Made in America: GU Energy Gel

GU Energy Gel Product Lineup

Electronic shifting. Carbon fiber. Strava. None of these will help you perform better if you bonk during a ride or run – you might as well be wearing a boat anchor around your neck. Fueling your body during an extended period of exertion is more important than whatever new whiz-bang gadget you just purchased. Just like gasoline and coolant to an automobile, if your body runs out of fuel or water, you are done.

GU Energy Labs of Berkeley, California knows sports nutrition all to well and has been involved in the industry since 1991. Their first product was a single serving gel that was fairly revolutionary at the time. While racing for mountain bike team in western Pennsylvania around that time, I remember receiving packets of GU gel to use since they were a team sponsor. The other choices at the time were chalky tasting energy bars and Fig Newtons. The GU gels were a welcome addition to the nutrition arsenal. These single-serving packets traveled well in a cycling jersey, even during events in the pouring rain. When needed, they were easy to open, consume and digest. They quickly provided the necessary fuel needed to be competitive, and as a bonus they actually tasted good. Continue reading Made in America: GU Energy Gel

Got Chocolate Milk? An Alternative to Sports Drinks

Need to replenish what was lost after a workout? Try a glass of chocolate milk. While often thought of as a kid’s drink, low-fat chocolate milk has the nutritional benefits to help you recover after a marathon run, according to a story in The Tennessean, which reports that the St. Jude Country Music Marathon & Half-Marathon in Nashville will be offering low-fat chocolate milk for the first time in its 13-year history, alongside water, sports drinks, fruit, and energy bars.

Many nutritionists and fitness mags are advocating chocolate milk for post-workout recovery, and you’ll find plenty of chocolate-flavored protein shakes. “Chocolate milk after a workout or after a run has got protein in it for replenishing muscles and more carbohydrates in the lactose,” said Jimmy Burkhard, a licensed nutritionist interviewed in the story.

Another expert quoted, Tracy Noerper, recommends drinking eight ounces of chocolate milk within two hours after a training run or after completing a marathon or half-marathon. She says chocolate milk has the right mixture of protein to carbohydrates.

Of course, the thought of drinking several glasses of something thick like milk might turn off a lot of people, but who doesn’t enjoy chocolate?

The Tennessean: Chocolate Milk Does Marathon Runners Good

Study Shows High-Intensity Exercise Can Alter DNA

We all know that working out can alter your physical appearance, but did you know that it can also alter your DNA?

A recent study published in the March 2012 issue of Cell Metabolism shows that high intensity exercise can change the chemical tagging of your DNA, activating genes responsible for burning lipids and glucose. In the study, researchers examined 14 participants before and after they rode to exhaustion on an exercise bike. The scientists then took thigh-muscle tissue samples of the riders and noticed that when participants worked out at high intensity (80% of their maximum aerobic capacity) there was a diminished presence of chemicals known as methyl groups. The disappearance of these methyl groups allowed other proteins – specifically proteins that support the metabolism of sugar and fat – to show themselves. The appearance of these proteins basically tells your body to go into fat-burning mode. However, when the participants exercised at low-intensity (40% of their maximum aerobic capacity), scientists detected more methyl than when they rode at high capacity. Continue reading Study Shows High-Intensity Exercise Can Alter DNA

Fitness Journal: My Diabetes Part II

Stuart Bates is one person who recently learned he has diabetes mellitus type 2, formerly known as non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) or adult-onset diabetes. At present there are approximately 285 million people with the disease worldwide, up from just 30 million in 1985. This shocking increase has seen a rise in parallel with obesity rates, which is thought to be the primary cause of type 2 diabetes in people who are genetically predisposed to the disease.

Stuart continues to share his very personal story, one that affects hundreds of millions of people around the world. Continue reading Fitness Journal: My Diabetes Part II

Sunday Q&A: Shea Vaughn Talks About Breaking Through

Fitness expert Shea Vaughn, mother of actor Vince Vaughn, discovered from both fitness training and personal experience, that women over 45 often feel like they are spinning their wheels and failing to live up to their own expectations. She says the problem is a lack of a mind-body connection, which can lead to depression, discouragement, disconnect, and deflation in body, mind, and heart.

As a 25-year veteran of the fitness industry including as a professional trainer and wellness coach, Vaughn has become a spokeswoman for creating well-being at any age with her recently released book, Breakthrough: The 5 Living Principles to Defeat Stress, Look Great, and Find Total Well-Being (HCI Books). She talks to KineticShift about breaking through: Continue reading Sunday Q&A: Shea Vaughn Talks About Breaking Through

Fitness Journal: My Diabetes–A First-Person Account

This weekend KineticShift.com shares a very personal story – one that affects hundreds of millions of people around the world. Stuart Bates is one person who recently learned he has diabetes mellitus type 2, formerly known as non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) or adult-onset diabetes. At present there are approximately 285 million people with the disease worldwide, up from just 30 million in 1985. This shocking increase has seen a rise in parallel with obesity rates, which is thought to be the primary cause of type 2 diabetes in people who are genetically predisposed to the disease.

This metabolic disorder is characterized by high blood glucose in the context of insulin resistance and relative insulin deficiency. Type 2 diabetes makes up about 90 percent of cases of diabetes with the other 10 percent due primarily to diabetes mellitus type 1 and gestational diabetes. Classic symptoms are excess thirst, frequently having to urinate, and constant hunger. Long-term complications from high blood sugar can include heart attacks, strokes, diabetic retinopathy (where eye sight is affected), kidney failure (which may require dialysis), and poor circulation of limbs leading to amputations.

However, type 2 diabetes is initially managed by increasing exercise and dietary modification. If blood glucose levels are not adequately lowered by these measures, medications such as metformin or insulin may be needed. For those on insulin there is typically the requirement to routinely check blood sugar levels. Stuart’s First Hand Account after the jump

That Old ‘Apple-a-Day’ Adage Still Rings True

Fiber rich foods are heart healthy. There’s no debating that. However, the jury is still out on fiber-enriched foods, according to an NPR article. Fiber additives might not have the same health benefits as foods with fiber.

Food scientists believe added fiber sources such as sugarcane fiber, oat fiber and a resistant corn starch – which aren’t normally ingredients in foods such as breads – add fiber, but not always the benefits you’re looking for. The fact is that it’s not yet known whether the fiber in an apple, or other fruits, is what makes the food so healthy, or if it’s a combination of other ingredients in the fruit.

Continue reading That Old ‘Apple-a-Day’ Adage Still Rings True

Fitness Goes to Orbit With Breathe

FitOrbit, the online solution that provides 24/7 accessibility to certified personal trainers, is telling members to “Breathe,” by launching its new logging and tracking experience. “Breathe” offers users the ability to select meals and workouts online, and with a click of the mouse it lets the trainer know what you’ve accomplished for the day. This online tracking also allows for a “quick add” with an intelligent algorithm that identifies what users are looking for, and even remembers preferences and favorites.

FitOrbit’s “Breathe” allows users to talk to their trainer anytime and anyway, without even having log onto the Website, as it now offers an email app that can be used with mobile phones. Sounds like a breath of fresh air! Press release after the jump

Jawbone Cleans UP Issues

Activity meters are the new fitness gadget to beat. Unfortunately, the new-ish UP from Jawbone may have been beaten. However the company is making strides to remedy the situation and keep its users happy. Even if making its users happy means giving them the device for free.

Continue reading Jawbone Cleans UP Issues

Fitness Journal: Tips and Tricks for a Fit Thanksgiving (and Other Holidays)

Photo by Wish Upon a Cupcake

Staying fit during Thanksgiving is a challenge for many of us, but attending these food-heavy family feasts doesn’t mean you have to gorge until you explode nor do you have to give up having fun in the name of fitness. Here are some simple things you can do to have a healthy Thanksgiving or any holiday celebration.

Prepare a Wholesome Dinner
If you are hosting a holiday dinner, you have the advantage of deciding what healthy foods to cook for you and your guests. Unless you have informed them of the menu ahead of time, keep in mind that your diners may be expecting traditional fixings, so you may not want to plan a meal completely around tofu or seitan.

You can serve a traditional meal but apply some adjustments. For example, you can cook lean turkey breasts instead of the whole bird, eliminating the dark meat. You can use a grain such as quinoa for the stuffing instead of bread, and amp up the sweet potato while cutting out white potato. The Mayo Clinic has a list of healthy recipes you can try, and you can find other recipes at sites such as Epicurious and the Food Network. Continue reading Fitness Journal: Tips and Tricks for a Fit Thanksgiving (and Other Holidays)

KineticShift Reading List

httpv://youtu.be/Nl-qdGuREZo

Happy Thanksgiving. This week our reading list includes some holiday tips to eating healthy and staying fit.

Holiday Workout by Kim Strother

Fitness icon Kim Stroher drills you on your workout moves in an elf hat. The five-minute video offers a good way to burn calories from all that pie.

[via YouTube: Holiday Workout with Kim Strother]

Continue reading KineticShift Reading List

Hands On: SmartyPants Gummy Vitamins for Grownups

It’s after breakfast. I just opened a pack of gummy candies and ate five. Would you believe it if I told you I just had my daily recommendation for vitamins and minerals? It’s not what I had for breakfast. The gummy candies are SmartyPants Gummy Vitamins for Grownups.

SmartyPants is known for the gummy vitamins they make for kids. Now they’re available in grownup portions. The multivitamin includes Omega 3 and Vitamin D. Among the other vitamins are 100 percent daily-recommended values for vitamin C, vitamin D (150 percent), vitamin E, folic acid, vitamin B-12 (1667 percent), and iodine. Clocking in under 100 percent are daily sources of vitamin A, thiamin and zinc. The supplements also include Omega 3 fatty acids, EPA and DHA, though these are not rated for daily consumption despite studies that show their benefits. Continue reading Hands On: SmartyPants Gummy Vitamins for Grownups

FIT CORE Armband Tracks Your Every Move

Losing weight is easy. It’s keeping yourself motivated that’s hard. Fortunately, there are plenty of gadgets that can help with the latter. Among them is BodyMedia’s FIT CORE Armband, a device that straps onto your arm and tracks your every activity from workouts to sleep.

The new model is 33% smaller than its predecessor and yet it packs all the same features. Just strap it around your arm and the band’s four sensors gather data on the amount of calories you’ve burned, the number of steps you’ve taken, your heart rate, and all other physical activity you’ve performed throughout the day.

Stats are then uploaded to an online Activity Manager where you can track your performance and input your meals using the food log. The revamped Activity Manager now features a FITcoach, which provides personalized feedback based on your stats and goals. The device will even analyze your sleep intake and tell you if you’re getting enough shut eye. If you prefer to receive minute-by-minute updates on your stats, there’s an optional $99 Display, which provides you with a tiny monochrome LCD to view your activity level.

(Video after the jump) Continue reading FIT CORE Armband Tracks Your Every Move