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Lead Stories: Wednesday, December 3, 2008

Omega-3 Fatty Acids: Essential fuel for an efficient running machine

Posted December 10th, 2006 at 7:00 AM by Michelle Tessmer

Section: Nutrition, Healthy Eating, Health & Fitness

Just like an engine needs the proper fuel, so do our bodies. Although we’re aware of the need for an adequate mix of carbohydrates and protein, one more important ingredient completes the equation for endurance and strength: fat. But that doesn’t mean that deep-fried buffalo wings will provide enough energy to finish out the last two miles – it takes the right type of fat. Omega-3 fatty acids, to be exact.

Omega-3 fatty acids have been found to aid in the formation of lean muscle tissue, reduce joint tenderness and inflammation, and have a beneficial effect on the rhythm of the heartbeat. According to a 2004 article in the Journal of Exercise Physiology, the ingestion of omega-3 fatty acids helps to stimulate the oxidation of fat in the liver and in skeletal muscle. Read the rest of this entry »

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Healthy Eating Guide: Part 2

Posted November 15th, 2006 at 4:00 PM by Jonathan Faccone

Section: Nutrition, Healthy Eating, Supplements

This is Part 2 of my Healthy Eating Guide. Make sure to first go back and read Part 1! In addition, if you’d like personalized help with healthy eating, please send an email to thefinalsprint@gmail.com

Many people have adopted a mindset that healthy eating is a burden, rather then a necessity and way to make yourself feel better (in addition to making you look better). In order to get the most out of your life, you need to embrace a healthy diet. You might think that eating six smaller meals a day is unrealistic, but you’ll be surprised just how it easy it can be to make it work. It takes only five minutes each day to think about how you’re going to schedule your meals and snacks for the next day. Planning is the key for setting up and sticking to an eating program. Have you ever heard the saying “If you fail to plan, plan to fail”? It’s some of the best advice I can give you and is applicable for everything in your life - including living a healthy lifestyle. Read the rest of this entry »

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Healthy Eating Guide: Part 1

Posted November 13th, 2006 at 4:12 PM by Jonathan Faccone

Section: Nutrition, Healthy Eating

Food is viewed by many as an enemy; a lurking temptress ready seduce you and lead you down the path to weight gain. People have been quick to believe, that when it comes to food, “less is more.” However, the negative effects of this long-standing mindset are unavoidable: Obesity in America is at it’s highest rate ever and according to data from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III), more than 58 million American adults between the ages 20 to 74 are overweight. Needless to say, its time to reevaluate our eating habits and our views of “healthy eating.”

There is good news for all of food lovers out there; studies are continually showing that eating smaller meals throughout the day has several health benefits. Why? Because when people don’t eat regulary, the body goes into starvation mode; unsure of when the next energy source will be available. Subsequently, the body stores more fat and cholesterol in an effort to create backup energy supplies. As a result, your metabolism becomes less efficient at burning calories; making you more susceptible to weight gain and can lead to the loss of muscle-mass. Read the rest of this entry »

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Exercise for weight loss

Posted November 5th, 2006 at 7:00 AM by Jeanie Rebb

Section: Running & Training, Health & Fitness, Exercise, Weight Loss

When people start an exercise program, some lose a lot of weight, while others lose nothing.

An effective exercise program for weight loss should be 1) continuous, 2) use all of your major muscle groups, 3) include one intense workout a week for each muscle group, and 4) be done on land, rather than in the water.

Stop-and-start exercises, such as lifting weights, do not require that you use your muscles continuously enough to burn a lot of calories. Those that use just one muscle group, such as doing situps or pushups, won’t help you to lose a lot of weight because the stressed muscle groups tire quickly so you can’t exercise very long. Read the rest of this entry »

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