2 Votes1. nutrition - Have you ever noticed that the best foods for you are the ones with the fewest ingredients? Water, fish, fruits, vegetables all are pretty simple. At the same time look at the foods we all know that we probably shouldn't be eating such as candy, chips, soft drinks, puddings etc and notice how long this list is. Try and eat foods in the most natural state you can find them and you're digestive system will thank you for it.
2. water - We should try and get as much of our nutrition and calories from food as we can. As our obesity rates continue to rise we are noticing that this is paralleled by an increased number of our calories coming from liquids. There are exceptions to the rule with respect to sports drinks and protein shakes however the quickest way to shed 5 pounds is to try and drink a glass of water for every 15 pounds of body weight. You won't be able to indulge in the fancy coffee drinks you once enjoyed and will providing a flush to your system at the same time.
3. fitness machines - The human body is one of the most incredible machines ever created yet many of the machines in the gym will become lined up before we squat, lunge, hinge, press and pull our own bodyweight. Not only does moving your own bodyweight require stabilizing the core and overcoming gravity but we don't have to wait to do a bodyweight squat, there is freedom to move in all planes, there are less space requirements not to mention zero cost involved.
4. footwear - More and more of the shoes we wear constrict and confine the toes while elevating the heel. This is compounded further with high-heeled women's shoes terminating in a pointed toe. The foot is the starting point for all the neural input that comes up from the ground and influences the type and quality of all subsequent movement. The more we restrict and lock the foot and ankle the less feedback we receive during movement. I would guess that there are probably not a lot of sprained ankles in some third world countries that do not wear shoes. Contrast this with a high school basketball team that always seems to have one player on crutches, wrapped up or in rehab.
5. vitamin D - This vitamin is vital when strength training because it helps us absorb calcium and phosphorus essential for healthy bone development. While we can obtain vitamin D fortified foods to meet our requirement we can also step out into the sun for 15-30 minutes of full body exposure a couple of times a week to fulfill this requirement. Tanning beds usually don't work as well here because they can provide too high of a dose and create a negative feedback inhibiting the production of vitamin D and actually result in a deficiency.
So it's true that the best things in life are free and most likely to keep you strong and healthy.
All the best.
Chris
www.okanaganpeakperformance.com
250.212.2972
