Saturday, April 30, 2016
Friday, April 29, 2016
Thursday, April 28, 2016
Wednesday, April 27, 2016
Tuesday, April 26, 2016
Monday, April 25, 2016
Sunday, April 24, 2016
BLOG 56 PHYSICALLY DEMANDING JOBS
BLOG 56 PHYSICALLY DEMANDING JOBS
Some jobs are physically demanding and some folks are
practically able to get their workout in while working. It’s a pretty great
deal if you love your job and don’t mind this type of labor. Not everyone has
that 9-5 sitting behind a desk workplace. Personally, you all know I could
exercise all day everyday if the body let me so no doubt I love my job and the
perks of being constantly active (well minus being hungry all the time from it
haha). So in this Blog, let’s take a look at some of the most physically
demanding jobs and I hope your job made the list. We hear so much about
sedentary office jobs sitting behind the computer all day so let’s take a look
at the other side for a change.
Well you will never guess what one article states is the
most physically demanding job…. an astronaut!!!! Working at zero gravity automatically
puts a person at a disadvantage. (http://www.yurtopic.com/money/jobs/physically-demanding-jobs.html).
Of course the life of a soldier requires a lot of demand on the body. We
appreciate all those in the service do for us especially when the job entail that
one has to, “Jump, run, drive, crawl in difficult terrain, and use heavy
and complicated machinery. You have to battle against all sorts of people and
obstacles meant to kill you, so you need to be on your toes and willing to act
whenever is necessary” (http://www.yurtopic.com/money/jobs/physically-demanding-jobs.html). Firefighters
are definitely undergoing physical demands on the job. When they aren’t in an
emergency they are training and working out to be ready: “You need to be fast,
strong, and have quick reflexes. The hoses and equipment used in fire trucks
are bulky and heavy, and the water pressure when you use a hose would send any
normal person flying. For this reason alone, firefighters are required to be
able to bench-press at least 200 pounds. They also need to have perfect sight
and hearing and be trained to stand against extreme conditions, especially
against high temperatures and under pressure” ((http://www.yurtopic.com/money/jobs/physically-demanding-jobs.html).
Other very physical jobs include oil rig workers, fisherman, and
lumberjacks. Not only can these jobs be dangerous, but they require long hours,
lifting very heavy equipment, and working in unpredictable and harmful
conditions. Farmers also have a physically demanding job. Planting, watering,
harvesting, and then doing these tasks all year round puts the body in constant
motion. Construction workers are also using their bodies a lot. Usually
beginning at sunrise, these workers are climbing ladders, working with cement,
lifting heavy items, and being in crouching or uncomfortable positions for long
periods of time. All of these jobs require endurance and mental toughness to
see the job to its end.
Movers have it pretty tough too. Imagine being assigned to
transporting all the furniture and items from people’s homes. Retail and the restaurant
industry jobs also require people to be on their feet for an extended period of
time and depending on their specific job they might have inventory to arrange or
shelf stocking to do. Plus, if the business has stairs one might be going up
and down constantly. Teachers might be on their feet all day too depending on
the subject. We know that standing burns more calories than sitting so ideally
any job that a person is on their feet more than in a chair is more physically
demanding.
Oh I have tried office jobs before. They certainly did not
suit me well. When I was a weight loss counselor and sitting at a desk, I felt
like I needed to walk up and down the hall or get my blood flowing instead of
just sitting. I think that it can be easy to get used to sitting and then one
doesn’t even realize how much time adds up in a chair. Think about the jobs you
have had or have now and compare the physical requirements to the sedentary
ones. This might impact your fitness journey and your decision as to how much
activity before or after work you need to add to your schedule. We always hear
about the desk and technology jobs, so I hope this was enlightening that there
are still some folks out there sweating for their paychecks haha.
Saturday, April 23, 2016
Friday, April 22, 2016
Thursday, April 21, 2016
Wednesday, April 20, 2016
Tuesday, April 19, 2016
Monday, April 18, 2016
Sunday, April 17, 2016
BLOG 55 PRISONERS & EXERCISE
BLOG 55 PRISONERS AND EXERCISE
Prisoners have mastered the art of body weight workouts. We
may not be jealous of the predicament they are in, but they certainly have
found a body transforming way to pass the time. They aren’t featured in
magazines or workout videos, but as a trainer myself, they have made the most of
what they have and used it well. My mother-in-law, Darcel McCullough, helped me
in writing this Blog. She is a LVN nurse at Centinela State Prison in Imperial,
CA.
Darcel is nothing but impressed by what the men at her
prison do to workout. Although she works a men’s prison, I’m sure female
prisoners have developed these routines as well or versions very similar to
them. Clearly, I would be the queen of burpees (totally kidding). She said she
sees the most creative techniques, but when inmates come in they definitely
leave stronger and more fit. Of course they have no loose equipment such as
free weights or weight benches inside or outside the building. There are pull
up bars, dip bars, and push up handles. Centinela has a track and basketball
court as well. Men can also sometimes play horse shoes and baseball. And then
the men have all the time in cells to workout. Darcel said the men use each
other for resistance, meaning they carry each other on their backs when they
run or do squats.
Inmates are given
time outside their cells twice per day by law. However, given a man’s level of
security this might affect his access to the outside. It is a privilege to go
outside. Requirements include being productive on the inside like having a job
or going to school. So if you do neither, you might not get to outside weekends
or a second time per day. Everything is also segregated by race, which is the
protocol the men have developed. If the Mexicans are on the dip bars that means
the Samoans are far away from that area. Other circumstances might include if
you are on administrative watch you get sent to an area similar to a “dog run”
then go right back into the hole. Inside their cells men do sits ups, burpees,
and pushups. The men on the top bunks hang their feet in the bars and do free
fall sit ups.
Exercise goes much beyond the scope of the just the physical
outlet in prisons. To summarize, “Generally exercise is
considered as much more than a way of burning calories and keeping fit in
prison. Exercise provides an outlet for aggression, stress and anger and can
act as a much needed release from the daily routine of prison life. Getting fit
and becoming mentally and physically stronger gives offenders a sense of
achievement, nurtures ambition and instils a desire for progress. Almost all
prisons have gymnasium and outdoor exercise facilities. Sport can also help to
teach valuable life skills such as learning to lose, working as part of a team
and respecting other people” (http://www.fpe.org.uk/health-in-prison/). I think the environment is high in testosterone and it’s
survival of the fittest. Having a strong appearance deters signs of weakness.
Well, don’t
wait until you are incarcerated to start your fitness journey haha. But again,
this is a great example of how exercise can be a productive and positive outlet
for anyone. Positive endorphins are released and finding routine and regularity
with exercise can also provide direction and structure each day. I wanted to
find much more information on the topic, but most research came up with
“prisoner workouts” which were short videos of what ex-incarcerated men have
shown to people what they did while locked up or trying to pitch what
bodyweight exercises are the best based on what prisoners do. Special thank you
to my mother-in-law, Darcel, for helping me write this Blog. I laughed when she
said she has to tell some of the men that doing 500 burpees is what probably
caused their back to hurt.
Saturday, April 16, 2016
Friday, April 15, 2016
Thursday, April 14, 2016
Wednesday, April 13, 2016
Tuesday, April 12, 2016
Monday, April 11, 2016
Sunday, April 10, 2016
BLOG 54 ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER
BLOG 54 ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER
It only felt appropriate to write about this man after all
my recent bodybuilding endeavors. From bodybuilder, to Hollywood star, to
becoming governor of California, the man has claimed his way to fame. So here’s
a look into his life and career, which I found to be both interesting and
entertaining.
Arnold was born in 1947 in Austria. His father was a police
man with an alcohol problem who was also at one time a member of the Nazi
party. As such, childhood wasn’t always a pretty picture for him. His brother and
father seemed to gang up on him often, causing strained relationships and
constant torment. He didn’t even attend his father’s funeral. (http://www.biography.com/people/arnold-schwarzenegger-9476355#early-years).
He went onto join the Austrian army and this time period marked the start of
his bodybuilding interests as seen in the movies he watched.
He actually entered the United States via his bodybuilding endeavors
which occurred in late 1960s. His accolades were quite impressive: “In all, Schwarzenegger would win an unprecedented five Mr.
Universe titles and six Mr. Olympia crowns during his bodybuilding career” (http://www.biography.com/people/arnold-schwarzenegger-9476355#early-years). He
had a true passion for the sport and trained for countless hours a day. He even
took courses in human anatomy and nutrition to develop a deeper understanding
of how to get his body in peak condition. Schwarzenegger stated, "I learned something
from all these years of lifting and training hard.... What I learned was that
we are always stronger than we know” (http://www.notablebiographies.com/news/Ow-Sh/Schwarzenegger-Arnold.html). His nick
name was “Austrian Oak” in the bodybuilding world. He has written a few books
and developed programs to follow guiding one on how to become a bodybuilder.
His programs involve motivational tips and principles of training.
He then ventured into the world of acting. Here are some of
his movies: “In his first film, Hercules in New York (1970),
Schwarzenegger played the lead, but another actor was used to dub his dialog.
Schwarzenegger’s native charm and wit finally came through in the acclaimed documentary Pumping
Iron(1977), which led to his starring role in Conan the Barbarian (1982). He became an
international star with The Terminator (1984)
and appeared in two of its sequels (1991, 2003). His other films include Predator (1987), Kindergarten Cop (1990), Total Recall (1990), True Lies (1994),
and The 6th Day (2000)” (http://www.britannica.com/biography/Arnold-Schwarzenegger)
He became a U.S. citizen in 1983 and
then married Maria Shriver in 1986. The 1990’s were his active Republican
political years. He became our California governor in 2003 and was reelected in
2006. He didn’t have high approval ratings as the economy continued to
struggle. Scandal struck in his marriage leading to a divorce in 2011. He
fathered a child of one of his house staff members. (http://www.britannica.com/biography/Arnold-Schwarzenegger).
In recent years he has been in a few
movies like the Expendables. Austria
has opened a museum in honor of his life’s achievements. He accomplished quite
a bit in his career and it all began with his bodybuilding. It led him on a
path to the U.S. We think of him as the “Terminator” and have watched him on
his rollercoaster of different career paths. I’m sure he will be back haha. I
have to give it to him, he certainly took the bodybuilding world by storm and
set the tone for this area of fitness in a huge way.
Saturday, April 9, 2016
Friday, April 8, 2016
Thursday, April 7, 2016
Wednesday, April 6, 2016
Tuesday, April 5, 2016
Monday, April 4, 2016
Sunday, April 3, 2016
BLOG 53 RESTAURANT FOOD
BLOG 53 RESTAURANT
FOOD
Eating out is a challenging component on our fitness
journeys. Restaurants are convenient, quick, no clean up, and know exactly what
you like to lure you in. We have the power to make healthier choices,
restaurants are showing calories for the meals, and of course some chains are
better options than others, but ultimately we are not controlling the
preparation and what is truly being put on our plates. So just for fun, let’s
take a look at some of the calorie bombs restaurants have to offer, and hope
you haven’t ordered them before haha.
You might think Red Lobster is a great low calorie option.
Seafood is healthy right?? Think again…. “Red
Lobster itself just had the dubious honor of being the “winner” of the 2015 Xtreme Eating Awards, held yearly by the Center for Science in the
Public Interest (CSPI) to highlight the chain restaurant menu items with the
highest calorie, saturated and trans fat, sodium, and added sugar counts. Head
to the Lobster for a Create Your Own Combination meal—with a Traditional
Lobsterita to drink, watch—and you could down 3,600 cals in one sitting” (http://news.health.com/2015/06/03/the-9-highest-calorie-meals-at-chain-restaurants/). My husband raves about their cheese rolls too
yikes. IHOP’s Chorizo Fiesta Omelet has 121 grams of fat, 1,990 calories, and
4,840 grams of sodium. The Chicken Fried
Steak and Eggs there has 1760 calories. Outback Steakhouse’s Herb Prime Rib has
2,404 calories, 169 grams of fat, and 35 grams of sugar, and 3.565 grams of
sodium. Needless to say the Cheesecake Factory had a number of super high
calorie menu dishes. (http://news.health.com/2015/06/03/the-9-highest-calorie-meals-at-chain-restaurants/).
Let’s keep going. Burger
King’s Triple Whopper has 1.020 calories. Quizno’s large Vegetable Delux Sandwich
has 1,060 calories. Adding cheese or avocado on adds to this number. A Cinnabun
has about 1, 080 calories. Subway’s Chicken, Bacon, and Ranch has 1,160
calories. Most of the macaroni and cheese options at restaurants had nearly
2,000 calories. Chili’s Baby Back Ribs full rack with the fries and cinnamon
apples has 2,330 calories. (http://www.businessinsider.com/17-highest-calorie-chain-restaurant-items-2013-5#were-a-fast-food-nation-18).
So we opt for the salad to try
to be better right?? Well… that doesn’t always fair well on the calorie count my
friends. Macaroni’s Grill’s Parmesan-crusted Chicken Salad has 880 calories and
16 grams of fat. May as well get pasta. Just getting a salad at Chipotle with
chicken, black beans, red salsa, cheese, and the vinaigrette can total up to
720 calories and 41 grams of fat. PF Chang’s chicken chopped salad has 720 calories
and 48 grams of fat. Taco Bell’s Fiesta Taco Salad has 770 calories and 42
grams of fat. The beef tacos are better for you. Panera’s salads are around 700
calories as well. California Pizza Kitchen and of course the Cheesecake Factory
have really high calorie salads as well. (http://www.eatthis.com/19-salads-worse-than-whopper).
Shoot we may as well become
hermit crabs, but we have to live life. The occasionally eating out won’t hinder
us greatly, but many folks eat out 3 or more times per week. Being in control
is critical and that’s why I always encourage meal planning so that YOU know
what is being put in every bite of your dish. As you can see, having just one
of these meals is quite damaging to your daily intake. And of course dinner is
the popular restaurant hour, so you have already had most of your calories only
to add on a major portion at the end of the day. The number of calories then
soar through the roof for that day. We keep these chains in business, but
remember one choice at a time, we need to stay on course as best as possible.
Plan ahead, eat out occasionally, and don’t make a habit of finishing every
morsel on your plate.
Saturday, April 2, 2016
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