Turn it Up...

When it comes to exercise, QUALITY always beats QUANTITY. Somewhere along the line in the fitness community someone decided that an hour was the standard duration of time for a workout. The best way to judge the effectiveness of a workout is to analyze the intensity level of every minute of that workout. If you can burn twice the amount of calories per minute in a workout then you can reduce the duration of a session by half and still end up with the same (and actually even better) results.

Tip: Focus on the intensity of your workout instead of wasting valuable training time socializing or watching TV...Unless that is your GOAL?

Working on Empty

Exercising on an empty stomach reduces the amount of calories the body can burn during a specific workout. Without food, the body is lacking the energy it needs to “power” through a high intensity workout. This ultimately results in a less effective workout and diminished results. Ideally, you should consume a slow digesting carbohydrate (such as oatmeal or fruits) and some lean protein about 2 hrs before your workout.

Pound for Pound...

A pound of muscle and a pound of fat are both exactly the same weight, ONE pound. Muscle has a higher density than fat, so a pound of muscle takes up a lot less space than a pound of fat. It is similar to comparing cement to cotton candy. One would need buckets of cotton candy to equal one pound where as with cement it would only take a cup or two. As a result, some individuals who are performing an effective resistance training regimen might see a reduction in inches but not such a drastic decline in body weight. They are transforming their bodies through the reduction of body fat percentage and the increase there lean muscle mass, which in turn means they are “taking up less space”