Enhance Personal Training and Athletic Performance, Inc. © 2007

ENHANCE NEWSLETTER

March 2008

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3 Important Reasons to Exercise

1. Weight Control: With the allure of fast food everywhere, no wonder America is losing the battle on obesity.   The American Obesity Association states that 64.5 percent of adult Americans (about 127 million) are categorized as being overweight or obese. Each year, obesity causes at least 300,000 deaths in the U.S., and healthcare costs of American adults with obesity amount to approximately $100 billion annually.  Inactivity and poor eating habits will increase the risk of obesity and other health issues.  Exercise decreases the chance of developing health problems and increases the metabolic rate to improve energy and to maintain or lose weight.

2. Muscle and Overall Health:  Sometimes it's tempting, but it's never a good idea to sit down and watch TV all day long.  Inactivity causes muscle to atrophy which is basically the wasting away of a muscle.  Prolonged atrophy in adults can lead to the body being more susceptible to cancer.  Exercise has the reverse effect which causes hypertrophy and making the body and mind stronger.  An appropriate amount of exercise can help one’s immune system fight off the common cold and other diseases.  Also, a lack of exercise increases the risk for type 2 diabetes, because when the body is inactive it becomes more resistant to your bodies own insulin.

3. The Pump:  Exercise reduces the risk of heart disease by increasing the HDLs and lowering the bodies resting heart rate.  Keeping the heart healthy will increase blood supply to muscles which will allow the muscles to use more oxygen, which makes your body more efficient.

Steroids

With the Mitchell report calling national attention to steroid use, we are reminded of the allure and the danger of steroids and performance enhancing drugs.  This is especially dangerous for young athletes who crave victory and are easily influenced.   

About ten years ago, I had my first encounter with steroids while working at a local fitness facility. One night while emptying the garbage in the men’s locker room, a used syringe—apparently from a steroid user—nearly pierced my hand which could have put me at risk for any number of diseases. The close call prompted me to start researching the effects and risks of steroids.  I was quickly convinced to steer clear and to convince others to do the same. For some, however, the numerous risks are ignored for the quick results. 

It is not unknown that many professional athletes have a swaggering ego and a huge hunger to come out on top. It is also no secret that some will stop at virtually nothing to stay at the pro level for as long, and for as much money, as possible.  I was not shocked at all about the recently released Mitchell report, which laid out a laundry list of past and current Major League baseball players who have taken steroids and other performance-enhancing drugs.  As disappointing as many of the disclosures are—including top names like pitcher, Roger Clemens, being on the list of offenders—I hope that the report will help end the everlasting debate over whether taking steroids is worth it.

Aside from the damage that disclosure of steroid use does to a player’s reputation, there is significant damage it inflicts on the body.  For most steroid users I have encountered, the drug did very little except give them bad acne and mood swings.  As long as doctors monitor a patient’s steroid use for medical purposes, they are not dangerous.  The dangerous—and potentially lethal—results come from those who over-use to enhance athletic performance by gaining lean muscle mass.

Our society is filled with gimmicks: “drink this and you can lose 10 pounds…take that pill and you can burn more fat.” Too many people are looking for the quick fix.  What people need is not a miracle drug, but an adjustment in their fitness program to get them past their plateau, or a certain strength level that they seem unable to go beyond.  In my experience training young athletes, I have found a much more effective approach is the same prescription that doctors have been offering for so many years: eat healthy and exercise daily.  Discipline and hard work are the keys to healthily getting the competitive edge.

Epigallocatechin Gallate aka EGCG

EGCG is the new big craze in the antioxidant family because of its numerous health benefits.  EGCG is one of the four catechins which are polyphenolic antioxidant plant metabolites found in many plants and green tea.  EGCG is clamed to be the most powerful antioxidant in this group.  EGCG has many health benefits such as:

•Helping the body feel stronger by boosting energy levels

•Keeping the skin looking younger

•Helping protect the skin from UV radiation-induced damage and tumor formation

•Lowering blood pressure

•Stimulating thermogenesis which plays an important role in weight loss

•Suppressing cravings

•Helping kill leukemia cells by interrupting the communication signals they need to survive

•Helping thin the blood to prevent the formation of blood clots

•Destroying free radicals that can cause health conditions like diabetes, cancer, heart diseases

•Helping improve the ratio of LDL (bad) to HDL (good) cholesterol

www.enhanceptshop.com Products Containing EGCG:

XS Energy Drink                        Concentrated

    Peach Tea Blast                    Fruits & Vegetables

                                              Tablets

Free In-home personal training session, with $100 purchase from www.enhanceptshop.com

(During the month of March, in Chicagoland area only)

Protein/Smoothie Recipes

Honey & Peach Smoothie

This smoothie with help lower cholesterol by attacking the LDLs and is a great source of fiber.

Blend the following ingredients:

•8 oz low-fat vanilla yogurt

•2 Tbsp ground flaxseed

•1 c sliced fresh or frozen peaches

•Honey (to taste)

407 calories, 10.8 g fat (omega-3 fatty acids), 6.8 g fiber, 16.6 g protein, 65 g carbohydrates

In The Car Breakfast Smoothie

Blend the following ingredients:

•1 cup dry measure oatmeal, cooked in water and cooled

•2 scoops vanilla protein

•3 dashes cinnamon

•1/8 c sugar free maple syrup or equivalent amount brown sugar replacement

•1 tbsp chopped almonds (or flaxseed oil or natural peanut butter)

•12 oz. water or low-fat milk

215 calories, 7 g fat, 33g carbs, 7g protein, 7g fiber (Not including milk & protein mix)