Diet and Fitness Strategies (21st May 2009)

June 1, 2009 by sharm
Filed under Blog by Sharm, Fitness, Highlights

Dear Friends,

Hope everyone is well – eating healthy (5 small meals a day, before 8pm) and working out (at least thrice a week). If you’re sick or have flu symptoms, please rest – do not workout. If you have been procrastinating and putting off your workouts to get fit, TAKE ACTION NOW.

We have an application for you to log down your food intake – you can find it on our website, at the applications category – look for Food Journal Entry Do bear in mind that it is open for everyone to view – so may want to use an alias when doing your entry.

There are many benefits of doing a food journal – some are

(1) it encourages you to take responsibility and face your food choices.
(2) Help you to identify when and why you eat and help you to learn more about your eating patterns.
(3) keep track of the type and amount of calories you consume – We usually forget what we eat
(4) Share the details of what you eat with the world – motivates you to BE GOOD

Usha shared with us http://nutrition.com.sg/ho/index.asp – local food calories – you may want to check it out if you’re here in Singapore.

Fitness & Diet Strategies for this week (Also on Twitter, but with a little bit of elaboration)

1. Visualize yourself working out while on your way to work/home if you intend to workout later in the day. Helps you ’stick to the plan’ later.
* When we do this, we are programming our minds to stick to the plan – You’ll be able to block off the distractions that might change your plan along the way.

2. Schedule your workouts and mark them as important. Having it in your diary is the first step to ACTION. Make side notes at the end of the day.
* Planning – When we plan, we’re planning for success. Plan and believe that you’ll reach your goals. And follow through with ACTION.
* Reflection – Making notes on the side makes you think of your workouts / food that you ate. Helps you plan for the future and correct/improve the things that were done earlier.

3. When U run, don’t let your foot get ahead of your knee. Use your upper body straight up & used only for balance. Run from the hips down.
* This is for long distance running – think running economy – running your optimal speed using the least amount of energy. If you’re sprinting or striding (Short distances – 50m to 400m), then you’d have to have your foot in front of your knees so that you get a good stride.

4. Use motivational shouts/chants to improve your workout – increase mental strength, stay focused, distract from tiredness.
* It’ll give you the mental edge when you’re fatigued.
* International athletes and sportsmen have team cheers and such to boost morale. Why not you?

5. You’ll need to work on all parts of your body to ensure proper posture – don’t just do Chest and Shoulders – do back and abs.
* Your muscles will tighten and tone up when you work them. As such, if you just do Chest presses, the muscles will pull to the front, giving you a ‘hunch back’ look. This is one of the reasons it is imperative that you do back rows or lat pulldowns – to tighten the back muscles so that your posture is ‘maintained’. Of course you’ll also get the other benefits of working out your back.

6. Learn to say “sshhh” to tighten your abs, lessen neck tension, breathe in oxygen, focus on form increase your strength.
* When you say “sshhh”, your abs will tighten (check by putting your hand at your lower abs.
* Try closing your eyes and say “ssshh”.. you’ll tend to be more relaxed and focus on breathing – hence lessening neck tension.
* When you say “sshh” when performing your set – you’ll focus on the breathing and correct form executing your set (such as bicep curl). It also helps maintain neutrality of intrathoracic pressure.

7. Just because you’re sweating, it does not mean you’re burning fat. That’s just your body thermoregulation system at work.
* Hatha Yoga is good – but remember that you’re not burning as much fat as you think you would.
* To check if you’re burning fat without any heart rate monitor, check out the next strategy.

8. Use RPE (Rate of perceived exertion) to check on the intensity at which you’re training. 1 (Easiest) to 10 (Toughest).
* Work at 4 to 5 if you’re new to workouts.
* Work at 8 to 10 if you’re very fit.

9. Take pineapple juice (bromelain [enzyme]) 30 min after workout.
* Helps removes lactic acid buildup in the muscles / soreness – try it!

10. Working out with friends is great but it’ll backfire if the talking is too much
* I like doing this – working out with friends – if you do go with your friends, always plan your workout beforehand. Talk if you must, but keep it MINIMAL.

For more tips and strategies on fitness and fat loss, you can also add me on twitter @efitnessguru

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Sharm is a fitness consultant and personal trainer to many high profile clients since 1998. He is equipped with a Bachelor’s degree from the National University of Singapore (NUS) and Postgraduate in Physical Education and Sports Science from Nanyang Technological University (NTU). Currently he is in the midst of completing his Masters of Science (Exercise and Sports Studies) program in NTU. He also has international certifications, memberships and affiliations with the American College of Sports Medicine & National Academy of Sports Medicine. His expertise have been featured in ChannelNewsAsia’s documentary – Vanity the Slim Society, The Straits Times, & The Sunday Times. Magazines: Shape, Timeout, Women’s Weekly, The Finder, Her World. He is the owner of FitnessBootcamp.sg – the most advanced fun group fitness workouts that has more than 500 signups in less than 6 months.
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