Does Non-Celiac Gluten Intolerance Actually Exist?

Does Non-Celiac Gluten Intolerance Actually Exist?
Individuals with Celiac disease are intolerant to gluten. However, cutting out dietary gluten is also suggested to many suffering from inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), which is often associated with Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn’s disease. On top of that, many self diagnose themselves with gluten intolerance and claim a wide range of health benefits to a gluten-free diet. A recent study has shown that for those with non-Celiac gluten sensitivity (NCGS), the gluten itself might not be to blame for GI troubles. The study comes Peter Gibson of Monash University and the results were published in the journal Gastroenterology.  read more

TOPFIT Daily Activities --- Heavy Bag and a Lower Table Rock Run
I got my day off to an early start with a 30 min heavy bag workout before my first session, and later I headed out to Lower Table Rock for a good run.

~Feelin' Alive!~

A Slacker’s Guide to Losing Weight Without Trying

A Slacker’s Guide to Losing Weight Without Trying
If the idea of counting calories or following a strict diet just makes you want to reach for a candy bar, then you'll love these expert-approved ways to drop pounds.
Meticulous meal planning. Counting every calorie you consume. Spending an entire weekend cooking healthy meals for the following week. Finding even more time to exercise. Sure, these weight-loss strategies work, but they can be awfully time consuming. Enter our slacker’s guide to weight loss. The following 16 no-effort tweaks can be applied to your current routine instantly.  read more

TOPFIT says: Instead of playing video games to distract yourself from thinking about food, do something active like going for a walk, or some other form of exercise.  Sedentary "activities" seem rather counter-productive to me.

TOPFIT Daily Activities --- Upper Table Rock Run and Deadlifts
I picked up the volume and intensity a bit today and spent some time running on Upper Table Rock, followed by about 30 mins of standard and sumo deadlifts.

~Feelin' Alive!~

TOPFIT Daily Activities Review

Sometimes you just need to really listen to your body and have a lighter week of activity....an active recovery week.  So, even though I still did something every day, I kept the volume and intensity down.  In addition to the usual ADLs, I made time for:

3 Table Rock hikes
1 Jacksonville Forest Park hike
1 BB & DB chest workout
1 bodyweight back workout
1 heavy bag workout

What did you do for your health and fitness this past week?

~No Challenge, No Change~

6 Not-so-healthy Health Foods

6 Not-so-healthy Health Foods
If you've been fooled into thinking that a food was healthy only to later learn that it isn't quite as good as you thought, then you’re not alone. We hear this same complaint from our clients all the time. Here, we share a few foods to look out for so that the wool doesn't get pulled over your eyes!  read more

TOPFIT says:  There is, however, a serious controversy surrounding quinoa.  If you're the type that likes to "think globally", do a Google search to learn more.

TOPFIT Daily Activities --- Back Workout
I concluded my low volume and intensity week of training with a few hours of play time with the grandkids and a workout of chinups, susp. pullups, susp. rear delt flyes, and hanging scapular depression/retraction.
I'll hopefully spend next week working back up to the usual higher intensity and volume workouts.

~Feelin' Alive!~

Fitness linked to lower death risk in older men

Fitness linked to lower death risk in older men
No matter what age a man is, cardiovascular fitness may buy him more years of life, according to a new U.S. study of men over 70 with high blood pressure.  read more

TOPFIT Daily Activities --- Heavy Bag
Still keeping things on the light side.  Other than general ADLs I only made time for a 30 minute heavy bag workout.  One more day of light activity and I should be ready to start hitting it hard again.

~Feelin' Alive!~

How Food Companies Court Nutrition Educators With Junk Food

How Food Companies Court Nutrition Educators With Junk Food
When hundreds of California nutritionists and dietitians gathered for their annual conference in April, their Friday lunch was a bacon ranch salad, chocolate chip cookies and a pink yogurt parfait, all courtesy of McDonald's.  read more

TOPFIT Daily Activities --- Lower Table Rock Hike
In keeping with my lower volume and intensity week, I again avoided anything too strenuous.  But, I still needed some activity, so I spent some time hiking Lower Table Rock.  I even had a snake encounter.....just not a rattler :(

~Feelin' Alive!~

Frugal health and fitness tips for travelers

Frugal health and fitness tips for travelers
I'm all for enjoying travel to its fullest, but all the down time in cars and on planes and buses can throw even the most disciplined workout schedule into disarray. That's when attention to calories and consciously including more physical activity in your itinerary can really pay off in spades. Can't afford a higher-end hotel with a large fitness facility? No worries. You still have a variety of options at your disposal.  read more

TOPFIT Daily Activities --- Chest Workout
I'm continuing a short period of lower volume and intensity in an effort to let my body recover from a few weeks of higher levels of activity.  In addition to some basic gardening chores, I made time for a moderate intensity workout of BB bench presses, DB flye/press supersets, and ring pushups.

~Feelin' Alive!~