Source: http://focuscenterfitness.com/joe-rivera/
Since he started personal training in Santa Monica 15 years ago, Joe Rivera (Focus Center Fitness) has been named “trainer to the stars” as well as trainer, to the trainers of the stars” by Shape Magazine.
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Source: http://www.runningonrealfood.com/vegan-macros-tools-for-flexible-dieting-success/
Now that I’ve got some experience with plant-based macros and results under my belt, I wanted to share some of the tools for flexible dieting that have helped me reach my goals. I’ve found these inexpensive products to be key to my success. Stock up with everything you need to eat to perform at your best! 1. Digital food scale….
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The post Vegan Macros: Best Tools for Flexible Dieting Success appeared first on Running on Real Food.
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Source: http://summertomato.com/finding-happiness-it-isnt-about-the-dopamine/
Last weekend I attended a fabulous party. There was excellent champagne, illustrious guests, spectacular food and beautiful live music. The setting was divine, and the cocktails were SO GOOD.
The only thing missing was water. I’m normally pretty good at staying hydrated, but there wasn’t an obvious water station. So to stay cool and keep my mouth from drying out I kept finding myself at the bar.
At least, that was my excuse.
One of the most notorious effects of alcohol is that it effectively shuts down your frontal lobes, lowering your inhibition and turning your mind over to your more primitive impulses.
It is absolutely insane to believe that the best way to keep cool at a party is to have a cold cocktail. It cools you down for maybe 10 minutes and only worsens your feeling of dehydration.
But the part of my brain that considers my long-term happiness was out of commission. My reward pathway had taken over.
The reward system of your brain (basal ganglia, for you neuroscience geeks) is responsible for reinforcing behavior that is immediately rewarding.
It is the neural system associated with addiction and habit formation, and is necessary for initiating movement (it is damaged in patients that have Parkinson’s Disease). …
Source: http://www.sonima.com/yoga/uddiyana-bandha/
The Sanskrit word bandha is generally considered to mean “lock” but more literally “to bind” or “to hold captive.” In hatha yoga, bandhas are physical contractions that give structural support to the body including the organs in the pelvis, abdomen, and spine. These locks become especially important in keeping the body healthy during a vigorous and physically demanding practice because they engage the tissue surrounding the core. When engaged in conjunction with pranayama (breath work) and kumbhaka (breath retention), bandhas stop the movement of prana (the vital life force, or energy). According to the Hatha Yoga Pradipika, a classic Sanskrit manual on hatha yoga, when this force stops moving, the mind stops moving as well.
Uddiyana means “to rise up” or “fly.” In the practice of uddiyana bandha, also known as the abdominal lock, the abdominal wall is firmed and lifted. The tension created when working with the uddiyana bandha is a form of “tensegrity,” the relationship between tension and compression. When the core is engaged (tension) there is a natural upward flow (compression) of energy that gives the necessary support to the abdominal organs and spine. On a more subtle and esoteric level, uddiyana bandha fans the agni, or element of fire that is most highly concentrated at the navel. Strengthening this fire aids in purifying the body’s subtle channels, or nadis. This purification pro…
Source: http://www.karpfitness.com/injury-tips-using-ice-and-heat/
Q: I’ve injured myself and I know that using heat and ice can help. But my question is…when should I use heat and when should I use ice? A: Both heat and ice are simple yet effective ways to combat pain without the use of conventional painkillers. As a general rule, you should apply ice to injured or sore areas whenever … Read More
The post Ask Shaun: When should I use heat and ice? appeared first on Personal Training Vancouver.
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Source: http://www.personaltrainingco.com/how-to-burn-more-fat-even-when-you-are-watching-tv/
Most folks don’t know this. But whether you’re man or woman, one of the biggest secrets to burning fat is to build some muscle.
Sounds crazy, I know. But it’s absolutely true. The more muscle you have, the more calories you’ll burn — even while you’re on the couch watching television.
Below are a few easy ways to start building muscle and burning fat like never before.
Build Muscle and Burn Fat From The Comfort Of Your Own Home
If you want that ‘ultimate’ beach body, building a little muscle will help you get there.
There are two main reasons for this:
1. Muscle is what gives you body that lean, sleek, sexy look.
2. The more muscle you have, the more calories — and ultimately body fat — your body will burn.
Now if you’re a woman reading this, I know what you might be thinking … “I don’t want to build muscle and get big and bulky.”
Rest easy. It’s not easy for women to build that degree of muscle. What’s more, building muscle for a woman is what gives her that toned, tight, sexy look.
So don’t worry. Even if you do put on a few pounds of muscle, you won’t look li…
Source: http://www.sonima.com/meditation/schadenfreude/
In an age when compassion and positivity have become buzzwords and “feeling grateful” is a hashtag, not just a state of mind, there might be less tolerance than ever for our uglier, less generous emotions. We’re encouraged to embrace our anger, befriend our fear, and reframe our vulnerabilities as strengths—but experiencing a secret little thrill about someone else’s misfortune? That’s just shameful. It’s no surprise that our word for it comes directly from another language; schadenfreude is a concept we sunny, self-aggrandizing Americans don’t want to lay claim to.
Yet it’s also a common and normal human response, according to researchers. In a study at Princeton University, participants were connected to an electromyogram (which captures the electrical activity produced when we feel pleasure), and shown photographs of groups meant to elicit particular emotions, such as the elderly (pity) and rich professionals (envy). Then each set of images was paired with a positive, negative, or neutral event, and participants were asked how they felt about each pairing. The electrical activity showed that most of them experienced pleasure when observing the suffering of those they envied—even though not all of them admitted it.
From an evolutionary perspective, scientists theorize that schadenfreude could be a natural product of competition between rivals over limited resources. Certainly, it appears to be inbo…
Source: http://www.theminimalists.com/014-2/
By Joshua Fields Millburn · Follow: Twitter, Facebook, Google+, Instagram
In this episode of The Minimalists Podcast, Joshua Fields Millburn answers a slew of listener questions, including:
How do you stay passionate when work and side projects are similar?
How do you maintain minimalist practices in the whirlwind of college?
How do you explain to loved ones you won’t go into debt to buy gifts?
Should you accept a new position that fits your passion but pays less?
How do you keep from accumulating more stuff after a move?
How do you tell loved ones you don’t want physical gifts?
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Mentioned in This Episode
Book: Essential
Book: Everything That Remains
Book: Minimalism: Live a Meaningful Life
Book: Superbetter
Essay: Alone Time
Essay: Financial Freedom
Essay: Goodbye Fake Friends
Essay: Killing Home Internet
Essay: Packing Party
Essay: Photo-Scanning Party
Essay: The Minimalists’ Favorite Podcasts
Essay: Tour My Minimalist Apartment
Essay: What a Game!
Event: How to Write Better
Event: Tuesdays with The Minimalists
Meetup: Minimalist.org
Recommendation: Contribution
Website: Craigslist
Website: DonationTown
Website: Freecycle
Website: Goodwill
Website: …
Source: http://zenhabits.net/shannon/
By Leo Babauta
One of the biggest problems we face when we’re forming a new positive habit is procrastination.
We’ve all done this: we’re trying to meditate or exercise or floss, but we’re tired or busy. So we put it off, and then the next day we do it again, and soon we’ve just dropped the new habit.
It’s easier to put off the habit than to just do it, right? What’s the solution?
I was taking a walk with my mom, Shannon, a couple days ago and we were talking about habits. She’s very good at just doing any habit that she knows is good for her: if she finds out she needs to take some vitamins every day, or do foam rolling, or do a daily walk, she’ll just do it. No fuss, no problem. She’s the same way with anything — finances, tasks she has to do for her work, Guampedia.
So what’s her secret? I questioned her until I found out.
Me: Most people get to a point where they skip doing a habit when they’re tired, or stressed … but you don’t. Why not?
Shannon: I just tell myself, “You’re not getting into that. It’s only going to take two minutes. Just do it now.”
Me: What do you mean by, “You’re not getting into that”?
Shannon: I know what happens when you go down that slippery slope. I’ve been there. So I just decide not to go down it. It only takes two minutes, so it’s better to just do …
Source: http://www.nerdfitness.com/blog/2016/03/22/why-you-should-be-planning-your-meals/
This is a post from Team NF Member Staci.
Think about walking into a gym and randomly doing a few sets here, a few sets there… a wandering sheep without a shepherd. We’ve all been there. Do we REALLY expect to make huge progress without knowing what we’re doing?
No, of course not! It’s why we love having a plan to follow: it eliminates 99% of the decisions that can derail us on our progress: “Should I do 3 sets of 5 or 5 sets of 5? Gah!”
Now, we know we need a workout plan to follow to make progress, but why don’t we think of food the same way?
Today I want to try to convince you that you should.
A few decisions early in the week can eliminate hours of work (or dozens of bad decisions) later on in the week, and be the difference between success and failure (whether you are trying to gain weight or lose weight!).
How is this possible? We say it so often on the blog, and we won’t let up because it’s so damn true: 80-90% of your success or failure, no matter your goals, will come from your diet.
We have a tendency to think we “know” about food and thus planning is unnecessary. “Oh, I don’t know about deadlifts, but I’ve been eating food since I was born! I know, sugar is bad, eat less processed food and more real stuff. I don’t have time to plan, so I’ll just make healthy choices as I go.”
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