Why Women Get Poor Fitness Results Part One

The following is a list of observations from decades of training both men and women. Those with profound health issues and world champion athletes. The differences between sexes are profound, but there exists much need for Madison Avenue and 'coffee talk anecdote' to make fitness appear unfairly difficult for women. This is not true. The same rules apply to both sexes. The journey may be different, but the outcomes are largely decided by consistent, focused, behavior. Let me uncover some falsehoods and myths to illuminate areas of ignorance.

1. "I've tried everything and nothing works". Well amazingly we have found the first human that defies physics. The key word is 'try'. They lack consistency and quite. Fat loss and fitness works for everyone. Calories are just measurements of energy. Don't moralize them. They are neither good nor bad,.. they just are.

2. "I need to tighten the flab". There is no such thing as flab. There is muscle, fat and skin. You can flex muscle, but you can't flex fat or skin. The process is to adopt a lifestyle of optimal calories and activity to attain your goal weight. Resistance training will keep your bones and muscles strong. If you above your target weight,.. you will have body fat combined with overstretched skin hanging. This can be surgically removed.

3. "I'm always hungry, I like to eat". I like to eat too, but I don't medicate myself with food. The problem is that women tend to under eat protein. That is a problem.
As we age, we lose our muscles and it makes us act and move like the elderly. A good rule of thumb is one gram of protein for every pound of your target body weight. If you want to weigh 120 pounds, then that would indicate eating 120 grams of protein per day. In addition to the health benefits, protein is by far the most satiating of the macronutrients. You will not be, "hungry all the time".

4. "The girl at the gym told me to work my core to get a flat stomach".
The "core" is an overused term since the 90's. It involves all of the anti extension, anti flexion and anti rotation muscles of the torso. This is a whole article in and of itself. However, NO amount of direct exercise, 'burns away' fat on the tummy. We knew this in the sixties, but if you didn't know this, then you are the last person on earth to get that news.

5. "I don't want to lift weights, I'll get muscular and look like those girls in the magazines and internet". Amazing. Amazing. So let's get this straight. You jump into the athletic realm and with little or no effort, will exceed results that others have slaved over for years? One ballet lesson and you are shipped off to the Royal Ballet of London? A jog around the block and you are capable of world record times in the 100 meter dash? So by following a program of resistance training to strengthen bones, improve lipid levels, reduce blood pressure, etc. you will be instantly kidnapped and be on a movie poster with Sly, Arnold and gang for Expendables 3? How remarkable and arrogant. Women by far have the most to gain by a sound resistance training program. They can improve their looks and health with a small investment in time. They can maintain their weight and height and figure as well.

This is just a warm up. Stay tuned for Part Two.

Functional Yoga and Beyond

Functional Yoga and it's companion DVD, "Recharge 3 Pack", are what I refer to as 'bridge' material. The instructor is Brian Friedman of Winter Garden Yoga. [Winter Garden is a town in central Florida]. What Brian has done is to minimize some of the esoteric areas of yoga without sanitizing the art. He's make yoga and science and making the method palatable for the average person. That's why I refer to it as 'bridge' material. For some, the eastern mysticism of yoga might be a turn off and they won't enjoy the benefits of Brian's considerable knowledge.

Brian's presentation in a beautiful studio with great camera work is a welcome sight since excessive production values are often used to pump up a celebrity who is not an instructor. However, Brian's strength is to convey knowledge in a relaxed and articulate manner. This DVD would serve as an excellent tool to fortify less seasoned instructors or serve as an introduction to newbies.

The sister DVD is a three pack of bite sized workouts. One is beginners yoga, then two on joint mobility. This product renders the excuse of, "I don't have time!" as a moot point. They are just what the doctor ordered in terms of minimal time and maximum results. Brian also has an Ebook to back up his DVD package for those who love ebooks and prefer a back up to dvds.

These packages are professional filmed, photographed and packaged. The reference to 'bridge', once again is for someones first taste of yoga or for someone formally uncomfortable with doing yoga. This material is a welcome relief in a field of often vaporous promises.

You can go to Brian's store at http://shop.wintergardenyoga.com/
and check them out.