There are several ways to be involved, from simply making a donation to getting some people to sponsor you for doing pushups, and even just coming to the event and cheering on those who are doing pushups.

Any way that you decide to be involved is greatly appreciated and every dollar raised goes to support The Boot Campaign and our wounded warriors returning home from the battle field.

This past week I flew out to Las Vegas to spend some time with my younger brother who just returned from Afghanistan where his battalion was having a Marine Corps Ball.

My brothers Cole (Army) and Chase (Marines) rocking out some pushups with me this past weekend in Las Vega

It was great to see him.  We had not seen each other in more than 3 years.

I also had the privilege of meeting several Marines who’ve been wounded in the line of duty and were awarded the Purple Heart.  Many men that lost leg(s), arms, and in some cases an eye.  A big sacrifice for the freedoms you and I enjoy.

One of the highlights of my trip was meeting LCpl. Conner Bradley who is a Purple Heart recipient for a gun shot wound to the leg during Operation Double Check in Afghanistan this past January.

His story solidified the reason why Pushups For Charity is such a needed and worthy cause.

Clint Barr, Owner of Raising The Barr Fitness, pictured with LCpl. Conner Bradley, USMC

I would like to personally invite you to attend our Pushups For Charity event on Saturday, May 12, 2012 at 10:30am right here at:

Raising The Barr Fitness
103 W. Washington St. #B1
Ridgeland, MS 39157

Click here for map

We’re going to have fun for the entire family with a photobooth, a DJ, and a raffle for some great prizes.  We’re even having a kids pushup challenge where all the parents can sponsor their child with a donation for doing pushups.  All the money raised goes to The Boot Campaign.

So make plans to be here on Saturday, May 12, 2012 at 10:30am.  You’ll be helping those who’ve sacrificed so much for our freedom.

I look forward to seeing you there!

To your freedom and success,

Clint Barr

P.S. You can donate right now, right here on this page by scrolling down to the bottom right of this page clicking on the Crowd Rise donation banner.  Thank you for your consideration and generosity!

MLB Opening Day – baseball is at the heart of who I am as an individual.  I grew up playing the sport and was fortunate enough to make it to the professional level.  Thus, Opening Day holds a special place in my heart personally.  But baseball in general is so much a part of America that most Americans are just as excited for opening day.  After all, baseball is our national past time.

The Masters Tournament – this is just a great American tradition.  The azaleas, the green grass, the history… it holds so much and there is no denying that this is the greatest golf tournament of the year.  It also signifies the beginning of spring, which for many is a very welcome sight.

Easter Holiday – for me Easter will always be special.  Internally I celebrate Easter every day, and I’m grateful for the sacrifice paid for my eternal life.  Celebrating it with family and friends is that much more special.

All these great events wrapped up into one week.  All three represent something great about our country and our history.  All three represent things that are undeniably American.  And when I think of that I can’t help but think of the patriots before me that sacrificed so much in order for me to have the freedom to enjoy all three.

Did you know that military flyovers at sporting events signify our military’s protection and presence?  It’s much more than just for “show”.  Our military and sports figures are greatly connected as well.

Many great professional baseball players paused their careers to go and fight in WWI and WWII.  Sacrificing the freedom to pursue their dreams in order to preserve it for those that came after them.  Who knows how many records Ted Williams might own if he didn’t make such a sacrifice.

The same in professional golf.  Lloyd Mangrum, who won the first U.S. Open held after the war in 1946, went to the front lines in Europe and earned 2 Purple Hearts.  He was injured at the Battle of the Bulge prior to returning and resuming his playing career.

And less we forget that I (we) have the freedom to worship and practice the religion of our choosing.  I’m able to celebrate my risen Lord and Savior because of the freedom extended to me from brave men and women I’ve never met.

That’s why I’m so passionate about helping our wounded warriors and so honored to be a part of Pushups For Charity.  We’re hosting our third annual PUC Ridgeland event on May 12, 2012 and we want you to be a part of the fun and festivities this year.  In this short, minute and a half video you can learn a little about what Pushups For Charity is all about and who we support.

My two youngest brothers, who happen to be twins, both serve in the military.  Chase is a Marine, and Cole is in the Army.  Both of them have warriors hearts like those that served generations before them.  And both of them do what they do without any need for a “pat on the back”.  They do what they do because it brings them and their family honor.

Each of them has changed since they were younger.  I now see that their tendency to always find trouble was merely training them for what they were to become.  They are both strong.  They are both courageous.  And they are both my heroes.

My brother Chase returning from Afghanistan last month hugging his two oldest daughters.

I’m a proud older brother.  And I want them to be proud of me.  But more importantly I want to show my support and I want to help give back to those men and women that fight and return to a lifestyle that is completely different because of a life changing injury.

They need our support.  They need our cheers.  They need our thankfulness for everything they do.

Will you join me in supporting them on May 12, 2012 by joining our Pushups For Charity team?  I hope you do.  There is more than one way to be involved.  Simply visit the website for more information www.PushupsForCharityMS.com.

We’re pushing to raise $15,000 at our event this year.

We’re pushing as part of a national goal to raise $500,000.

We’re pushing for freedom!

We’re pushing to give back!

We’re pushing for the Boot Campaign!

What do YOU push for?  Join us!

Here are some thoughts on mind set.  So on with the randomness.

Health and fitness is very much a mind game.  For example,  let’s say I give you an exercise to do but I don’t count out loud.  Now you’ll probably have some number in your head of how many you think you can do.  And of course the closer you get to this number the more fatigued you feel.  And now let’s say that just when you get to that number I say give me 3 more.

Some how, some way you miraculously pull out 3 more from outta nowhere.

Why is that?

Maybe it’s because you don’t wanna look like a wuss in front of the trainer.  Could be.  But how the heck did I know you had exactly 3 more in you?  Honestly, I didn’t.

As trainers, we can pick up on physical cues that let us know when you have and haven’t reached exhaustion but for all I know you might could have cranked out 5 more.

I say all this to bring up one major point.

You are capable of far more than you think.

Whether it’s your eating plan, work outs or just your day to day life, the way you mentally perceive things is going to have a huge impact on your results.

We’ve all heard the stories and sayings about “positive thinking” that give you the warm fuzzies.  But what I’m talking about is the mentality that athletes have, and that is “I am not going to let them/this beat me”.

You may actually get to the point where you are mad.  Now that can be pretty intense and you may want to stay out of those peoples way!  Just kidding, but you can definitely tell who those people are by how dedicated they are.

So it all comes down to this.  Are you willing to make that decision?   To finally be fed up with where you are now.   To take control of your situations and dictate your outcome instead of vice versa.  It’s very true that the only person who can beat you is you.

Doug Hammond
Fitness Coach
Raising The Barr Fitness

I’m sure we’d all like to believe that we’ve been given some sort of magical power for the time being that allows us to house super human strength to push through.  But the reality of it is much more depressing and, in the long run, exciting.

We can go harder than we think we can.

Now if you’re like me, this is a bitter pill to swallow because it means that in those grueling workouts by myself where I can barely stand afterwards, I didn’t give 100% effort.  BUT by being motivated by those certain things I can go WELL BEYOND what I thought I was capable of doing.

For example, two weeks ago Laura and I attempted a burpee challenge to see who could do the most “clean” reps as possible in 7 minutes.  The first time I did the challenge by myself with no one else around.  I did, what I thought at the time was good, 64 reps.

I was exhausted, couldn’t get off the floor, and nearly dry heaving I pushed so hard.

I felt very satisfied. Until I found out Laura had done 86 repetitions.  She beat me by a full 22 reps.  My ego was more than sufficiently bruised so we decided to have a redo, but this time we’d be in the same room as each other while Elizabeth kept count, informed us of how much time was left, and who had done how many repetitions.

So the clock started and my goal was to get back to 64 and pass it just by a few, and then the competitive monster took over.  By the end of it, I was so exhausted I spent the last 30 seconds trying to jump high enough for the final burpee to count.

As I laid there in a heap of my own sweat trying to prevent my first ever asthma attack, I realized that I am completely different person under the right set of motivational cues.  I went from 64 burpees to 101 burpees just from knowing that Laura could potentially beat me.

So why can’t I just be able to do 101 reps anytime?

It’s simple.  We need to find what DRIVES us.

What pushes you to wake up in the morning and go to work instead of lying in bed all day?  The motivation of not wanting to get fired for starters!

But what drives you to your goals in fitness?

What would it take to motivate you, even on your worst day and there’s no time to go to the gym and the kids are acting insane and you haven’t planned dinner, to still show up to work out?

You have to LEARN WHAT DRIVES YOU.

Until you understand how to flip that switch to go that extra yard, every time you run into a hurdle you’re going to give up.  This week and next week I want you to see what motivates you in your workout.  If you’re competitive natured like me, challenge yourself to keep up or even best some of the more advanced boot campers or even one of the trainers.

We love a friendly challenge.  If you’re a “words” person, find out what kind of things you need to hear during your workouts that help you push.

For some people it’s negatives and for others its positives.

Everybody is different and there are hundreds of ways for you to motivate yourself.  But until you do, YOU’RE NOT PUSHING HARD ENOUGH. 

Now go get motivated.

Daniel Woods
Fitness Coach
Raising The Barr Fitness

And with spring rapidly approaching, the opportunities to participate in a 5K that benefits local charitable organizations will be plentiful.

Preparation, however, is critical for gaining the ability to really go the distance.

Getting ready for a 5K race does involve several steps and the earlier a runner can dive into these the better. Here’s a plan to help transform a new runner into an athlete that can easily finish a 5K run:

Get a Medical Evaluation

While a 5K race is only 3.1 miles and it’s the perfect distance for beginning competitors, training should first start in a doctor’s office. It’s best to get medical clearance and advice for setting a safe, healthy training routine. A doctor is a critical piece of the puzzle because it’s important to have a clear understanding of current medical status before diving into a training schedule.

Train Smart

It’s not really a good idea to start training one day with the intent of running a 5K the next. It’s best to start weeks out from an event and gradually work to increase distance and endurance over time.

One of the best ways to get started is to work directly with a personal trainer that understands the ins and outs of distance running. A good trainer can offer advice on diet, stretches, endurance builders and more. He or she will also be able to prescribe a smart training plan that builds up to the full 5K distance and even beyond.

Eat Right

In order to train effectively and have the energy necessary to complete a 5K, a runner’s body has to be properly fueled. Eating a smart, well-balanced diet will help with training and it should also assist with any weight loss goals associated with running.

Stay Hydrated

Water is crucial for a runner’s ability to go the distance. It’s important while training for a 5K to keep hydrated. Drink water regularly and make it a daily routine. This can not only help keep the body healthy, but also will assist in keeping muscle healthy during training.

A 5K race is the perfect starting place for new runners. It’s not, however, something to try and take on overnight. Creating a proper training routine can increase chances for success in making it the distance.

No, it’s not the little old ladies working in their garden and its not Bubba outside washing his four-wheeler, it’s the absence of children playing outside. In this age of facebook, twitter, x box, Netflix and iPads kids are more plugged into technology then ever before. Playing outside is becoming as antiquated as CD players.

Gone are the days in which children play tag, football, baseball or ride bikes for entertainment after school or during the summer.  Our kids went from playing outside all day long, getting sweaty and dirty to becoming mindless zombies stuck in front of the TV or computer.

What happened?

Why has this changed?

I think the blame is squarely on the shoulders of our parents and educators. Just during the past decade, the number of U.S. high school students attending daily physical education classes dropped from 42 to 29 percent. Currently, nearly half of all students and 75 percent of high school students do not attend any physical education classes, according to the National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE), the nation’s largest organization for physical education teachers. Recess time for lower elementary students too has been shortened or eliminated all together.

This is not a healthy trend for our kids and can be the subject of an entirely different article.  In spite of this, parents should never be dependent on the public education system in our country to be the sole provider of physical activity for our kids either.

When I was a child, my brothers and I considered it punishment if our parents forced us to stay inside on a pretty day, and in reality it probably was intended for punishment!  We loved to go fishing, or gather up a group of neighborhood kids for a game of basketball in our driveway. The Watkins yard was the place to be in the Castle Manor neighborhood in Petal, MS.

Nowadays, to encourage outdoor play, parents have a responsibility to “unplug” their kids from technology and encourage them to be a “kid” and play outside.

Outdoor play gives kids a chance to blow off steam, develop social skills, a chance to run, scream, yell, climb and simply have fun! It also has many physical benefits such as strengthening bones, improving coordination and developing muscles.

Simply put, outside play is healthy for you kids! Childhood obesity statistics for our state are staggering so lets do our part to combat this by encouraging play!

You may ask, “Brett, I don’t know of any activites for my kids to do?”,  and I wold reply, “You are underestimating your kids imagination to think up games for her or himself.” Heck, give a kid an empty box and they will be enterained for hours! But since I am such a nice guy, here is a list of tips that may help*:

Turn Off the Tube

Limit screen time (television, movies, videos and computer games) to less than 2 hours a day. Substitute the rest of leisure time with physical activity.

Active Family Adventures

Plan family outings and vacations that involve vigorous activities such as hiking, bicycling, skiing, swimming, etc.

Cardio Chores

Give your children some household chores that require physical exertion, keeping in mind their levels of strength, coordination and maturity. Mowing lawns, raking leaves, scrubbing floors and taking out the garbage not only teach responsibility but can be good exercise

Find the Right Sport for Them

Observe sports and activities your children like, and then find out about lessons and clubs. Some children thrive on team sports; others prefer individual activities. Some activities, like tennis and swimming, can be enjoyed for a lifetime and are much easier to learn during childhood

Ditch the Car

If it’s safe to walk or bike rather than drive, do so. Use stairs instead of elevators and escalators. Increase the distances you and your children walk.

Focus on P.E.

Stay involved in your child’s physical education classes at school. At daycare, make sure the kids exercise at least 20 minutes a day. Ask about frequency of classes and activity, class size, curriculum (instruction in lifetime fitness activities as well as team sports should be emphasized), physical fitness assessments, qualifications of the teacher (should hold appropriate certification in physical education and be an appropriate role model for students).

Physical fitness should be measured at the beginning and end of each year, and goals should be established for each child. Encourage your school board to emphasize skills students can use for the rest of their lives.

Hold Off On the Homework

Discourage homework immediately after school to let children find some diversion from the structure of the school day. Kids should be active after school and before dinner.

Give the Gift of Fitness

Choose fitness-oriented gifts — a jump rope, mini-trampoline, tennis racket, baseball bat, a youth membership at the local health club. Select the gift with your child’s skills and interests in mind.

Boredom Busters

When your children are bored, suggest something that gets them moving, like playing catch or spending time outside.

*Courtesy of the American Heart Association

In good health,

Brett Watkins
Fitness Coach
Raising The Barr Fitness

Democratic representative Katie Hobbs is behind this proposal. She recognizes the likely possibility of the bill failing. But even so, she has at least brought attention to media and made it a talking point. “We just wanted to bring it to the table and start a discussion. We need to bring attention to these body-image issues, especially with young girls.”

Not a bad thought if you ask me. Not that you did, but you are reading an opinion piece, so you kind of did.

Wikipedia defines: “Body image refers to a person’s perception of the aesthetics and sexual attractiveness of his or her own body.” The article then continues, “A person’s body image is thought to be, in part, a product of his or her personal experiences, personality, and various social and cultural forces. A person’s perception of their appearance can be different from how others actually perceive him or her.”

Arizona is falling in line behind Britain who has already taken steps to eliminate excessive airbrushing from advertisements. Last year, ads featuring Julia Roberts and Christy Turlington were banned in the UK after complaints rolled in saying the promotions were misleading. We all know those celebrity and model photos on billboards or other advertisements have been ‘doctored’. But how much is too much when it comes to airbrushing or photoshopping? And how would it be regulated? Do we put a ‘warning’ label on everything? Would that make the ‘warning’ less effective? Is this even something lawmakers should be deciding?

As you can see there are several talking points here. But let’s look at an example.

Here is Ms. Britney in before and after shots of a somewhat recent Candie’s brand campaign.

Perception is a product of experience. How do you experience advertisements, such as this, even when you know there has been editing? Do you feel encouraged or deflated after viewing them? Those with low self-esteem or poor body image will react differently to highly edited advertisements than the rest of the population. Individuals with a decent to good body image can even be discouraged by an excessively edited picture.

There is great difference between striving for improvements and striving for perfection. I have two seemingly opposing thoughts on perfection. One being that perfection is unattainable. So stop struggling to be perfect. This leads directly to the second thought. Perfection is you. Only you can be you perfectly. It ties together like this, if perfection is impossible, but perfection is you, then the goal isn’t to be perfect it’s to be yourself. Read that again.

With females, in particular, if we aren’t grounded daily in our beliefs and affirmations we, yes I said we, can be easily swayed by the unattainable. Regardless of what happens in Arizona, help yourself and help others by viewing advertisements while keeping perception, not perfection, in mind.

Thanks for reading!

Laura Thompson
Fitness Coach
Raising The Barr Fitness

Truth be told… It was C-R-A-P! (excuse my loose tongue)

There would have been no benefit to you for reading it and the only purpose it really served was to inflate my over sized ego and make me fill like I was special.

Like I said, crap.

Instead, today I want to talk about a much more important topic.

YOU!

Question: Where are you?

I don’t mean geographically where you are, but where you are mentally/emotionally, spiritually, and physically (health).  Are you happy with where you are?  Who you are?  What you’re doing in life?  Where you are going?

These are important questions. One’s that I visit often in my personal life, because without checking in with myself from time to time I can get “derailed” from the direction I have set out to go.  After contemplating these questions I will always take my thoughts to another person that I trust to point out my blind spots, get feedback, and to further flesh out what is really in my heart.

I’ll comeback to the feedback and counsel part in a minute.  Let’s stay focused on the questions…

There are a lot of “things” in life that jockey for position on your priority list.  There’s work, friends, family, children, hobbies, and a long list of others.  But if YOU aren’t at the top of that list, you’ll never fully be able to give your best to the rest of the things on that list.

That’s why the question “Where are YOU?” is so important.

Now it’s fair to say that some of you aren’t in a place where you can even begin to answer the question, and that’s OK.

That’s why we’re having this discussion.  But it is necessary to start asking yourself the question which will ultimately lead you to where you want to be.

And you need to be thinking in terms of the 3 Pillars when you decide to work with this question, which I highly encourage you to do very soon.

The 3 Pillars

The 3 Pillars of health:

1) Mental/Emotional
This is what we feel, what we perceive, how we see ourselves, etc.  It’s not uncommon for all of us at some point to get in a “rut” with life and how we “feel” about our circumstances, life, etc.  The way we handle these emotions and thoughts will either propel us to greater health, keep us spinning our wheels and make us feel trapped, or worse… send us plunging into deep dark places that rob us of living the life we are meant to live.  It’s what I like to call “stinkin’ thinkin’”.  And it’s the source of most, if not all, our troubles.

2) Spiritual 
This is our connectedness.  Engagement with community.  A belonging.  And of course, a personal relationship and connection with God.  Trusting and relying on a higher power than ourselves.  Practicing spiritual disciplines is a practical way to maintain our spiritual health.  This would include silence, solitude, journaling, serving others, fasting, study, prayer, fellowship and worship.

3) Physical
Staying physically active is proven to increase numerous health benefits.  There are immune boosting benefits, heart health benefits, bone health benefits, and many more.  The physical pillar can include all forms of exercise from yoga to running to weight lifting.  And the more diverse and multifaceted your workout routine, the more benefits you will reap.

Obviously what I’m talking about is wholeness… health of the entire person.

As much as the three feed off of each other, they are also dependent on each other.  In other words, the more each one is worked on the better you’ll be at the others and vice versa.

Just 15 minutes of physical activity increases your feelings of enthusiasm, pride, happiness and excitement.  So now, not only are you getting the physical health benefits, you’re also getting mental and emotional benefits which ultimately give you more confidence and can lead to you engaging with people on a more routine basis.

This can help develop your sense of belonging or community and lead to a deeper more rewarding spiritual life.  Plus, when you’re thinking is clearer, you are definitely in a position to be more productive, leaving yourself more time to commit to developing your spiritual health.

I think you get the picture.  All three require work and by working on the three separately you will be compounding the effect collectively.

The health of the entire you is important.  I’m pretty sure you know this, but knowing isn’t the problem.  It’s the doing (or lack of doing I should say) that creates all the chaos.

You know that it’s good for you to exercise.

You know that it’s good for you to eat healthy and take care of yourself mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.

So why is it that so many people DON’T follow these practices?  (including you and Me – yes, me too.  I also fall out of my routine, get caught up in things that make me less productive, etc.  I’m human too.)

I don’t know the answer to that question just yet, but I can tell you that it’s not just the health and fitness industry that experiences this problem.

A recent study showed that cancer, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease patients only took their life saving prescription medications 55% of the time.

They know it will benefit them, that it’s good for them, and that their health will improve as a result, and yet they still don’t do it. (Sound familiar)

And all they have to do is swallow a pill.  So it would make sense that it would be much harder to do what we as fitness professionals ask you to do on a daily basis.

But given the alternative of suffering through side effects, pain from the disease, and the astronomical cost of having any one of those conditions, I’d much rather work toward maintaining my health than fight to regain something that may already be lost.

(Note: I’m fully aware that cancer may not be preventable. I’m not claiming that exercise can cure or even prevent cancer, however diabetes and CVD are preventable for the most part by exercising and eating right)

So the question remains… Where are YOU?

Is it time to re-examine your commitment to yourself?  Build accountability into your routine and lifestyle?  Or perhaps seek out the help and guidance that you know you need?

It’s ultimately up to you.  YOU have to decide!

Remember I said that I’d come back to the feedback and counsel part of this discussion.  There’s a lot going on here.  More than meets the eye.  And often when you set out to achieve greater health and fitness, lose weight, or whatever other reason you have for starting a workout routine, it’s easy to overlook these important components to overall health.

It’s very easy to set a goal without fleshing out the path it will take to reach that goal.  No doubt you set a goal.  But did you really make a decision to change?

As Laura Thompson would say, “change is a choice!”  But you have to first make that choice and even then you need to be counseled/coached to help you through the process and establish good habits.

You need to be getting feedback from a reliable, trustworthy source about what you’re doing to achieve your goal, about the thought process you’ve gone through to come to the decision of striving for that goal, and to assess exactly where you are in order to correctly map out the path that is right for you to obtain that goal.

As a coach, I was made to provide those things to you as they relate to your health and fitness.  In fact, serving you is one of my gifts.  One that I thoroughly enjoy providing and one that brings me great personal joy and satisfaction.

But there are things I can’t do for you…

I CAN’T make the decision to start for you.

After you start your journey toward greater health, I CAN’T make you show up to the workouts that are planned for you to see success.

And I definitely CANNOT make YOU a priority for YOU!

Where are you?

It’s a deep question with many layers.  And if you have the courage to dig in and start peeling back those layers you’re in for an amazing journey of personal growth and development.

This may make you uncomfortable, but comfortable is what leads us- you and me- to fall into those dark places of dismay and discouragement.

So, take this opportunity to assess where you really are- mentally, emotionally, spiritually and physically.  Then spend some time determining exactly what you REALLY want for your health and fitness and be willing to take the necessary steps to get there.

Then go out and hit your targets.  Don’t get overwhelmed with the big picture.  Set milestones (targets) that let you know you’re on the right path.

And when you’re struggling or frustrated, don’t hesitate to reach out to us.

That’s what our team of coaches and myself are here for- to help you make sense of all this stuff, get some clarity, and support you in achieving your goals!

Clint

P.S. If you’ve been spinning your wheels lately and need a fresh focus to help you get motivated again, come join us this Saturday for our 21 Day Challenge Seminar and learn how you can start seeing the results you deserve and have been working hard to achieve at an even faster rate.  Go here for to register and to get all the details.

P.P.S. If you’re a current active client of ours and you’d like to come to the seminar please just call Elizabeth at 601-414-3536 and we’ll get your spot reserved absolutely FREE!

OK first…………the disclaimer. Most of this is just my opinion or what I have seen and has worked for me. Everyone is a bit different so it’s always a good idea to talk to a doctor and/or a nutritionist about anything that may be specific to you.

The following points cover a broad spectrum so be forewarned their going to be a bit random! One of my fave and most often asked (also was covered by Laura earlier fyi) :

What do YOU eat?

Again this is where a nutritionist is going to be your best bet but I’ll touch on a few of my favorite things and why.

Eggs – Probably one of the most perfect sources of protein you can get. One of the best things about it is that it also works as an appetite suppressant by making you feel full longer. What I like to have is one whole egg with two egg whites along with….

Oatmeal – Oatmeal is awesome because it’s easy and fills you up. More importantly it helps keep your insulin levels at more of a steady state level. To make it even better I add….

Cinnamon – I’m not exactly sure why it works, but cinnamon works great as an appetite suppressant also.

Do spicy foods increase my metabolism?

The jury is still out on this one I think. I’ve read studies that go either way. My take on it? All I know is that when I eat things that are hot my nose runs and I begin to sweat. So somethings gotta be going on.

How much water should I drink?

You’ve probably heard you should drink enough water so that when you go to the bathroom is looks like light lemonade. That’s a good rule of thumb. But here’s a few of my thoughts. Most people are usually a bit dehydrated. So what does your body do? It tells you that you are hungry. Why? Because it knows that if you eat something chances are you’ll drink something with it. So my suggestion to you would be to drink at least one glass of water before you eat anything. To make it even better, make it ice water. The thought is that since it’s cold your body will have to work to warm it up. Will this make a big difference? Ehhhh, probably about as much as eating spicy food but it sure can’t hurt.

What’s the deal with caffeine?

For me personally, I’m a big fan. Of course anything can be over done. I like it as a pre and post workout supplement. The studies that I’ve read have stated that not only will it act as a stimulant to help you through a workout but it also causes glycogen to be released into your blood stream. This way it will give you increased fuel for the workout, a means for transporting nutrients to muscle cells after a workout and give you a head start of fat burning.

When is the best time to work out?

This one can go in so many different directions. For a lot of you that would be whenever you can. Now with that said, is there a better time than another. My opinion, that depends on you. Morning person? Evening person? Working out first thing in the morning gets it over with and out of the way and can also get you primed up for the rest of your day. But man is getting up at 5am hard. Some studies have suggested that around 1:30 to 3:30 may be ideal. You’ve had lunch so you’ll have fuel to burn and it seems that this time of day may be when your pain tolerance is at it’s highest. But this also usually the time when people feel a drop in energy. With most people’s work schedules the evening is the most viable option. It can be a good time because you can release some of the stress of the day through a workout. But this is also the time of day people just want to get home to unwind. So long story short……pick a time that you will stick to and remain dedicated to.

So there you have it, just a few of the more common questions we get. Of course these are just the beginning of the many questions you may have. As the get more specific the more you need to seek the advice of a professional. Hope this helps and encourages you in your health pursuits!

Doug Hammond
Fitness Coach
Raising The Barr Fitness