This Has Got to Be Stopped

“Could Stomach 'Pacemaker' Be NewWeight-Loss Tool?”

Please explain how invasive surgery is the go-to answer for weight management. The death rate for this type of surgery is about 0.5%, or 1 out of 200. 

That may sound good but I can look out my window and see that many people go by every minute or two. This is the number that are dieing to loose weight.

It must be said that for some incredibly small segment of the population, surgery is the correct and life saving option. However, I think that the source of most people's lack of success with weight control is given in this quote from the article:

"The first realization was that diets didn't work and actually made things worse, as after finishing the diet I put the weight I'd lost back on,"

You cannot go back to eating poorly and expect to stay healthy; after all that is how the weight problem started.

Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.
Albert Einstein

Gonna get off my soapbox now.

Help for the Endurance Athlete

The sun is shining. The birds are chirping. The weather has finally broken, and you want to start exercising outside. I am approached daily by people who want to know what supplements I use to help me with my activities.

Over time I have developed a recipe for a hydration drink that has significantly improved my recovery and increased the speed I have added to my activities. I am a cyclist who now also runs, so hydration is critical.

I use a combination of carbs and aminos before, during, and after my activities. Here is a breakdown of what and when:

Before (usually 30 minutes)

20 ounces of water with:

3 grams of AAKG  for vassal dialation

20 to 40 grams of carbohydrates (like using Cytomax  but any sports drink will do)

5 grams of L-glutamine to help buffer the upcoming lactic acid buildup 

During (drinking every 15 to 20 minutes)

Water with:

5 grams of BCAAs to help protect muscle tissue

5 grams of L-glutamine (still buffering the lactic acid)

Sports drink to supply carbs and electrolytes

After (ideally within 15 minutes of your activity)

A protein drink with some isolate protein 

5 grams of creatine monohydrate

Later that day, I try to consume at least another 10 grams of L-glutamine for muscle tissue repair.

Have fun with your activity, but remember to stay hydrated and be safe!

Fundamental Fitness Suppments - L-glutamine

You start a new exercise program to get in better health and the day after your first workout you feel like you were smashed by a Humvee. Your muscles are letting you know that they do not like this new work that you are putting them through. This is a big stumbling block for most of us when we start out. The last day I had this kind of muscle ache was the day I started using L-glutamine.

L-glutamine is an abundant amino acid that the body uses for many benefits. It is not essential, meaning the body can produce its normal needs from other things, but situations such as athletic training can make it so. By taking L-glutamine before, during, and after your exercise, you can help your body prevent muscle damage and stimulate the synthesis of new muscle. 

What does that mean?

It means that I am able to run a half marathon on one day and still be able to keep up the pace of my regular life the next. Those who are training harder have the advantage of not having their next workout impacted by what they did the day before.

Support Healthy Blood Sugar Levels with Banaba

No, I did not misspell that. Banaba is a tree that grows from South East Asia to the Philippines. An extract of the leaf, corosolic acid, has been shown effective in supporting Blood Glucose levels. 

I first came across this in a sports nutrition product called Anabolic Pump. I tried this in 2008 as a way to load carbs for a biking event, and found it to be remarkable. Continued use a gave me great results similar to those claimed by the company.

Based on my success, I started to recommend the herb to people looking for help with their blood sugar level. The feedback from them has match my own experience - lack of carb craving, stable blood sugar, and even some benefits at the waist line.

Diabetes affects 8.3% of the populationof the United States - 25.8 million people - with an estimated 79million more prediabetic. Eating right, controlling carbs and exercising are our first lines of defense from this disease. Banaba can be a great weapon in the battle.

Not All Omega 3 Supplements Are the Same

Someone approached me the other day for help in selecting an Essential Fatty Acid (EFA) supplement. They were overwhelmed by the selection available and had no idea which to choose. When looking at EFA's, I prefer fish oil supplements. They are the most efficient source of the Omega 3 fatty acids Eicosapentaenoic acid and Docosahexaenoic acid. (EPA and DHA for those of use who cannot read a bowl of alphabet soup.)

Turn the bottle around. Manufacturers can put almost anything in the name of their products. They have legions of people who critique the packaging and use focus groups for to ensure their bottle jumps off the shelf. They can not change what is in the bottle and have to provide a clear picture of it in the “Supplements Facts” on the back. The EFA should clearly tell you how much EPA and DHA you will receive per dose and how many doses are in the bottle. When I compare products, I try to determine how much is in each individual pill.

I try to take approximately 2000 mg of EPA and DHA combined per day. That is what seams to work best for me. This can come in as little as one teaspoon per day of a liquid or 2 to 3 pills of a quality supplement. In the liquid fish oils I prefer Ascenta Health'sNutraSea HP.  It has a daily dose in one teaspoon and has little taste of any kind. I admit peer pressure made me try it, as I cannot stand the fishy taste of the liquid fish oils on the market. I was stunned at the taste profile. No fish taste At All!

That said, liquids have a convenience draw back and may not be the best choice for all. Select the EFA that best suits your needs. Choose a quality product from a manufacturer the you trust and you will not be disappointed.

Fundamental Supplements For Fitness 2

After protein, I believe most people interested in any body shaping should look to creatine supplementation to help them achieve their goals. Using creatine http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Creatine_supplements as a supplement has been around since the early 1900's. It came into the public eye largely due to its use by Olympic athletes in the 1992 Barcelona games.

It does not matter what your final goal is, creatine has been shown in studies http://pharmrev.aspetjournals.org/content/53/2/161.short to be effective for increasing muscle mass. If your goal is to “bulk” up, the use is a no-brainer.

Those who are trying to lose body fat and are not interested in becoming bigger, never fear, creatine is still your friend. By building more muscle your body will need more calories to operate daily. Raising your daily caloric needs and controlling your intake is the best way I know to shed body fat.

When selecting a creatine supplement there two things to consider. Creatine Monohydrate is the form with the most evidence of effectiveness. Most creatine is manufactured in three factories around the world.

Life Is Good and So Are Bluberries

The first time I saw pterostilbene was in a Gaspari Nutrition product Sizeon Maximum Perfomance. At an industry event last year, I had the opportunity to ask Rich Gaspari about the ingredient. He smiled and said it is going to replace Resveratrol for healthy aging in the next year.

Further research into pterostilbene is very exciting. Benefits being studied include glucose management, cholesterol management, and its affects on cognitive decline. Very exciting indeed, especially when you realize it comes from blueberries! This is just one more reason to consider adding them to your diet.

Blueberries themselves have established health benefits. All this makes me believe that big new trend in health and wellness will be a renewed focus on blueberries.

It is great when being healthy tastes so good!