exercise

Addicted to Fitness Show Notes – A Review of the Headspace Meditation App

Another week and another awesome episode of the Addicted to Fitness podcast!

This week, Shannon and I investigate the scientific-based benefits of mediation and give a review of the Headspace smartphone mediation app. But before we jump into those topics, we give our training recaps.

I’ve been trying to do a better job of shooting videos for the @ettampa Instagram feed, especially boxing/kickboxing videos. Striking instruction is my bread & butter and I want to share that with my online audience.

I’ve also been adding more steel mace (see pic below) exercises into client workouts. I love using the steel mace because its highly uneven weight distribution can make any common exercise, like a lunge, much more challenging. Plus, they make you look BADASS!

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Shannon has been slowly, but surely, adding workouts back into her routine. She’s been able to do a small amount of yoga and HIIT sessions, but a reoccurring vertigo condition has somewhat slowed her progress. We asked if listeners have any suggestions on herbal supplements that can help with vertigo, maybe even an essential oil, which we plan on investigating more in a future episode.

After we wrap up our respective training recaps, we dive into the topic of mediation. Thanks to one of our favorite sources of evidence supported health information, healthline.com, we list the 12 science-based benefits of mediation:

  1. Reduces stress
  2. Controls anxiety
  3. Promotes emotional health
  4. Enhances self-awareness
  5. Lengthens attention span
  6. May reduce age-related memory loss
  7. Can generate kindness
  8. May help fight addictions
  9. Improves sleep
  10. Helps control pain
  11. Can decrease blood pressure
  12. You can meditate anywhere

The last benefit from that list was really made a possibility thanks to smartphone apps like Headspace.  I learned about Headspace while listening to the Tim Ferriss podcast. I took advantage of their free 10 day subscription several times. Then I finally upgraded to the full subscription version, which cost about $95 annually.

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The app was created/founded in 2010 by marketing & brand developer Rich Pierson and Andy Puddicombe. Andy is a former Buddhist monk and the voice of the guided meditations. Rich and Andy’s mission is to remove the mysticism attached to meditation and make it more attractive to a broader audience.

Once I upgraded to the full version, I had to complete 90 foundational sessions in order to unlock any of the other packages contained in the app. Those foundation sessions walk you through the best methods to achieve a meditative state – focus on breathing, be present, acknowledge outside distractions (sounds, smells, etc) but always return to the breath.

One of the first packages I used after my foundation sessions was the “pregnancy” package. As you can imagine, I listened to it while Shannon was pregnant with Ella, and it help teach me how my character/mood could affect the development of the baby. The app is full of packages that introduce an intention for a subject area that you want to improve on (e.g. anxiety, motivation, sleep, etc.).

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Headspace also has guided mediations that you can listen to while performing a specific task (e.g. cooking, walking, commuting, etc.), mini 1-3 minute mediations you can use if you need to refresh or focus and animations that help explain the different aspects of mediation.

I’m a big fan of the new “everyday headspace” feature which provides a new intentions daily and allows you to change the length of time you want to mediate. Shannon has been a fan of mediation for a long time due to her years in yoga. After she started using the app, she realized how many of the same methods she’s already been using. She believes headspace is great for introducing people to the foundations of mediation, but from what she’s seen so far, it may be more geared towards beginners than experienced mediators.

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If you’re a user of the Headspace app, please let us know what you think of it by leaving us a comment/message on the Addicted to Fitness Podcast Facebook page. As you heard in this episode, if you leave us a comment or message, we will read it in a new segment Shannon dubbed Listeners Talk Back.

Don’t forget to take advantage of the awesome 20% off promo code (“ATF”) from our sponsors, The Hemp Coffee Exchange, so you can stock up on some tasty, and nutritious, coffee – the perfect follow-up to a good mediation session.

Links to this week’s episode

iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/addicted-to-fitness-podcast/id1121420986?mt=2&i=1000402046714

Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/nick-burch-702220833/a-review-of-the-headspace

Website: http://addictedtofitness.libsyn.com/a-review-of-the-headspace-mediation-app

Weekend Workout – Strengthening Your Core Should Be A Primary Concern

The primary mover is the muscle or muscles generating the majority of the “force” during a particular exercise. For example, during a bench press, the pectorals are the primary movers. During a curl, the biceps are the primary movers and in the weekend workout below, the muscle groups that make up your core are the primary movers.

Performing five, 10 rep supersets of this workout will help strengthen all the muscles in your core, not just your 6-pack (rectus abdominis). Don’t forget to warmup and modify the workout to match your fitness level.

If you complete this or any weekend workout, please let us know in the comment section below OR you can send us a pic/video of you doing the workout on social media (Facebook, Instagram or Twitter). ENJOY!

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Addicted to Fitness Show Notes – The Health Benefits of Sauna Use

Welcome back and thanks again for taking time to pop over and check out this week’s Addicted to Fitness Show Notes.

As always, we truly appreciate all the likes, reviews and comments. Keep, them coming!

We start off with a quick training recap.

On the one side, Nick has been doing a lot of sandbag of training lately. The system he’s becoming versed in is ultimate sandbag training, also know as DVRT, which is what they use at Tampa Strength  (they even have a 100 lb sandbag). Nick also mentioned that Tampa Strength will be launching their group mobility class February 6th, which you can read more about in this blog post on their website for more details on the class and the importance of mobility.

Then there’s me, who’s really only been able to add a couple of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) workouts back into my routine. Workouts have been brief (only about 12-minutes each) when Ella is napping, but at least it’s something!

Now, let’s heat things up a bit as we get to the main topic of discussion. Let’s talk about the health benefits of saunas.

Saunas have been used around the world for an extremely long time for relaxation and a range of health benefits. There has been a good deal of quality scientific research on the health benefits, most of which is from Finland, where they are utilized regularly by citizens.

A sauna is a small room or building used for keeping heat (steam or dry) in it. The types of saunas:

  • Finnish sauna
  • Electrically heated sauna
  • Smoke sauna
  • Steam sauna/room
  • Infrared sauna

A quick search for at-home saunas led to us to find a range from $1000-$1500, and even some cheaper, DIY versions (picture below).

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Courtesy of homedepot.com

Some quick stats:

  • A  2015 study stated that using a sauna multiple times a week can actually significantly improve longevity by reducing all-cause mortality by up to 40%.
  • Another study suggests that sauna use can help improve athletic performance, muscle gain and proper regulation of hormones
  • Dr. Mercola describes the positive effect on chronic brain-related conditions regular sauna use can have in a number of studies in his article.

Saunas have been touted for their health benefits since ancient times and now the science is actually backing up those claims. Some people still see them as more of a relaxation/luxury than an actual health boosting practice, but there is clear evidence they should be used for the latter!

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If you are a regular sauna user, please let us know on the Addicted to Fitness Podcast Facebook page. As previously mentioned we appreciate all the feedback you’ve been giving us as of late and we’ll make sure you read your comments on a future ATF episode.

We also encourage you to give us a rating and review in iTunes. May not seem like a big deal but it’s a quick, easy task that can really help us reach more people.

As a little show of a gratitude for your listenership, use the promo code “ATF” at our sponsor’s website, hempcoffeeexchange.com, and get 20% off their delicious sustainable super coffee.

Links to this week’s episode

iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-health-benefits-of-sauna-use/id1121420986?i=1000401490276&mt=2

Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/nick-burch-702220833/the-health-benefits-of-sauna

Website: http://addictedtofitness.libsyn.com/the-health-benefits-of-sauna-use

Weekend Workout – Learning To Fight Can Save Your Life In Many Ways

If you’re new to the blog and/or the Addicted to Fitness Podcast, you may not know that my fitness epiphany began when I started boxing & kickboxing. The total body movements required to throw a proper kick or punch transformed by body. It also made me realize that you don’t need free weights or barbells to get ripped.

That’s why I’m always excited to share weekend workouts that contain boxing & kickboxing techniques. I combined a pair of striking combos with a couple bodyweight exercises to provide a cardio boosting, strength building workout.

Head to the ETT YouTube channel (link) if you need further instruction on the techniques listed below. I recommend performing the workout in interval format (30 sec work/30 sec rest) for 12-20 minutes. Don’t forget to warmup and modify the workout to match your fitness level.

If you complete this or any weekend workout, please let us know in the comment section below OR you can send us a pic/video of you doing the workout on social media (Facebook, Instagram or Twitter). ENJOY!

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Addicted to Fitness Show Notes – An Interview with the Founder of the Corporate Warrior Podcast & Blog Lawrence Neal

We are super excited to be bringing you this week’s of Addicted to Fitness mainly because it features an interview with author, podcaster and blogger Lawrence Neal. Lawrence reached out to us via email and after I did my research, I knew I wanted him on the podcast.

Lawrence has been producing the Corporate Warrior podcast & blog since 2014 and has spoken to a laundry list of luminaries from the world of health and fitness, many of which we frequently mention on ATF.

During our interview, Lawrence shared that his approach to fitness was altered after watching a specific video from Dr. Doug McGuff in 2012. This video inspired him to read Dr. McGuff’s book, Body by Science, and reach out to the doctor to request an interview.

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This request turned into the first episode of the Corporate Warrior podcast and has now lead to him recording over 100 episodes. Lawrence mentioned that his interviews with Dr. McGuff are some of his favorites and ones he’d recommend to ATF listeners. He also mentioned that his interview with board-certified family medicine physician and “Diet and Exercise 2.0” creator Dr. Ted Naiman was a great one to listen to.

Lawrence and I also discussed the ebook he wrote on fat loss. His experience & research has shown him that diets higher in quality protein and lower in processed carbohydrates have the most potential to provide individuals with a sustainable way to lose weight. The ebook also provides information on Lawrence’s perferred form of strength training.

Lawrence is a big proponent of High Intensity Training (HIT). There are different variations of HIT, but Lawrence explains that it generally consists of performing a single set of an exercise, for every muscle group, to muscular failure in a single workout. The goal of HIT is to find the minimal effective dose needed to stimulate the most physiological benefits. This allows the user to optimize his or her time in and out of the gym.

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These are just a few of the topics Lawrence and I discussed on this week’s episode. I encourage you to listen to the entire episode and check out all of Lawrence’s content at corporatewarrior.org. You can also subscribe to his podcast by searching for “Corporate Warrior” in the same app you use to listen to Addicted to Fitness.

If you use Apple Podcasts in iTunes to listen to your podcasts, please give Addicted to Fitness and rating & review. It only takes a few minutes but can help us spread the good word of fitness to a broader audience.

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We’d also love for you to like & follow the Addicted to Fitness Podcast Facebook page. We have exclusive content up there including an upcoming Facebook Live plank challenge. You can also post topic suggestions for future episodes of the podcast.

Last but not least, please visit our sponsor’s website, hempcoffeeexchange.com, and when you buy some of their sustainable super coffee, use the code “ATF” at checkout to get 20% off.

Links to this week’s episode

iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/addicted-to-fitness-podcast/id1121420986?mt=2&i=1000400947934

Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/nick-burch-702220833/an-interview-with-the-1

Website: http://addictedtofitness.libsyn.com/an-interview-with-corporate-warrior-podcast-blog-founder-lawrence-neal

 

Weekend Workout – Landlubbers Need to Stay Fit Too

Gasparilla is a local Tampa tradition that is celebrated by a fictitious pirate invasion and subsequent parade. Parade attendees need to be in peak physical condition in order grab the highly sought after Gasparilla beads that are hurled from elaborate floats. This weekend workout is designed to help those landlubbers grab the most pirate booty.

Even if you’re not joining in on the pirate themed festivities, you can still benefit from completing this bodyweight workout. I recommend performing the workout in interval format (30 sec work/30 sec rest) for 12-20 minutes. Don’t forget to warmup and modify the workout to match your fitness level.

Head to the Tampa Strength YouTube channel (link) for video demonstrations of the exercises in this weekend workout. Let us know in the comment section below if you completed this or any weekend workout. Arrrgghh!

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Addicted to Fitness Show Notes – A Review of the Health & Fitness Products Debuted at CES 2018

Good day, our awesome listeners!

We’re back with a slightly different twist on fitness-related info for you today, but first, let’s talk training recaps.

I’ll go first (ladies first, right?).

Well, I did it. I quite literally got back on the bike – our Peloton cycle that is. I took some new workout clothes from *Fabletics for a spin in fact! After being a member of the clothing retailer for a while, I can enthusiastically endorse them, especially when you opt to become a member, which gets you some seriously sweet deals off the apparel line.

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*Referal Links Used

Nick, meanwhile, has been busy applying the learnings he received at a recent TRX training course. He’s been adding the suspension training exercises into workouts and he’s been so happy with what he’s learned, he wanted to share some tips with those who are interested.

So for those looking to add TRX training to their repertoire, here are six items to AVOID when using the suspension trainer from TRX:

  1. Starting wrong
  2. Stopping your set
  3. Sagging your body
  4. Slacking of the bands
  5. Sawing the bands back and forth
  6. Scrapping the bands against your body

Be sure any trainer who you’re looking to work with, knows these basics. Better yet, check out Tampa Strength YouTube channel for TRX exercise video demonstrations to learn the moves yourself.

Now, we embrace our inner gadget-loving geek (or at least I do) to talk about the latest health and fitness technology to come out of this year’s Consumer Electronics Show (CES).

I knew about this tradeshow from years back when I used to work the event for clients, but it’s since become a hugely attended event for general consumers. Much of the tech they display at CES is what you’ll see appearing in stores this year!

This year, health/wellness and fitness technology made a big statement.

We broke down our top picks (from the more than 3,900 exhibiting companies) of products into four categories:

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(Image Source)

  • Sleep:
    • Philips Smart Sleep – 1st wearable solution to not only monitor, but improve deep sleep quality
    • 360 Smart Bed – bed that tracks sleep and adjusts to maximize your sleep
  • Health monitor:

Check out the Addicted to Fitness Podcast Facebook page & give us a rating and review in iTunes – it’s a quick, easy task that can really help us reach more people.

Links to this week’s episode:

iTunes – https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/a-review-of-the-health-fitness-products-debuted-at-ces-2018/id1121420986?i=1000400409706&mt=2

Soundcloud – https://soundcloud.com/nick-burch-702220833/a-review-of-the-health-fitness

Website – http://addictedtofitness.libsyn.com/a-review-of-the-health-fitness-products-debuted-at-ces-2018

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Weekend Workout – Turning Squats into a Total Body Exercise

Want an exercise that works multiple muscle groups simultaneously? Then you need compound exercises and this edition of the weekend workout just happens to be full of them. After you complete one circuit of the squat variations below, you’ll know that they’re much more than just leg exercises.

Head to the ETT YouTube channel (link) if you need further instruction on several of the exercises listed below. I recommend performing the workout in interval format (30 sec work/30 sec rest) for 16-24 minutes. Don’t forget to warmup and modify the workout to match your fitness level.

Let us know in the comment section below if you completed this or any weekend workout. ENJOY!

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