Health

Lack of sleep and 10 tips for healthy sleep

On average, people spend a third of their lives in bed. According to the recommendations of the World Health Organization, an adult should sleep 7-8 hours a day. Sleep is important for the body ⏤ it is a source of health, youth and longevity. During sleep, important processes take place in the body – restoration of immunity and a set of strength:

  • somatotropin is produced – a hormone that stimulates growth, reproduction and regeneration of cells, and serotonin – a “hormone of happiness”;

  • the metabolism of the skin increases;

  • the brain sorts information and gets rid of unnecessary;

  • 70% of the daily value of melatonin (sleep hormone) is produced, which regulates biorhythms, and also restores, strengthens and protects the body from stress.

Probably everyone has heard the aphorism of the great commander Napoleon Bonaparte: “Napoleon sleeps for 4 hours, the elderly – 5, soldiers – 6, women – 7, men – 8, and only the sick sleep 9”. He went to bed at about 10-12 pm, slept until 2 am, then got up, worked until 5 am and went to bed again until 7 am, thus the duration of his sleep was 4 hours a day. Many speculate that sleep deprivation was one of the reasons for his strategic failures. But Napoleon was not alone in the nap. We propose to recall the great people who, like Bonaparte, considered sleep a waste of time:

  • Leonardo da Vinci slept only 2-4 hours a day, splitting sleep into pieces: 15 minutes of sleep, then 4 hours of work;

  • Margaret Thatcher slept a maximum of 4 hours a day;

  • Thomas Edison took 30 minute sleep breaks 6 times a day and spent 3 hours in total on it;

  • Winston Churchill went to bed at 3 am and woke up at 8 am, so he slept 5 hours a day;

  • there is evidence that Salvador Dali, just like da Vinci, practiced “equal sleep”. According to the artist, the intermediate state between wakefulness and sleep gave him new ideas.

Each of them left their mark on history, limiting themselves to rest and sleep. Many imitate, without thinking about the causes of death of great people: Leonardo da Vinci, Winston Churchill and Margaret Thatcher died of a stroke, Thomas Edison died of diabetes, Salvador Dali – from heart failure. Perhaps the lack of sleep played a significant role in the death of geniuses.

Remember, the recovery process is very important. Lack of sleep can have a negative effect on the functioning of the body, from thinking processes to gaining excess weight, the emergence of chronic diseases and a reduction in life expectancy. Studies conducted by scientists around the world have shown that sleep deprivation can lead to:

  • decreased intelligence;

  • disorders of the immune system;

  • aging skin;

  • exacerbation of hunger (a person consumes more calories than consumed);

  • deterioration in reaction and visual coordination;

  • diabetes mellitus, heart attack, stroke, paralysis, obesity, Alzheimer’s disease, oncology, DNA changes;

  • emotional outbursts, aggression and stress.

Also, it is worth recalling the scientific work of our compatriot biochemist and somnologist Maria Manaseina, who was one of the first to study sleep deprivation in animals. As a result of the experiments, she found out that lack of sleep is more dangerous than lack of food. It is believed that her research was prompted by the clinical case of a patient who died on the 9th day from insomnia.

Factors that interfere with healthy sleep:
On average, people spend a third of their lives in bed. According to the recommendations of the World Health Organization, an adult should sleep 7-8 hours a day. Sleep is important for the body ⏤ it is a source of health, youth and longevity. During sleep, important processes take place in the body – restoration of immunity and a set of strength:somatotropin is produced – a hormone that stimulates growth, reproduction and regeneration of cells, and serotonin – a “hormone of happiness”;the metabolism of the skin increases;the brain sorts information and gets rid of unnecessary;

70% of the daily value of melatonin (sleep hormone) is produced, which regulates biorhythms, and also restores, strengthens and protects the body from stress.

Probably everyone has heard the aphorism of the great commander Napoleon Bonaparte: “Napoleon sleeps for 4 hours, the elderly – 5, soldiers – 6, women – 7, men – 8, and only the sick sleep 9”. He went to bed at about 10-12 pm, slept until 2 am, then got up, worked until 5 am and went to bed again until 7 am, thus the duration of his sleep was 4 hours a day. Many speculate that sleep deprivation was one of the reasons for his strategic failures. But Napoleon was not alone in the nap. We propose to recall the great people who, like Bonaparte, considered sleep a waste of time:
Leonardo da Vinci slept only 2-4 hours a day, splitting sleep into pieces: 15 minutes of sleep, then 4 hours of work;

Margaret Thatcher slept a maximum of 4 hours a day;

Thomas Edison took 30 minute sleep breaks 6 times a day and spent 3 hours in total on it;

Winston Churchill went to bed at 3 am and woke up at 8 am, so he slept 5 hours a day;

there is evidence that Salvador Dali, just like da Vinci, practiced “equal sleep”. According to the artist, the intermediate state between wakefulness and sleep gave him new ideas.

Each of them left their mark on history, limiting themselves to rest and sleep. Many imitate, without thinking about the causes of death of great people: Leonardo da Vinci, Winston Churchill and Margaret Thatcher died of a stroke, Thomas Edison died of diabetes, Salvador Dali – from heart failure. Perhaps the lack of sleep played a significant role in the death of geniuses.

Remember, the recovery process is very important. Lack of sleep can have a negative effect on the functioning of the body, from thinking processes to gaining excess weight, the emergence of chronic diseases and a reduction in life expectancy. Studies conducted by scientists around the world have shown that sleep deprivation can lead to:

decreased intelligence;

disorders of the immune system;

aging skin;

exacerbation of hunger (a person consumes more calories than consumed);

deterioration in reaction and visual coordination;

diabetes mellitus, heart attack, stroke, paralysis, obesity, Alzheimer’s disease, oncology, DNA changes;

emotional outbursts, aggression and stress.

Also, it is worth recalling the scientific work of our compatriot biochemist and somnologist Maria Manaseina, who was one of the first to study sleep deprivation in animals. As a result of the experiments, she found out that lack of sleep is more dangerous than lack of food. It is believed that her research was prompted by the clinical case of a patient who died on the 9th day from insomnia.

Factors that interfere with healthy sleep:
1.A sedentary lifestyle can cause insomnia, since the body will not feel the need for rest;

2. a noisy place and light interfere with proper sleep and the production of melatonin, which regulates human circadian rhythms;

3.Blue light from smartphones, lamps, and other LCD gadgets interferes with restful sleep. Try to stop using these devices at least 1 hour before bedtime;

4. Caffeine increases the level of adenosine, having an exciting effect on the human nervous system. Drink caffeinated drinks no later than 6-8 hours before bedtime;

5. Drinking alcohol and nicotine negatively affects the quality of sleep. A large dose of alcohol leads to shallow sleep with frequent awakenings. Nicotine has a stimulating effect on the body, which can cause insomnia.

Tips for a good sleep:
1. stick to a daily routine – get up and go to bed at a specific time, regardless of the day of the week. You will get enough sleep and feel good;

2. Sleep 15-20 minutes during the day. Daytime sleep lowers blood pressure, has a positive effect on the heart and blood vessels, increases concentration and strengthens the body;

3. Tired not only mentally, but also physically. Sports will help get rid of insomnia, the main thing is to finish the workout no later than 90 minutes before bedtime;

4. Have dinner 2-3 hours before bedtime. Heavy food consumed at night slows down the production of melatonin, causes stomach discomfort, promotes fat deposition;

5. Add a choice of foods to your evening diet that help you fall asleep quickly: eggs, milk, low-fat cottage cheese, chicken, almonds, cherries;

6. Make a to-do list and prepare your clothes for the next day, so you will relax faster and not think about what you need to do tomorrow;

7. Take a walk just before bed. A leisurely walk will calm the nervous system. Upon awakening, you will feel refreshed and refreshed;

8. ventilate the room before going to bed – this is the key to a long and sound sleep;

9. Take a warm shower before bed. It will calm your nerves after a hard day;

10. Play meditation music, white noise, calming nature sounds, or a monotonous voice to quickly fall asleep.

Did you know?
The build-up of muscle mass occurs after exercise while the body is at rest. You shouldn’t go to the gym if you haven’t got enough sleep. In this case, the body will work in a stressful state to support life.

The benefits of a smart alarm clock
Mood depends not only on the duration of sleep, but also on how to to akuyu phase you wake up. Experiments conducted by scientists on rats have shown that if you wake up rodents during the slow phase of sleep, they begin to get sick, and then die. Smart alarm analyzes sleep and wakes up the user when he is in the active phase.

A fitness bracelet with smart alarm will make the morning really good: it will wake you up with a gentle vibration at the most suitable sleep phase for getting up and will not disturb the sleep of other family members. Benefits of sleep monitoring with ONETRAK:

in detailed charts, you can see the duration and ratio of sleep phases;

in the mobile application, you can create a goal for sleep duration and monitor its implementation;

you set the time range in which you want to wake up. A smart alarm clock analyzes your sleep and wakes you up in the most appropriate phase;

detailed sleep statistics will help you track how often and how much you lack sleep, assess the dynamics of sleep efficiency,

Using the data elsewhere in the app, you can track how activity, nutrition, and exercise affect your sleep quality.

Listen to your body and be attentive to your health. Remember, sleep deprivation affects mental and physical performance. As professor at the University of Southern California, Norbert Schwartz, said: “Earning $ 60,000 a year will have less impact on your ability to feel happy than one extra hour of sleep at night.” Therefore, if you want to be a healthy and successful person ⏤ take sufficient time to sleep and rest.

 

19 Dec 2020

WHAT NUTRIENTS DOES THE HUMAN BODY NEED?

Without what nutrients the human body will not be able to function fully?

The human body is considered a harmonious, perfect system. However, there are elements that the body is unable to reproduce on its own. Only a balanced diet helps the body to function properly.

Nutrients the body needs

 

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vitamins, minerals and omega-3 acids in a natural, easily digestible form. 3 350 ₽ Immuno Box / Immuno box Comprehensive protection of the body: natural immunostimulants, herbal antiseptics and natural adaptogen – for excellent health in the cold season! 1 100 ₽ Nutritious cocktail Vanilla delight Inside, everything you need for the day: protein, carbohydrates, omega-3s, fiber – and all this with an incredibly delicate vanilla-creamy Peruvian delight. 700 ₽ Lycopene and omega-3 Cardiovascular protection: lycopene and omega-3 acids. 650 ₽ For a full life and health, the body needs a variety of nutrients. Protein-Protein is needed not only for those who go in for sports, build up muscle mass. They are necessary for any person, especially children and adolescents, as their bones, muscles, teeth grow continuously.

Sources of protein are mostly animal products:

 

meat of all sorts, eggs, fish, seafood. If a person does not consume animal products, then soy, nuts, and natural grains are suitable. However, one should not get carried away with proteins alone, despite the fact that high-protein diets are at the peak of popularity. The diet should be diluted with carbohydrates, healthy fats. Carbohydrates Many dieters consider carbohydrates to be the main enemy of their slim figure. However, these substances give a person energy, ensure the normal functioning of the brain.

Fats

Like carbohydrates, fats also have a rather negative reputation in the nutritional world. But recent research suggests that fats can be both good and bad.

Sources of healthy fats are fresh avocados, fatty sea fish, seeds, and natural vegetable oils. Those who do not like fish should try to introduce fish oil into their diet. But unhealthy fats that are in fast food, margarine, fatty, fried foods are best avoided. They can lead to high cholesterol levels and the formation of plaque on the walls of blood vessels

Vitamins

serve to facilitate the body’s work, accelerate the course of chemical reactions. Their lack provokes serious diseases

If a person has a balanced diet and no problems with the gastrointestinal tract, then he receives vitamins in sufficient quantities. For chronic or hereditary diseases, additional vitamin intake may be required. It is worth consulting your doctor about this. Water as a substance necessary for life The amount of water in the body determines the quality of the work of its components. Water improves the functioning of the nervous system, facilitates the course of diseases, regulates the processes of the excretory system
For the normal functioning of the body, a variety of substances are needed. Some of the body receives on its own, and in some cases, you cannot do without a balanced diet.

 

17 Dec 2020

HOW TO BUILD MUSCLE – MYTHS AND FACTS

Doing sports should be correct. However, in the training of absolutely all athletes, regardless of the type of sport, there are myths and prejudices regarding the correctness of the exercise technique, the level of loads and some other important issues. In this regard, bodybuilding is no exception. We analyzed the 5 most popular myths passed by word of mouth by visitors to fitness rooms, and consulted with experts which of them have a scientific basis.

Myth 1. To build muscle, you need to do a minimum of
repetitions with maximum weights.

Lifting a barbell on a Scott benchIn fact, the opposite is true. The more weight, the more strength develops, but not muscle. The increased energy demand of the body is to blame for this – at maximum weights, it produces kartisol, which, in search of energy, begins to burn muscle tissue. As a result, the efficiency of the muscles increases, but their mass does not.

Ideally, workouts should contain 3-4 sets of 8-12 repetitions each.

Myth 2. First you need to do basic exercises,
after – isolating.

Isolated dumbbell liftIt is believed that first you need to completely “hammer” the whole body, and then separately exhaust each muscle. Supposedly, then they will be maximally loaded and grow faster than usual.

However, practice shows that the opposite should be done. According to the “principle of preliminary exhaustion”, the increased muscle growth is promoted by preliminary isolation exercises, and after basic exercises. Otherwise, strength will develop.

Myth 3. Muscles should be pumped with free weights,
and they should be shaped using simulators.

Chest muscle reliefThis statement is partly true. The point is that simulators are limited – they are far from always designed in such a way as to engage the entire muscle group.

In this regard, free weights are much more effective.

However, it is impossible to completely refuse from simulators, since only on them it is possible to pump muscles in isolation without using their assistant muscles.

Myth 4. You should not hammer
several muscle groups at once in one workout .

Deltoid musclesMany bodybuilders believe that in one workout, you should focus on only one muscle group. That is, for example, having started doing exercises on the chest muscles, you should forget about “pumping” your back. However, scientists have proven that grueling workouts on isolated body parts are much more harmful than complex exercises. The fact is that working to failure, the muscles wear out and become less elastic. Therefore, it makes sense to give up the last “finishing” 2-3 repetitions, and smoothly move on to exercises on other parts of the body.

Myth 5. Every time you have to give all the best.

Fatigue after exerciseIt is quite simple to understand the logic of this statement – the higher the intensity of the exercises, the faster the mass will be gained. However, in practice this is not at all the case. The maximum weight gain does not come from consistently grueling workouts, but from a sharp increase in working weights. That is, it makes sense after one full workout to carry out two with working weights that are 60-70% of the maximum. After resting, the muscles will be ready to “give their best”, which is the main principle of the bodybuilder’s training.

 

12 Dec 2020

Good and bad carbs: what is the difference between them

Good and bad carbs – what’s the difference between them? Any nutritionist will say this without hesitation. And people who “have eaten a dog” on various kinds of diets will voice the correct information without any problems, even if they wake them up late at night.

But what about those who have just started to dive into this topic? First of all, do not rush. The world is not divided into black and white, it has long been proven. Therefore, before starting any business, for example, going on a diet, carefully read our article.

Composition of carbohydrates

Carbohydrates are molecules made of oxygen, hydrogen and carbon atoms. Carbohydrates are one of the three most important nutrients, the other two groups of trace elements are proteins and fats.

The main task of carbohydrates, that is, foods containing sugar and starch, is to give the body energy. Almost all carbohydrates, such as fruits, flour and pasta, are broken down into glucose and then burned in the cells of the body, releasing energy. When a person is not using energy, glucose is converted to fat. Thus, excessive consumption of carbohydrates threatens a person with extra pounds. There are four types of these substances in total. Let’s consider them in more detail below.

  1. SugarBasically, all sweet-tasting carbohydrates are sugars. There are two groups of sugars: simple and double. Glucose, fructose, mannose, and galactose are considered simple sugars. This group is also called monosaccharides. Disaccharides or double sugars are sucrose, maltose, and lactose, which are found in mammalian milk.

    Disaccharides are formed during the digestion of starchy foods. With the help of gastric enzymes, starch is degraded to maltose molecules, and at the next stage it is reduced to glucose. Once glucose enters the bloodstream, the sugar level rises.

  2. StarchStarch is one of the main types of polysaccharides. It is found in potatoes, legumes, grain products, and nuts. In the composition of starch, there are several molecules connected to each other.
  3. Unlike disaccharides and monosaccharides, starch is not sweet in taste. Only if you chew a piece of bread or potatoes for a long time, then after a while you will feel a sweet aftertaste.

    This suggests that the digestion of carbohydrates, if a person eats slowly and chews thoroughly, begins in the mouth. Saliva contains ptyalin, a carbohydrate-digesting enzyme that breaks down starch into shorter-chain carbohydrates. The sweetest foods have the shortest carbohydrate chain.

  4. CelluloseFiber fibers are also carbohydrates. A person, due to a lack of digestive enzymes, does not cope well with the digestion of fiber. There are bacterial strains in the colon that are capable of reducing fiber to short-chain fatty acids. The acids give the cells of the intestinal wall energy, due to which the intestinal mucosa regenerates. For this reason, fiber is essential for gut health.
  5. Sugar polyhydric alcoholsPolyhydric sugar alcohols are also considered carbohydrates. They taste like regular sugar, but cause much smaller insulin spikes. This group of carbohydrates includes sorbitol, xylitol and mannitol.

    On average, carbohydrates contain approximately 4.1 kcal per gram. But sugar alcohols contain only 2.4 kcal per gram. This allows them to be used in dietary nutrition. Another benefit of sugar alcohols is that they are not a food source for the bacteria that cause tooth decay. Therefore, xylitol, sorbitol, and mannitol are considered safe for dental health.

    This group of carbohydrates can cause dyspepsia. Many people experience pain and bloating or diarrhea after eating sugar alcohols. But here everything is individual and depends on the dose.

  6. Difference Between Good and Bad Carbohydrates

    Dividing carbs into “good” and “bad” is a mistake. Distinguish between complex (slow) and simple (fast) carbohydrates.

  7. Their difference is in the rate of splitting. The body spends little time and energy on digesting fast carbohydrates such as candy, desserts, rolls and dairy products. Perhaps for this reason, almost all people adore sweet food. The body signals to us that these products are the most beneficial in terms of energy resources.

    To process complex carbohydrates, the body has to work hard. Digestion of both fiber and starch will take a lot of energy. As a result, glucose enters the bloodstream more slowly, which allows for a long time not to feel hungry.

    It was conceived by nature that the human body first of all needed complex carbohydrates and easily digested them. After all, fruits, vegetables and grains were always available to our ancestors, but fast carbohydrates had to be tried to get. So, in order to feast on honey, the ancient people had to fight with dangerous insects. The extracted delicacy became the reason for a big celebration.

  8. Are high carbohydrates good or bad? Stick to a simple rule – add more complex carbohydrates to your diet and cut down on simple ones. This will be better for your body. The only challenge you may face is distinguishing between bad and good carbs.

    Sources of good and bad carbohydrates

    Let’s list the carbohydrate-containing foods that are rich in important micronutrients and can energize you. You will not find harmful chemical additives in their composition:

    • Unprocessed (flattened) oats.
    • Whole, unprocessed grains such as wheat, millet, quinoa, spelled.
    • Legumes: chickpeas, black beans, Turkish beans, and mung beans.
    • Organic vegetables: carrots, red potatoes, beets, pumpkin, sweet potatoes.
    • Natural fruits and berries such as tomatoes and all types of citrus fruits.
    • Natural seeds and nuts.
  9. Unlike the previous list, “bad” carbohydrates have no nutritional value. They also lack fiber. For this reason, “fast” carbohydrates impair health and make you feel unwell. What are these products?
    • Baking, i.e. bread, muffins, rolls, etc.
    • Beverages that contain sweeteners: Milkshakes and fruit juice shakes, soda, energy drinks, alcohol, tea, coffee, or sugar smoothies.
    • Packaged breakfasts and snacks: muesli, including in bars, cereals, marmalade.
    • Heat-treated foods, i.e. chips, fries, frozen convenience foods, pizza dough.
    • Confectionery, that is, sweets, chocolates, cakes, cookies.
    • All kinds of white flour pasta and couscous.
  10. 7 foods that contain healthy carbohydrates

    1. Non-starchy vegetablesBroccoli, cauliflower, curly and white cabbage, zucchini, asparagus and spinach are vegetables that do not contain starch, but are rich in complex carbohydrates. It is these foods that give your body a feeling of fullness and many nutrients. To help them digest better, but remain useful, subject them to minimal heat treatment. For example, lightly sauté, double-cook, or make a stew.
    2. PumpkinPumpkin has much less starch and carbohydrates than potatoes and cereals. In addition, it is less high in calories. Supplement your diet with different varieties of pumpkin. Cooking with this product is easy. It is enough just to fry it with other vegetables or separately. Many will love pumpkin puree soup. It is also good for baking muffins and pies.
    3. BuckwheatBuckwheat is completely gluten-free, but it contains a large amount of vitamins and minerals. Unlike other grains, buckwheat is rich in fiber and protein.
    4. Include buckwheat in your diet and you can lower not only your cholesterol levels, but also your blood pressure. In addition, it is an excellent diabetes prevention. Buckwheat porridge is able to put in order digestion. It saturates perfectly, therefore it is recommended for those who decided to lose weight. It can replace the annoying oatmeal. We also recommend trying the soba buckwheat noodles so popular in Asia.
    5. BeetBeets contain betaine, a substance that prevents the development of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. But betaine not only effectively fights the accumulation of fat in the liver, it activates the secretion of bile and thereby speeds up digestion. Pectin contained in beets normalizes intestinal microflora. The vegetable can be eaten raw, or you can cook it. A delicious side dish is obtained by frying beets in olive oil with the addition of herbs and seasoning with herbs. Beets are also suitable for salads.
    6. Peas, beans, lentilsLegumes are full of fiber, folic acid, magnesium and B vitamins. Due to their high fiber and protein content, peas, beans and lentils satisfy hunger for a long time, help keep cholesterol and blood sugar levels normal. Add the beans to soup, salad, or vegetable stew, or serve as a side dish.
    7. QuinoaQuinoa is high in protein and fiber. This dish is great for filling and, when consumed regularly, helps stabilize blood sugar levels. This cereal contains many useful trace elements, vitamins and antioxidants: magnesium, phosphorus, iron, folic acid, quercetin. Before cooking, the cereals should be thoroughly washed with a sieve. This will remove the bitter shell (saponin) that gives the dish a soapy flavor.
    8. BananasBanana is the most nutritious, starchy and sweetest fruit. But at the same time, it is rich in potassium, which helps to normalize blood pressure and helps to remove excess fluid from the body. Unripe bananas contain a lot of pectin, starch and other fibers that restore the intestinal microflora.

      As it ripens, the fibers turn into sugars. Therefore, it is recommended to consume bananas while they are slightly green. They are especially beneficial at this stage of ripeness, as fiber is not digested by the body, which helps to equalize blood sugar levels. It is best to eat bananas with healthy proteins and fats, such as peanut butter.

      1. Which food groups should be consumed and in what quantity depends on the age of a particular person, his lifestyle and whether he has certain diseases. The choice of the type of carbohydrates is also influenced by the hormonal balance in the body, the quality of the digestive system and even the physique.

      Glycemic index and glycemic load

      Avoiding fast carbs would be a mistake. And let’s see why. Good and bad carbohydrates have different effects on blood sugar levels. For example, complex potato starch and high GI glucose are processed quickly. Simple fructose, on the other hand, breaks down slowly. If a person consumes a lot of “bad” carbohydrates and at the same time does not exercise much, then he develops high insulin resistance. This is followed by an increase in body weight, hypertension appears, and the level of “good” cholesterol decreases.

      This is how metabolic syndrome manifests itself, which causes many diseases, including type 2 diabetes and oncology.

      The lower the glycemic index, the slower carbohydrates are digested. After eating foods with a low GI, there is no sudden jump in sugar. However, it would be a mistake to think of foods with a high GI as harmful and those with a low GI as healthy.

      Evaluating the benefits of products should be based on a more complex indicator, which includes assessing the amount of nutrients taking into account concentration. For example, the GI of a watermelon is quite high, but if you remember that it contains 60% water, it turns out that the amount of carbohydrates per 100 grams of watermelon is not so great. This is the glycemic load, which is measured as the GI content per 1 bread unit.

      2 basic rules for eating carbohydrates

      First, eat only quality food. We are talking about carbohydrates that nature gave us. Replace corn flakes with whole corn kernels. Eat orange instead of orange juice. Prefer brown rice over white rice. In other words, cut out refined and processed carbs as much as possible.

      Second, minimize artificial carbohydrates, that is, foods that have been over-processed. Typically, these foods are water-free and loaded with salt, sugar, and unhealthy calories. No good housewife would consider such products a complete meal.

      Let’s summarize. It’s no secret that our health depends on the quality of our food. To feel great, you need to responsibly approach your diet. Give preference to foods that suit you and cut empty calories. 

 

04 Dec 2020

WARM UP BEFORE WORKOUT, EXERCISE

Warming up in sports is very important. It improves blood circulation in muscle groups, joints, ligaments and tendons that will tighten during the bulk of your workout.

The warm-up format depends on what kind of loads you need to prepare the body for. It is desirable that it be as close as possible to the exercise biomechanics of the main part of the program. For example, it is inappropriate to warm up on a treadmill before training with an emphasis on working out the “top” muscles.

Another warm-up task is the right attitude to work. Indeed, during training, you will need to focus on the technique of complex multi-joint exercises and constantly monitor your feelings.

HOW TO WARM UP BEFORE TRAINING?
A correctly performed warm-up prevents muscle imbalance – uneven development of muscle groups. Calisthenics exercises (performed with your own weight) increase your overall fitness level.

It is desirable that the warm-up part should not exceed 10-15 minutes, not be overly intense and at the same time solve all the above-mentioned problems. During such training, the required physical qualities will manifest themselves in the best possible way.

Warm-up exercises
We have selected effective warm-up exercises for you.

PUSHUPS
Warm Up Exercise – Classic Floor Pushups
A good warm-up exercise is push-ups. They have a beneficial effect on the cardiovascular system – the muscles begin to be intensively supplied with blood.

So, take an emphasis on the floor and place your palms shoulder-width apart. Different muscles will work depending on the distance between the arms. The best option is to keep your hands shoulder-width apart. This position of the palms allows you to work out the triceps, pectoral and deltoid muscles, as well as the abdominals.

During push-ups, the elbows move along the body, but spread them to the sides. The body must be kept straight – do not bend or lift the buttocks up. As you descend, breathe in, as you rise, exhale.

BULGARIAN SPLIT SQUATS
Doing the Bulgarian split squat exercise
A very effective exercise for the lower body. It dries the legs and tightens the buttocks.

Stand with your back to the bench, one deep step away. Place one foot on it. If your muscles are trained, you can use dumbbells. Lower into a squat to parallel the thigh of your supporting leg with the floor. Getting up from the squat, push off with the heel – this will additionally load the buttocks. Important: keep your back straight, do not lean forward. The pace is fast.

HYPEREXTENSION IN THE SIMULATOR
Exercise for the back hyperextension
Hyperextension strengthens the lumbar back muscles well. This exercise is for those who want to become the owner of a wasp waist.

Walk up to the “Roman chair” and adjust the height to suit you. The front bolsters should be at the end of the lower back and hips. Place your feet under the bottom roller. The back should be in line with the legs. The arms are crossed over the chest. This is the starting position.

Lean forward about 60 ° and round your back slightly. The gluteal muscles are tense. Then gently rise to the starting position. When tilting – inhale, when lifting – exhale.

You can learn more about other useful exercises in our fitness club. Sign up for personal training – the instructor will develop an individual warm-up program for you and follow the exercise technique.

 

07 Nov 2020

SPORTS NUTRITION FOR WEIGHT LOSS

You said goodbye to bad habits, started playing sports and completely rebuilt to a healthy lifestyle, but the extra pounds still do not let you forget about yourself? Achieving a slender figure and easy gait will not work quickly. A healthy body requires complex work.

(more…)

 

30 Oct 2020

GAINING MUSCLE MASS: DIET

Gaining muscle mass directly depends on what and how you eat. For a sculpted body, follow our bodybuilding nutrition program. Our recommendations will help you correctly formulate your diet, learn how to choose the right foods, and achieve your sports goals much faster.

BODYBUILDER NUTRITION PRINCIPLES

High-calorie meals

Muscles can only grow when more energy is supplied to the body than is expended. When the calories burned in training exceed the received ones, the opposite process occurs – weight loss.

Reusable meals

To ensure that nutrients are constantly supplied to the blood, thanks to which muscle growth occurs, separate meals by 5-6 times. If there is no regular influx of “building materials” – carbohydrates, proteins, and fats, the “building” of muscle mass will stop. The time between meals should not exceed 3 hours.

Meal mode

Try to eat at the same time – metabolic processes are carried out cyclically, and the body easily adjusts to a certain schedule. You will get the most out of your food if you follow the regimen.

Sufficient water intake

Drink 2 to 4 liters of water a day, depending on your weight. Try to drink between meals, rather than with meals, so as not to impair the digestion process.

The optimal ratio of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats

Optimal diet:

  • 30% – 35% protein
  • 50% – 60% complex carbohydrates
  • 10 – 20% fat

This is a conditional division – for each bodybuilder, the percentage is different. However, try to compose a diet based on these numbers.

Nutrition before and after exercise

Be sure to eat 1.5-2 hours before class in the gym. Food should contain complex carbohydrates, which will provide energy for training. Give preference to pasta, cereals, vegetables. You can drink a gainer. After class, refresh yourself with it or a couple of bananas. Eat a full meal in half an hour – lunch should contain a lot of complex carbohydrates and proteins, since at this time the anabolic window opens and the body assimilates the maximum amount of nutrients that contribute to energy recovery and muscle growth.

The right choice of products

Include healthy, fast-digesting foods in your diet. The main sources of protein: lean meat, eggs, cheese, cottage cheese, soy, kefir, milk. Complex carbohydrates are found in buckwheat and semolina porridge, rice, pasta, oatmeal, and vegetables. There are many healthy fats in ocean fish, linseed oil, walnuts.

 

On average, a bodybuilder consumes per day:

  • 0.5 kg of meat
  • 0.3 kg vegetables
  • 0.4 kg of cottage cheese
  • 0.3 kg of porridge
  • 5 eggs
  • 2 liters of water
 

17 Oct 2020

HOW TO TAKE A GAINER CORRECTLY

Many athletes go to the gym with the goal of gaining muscle mass. So that exhausting workouts are not in vain, the daily diet should include a fairly large amount of protein and carbohydrates. The modern rhythm of life does not always allow you to adhere to this plan. And here a gainer comes to the rescue.

Gainer – sports nutrition with a high carbohydrate content. Their complex combination with proteins contributes to the gain of muscle mass and accelerates recovery after training.

GAINER COMPOSITION

The most common version of the gainer contains carbohydrates and proteins in a 3: 1 ratio, but there are other options: 1: 1, 2: 1 and 4: 1.

The higher the number of proteins in the composition of the gainer and the lower the number of carbohydrates, the closer it is in its properties to protein. When using such a gainer, the risk of “getting fat” is much lower than in the classic versions of the mixture.

Also for assimilation of the product, the gainer contains digestive enzymes and a small number of unsaturated fats.

WHAT IS A GAINER FOR?

A gainer is an indispensable supplement for thin people when gaining muscle mass. Ectomorph athletes will be able to quickly gain the desired weight and get in shape with it. The gainer will help football players, basketball players, and track and field athletes overcome prolonged aerobic loads. Also, a protein-carbohydrate mixture is useful for thin girls, whose goal is more appetizing forms.

Correct regular consumption of protein-carbohydrate mixtures quickly provides athletes with the required amount of energy and has a positive effect on weight gain.

Keep in mind, however, that high carbohydrate intake can lead to unwanted weight gain. The fact is that carbohydrates are deposited in fat much faster than proteins. Therefore, it is important to immediately decide for what purpose you are going to take a gainer. If the goal of your trips to the gym is to lose weight, then it is better to pay attention to sports nutrition for weight loss.

Table of the average daily intake of carbohydrates per 1 kg of body weight (grams).

slimming maintaining weight weight gain
The man 2-3 3-4 4-5
Woman 2-2.5 3-3.5 3.5-14.5

HOW TO TAKE A GAINER

Most often, beginners wonder how many grams of a gainer to drink per day and when. It is best to consume the shake immediately after training. In the first half-hour after exercise, a “protein-carbohydrate window” opens – a period of time when the body is in dire need of rapid saturation with nutrients. Taking a protein-carbohydrate mixture after workouts protect muscles from catabolism and restore strength.

To grow muscle mass, you need 4-5 grams of carbohydrates per 1 kg of body weight per day. To find out how many carbohydrates are in one serving of a gainer, just look at the product packaging. Typically one serving is about 40 grams of protein and 100 grams of carbohydrates. However, the proportions in mixtures from different manufacturers may vary. Most importantly, do not forget that you already get the lion’s share of carbohydrates during meals.

For people who are prone to overweight, it is enough to take a gainer once a day or even replace it with protein. But for athletes who are prone to thinness, it is recommended to use the supplement at least 2 times a day. For example, before and after training.

Athletes with a fast metabolism can take it at night for more effectiveness. On rest days, it is recommended that you limit yourself to one intake of a protein-carbohydrate mixture or refuse it altogether.

HOW TO STIR A GAINER

Just mix the gainer with water, milk or juice in a shaker. The amount of liquid added is at your discretion. Just do not dilute the gainer in boiling water under any circumstances! Protein denatures in hot water and loses its properties.

CAN I COMBINE WITH OTHER SUPPLEMENTS

The gainer goes well with amino acids, creatine, protein and vitamin-mineral complexes. The most common combination is creatine and BCAAs.

Creatine

First of all, creatine is produced in our body from protein amino acids. The rest of the creatine comes from food. The problem is that even foods with a high content of creatine are too little for the human body. Even for people with low levels of physical activity, this amount may not be enough.

The value of creatine is that it speeds up energy metabolism in muscle cells. The standard dosage per day is approximately 5 grams. You need to consume a portion at one time, so the most convenient way to combine a gainer with creatine is to mix them in one cocktail. It is better to drink such a cocktail immediately after training.

BCAA

BCAAs are a complex of amino acids that are not synthesized by the human body. These elements increase endurance and are simply indispensable for building muscle tissue. In addition, amino acids slightly increase testosterone levels and have a positive effect on blood sugar.

It is also recommended to take BCAA amino acids after training, 15-20 minutes after using the gainer.

IS IT POSSIBLE TO TAKE A GAINER AND NOT EXERCISE

Eating high-calorie gainers without physical activity will only lead to one thing – excess weight. It is unlikely that such a result will bring positive emotions.

 

20 Sep 2020

BALANCED NUTRITION FOR WOMEN: HOW TO STAY HEALTHY

What can you not do without if you are firmly on the path of a healthy lifestyle? Fitness trainers and nutritionists from all over the world are in solidarity with each other – first of all, you need to understand what a food diary is and how to keep it correctly. Let’s see why balanced nutrition is so important for women, why you need to make a menu every day and how it will affect the achievement of your goals – for example, weight loss.

WHAT IS A BALANCED DIET

The concept of “proper balanced nutrition” means the totality of food that makes up the daily diet and ensures that the body receives the optimal amount of nutrients.

A nutritious and healthy diet is based on 2 key factors:

  • Regularity of food intake.
  • Control over the intake of the desired ratio of proteins, carbohydrates and fats.

It is important to understand exactly which nutrients contribute to the total calorie content of the daily diet. The amount of carbohydrates and proteins must exceed the intake of fats.

You can keep a rational nutrition diary both independently and with the help of a personal trainer or nutritionist.

The second option is more preferable – a specialist will analyze your physiology, take into account your goals, medical indications and your personal eating habits. As a result, you will receive an individual menu with recommendations on how it can be further developed and adjusted. After that, you can keep a diary yourself, as you will understand how many calories your body needs and what the balance of nutrients in the daily diet should be.

Balanced diet for women, 1 day

The goal is to reduce weight and subcutaneous fat while preserving muscle tissue.

Time Name Weight (gr) Calories Protein Carbohydrates Fats
9:00 Oatmeal porridge 280 289 8 57 five
Kiwi 85 41 1 nine 1
11:00 Natural yogurt 2% one hundred 60 4 6 2
14:00 Steamed omelet one hundred 184 ten 2 five
Broccoli one hundred 28 3 five 0
17:00 Soup (vegetable) 150 65 3 nine 3
Chicken fillet one hundred 113 24 five 2
21:00 Low-fat cottage cheese 0.5% 150 90 27 3 1
Daily amount of calories 1065 869 79 96 29
Grams per 1 kg of body weight     1.3 1.6 0.5
Percentage     36% 44% thirty%***

 

*** *** It is important that the amount of animal fat is not excessive. However, in this example, a steamed omelet provides the body’s daily lipid requirements. The rest of the fatty component (except for a small amount in chicken fillet) is vegetable fats. If you increase their daily intake, there will be no harm to the body.

 

Remember that each of us is unique. Therefore, do not neglect contacting a specialist. He will tell you how to properly balance your diet, and you will achieve your goals much faster.

Losing weight is a question that is not solved in one day. Fanaticism and ill-considered diets in the long term can lead to problems in various body systems. Adapting to a balanced diet is gradual, so take your time and be systemic. Then you are guaranteed to get a stable and long-term result.

 

14 Sep 2020

MYTHS AND REALITY. IS IT SAFE TO DO A DEEP SQUAT

There are many issues in fitness that generate a lot of controversy both in the gym and in discussions on the network. We are opening a series of posts “Myths and Reality”, which will help you figure out where the tale and the lie, and where the lesson is. The first question to consider is whether it is safe to do a deep squat. Our coach Viktor Ryazanov comments.

“The statistics for knee injury in weightlifting, where the deepest squat is, is an order of magnitude lower than in cyclic sports where there is no squat. Excessive knee extension beyond the toe is also controversial, given that everyone’s foot size is different. What to do for men who have not 45th, but 40th foot size?

If we talk about what movements can be done and what not, let’s look at the question from the point of view of anatomy at the section of the musculoskeletal system in which the movement occurs. If we are talking about the knee joint, we must assume that if this kind of movement were unnecessary, and even more dangerous, nature would have provided for some kind of process or tubercle.

For example, the spinous processes in the thoracic spine are directed downward and posteriorly and prevent excessive extension of the spine. There is no such anatomical factor in the popliteal fossa. It turns out that nature has nothing against squats. In addition, from the point of view of medicine, testing of the knee joint is carried out precisely at a bend of 90 degrees, since it is in this position that the joint is most unstable.

Synchronized squats for two

All this, of course, can only be discussed if squats are performed with absolutely correct technique. Take the low bar squat as an example. Many factors can affect the correctness of the performance, from the mobility of the elbow and shoulder joints to more “fine tuning” – the balance between muscle groups (superficial and deep layers) both in the pelvic region and the trunk as a whole.

Barbell squats in the gym

 

19 Aug 2020