Exercise and Metabolism

Great article on the web today:  Is Your Workout a Metabolism Killer? The author lists three mistakes people make with their workouts and corrective strategies for those mistakes.  The first is don’t get in a rut with your exercise.  The second is believing that cardio work is all you need.  The third is only working out in your “fat-burning zone”.  If all you do is your treadmill you could be making all three of these mistakes.  All of this is great advise and those of you working out at Forza! have been doing recomended interval and weight resistance training as well as keeping bodies from getting too used to any given activity.  The one caveat that I would add from my experience is that, even though I also recommend interval training and in my classes we are always working against resistance, whether with a kettlebell or our bodies, for some of us, it is still important not to work out too intensely if fat burning is your goal.  The reason I say this is that if you work out so hard that your appetite increases and you consume extra calories after your workout, you will be exercising to maintain weight, not to lose weight.  So, pay attention to your body.  Notice your appetite after different types of workouts.  And, as with everything in life it seems, moderation is the key!

TRX and RKC teaming up!

Check out the new DVD combining TRX and kettlebells.  We’ve been using both since January and I’ve always thought they make a great combination, so I’m happy to see that these two companies, Fitness Anywhere (TRX) and Dragon Door (RKC) agree with me.  For a preview, just click on the picture here and it will take you to the Fitness Anywhere Site.  They are offering 20% off this DVD until July 25th.

Healthy joints, healthy pocketbooks

A few months ago, I read an article in the New York Times Personal Business section entitled “Caring for Hips and Knees to Avoid Artificial Joints“.  It had some interesting statistics I’d like to share with you.  In 2007, the cost in the US for hip replacements was $19 billion and for knees, $26 billion and the numbers are expected to rise.  A typical joint replacement surgery costs between $30,000 and $40,000.  With insurance you may still have out-of-pocket expenses of $3,000 – $4,000 plus the cost of time off for the surgery and recovery.  This is becoming a big business as people start getting osteoarthritis in their 30s and 40s rather than 50s and 60s and therefore need replacements sooner and possibly multiple times.  I’ve been hearing ads on the radio for joint replacement surgery.  In essence it is telling you not to let joint pain interrupt  your life, get in and get your joints replaced.  If you are at the point were this is your only option, then I say go ahead and get it done.  If you are not there yet, read on.

My father has had both a hip and a knee replaced, and although he is feeling less pain now, it has not been an easy road and things are not as good as they once were.  After his hip replacement, he ended up with an even shorter leg than he had prior to surgery (a contributing factor to the deteriorating hip joint in the first place) and now has to wear a lift in one shoe or have one heal built up (an added expense) and can’t go barefoot for any length of time.  As for the knee replacement, it was complicated and extremely painful.  Now I’m not saying don’t have joint replacement surgery if you need it, but think how much better it would be not to need it!

Aching Knees?

The article mentions several ways to avoid the cost and pain of osteoarthritis, one of the main reasons people get a joint replaced.  The first is controlling your weight.  As your weight increases, so does your risk for osteoarthritis, particularly of the knee joint and even more in women than men.  A woman’s risk of osteoarthritis of the knee drops in half if she loses just 10 pounds!  Another suggestion is to get fit with a low impact form of exercise.  The muscle you build up around joints act as shock absorbers and decrease the likely hood of injury.  Finally, they say don’t waste your money on specialized nutrients like shark cartilage and glucosamine and choindroitin as they are expensive and of limited benefit.  I would add to that, though, that high quality Omega 3 supplements are the exception and will give you a good bang for your buck.

The Kettlebell Swing

So here is my plug:  swinging a kettlebell is a great form of low impact exercise that strengthens the muscles across both the knee and hip joints and will burn a lot of calories to help you get excess weight off.  If you don’t have a kettlebell at home, I recommend getting one or get in to Forza! three times a week.  Take your fish oil supplements!  Care for your joints now, avoid expensive and painful surgeries.  Your joints will feel better and you will be doing your part to lower the national health bill!

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