Shelli Thompson's blog is dedicated to assisting others find their way to a healthy life style.

Showing posts with label resistance training. Show all posts
Showing posts with label resistance training. Show all posts

Sunday, September 13, 2009

Getting to the Heart of the matter

Let's get to the heart of the matter.

There are new studies that come out all of the time about health and fitness. The human body has an endless amount of "un-knowns" to be studied.

There are hundreds of studies that come out each year. Studies that we need to examine a little closer. Everyone is different so each individual has to assess the studies and see if it resonates with what they know about their own body.

We have all known for years that cardio. exercises are effective ways to keep our pulminary systems in shape.


The latest study suggests that resistance work is the best way to burn fat and calories. To someone that really wants to loose weight and burn calories might decide to forgo the cardio. work out and turn just to resistance work.

what worries me is the way these studies get interpreted by different individuals.

The reason that this is troubling to myself is because without a stong heart muscle it doesn't really matter how much fat and calories you are burning.

Your heart is the center or YOUR universe wether you like it or not.

So why wouldn't it matter?? Well because without a strong heart you won't be pumping those weights.

Your heart and lungs work together and form your pulminary system. Your lungs collect the oxygen and the heart distributes that oxygen to the MUSCLES, without the oxygen the muscles don't function and neither do your other organs.

So if your heart is weak and has to work harder to keep up the muscles demand for oxygen, the diagnosis is called hypertension or high blood pressure.

The "simple" solution is diet and exercise. Being aware before the onset is the best rule of thumb. In order for that to happen we need to get educated.

So keep doing the cardio. work but add weights 3 to 4 times a week.

Keep in mind while practicing resistance training to only train every other day. Giving your muscles a day of rebuilding and recovery.

The most important thing is to have fun. Sometimes that's hard to do so stay tuned we are going to have some fun with weights next time.

Until next time,
Really take care of yourself,

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Wednesday, September 2, 2009

The Importance of Resistance Training

Many people don't understand the importance of resistance training.

When I ask people if they lift weights I get many answers from, "I do it but I hate it" (wow) or, "I don't want my muscles to look like a man". (okay) or just ,"no"

One thing we need to understand as women is that we are deffinately built diffrent than a guy. Even if we did want to look buff all of the time it would be very hard and require many hours in the gym. Women are not made to look chisseled they are supposed to be "round and soft".

I don't think that either one is a description of the woman that I want to be.

For one thing, I want to take care of my body so it will sustain me through life.
So I will lift weights, stretch do cardio exercises and that all leads to a more healthy and active lifestyle and that is also a way of getting exercise.

Now back to the importance of weight bearing exercises. As a woman we all know that as time marches on we loose bone mass. Yes we can take medication but the most natural way of PREVENTING it from happening is to participate in resistance training.

If you are afraid of bulking up this is what I suggest and do for myself. I lower the amount of the weight to be lifted and then I increase the number of repetitions. This will tone the muscle and increase endurance making the muscle stronger.

Another good exercise is isometrics. That is taking a low weight and holding it for at least a slow count of 12. This also tones and increases endurance.

Remember that Muscle weighs more than fat but it takes up less space.
Toning your muscles will make your skin look better
You burn more fat and calories with weight lifting than aeorbic exercise. By no means give up that cardio work out, you heart needs attention too!
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