When Being Health Conscious, Let’s Not Forget to Build Muscle

It seems that every time we generally talk about health, the first thing that comes to everyone’s mind is weight loss, which I have no issues about. After all, with so much influence from television, magazine articles and the internet,  how can anyone be expected to think otherwise? Case closed, right? Not so fast. Here is something else we should all start thinking more about: building muscle. That’s right… BUILDING MUSCLE! Let me list a few facts to keep in mind when you start working on your muscles: 1. Muscles burn more energy than fat. If you are fat with no muscle, your body will burn fewer calories, especially when you are inactive. The good news is that muscles burn more calories than fat, even when you are resting. A little effort to build some muscle pays off, many times over, with the benefits of fat burning. 2. If your body is covered with a healthy layer of muscle, it will be strong enough to support your skeleton. You will probably have fewer injuries related to falls. If you do injure yourself, you will be more likely to recover faster with fewer complications. Your body will be strong enough to compensate temporarily for your injuries. 3. In order to build muscle, you need to exercise. Exercising has numerous benefits for your health and well-being. You get to build muscle while you benefit from the increased oxygen supply, the increased blood supply and the mood enhancing benefits of exercise. The above are just a few of the many benefits of including a muscle-building program to your schedule. The evidence is overwhelming. Just remember to check with your doctor first and then hire a certified personal trainer to show you the proper way. You will not regret it. So the next time you hear someone bring up the topic of health make sure you tell them about importance of building muscle and you will definitely stand out in the crowd!...

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A Mental Change is the Only Way to Achieve a Physical Change

I am a strong believer that the mind is the  key component to a healthier and better you. If you think that mind has no bearing on your lifestyle choice then you are living in denial. People that make that mental switch, or as I like to call it a lifestyle minded change, are the ones that will see their body transform into a beautiful work of art. But why do so many people fail to recognize this concept? The answer is…IT’S HARD TO DO! Let’s face it. If making that switch was that easy we would not have an obesity epidemic in this country today. The latest figures put the percentage of obese adults in this country to over 30%. The children’s rate is fast approaching the 20%. That means a combined 150 million people are faced with the inevitable problems associated with obesity. So, why do many people still fail to recognize this concept? The answer is…IT’S TOO HARD TO DO! Our minds a very a complex tool. We constantly process information and make split decisions in an instant. As much as we understand what is happening around us, we sometimes have a hard time going against our better judgement. For example, we know that eating processed and fried foods or meals containing high sugars or salt are not good for us, but we do it anyway. We know that drinking too much alcohol can have a major impact on our organs, but we do it anyway. And the latest data on smoking could not be more damaging to our health than ever before, and yes, we do it anyway. It’s time to wake up! We need to start taking better care of ourselves. We are headed in the wrong direction and unless we make a mental switch and change our lifestyle for the good, we will be facing an epidemic like never before. Make that switch. Make that switch now. Remember, take care of your body today and it will take care of you tomorrow!...

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When Should You Begin Planning To Achieve Your Fitness Goals?

With the new year finally upon us, the time is NOW to start planing your fitness goals. Why? Because right now is as good as any time to start. Preparing your mind and body will give you the greatest chance for success in the future. Most people would agree that without an initial written plan for your fitness objectives, you may lose track and fail to accomplish your goals. Here are a few things I recommend you start doing as soon as possible: Write down on a piece of paper what your goal(s) are ( i.e lose weight, gain strength, improve your cardio endurance). This way they are in front of you to look at. Make an appointment with your doctor to schedule a physical if it has been more than 6 months since your last checkup. Get in touch with a local certified personal trainer and schedule a free consultation to discuss in detail what the best courses of action are to achieve your fitness goals. It is important to keep in mind that whatever your goals are you must allow for your body to adapt to changes accordingly. In other words, to build that perfect body it will require time, patience, dedication and a strong committment. So get a pen and paper and start writing your way to a new body! Feel free to call me any time with your questions (732)-618-0849. Best of luck to...

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