There are fitness training blogs with resources everywhere, with sometimes very well-known television and film personalities sharing their info, and other times the more relatable Joe and Jane Average giving you the latest information on the training drills they most enjoy or have found particularly effective.
A handful, however, go far beyond just keeping friends and family updated on their personal opinions on fitness training and the whys and wherefores thereof, however, and find ways to connect more people across an increasingly widening audience. These are what you have to look forward to finding on the Fitness Collaborative!
Our blogs that are related to the world of fitness training range from inspiration-based posts that aim to keep you fighting fit, to those that detail the many training drills available today, and include in-depth opinion articles on biomechanics, gear, and everything else that goes into keeping you in your best shape.
We are passionate about fitness training and training drills, and our bloggers stay up to date on the latest news and information regarding these topics so that you are able to as well.
Let us help you get into the best shape you have ever been in, and enjoy the ride while you do!
Proteins are a special class of molecules that the body uses for a wide range of functions, and it’s fairly safe to say that we probably wouldn’t exist if it weren’t for proteins. Not only are they absolutely vital for synthesizing most of the enzymes and other chemicals that the body requires to live, but they’re also the basis of all amino acids, which themselves are needed for an exhaustive list of functions.
A lot of athletes don’t put a lot of effort into keeping their bones strong, and it can often lead to some health problems down the road. Our bones are the basis of our strength and support, and without healthy bones, you can expect to suffer from problems later on in life.
When it comes to regular exercise, most will agree that running is one of the best options. It costs nothing, gives a moderate full body workout, and can be easily adjusted to people on all levels of fitness. If you choose to run several miles every second day, or take a leisurely jog around the block, there is no right or wrong way to do it. In other words; running is for everyone.
You may not realise this, but your body is a machine which constantly reinvents itself. Throughout the day, your body breaks down its own tissue and replaces it with new tissue created from the foods we eat and the recycled material foraged from other tissues.
Every person’s body does this, but the process takes place much faster in the bodies of people who work out. As such, if you’re looking to bulk up, nutrition has to become an essential part of your routine.
A recent study found that muscle mass increased 0.2% per day during the first 20 days of a strength-training program, besides the high rate of muscle-protein breakdown already occurring. This easily explains why someone who’s just starting out on muscle building requires more protein that someone already deep into a strength training regime.
As such, a good amount to aim for when starting out is 0.73 grams of protein per 450g of body weight per day.
The process by which the body takes protein from food and turns it into muscle tissue is known as protein synthesis. As nutritional advisor Mike Roussell, Ph.D. explains it, protein synthesis is like a light switch – it’s either on or off.
By ingesting 20-25 grams of high-quality protein, the process of protein synthetisation is turned on. It has been proven that those who eat at least 20 grams of protein 6 times a day – best ingested while playing pokies online – will lose body fat and increase lean mass, but if 6 meals seems excessive try 3 protein-rich meals per day instead.
A recent study found that those who took protein supplements gained almost a full kilogram of muscle over 12 weeks compared to those who did not.
With this in mind, studies have also shown that your muscles are most receptive to protein every 4-6 hours and you should ideally eat a protein-rich meal 2-3 hours before training and another within 1-2 hours of finishing your workout.
Your body needs amino acids in order to build muscle as they are the building blocks of protein and certain foods contain different combinations of amino acids. Of all the amino acids, leucine is by far the most important when it comes to building muscle and it takes approximately 2-3 grams of leucine to get the maximum effect from a meal.
The good news is that any average-sized portion of protein contains at least 2 grams of leucine.
Most us who work desk jobs don’t need to ingest pre-workout carbohydrates as you have plenty in reserve and your regularly scheduled meals should be enough energy for a solid workout.
However, there is evidence that combining protein with carbs in a post-workout meal will result in higher protein synthesis and you should ingest a good amount of healthy fats in the form of olive oil and nuts.
Juicing is the food trend that simply doesn’t go away. It started as a fad, but it has now stood the test of time, much like the online pokies NZ has to offer!
The problem is, juicing isn’t always good for you, nor is it necessarily the healthier option. Lets take a look at the facts about blitzing fruit and veggies!
When you juice fruit or veggies you’ll still end up with vitamins and minerals you’ll find in fresh produce, but you’ll be missing one of the major components. Dietary fibre.
These are the bits of plant that you cannot digest, but that doesn’t mean they don’t benefit you – fibre moves through your gastrointestinal tract and regulates digestion, and it keeps you fuller for longer, thus keeping those feelings of hunger at bay.
When you juice, this dietary fibre is left behind in the pulp, as you only get the liquid. This means that your juice technically won’t leave you feeling full. And if it does, the effect is short term, rather than long.
Now you know you’ve lost the dietary fibre benefit of the fruit and veggies when you’ve juiced them, lets take a look at what you do get. And that’s sugar. A whole lot of sugar! When you juice you are only left with the liquid and not with the dietary fibre or any of the pulp, and the juice from fruit specially is very high in sugar.
Although some may argue that this is natural sugar you’re body doesn’t really differentiate between that from an apple and that from sweets or chocolate. This means that while you may think you are drinking a very healthy drink, you are technically chugging down the equivalent of a can of Coke.
As juicing seems to be the healthier option you may end up ingesting far more sugar than you ever intended to, so in order to combat this, the best option is to go for green veggie juices only. These have the least amount of sugar and are the healthiest option by far.
Well, they might initially, but it not a sustainable loss and the results will simply be short term rather than long. Juice cleanses have become very popular, but many dieticians and nutritionists argue that they actually have a negative effect, rather than a positive one.
Ironically enough it is the fibre; the very thing you extract from the fruit or veggies when juicing; that can help lead to long term weight loss, and as you are eradicating this, it’s easy to see why a cleanse may be a quick drop a few kilos fix, but not one that’s sustainable.
Juicing may not be as good for you as you thought, but if you enjoy a juice or two as part of a controlled and balanced diet there is absolutely nothing wrong with it. Just remember to add in other fibre rich foods to compensate for what you strip out.
The world of today is a fast-moving place, and we all need to keep up to make the most of it. If you are lucky enough to own an Android device, you’re in a great position to do this. The superb processing power, graphics and touchscreen sensitivity of these machines make them a pleasure to use, and means that they can stand up to software upgrades as they roll out. Your Android device is the perfect tool to help you manage your life.
One of the tricks to enjoying everything that modern Australian society has to offer, and delivering everything you need to in every area, is to manage your time well and make every second count. If you’re able to do whatever you need to at any time, you are empowered to fit in everything that you need to.
For example, twenty-four hour gyms and grocery stores allow you to work out or shop when you can. You should also look out for other services in your area, such as dog-walkers, to simplify your life and buy you more time. These are easy to search for on your Android device.
You can also use your machine to connect to other people who share your interests, through websites and chatrooms. Join communities who are interested in working out and keeping fit, and others who focus on anything that takes your fancy.
Whether you are interested in ancient pottery or current events, you’ll find many like-minded friends online. Social media sites and email let you keep up with the ones you have, and mean you can stay in touch with your work colleagues at all times. You can do all of this in your own time, so you can do the things you have to do according to a schedule and still manage to do everything else.
Android applications are also great time-savers and resources. You’ll find cleverly designed day planners, budgeting tools and more to help you organise your life. There are many fantastic applications to help you track your workouts and reach your fitness goals, including those that monitor your running time or that demonstrate new exercise techniques for you.
Keep your exercise regime interesting by mixing up the types of exercise you do and introducing new moves regularly.
There are also many applications that are designed to entertain you whenever you feel like grabbing a bit of leisure time. For example, the Android casino or soccer betting Australia options that are available to Australians are truly superb. You can enjoy all your favourite games, so well-optimised that they will completely immerse you, with bonuses and rewards to rival any land-based establishment.
Spend some enjoyable time investigating all your options; via their websites; you’ll soon find the ones you most enjoy playing in and can then download those applications.
Android mobility means you can achieve everything on the go as you move through your busy daily life. Whether replying to an urgent email as you fetch the kids from school, checking the ingredients for a recipe while you are in the grocery store, or enjoying a little gambling as a post-workout treat, these devices really do allow you to have it all.
With them you’re in charge of your time and your life, and can really make the most of them.
We are exposed to so many more ideas and opportunities today than at any other time in history, and our lives are so much better for it. Technological developments improve every aspect of our lives and new breakthroughs are being made all the time.
One of the areas that this is most clearly seen is in the health and fitness industry. Scientists and other professionals are learning more about the way our bodies work, and how to keep them in shape, every day and we get to benefit from all that knowledge.
Ground-breaking new diets and exercises are often rolled out, and the wisdom of old regimes is honoured as well. Whether you prefer to use ancient yoga poses or the latest gym equipment to achieve your fitness goals, you can.
Staying in touch with all of the ways to exercise, eat right and look after your body is important – we should all take advantage of the latest research to improve our lives. One of the best ways to do this is online. There are many websites dedicated to fitness and exercise, offering great insights and tips. Spend some time investigating these and finding the ones you most prefer, and then check them regularly.
You can also connect with like-minded individuals from all over the world, with interactive chatrooms. Besides all this, you can research local facilities online too, to find the exercise classes or clubs that suit you best in your area.
If you’re like most dynamic Australians today, you have to balance a busy work life and personal life with the demands of keeping fit and looking after yourself. You can’t afford to let these things fall by the wayside, because being in tip-top condition boosts your confidence and overall wellbeing and allows you to perform better in all other parts of your life.
The key is to use everything available to you intelligently, and in the way that suits you best. Visit twenty-four hour grocery stores, or order everything online – wither option allows you to manage your own time, so it just depends what you prefer.
Use shared online calendars to keep work colleagues up-to-date on all projects, and use intelligent day-planners to make sure you don’t miss anything. There are many tools to help you stay organised, and you will soon knowFexercise which ones you prefer.
Being able to stay in touch with work colleagues, pay bills and conduct other business online is very convenient and really helps you to streamline and manage your life, but it isn’t all work and no play. There are many online adventure games that will involve and entertain you from the comfort of your own couch, and Australian gamblers are lucky enough to have several superb mobile casinos available to them.
These casinos give you the opportunity to enjoy all your favourite games on the go, and immerse you in another world. In fact, it’s one of the best ways to relax after tackling a rough work project or grueling workout. The lavish rewards and bonuses will round off your productive day perfectly and the pokies and other exciting options like getting the best NBA bets are exceptional.
Today’s technology and general progress means we can work harder and smarter, and the same can be said for how we work out and how we play. Using cutting edge to your advantage is a great way to streamline your life and ensure that you get the most out of every minute.
Horse racing is a huge sport in Australia and New Zealand, for a very good reason. Spectators and punters are drawn to the various tracks around the country in droves each year to take part in the carnival like atmosphere and watch one of the worlds most majestic animals battle it out at blistering speeds. There are very few experiences which compare to the sheer thrill of thundering hooves and rippling muscle as the pack round the bend for the home stretch.
Of course, the added thrill of horse racing is the chance to potentially win huge amount of cash. Online Australian betting sites offer a multitude of different options including betting types, various races and differing odds. This article will help you to make the most of your racing bets in order to turn a profit.
The main thing to remember about racing betting, and in fact any kind of sports betting is that it’s a marathon, not a sprint. Sure, you may win a few bets initially, but in order to turn a really decent profit, you have to plan ahead. Gambling veterans know that losing a few bets isn’t the end of the world, in fact, if done right it could actually increase your profit long term.
This ties in with the previous tip. Favourites in a race will almost always have high odds of winning, which equates to a low payout if they do win. This means that backing the favourite won’t actually win you a lot of cash, even if your bet is successful. Backing a less popular runner with higher odds against him will prove much more lucrative should you win. Of course, the chances are higher that he may not, which is where the whole losing isn’t the end of the world bit comes into play.
Keeping records of your bets will often show a pattern that you may not have noticed otherwise. Humans are creatures of habit, whether they know it or not. Reading over your previous results may reveal either a winning or losing streak and the reason behind it, which will, in the long run, improve your betting ability.
This is a question which almost every punter asks at some stage, do betting systems work, and should I be using one? The answer to this is unfortunately not straight forward at all. There are three main views on the topic according to experienced punters:
The thing about systems is that the more people which use them, the less likely they are to work. This all comes down to odds again. A widely used system will cause a horse which may not have been the favourite, to become the favourite. This will push up his odds of winning and in turn lower the profit. Developing your own structure through research and trial and error is the best way to go, but if you hot on a winning one, don’t tell anyone!
Meditation is best described as a discipline centered on turning the mind inward and focusing on a single though, image, object, or feeling. While meditation has long been associated with different cultures and religions as a way of finding inner peace and becoming closer to God, it’s definitely not just for the spiritually inclined.
Continue reading “6 Ways in Which Meditation Improves Wellbeing”
Life is hectic. Between work and family commitments we seldom have time to even pause, let alone simply relax doing the things that we love. This, however, is imperative in order to have not only a healthy mind but a healthy body too.
Our minds and bodies are inextricably linked; if you are stressed or miserable it is reflected in your physique and overall appearance. Here are some basic reasons why this is so important, and how it benefits you holistically.
Stress and hectic lifestyles can create a person who is irritable and twitchy. If we are always on the go, we never give our bodies and minds time to recover and recalibrate. Life is a balance, and thus when you are out of balance it shows. Taking the time to simply breath and pause for a bit will create a sense of calm in our otherwise frenzied existence.
We all have passions. Be it a sport or a past time such as photography. Some people love to read or play computer games such as online blackjack. Taking the time out to do what you love makes you happy. Let’s face it; most of us are not lucky enough to have a job that involves our passion, so every day is pretty much a grind. You NEED to follow your passions and your dreams for your mental health. Even if you do it alone, it will improve your mood and overall sense of well-being.
Humans are social beings. We need the company of others to make us happy. Often that may just be a loved one or even your children, but either way, we need to be in contact with people who love us. If you are not in a happy space, it will come out in how you interact with others. You may be snappy or short-tempered which can lead to fights and falling out.
This, of course, is hugely detrimental to relationships and can even lead to them failing. A happy person makes others happy and subsequently has happy relationships.
Taking the time to get to know yourself will ultimately help you to become a better and more fulfilled person. We all grow and change, but that growth cannot happen if we never take the time to reflect.
Activities such as yoga or meditation are great for spending quality time with yourself, and thus allowing you to bloom and blossom.
In case you are stuck for things to do because you have spent so much time being on the go, here are some ideas and activities to relax and rejuvenate you.
Yoga and meditation: great for simply “being”.
Learn a new Skill: in the vein of improving yourself, learning a new skill such as cooking is a great way to spend your time.
Take Up A Sport: be it horse riding or boxing, taking up a sport is great for the mind and body.
Go To A Spa: even guys like to be pampered. Take the time to just relax and feed your body and soul
Listen to Music: we never simply sit and listen anymore. Don’t use your phone to check social media, just switch off and listen.
Have a bubble bath. Light some candles add some bubbles and just let all the stress leave your body.