Yesterday I decided to do a little experiment. I hadn't been shopping and the cupboards were pretty empty, so breakfast options were limited.
Now I don't really have a particular problem with wheat or dairy, although many people do, but instead of my usual breakfast of eggs or bacon or a super-smoothie, I decided to have Weetabix. A power breakfast, no?
So, 8am, breakfast: 4 weetabix with milk and a small sprinkling of sugar (what most people seem to think of as a healthy breakfast!)
The Result: Well, not only was I hungry again in about half an hour, but by the time I was set to have my workout at about 11.30, I had NO energy. I felt weak, lethargic and had no motivation whatsoever to drag my arse into the gym.
Is this how people feel day in, day out?!
No wonder everyone doses up on sugar-filled junk and caffeine!
If you "don't have the energy to train" or are "too tired" after your day's work, then maybe, just maybe, it's NOT that you've worked hard (let's face it, unless you're a labourer, you don't work hard - sat at a desk all day), but that you've been feeding your body crap and it's telling you it just 'aint good enough!
If you're feeding your body the fuel it needs, you'll have better energy levels throughout the day and have plenty left over for a workout at the end of the day.
All without having to dose up of coffee and sugar at regular intervals.
You may not have made the connection between the s**t you're eating and your apparent lack of energy, but trust me, this is EXACTLY what the problem is.
So tomorrow, instead of having your cereal with milk, and cup of tea or coffee, try having something different; scrambled eggs and a couple of rashers of grilled bacon, maybe with some grilled tomatoes. And at least a pint of water.
Give it a try and see if you feel any different.
Then later on, when (or if) you get hungry, have another glass of water first, then a handful of nuts with a cup of berries.
Try this for a couple of days and if you don't notice the difference...
(then you're probably still pretending you "can't go without your cup of tea in the morning")
Give it a try and let me know how it goes.
Sunday, 12 June 2011
Wednesday, 23 February 2011
Barefoot Running
I've just come across this great video.
It shows the basics of barefoot running without too much detail, but a few pointers of how you can get started making the transition.
Give a few of the drills a try and see how you get on.
If you can master these basics, you should begin to find your running more efficient, less effort, smoother, and you'll get less injuries.
But do as he says - ease yourself into it! The muscles in your feet are likely weak and won't be used to working so hard, so build them up slowly.
(As a side note - I personally prefer the Vibram FiveFingers shoes, but the Terra Plana are also great)
:-)
It shows the basics of barefoot running without too much detail, but a few pointers of how you can get started making the transition.
Give a few of the drills a try and see how you get on.
If you can master these basics, you should begin to find your running more efficient, less effort, smoother, and you'll get less injuries.
But do as he says - ease yourself into it! The muscles in your feet are likely weak and won't be used to working so hard, so build them up slowly.
(As a side note - I personally prefer the Vibram FiveFingers shoes, but the Terra Plana are also great)
:-)
Thursday, 17 February 2011
Nutritional Supplements
As I read more and more about diet and nutrition, my beliefs change slightly.
Occasionally, I'll change my mind completely about something (like whey protein supplements - which I used to use, but now don't). But more often, I'll just learn about something new that I'd not learnt much about before, or just give a particular supplement more or less credit than I had previously.
Having read a lot more nutrition books recently, I've come to what is currently my ideal supplement program. These are the supplements I take, and recommend everyone should look into taking.
If you think supplements are too expensive then I urge you to re-evaluate your priorities. If drinking 5 cups of coffee a day, or smoking cigarettes, or buying cakes/sweets/biscuits/alcohol etc is higher in your list of priorities than your health, then I probably can't do much to help you.
But if you think that spending some of your hard-earned money on something that will certainly improve your health is worth it, then read on...
My daily supplements:
Alkaline Water - There are too many benefits to mention. Suffice to say that our bodies can only be healthy in a slightly alkaline state, and our food choices, pollution, stress and other habits cause our bodies to become acidic - turning it into a breeding ground for disease. I drink all my water from an ioniser, which alkalises the water. But for a cheaper option (the ionisers start from about £600), Alkalising Salts are a must!
Omega-3's - These really are "essential" fats, and just about every cell in your body needs them to function properly. DON'T skip these!
Chlorella, Spirulina and Wheatgrass - These are all Algae and they contain chlorophyll, which is a blood builder. They also contain all 8 essential amino acids (the ones you can ONLY get from diet) as well as about 10 other amino acids. They contain vitamins, anti-oxidants, iron, RNA and GLA. And they help eliminate heavy metals, pesticieds, herbicides, and PCB's.
Vitamin D - This is essential to health. It boosts your immune system and helps maintain proper levels of calcium in the blood. And due to our lack of sunny weather in this country - even more important to supplement! Lack of vitamin D has also been linked to depression and other mental illnesses.
Mega Greens - This is a powdered drink that contains 34 different vegetables that'll give you just about every vitamin and mineral going. I never miss this one out!
Super-Supplemental - This is a good quality multi-vitamin. Another important addition to daily nutrition thanks to the lack of nutrients in our food nowdays. But be careful with these - as with all supplements, you get what you pay for. So pay the extra, it's cheaper than buying ones that don't work.
Vitamin C - Another essential vitamins for health that we can only get through diet. I use the dissolvable tablets first thing in the morning - an easy way to get your first 1/2 litre of water in in the morning.
Colloidal Silver - Natural anti-biotic (with NO side effects), fights disease and helps fight bacteria and viruses.
There are a few others that I don't take every day, but try to get in at least 2-3 times per week:
Hemp seeds - These are SUPER-superfoods. Probably the most under-appreciated food in the world! I really should have this one every day. You should too!
Coconut Oil - This breaks down less than any other oil when heated, contains lots of good fats (yes, some fats are good!), and promotes fat-burning and brain function. Use this in place of all other oils.
Royal Jelly - Another superfood that promotes healthy brain function, as well as being a very rich source of vitamin B5 and acetylcholine.
So that's my list of supplements that I never go without.
I'm sure as time goes on and I learn more I'll add more to the list, or find ways to get extra nutrients into my foods (like sprouting alfalfa and other seeds).
If you want to know where to get them, leave a comment below, or contact me through my website.
But you can get many of them (super-supplemental, spirulina, vitamin C, vitamin D, colloidal silver, Omega-3's) from here: www.TopQualitySupplements.com
This may seem like a lot of supplements, but I feel they're all necessary to promote great health and prevent illness and disease.
Remember, prevention is the best cure!
Occasionally, I'll change my mind completely about something (like whey protein supplements - which I used to use, but now don't). But more often, I'll just learn about something new that I'd not learnt much about before, or just give a particular supplement more or less credit than I had previously.
Having read a lot more nutrition books recently, I've come to what is currently my ideal supplement program. These are the supplements I take, and recommend everyone should look into taking.
If you think supplements are too expensive then I urge you to re-evaluate your priorities. If drinking 5 cups of coffee a day, or smoking cigarettes, or buying cakes/sweets/biscuits/alcohol etc is higher in your list of priorities than your health, then I probably can't do much to help you.
But if you think that spending some of your hard-earned money on something that will certainly improve your health is worth it, then read on...
My daily supplements:
Alkaline Water - There are too many benefits to mention. Suffice to say that our bodies can only be healthy in a slightly alkaline state, and our food choices, pollution, stress and other habits cause our bodies to become acidic - turning it into a breeding ground for disease. I drink all my water from an ioniser, which alkalises the water. But for a cheaper option (the ionisers start from about £600), Alkalising Salts are a must!
Omega-3's - These really are "essential" fats, and just about every cell in your body needs them to function properly. DON'T skip these!
Chlorella, Spirulina and Wheatgrass - These are all Algae and they contain chlorophyll, which is a blood builder. They also contain all 8 essential amino acids (the ones you can ONLY get from diet) as well as about 10 other amino acids. They contain vitamins, anti-oxidants, iron, RNA and GLA. And they help eliminate heavy metals, pesticieds, herbicides, and PCB's.
Vitamin D - This is essential to health. It boosts your immune system and helps maintain proper levels of calcium in the blood. And due to our lack of sunny weather in this country - even more important to supplement! Lack of vitamin D has also been linked to depression and other mental illnesses.
Mega Greens - This is a powdered drink that contains 34 different vegetables that'll give you just about every vitamin and mineral going. I never miss this one out!
Super-Supplemental - This is a good quality multi-vitamin. Another important addition to daily nutrition thanks to the lack of nutrients in our food nowdays. But be careful with these - as with all supplements, you get what you pay for. So pay the extra, it's cheaper than buying ones that don't work.
Vitamin C - Another essential vitamins for health that we can only get through diet. I use the dissolvable tablets first thing in the morning - an easy way to get your first 1/2 litre of water in in the morning.
Colloidal Silver - Natural anti-biotic (with NO side effects), fights disease and helps fight bacteria and viruses.
There are a few others that I don't take every day, but try to get in at least 2-3 times per week:
Hemp seeds - These are SUPER-superfoods. Probably the most under-appreciated food in the world! I really should have this one every day. You should too!
Coconut Oil - This breaks down less than any other oil when heated, contains lots of good fats (yes, some fats are good!), and promotes fat-burning and brain function. Use this in place of all other oils.
Royal Jelly - Another superfood that promotes healthy brain function, as well as being a very rich source of vitamin B5 and acetylcholine.
So that's my list of supplements that I never go without.
I'm sure as time goes on and I learn more I'll add more to the list, or find ways to get extra nutrients into my foods (like sprouting alfalfa and other seeds).
If you want to know where to get them, leave a comment below, or contact me through my website.
But you can get many of them (super-supplemental, spirulina, vitamin C, vitamin D, colloidal silver, Omega-3's) from here: www.TopQualitySupplements.com
This may seem like a lot of supplements, but I feel they're all necessary to promote great health and prevent illness and disease.
Remember, prevention is the best cure!
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