Now What? I HAVE REACHED A FITNESS PLATEAU by Thunder aka Will Smith

I think I reached a Fitness Plateau! What causes those Fitness Plateaus and How to Overcome those Plateaus.  Well, ever wonder if your diet and/or exercise program could be working better than it is?  Maybe you should be eating fewer calories or less fat.  Maybe you should be exercising longer and/or harder.  Or maybe, there is a new supplement or product on the market that will yield the exact results you are looking for.  Now, if you could just find it.

If you’ve ever hit a fitness plateau, or think you have, there is no need to worry, you are not alone.  In fact, if you ask anyone who has been exercising for any length of time, they will probably tell you that fitness plateaus are inevitable and are perhaps the single most reason why people turn to a “Quick Fix” mindset or just abandon their efforts altogether.  Nevertheless, it is important to understand the difference between a “true” fitness plateau and the body’s intermittent biological adaptations.  Look at it this way, the human body is very much like an automobile, if you want to increase its power and efficiency, you need to modify the engine.  This may mean increasing the size of the engine and its fuel burning capabilities.  Similarly, this would be the same as increasing your lean muscle tissue and the fat burning enzymes contained within.

Your next question may be, how will I know if I’m increasing my body’s lean muscle tissue and fat burning enzymes effectively?  Simple, all you need to do is pay attention to your energy, strength and concentration levels throughout the day and pay attention to how soundly you sleep throughout the night.  Consistent levels of energy, strength and concentration, combined with a lack of sugar and food cravings, are a direct indication that your blood sugar is being properly regulated.  When this happens, your body begins to RE-Program itself to be fit and lean for the rest of your life.  If on the other hand, you find yourself skipping breakfast, snacking late in the evening, craving sugary foods and/or feeling tired and lethargic before, during and/or after exercise, your blood sugar is most likely irregular.  Under these conditions, it is probable that your body is being programmed to store fat efficiently while using various protein structures of the body as an energy source to fuel the brain and nervous system.  Therefore, if you seriously aspire to achieve and maintain optimal levels of energy, strength and concentration throughout the day, while increasing muscle tone and eliminating food and sugar cravings, there is only ONE alternative.

You must learn and apply the Six Elements of Fitness.  I will talk about that next time.

I can be reached at gladiator@intrafitt.com or call us at 704-781-0400.  Our Fit and Lean Forever Program is only $199.  Use coupon code finallyfit for discount.  I guarantee you results.  Look forward to hearing from you.  http://www.intrafitt.com/programsproducts.aspx?category=180

In health and honor,
Will Smith aka Thunder of the American Gladiators

 

Do You Know Your Fat Burning Zone?

I am continually asked by my clients “How do I know if I am burning fat?” Well, that is why I suggest wearing a heart rate monitor. It is the key to optimum efficiency during a cardiovascular exercise. The objective is to work smarter not harder. Think of a heart rate monitor as a tachometer (a device that measures RPM) for the body. For example, the speedometer in your car tells you how fast you are moving but does not reflect how hard the engine is working. The tachometer on the other hand, tells you exactly how fast the engine is turning at any given speed RPM (Revolutions Per Minute). The same is true with a heart rate monitor. Although it does not tell you how fast you are walking or running, it does indicate how fast your heart is beating BPM (Beats Per Minute).

In order for fat to burn efficiently once it enters the muscles, a constant and steady supply of oxygen must be present at all times. If the heart rate and/or level of exercise intensity is too high, the muscles will tend to rely more heavily on sugar instead of fat due to a lack of oxygen (also known as oxygen debt). If on the other hand the heart rate and/or corresponding level of exercise intensity is too low, your will most likely make inefficient use of your time, slow the rate of fat loss and decelerate the development of intra-muscular changes needed to “Reprogram” the body to be fit and lean.

How do we know how fast our heart should be beating while exercising?
The most efficient way to determine your heart rate is to take your age and subtract it from 220. Once that is determined you can then use the Fat Burning Formula of exercising between 60% – 75% of your maximum heart rate. For instance: A 45 year old person (just starting an exercise program) the appropriate target heart rate during exercise should be 220 – 45(age) = 175 Maximum Heart Rate …175 X 60% = 105. 105 would be the Target Heart Rate During Exercise. Of course we then would discuss the FITT factor which is proper Frequency, Intensity, Time & Type of exercise.

For any questions, I can be reached at http://www.intrafitt.com
gladiator@intrafitt.com

In health & honor,
William Smith aka/Thunder of the American Gladiators

Check out all our nutrition programs and on line certifications at http://www.intrafitt.com