Supplements

     Today's follow-up article on nutrition focuses on supplementation.  To which anyone who hasn't spent the last ten to fifteen years can attest, supplement sales have become BIG business. The public is being marketed-to in a continuous onslaught about the benefits of this or that product. There is so much sales-generating material available everywhere one turns that it can make one's head spin. Hopefully, today I can help you all and you can go forth and help others.
     In my opinion, there are really only four, or five if you count BCAA's post-workout, that are worthy of spending your hard-earned money upon. First and foremost is FISH OIL. I have recently posted an article that effectively states why one needs to be using this product. Look back a few days on this blog and read or re-read that article.
     The next product that I recommend is a GOOD-QUALITY MULTIVITAMIN/MULTIMINERAL supplement. I am of the opinion that today's food sources do NOT contain the micro-nutritional profile that they once did. A good-quality product is a relatively-cheap form of insurance that assures one that their their basic micro-nutritional needs are being met.  I use and recommend to my clients that they use "MVM" from the Metabolic Diet by Dr. Mauro DiPasquale. There are several sources online that carry this product. Expect to pay around $26 plus shipping. The reason that I like this product is that it offers vitamins and minerals in effective dosages and in their most bio-available form to actually receive the benefits of taking them.
     Now MAGNESIUM, on the other hand, is where most of the world's population is deficient. I recommend a CHELATED form of this mineral as it will significantly improve the bio-availability. Research has suggested that magnesium is best utilized when taken before bed as it has shown to have a relaxing effect upon the body and contributing to a good night's sleep.  Sleep is so important that it warrants it's own separate, future article.
     Finally, I also recommend a D3 product. I live in the southern U.S. and have the benefit of high annual sunshine. Sunlight, as you know, is used by the body to manufacture vitamin D. However, I like using it in the winter months to assure proper levels. For those of you living much further north than Washington, D.C., you may want to consider using this product pretty-much year-round as you may not be getting the sun-exposure you need. Vitamin D is beneficial for bone strength, as well as immunity and controlling systemic inflammation, in addition to a number of other health benefits.
     Hopefully, this helps to lessen the confusion and keeps a little bit more coin in your pocket!  Have a great day everybody!

Have to share this testimonial!

I will begin my testimonial by first explaining my love/hate relationship with Paul LaFrance, my trainer for the past six months. I hate him when he's pushing me during my workouts and I love him when I see the transformation my body is making week by week.

 

When I came to Paul I was your typical middle aged, somewhat active, somewhat overweight, recently retired woman looking to improve my health and fitness. Tennis has always been my passion but in order to increase endurance and strength I looked to Paul for assistance. I now play between 3 - 5 times a week and play for approximately 2hrs or more each time. I could never have done that without his training.

 

Paul is passionate about his career in training and compassionate in his approach. He knows when to push you and he knows when to sit down and talk about anything that's holding you back from performing at peak. He ALWAYS makes time to talk you thru a rough time. His expertise in nutrition has also helped me in learning to cook and eat differently.

 

In summary, I will say that Paul La France is the most professional, down to earth trainer I have ever come across.  His ability to keep you motivated is achieved by the different workouts he assigns each day and by his continued encouraging words. Thanks, Paul. YOU'RE THE BEST!!!

 

MJ

This week we will be focusing on Nutrition

Welcome back. I hope everyone had a wonderful fourth of July week. For the next few weeks, I will be talking about the various modalities of training and how I believe they rank in order of importance. This week we will be focusing on Nutrition.

I believe that proper nutrition is most important and that it provides a strong base upon which everything else is added. As I stated in an earlier article, “you cannot out-perform bad nutrition.” You really are what you eat! If your diet is crap, then you are asking your body to do the impossible. You cannot build a strong, lean and viable machine out of garbage. It will NOT happen. The most difficult obstacle that I see having to overcome is the inaccurate belief that eating well is too time-consuming. That is false. How long does it take to slice up some chicken or steak, add a handful of spinach and possibly some garlic, onions and mushrooms? Now ask yourself how much time you waste surfing the internet to find out who’s sleeping with who in Hollywood? Or who won whatever game in whatever city?...because both of those activities contribute so much to your well-being!

As you all know, I am a strong advocate of eating a Paleo Diet. This consists of eating meat, fish, shellfish, vegetables (the greener, the better), some nuts, a little fruit, NO GRAINS and NO REFINED SUGAR!!! In no way does this mean that your diet will be boring or uneventful, to the contrary, it will be be better than ever! There are numerous books and resources available on-line to help one deal with eating properly while consuming very little of our precious family or personal-time. One book I recommend is “The Primal Blueprint Quick and Easy Meals”. It is available through Amazon and every recipe presented can be prepared in thirty minutes or less. When you eat the proper foods, you will tend to need less volume of food and you will feel full for a longer period of time.

A proper diet will also contribute to a favorable hormonal profile. Hormones, ladies and gentlemen, control the show. More on that in a separate article. As the effects of following a wholesome and nutritious diet start to ‘kick-in’, you will begin to feel significantly more energized each day, your performance in the gym will start skyrocketing, clothes will fit better and you will feel better about your appearance because you will be leaner, meaner, faster and stronger! Now go eat a big piece of meat with a big a$$ salad topped with olive oil and lemon juice or apple-cider vinegar!!!