Archive for January, 2010

I have spent a lot of time LISTENING to my wife and reading about food. I used to only eat food, now I learn what it is I am actually eating, and I have learned a lot. Here are 5 foods that just absolutely make me feel amazing and I just can’t live without. I am not a nutrition expert, so I have published some links to read up a bit more.

1. Almond Butter: Oh, man is this stuff good. We eat it in oatmeal, on toast with a bit of sweet stuff. We always get the fresh ground stuff from either Whold Foods or Fresh Market. They have a milling machine in the store that you get to run yourself. They usually have peanut butter and honey roast. The kids love that stuff. It’s just ground nuts. Do not be intimidated by the machine. Get in there and learn how to work it. Eat that stuff, it’s goooood for you. Here’s a write up from Best Natural Foods.com on Almond Butter.
2. Pearled Barley : This actually has more fiber than Whole Brown Rice. About 2g more per serving, and it’s a bit cheaper. It takes about the same amount of time to cook, 40-50 min, but it rocks.  Simmer it in some organic chicken broth – NO MSG and add a few chopped portobello mushrooms to simmer – super side dish
3. Agave Nectar : We eat this a good bit instead of honey – and yes, it comes from a plant. It’s a low glycemic index food, so it absorbs into your system slower thus not causing a spike in blood sugar. Walmart even sells this stuff now. It’s located around the baking goods and looks just like a squeeze tube of honey. They also have some that looks like Syrup - Honey Tree organic agaive nectar – eat it on my pancakes – woohoo good!
4. Portobello Mushrooms : What can’t you do with these – They taste so smokey, and robust, we grill them, mostly on the George Foreman Grill with a little soy sauce – and add to noodles or just eat plain – any kind of pasta. They are a good little source of protein without having to eat meat.
5. Cottage Cheese : This is a basic one, but this is one of my night snacks when I want something kind of sweet or dairy – instead of ice cream but the protein is there to make me forget about food for the rest of the night. The best cottage cheese I have had is either the Breakstone 2% or the Cabot 4% – seems to work the same on the fat scale as the milk you buy.

Do you REALLY need a personal trainer to get fit?

No, you do not. But, without a personal trainer, you have to maintain your motivation and program on your own. If you are new to this fitness thing, a personal trainer is ideal for you. It’s that time of year when alabamians can hopefully get serious about their fitness and nutrition goals. Fitness and exercise for most alabamians is something that does not fit into the schedule.  Even with the economy in it’s current state, and additional financial resources at a minimum, we can still find time to dedicate to fitness and making our lives better. Performance in every aspect of your life is better. Work, family and kids, more energy to do the things you love. Here are three basic options to starting a fitness routine, each with differnt degrees of financial commitment and resources.

Reasons To Exercise:

Most people start exercising for the wrong reasons. They want to “visually appear better”. They want to “fit into a smaller pair of pants”. That’s great, you will get all of that by default if you train your body to BE BETTER.  Let’s even get rid of the word “exercise” and keep the word “train”. You are training. You are in training. Training to be better and NOT SUCK.

Going It Alone:

This is what we do to a certain extent. We have a good support system of group fitness instructors and small training groups that we float in and out of. Our dedication revolves mostly around one thing. Not wanting to suck. My wife is a much better runner, racer, swimmer and all of the above than me. But we both know it’s no fun to be last. We push hard. Maintaining your own fitness routine takes serious planning and dedication. Attention to detail and balance in all aspects of your life is critical especially nutrition and workload. This is not the best option for beginners.

Pick A Group Or Zone:

Fitness groups are great for learning about fitness and exercise but also holding you accountable for results. These can be outdoor bootcamps or indoor group fitness classes. These can also be groups like the birmingham bike club, birmingham urban mountain pedalers (BUMP), Vulcan Triathletes, Birmingham Track Club or another fitness group. Find something you love and find a group that does it.

Gyms And Personal Trainers:

Several gyms in birmingham offer great facilities and personal trainer services for members. Finding a personal trainer that is knowledgable and experienced is as important as finding one that you like. If the thought of going to the gym and spending an hour with a personal trainer that you hate worse than your mother-in-law just won’t do it. Be aware of the certifications and qualifications of your trainer. Reasearch the actual person and see what they offer. Make sure you are honest about your goals and they do not over prescribe the plan. You will get burned out and quit.  Here are 5 personal trainer programs we could find in the birmingham area.

1. Sportplex Total Fitness – Hoover, Inverness, Robuck And Mobile
2. Gold Gym Birmingham – Pelham, Colonnade And Pelham
3. The Fitness Center
4. Icon Performance
5. Drake Fitness – Altadena

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Sportplex now offers birmingham personal trainer services to it’s members. 

Sportplex has committed itself to elevate their birmingham personal trainer services to provide Life Changing results in fitness. They are dedicated to deliver knowledge, guidance and motivation for All of their members to succeed and attain their health and fitness goals with a personal trainer.

They specialize in:

· Accelerated Weight Loss

· Sports Specific Training for Athletes

· Post & Prenatal Programming

· 60+ Stronger Seniors

· Body-Building

· Maintenance Systems

Jump-start your exercise routine with a personal trainer today!

Sportplex has always been a leader in the birmingham personal trainer market, so If you are not currently a member of Sportplex, please contact us to find out more about our personal training services and how it can kick-start your Goals!

Using a personal trainer is an essential service for those looking to reach their goals faster, and all of our Sportplex certified trainers are your insurance policy in doing so. Whether your goals are to drop a few pounds or win a triathlon, our trainers can help get you there safely and as quickly as possible.