Author: Chris Ritchie

Fitter For The Future With Methods Of The PastKettlebells are not a new invention. They have a history with the Russian Military and sports people of the past and present. Kettlebells are so old that no single nation can lay claim to inventing them. A kettlebell is like a cannon ball with a handle and can be found in a selection of weights – from 4kg-48kg. Karls Ernst, born in Berlin 1846, was one of the first kettlebell lifters known by name. During the 1870s as a strong man, he appeared throughout Germany, Estonia and Russia. He became a father-figure…

The only Exercise and Nutritional Program You NeedVisit the exercise/nutritional section of any bookstore or fitness related portal on the web and there will be a multitude of manuals, books, e-books, magazines, e-zines, video and audio items on the topic. Selecting a fitness systemSome programs are designed by experts and supported with scientific findings. Others are created by individuals with deep pockets who have organized their data through experiences. With all the claims floating around, some creditable and others deserving further debate, deciding which exercise/nutritional system to follow becomes confusing to many trainees. In addition to confusion, programs can become…

System for explosive new performance in your favorite sport Plyometrics is the method of training which enhances explosive physical reaction through powerful muscular contractions resulting from rapid eccentric contractions. These muscular contractions are achieved mainly through a variety of jumping, bounding and hopping exercises. This training relies on basic equipment such as steps, hurdles, medicine balls and jump ropes. Whatever plyometric exercise you utilize, the underlying mechanism becomes the sretch shortening cycle: in each exercise, the muscle is rapidly stretched (or “loaded”) before it is contracted. So plyometrics essentially builds elastic strength: a concentric contraction (muscle shortening) needs to occur…

Veteran Army trainer Guy Perreault of Seacoast Boot Camp Tells why Fitness boot camps are a phenomenon. Health clubs have pre-programmed machines with built-in heart monitors, yet old-school options like flipping tires or squat-thrusting at 6 AM has impacted our fitness-frenzied culture like a medicine ball slammed on a mat-another boot camp staple. For 20 years, Guy Perreault was Master Trainer of the First 179th FA Battalion of the US Army, responsible for the fitness of 400 soldiers. He brought the same techniques–straight from the Army’s Physical Fitness Field Manual-to Seacoast Boot Camp, which he launched in 2006 in Portsmouth,…

If you are looking to build muscle, lose fat or just feel a little better physically, it seems like a fairly obvious step to search on the internet for information. Unfortunately, this is where the problems occur. Differentiating between some of the best trainers in the world and the 140-pound “trainer” with a great publicist but no real training experience is not easy. Following advice from the former is a great way to get set for consistent progress for years, whilst the latter will lead to frustration and stagnation. Here are three coaches who can be relied upon for great…

Selenium Food Antioxidants are an important part of anyone’s diet if they have longevity and overall health in mind. It’s not fun reaching old age and then finding out that you can’t enjoy a lifetime of hard work because you are sick. The only way to stay younger and look better is to make sure that your diet includes at least one antioxidant mineral. A good way you can do this is to start taking supplements that have a specific antioxidant mineral like selenium. Taking a supplement will help you even more if your diet is already rich with antioxidants…

There are hundreds of different enzymes but to simplify things we are going to talk about three of them. Amylase This enzyme breaks down carbohydrates (sugars and starch in fruits, vegetables, wheat, dairy etc.) and converts them to sugars or glucose. Digestion with amylase begins in the mouth with saliva when you chew food. This is why you can hear the echo of mother in the back of your mind telling you to chew your food 27 times before swallowing. But she was right. The more you chew, the more amylase you have breaking down carbs for better absorption. Protease…

I have always loved the taste of cinnamon, especially around the holidays! So I was pleasantly surprised to come across some research on this delicious spice from the USDA Research Center in Maryland. When they researched how some foods affected glucose levels in the body, they quite by accident discovered that cinnamon stabilized and even lowered the glucose levels in the body. They were conducting this study with apple pie. They had expected it to spike glucose levels but were baffled when that was not the case. Turns out it was the cinnamon! The studies they did with rats were…

Antioxidants can help prevent various health problems, and incorporating them in daily diet is a good way to stay healthy. It is better to protect our bodies by getting the antioxidants from natural sources rather than by using prescription drugs. There are few best natural antioxidant foods that help you take good care of your health. Best Natural Antioxidant Foods Strawberries, blackberries, blueberries, raspberries and cranberries are one of the best natural antioxidants as they have great healing power and they also smell and taste great. They help prevent heart disease and cancer. Blueberries are known to slow aging, and…

There is always a constant search for best sources of all natural antioxidants, and ways to incorporate them in our daily lives. Antioxidants are extremely important for good health, and natural foods are the best way to get them. These days, markets are flooded with a variety of dietary supplements, but no supplement can beat the antioxidants that are obtained directly from natural foods. All Natural Antioxidants It is easy to judge how much antioxidants you can get from a particular fruit or vegetable based on its color. Brighter colors give more useful vitamins, and berries are one of the…