coffee is

– Is it just fashion or a new market and taste habit?

– What are the key factors that influence the quality

– Tips to recognize if we are in front of a ‘best flavored coffee’ or not.

WHAT FLAVORED COFFEE IS?

In its simplest definition, flavored coffee is coffee with additional flavors added to the beans to give a specific taste, different than the classic organic taste offered by the coffee ‘alone’. Flavored coffee is made by adding flavored oils to the beans after they have been roasted and before they have been ground.

JUST FASHION OR NEW TASTE HABIT?

You may like it or not, but flavored coffee is today synonymous with gourmet coffee.
Flavoring coffee is not just a ‘new fashion’, and it is a very old habit as well. Flavored coffees have been used for centuries: Arabians began flavoring their coffees with cardamom hundreds of years ago; Africans experimented with citrus flavours; and South Americans enjoyed a hint of cinnamon in their cups.

Flavored coffee as we know it today began its development in the 60’s, with the spread of flavored tea from Europe. But it was with the specialty coffee boom of the 1990s that the overall interest in exotic flavours increased so remarkably.

Flavored coffee is a controversial topic among roasters and retailers. Real coffee connoisseur do not like it at all. But business is business, and despite a sometimes less-than-enthusiastic reception, flavored coffees are continuing to penetrate deeper into the market, as a result of exposure from large coffee shops, restaurants, and retailers of all kinds.

Today we can choose from a wide array of flavored coffees, with attractive names like ‘Amaretto’, ‘French Vanilla’, ‘Hazelnut’, ‘Chocolate Swiss’, etc.
Flavored coffee has therefore become a very trendy drink, so popular that according to some estimates one out of four Americans (25%) drinks a flavoured coffee at least twice a month!

KEY FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE QUALITY

Three main factors influence the quality of the best flavoured coffee:

– the selection of coffee beans

– the quality of flavors

– the process used.

Coffee beans: the type of beans used to make flavored coffee greatly impacts the taste of the finished product. Arabica beans are most frequently used for creating the best flavored coffee, due to their low levels of acidity and bitterness.

Flavors: the coffee roaster must choose between 100% natural flavours, artificial or ‘Nature Identical’ flavorings. Although the flavor name on packages may be the same (‘French Vanilla’), the product inside is of course very different.

The Process involves the appropriate amount of flavoring to be used, the chosen roast level, and how and when the flavours are applied. A more in depth view about how the best flavoured coffee is produced will be covered in another article, ‘How Best Flavored Coffees Are Produced’.

HOW TO RECOGNIZE THE BEST FLAVORED COFFEE

To help you make the most of coffee flavorings, here are some final tips to help you buy only the best flavored coffee beans.

Be sure you are buying from a reputable coffee roaster, to ensure your beans and flavorings are of a high quality. Firstly, verify that coffee beans are high-quality. Secondly, checks if flavor is made with 100% natural ingredients.

Some

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Sahara Desert Tips and Restaurants

Posted on June 13, 2018 by tmsmail

The Sahara is considered as the largest and hottest desert situated in Northern Africa. Many restaurants located near the Sahara offer different specialties that would range from the meat of lamb, chicken or even a mixture of other delicacies. They also love to eat vegetables. They even prepare salads, in form of tuna and vegetables.

Most fine dining restaurants from all parts of the world serve a dish influenced by North African recipes. The restaurants along the Sahara desert offer their best in culinary cuisine. The unique flavors come with the unique way of preparing it. The way they cook in these regions, until after the preparation of foods on the plate are similar to contemporary catering.

Customers always leave the dining areas very satisfied and fulfilled. Some tourists who visit the Sahara also go to fine restaurants nearby or near their hotels in order to experience that extraordinary African cuisine. In fact, they are more recognized for the quality and great tasting sauces as well as the mixture of spices they put in every dish.

There are also numerous restaurants along the Sahara that serve seafood. Most of these restaurants are still influenced by the culinary masterpieces of a North African chef.

Tips while Traveling to the Sahara
People may find restaurants near the Sahara either through tour guides or by looking at a travel guide book. As a general rule, if you are not familiar with the places around or even within the desert, it is best to hire a tour guide or a local who can take you to the places of interest near and within the area. Aside from the dialect, a guide can help you get the best lodging accommodations and they can take you to the most popular dining spots. They can also translate words or conversations you find very difficult to understand.

When you leave your hotel, make sure that you keep all the important documents in a safe place. Make sure that you have photocopies of these important documents and you have left copies at home.

Make sure you also bring some loose change when you tour the area. Never bring lots of money when you leave the hotel but don’t just leave your money inside the hotel. It is wise to check in a hotel that has a safety deposit box where you can put your valuables.

Although it is practical to check in to cheap hotels, it is best to inspect the hotel. If you think it is not a safe place to stay in or your valuables are at risk, then it is better to go with a hotel that you are familiar with. You’ll never go wrong with a rated hotel.

Sahara Restaurants
There is a restaurant near a fuel station along the Western section of the Sahara, between Guergarat and El Dakla. They have a great selection of foods. They also have an autogril and a rest shop. This fuel station restaurant offers breakfast, lunch or even snacks. It is not that expensive since a meal will only cost you $10 USD.

Another stop-by restaurant is found along the south section of El Dakla. It is located near a fuel station. They serve delicious omelets, breads and yogurts. They have a cafeteria that serves a very popular type of mint tea. You can spend less

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Physical Fitness Training Career

Posted on June 13, 2018 by tmsmail

Today, the awareness about physical fitness is quite common and widespread among common public. Generally, people are genuinely concerned about their fitness levels. Previously gymnasiums were mainly intended for athletic people who wanted to develop a masculine physique. Most of these gymnasiums have metamorphosed into health clubs where one can find people from all walks of life: from students to retired professionals. This heightened interest in fitness has opened up one more avenue in the ever-increasing job market. Fitness trainers are in great demand now.

At present, fitness trainers are required in health clubs, star hotels, tourist resorts, and in luxury cruise lines. Rich and famous people like sports persons and film stars hire personal fitness trainers. But that is usually reserved for well-known and experienced trainers. Most people tend to start their own health club or fitness center after getting some experience in any of the above-mentioned institutions. Another attractive proposition is running a fitness consultancy. A fitness consultant provides training to individuals for maintaining a certain level of fitness. The services of fitness consultants are hired by large private companies and charity organizations working in the field of public health.

Getting an entry into a physical fitness-training job is now not that easy as it once was. Previously what one needed to have was a good physique and a good knowledge of gymnasium procedures. At that time, people who were interested and proficient in bodybuilding naturally graduated to the level of physical trainers. But today, as people became more aware about health and fitness, they began to demand more from a trainer. Ideally, a fitness trainer should have a certificate from a well-known institution, he or she should have good inter-personal communication skills, and above all he or she should have excellent knowledge about fitness regime and medical aspects.

There are universities that provide certificate courses in physical fitness training. Some universities even conduct distance education courses. An ideal platform for launching a career into this field is a certificate from a good institution. One can find several institution that offer courses on fitness training through a simple search on the internet. Normally, these courses will cover fitness and health concepts, importance of nutrition, specific exercises such as yoga or meditation for relieving stress, specific fitness programs to prevent or heal common diseases, exercises for weight control, and procedures for gymnasium workout.

But the most important factor for succeeding as a physical fitness trainer is the aptitude for the job. The job aspirant should be genuinely interested in fitness activities and must be comfortable in handling both people and gymnasium equipment. One must also have an abundance of patience, as some people, especially senior citizens, take time to learn exercises and certain workouts properly.

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Emergency Food and Food Storage

Posted on June 11, 2018 by tmsmail

Having food and water stored are key for survival when a disaster strikes. There are many types of foods that can be stored, but this article will focus primarily on foods for emergency situations. Creating a food storage can seem like an over whelming task, but when taken one step at a time this task can be accomplished with ease.

When disaster strikes and the power is off for a prolonged period of time the first food that should be eaten is in the refrigerator. I know this seems like an obvious answer but most people avoid opening the fridge because the items in the fridge will be exposed to air temperature. The reality is the food in the fridge will maintain its coolness because the food itself is cool, and the refrigerator will work like a cooler. The first time the refrigerator is opened a list should be made of the items in the fridge so the door isn’t open needlessly. Having a list will decrease the amount of time the door is open.

After the refrigerator food is eaten, next go to your freezer food. Freezer food is usually good for up to three days after the power is off. As long as there are ice crystals in the center of the food, it is still good to eat. After the perishable foods have been eaten during an emergency you will next want to consider consuming your food storage.

Let’s talk about how and what to store in your food storage. When creating a basic food storage all items can be broken down into the following seven categories:

  • Water
  • Canned or bottled goods
  • Paper products
  • Dried foods and grains
  • Snacks
  • Fats and oils
  • Sugars or sweeteners

Make sure you store appropriate amounts of items from each category. You can determine what the proper amount is by taking inventory of what you currently consume and use.

The first step when beginning to store food is to create a two week supply. When going to the grocery store start getting into the habit of shopping the ads and buying extras. You should store foods that are delicious and nutritious. Also, you should store foods that you are familiar with and that you currently eat. Consistently purchasing foods your family is familiar with will provide a sense of security when a disaster strikes.

Make sure while you are storing this food that you create an inventory system so you are naturally rotating your food. Placing new food items in the back of the storage area will force you to use the older items in front. Before storing these foods make certain you date and label each item. This will help in your rotating system. If items get disturbed or fall off the shelf you will know what order to put them back in and what foods you should eat first.

If possible, store all food in a dry, cool, and dark place. When storing crackers, cookies or boxed items store them in air tight containers to maintain freshness and keep moisture out. Try to store mainly non-perishable and staple items. These will sustain life and last longer in emergency situations.

After completing a 2 week food supply and creating an inventory system, move on to create a 3 month supply. This can be accomplished easier by first creating a master menu schedule. Without having a

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