Unload Those Extra Quarantine Pounds!
A client asked me the other day if I knew what the 19 in Covid 19 stood for. Before I could reply, he informed me that it represents the number of pounds the average guy packed on during the last two months of lockdown. If there is any credence to this, then it is no laughing matter. Obesity, high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes are conditions that can weaken the immune system and make anyone more susceptible to this virus.
Besides, with the beaches and pools opening to the public it might be good to take matters in hand and unload those unsightly pounds beginning today!
There is no magic elixir for fat loss. A sensible diet, eating smaller meals spaced throughout the day, consistent exercise, adequate hydration and getting proper sleep all play a pivotal role in how much fat your body stores. As far as supplementation goes, it has been shown that green tea burns fat. Caffeine-containing botanicals including coffee, guarana, yerba mate, and kola nut seem to stimulate fat loss by revving up your metabolism and decreasing your appetite.
Vitamin C is great for bolstering your immune system and it has been shown to expedite fat loss. The closer you come to meeting the daily recommended intakes for Vitamin C, the less likely it is that your body will store fat. Vitamin C helps you to burn fat and calories during moderate to high intensity exercise. Because exercise increases your normal requirements for Vitamin C, people with marginal Vitamin C stores should aim for several times the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA).
Calcium is the most abundant element in your body. Calcium and Vitamin D are not only essential to healthy bones and teeth, they may help you keep a trim middle as well. While a lot of dieters shun dairy products (perfect sources of calcium and Vitamin D), an ever- increasing body of research suggests that dairy consumption in moderation can streamline your midsection. Although the exact mechanisms behind how calcium and Vitamin D help burn fat are still under investigation, it is believed that introducing these nutrients into a diet low in calcium improves fat metabolism and decreases fat production.
Fish oil has been shown to benefit cardio- vascular health by lowering your LDL (bad cholesterol) and raising your HDL (good cholesterol). In addition, fish oil cuts body fat. Omega-3 rich fish oil along with moderate exercise has been shown to reduce sugar cravings. It is also believed that fish oil may increase the activity of a protein known as PPAR which decreases the amounts of glucose and insulin stored in your blood.
If ever there was a miracle substance to help burn fat and fight aging, it would have to be glutamine. This important amino acid promotes the assimilation of nutrients, regulates protein synthesis, stimulates growth hormone production and enhances the immune system. Glutamine supplementation after an intense workout helps recovery, eliminates delayed onset of muscle soreness and helps you to continue to burn fat long after you leave the gym.
Tom Bonanti is a certified personal trainer and massage therapist (MA#40288) with his own one on one facility Pumpnincgym.com in Ft. Lauderdale. Contact trainertomb@aol.com with questions or to set up an appointment today!
