Louisa's Weight Loss Blog » gym http://totalchunk.com Louisa's Weight Loss Blog and Tips Wed, 27 Jul 2011 08:39:18 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 Featuring the ipod with Nike + http://totalchunk.com/featuring-the-ipod-with-nike/ http://totalchunk.com/featuring-the-ipod-with-nike/#comments Tue, 05 Jan 2010 22:27:35 +0000 Ameila http://totalchunk.com/?p=518
AMELIA

I bought the new 5g ipod nano for myself for Christmas with the view that it would enhance my workouts. I have taken it to the gym and for a jog so far and firstly would insist that you get an arm band or holder or clip because as this thing is so tiny, you won’t be able to hold it or rest it on any equipment. I’ve got the armband because it makes me look sporty and it’s in a useful position for me to skip songs.

So not only does it log your steps and workouts, you can get any colour you like!

So far I have taken it to the gym and for a jog using only the pedometer, but it also gives you the option of inputting your weight and calculating how many calories that you have burned and the time you have done it in. This comes with the ipod automatically so if that’s all you require then you won’t need to buy anything like Nike +.

I think the ipod 5g is great, you can monitor your workout or your runs or walks by time, calories or steps, especially if you’re one of these people who don’t go anywhere without your ipod. When you sync your ipod with Nike+, these results are downloaded and you are redirected to the Nike website where your progress will be logged and you’ll get a thumbs up and a few words of encouragement. I think this is a really nice touch because after all, who doesn’t appreciate a bit of encouragement!
If you are really into your workouts then Nike + in which you buy a pack of a sensor and receiver. Be aware that the sales assistant might not be as clued up on the product as you may hope. When I went to purchase the ipod 5g, the sales assistant believed that the 5g model has a receiver in built, only the iphone 3gs and the ipod touch does. You can buy the sensor and the receiver for about £20/$30. How this works is that you put the sensor into either your specially bought Nike+ trainers or clip it to your shoes (you can buy a clip especially for this for £8/$13), plug the receiver into your ipod put the settings you want in and go.

What this pack does is record the distance and pace, time or calories from your workout. I think this is great for running and when the data is uploaded on Nike + you can have a look at what you’ve been doing, and objectively see where you could improve. As I do want to get more into running for its fitness and aesthetic benefits, any help I can get and any motivation is welcome.

On this basic level, there is virtually no difference between the pedometer and Nike + but it does allow you to calibrate the sensor to your own walking and running paces to allow for accuracy in terms of calories. You also get pre-recorded words of congratulations from sports stars such as Paula Radcliffe and Lance Armstrong. It also allows a ‘power song that you can switch to at any point at the touch of a button to spur you on for that final distance.
Nike + allows you to also buy a heart rate monitor  which is handy if the purpose of your workout is to exceed X beats per minute. Also, workouts that you can play to yourself as well as many other extra accessories that they will come up with to assist you with your goals.

It’s an expensive and maybe over-technical way of assessing your workouts and your goals, but for those who might like the extra motivation or serious about assessing and aiding your workouts then this might be for you.
]]> http://totalchunk.com/featuring-the-ipod-with-nike/feed/ 5 Protein shakes and supplements http://totalchunk.com/protein-shakes-and-supplements/ http://totalchunk.com/protein-shakes-and-supplements/#comments Mon, 02 Nov 2009 22:04:02 +0000 Ameila http://totalchunk.com/?p=293
Have you noticed at the gym, or in sports magazines adverts, they display a various array of protein powders, tablet and bars with beautifully toned and muscled men and women? They appear to be an important part of any gym goer’s diet if you want to get that perfect body. Maybe you wouldn’t dare have anything more than an isotonic drink for fear of buying the wrong thing or have bought every single powder and tonic going.
These supplements are fantastic in terms of providing that energy boost or to aid muscle recovery. However, for the average dieter or gym goer, in taking large volumes of these are not necessary as they actually may contribute to weight gain.
Carbohydrate bars are eaten with the intention of obtaining that initial burst of energy, and yes, I have been known to eat one in bed before getting out for a super hard morning gym session as that guarana boost doesn’t take many minutes to kick in. However, an intense workout is required to ensure that you have burned the calories consumed and of course fat. A sedate half an hour on the exercise bike is not going to cut it. Intense cardio and resistance training for over an hour where you feel your heart rate work at over 80% will work wonders for losing that weight, so a little cereal bar like that is negligible.
The same goes for protein shakes where you add milk to a powder and have that after your work out? You’re looking at approximately 100 calories per scoop of protein powder PLUS milk – whole or semi skimmed? That workout is beginning to look a bit pointless now…
I believe now and again as an occasional boost or as a quick substitute that these supplements are an easy and convenient way of getting the nutrition you need, but these supplements are intended for athletes and the hard core exercisers. Ideally, you need to get your nutrition to run your body from the food you eat. I think for the average dieter, it’s easy to think of a protein shake as a quick fix to a ripped physique, but there are more considered ways of doing it.

Amelia

Have you noticed at the gym, or in sports magazines adverts, they display a various array of protein powders, tablets and bars with beautifully toned and muscled men and women? They appear to be an important part of any gym goer’s diet if you want to get that perfect body. Maybe you wouldn’t dare have anything more than an isotonic drink for fear of buying the wrong thing or have bought every single powder and tonic going.

These supplements are fantastic in terms of providing that energy boost or to aid muscle recovery. However, for the average dieter or gym goer, in taking large volumes of these are not necessary as they actually may contribute to weight gain.

Carbohydrate bars are eaten with the intention of obtaining that initial burst of energy, and yes, I have been known to eat one in bed before getting out for a super hard morning gym session as that guarana boost doesn’t take many minutes to kick in. However, an intense workout is required to ensure that you have burned the calories consumed and of course fat. A sedate half an hour on the exercise bike is not going to cut it. Intense cardio and resistance training for over an hour where you feel your heart rate work at over 80% will work wonders for losing that weight, so a little cereal bar like that is negligible.

blah blah blah

Will you really burn this off to see the benefits?

The same goes for protein shakes where you add milk to a powder and have that after your work out? You’re looking at approximately 100 calories per scoop of protein powder PLUS milk – whole or semi skimmed? That workout is beginning to look a bit pointless now…

I believe now and again as an occasional boost or as a quick substitute that these supplements are an easy and convenient way of getting the nutrition you need, but these supplements are intended for athletes and the hard core exercisers. Ideally, you need to get your nutrition to run your body from the food you eat. I think for the average dieter, it’s easy to think of a protein shake as a quick fix to a ripped physique, but there are more considered ways of doing it.

Total Chunk Tip – be wary when looking at protein supplements. These are intended for athletes so may be more calories for energy that you need

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