Newsletter #3

Hello friends

Because we are right in the middle of the Holiday season and a weekend doesn't pass without another party to attend I thought it apropos to bring you this next segment about nutrition.

If your interested in good health and a healthy vital appearance the following is a must read. Below I've listed some information about sugar. Sugar means? Cookies, candy cake, desserts and please read the labels of your breakfast cereal, juices, dried fruits etc.

Sugar has become a staple in our modern diet, but why is sugar bad for your health? Many foods we eat on a regular basis are loaded with sugar. Sometimes you can't even taste the sugar but it's still in there. As delicious as sugar-laden foods may taste, the truth is sugar is just bad for your health, especially when you start to overindulge in it.

Sugar is a sticky substance and if left in the bloodstream (instead of being burned as energy) the particles will start to stick to the cells. The result is that if you are consuming a lot of sugar each day, you will get more wrinkles, will experience a lack of mobility in the joints, dry brittle nails and hair and a range of other health problems.

Reduce the amount of sugar you eat and you will soon notice a positive change in the way your skin looks. The reason for this is that refined carbohydrates such as white bread and other white flour products are high in sugar and will cause an inflammation of the skin. This in turn creates high levels of free radicals, which attack the collagen that keeps the skin stay firm. Without enough of this collagen, you will start to notice wrinkles.

Not only are free radicals bad news for your skin they are also deadly for the body, which is another reason why sugar is bad for your health. Free radicals can cause a lot of damage in healthy cells and lead to many illnesses of the body.

Sugary foods can also compromise your immune system. Research has shown that white blood cells are less efficient at fighting illness when exposed to sugar. A diet high in sugar will also raise your insulin levels quickly, which can lead to many other health problems. You'll also lack energy as a result of these sugars spikes and the drop in blood sugar that follows.

It's no secret that obesity and weight-related illnesses are on the rise in many countries and this is directly attributed to our diets and lifestyle. Our bodies simply aren't able to cope with such high sugar levels and this is why illnesses like diabetes are at an all time high. Cutting the excess sugar out of your diet is one of the best things you can do for your body.

It's not easy especially the first few weeks when you will still experience some sort of craving for sugar, but you can try to substitute with fresh fruit, which has a natural form of sugar and eventually your cravings, will pass and you'll start to feel and look great.

Some of the other effects of sugar on the body are:

• Increases overgrowth of candida yeast organism
• Increases chronic fatigue
• Can trigger binge eating in those with bulimia
• Increases PMS symptoms
• Increases hyperactivity in about 50% of children
• Increases tooth decay
• Increases anxiety and irritability
• Can increase or intensify symptoms of anxiety and panic in susceptible women
• Can make it difficult to lose weight because of constantly high insulin levels, which causes the body to store excess carbs as fat.

Please remember any nutritional tips I may suggest are for healthy active people. If you have any health concerns please refer to a registered dietician for proper care. The keyword here is active, because active people need fuel to power through their day.

Many of my friends and family have heard me discuss kettlebells. My clients are very familiar with this tool since it has become a large part of our exercise program. For those of you not familiar.

This is a Kettlebell. It is an iron ball with a handle. Most people that start exercising with kettlebells will notice two things immediately happen. 1.) You're hooked on it, and 2.) You'll begin an unbelievable fitness transformation.

Proponents of kettlebell training suggest that it increases strength, power, speed, co-ordination as well as core stability by engaging multiple muscle groups to work together.

Why Choose Kettlebells Instead of Dumbbells?

Don't choose! They are simply different strength tools and should be considered complimentary, not exclusive. The primary benefits of kettlebell training lie in the philosophy of the movements that have grown up around it. Kettlebell drills have historically focused on working many muscle groups in unison. Dumbbells have been more commonly used for isolation drills (preacher curl, front raise, etc.) in traditional western weight training. Kettlebells are also more convenient for explosive movement patterns, which are frowned upon, in most traditional mainstream gyms.

You can certainly perform many of the kettlebell drills with a dumbbell. Swings, for instance, just feel more pleasant and natural with a kettlebell. The round, compact shape and offset handle are made for this movement pattern. The wide, angular dumbbell shape makes the movement awkward and less intuitive.

Happy Holidays and Best Wishes for a Healthy New Year,
David White
david@maximizefitness.com
Please let me know if there is anyone else that may benefit from future E-mails I would be glad to add him or her to the list.
Any questions regarding training or this newsletter please E-mail the above address or call
213-760-3144