By Daniel, on October 24th, 2011%  Running summer © by DAV.es Distance running turns your body into an energy furnace. Oxygen, water, and nutrients are turned into energy at amazing speeds to give you the endurance you need to continue putting one foot in front of the other as you fight to reach the finish line. By feeding that furnace the proper fuel, you can make race day (or just your practice runs) a lot easier. Robert Preidt over at USA Today shared some advice in his column.
“Runners should consume 30 to 60 grams of carbohydrates per hour when running for more than one hour. Marathon-friendly carbs include gels, jelly beans, sports drinks, sports bars or a combination of these products.”
Carbohydrates have always been known to be an important part of a runner’s diet, especially on race day. The good thing is that carbs are easy to find. You don’t have to use fancy energy products because a lot of your favorite foods (like bread and potatoes) are already loaded with carbs. Save the gel packs for actual marathons where it would be inconvenient (and just a little weird) to be eating a potato mid-stride.
“Two hours before exercise, consume 16 to 20 ounces of water and drink another 7 to 10 ounces of water 10 to 20 minutes before exercise.” The article also states. Hydration is, of course, critical for proper body function. While carb deficit during a run can make you tired, dehydration can endanger your life. Fitness “nuts” are always keeping a bottle of water with them and so should you. Even on days when you don’t plan on pounding the pavement for an hour it still makes sense to hydrate.
via USA Today
By Daniel, on October 20th, 2011%  Exercise with Gloria © by kevin dooley Starting an exercise program when you’re young is hard, and starting one when you are past 50 is even harder. Many older people fail to see the benefits of starting a fitness routine late in life, or think that the stress of exercise will be too hard on their bodies. All of this is simply not true. People over 50 have been exercising effectively for years, and many senior citizens participate in marathons, 5k’s and even Triathlons. And I don’t mean that they just putter along, a lot of older people put in marathon times that put twenty-somethings to shame.
In order to help you stay fit and healthy even if your iPod is filled with oldies, the National Institute of Health has launched a new campaign targeted squarely at the aching backs of older Americans. The campaign helps you get started on your new exercise journey and teaches you how to exercise, when to exercise, and why you should exercise. The site also features downloadable tracking charts and exercise diagrams so that you know exactly what you are supposed to be doing and when.
There is no reason why you shouldn’t be exercising, even if it’s just a little bit every day. Exercise is not a big scary monster and you don’t have to even join a gym or go sweating around the park. However, exercise can be addicting and once you have been doing it for a week or so you will actually start to look forward to your daily workout. You will feel better, get stronger, lose weight, have more energy, and be better in bed.
So get moving!
via The Big Bad Scary Government
By Daniel, on October 18th, 2011%  2007 Dublin City Marathon (Ireland) © by infomatique Tom Hacker was a really fat guy. Weighing at 309 pounds, the odds of him living to 60 were pretty slim, and idea of him being able to run a half marathon was pretty ludicrous. Then he dropped over 100 pounds and then ran Detroit Free Press Marathon in under 3 hours. Admittedly, he had gastric bypass surgery which I generally think is not the best option for losing weight, but for this guy it worked and I will admit that.
Tom’s story should be an inspiration for anyone who is struggling with weight and wanting to get fit. If he came back from 300 pounds to get slim, those of you just struggling with a little bit of beer gut or some unsightly man-boobs can too!
But before you drag yourself outside and start pounding the pavement, make sure you have a plan. If you want to start running, then the Couch to 5K program is a great start, or if that looks a little too much for you then you can try out The Beginning Runner’s Handbook: The Proven 13-Week Walk-Run Program .
Also – check with your doctor. Running can be hard on the knees and joints, so you want to start slowly and pay attention to what your body is telling your. If you hurt, then STOP. Work with your physician on maintaining a proper diet and exercise plan.
And it always helps to have a partner. Tom was accompanied on his weight loss journey AND the half marathon by his wife Carole.
via The Windsor Star
|
|
|
Comments are closed 