REAL WORKOUTS

Fuel for Thought

Filler’ Up

Food energy or calories are digested and either utilized or stored by the body.  Basically, consume more calories than you expend equals weight gain and, vice versa, expend more calories than you consume equals weight loss.  Pretty simple.  But the human body is more complex than that. Would you put low grade gasoline in a high performance race car?  I suppose you could, but would you get the same performance from it?  Probably not.  If you continue this practice, even if the chassis and body are maintained beautifully, eventually that high performance engine will clog up, fry up and well, die. Similarly, even with the use of the proper fuel, but simply using the car to putter around town will also cause problems to the quality of its intended performance. Both diet and exercise are important to the efficient operation of your body.

High Performance Body

Yes, your body is a high performance machine.    Maybe you’re a SUV, not a high performance race car.  You wouldn’t take the race car out in a blizzard.  You wouldn’t train and eat like a linebacker if you wanted to improve your tennis game.  Age, genetics, experience, previous injuries, health issues and your personal preference of activities determine the level you should be training and fueling at.  Your peak level may not be that of the guy next to you on the treadmill.  You may never have the desire to run a marathon or bench press your own weight but you should always present yourself with a challenge and strive for your personal best. 

Tune Ups and Maintenance

Once you’ve committed to a lifestyle change of healthy eating and exercise and have been consistent with it, you’ll notice the improvements in your strength, energy, appearance and capabilities.  Expect to plateau.  Expect to get bored.  Expect to stagnate.  Your body adapts quickly and needs a change.  You’ve improved the machine, now it’s time to improve the routine.  Try a new form of cardio, try some new resistance exercises or change the pattern of your resistance exercise:  split your routine, try using heavier weights and lower reps or the reverse.  The possibilities are endless.  Re-evaluate your goals and tune them up to meet your new needs.

 

Written by:  Lynne Campbell, cpt

 

                                                                                                                    

E-mail:  lynne@realpeople-realfitness.com

LYNNE CAMPBELL, CPT