Latest research

Posted on March 12, 2010 by violetquartz

Exciting news for those of you trying to reduce your waistlines…

Obesity is a prevalent public health problem associated with a number of severe health effects and those over 40 are at increased risk of being overweight. This risk may be due to a decrease in energy expenditure, reduced energy requirements, or an increased susceptibility to excess energy consumption in this stage of life. Increasing daily water consumption is widely recognized as a weight loss strategy, yet there is actually little data to support this. From studies that are available, it has been shown that:

Energy intake (EI) is significantly lower in water drinkers than non-water drinkers (1),
substituting water for energy-containing beverages decreases self-reported EI (2)
increasing self-reported daily water consumption by 1 litre or more in overweight women is associated with increased weight loss (3), and
water consumption with a meal reduces ratings of hunger and increases ratings of satiety (4,5).

The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that pre-meal water consumption would lead to greater weight loss in older overweight and obese individuals consuming a hypocaloric diet. The secondary objective was to determine if water intake before a meal to reduce meal EI is sustained after a 12-week period of increased water consumption in older overweight and obese adults.

Both groups (with and without water prior to eating) experienced significant weight loss but a greater decline in weight (44% greater) was found for the water group.
The decline in total fat mass was greater for the water group.
Mean daily EI, energy and ED (energy density) from food, and beverage ED declined similarly in both groups.
Total dietary ED from food and beverage declined more in the water group as compared to the non-water group.
The water group participants demonstrated greater increases in water and total fluid consumption than the non-water group participants.
There were no differences between groups for all other outcome measures.
No gender differences were found for measures in the groups.

Special offer

Posted on March 9, 2010 by violetquartz

To introduce some of the new techniques I learn while away at my course I am offering a special promotion. The first 4 people to email me who are in the Sqamish area will get a complementary functional muscular and motor pattern imbalance assessment this Saturday.

To find out what that it click here.

violetquartzwellness@gmail.com

Latest research!

Posted on March 5, 2010 by violetquartz

A study has just been published about the training effect on mucked tendons. When starting a weight training program initial changes in strength are displayed in the nerveous system; more
efficient neural conduction and mucle recruitment. After 8 to 12 weeks and consotstent loading the mucles would then hypertrophy or grow. However tendon tension increases which are necesary to be able to effectively lift heavier weights without injury takes 11 to 16 weeks. Therefore it is important to start gradulally to build up tension in the tendons for safe lifting.

The most interesting applications of the study are in regards to the detraining effect. After 1 month of not training the tendon becomes slack and you lose your gains, where as mucsle takes 2-3 months. If you stop training with weights you have to give yourself time to rebuild tendon tension when starting back up again to prevent injury.

Intention

Posted on February 26, 2010 by violetquartz

Here are a few excerpts from an article on intention

It’s time to change the way we think and speak about our dreams. Transforming a conversation, just like manifesting a dream, begins by setting an intention. Your intentions will assist you in taking greater control of your life.

A working definition for intention is: “to have in mind a purpose or plan, to direct the mind, to aim.” Lacking intention, we sometimes stray without meaning or direction. But with it, all the forces of the universe can align to make even the most impossible, possible. My intention is to transform the conversation around dreams from fear and doubt, to hope and possibility, followed by action and results.

For example:

Before you get out of bed, you can intend to have a fun or productive day.
Before you leave the house, you can intend to have quality time with your family or roommate.
Before you start your car, you can intend to have a safe ride to work.
Before you enter your workplace, you can intend to learn something new or be helpful.
Before the meeting begins, you can intend to be brilliant or calm.

First Steps:

1. Get clear about something you want and write it down.

2. Share your intention with someone in a way that will supportively hold you accountable to taking action.

3. Do something today to demonstrate your commitment to your intention.

4. Acknowledge that you did what you said you would and then, take the next step.

By setting an intention, you make it clear to yourself and others, just what you plan to do. Set an intention to redefine what it means to be serious about your dreams.

Source article.

What comprises core strength

Posted on February 25, 2010 by violetquartz

Your core is more than just your abdominal muscles. Indeed your abdominal makes up the majority of the core; with the rectus abdominus, external and internal obliques and the transverse abdominus. Your lower back and glutes; maximus, medius and minimus also contribute to your core stability. DO not forget that the top of your quads and hamstrings also play a part.

There is a difference between core exercises and ab exercises. The former works these muscles in unison strengthening them as they work together (more functionally driven strength), the latter works the ab muscles itself, which is necessary to be able to maintain form in core exercises. Both are important in overall stability and strength.

And example of a core exercises is a plank, where as an ab exercise is a crunch.

When the sun is shining….

Posted on February 21, 2010 by violetquartz

Get out there and get active! Enjoy our beautiful Squamish weather.

Understanding food labels…

Posted on February 19, 2010 by violetquartz

Proper nutrition and heart health go hand in hand. It is important to have a diet low in saturated fat and sodium. Include high fiber foods, and healthy fats. Get enough protein and vitamins. Do you know how to read a food label?

To learn how, or refresh your skills check this website out.

Trust the process

Posted on February 14, 2010 by violetquartz

If you you have ever worked with me you know that I often tell people to be patience and trust the process. If you are meant to go in a certain direction in life what you need will be brought to you. By no means do this exclude taking responsibility for your life and working towards what you dream, but more so that the little things will take car of themselves and opportunities will be placed before you.

So take control of you life, do what you can and trust that you will get what you need, it may not always be what you want, but usually it is what you need. We do not always know what is best for ourselves in the big picture.

Keep your eyes peels and ears perked there are exciting changes happening in the next two months! It has been confirmed; the world is a beautiful and magical place!

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Latest research

Posted on February 12, 2010 by violetquartz

As we get we lose cardiovascular endurance because the physiological processes in the body breakdown. New research has shown that these changes are not necessarily due to chronological age and the breakdown on enzymatic reactions as the cellular level, but rather in increase in physical inactivity and abdominal fat. The good news is that in this study elderly participants we able to affect changes in their maximum cardiovascular function as effectively as younger participants.

The good news is it is never too late to derive health benefits from regular physical activity and exercise, so get out there and get moving!

Heart Health

Posted on February 10, 2010 by violetquartz

We are what we eat, thus what we put in our bodies inevitable become part of its structure, and like I said before structure determine function.

Did you know that fat is absorbed into the body differently than proteins and carbohydrates (CHO)? When CHO and proteins are broken down and absorbed in the small intestine they are carried through the heptatic circulatory system to the liver to filter out unnecessary by-products. Fat however due to its water phobic nature is absorbed into your lymphatic system (mirrors your circulatory system, used in immunity, lymph: the clear part of blood). The lymphatic system drains into the circulatory system at the superior vena cava. If you perused the anatomy of the heart you would know that the superior vena cava is where de-oxygenated blood from the upper body enters the heart to be pumped to the lungs. The implications of that are: THE FIRST PLACE FAT GOES IN THE BODY IS YOU HEART!!!!! And since our cells take what they need to repair, and build form circulating CHO, proteins, and fats, it means your heart is getting first pick of unhealthy fats. Terrifying.

It also explains why eating processed food, which are high in fat (the bad and terrible kind) impacts immunity. Your lymph is a drainage system for your immune system and unwanted thing circulation in your blood. if it is saturated with fat, it increase the work of your lymph nodes, deceases their effectiveness at fighting off disease.

Next time you reach for that chip, chicken wing, or cookie… think about what it would look like in your heart… you may reconsider.