LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth |
CAMP Fitness: News Tidbits |
by Rick Moore |
OK, here we go with the summer season! The weather has changed for the better and its beach time. The water may still be "cold as ice," but its wonderful to sit on the sand with a cool drink (non-alcoholic, of course) enjoying the pleasures of reading. Every now and then, I come across some health info, whether its online, in a magazine, or in a newspaper article, that I find exceptionally interesting. Some of these tidbits are shocking, while others just make you go "hmmmmm." So, just sit back, relax, and see if you find them as interesting as I did. Look Funny - Breathe the Same Now heres a product were all probably familiar withBreathe Right Nasal Strips. They really do appear to work when youre sleeping. But according to several testimonials from athletes, the latest claim is that they boost endurance, cut recovery time, and increase athletic performance, too. The companys website says athletes can get more air to their muscles while wearing a strip. But I just read an article saying that claim is false. When exercising, people breathe primarily through the mouth. And also, their nasal passages widen on their own during exertion, leaving plenty of breathing room. So it really doesnt seem to benefit you to wear a nasal strip while working out. But it sure does make you look funny and just might be the perfect conversation piece if youre trying to meet Mr. or Ms. right at the gym. Does Garlic Still Thwart Vampires? Garlic has always been a terrific plant to ward off vampires (keep a wooden stake handy, though). It seasons your Italian dinners, and supposedly it lowers blood cholesterol levels, too. Well, I hate to disappoint those of you who take garlic pills every day, but it seems that two clinical studies have proven that garlic pills have no such benefit. The first study involved patients with high cholesterol who took either garlic pills or a placebo for a 12 week period, and guess what? No change. In a second well-controlled clinical trial, the garlic pills were again tested on volunteers, half getting the garlic oil pills and half getting a placebo. Same results nothing. Gee, the next thing theyll be telling us is that garlic doesnt ward off vampires. Now Im really scared. Coronary Clog with Coolatta With the warmer weather, many of us think of having a refreshing "frappacino," "coffee coolatta," or other yummie coffee drink. But maybe a glass of water would be better. I just read that one of those "coolattas" can make your arteries clog up quicker than my sinuses on the first day of spring. The 16 ounce "small coolatta" has 22 grams of total fat, of which 14 grams are saturated! But waitthe 32 ounce "large" carries a hefty 820 calories and 25 teaspoons of sugar to boot. Yep, thats right25 teaspoons. Theres more than a full days saturated fat in one drink. I guess you have to expect that when you whip up four cups of coffee, sugar, heavy cream, and ice. Yikes! Get one with skim milk instead. Work Out Every Day & Ill Get Huge Ive said this before but its worth repeating, because I get so many people asking me about this at the gym. Your muscles DO NOT gain strength and size during your workouts. Quite the oppositeyour workouts break down muscle tissue. You gain strength and size when your body actually repairs the damage during the rest period BETWEEN your scheduled workouts. To get the maximum benefit, you should allow 48 hours (and for some people, 72 hours) for full muscle recovery before you work out the same body part again. You also need to eat right. So for the person who trains the same body parts every day (and there are plenty of you out there) give it a rest! Youre working against yourself and youre going to get injured. Some people just arent able to comprehend the fact that "more" isnt necessarily "better" when it comes to exercise! Grapefruit Messes with Some Meds It was purported to be a miracle weight loss drink in the 60s and 70s, remember? By chugging gallons of grapefruit juice a day, youd just melt away those unwanted pounds. It didnt work. Now, theres nothing wrong with grapefruit juice for most people, if you remember that it still contains calories and sugar, like any juice. But if youre on drugs, (no, not those drugs, I mean prescription drugs) grapefruit juice can dangerously raise your blood levels of some common drugs, including certain calcium-channel blockers and tranquilizers. A new study has proven an adverse affect from grapefruit juice on the cholesterol lowering drugs Mevacor and Zocor. If youre taking any meds, consult your physician to see if its safe to drink grapefruit juice. Better safe than sorry! Bloated Muffins = Bloated Bellies Due to the larger-is-better philosophy when it comes to food in the late 90s, the once innocent little breakfast muffin has grown to titanic proportions. Watch out or one of these babies will sink your diet! Some commercially-available muffins now weigh in at a half pound or more each! Research has found that your typical modern muffin can pack anywhere from 360 to 900 calories, and from 10 grams to almost 50 grams of fat. What kills me (and may kill someone else for real) is the fact that many bakeries and restaurants are selling "oat bran" or "wheat bran" muffins as if theyre healthy. In most cases, its just a regular muffin with a sprinkling of oat bran on top and half a teaspoons worth mixed in. But it really makes you feel good about yourself, doesnt it? "Honey, Im not over-eating! All I had for breakfast was an oat bran muffin!" (Dont forget to tell your partner your server brought it on a hand truck.) I hope to see you all out at the beach this summer season! But if I see any of you chowing a killer muffin while chugging a large coolatta, Ill dial 9-1-1. Rick Moore is a personal trainer certified by the American Fitness Professionals & Associates. He believes in common-sense, drug-free training. Visit him at Ricks Fitness & Health, Inc., in beautiful downtown Milton. Check out his website at http://www.enrapt.com/ricksfitness, or give him a call at (302) 684-3669. |
LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth, Vol. 9, No. 5, May 21, 1999 |