Archive for the ‘Strength Training for Osteoporosis Prevention’ Category

• Make an Exercise Resolution & Make it a Lifestyle!

  Date: 2012.01.04 | Category: Fitness & Health, Healthy Weight, Osteoporosis, Strength Training for Osteoporosis Prevention, Strength Training for Women, Weight-bearing exercise | Response: 2

  

  My daughter's Christmas gift to me...hand painted!

  Everyone seems to like to be motivated, especially when they’re making New Year’s Resolutions, to exercise more. The most common reason for embarking on an exercise program is to lose weight. However, I have found it very interesting that keeping bones strong is a big motivator for many women to make strength training and cardiovascular (heart healthy) exercise a permanent part of their lifestyle.

  Besides being great for the bones, here are 10 more reasons to strength train:

  1. Increase lean body mass (muscle) quickly, in only 2 strength training sessions per week.
  2. Fat loss! With more muscle, your cardiovascular and strength workouts will be more intense, making them a better calorie burning workout.
  3. Increases glucose uptake, reducing the risk of type 2 diabetes.
  4. Great for your heart! Decreases resting blood pressure, reducing the risk of heart disease and stroke.
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• Twice-a-week strength training best for over-50 group

  Date: 2011.10.25 | Category: Fitness & Health, Nutrition, Osteoporosis, Strength Training for Osteoporosis Prevention, Strength Training for Women, Weight-bearing exercise | Response: 5

  

  Colleen, Sue, Gerry, & Moni enjoying biceps curls!

  I headed up to Fargo, ND this month for the Northland chapter meeting of the American College of Sports Medicine on “Resistance (Strength) Training Across the Lifespan”.  The 10 hour drive was worth it to hear the top people in the field of exercise science speak. Of course, the Strength Training for Older Adults session was my favorite, as well as the session on recovery foods led by a professor of nutrition. I was pleased to see slide after slide of research confirming the information in my Nutrient Timing blog post. Keep drinking those yummy smoothies!

  Here’s some great news about getting the right “dose” of strength training per week. Two times a week is not only enough strength training, but research has shown that twice weekly can actually be better than three days a week.

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• Q & A: What exercises should we do and when?

  Date: 2011.10.07 | Category: Osteoporosis, Strength Training for Osteoporosis Prevention, Strength Training for Women, Weight-bearing exercise | Response: 0

  

  Back Extension for strong backs, balance, & coordination

  The easy question is when to strength train! Anytime that is convenient for you is the best time to strength train. Do it  2-3 times a week to build muscle and neural-muscular connections to help you stay on your feet with better balance and coordination, on non-consecutive days. At the very least, be out of your chair & on your feet for a minimum of 4 hours a day. If you have a desk job, stand up often and maybe even put that computer at standing level. I always want to get a plug in for doing at least 150 minutes of cardiovascular exercise per week with a good portion of it being weight-bearing exercise, meaning on your feet! If swimming is your favorite cardiovascular exercise, then make doubly sure that you  strength train for the nice bone-building pull that it puts on bones.

  What exercises to do is a bit more complex, in terms of strength training.

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• Nutrient Timing: It’s not just WHAT you eat, but WHEN you eat it!

  Date: 2011.09.02 | Category: Fitness & Health, Healthy Weight, Strength Training for Osteoporosis Prevention | Response: 4

  

  Peaches & yogurt, a good carb & protein combo!

  Here’s an amazing statement:  “The effectiveness of any protein product is largely dependent on when you take it.”-Len Kravitz, sports scientist from the University of New Mexico. I want you to know that I’m quite conservative when it comes to nutrition, but these well-researched findings from the sports medicine world are very convincing!!! What if you only had to tweak your diet a little to boost your muscle growth and enhance recovery from all that good strength training for strong muscles & bones that you’re doing? Give it a try! Here’s the short version on nutrient timing.

  General meal guidelines: Please, make sure that you aren’t hungry or too full when you strength train! The Mayo Clinic gives these guidelines for meal sizes prior to exercising:

  • Eat large meals at least 3-4 hours before exercise
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