health

Addicted to Fitness Show Notes – Heart Rate Training & Fit Bit Breakdown

The first month of 2017 is nearly complete and some may be welcoming new habits after weeks of hard work setting new routines. On this week’s podcast, Nick and I kick-off by sharing the things we’ve added to our own fitness/health routines so far.

Nick started the year by doing a series of monthly challenges. For January, he’s given up an overindulgence – alcohol. In addition, he’s incorporating daily morning workouts to try and lose the pesky holiday pounds that almost all of us pack on.

I, on the other hand, finally started exploring a quest into a new topic of my health, which is also the topic of our podcast today – Heart Rate Monitoring and Training.

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Nick shares the formula for how to calculate your Zone 2 (fat burning zone):

180 – your age = your zone 2 beats per minute (BPM) OR being able to hold a conversation while exercising (e.g. if you’re 30 years old, you subtract that from 180 and your Zone 2 heart rate is 150 bpm, give or take a few beats)

In order to better understand my own heart rate efficiencies (or otherwise) I invested in the best monitor for the money I was looking to spend and bought the Fitbit Charge 2.

My motivations for wanting to better understand this element of fitness and how it contributes to my health comes after long battles with stress and poor sleep, two things many people are likely grappling with as well. The Peloton classes introduced me to how heart rate training can improve your fitness and I had read countless articles about how it benefits your overall health.

The Mayo Clinic states that a normal resting heart rate (RHR) for adults is 60 to 100 beats per minute. Fitbit compiled their substantial user data and estimated 50-90 BPM is average for an adult.

So what affects your resting heart rate? Well, as it turns out, quite a lot:

  • Activity level
  • Fitness level
  • Air temperature
  • Body position
  • Emotions
  • Body Mass Index (BMI)
  • Medications

You can impact your own heart rate in a number of ways:

  • Physical exercise (15-20 min/day will lower RHR)
  • Reduce body fat/increase muscle mass
  • Mindfulness

In terms of exercise, Zone 2 training is how many athletes build endurance. It’s all about low intensity for long periods of time – staying in that fat burning zone.

I’ve been experimenting with some of the Zone 2 training on the Peloton so far and have already seen some impact on my RHR.

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Much of what I’ve learned in the last few weeks is due to my Fitbit Charge 2. Costing a fairly reasonable $130 (to start) the Fitbit Charge 2 was highly rated by CNET, even more so since Fitbit launched a software upgrade late last year.

In the last part of the podcast I get into the details of my own review of the fitness monitor, including the ups and downs (because nothing is perfect, right?).

Pros:

  • Not bulky
  • Changeable bands
  • Useful mobile app/interface
  • Battery life is good (4-5 days before needing a charge)

Cons:

  • Absolutely can’t get wet
  • Charger is awkward

Some of the features I like most include a cardio fitness rating. It gives a rating based on its estimated VO2 Max and indicates your overall performance in endurance-based activities. Currently, mine is sitting around 38-42, which is “good – very good” for a female of my age (positive sign!).

The app is a whole other side of this product, which we’ll get into in a future episode, but as of now, I would recommend the Fitbit Charge 2. It holds me to new levels of accountability, further helping me stick to a healthy lifestyle.

Now all I need to work on is adding some friends to my Fitbit circle!

We’d love hear what goals you set or accomplished so far this year. Please feel free to share them with us in the comment section, on Facebook or email us at elementaltampa@gmail.com. Your feedback and support has helped us grow into a 5 star rated podcast and we are extremely grateful. Keep rating, reviewing and sharing the podcast and let’s stay healthy year.

Links for this week’s episode

iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/addicted-to-fitness-podcast/id1121420986?mt=2

Android: http://subscribeonandroid.com/addictedtofitness.libsyn.com/rss

Website: http://addictedtofitness.libsyn.com/a-breakdown-of-heart-rate-training-the-fit-bit-charge-20

 

Addicted to Fitness Show Notes – Interview with World’s Tallest Bodybuilder, Aaron Reed

This week, Nick interviews former pro-wrestler and the world’s tallest competitive bodybuilder, Aaron Reed. Not only has Aaron worked hard to become a beast of an athlete, he’s also the author of the nutrition book The Supernatural Lifestyle, which serves as the basis for the Eat Like Aaron meal prep service he offers in Tampa Bay.

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Image created with photo courtesy of Luis Battistini (@luisx_com)

The road that got him to where he is today has not been a cake-walk. In fact, Aaron faced a humorless, life-threatening a-hole, also known as leukemia, as a child. He was diagnosed young and had to beat that monster before he was able to follow in his family’s athletic footsteps.

His late start didn’t deter him from finding his passions, though. Aaron learned early on that he was good at lifting weights and sought his inspiration from legend, Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Fast forward a bit, and Aaron talks about his days in the WWE and how an injury as a pro wrestler led to him discovering that he had hepatitis. Faced with the choice of going back on chemotherapy, he made the decision to treat his illness with nutrition. A lack of help from other fitness experts led him to become a self-taught nutritionist, passionate about using his diet as a healing and strengthening force in life.

Aaron’s three rules to nutrition:

  1. Eat whole foods
  2. Don’t combine sugar and fat
  3. Eat certain macronutrients at certain times

His learned expertise in nutrition resulted in him writing his book in 2011 and subsequently starting his meal prep service, which focuses on raising insulin sensitivity (that’s a good goal) by eating more fat on its own and fewer carbohydrates.

When asked what kinds of meals are included in the Eat Like Aaron meal plan, he told Nick:

  • Carbs + protein meal (e.g. chicken and rice)
  • Protein + fat meal (e.g. grass-fed burger and guacamole)
  • You can have vegetables at any time because they provide fiber (not suggested for post workout)
  • Eating fat is important because it helps with hormone production and sex drive (hey-yo!)

Aaron also shared his belief that artificial sweeteners are a big no-no because they dull insulin sensitivity and may be the cause of visceral belly fat. So don’t expect to see those anywhere in his meal options.

As the first body builder we’ve interviewed for the podcast, Aaron set a really high bar (and not just because he’s 6’7″)! He’s a friendly and talkative guy with an incredibly inspiring story and a clear passion for nutrition. Seeing how far his knowledge has already taken him is motivating proof of just how critical diet is to your health.

Do yourself a favor and connect with/follow Aaron on his social channels – Facebook, Instagram (@aaronw.reed), Twitter (@AaronWReed)

Oh! And just in case you need a little comparison to see what we mean by the world’s tallest bodybuilder, check out the side-by-side selfie of Nick and Aaron below.

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Let us know how you’re enjoying the podcast between episodes and keep sharing the feedback either on Facebook or by leaving a review in the iTunes store. We love hearing from you! As always, thank you so much for listening and supporting.

Links to this week’s episode

iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/interview-worlds-tallest-bodybuilder/id1121420986?i=1000380018657&mt=2

Android: http://subscribeonandroid.com/addictedtofitness.libsyn.com/rss

Website: http://addictedtofitness.libsyn.com/an-interview-with-the-worlds-tallest-bodybuilder-aaron-reed

 

Addicted to Fitness Show Notes – Our Whole Body Cryotherapy Experience

Hope you are ready to chill with us on this episode as we get into a review and interview on cryotherapy.

Nick speaks with Jeff Houghtaling, who is the manager of the Tampa location of US Cryotherapy Tampa, a franchise based out of California. They discuss the difference between US Cryo’s whole body cryotherapy (WBC) and the partial body cryotherapy aka cryo-saunas (i.e. different cooling component, more thermoreceptors stimulate, breathing in cold air, etc. – more info).

They also chat about the WBC chamber, which a group of ETT clients bravely jump into later in the episode.

The benefits of cryotherapy are varied and attract a number of different types of clientele – from athletes to people looking to reduce wrinkles.

Because the therapy uses pretty extreme cold temperatures, there is quite a good deal of safety equipment and procedures include covered hands, feet, ears, nose and mouth, along with limited exposure times (3 minutes is the max for the full WBC chamber).

Nick shares his initial reaction on how much more intense the full chamber was than a cryo-sauna.

There’s more to the cryotherapy facilities than just the chamber, there’s a warm-up area and Jeff describes all the various equipment they have. While it’s not mandatory, there are some benefits that Jeff goes through why the equipment should be used.

The ETT team ventured into the unknown with a group therapy session and we interview everyone for their reactions after emerging from the frosty chamber, including frozen eyelashes (probably good to not wear mascara in the chamber).

These heat photos track the before and after from Nick and my trip into the WBC chamber.

Overall the whole crew’s experience was really positive and almost everyone walked out wanting to try it again in the future. Armed with a new appreciation for the cold, US Cryotherapy taught us all about our limitations and that we can all use a good chill from time to time.

Don’t forget to drop us a line between podcasts and keep the feedback coming either on Facebook or by leaving a review in the iTunes store.

Links for this week’s episode

iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/our-first-whole-body-cryotherapy/id1121420986?i=1000379748600&mt=2

Android: http://subscribeonandroid.com/addictedtofitness.libsyn.com/rss

Website: http://addictedtofitness.libsyn.com/our-first-whole-body-cryotherapy-experience

Addicted to Fitness Show Notes – 2016 Year in Review

Shannon here. I’m back!

The end of one year and the start of another prompts many traditions, including a look back at the year we’ve bid farewell to. 2016 was a pretty epic one for the podcast, being the inaugural year!

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We covered some great topics in the past year and picked out some special highlights for you in this week’s episode.

  • Interview Highlight – Vinnie Tortorich explaining the NSNG diet and how it could have a great impact on the country’s obesity epidemic.
  • Taste Test Highlight – Bone both review discussing the taste and benefits of this popular “new” food item.
  • Product Review Highlight – Peloton cycle review including an on-bike workout going through the features the bike has to offer.

Mostly, we want to thank all the listeners for your support which has helped keep us going through this first year and made Addicted to Fitness a 5-star rated podcast in the iTunes store. We are so appreciative for all your support. Don’t forget you can get in touch with us between podcasts and keep the feedback coming either on Facebook or by leaving a review in the iTunes store.

Thanks again for listening and Happy New Year!

Links to this week’s episode:

iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/addicted-to-fitness-2016-year/id1121420986?i=1000379513408&mt=2

Android: http://subscribeonandroid.com/addictedtofitness.libsyn.com/rss

Website: http://addictedtofitness.libsyn.com/addicted-to-fitness-a-year-in-review

Addicted to Fitness Show Notes – 2016 Health & Fitness Accomplishments

I’m taking the show notes back this week as Shannon recovers after a stellar Christmas Day performance at our place. The woman is a hell of a host let me tell you. You all hear how passionate she is about exercise each week on the podcast so I’m sure you can imagine her engineering an all day Christmas extravaganza. With one holiday in the books, and New Years well in sight, Shannon and I thought it be appropriate to look back at our 2016 health and fitness achievements on this week’s episode of Addicted to Fitness.

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Listing our achievements for 2016 made us grow nostalgic of all we were able to accomplish in the past year. We reminisced about the first Elemental Training Tampa (ETT) mudrun, coaching Carmin at Mike Calta’s Punchout 2, Shannon purchasing and loving her Peloton cycle, my tumultuous year of jiu-jitsu and Shannon’s dedication to a healthier way of eating (she’s already lost of 10 lbs!). Another achievement Shannon and I discuss is ETT’s first Facebook Live workout, which is happening December 26th at 11am EST. All you have to do is go to ETT’s Facebook page and you can take part in a intense HIIT workout that will help you work off some of those delicious Christmas calories.

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This podcast itself is most definitely an accomplishment for us in 2016. Producing a weekly health and fitness podcast was a goal I set before this year started and I’m proud to say we were able to accomplish it. We’d love hear what goals you accomplished this year. Please feel free to share them with us in the comment section, on our various social channels or you can email them to us at elementaltampa@gmail.com. Your feedback and support has helped us grow into a 5 star rated podcast and we are extremely grateful. Keep rating, reviewing and sharing the podcast and let’s stay healthy as we transition into another year.

Links for this week’s episode

iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/our-2016-health-fitness-accomplishments/id1121420986?i=1000379331633&mt=2

Android: http://subscribeonandroid.com/addictedtofitness.libsyn.com/rss

Website: http://addictedtofitness.libsyn.com/our-2016-health-fitness-accomplishments

Addicted to Fitness Show Notes – From the Vault: Sleep Supplements & Biggest Loser

Guest post by Shannon.

As we draw closer to the holidays and the close of another year, it’s a great time for a flashback.

One of the great things about podcasting is that you have a store of regular discussions to look back on and relive. Thus, we bring you one of the Vault episode from the earlier rendition of the podcast known as the ETT Wrap Show.

In this podcast episode, Nick and I review his and the ETT race team’s performances in the Mud Endeavor 5k, how he avoided serious injury and how this race gives other obstacle course races, like Tough Mudder, a run for their money.

 

NOTE: The next ETT team competition is going to be the 2017 Gasparilla 5K on Feb. 25th in Tampa. Want to join the team? Register here and when you choose a team, look for Elemental Training Tampa.

We also get into my constant battle with getting back to a normal sleep routine after enjoying a total lack of sleep structure on vacation. Could simply getting out of an established routine be to blame or is work stress adding to the challenge? We reference a Primal Blueprint podcast and explain the cortisol effect and what supplements can help depleted adrenal glands.

Getting more into news, we chatted about a New York Times article describing former “The Biggest Loser” contestants’ post-show weight gain. A bit of friendly debate around whether a calorie deficit diet really is the best way to keep weight off, follows. It’s a common practice by celebrity trainers, but health experts don’t necessarily agree, opting for quality over quantity.

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We’ll be bringing you an all new podcast next week, so keep listening for more health and fitness information each week. Let us know if you have any topics you want to hear. Send us an email – elementaltampa@gmail.com – or give us a head’s up on social. As always, rate, review and share the podcast. We love and appreciate the support. Stay healthy this week peeps!

Links to this week’s episode

iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/from-vault-mud-runs-sleep/id1121420986?i=1000378584024&mt=2

Android: http://subscribeonandroid.com/addictedtofitness.libsyn.com/rss

Website: http://addictedtofitness.libsyn.com/from-the-vault-mud-runs-sleep-supplements-the-biggest-loser

 

 

Addicted to Fitness Show Notes – First Floatation Therapy Experience

It’s Shannon and I’d like to welcome you to my inaugural Addicted to Fitness Show Notes post. Seeing as Nick went on a little excursion for the latest podcast episode without me (how dare he?!), I’m taking on the recap without his input. Hope you enjoy!

If you’ve made it through the eight episodes of Netflix’s Stranger Things, you’ll recall a specific scene where a giant pool was filled with salt and water in the middle of an abandoned gym to create a makeshift sensory deprivation tank that allows El to fall deep into her thoughts to track down the Demogorgon.

This may sound a bit on the sci-fi side. You might even think I’m pulling your leg.

Does such a thing exist outside of top-secret labs?

In fact, it does! Floatation therapy has been popping up in cities with more scientific credibility offering promises of improved calm, supple skin and clear creative consciousness. Convenient enough to tack onto the end of a long workday or even during a long lunch, fitness centers, spas and health clinics are adding floatation tanks and offering 60-90 minute sessions.

One such location, Sacred Floats & Gems Company in Seminole Heights (Tampa), hosted Nick for his first experience at getting tanked. The manager, Memi, and her colleague Grant guided him through the experience expertly, answering his many questions.

One of those questions, you might be thinking as well – Is it true that the point is to block out all outside stimuli?

Believe it! Each tank (for one) is filled with water (usually only about 11 inches) and 1000 pounds of Epsom salts (which are actually skin nourishing magnesium sulfate) to ensure anyone will float. Seriously, anyone.

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As the floater, you strip down to your birthday suit and lay in the water – a lovely 93.5 degrees – and immediately feel like as though you’re floating in outer space, a sensation helped along by the fact the inside of the tank is pitch black. You let your body go, drop your ears beneath the surface of the water and enjoy the total lack of light or sound.

It’s just you, the sounds of your breath, and whatever voices and thoughts you need to quiet down in your head. After an hour to an hour and a half, your mind quiets and you may even find yourself drifting off to sleep.

Nick dives in and shares the details of his experience, along with an interview with Memi, in episode #26 of our podcast. Float on over and check it out!

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After listening to this episode, we’d love to hear what you think. You can always leave comments below, email us at elementaltampa@gmail.com or better yet, give us a rating and review in the iTunes store. We strive to give you interesting and helpful health & fitness information each week. We enjoy producing the podcast and we hope you enjoy listening. Thanks again for all your support and have a healthy & happy holiday week.

Links to this week’s episode

iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/our-first-floatation-therapy/id1121420986?i=1000378089494&mt=2

Android: http://subscribeonandroid.com/addictedtofitness.libsyn.com/rss

Website: http://addictedtofitness.libsyn.com/our-first-floatation-therapy-experience

 

An Interview with the Lean Green DAD, Cory Warren

Thirteen hours a week. That’s the minimum amount of training time needed to prepare for an ironman triathlon. I learned that during my interview with the Lean Green DAD, Cory Warren. Cory was training for triathlons when he discovered that a plant based diet helped him recover faster and helped his wife manage her auto-immune disease. Since that point, he and his family have been advocates for the plant based lifestyle. Whether it be in his blog, YouTube videos, or on his podcast, Cory promotes the benefits of incorporating more plants into your diet. During our interview, Cory and I discussed supplements that are necessary on a vegan diet, how to motivate your kids to eat more veggies and an app he’s developing that will change the way you shop for groceries. Cory is dedicated to helping people and I feel privileged to have him on the Addicted to Fitness podcast.

In addition to our interview with the Lean Green DAD, Shannon and I discuss a pair of upcoming ETT events on this week’s episode. First on November 12th, ETT member Carmin will be competing in the main event of the Mike Calta Punchout. Even though this event is more entertainment than sport, Carmin has been training like a real fighter, which is why I believe her fight will easily be the fight of the night. The next ETT event Shannon and I discuss this week is the next ETT group workout on the 19th of November. Once again, if you live in the Tampa Bay Area, come join us for this free workout. All workout participants receive a 15% discount at one of Tampa’s best coffee shops, Spaddy’s Coffee.

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Earlier this week, I noticed that we had surpassed the 2000 download mark. I never thought anyone would even listen to this podcast, let alone it be downloaded over 2000 times! Thanks so much for your continued support. You all keep listening and we’ll keep putting out fun and engaging health & fitness news on a weekly basis. If you haven’t done so already, please rate, review and share the podcast. Thanks for the continued support and stay healthy this week peeps!

Links for this week’s episode

iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/interview-lean-green-dad-cory/id1121420986?i=1000377569626&mt=2

Android: http://subscribeonandroid.com/addictedtofitness.libsyn.com/rss

Website: http://addictedtofitness.libsyn.com/an-interview-with-the-lean-green-dad-cory-warren