| Message | Hello again! My gosh that was a lot of useful tips thank you so much! i have asked many people and they all contradic eachother, i'd rahter listen to you than them. The nutritional tips you gave me are awesome, but as im 15 and i cant really buy my own food, i was wondering if you could give me and easy things to make and take to school and how much water should be drinking? and how long after my dinner should i rest before going to bed? I have been going for runs in the morning before breakfast, but would a quick walk do the same as a run? When i was in the gym in Australia, my legs really got a good work out from incline press = 80kg but now all i have a t home are 3kg weights, im going to but 7.5kg weight is that better to do less reps and more weight or more reps and less weight? What makes the mucle heal or recover faster because my muscle take a long time to recover. Over here in Otorohanga where i live is a small as town and i live far away from it and i have no way of getting into a gym unfortunatly, so i have to do things here with dumb bells. I believe i can do it, i need to put my mind and body into gear and go for it. Thank you so much for the advice i know i'll be asking you things from now on if you dont mind, everyone else just confuse me. Thanks again!!!
Jeff’s Response
Hello again to you Lucia as well!
I am glad that you found my response very useful.
You are very wise beyond your years to quickly ascertain that there are many people out in the health, fitness/sports and nutrition fields that give contradicting advice. Your choice to stick with one plan for a time needed to let it work is a good one.
I am flattered that you chose to listen to me.
I am also certain that you will achieve maximum results, since I am as sure that you are dedicated and will put in the needed effort.
To answer your questions regarding easy things to make and take to school...You should have 5 to 6 good protein meals evenly spaced throughout the day (every 3 hours).
Tuna in fresh water from a can will give you enough protein for a meal. Other options are fresh chicken breast (about 6 ounces) or fresh turkey breast (about 5 ounces), white fish (about 6 ounces) or 6 to 8 egg whites. Another choice is a high quality protein powder which you can add cold water and shake it with a shaker bottle. This is a great idea before and after your sports practice. With each protein meal has a small amount of good carbs (e.g., a small yam, sweet potato, an occasional banana (high in potassium)). These carbohydrates in most instances (except immediately following intense training, should be low on the Glycemic Index.
What is the Glycemic Index you may ask?
The glycemic index describes how carbohydrate foods behave in our bodies. It is a numerical system of measuring how much of a rise in circulating blood sugar a carbohydrate triggers—the higher the number, the greater the blood sugar response. So a low GI food will cause a small rise, while a high GI food will trigger a dramatic spike. A list of carbohydrates with their glycemic values is shown below. A GI is 70 or more is high, a GI of 56 to 69 inclusive is medium, and a GI of 55 or less is low.
So to recap…The glycemic index ranks carbohydrates according to their effect on our blood glucose levels.
Choosing foods that are low on the glycemic index (GI)produce only small fluctuations in our blood glucose and insulin levels which is a good thing. Eating this way is the secret to having sustained energy, less “energy lows”, less body fat, and the key to long-term health, because it will reduce your risk of heart disease and diabetes. It is also the key to sustainable
The GI is of foods based on the glucose index—where glucose is set to equal 100.
Another advance concept to understand which I do not usually discuss so early in the diet processes is the glycemic load (GL) and grams of carbohydrate per serving.
The glycemic load (GL) is a relatively new way to assess the impact of carbohydrate consumption that takes the glycemic index into account. The GL gives a more complete and accurate picture than does glycemic index (GI) alone. How you may ask??
A GI value tells you only how rapidly a particular carbohydrate turns into sugar. It doesn't tell you how much of that carbohydrate is in a serving of a particular food. You need to know both things to understand a food's effect on blood sugar as well. The GL will tell you this information. For example:
The carbohydrate in watermelon, for example, has a high GI. However, there aren’t a lot of carbohydrates in watermelon per serving, so watermelon's glycemic load is relatively low.
The glycemic load is the glycemic index divided by 100 multiplied by its available carbohydrate content (i.e. carbohydrates minus fiber) in grams.
Take, watermelon as an example of calculating glycemic loads. Its glycemic index is pretty high, about 72. A serving of 120 grams of watermelon (a little over 4 ounces) has 6 grams of available carbohydrate per serving. Its glycemic load can be calculated like this: 72/100*6=4.32. This can be rounded to 4. This is a pretty low GL.
Typically speaking a GL of 20 or more is high, a GL of 11 to 19 inclusive is medium, and a GL of 10 or less is low. One easy way to pick good carbs is to remember that foods that have a low GL almost always have a low GI.
Foods with an intermediate or high GL range from very low to very high GI.
http://www.mendosa.com/common_foods.htmJust use Google to search the web for a free GI database to find the GI value of your carbohydrate foods. You can also find GL databases as well. One such example can be found at: http://www.mendosa.com/GI_GL_Carb_data.xls.
Another example of a free comprehensive GI resource database that you can use to find the GI value of your favorite carbohydrate food, as well as check the glycemic load (GL) and grams of carbohydrate per serving. http://www.ziag4.mmb.usyd.edu.au
If you prefer the relative simplicity of a list of just common American foods one such list (there are many) can be found at: http://www.mendosa.com/common_foods.htm.
So when you are planning your meals remember the need for protein. Protein is essential for all living things, especially humans. Our bodies are mostly made up of various proteins. Protein makes up 15-20% of ones bodyweight. Next to water, amino acids in the form of proteins make up the greatest portion of our body weight. 60-70% of all protein within the body is found in muscle tissue.
When people think about protein most people think only of building and repairing muscle when the word protein is mentioned. Proteins (amino acids) are a part of every cell: muscles, connective tissue, blood-clotting factors, enzymes, immune bodies, hormones, and bones. Eating enough protein is vital for maintaining health and is the key to life. Proteins control almost all the molecular processes of the body. Without protein all living things would die.
Protein provides essential benefits to maintianing life, such as:
Maintaining body fluid balance through blood proteins, preventing a condition known as edema (buildup of excess fluid outside body cells)
Regulating the pH, or acid-base balance, in the blood
Promoting muscle and tissue growth and muscle and tissue repair. Protein is the only nutrient directly responsible for building muscle. By being a direct precursor to building muscle protein is essential for muscle recovery and growth. To build muscle it is essential that proper amounts of high quality protein be consumed at the proper times.
Preserving lean muscle mass; especially when on a low carbohydrate diet.
Controlling many of the important processes in the body related to metabolism.
Providing energy when carbohydrate is not available. Consuming high quality protein after exercise helps to increase the amount of carbohydrate your muscles can store – helping you recover more quickly from training. The branched-chain amino acids in protein sources, such as milk proteins enhance energy, and increase endurance.
>Maintaining Immune Function.
Increasing Thermic Levels. Studies have shown that foods that are high in protein can actually speed up your metabolism as much as 30% because your body has to work harder to digest process and utilize it compared to foods that are higher in fat or carbohydrate.
Controlling Blood Sugar Levels. Controlling blood sugar levels stops large energy swings that can occur when blood sugar levels go though peaks and valleys. It stops your craving for food that occurs when your blood sugar level drops. It inhibits the activation of fat storage enzymes responsible for increasing adipose tissue. It also maximizes the production of enzymes that breakdown stored body fat.
There are also many benefits of understanding the Glycemic Index and the Glycemic load so you can eat the right carbohydrate in the right amount at the right time...
Eating a lot of high GI foods/high GL can be detrimental to your health because it pushes your body to extremes. This is especially true for those that are overweight and sedentary (non active). Switching to eating mainly low GI carbs and a low GL will keep your blood sugar levels steady. This will keep your energy levels balanced, so you will perform better, and be more mentally alert as well. It also will allow you to feel fuller for longer between meals, thereby making it easier to avoid binge eating. To recap:
• Low GI diets help people lose and control weight
• Low GI diets increase the body's sensitivity to insulin
• Low GI carbs improve diabetes control
• Low GI carbs reduce the risk of heart disease
• Low GI carbs reduce blood cholesterol levels
• Low GI carbs can help you manage the symptoms of PCOS
• Low GI carbs reduce hunger and keep you fuller for longer
• Low GI carbs prolong physical endurance
• High GI carbs help re-fuel carbohydrate stores after exercise
The basic technique for eating the low GI foods is simply to swap high GI carbs for low GI carbs. You don't need to count numbers or do any sort of mental arithmetic to make sure you are eating a healthy, low GI diet.
• Use breakfast cereals based on oats, barley and bran, not processed sugar cereals.
• Use breads with wholegrain, stone-ground flour, sour dough, not white breads.
• Reduce the amount of white potatoes you eat, replace them with sweet potatoes or yams.
• Enjoy all other types of fibrous vegetables
• Use Basmati, Brown, or Doongara rice, minimize white rice.
• Eat plenty of salad vegetables with a vinaigrette dressing
• Minimize fruit consumption and eat fruit mostly after your workouts. High GI carbs help re-fuel carbohydrate stores after exercise
Regarding your question about how much water to drink. That is a great question. Many people underestimate the importance of water to the body. What is even more alarming is that even among the most experienced athletes, there is a huge gap in knowledge regarding the understanding as to why proper hydration is important for health, and for competitive success as well. Water is the single most critical nutrient (followed by protein) for the human body. Why? The human brain is composed of 95% water; blood is 82% water; the lungs are nearly 90% water. Water is also critical to the balance of all the body's systems, including the brain, heart, lungs, kidneys and muscles.
How important is this balance? A 2% drop in body water can cause a small but critical shrinkage of the brain, which can impair neuromuscular coordination, decrease concentration, and slow thinking. Dehydration can also reduce endurance, decrease strength, because cramping and slow muscular response. Proper hydration is required for maintaining healthy blood flow, proper kidney function, proper sodium/potassium /electrolyte balance and proper digestive functions.
Note: Severe dehydration can cause death, and has done so in athletics.
Now to the good part, water has many health benefits. Health benefits include:
Healthier Skin. Ensuring that you are properly hydrated will prove to be a far better solution to preventing or decreasing wrinkles than the many expensive and in most cases barely effective products being marketing to the public.
Healthier Teeth & Bones. Water also makes teeth and bone stronger. The additional fluoride added to our water supplies provides extra strengths and bone density to our teeth and bones.
Healthier Joints. Water is extremely important to the joints. Because the synovial fluid contains water, if you become dehydrated less synovial fluid is available to protect the joints.
Healthier Mind & Body. Water is essential for nutrient absorption and many chemical reactions in the body for overall health, including proper brain function and improvements in memory.
Healthier Digestive System. Water also helps improve the digestive process and is imperative in maintaining a healthy urinary tract and digestive system. It is also important to properly metabolize food. Drinking sufficient amounts of water will help reduce constipation and will help the body process and transport nutrients and excrete any waste products once they are metabolized. This is very important for athletes because greater amounts are needed to compensate for the amount of water lost through sweat (working out) and through higher metabolism (caused by increased exercise and more lean body mass).
Reduces Fatigue. Although water does not provide energy in the same way carbohydrates and fat do, it plays a very important role in energy transformation. Since water is the medium in which all energy reactions take place. If you become dehydrated you will become lethargic, can experience cramping and endurance and strength performance will suffer. In fact, athletes that do become dehydrated often find reduced performance in the days following.
Helps In Weight Loss. Water can suppress the appetite naturally and increases the body's ability to metabolize stored fat.
Reduces Fluid Retention. Drinking increased amounts of water is the best natural treatment for fluid retention.
Increases Energy. Although water does not provide energy in the same way carbohydrates and fat do, it plays a very important role in energy transformation since water is the medium in which all energy reactions take place. If you become dehydrated you will become lethargic, can experience cramping and endurance and strength performance will suffer. In fact, athletes that do become dehydrated often find reduced performance in the days following.
Helps Build Muscle. Water is needed to transport nutrients to your cells and transporting waste out of the body. Water helps form the structures of protein and glycogen. In order to move and flex your muscles, you need water. If your body is dehydrated, your muscles will be deprived of electrolytes and cramp. Since muscles are controlled by nerves, without the proper water and electrolyte balance muscle strength and control will also be impaired.
Increases Muscle Tone. Muscles are made primarily of water. Dehydration can prevent muscles from properly contracting, reducing muscle tone. Increasing water intake will help prevent muscle cramping, improve the strength of muscle contractions and quicken muscle response. Preventing dehydration will also help prevent sagging skin, since water will fill out the muscles, resulting in clear, healthy and resilient skin.
Reduces Risk Of Disease. Studies have shown that increasing daily water intake has shown to decrease the risk of colon cancer by 45%, reduce the risk of bladder cancer (by 50%) and it can potentially even reduce the risk of breast cancer. It is also believed that water may prevent kidney stones and urinary tract infections.
Other Known Benefits.
Water also aids circulation, and helps regulate the body's cooling system.
It can also positively affect athletic performance. Many people are unaware of how water affects performance. Even being slightly dehydrated can cause poor performance, and is often overlooked. Improper hydration can result in muscle cramping, decreased strength and reduced endurance which impacts athletic performance.
One last point about water to remember…By the time you are thirsty, your body is already dehydrated. Once dehydrated endurance is diminished, strength can drop, and the effect can last into the following day(s). Instead of relying on a signal, drink water at regular intervals regardless if you're thirsty or not.
Common Causes of Water Loss
Caffeine/alcohol consumption (diuretics)
Increased Stress. Can cause water loss.
Hot environment, increases sweating.
Increased physical activity (water loss from sweating)
Dieting.
Large food intake (common to bodybuilders)
Increasing intake of vitamins, minerals. Increased sodium consumption. (Water intake will help the body excrete sodium and excess water stored)
The average amount of water lost per day During Normal Body Functioning includes:
16 ounces through respiration (average)
16 ounces through invisible perspiration (more if sweat is visible)
48 ounces through elimination
(Note: the more food you eat, the more you eliminate, the more water will be lost)
How Much Water Is Enough? It is suggested that the average person (which is fairly inactive) requires a minimum of 8 to 12 cups of water per day. However, this amount is far too low for active people who need much more to replace the fluid lost during exercise. Also remember that over a gallon of water can be lost if you live in a hot climate.
My advice to stay hydrated is to drink at least eight ounces each hour you're awake. When you are exercising and thirsty it is easy to drink 4 to 8 times that amount if you bring a wide mouth container with you for constant refilling. Other hints: always have something to drink with you.
Also remember to:
Drink water before during and immediately following exercise. If you don't replenish your fluid loss during exercise, you will tire, and possible cramp. Performance will not be at your best.
Drink water immediately following exercise. If you don't replenish after exercise, your performance on the following days will suffer.
Remember you need to drink water for health at regular intervals regardless if you're thirsty or not. By the time you are thirsty, you will already be dehydrated. It is essential that you stay hydrated if you want to build muscle and experience optimal performance.
Remember to drink at least 16 ounces of water after sleeping. 8 hours of sleep, especially in a dry and hot room can rob your body of needed water. You can easily wake up in a dehydrated state after a long sleep under these conditions.
Other tips for proper hydration:
Drink more water when caffeine is consumed. Caffeine is a diuretic. Water intake should be increased when excess caffeine (also found in thermo products) is consumed.
Drink water cold when possible. Cold water absorbs into the system more quickly than warm water. Additionally, some limited evidence suggests that drinking cold water can actually help burn calories.
Do not forget the impact that supplements and medicines may have on hydration. Some supplements (and medicines) require that you take more water for them to be effective (and because some may be diuretics or cause harm if enough water is not consumed. No2 products, and some antibiotics are good examples. As a minimum, since you are an athlete, drink at least 1 1/2 gallons a day.
Regarding eating before bed...You can eat right before bed if your stomach can handle it. Just make it a high [protein low fat, low carb meal…like turkey and a small amount of fibrous carbs.
Regarding your question about whether a run or quick walk will be best ....a quick walk at 65% max heart rate will burn fatter and conserve muscle. Why? The advantage of low intensity cardio is that most of the calories burned will come from stored fat and not other sources such as glycogen, and protein (muscle). Low intensity exercise burns more fat because fat is a slow burning fuel that requires oxygen. When you work out intensely oxygen is not always efficiently delivered to the cells in sufficient quantities which cause the body to burn more carbohydrates in order to keep up with increasing demand. The body then adapts to use glucose as the predominant energy source since glucose does not require oxygen. To burn fat directly you need to exercise at a lower level of effort (between 55 % and 65 % of your maximum heart rate) and for longer duration.
Also do your working out and cardio in the morning, because exercising before eating also causes your body to mobilize more fat because of the unavailability of glycogen and because after fasting your insulin levels are the lowest (insulin interferes with the mobilization of body fat). This also ensures increasing levels of glucagon (a hormone that stimulates the release of fatty acids from adipose tissue while inhibiting the breakdown of glycogen from the liver). The combination of low levels of both insulin and higher levels of glucagons (i.e., a low insulin to glucagons ratio) will create a superior fat burning environment when combined with low intensity, aerobic exercising for a prolonged period of time.
Regarding your question about muscle recovery, there are a lot of suggestions I can give you and it will take too long to write today (I think I gave you a lot to go on already today). I will briefly tell you the best thing for muscle recovery is good rest (do not work out too often) and proper nutrition, especially following working out.
For more tips visit Jeffbehar.com, and also come back and visit the guest book where I will also give tips and advice. Also do not forget to come back and let us all know how my advice has helped by signing back into the guest book and leaving an update.
Best Regards,
Jeff Behar |