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Benefits of Recovery, and How to Effectively Implement Meditation

October 23, 2017 by Jessica 7 Comments

When is your next planned recovery day?

Your body needs to rebuild.
To enhance performance, utilize rest days, and PLAN recovery days.
Recovery is not quite the same as a rest day.

As we allow our body to rest, we accept the action of non-doing and recuperate our nervous system to feel awake.
Recovery is implementing actions and techniques to maximize your body’s repair. This includes proper nutrition, hydration, stretching, self-myofascial release, ice and heat, stress management, intentional breathing, and many other methods that travel deeper than just muscular repair.

Recovery involves repairing the mindset to accept more positivity, diligence, and healing.

It allows one to communicate to their body and re-invigorate torn and fatigued muscle tissue.

Recovery is intentional and integrated effort that should seep into our daily lives to enhance longevity and durability.

* Eat nutrient dense meals to give yourself the proper amount of protein, carbohydrates, fats, and micronutrients that will aid in fueling your body for greater performance and faster recovery. A mindful diet will keep your energy clean, reduce feelings of sluggishness, and clear brain fog. Stay away from processed foods and toxins as much as possible.
* Drink enough water for your urine to be close to clear! Water helps all our internal functions. You will experience more energy, softer skin, and contribute to the well being of your internal organs.
* Stretching and mobility movements will communicate to your nervous system to expand passive and active range of motion in your body.
* Self-myofascial release are techniques and methods of using tools to help heal tissue, release tension, and regenerate elasticity in your muscles.
* Ice and Heat help calm down superficial tissues that are inflamed and release muscular stiffness. Ice baths and whole body ice therapy have lately been proven to be extremely beneficial to overall tissue vitality.
* Stress management is important to regulate our sympathetic nervous system (fight or flight) response and attend to the parasympathetic (rest and digest) response during recovery days. Calm your mind, understand what thoughts are serving you no purpose, and develop more positive neuroplasticity training in your daily life.
* Breathing is both unconscious and conscious. Breathing practices have been used around the world as methods of regulating internal processes, strengthening the lungs, and promoting meditative states and concentration to calm the body.

Tune in to the recovery of your body, and to the recovery of your mind as well.

What image pops into your head when you hear the word meditation?

Is it an image of one individual sitting cross-legged on the ground, with their eyes closed?

Does that image deter you from scheduling the time for “meditation”?

What if, I told you there was a way for you to easily implement meditation into your daily life?
You see, meditation does not have any regulations other than one, to be entirely present in the moment at hand.

Meditation can be accomplished while standing, sitting, running, riding, dancing, and during any other physical stance.

Just breathe, and focus on your inhales and exhales.
Allow yourself to be saturated with the present moment and let the moments before hand and the predictions of the future journey into the ether where they belong.
Tune in, to the NOW.

For just a moment, allow all your stressors to be released, feelings of the past and future to leave, and only experience what is in front of you.

That is meditation, and without those restricted predicaments of when meditation is “supposed” to happen, you can now see the limitless possibilities of when to experience this deeper sensation of life.

It is when you choose to let your monkey mind be still, wherever you are.

The effects of meditation expand and spread through the rest of your life, especially in stages of recovery.

Experience the benefits of body and mind recovery immediately after you start implementing these practices into your daily life.

Want more articles like this?

Check out – Stiff, Sore and Tired? Here’s 50+ Ways to Make Yourself Feel Better Today!

Looking for a training program that fits your mindset, movement and recovery needs? Give Innovative Results a try!

Fill out the form below and one of our Innovative Results Coaches will contact you!

Strength Over Stress: Do More than You’ve Ever Done Before

November 15, 2016 by Jessica 5 Comments

Article Written By: Margaret Fajardo

She had already competed in an earlier event. For the entire ten minutes, first-time Kettlebell Sport lifter Kelly Boaitey finished with 159 repetitions in lifting Jerk, not once setting down the 8 kg kettlebell. But this was just the first lift out of two. When she was going up to the platform for Long Cycle, Boaitey kept telling her teammates that she was already tired and wasn’t sure how she could go on. As the announcer counted down the seconds to begin, she couldn’t complain anymore (or maybe she did a little). At the end of another ten minutes, not once did Boaitey set down her kettlebell. And like the first lift, she had reps in the three-digits, achieving a personal goal of 101.

As a self-employed, single mom of three, fifty-year-old Boaitey is no stranger to stress. Her occupation involves miles and miles of being on the road. Despite needing to be at a different place at different times during the week, Boaitey makes time to go to Innovative Results, Orange County’s Fitness Playground. She said, “I find ways to get there, 3 days a week, at 5 a.m.” For Boaitey, there are definite results each time she shows up to a training session. As Boaitey said, “I can go there feeling absolute crap, overwhelmed, it’s the last thing I wanna do, and I come out feeling like a completely different person in an hour.” And with every hour that Boaitey has put in at Innovative Results, she rarely ever says “I can’t.” Her recent success as a novice Kettlebell Sport Lifter is the next level in her health and fitness journey. She admits to surprising herself: “I never imagined to be where I am only because I never tried to go there. I used to say I can’t a lot..but I’ve done things that I’ve far surpassed I could ever do.”

Beat Stress: An Even More Important Reason to Stay Active

Many health and fitness experts have highlighted how stress impacts us all, regardless of whether or not we are at our ideal weight or need to lose a few pounds. In fact, everyday stress can exacerbate health challenges we already struggle with. According to Aaron Guyett, Innovative Results Owner and Head Coach:

“Stress is a part of our life. Either we feel stressed or we feel lazy. Yet we can mitigate the tension of stress by preparing our bodies and minds with the daily routine of exercise. The victory and mindset-improving exercise designed into each Innovative Results workout, prepares our clients to realize their best, and deliver that ‘best’ in every area of their life outside of the gym.”

Boaitey has said that she’s “stayed with Innovative Results for my mental well-being.” In addition, she goes because “as I get older, wanting the core strength to prevent the things that happen to older people. I’m only 50 so better start now.”

Strong Never Gets Old: Uplift Yourself By Lifting Kettlebells

Innovative Results has hosted a few Kettlebell Sport competitions. Innovative Results even has a Kettlebell Sport Team. Earlier this year, Boaitey was a spectator at the Cali Open and cheered on fellow Innovative Results members. Boaitey has said of the experience: “There’s such a diverse group of people that do it – thin, heavy, muscular, not-so-muscular, old, young, really young – there’s something in it for everyone. If you wanted to do it, you could do it….After going to the competition, I’ve not only said to myself I could do this, but I said to myself, I think this would be fun. And it is!”

Besides attending Innovative Results signature hour-long training sessions, Boaitey has added kettlebell lifting progressions to her regimen. She now can perform all the technical lifts in Kettlebell Sport: Jerk, Snatch, and Long Cycle. She has been happy to share her athletic journey. She said, “The world kind of tells you that you’re old for certain things and your body tells you too… but in terms of peers outside of Innovative Results, they ask me ‘So what do you do?’ In the past, I would’ve just said, I go to the gym. But now I say, ‘I do Kettlebell Sport!’”

Stress Loses When You Go Social

There is no room for feeling stress when the social atmospheres of both the hour-long training sessions and the Kettlebell sport competitions are friendly, encouraging, and fun. It’s no wonder that Boaitey commits to improving her quality of life. As she said, “There’s always someone at Innovative Results to encourage you. It’s not just the trainers.” There may be physical challenges. There may be struggle. But everyone overcomes all, together.

The team environment at Innovative Results is a health benefit with immediate results. Not only do workouts engage body and brain, but working out as a team creates connections that are as important to health as strong muscles. People smile. People give high-fives and pats on the back. No one is ever alone in going through something difficult. Getting fit while getting social can only feel good. Feeling fit and healthy isn’t just about physical well-being. It’s also about emotional health. When your body feels good from the outside-in and the inside-out, stress doesn’t stand a chance.

If you are ready to combat stress, and improve your mental and physical strengths the Innovative Results Team would love to set you up with a Free Trial Today! Just fill out the form below!

7 Ways to Beat Stress
Reduce Stress and Increase Happiness with this 10 minute per Day Habit

7 Ways to Beat STRESS – If You Are Busy and Overwhelmed Try These Ways to Eliminate Stress from Innovative Results

May 24, 2016 by IR Staff 3 Comments

If you are anything like me, it is easy to get overwhelmed and stressed out.

With two kids, a wife, a business, and all of the organizations I am a part of, it is easy to unravel and stress out because my plate seems too full.

Owning Innovative Results – The Orange County Fitness Playground, is rewarding, but it also demands a level of hard work, focused intensity, and patient endurance, just like anything worthwhile.

That being said, running fitness training programs, coaching clients, leading team members, developing an online and community presence, and figuring out all of the tax, accounting, and business procedures to run a successful fitness gym takes time.

Busyness runs rampant in our culture, especially if you are working toward your own personal and professional success, financial security for your family, and setting up your kids well.

Here are 6 Quick Ways To Beat Stress In Your Busy Day:

Breath
Move
Smile
Posture
Help Someone
One Thing At A Time

Let’s take a moment to go through each one, so we can reap the full benefits and rewards found, when we take a moment to de-stress from our busy lives.

1 – BREATH

Try it with me. Take a deep breath, just focusing on the air coming in your nose, and filing your belly. Hold it there for a few seconds, and then release it. Repeat ten times…

Wow! Don’t you already feel better?

For more information and techniques on breathing to reduce stress check out this video: “Stressed? Use This Breathing Technique to Improve Your Attention and Memory, with Emma Seppala”

2 – MOVE

Motion creates emotion.

Those that don’t believe me are welcome to try slouching, frowning, and looking down while trying to be happy, or smile, stand-up tall, put your arms up overhead, look up while feeling sadness.

It is extremely difficult to do.

Get up, stand up tall, move around, and think about all of the things you are grateful for.

Check out this video of Tony Robbins for an in-depth look on why and how motion creates emotions.

3 – SMILE

If you are feeling overwhelmed and stressed, try smiling through it.

It sounds cheesy, but it is amazing the power of our smiles. Try it.

And check out these incredible researched statistics on smiling from a TED talk by Ron Gutman, and our very own Aaron Guyett.

4 – POSTURE

If you are down, check your body…

Chances are, you are slouching, head is forward and slightly down, frowning, and your shoulders are forward and down…you might even want to be curled up into a ball on the ground.

Your posture is powerful to help us remove stress and anxiety, just like smiling and moving.

Check out this helpful TED-Ed video on posture for more benefits.

5 – HELP SOMEONE

Focusing on helping someone else improve their quality of life has an uncanny ability to improve our own quality of life.

It gives us purpose, and not having purpose is often the reason we are stressed, anxious, and overwhelmed.

Enjoy this uplifting video showing the power of helping people to change how we feel.

6 – ONE THING AT A TIME

When overwhelmed, I let it trigger my new habit of choosing just one thing to do.

Often I will ask my daughter to clean up her mess, and she immediately responds with, “that’s A LOT of WORK!”

I answer her by saying two things: “Guyett’s are not afraid of hard work, and what do you do if there is a lot of work, Hannah?”

She always answers with, “We do it one thing at a time.”

For more, read this Forbes article on doing one thing at a time, The Simple Trick To Productivity? Do One Thing At Once

7 – BE GRATEFUL

As study after study shows, it is impossible to be truly grateful and stressed out at the same time.

Being overwhelmed can quickly be replaced by gratefulness.

Watch this TED talk by David Steindl-Rast “Want to be Happy? Be Grateful.”

A quick recap of how Innovative Results beats stress in our overwhelming moments whether we are in the gym or outside of the gym are:

Breath
Move
Smile
Posture
Help Someone
One Thing At A Time

If you liked this article, “7 Ways to Beat STRESS – If You Are Busy and Overwhelmed Try These Ways to Eliminate Stress from Innovative Results” please leave us a comment and share this article with your family, friends, and coworkers.

If you want to have a coach help you in your daily de-stress and improved quality of life through daily exercises, fill out the form below.

7 Simple Ways To Reduce Stress at Work

February 9, 2016 by IR Staff 1 Comment

Many of us are running pretty hard these days. From the minute we wake up until the moment we go to sleep, many of us are constantly on the go, thinking, doing chores and getting stuff done. We stare at our phones, computers and televisions constantly, never truly giving our brains a chance to reset, recharge and process everything that is happening around us.

The following tips are geared towards reducing stress, giving your mind a break and helping you become a happier, healthier person.

9 Simple Ways to Reduce Stress at Work

1 – 10 seconds – Laugh

Laughing is one of the best ways to combat stress. Read, watch videos, join groups on Facebook, subscribe to websites or just hang out with good people that make you laugh.

2 – 5 minutes – Breath

Lay on your back in a quiet, comfortable place. Place your hands on your belly button. Inhale through your nose, raising your belly button and then exhale slowly through your teeth. The key here is to focus solely on your breath for 5 minutes. If your mind wanders, just bring it back to your breath and maintain this for 5 minutes.

3 – 10 to 20 minutes – Guided Meditation

There are a ton of great free apps that you can download on your phone. Find one that you like and simply plug in, put your headphones on and follow the instructions. This is a great way to give your mind a break from your busy day.

4 – 30 minutes – Go for a Walk

This is one of my recent go to activities. There are a bunch of trails, sidewalks, parks, beaches, and other options all over southern California. Just getting outside and walking for 30 minutes is a great way to get your body moving and reset your brain.

5 – 45 minutes – Take a Nap

Sometimes, you just need to close your eyes for a few minutes in the middle of the day. Its great for your health and also another way to give your brain a rest. Throw a quick cat nap in there every once in awhile.

4 – 60 minutes – Move Around

Some people lift weights, others do yoga…the key is to find something that you enjoy and simply get your body moving a few times each week. Whether you join a gym, hire a trainer or simply do a few things at home, getting your body moving and improving its function yields physical and mental dividends.

5 – 2-3 Hours – Go to the Beach, Hike, Get Outside

If you have a few hours available, we’d recommend getting outside and enjoying the world around you. Hike, surf, cycle, paddleboard, climb, play sports… the combination of getting outside and purely enjoying yourself for a few hours is one of the most stress relieving things you can do for yourself.

6 – 1 Day – Take an Adventure

If you have a day to kill, maybe its time to take a short mini adventure. Go camping, snowboarding, explore in the desert, go climb a mountain or just go exploring to a place you’ve never been. The key here is to just get away and shut down for a day or so.

7 – 3 Day Reset

Really want to reset and get away? Take a trip, where you have no cell reception and just enjoy yourself. Get off the beaten path, hike into the hills, camp by a stream, surf on a quiet beach or just go sit under a tree and chill. This might be needed once a quarter, twice a year or just a planned trip every year. The key is to unplug, get away and just relax.

We can all get sucked into the vortex of work, chores, etc, but in order to truly be happy and healthy, we need to figure out ways to enjoy our life. Some might be a 5 minute vacation, while other times we might disappear for a few days and reset. Try to incorporate some of these simple ideas into your week and let us know how it goes.

Did you like “7 Simple Ways To Reduce Stress at Work”? Leave us a comment and share this article with your family, friends, and coworkers.

Here’s a few other posts you might enjoy…

5 Ways to Snap Yourself Back Into a Good Mood

Top 10 Places to Get Outside in Orange County, CA.

11 Mini Vacations That Fit Into Your Busy Schedule

If you are ready to improve your quality of life with Innovative Results Active Recovery Class, schedule your free trial below.

Eliminate Stress With 21 Ways to Make This Day Your Best Day Ever

November 16, 2015 by Jessica 2 Comments

Jump-start that “Next One Best One” mentality by setting yourself up to have the BEST DAY EVER.

Tweak your morning routine to make your day healthier, happier and overall more fun!

Don’t Hit Snooze: No matter how tempting, or cozy your bed, resist the snooze button. Multiple “snoozes” will actually make you more tired and delay your positive mindset for the day ahead.

Get in a Sweat Sesh: Morning workouts can help boost your energy (and metabolism) through the day.

Breathe: Before you jump into the hustle and bustle, take a moment to breathe – A couple deep breaths will help you feel more balanced and ready to start the day of right (Check out these 11 Breathing Techniques to help relax your body, calm your mind and reduce stress).

Stretch: Sleeping can lead to stiffness, so take a moment to stretch out those kinks.

Or Do Yoga: Even a 10 minute series will boost happiness and release muscle and joint tightness before you start your day. Looking for a great Active Stretching series? Check out IR’s New Active Stretching class at 7:30am every Tuesday and Thursday.

Drink Coffee: Careful not to overindulge, but a good Cup O’ Joe in the morning can improve memory, help muscle pain, keep you regular, and increase endurance.

But Skip the Sugar: Added sugars can increase belly fat, and actually harm your immune system.

Have Everything Ready: Making getting out the door a hassle-free breeze. Pack your purse, gym bag or briefcase the night before.

Bring Your Lunch: A great way to save on money and calories, prep your meal and bring a lunch to work.

Drink Water: Keep your mind clear, skin feeling fresh and even boost your metabolism by staying hydrated all day.

Listen to Music: Playing your favorite tracks while you get ready can have you energized and excited to greet the day ahead. Plus your super sweet dance moves will have you burning calories.

Smile: Start the day off feeling positive, and maybe brightening someone else’s day with your pearly whites! A smile can actually boost your mood. (Watch the Power of the Smile)

Eat a Balance Breakfast: Start your day off with a nutrient-filled breakfast and you’ll be more likely to maintain that healthy eating all day/

Focus on Fruits and Veggies: Clean eating can help naturally detox and re-energize your body.

Sip Smartly: Enjoying a smoothie or green juice can be super refreshing, but be smart. Many of those pre-made juices can be full of added sugars and calories. Try your own recipe!

Boost your Immunity: If you’re feeling under the weather, load up on some extra vitamins and minerals! Try a TraceMinerals PowerPak for that extra boost of Vitamin C.

Make Your Bed: It may seem like a waste of time, but taking a minute to tidy up your bed will make you’re home feel more welcoming. Not too mention make your bed much more inviting after an amazingly productive day.

Wait to Sign Online: Give yourself time before checking your email, especially social media. That is the last thing you need to add stress to your morning.

Make a To-Do List: If you’ve got a lot on your plate, or you just want to make sure to designate some “me-time”, write it all down. A to-do list will help you feel organized and accomplished.

Don’t Freak Out: Remember, even the most busy and stress-filled days will come to an end.

Give Yourself Some Love: Positive Affirmation time! Look in the mirror and remind yourself that you are smart, talented, and gorgeous!

Next One, Best One!

Source: PopSugar for Full Article

Dedicate Time to Heal To Speed Recovery – Three Techniques

September 6, 2015 by Jessica 2 Comments

By: Aubrie Pohl

As a fitness coach at the best gym in Orange County, we have clients that need to dedicate time to heal, so they can experience relief, improve body adaptations, and speed recovery.

Without proper recovery, the body will generate a buildup of stress.

This can create pain, joint restriction, muscle tension, tightness, discomfort, and fatigue.

These experiences will hinder your progress.

When your body doesn’t heal, you can alter your muscular-skeletal structure and notice mechanical inefficiency.

The great news is, there are actions of remedies!

If you need three ways to dedicate time to heal and recover, check out these three ways we can heal our bodies: Soft Tissue Manipulation, Temperature, and Activation.

Soft Tissue Manipulation
There is a continuous and seamless web of tissue under your skin.

It surrounds and connects the muscles, organs, bones, and is present from the top of your head to the bottoms of your feet.

It is called fascia.

Fascia can become restricted through injury, stress, overtraining, and poor posture.

The increase in tension can bring muscle spasms, pain, and a lack of range of motion!

A very effective method of recovery for this is soft tissue manipulation.

Using tools such as foam rollers, tennis balls, and lacrosse balls for manual massage can allow the fascia that is stuck to other fascia to let go.

Soft tissue manipulation will allow for better circulation and better functioning of the muscles.

When the muscle tissue is pulled on in different directions, the tissue will become more supple and will work better.

Implementing myofascial release in your routine is a positive action towards restoring tissue health in your body, so you can move better and feel better.

Temperature
The concept is simple, and the benefits are great!

Regulating certain temperatures on the body can help with the rehabilitation and recovery of the muscle tissues.

Try taking contrast showers, switching from hot to cold water.

The hot water gets the blood flowing and then the cold water will send the blood to protect the internal organs from the cold.

Basically, contrast showers will improve the circulation of blood and allow for a quicker recovery.

They improve lymphatic circulation and blood circulation to detox the body and make the organs work better due to the blood that gets forced into them from the cold.

The temperature change stimulates the nervous system, circulatory system, and immune system to reduce Delayed Onset Muscle Syndrome and increase recovery.

Ice packs, ice baths, and thermal blankets are other sources of temperature tools to aid in healing the muscles and decreasing pain and dysfunction.

Activation
Although it takes place during a workout, activation is an essential action for recovery.

Before performing strength exercises, making sure to “light up” the muscles that you will use to allow your body to warm up before expending a force output.

Activation prevents injury, because contracting muscles during a strength exercise that are not activated or warmed up puts the joints and muscles at risk for sprains, tears, and sometimes breaks!

When properly activated, the muscles can perform their best during the strength movement and can quickly recover without being overwhelmed.

It is far better not to be hasty through the workout, and be honest with yourself about the quality of your warm ups.

Being careful will bring you progress faster, as opposed to frequently recovering from injuries.

As your muscle tissue gets healthier, you will feel better each and every day.

Dedicating time to aid your body in recovery will benefit you before, during, and after your workouts.

Looking for more information on Recovery Techniques, check out –

17 Scientifically Proven Ways to Speed Recovery
Warming Up Before Exercise – A Simple Way to Speed Recovery, Improve Performance and Avoid Injury
Recovery is Much More Than Skipping a Workout

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Leave us a comment, and share this with your family, friends, and coworkers.

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A Life Hack: Rest More to Accomplish More

August 23, 2015 by Jessica Leave a Comment

By Aubrie Pohl

You can feel the combination of motivation and your vision magnetizing you, pulling you toward your goal just as it is being drawn towards you.

You create a schedule, and set intention to the tasks you will accomplish to reach that goal.

Every day, you take the right steps in the right direction.

Training more, moving more, you feel the diligent effort adding up, allowing you to move better, look better, and feel better.

Then suddenly, fatigue sets in.

Your muscles grow weary, your mind becomes dull and you become perplexed about what happened.

Despite valiant effort to reach your greatest potential, the wisdom of your body was gently reminding you that you need to rest.

Put the Pep Back in your Step

In our lives we are often on the run and may not notice when our energy becomes drained.

Keeping your inner vision focused and following the path towards it undoubtedly displays integrity, but it can’t be sustained unless you nurture yourself.

If we go beyond our limits, we actually use more energy than we have and, essentially, operate on a deficit.

By using just a couple techniques for rest, we access powerful tools for revitalizing our bodies.

Stress Won’t Let You Rest!

Stress is one of the most debilitating and widespread conditions present in the world.

In fact, it is so common that we think it is normal.

Within the elaborate system of our bodies, our stress response evolved and developed as a survival mechanism during life-threatening situations.

However, nowadays humans are getting stressed about EVERYTHING.

Manifesting justifications to get stressed about situations or experiences, stress can hold you back in all aspects of life.

The body responds by slowing down digestion, suppressing the immune system, and causing a ruckus in the system, which will definitely prevent you from rest!

There’s good news!

The stress we commonly see is a fallacy, it is an irrational feeling, and you can manage stress into a tool that makes you stronger.

You can reduce the stress you experience through mindfulness of your thoughts and feelings, knowing that at any moment you are capable of relaxing.

Learning methods such as yoga and meditation will allow you to master your emotions and improve stress handling abilities.

[By the way, I teach yoga at Innovative Results! Tuesday & Wednesday at 11am, Thursday & Friday at 8pm :)]

Every individual is different, but finding a method to liberate from stress will in turn allow you to experience the rest you need.

Essential Slumber

When our lives become busy, sleep tends to be one of the first things we sacrifice.

We get caught up in the idea that by doing more we will get more done, so we stay up later and sleep less.

Decreasing an hour or two of slumber so we can increase our task list, and then we increase our caffeine intake to manipulate the body’s energy levels.

However, it is during sleep where the body revitalizes itself.

Sleep is as vital to sustaining a healthy, energetic life as eating, drinking, and breathing!

A night of ample sleep is a potent energizer, fostering a healthy body and a vibrant mind.

On the contrary, a lack of sleep creates a sluggish body and a foggy mind.

Give yourself the gift of a restful night and experience yourself feeling more refreshed, attentive, and ready for life’s challenges so you can live your full potential.

Knowing when to rest is as important as the work we do.

Today by seeking rest, you can rejuvenate yourself and improve your quality of life.

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Are you Overtraining or Making Progress Toward your Goals?

July 17, 2011 by ptpt 6 Comments

Exercise is a stress on our bodies. When our bodies are able to adapt to the stress, we make progress. When we are unable to adapt efficiently, then our bodies begin to break down. The goal of this article is to give you a brief overview of the types of overtraining that occurs and how to avoid it.

There are basically 3 different types of overtraining which include sympathetic, parasympathetic and central nervous system overtraining. What does that mean? Well, here are some simple breakdowns of each category.

‘Type A’ Adrenaline Junkies

Orange county fitness — Not the sign of a good workout

Sympathetic overtraining is probably the most common type of overtraining these days and occurs from an excessive amount of strength/anerobic activities without proper time to recover between sessions. Day to day mental stress also affects this system, so stress levels outside the gym have to be addressed and accounted for if you want to keep this balanced and healthy. Common symptoms include loss of appetite, weight loss, disturbed sleep patterns, increased resting heart rate, irritability, decrease in performance and fatigue.

Cardio Junkies

orange county exercise — Addicted to runner’s high?

The second category is called Parasympathetic overtraining and is more commonly seen in endurance type athletes. It is caused by an excessive amount of aerobic type activity. “Cardio junkies, triathletes, runners and other distance athletes are most susceptible to this type of overtraining. Symptoms can include depression, unmotivated and a general disinterest in things.

Olympic / Power / Strongman Lifter Types

The 3rd category in central nervous system (CNS) overtraining and occurs from excessive high intensity activities such as Powerlifting, Olympic weightlifting, plyometrics, strongman and other power drills. This typically occurs when the volume of these types of activities os too high. Symptoms can include decrease in reaction rate, lower strength, poor motor skills, and decreased ability to focus.

So how can you avoid overtraining?

Planning your workouts is essential. Assessments are key to figuring out where your ability level is and then goal setting to determine where you want to go.

These days there are lots of programs that throw people into high intensity workouts and run them into the floor every time they come in the gym. Other people may jump right into plyos or running long distances. This is a recipe for disaster which can lead to overtraining, injury and more. The key to long lasting success is the ability to vary workouts between stimulating and recovering, using all three energy systems and adjusting exercise variables to allow proper progression towards your goal.

At Innovative Results we use proper alignment, exercise progression and varying intensities as the foundations of our workouts. Its not just about getting a tough workout! Varying ability levels and goals dictate the exercise selection and intensity of each workout. Over time, everyone makes progress toward their goals safely and efficiently.

Remember, there is no “one size fits all” program that works for everyone. Each person is unique and requires slightly different programs in order to perform. Taking the time to learn and apply these principles can mean the difference between positive results and frustration.

Recommended reading

You deserve more than just a great workout

3 aspects of movement that affect your workout

9 ways to renew, recover and feel your best

If you need help developing a program, fill out the form below and a member of our training team will contact you!

We work with clients all over Southern California and have helped thousands of women, men and athletes look better, feel better and perform better!

Resources:

“Ultimate MMA Conditioning” Joel Jamieson. 2009 Peak Performance Inc.

“Acute Exercise Variables” Tony Bruno. AB&C Fitness.

It’s Time For a Change – 5 Steps To a New You

May 9, 2010 by ptpt 2 Comments

Do You Believe Everything You Read in Magazines or Hear on TV?

Get Abs like Brittney Spears

Learn how Jessica Alba develops her perfect Behind

Get Guns the Size of Texas

Just 15 minutes a day….

You’ve all seen it, but do you really believe it?

Unfortunately, most people do believe that these are the real answers that will lead them to the body of their dreams. The truth is, the models you see in magazines and on tv have been dieting down for weeks and have been working out for years! This “Do this workout and look like this model” implication is rediculous and it makes people crazy.

So many people I hear, see and work with in the gym want fast results. They want to do the minimal amount of work, they don’t want to train for years, but they want to look amazing in 4 weeks.

How many infomercials have suckered you in?

The good news is that your body CAN CHANGE QUICKLY, but you have to be prepared to make some changes!

Got a wedding or big event in 3 months?

Going to a class reunion?

Need to fit in a bikini before your big vacation?

STEP #1 Find Your Motivation

Motivation gets you started and keeps you going, so make it count. Why do you want to change? The more emotional, the better! The most dramatic changes I have seen recently were from my brides that were training for their weddings. They were motivated by the thought of looking great on the BIG DAYS!

Write it down and keep it close to you.

STEP #2 Food is FUEL

Americans eating habits are the cause of obesity, period. If you want dramatic change, then you will need to overhaul your eating habits. My suggestion is to download our Shopping List, Lean Eating Plan and our Food Log. You will need to reference these on a daily basis, until you develop new eating habits. Here are three main eating tips to get you started:

1. Get bad foods out of your house! If they are around, you will eat them.

2. Do not drink calories. Water and tea are your best choices.

3. Start packing your lunch and snacks. Having good food ready is your key to success.

STEP #3 The best workout for you is the one you’re not doing

What? There are two groups of people to address here:

Most people don’t workout at all, so they just need to blow their ass off the couch and do something. Go for a walk, take the stairs, climb a hill, go for a swim, go for a bike ride, etc. You can do this stuff before work, at lunch or after work. The goal is just to start moving.

The other group is the people who are relatively active, but they are stuck in a rut. They move, but they’ve been doing the exact same workout for years. I hear it all the time…

“I’ve been running two miles a day for 5 years and I’m just not losing any weight.”

Our bodies are amazing at adapting. While a simple walk may be tough at first, it will become easier and you will have to change it up. Most people who workout do the same workouts every week, whether they are in the gym or not. Gym rats will do the same body part, with the same movements, at the same weight for years! Runner’s will do the same route, at the same pace…..well, you get the picture.

So, how long has it been since your workout had an overhaul?

Need ideas? Check out this article:

8 Ways to Turbo Charge Your Workouts

STEP #4 Take Some Time OFF!

Everyone these days wakes up early for work, rushes out of the house, scrambles to work, stresses out all day, fights thru traffic, races the kids to activities, shovels food in on the way home, plops on the couch, tries to relax, then can’t go to sleep because they are so busy. Sound familiar?

You need to take time for yourself. Time to think or time to allow yourself to recuperate and re energize. It can be a simple as a walk outside, a book by the pool, a massage, 30 minutes in the garden, an art or craft, a movie, a drive in the car, etc. The bottom line is that you need to find activities that relax your mind and schedule them into your calendar.

STEP #5 You Need a Support Team

All major changes require a team. Working out, changing your eating and developing healthier habits are no different. You need to surround yourself with like minded people to give yourself a fighting chance. Gather up your friends, family, coworkers and start walking through these steps. If that doesn’t work, maybe you need to hire a coach or personal trainer to help you develop these new habits. The key is to find people that will encourage you and help you along the way.

Change does not have to be difficult, you just need to understand that change takes time. You need to be ready for long term commitment, but also need to schedule short term victories. Make small changes at first and allow yourself to gain momentum. As you make better choices, you will naturally start to notice improvements in your body and mind. Celebrate your small victories and stay focused on your goals.

If you have any questions about starting or changing your program, please let us know. You can submit questions to the “ask a trainer” box in the upper right of this page or give us a call.

We are always happy to help!

5 Ways to Snap Yourself Back into a Good Mood

December 15, 2009 by ptpt 1 Comment

Is your workload overwhelming?

Finances stressing you out?

Are the kids driving you crazy?

Well, welcome to the club! It is called life and you aren’t the only person with responsibilities and challenges that are unexpected and stressful at times.

How do some people live with less stress and lead more productive lives?

They are proactive and implement strategies that allow them to get more done and to be happy along the way. Here is a great article that explains 5 simple ways to get back in a good mood if life has thrown you a curve ball.

Thinking positive, proactive thoughts is the foundation of being productive and happy. Here is an exercise that we have used to stay focused and happy during stressful, busy periods in our lives.

Its called PIVADRUM. It is a powerful way to change your thinking fast and help create new, healthy thinking habits. You will be less stressed, more focussed and will dramatically increase your productivity.

Got other ideas about staying positive and focused?

Life is short, Leave us a comment. 🙂

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7 Simple Ways To Reduce Stress at Work

Did you like “7 Simple Ways To Reduce Stress at Work”? Leave us a comment and share this article with your family, friends, and coworkers.

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