Are butter, cheese and meat that bad?

Are butter, cheese and meat that bad?
Low-fat diet not as healthy as previously thought
"When the dietary recommendations came out in 1961 saying that saturated fat causes heart disease, that was based on total cholesterol," Teicholz said. "But our understanding of heart disease has evolved enormously."  read more

TOPFIT Daily Activities --- Leg Workout
After a few hours of active time with Hailey and Mason, I made time for a workout of DB stationary squats, DB SLDLs, and DB single leg calf raises.

~Feelin' Alive!~

Does High-Impact Exercise Strengthen Bones?

Does High-Impact Exercise Strengthen Bones?
You have probably heard that physical activity is important for building and maintaining strong bones. Exercise may help with the formation of bones, improving your bone mineral density (BMD). Previous research has found that putting some physical stress on your bones helps increase bone mass and prevent bone mass loss as you age, but what type of exercise is best for boosting bone health? How much force is needed to actually induce bone growth?  read more

TOPFIT Daily Activities --- Grizzly Peak
A friend and I got out this afternoon for a fantastic hike and run on Grizzly Peak.  It was great getting out of the valley heat, and the wildflowers put on quite a show.

Just a few days too late to see these Mission Bell Fritillaria in their full glory.

~Feelin' Alive!~

What Is Muscle Atrophy and How Can You Prevent It?

What Is Muscle Atrophy and How Can You Prevent It?
Strength training isn't a sometimes type of thing; rather, it's an integrated part of life. Failing to lift on a consistent basis can lead to muscle deterioration, which is also referred to as "atrophy."   read more

TOPFIT Daily Activities --- Upper Table Rock Run and a Delt/Bi/Tri Workout
After taking care of business earlier in the day, I headed out into the heat of the afternoon sun for a run on Upper Table Rock.  Later, in the evening, I did a delt/bi/tri workout......I started with a triset of DB shoulder presses, DB curls and cable pressdowns, and followed that with a suspension trainer triset of rear delt flyes, overhead tricep extensions and bicep curls.

~Feelin' Alive!~

The One Exercise That Just Might Change Your Running Forever

The One Exercise That Just Might Change Your Running Forever
What if all it took to improve your running immeasurably was a few minutes marching in place?
In a 2011 New York Times Magazine feature, Christopher McDougall, author of Born to Run: A Hidden Tribe, Super Athletes and the Greatest Race the World Has Never Seen experimented with just that.
"I was leafing through the back of an out-of-print book, a collection of runners' biographies called 'The Five Kings of Distance,' when I came across a three-page essay from 1908 titled 'W. G. George's Own Account From the 100-Up Exercise,'" he writes. "According to legend, this single drill turned a 16 year old with almost no running experience into the foremost racer of his day."  read more

TOPFIT Daily Activities --- Back Workout and Heavy Bag
I tried to take advantage of my free time again today and managed to do a workout of weighted chinups, DB rows, bodyweight pullups, and hanging scapular depression/retraction.  Later I spent 30 mins on the heavy bag.

~Feelin' Alive!~

How to avoid weight gain as you age

How to avoid weight gain as you age
Chances are you've heard people say that their metabolism slowed down and fat started to accumulate after they turned 40. The clear inference here being that this is just part of aging, something we can't avoid, something that is inevitable and as predictable as the sun rising each day.
This simply is not true.
There is no biological reason for adults to get fatter as they grow older. Increases in body fat are more a function of activity and lean muscle mass than age.  read more

TOPFIT Daily Activities --- Lower Table Rock Run and a Chest Workout
I took advantage of every bit of free time today and had a fantastically active day.  I started with a good run on Lower Table Rock, then I finally got the lawn mowed (long overdue) and finished with a workout of BB bench presses and DB flyes......as an afterthought, I threw in a few sets of pushups.

~Feelin' Alive!~

The Paradox of Obesity and Produce

The Paradox of Obesity and Produce
People have been eating more fruits and vegetables as the obesity epidemic has worsened. They've been eating more of everything else, too.  read more

TOPFIT Daily Activities --- Upper Table Rock Run
I got my day off to a fantastic start with an Upper Table Rock run.  Unfortunately, things kind of went downhill after that.......half way home, I got a flat tire, and that set me back quite a bit for the day.  So, once again, life conspired against me getting to some heavy lifting again......but there's always tomorrow!

~Feelin' Alive!~

Yogurts With More Sugar Than A Twinkie

Yogurts With More Sugar Than A Twinkie
We all like to think of yogurt as a healthy breakfast, but as it turns out, many of the most popular yogurt brands have more sugar than a junk food you'd never consider eating.
The American Heart Association recommends that men eat no more than 36 grams of sugar per day, and women no more than 20. One Twinkie makes a big dent in that recommended daily max, packing 19 grams of the sweet stuff, Time reported. Many of the top-selling yogurts have even more.  read more

   

TOPFIT Daily Activities --- Lower Table Rock Run
After morning sessions, I made time for a good run on Lower Table Rock before it got too hot.  I had intended on doing some heavy lifting later in the evening, but life conspired against me and I never got to it.

~Feelin' Alive!~