Fit for Life: What Are Results in Fitness?

Fit for Life: What Are Results in Fitness?

What Are Results in Fitness? There are only 3 factors that dictate progress:

1) Losing Fat

2) Gaining Muscle

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3) Feeling Better

If these things are not being accomplished, than you are not getting results, and are wasting time money and energy. I am a firm believer in NOT wasting these valuable limited resources so I am going to give you a brief outline to help jump start you to getting results.


Hydrate. Hydrate. Hydrate.

We were developed on a cellular level and cells require water. We hit the gym to build muscle and muscle is compromised of millions of cells. We need enzymes to digest food to build muscle, and water aids in digestion, and the ability for enzymes to travel. In order to be able to move without cramping, our muscles need water. Get the picture? And that just deals with your needs during exercise. Being properly hydrated also prevents headaches, and free radical cell damage, caused by environmental toxins. Think: the solution for pollution is dilution!! Along with that goes aiding your kidneys and bladder in elimination. It is also responsible for shuttling water soluble vitamins to cells, so when you dehydrate yourself it is tougher for the body to absorb nutrients. I recommend ½ oz. of water for every pound of body weight, any less and you are doing yourself a disservice.

Sleep!

Eight (8) hours is not a luxury; it is a necessity for your well being. When you sleep, great things happen to your body as well as your mind and energy levels. Improving cognitive brain function, and increasing energy levels creates a huge network of positive attributes to the body. I hear the excuse all the time – “I am too busy to get that much sleep”. Do NOT confuse busy with productive, and if you are well rested you will become much more productive, than when you are tired, lethargic and miserable. The proper amount of sleep will allow you to wake happier and more energetic. Proper rest allows you to wake with clarity, and be more energetic. When you have the right mindset from the beginning of the day you accomplish many more tasks and are able to focus more efficiently. When you get the proper amount of sleep you wake up on fire and ready to go. Many people think that they are building muscle in the gym. Sorry, but that theory is wrong. When you work out you are actually breaking the body down. Training causes micro tears in the muscle, and the only way to recover from this is with proper sleep and nutrition. If this is not achieved, then you will not recover from physical activity, making positive gains or results nearly impossible.

Eat quality food frequently throughout the day

Not doing this is probably the biggest cause of not getting the results you want. When you eat efficiently you will get results faster and achieve your goals. When you consume garbage - processed food - you cause inflammation in the body. Our defense systems prioritize and fight off the most damaging invaders first. This means when you are sick you shouldn't work out because our immune systems are fighting sickness and breaking the body down, causing the immune system to work too hard, prolonging all ailments in the body. So when you eat badly the body is too busy fighting inflammation and is too drained to build and repair and do the positive things our bodies need to get results. When you eat quality food, our systems work smoothly and efficiently allowing the body to uptake nutrients effectively, thus triggering results and progress.

Let’s simplify and summarize! 

1) Drink lots of clean water.

2) Get to bed on time.

3) Eat quality food throughout the day.

Follow these 3 simple steps, and I can guarantee you will start feeling better. 

Matt Espeut has worked as a personal trainer for almost 20 years with clients ranging in age from 14 to 86. His focus is on overall health, strength, and functional conditioning. Holistic health and nutrition is the cornerstone of all his programs. Matt works in private and small group training available at your home or office location or at gym facilities. Matt offers his services to everyone wanting to be more fit and healthy, overweight young people, youth/collegiate athletes, and seniors. Matt has worked and continues to train at several facilities in the Providence area including Gold's Gym and CORE Studio, and he believes continued education is a must in his field. Email Matt: [email protected], check out his website at www.fitnessprofiles.net or on Facebook at Matt Espeut or on Twitter @MattEspeut.