Eggs are perfectly good and healthy for you, though they do contribute to the body's cholesterol (note: not the blood cholesterol, a different thing) level and the fat level and therefore should be eaten in moderation. I would say three eggs a day is a little too much, even poached.
Poached is definitely a healthy way to cook eggs, so you've no worries there. Eggs contain vitamins A, B, D and E, and many essential minerals. But, as with any food type, just don't eat too much of the same thing...! I'd have thought a maximum of two eggs a day is enough, with a varied diet.
Thursday 26 April 2012
Monday 23 April 2012
Why is exercise important
Why is Exercise Important?
Have you ever heard the expression "use it or lose it"? It's true! If you don't use your body, you will surely lose it. Your muscles will become flabby and weak. Your heart and lungs won't function efficiently. And your joints will be stiff and easily injured. Inactivity is as much of a health risk as smoking!
Helps Prevent Diseases
Our bodies were meant to move -- they actually crave exercise. Regular exercise is necessary for physical fitness and good health. It reduces the risk of heart disease, cancer, high blood pressure, diabetes and other diseases. It can improve your appearance and delay the aging process.
Our bodies were meant to move -- they actually crave exercise. Regular exercise is necessary for physical fitness and good health. It reduces the risk of heart disease, cancer, high blood pressure, diabetes and other diseases. It can improve your appearance and delay the aging process.
Improves Stamina
When you exercise, your body uses energy to keep going. Aerobic exercise involves continuous and rhythmic physical motion, such as walking and bicycling. It improves your stamina by training your body to become more efficient and use less energy for the same amount of work. As your conditioning level improves, your heart rate and breathing rate return to resting levels much sooner from strenuous activity.
When you exercise, your body uses energy to keep going. Aerobic exercise involves continuous and rhythmic physical motion, such as walking and bicycling. It improves your stamina by training your body to become more efficient and use less energy for the same amount of work. As your conditioning level improves, your heart rate and breathing rate return to resting levels much sooner from strenuous activity.
Strengthens and Tones
Exercising with weights and other forms of resistance training develops your muscles, bones and ligaments for increased strength and endurance. Your posture can be improved, and your muscles become more firm and toned. You not only feel better, but you look better, too!
Exercising with weights and other forms of resistance training develops your muscles, bones and ligaments for increased strength and endurance. Your posture can be improved, and your muscles become more firm and toned. You not only feel better, but you look better, too!
Enhances Flexibility
Stretching exercises are also important for good posture. They keep your body limber so that you can bend, reach and twist. Improving your flexibility through exercise reduces the chance of injury and improves balance and coordination. If you have stiff, tense areas, such as the upper back or neck, performing specific stretches can help "loosen" those muscles, helping you feel more relaxed.
Stretching exercises are also important for good posture. They keep your body limber so that you can bend, reach and twist. Improving your flexibility through exercise reduces the chance of injury and improves balance and coordination. If you have stiff, tense areas, such as the upper back or neck, performing specific stretches can help "loosen" those muscles, helping you feel more relaxed.
Controls Weight
Exercise is also a key to weight control because it burns calories. If you burn off more calories than you take in, you lose weight. It's as simple as that.
Exercise is also a key to weight control because it burns calories. If you burn off more calories than you take in, you lose weight. It's as simple as that.
Improves Quality of Life
Once you begin to exercise regularly, you will discover many more reasons why exercise is so important to improving the quality of your life. Exercise reduces stress, lifts moods, and helps you sleep better. It can keep you looking and feeling younger throughout your entire life.
Once you begin to exercise regularly, you will discover many more reasons why exercise is so important to improving the quality of your life. Exercise reduces stress, lifts moods, and helps you sleep better. It can keep you looking and feeling younger throughout your entire life.
Friday 20 April 2012
CARB'S FOR MARATHONERS
Carbohydrates for runners
Why are carbohydrates so important? Here's the easy one-word answer: Energy! Carbs, as they're affectionately called, provide a steady stream of energy. So why not just pig out on carbs? Bad idea. The body can store energy from carbs, but only in small amounts (think of a storage unit versus a warehouse). These small amounts are used up quickly during exercise. After a quick jolt, you're running on empty. And you can't overload that storage unit either becasue the body punishes you by turning the excess carbs to fat! The trick is to store energy by eating carbs on a continuous basis. Experienced runners eat the right carbs in the right amounts at the right times! Carbohydrates are also known as sugars. Experts recommend that your diet consist of 50 to 70% carbohydrates. The standard unit for the energy your body uses is the calorie. Each gram of carbohydrate provides 4 calories. Got all that? Be ready for a pop quiz at any time! Now, to continue-carbohydrates are either simple or complex.
Simple carbohydrates
Simple carbohydrates are the most basic form of sugar. Examples of foods containing simple carbohydrates are candy, fruit and sodas. These foods can provide a quick "shot" of energy-but it's only temporary. For this reason, you should keep those simple carbohydrate snacks, like grandma's homemade fudge, to a minimum. But feel free to enjoy a treat now and then, especially after a good run.
Complex carbohydrates
Complex carbohydrates provide energy on a more consistent, long-term basis. That's why experts recommend that the majority of the calories you get from carbohydrates be in the form of complex carbohydrates. Foods that are high in complex carbohydrates include cereals, pasta, breads, rice, and potatoes and vegetables. It's important that you maintain a diet high in complex carbohydrates to support your running program.
The "little things" that make a BIG difference
Performing up to your full potential is often a matter of balancing a lot of little things. For runners, the little things include meeting your nutritional needs, working on your strength and flexibility, as well as controlling stress and maintaining mental health. Successful runners set challenging but realistic goals, plan carefully, train patiently, eat and sleep well and cultivate a positive mental outlook. Attending to the little things not only creates athletes, it's a key characteristic of those who achieve excellence, variety and balance in their chosen vocations, relationships and inner lives. Each of us can improve upon a few of the little things that make a big difference.
Why are carbohydrates so important? Here's the easy one-word answer: Energy! Carbs, as they're affectionately called, provide a steady stream of energy. So why not just pig out on carbs? Bad idea. The body can store energy from carbs, but only in small amounts (think of a storage unit versus a warehouse). These small amounts are used up quickly during exercise. After a quick jolt, you're running on empty. And you can't overload that storage unit either becasue the body punishes you by turning the excess carbs to fat! The trick is to store energy by eating carbs on a continuous basis. Experienced runners eat the right carbs in the right amounts at the right times! Carbohydrates are also known as sugars. Experts recommend that your diet consist of 50 to 70% carbohydrates. The standard unit for the energy your body uses is the calorie. Each gram of carbohydrate provides 4 calories. Got all that? Be ready for a pop quiz at any time! Now, to continue-carbohydrates are either simple or complex.
Simple carbohydrates
Simple carbohydrates are the most basic form of sugar. Examples of foods containing simple carbohydrates are candy, fruit and sodas. These foods can provide a quick "shot" of energy-but it's only temporary. For this reason, you should keep those simple carbohydrate snacks, like grandma's homemade fudge, to a minimum. But feel free to enjoy a treat now and then, especially after a good run.
Complex carbohydrates
Complex carbohydrates provide energy on a more consistent, long-term basis. That's why experts recommend that the majority of the calories you get from carbohydrates be in the form of complex carbohydrates. Foods that are high in complex carbohydrates include cereals, pasta, breads, rice, and potatoes and vegetables. It's important that you maintain a diet high in complex carbohydrates to support your running program.
The "little things" that make a BIG difference
Performing up to your full potential is often a matter of balancing a lot of little things. For runners, the little things include meeting your nutritional needs, working on your strength and flexibility, as well as controlling stress and maintaining mental health. Successful runners set challenging but realistic goals, plan carefully, train patiently, eat and sleep well and cultivate a positive mental outlook. Attending to the little things not only creates athletes, it's a key characteristic of those who achieve excellence, variety and balance in their chosen vocations, relationships and inner lives. Each of us can improve upon a few of the little things that make a big difference.
Wednesday 11 April 2012
Runners
Health benefits are another motivation for runners. For example, running helps lower blood pressure by maintaining the elasticity of the arteries.
As a person runs, his or her arteries expand and contract more than usual, keeping the arteries elastic and the blood pressure low. In fact, most serious runners have unusually low blood pressure. Running also helps maximize the lungs’ potential, as it keeps them strong and powerful. While deep breaths force the lungs to use more tissue, the 50% of normally unused lung potential is utilized.
Even smokers can sometimes recover full lung potential through running. Finally, running strengthens the heart and helps prevent heart attacks. The large muscle exercise it provides helps keep the cardio system efficient and strong. In fact, the heart of an inactive person beats 36,000 more times each day than that of a runner, as running keep the arteries open and the blood flowing smoothly.
As a person runs, his or her arteries expand and contract more than usual, keeping the arteries elastic and the blood pressure low. In fact, most serious runners have unusually low blood pressure. Running also helps maximize the lungs’ potential, as it keeps them strong and powerful. While deep breaths force the lungs to use more tissue, the 50% of normally unused lung potential is utilized.
Even smokers can sometimes recover full lung potential through running. Finally, running strengthens the heart and helps prevent heart attacks. The large muscle exercise it provides helps keep the cardio system efficient and strong. In fact, the heart of an inactive person beats 36,000 more times each day than that of a runner, as running keep the arteries open and the blood flowing smoothly.
Tuesday 3 April 2012
What challenges you??
I have entered a couple more races, What are you doing to challenge yourself??
Setting yourself goals keeps you in check with your fitness levels, lose a few pounds before summer, feel good and look great in your favourite summer dress.
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