That's Fit http://www.thatsfit.com That's Fit http://www.thatsfit.com/media/feedlogo.gif That's Fit http://www.thatsfit.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/Yoga Men - Are You There?http://www.thatsfit.com/2008/11/19/yoga-men-are-you-there/http://www.thatsfit.com/2008/11/19/yoga-men-are-you-there/http://www.thatsfit.com/2008/11/19/yoga-men-are-you-there/#commentsyogaMost Mondays you'll find me in Bodyflow class (a Tai Chi/Pilates/Yoga combo) with a bunch of ... women. In all the weeks I've been attending, never a guy. All the testosterone sits below in the free weight room. I have one question for fitness guys everywhere -- why aren't you there? My husband can't be the only one in town willing to commit to a Triangle Pose.

According to this article in Yoga Journal, 77 percent of U.S. yoga practitioners are female. Seems the number should be higher based on my personal observation over the years, coupled with the fact that only one in 10 Yoga Journal subscribers is a dude. The author offers a few reasons why men and yoga don't date in this country, here are three I found interesting:

  • Yoga is simply foreign territory -- It takes a brave man to enter that room full of calm women, likely led by a woman or if the instructor is a man, not likely the towel-snapping-let's-go-for-a-beer-after-the-game type of guy's guy.
  • Yoga hurts -- Scientists don't know why, but men are less flexible, with boys losing flexibility faster than girls by adolescence. Weight-training tends to take priority over flexibility-training in male sports programs.
  • It's a brain thing -- namely, mirror neurons. These brain cells receive signals from another person and trigger similar reactions in the observer. Mirror neurons are firing when you're watching and imitating a yoga instructor. It's unknown if women have more of these cells or they're simply more active, but women definitely mimic better than men. Guys, don't lose hope. Your mirror neurons will improve if you keep returning to the yoga mat.

OK, guys. Have you tried yoga? Will you try yoga? Let us know in the poll below. The world needs more than a few good Yoga Men.

View Poll


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]]>Bev SklarBevSklarmale yogisMaleYogismirror neuronsMirrorNeuronsYoga JournalYoga MenYogaJournalYogaMenBev Sklar2008-11-19T18:00:00+00:00Grab your whisks and spatulas, guys - today is National Men Make Dinner Dayhttp://www.thatsfit.com/2008/11/06/get-cooking-men-today-is-national-men-make-dinner-day/http://www.thatsfit.com/2008/11/06/get-cooking-men-today-is-national-men-make-dinner-day/http://www.thatsfit.com/2008/11/06/get-cooking-men-today-is-national-men-make-dinner-day/#comments
Hurry, guys, start thinking of something healthy you can whip up for a meal tonight, because today is National Men Make Dinner Day. This great day is not intended for all you men out there who already cook. It's for those who never do, those who might be afraid of the kitchen, those who typically enjoy the fruits of someone else's labor.

I know I haven't given you much notice to plan your attack but sometimes, it's best to work under pressure. So here's your mission: Hunt down a recipe (if you're stuck on this one, ask a friend, a trusted colleague, your mom), jot down what you need to make your meal come together, pick up your ingredients at the supermarket on your way home from work (if you're already home, head out now), and go straight home and start preparing your masterpiece.

Here's my advice: Make it simple, and make it healthy. Perhaps a recipe isn't even necessary. How about grilling some chicken and serving with a side of steamed veggies, some whole grain bread, and maybe a salad with no dressing but some juicy fruit, like pineapple or grapes? Pour some sparkling water, finish with a small piece of dark chocolate, and a healthy meal you'll have. Give it whirl, why don't you? And let us know how it goes. And hey, if things don't work out for today, there's always tomorrow, and the next day, and the next day.

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]]>cookJacki DonaldsonJackiDonaldsonNational Men Make Dinner DayNationalMenMakeDinnerDayJacki Donaldson2008-11-06T11:30:00+00:00Women do this better than menhttp://www.thatsfit.com/2008/10/28/women-do-this-better-than-men/http://www.thatsfit.com/2008/10/28/women-do-this-better-than-men/http://www.thatsfit.com/2008/10/28/women-do-this-better-than-men/#commentsgender symbolsDid you know that women tend to eat more healthfully than men? And that women are more likely to choose foods to benefit their overall health and/or select foods for a specific health purpose (e.g. digestive health)? After the somewhat frustrating news Martha gave us about the difference between men and women when it comes to fitness, I'm glad to hear women have an edge somewhere.

According to a recent research study, both genders believe that nutrition plays an important role in health, but women came out on top in all categories studied. For example, 53% of women choose foods to benefit overall wellness, compared to 46% of men.

So c'mon guys ... consider it a challenge. Maybe by the next time this subject is studied, you'll have closed the gap.

[via Vital Juice Daily]

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]]>eateatingfoodgendergendershealthymanmennutritionwomanwomenMaggie Vink2008-10-28T14:00:00+00:00Check out this 80-year-old bodybuilderhttp://www.thatsfit.com/2008/09/23/check-out-this-80-year-old-bodybuilder/http://www.thatsfit.com/2008/09/23/check-out-this-80-year-old-bodybuilder/http://www.thatsfit.com/2008/09/23/check-out-this-80-year-old-bodybuilder/#comments

At nearly 80, Ray Moon has suffered through polio, open heart surgery, financial ruin and two minor strokes. And he has a pacemaker. So you might be surprised to know what Mr. Moon's claim to fame is: He's a bodybuilding champ in his native Australia.

He recently took home the top prize in the Victorian Bodybuilding Championships in Melbourne in the 'over 60' category, which is quite a feat considering he is well over 60 -- by nearly 20 years! What's even more amazing? He only started working out four years ago. For more of this story, click here.

Mr. Moon works out six days a week for 2.5 hours and walks 4 km every day. Feel lazy yet? I sure do.

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]]>80sageagingbodybuildingfitnessoctogenarianoldold ageOldAgeray moonRayMoonsenior citizenSeniorCitizenMartha Edwards2008-09-23T11:26:00+00:00Don't be an asteriskhttp://www.thatsfit.com/2008/09/18/dont-be-an-asterisk/http://www.thatsfit.com/2008/09/18/dont-be-an-asterisk/http://www.thatsfit.com/2008/09/18/dont-be-an-asterisk/#comments"I learned it by watching you," the young man explains to his father after it's learned that he's using drugs. That's how the now famous commercial from the 1980s unfolds, reminding parents of the influence their behaviors have on their children. Fast forward 20 years or so, and kids now have constant access to information that extends far past the walls of their home, yet in some circumstances they remain utterly deprived of knowledge.

A case can certainly made these days that professional athletes, Hollywood celebrities, and rock stars have an obligation, a duty, to the youth in this country to be role models. Kids today not only turn to their parents for answers or guidance, but they rely on what they see and hear on YouTube and MySpace. And, if part what they're hearing and seeing is the concept of a physical ideal, some young people will do what they mistakenly feel is necessary to achieve it -- even it if means taking the same dangerous steps those athletes or celebrities have taken.

In efforts to raise awareness of the growing trend of teenage steroid use, and to dispel the notion that a physical ideal actually even exists, the Ad Council has launched a campaign called "Don't Be an Asterisk," referring to the asterisk that has been placed in the record books after the names of athletes who reportedly used performance-enhancing drugs. Parents and kids alike can visit the interactive website www.dontbeanasterisk.com to learn more about the negative effects of steroids, in addition to finding a surfeit of information on how to live a healthy, drug-free life.

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]]>chris sparlingChrisSparlingexercisefitnesssteroidsthe ad councilTheAdCouncilworkoutChris Sparling2008-09-18T12:30:00+00:00Dark beer and 5 other healthy man foodshttp://www.thatsfit.com/2008/09/17/6-healthy-food-swaps-for-men/http://www.thatsfit.com/2008/09/17/6-healthy-food-swaps-for-men/http://www.thatsfit.com/2008/09/17/6-healthy-food-swaps-for-men/#comments
Feel free to borrow these tips, ladies, but men -- these are mostly for you. Well, those of you who just can't part with goodies like cookies, beer, bacon, and chips. This list offers you options for satisfying your cravings but without the ill-effects. Don't delay -- click on the thumbnails to read on!


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]]>baconbeerchipschocolatecookiesfood swapsFoodSwapsfrozenJacki DonaldsonJackiDonaldsonmenpizzaJacki Donaldson2008-09-17T07:30:00+00:00Pumping up changes laws of attractionhttp://www.thatsfit.com/2008/09/16/getting-pumped-up-in-the-gym-may-change-who-you-are-attracted-to/http://www.thatsfit.com/2008/09/16/getting-pumped-up-in-the-gym-may-change-who-you-are-attracted-to/http://www.thatsfit.com/2008/09/16/getting-pumped-up-in-the-gym-may-change-who-you-are-attracted-to/#commentsWhen you work out with weights, you naturally elevate your testosterone levels (check out this recent post about boosting testosterone). Naturally, raising testosterone levels via weight resistance training can be a very good thing for both men and women unless it causes you to be less attracted to your spouse, boyfriend or girlfriend!

A recent journal publication reveals that women who have higher testosterone levels are attracted to men who have more masculine, "manly," high testosterone-like features -- such as the physical facial qualities that Russel Crowe or Dwayne"The Rock" Johnson possess. Men with elevated levels of the same hormone are more likely to be attracted to more feminine faces like Natalie Portman or Jessica Biel.

This fascinating study was conducted at the University of Aberdeen's Face Research Laboratory. Researchers had male and female volunteers view pairs of photographs of the opposite sex and asked them to choose who they found the most attractive. Each volunteer gave saliva samples to measure testosterone levels during their photo viewing sessions. This process was conducted four times in four weeks with each session one week apart. Face preferences changed as testosterone levels changed. For women, if testosterone was found to be lower, they would choose a less masculine face and conversely, if the hormone was higher, they selected the image of one who had more chiseled, macho features! Men selected more feminine faces when their testosterone was higher. What does all this mean?

Continue reading Pumping up changes laws of attraction

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]]>testosteroneweight resistance and testosteroneWeightResistanceAndTestosteroneLaura Lewis2008-09-16T12:20:00+00:00Ask Laura! Boost Bedroom Mojo with Exercisehttp://www.thatsfit.com/2008/09/12/ask-laura-boost-bedroom-mojo-with-exercise/http://www.thatsfit.com/2008/09/12/ask-laura-boost-bedroom-mojo-with-exercise/http://www.thatsfit.com/2008/09/12/ask-laura-boost-bedroom-mojo-with-exercise/#commentsLife Fitness is a process of continuous growth: physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. Need motivation and guidance to facilitate positive changes in your life? Ask Life Fit Expert Laura Lewis!

Dear Laura:

My husband and I work full-time. By the time we get home and eat dinner, we really aren't interested in having sex. I know all I want to do is get ready for bed to sleep! My husband is usually asleep by the time I get into bed. I read somewhere that exercising might help by putting us "in the mood." Would joining a gym help us out in the love department?

Thanks a bunch!

"Feeling like a slug" in Chicago

Dear Feeling,

So many people are low energy, depressed, stressed and just plain unhappy. Like you, there is not a lot of activity happening in the bedroom. Many are sedentary. Yet, did you know that simply exercising, specifically doing weight resistance exercise at least three times per week can naturally elevate your testosterone or "T" levels? And the higher your testosterone levels are the more you will be in the mood to hop in the sack with your honey. If you are interested in having some smoking hot activity in the boudoir with your sweetie pie, listen up! Check out these 5 "T" boosting tips on how to turn up the heat!

1. Join a gym. If you have never had a private session with a trainer, then book one. An experienced personal trainer can give you a thorough orientation on how to properly use all of the exercise equipment a gym has to offer. Most gyms will provide a free session upon request to help you get started.Then once you get going, really focus upon the goal of doing three high intensity sets on each piece of equipment with resting periods in between sets, of 30 seconds to three minutes. Workout hard and push yourself to go beyond your comfort zone. Higher intensity workouts result in higher elevation of testosterone. Also, the harder you workout, the longer you can rest before you move on to the next set!

Continue reading Ask Laura! Boost Bedroom Mojo with Exercise

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]]>exercise and libidoExerciseAndLibidoLaura LewisLauraLewislibidoqatestosteroneLaura Lewis2008-09-12T10:21:00+00:00'Bigorexics' are never big enoughhttp://www.thatsfit.com/2008/09/10/bigorexics-are-never-big-enough/http://www.thatsfit.com/2008/09/10/bigorexics-are-never-big-enough/http://www.thatsfit.com/2008/09/10/bigorexics-are-never-big-enough/#commentsThere are news stories frequently written about people dealing with the dangers of anorexia. In most cases, anorexia is suffered by women, although more and more cases of what's referred to as "manorexia" are surfacing in men. But there exists an opposite side of that weight-obsession coin, one that deals not with a person feeling as if they are too big, but just the opposite -- that they are too small and not muscular enough.

While it's easy to assume that the hugely muscular guy (or woman, in fewer cases) at the gym is either a competitive bodybuilder or just bit narcissistic, this may not be the case. Muscle dysmorphia is a disorder in which very muscular people believe that they look too small and that they lack muscularity, even if others tell them differently. Muscle dysmorphia can influence a person's mood, often causing depression or feelings of disgust. This is often connected with an obsessive comparison with their own body to what they perceive to be an attainable ideal, frequently resulting in the performance of extreme training sessions and the use of anabolic steroids.

Does this mean that all you workout junkies out there suffer from muscle dysmorphia? Probably not. But, if you find that your constant preoccupation with perceived muscular inadequacy interferes with school, career accomplishments, friendships and romantic relationships, you may be witnessing signs of this disorder.

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]]>Chris SparlingChrisSparlingdietexercisefitnessmuscle dysmorphiaMuscleDysmorphiaweight lossWeightLossworkoutChris Sparling2008-09-10T17:00:00+00:00Men: This chemical might make you fathttp://www.thatsfit.com/2008/09/10/men-this-chemical-may-make-you-fat/http://www.thatsfit.com/2008/09/10/men-this-chemical-may-make-you-fat/http://www.thatsfit.com/2008/09/10/men-this-chemical-may-make-you-fat/#comments
Pay attention, men, to all the stuff you've got stashed in your house -- everything from plastics to shaving creams to foods -- because a common household chemical may be found in these items and could be making you fat.

Phthalates (pronounced THAL-ates) are the problem chemicals, and studies found that men with the most exposure to them were on average about three inches larger in waist circumference than other men. Their insulin resistance levels were notably higher as well.

Don't stress too much about this news, because there's something you can do about this dangerous chemical: Avoid it. Maybe one day, the government will regulate it too.

For more on phthalates, from the folks who think they are not so harmful, click here. For some scoop on where else phthalates might be hiding and how to avoid all traces of the them, click here.

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]]>chemicalcircumferencefatJacki DonaldsonJackiDonaldsonmenPhthalateswaistJacki Donaldson2008-09-10T07:44:00+00:00Fit Factor: Keep your body swimsuit ready all year roundhttp://www.thatsfit.com/2008/09/05/fit-factor-keep-your-body-swimsuit-ready-all-year-round/http://www.thatsfit.com/2008/09/05/fit-factor-keep-your-body-swimsuit-ready-all-year-round/http://www.thatsfit.com/2008/09/05/fit-factor-keep-your-body-swimsuit-ready-all-year-round/#commentsMany people work hard to have their bodies ready for beach season. But, once Labor Day rolls past and the colder, baggy-clothes-wearing months arrive, many exercise programs tend to go into hibernation until spring.

This year, however, we're going to make sure that we stay healthy and fit year round. Not only is this better for your health and wellness, but it will make fitting into your bathing suit next summer that much easier. To make this inter-seasonal fitness a possibility, it's going to take a little lot of work. Diet: clean. Stress: less. And -- what we'll focus on here -- exercise: difficult. Alright, we've already wasted enough time. Let's get to that workout, shall we?

Start first with a five-minute warm-up on a treadmill or stationary bike (or just walk around your neighborhood). Once that five minutes is up, it's time to kick things into high gear.

Do two sets of 12 repetitions of squat thrusts, resting 30 seconds in between sets. Once you've finished your 12th rep of your second set, jump right onto a treadmill (or, if you're outdoors, just start running). Run for 90 seconds at a very high speed (almost a sprint), and then slow down to a moderately-paced jog for three minutes. Repeat this process three times and then rest for two minutes.

Continue reading Fit Factor: Keep your body swimsuit ready all year round

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]]>chris sparlingChrisSparlingexercisefit factorFitFactorfitnessweight lossWeightLossChris Sparling2008-09-05T07:00:00+00:00Secondhand smoke damages blood vessels quicklyhttp://www.thatsfit.com/2008/09/04/secondhand-smoke-works-quickly-to-damage-blood-vessels/http://www.thatsfit.com/2008/09/04/secondhand-smoke-works-quickly-to-damage-blood-vessels/http://www.thatsfit.com/2008/09/04/secondhand-smoke-works-quickly-to-damage-blood-vessels/#commentsAbout a month and a half ago, while I was out in Wisconsin, I was surprised to find that smoking is still allowed in restaurants. Being a native New Englander who has also lived in California -- where smoking in restaurants and bars has been banned for quite some time -- my personal knowledge of smoking bans caused me to be somewhat presumptive in thinking this was a nationwide trend. No offense to Wisconsin (or any other states that don't have a restaurant/bar smoking ban) ... but shouldn't it be?

If you take a recent Women's Health article on the topic of secondhand smoke into consideration, it's hard to argue against such a suggestion. According to said article, it takes thirty minutes or less for secondhand smoke to damage blood vessels and increase your risk of cardiovascular disease. Even such brief exposure disrupts normal expansion and contraction of blood vessels -- and it destroys EPCs, cells that help repair the arterial lining.

Look, I'm all in favor of people having the right to live their life without too much government interference. But, people eating at a restaurant also have the right to not have secondhand smoke destroy their blood vessels. While it's true that these folks could always eat somewhere else if the smoke bothers them, frankly, shouldn't it be the smokers who should go somewhere else?

Your thoughts?

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]]>chris sparlingChrisSparlingexercisefitnesshealthsecondhand smokeSecondhandSmokesmokingwisconsinChris Sparling2008-09-04T21:30:00+00:00The 5: Ways to recover from over-traininghttp://www.thatsfit.com/2008/09/04/the-5-ways-to-recover-from-over-training/http://www.thatsfit.com/2008/09/04/the-5-ways-to-recover-from-over-training/http://www.thatsfit.com/2008/09/04/the-5-ways-to-recover-from-over-training/#commentsWhat do headaches, depression, fatigue, illness, irritability, weakness, joint pain, insomnia, loss of appetite, and muscle atrophy have in common? If you answered a day in Amy Winehouse's life, you're probably right, but that's not the answer we're looking for. What is the answer, then? They are all signs of over-training.

As important as it is to push yourself during your workouts, it's entirely possible to push yourself too hard and too far. To help remedy the effects of an overzealous workout program, Men's Health offers the following five tips:

1. Take a Week Off Exercise. Rest is the most effective way to treat over-training, as it provides your body with the time it needs to fully repair the damage.

Continue reading The 5: Ways to recover from over-training

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]]>amy winehouseAmyWinehousechris sparlingChrisSparlingfatiguefitnessmens health magazineMensHealthMagazineovertrainingChris Sparling2008-09-04T18:00:00+00:00Prostate exam gone publichttp://www.thatsfit.com/2008/09/04/prostate-exam-gone-public/http://www.thatsfit.com/2008/09/04/prostate-exam-gone-public/http://www.thatsfit.com/2008/09/04/prostate-exam-gone-public/#commentsStand Up For Cancer TV show, Brad Garrett will draw attention to the importance of the exam in a brand new way. He's going to get a prostate exam... on TV.

I can't imagine how -- or what -- they're planning to show on TV. After all, prostate exams are necessary, but they're not exactly fodder for family viewing. But, knowing Brad Garrett, I'm sure they'll make it humorous and humor is often an excellent way to draw attention to serious issues.

Tune in to Stand Up to Cancer on September 5th. The special airs on ABC, NBC, and CBS.

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]]>Brad-Garrettcancerexammens-healthprostateprostate-examscreeningstand-up-to-cancerMaggie Vink2008-09-04T17:30:00+00:00Uncover your six-packhttp://www.thatsfit.com/2008/09/04/uncover-your-six-pack/http://www.thatsfit.com/2008/09/04/uncover-your-six-pack/http://www.thatsfit.com/2008/09/04/uncover-your-six-pack/#commentsHundreds upon hundreds of crunches, leg lifts, and twists, yet a six-pack is nowhere to be found. Sound familiar? If so, it's time you got off the floor and on your feet again, because the only way you're going to get those abs popping is to reduce your body fat.

Generally speaking, the men and women you see gracing the covers of fitness magazines have a body fat percentage of less than ten percent. And, as you can tell by looking at them, they definitely have ab muscles. The thing is, so do you; the only difference is, if you can't see yours, it's because they're hidden behind a layer of subcutaneous fat.

To shed this fatty layer and expose your six-pack, stick to a sensible diet (no simple sugars, keep unhealthy fats to a minimum, eat plenty of protein, and keep caloric consumption under control) and follow a cardio program that works for you. For some people, this means utilizing a high-intensity interval training workout, which has been shown in numerous studies to blast fat at a rapid rate. Other people prefer longer durations of moderate-intensity cardio work, which is effective in its own right. One suggestion would be to alter cardio programs every four to six weeks, so as to avoid reaching a fitness plateau. Another great way to help reach your goals faster is to incorporate a resistance training program, ideally in the form of a weightlifting circuit routine. Follow this approach and those ab muscles of yours will come out from hiding in no time.

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]]>chris sparlingChrisSparlingdietexercisefat burnFatBurnfitnessweight lossWeightLossworkoutChris Sparling2008-09-04T13:00:00+00:00Work iso exercises out of your workout http://www.thatsfit.com/2008/09/04/work-iso-exercises-out-of-your-workout/http://www.thatsfit.com/2008/09/04/work-iso-exercises-out-of-your-workout/http://www.thatsfit.com/2008/09/04/work-iso-exercises-out-of-your-workout/#commentsAs I've said many times here on That's Fit, to truly maximize your time spent in the weight room, you'd do well to avoid isolation exercises and instead focus on compound movements.

Unless you're a bodybuilder, tweaking and finishing your physique, there's really no need for exercises that focus on one, small muscle instead of those that target many larger muscle groups all at once. What's more, performing compound exercises require greater caloric expenditure than isolation movements, which means you'll also shed more pounds.

Applying this logic, I feel it's worth highlighting these two isolation exercises, both of which experts feel aren't all they were once cracked up to be.

Leg Extensions. There are two separate, but related, reasons why you would do well to skip this exercise.

Continue reading Work iso exercises out of your workout

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]]>chris sparlingChrisSparlingexercisefitnessleg extensionsLegExtensionspec deckPecDeckweightliftingworkoutChris Sparling2008-09-04T11:30:00+00:00Can plants be a good source of protein? Soytinly!http://www.thatsfit.com/2008/09/04/can-plants-be-a-good-source-of-protein-soytinly/http://www.thatsfit.com/2008/09/04/can-plants-be-a-good-source-of-protein-soytinly/http://www.thatsfit.com/2008/09/04/can-plants-be-a-good-source-of-protein-soytinly/#commentsRecent studies show that soy protein is just as valuable for building lean muscle as whey and casein. In fact, most fitness experts these days suggest regularly including soy as part of a healthy diet, particularly in a post-workout meal.

Here's a few reasons why:
  • Soy enhances muscle recovery and growth
  • It increase nitric oxide (NO) production
  • It enhances fat loss
  • It improves heart health and protects against certain types of cancers

In the past, many people avoided soy because they believed it was an inferior source of protein. However, as evidenced by the above stated list of health benefits, this is clearly not the case. Just the same, there still exists a fair amount of opposition to this pro-soy stance. What's your take on this matter?

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]]>caseinchris sparlingChrisSparlingmuscleproteinsoywheyChris Sparling2008-09-04T10:30:00+00:00Keep your metabolism fired up as you agehttp://www.thatsfit.com/2008/09/04/keep-your-metabolism-fired-up-as-you-age/http://www.thatsfit.com/2008/09/04/keep-your-metabolism-fired-up-as-you-age/http://www.thatsfit.com/2008/09/04/keep-your-metabolism-fired-up-as-you-age/#commentsA recent trip up north took me to a quaint, seaside town in Maine. There, I enjoyed some great hikes, some nice long walks, and the benefit of crisp, fresh air. But, I also enjoyed waaaaaay to many calories at the dozens of ice cream shops that lined the streets. As a kid, I could have eaten these treats with relative impunity. These days, however, these temporary lapses in my fitness judgment can only be afforded if they remain just that: temporary.

It's a natural -- though very unfortunate -- fact that our metabolism tends to slow down somewhere around the age of 25. From there, it slows down by around five to ten percent with each subsequent decade that passes. Does this mean that you're fate is sealed and that you must accept your overweight destiny? Not at all.

By exercising regularly, you can keep your metabolism decline under a great deal of control. For the most part, if you get up and start moving every day you can very well increase your metabolism, or at least keep it to around a 0.3 percent drop, per decade.

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]]>chris sparlingChrisSparlingexercisefitnessice creamIceCreammetabolismworkoutChris Sparling2008-09-04T09:30:00+00:00Short circuit http://www.thatsfit.com/2008/09/03/short-circuit/http://www.thatsfit.com/2008/09/03/short-circuit/http://www.thatsfit.com/2008/09/03/short-circuit/#commentsIf we continue at the rate we're going, the entire U.S. population will be obese in 50 years. That's what a recent University of Missouri study suggests, anyway. Even if it doesn't turn out to be completely true, it's easy to see how it can still end up being quite close.

What can we do about it? Best I can tell, the only solution is to shape up. Through diet and regular exercise, the obesity epidemic can become a thing of the past, rather than an inevitable part of our future. With that little pep talk over, I feel obliged to now offer up a quick health tip. OK ... here goes.

Try a resistance training circuit routine to blast the maximum amount of fat in the shortest amount of time. Create a circuit of at least five to seven muscle-toning resistance exercises, spending 30 seconds or less in between sets. Shoot for high rep counts (at least 15 reps per set) and use lighter weights than you would if you were using longer break periods. Once you've finished the complete circuit, start all over again for another full go-around. By the end of this second circuit, you're heart will be racing, your muscles will be aching, and your lungs will be on fire. Oh, don't worry ... that all means you're doing it right!!

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]]>chris sparlingChrisSparlingcircuit trainingCircuitTrainingexercisefitnessi look like fitILookLikeFitresistance trainingResistanceTrainingweight lossWeightLossChris Sparling2008-09-03T22:00:00+00:00Build a body like a Greek godhttp://www.thatsfit.com/2008/09/03/build-a-body-like-a-greek-god/http://www.thatsfit.com/2008/09/03/build-a-body-like-a-greek-god/http://www.thatsfit.com/2008/09/03/build-a-body-like-a-greek-god/#commentsA cup of yogurt can make for a healthy snack, but not if you reach for a sugar-filled brand. And though there are plenty of great tasting, lower-sugar yogurts out there from which to choose, an even better selection is Greek yogurt.

Two of the more popular brands of Greek yogurt, Chobani and Fage, provide ten percent of your daily need of calcium, in addition to containing probiotics for healthy digestion.

Plus, Greek yogurt contains more protein than regular yogurt (13g versus the typical six to nine grams). Reach for the zero fat kind and you'll get all this healthy goodness for under 80 calories!!

It's no wonder the Greek gods always had such great physiques.

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]]>chris sparlingChrisSparlingdietexercisefitnessGreek yogurtGreekYogurtprobioticsChris Sparling2008-09-03T21:00:00+00:00