Studying Nutrition Online Can Help Your Personal Health More Than You Know by Tamara Wysell

The Freshmen Fifteen

It started for me during my first year of college, where I began to notice that I was actually gaining weight. It’s a term many people referred to as the “Freshmen Fifteen”, yet I never thought it would actually catch up with me. In high school, I was always the fit, athletic one, who never had to worry about my weight or diet. I could eat as much as I wanted, and never gain a pound. Well after that first year of college, I began to notice significant change in my body, as did many others, and finally realized it was all catching up to me, and that that I too would have to watch what I ate. And to this day, just as many others, I find myself constantly struggling with exercise and diet.

The Challenge of a Diet

Most average Americans, try their best to maintain a healthy diet, however probably only put half of their hearts and souls into it. Eating is one of the great joys of life, and it is extremely difficult to constantly control it. The trick is to be able to say “No” or “That’s Enough”, especially when temptation is at its highest. There are many diets and programs in mediating what you eat. It is generally understood that the basic rules are to maintain a well-balanced intake of quality and quantity. Yet along with this comes a complex understanding of the principles of nutrition.

The Challenge of Exercise

There are some, such as myself, who enjoy sports and fitness, and find it not only as a way to remain healthy, but also a way to relieve stress. I have recently begun a new workout program known as P90x. It’s a video workout that can be done in the comfort of your living room. All that is really needed is an elastic band, and some space in your house. The program is multi-faceted, and targets both cardio and muscle toning simultaneously. Each day it focuses on a different area; chest, arms, shoulders, legs, back, and always brings cardio into the mix. The concept is called “Muscle Confusion”. I highly recommend the program for its effective workout and especially for its convenience. However just as any other workout, it takes time and commitment.

The Importance of Nutrition

So after nearly two months of commitment to this exercise program, I have seen incredible results, yet still see much room for improvement, most notably in my mid-section. I have ultimately come to realize that nutrition is the source of a healthy lifestyle. Without proper nutrition there can be no healthy body. It is definitely something worth investing some knowledge into. There are many books, online schools, and sources for learning about good nutrition. The best online nutrition schools can provide a strong understanding of a healthy lifestyle. Nutrition is a key component in maintaining a healthy lifestyle, and is something that could either be quite tedious, or could be a way of life.
 

Point of Control

Happy Holidays to All!

So I have to tell all of you that I am totally geeked to be a Pilates Trainer right now! After much blood, sweat and tears about growing the studio over the last few years I was able to finally take a vacation last month (the first in about 6 or 7 years). I think it did some good because after I returned a bunch of new mat class clients jumped on the Pilates bandwagon. It is so weird to have a class full of new people in December!

Since this boom of new people, I thought I'd go ahead and clarify the infamous phrase that I use a thousand times a day.....your point of control. Again, I've taken for granted that my "normal" verbage isn't so normal to my newbies. Take for example the exercise "the hundreds". After I have the client prepare the legs up to the ceiling I usually give the cue "if you are able to advance this exercise, please lower your legs to your point of control". Huh? What's the mean? What's my point of control?

I generally use the imprinted spine when the legs are up in the air (a gently flattened back and pelvis). I tell the client that their "point of control" means to lower the legs down to just that point before you loose that gentle flatness and the back wants to arch and take over the movement. Core work = ab work. Not back strain work. Someones point of control could be lowering the legs a few inches to maybe 45 degrees towards the floor. Since everyone's spine and pelvis sits differently and everyone's flexibility and strength is different, each client will have a different point of control. My super duper lordotic, sway back, duck booty doesn't allow me to do lower my legs to far down in my "hundreds" position when doing matwork. I'm the couple of inches down girl. When I actually get a chance to practice what I preach (Pilates 2-3 times a week) I can get those legs lower to the floor. Until that day, the higher the legs stay to the ceiling the easier it is to keep it in the abs and protect the back from pain. This "point of control" concept can apply to exercises like the hundreds, double leg stretch, double straight leg stretch and bicycle.

Remember, Pilates is all about core strength and in order to achieve this all the exercises should be executed with precision and accuracy. It's not about competing with your mat class neighbor.....even though those advanced clients are quite impressive!