Fat Is Not Your Fault
admin 
[ Note: Fitness Guru, Jon Benson has kindly agreed for Pilates Exercises Online to share his insight and expertise, enjoy! ]
In this video I hope to shed some light on some provocative issues. First, craving fatty, sugary, high-calorie foods is not your fault. However, it is your responsibility—you have to learn to manage this vestibule pattern passed down through generations of DNA.
I have included a transcription of the video below. Enjoy!
Note: Thanks to too many years in scuba, I continually say “vestibular” in the video. The correct term of course is vestigial. But other than that… ; )
Please press the Play button to start the video…
Note: You can learn more about how to escape the “vestigial loop” covered in this video while still eating your favorite foods and losing all the weight you want by picking up my book The Ever Other Day Diet below…
TRANSCRIPTION
Hi, Jon Benson from Jon Benson Fitness dot com. Again, excuse the video-less video… my iCam is busted, but I’m getting it fixed this weekend.
If you missed the first video in this series, “Low Carb Lunacy”, be sure to check that out. Link below:
Fat is not your fault.
Craving foods high in fat is not your fault.
Craving foods high in sugar is not your fault.
Craving high-calorie foods is not your fault.
Sounds wonderful, doesn’t it? Well, it’s a biological and evolutionary fact.
BUT….
Guess what.
Just as a ruptured appendix is not your fault, it’s damn well your responsibility.
Just as your appendix is primarily useless; a vestigial organ no longer required for daily function, so is… yep.
Your cravings for sugar, fat, and calories.
Picture yourself living on the Savannah countless thousands of years ago. Everything you ate you either hunted or gathered—and for most of your days hunting was far more rewarded by your clan and by the females than gathering.
Gathering was the sign of a poor hunter. In fact, there’s an old joke: Vegetarian in the Cherokee tongue means Bad Hunter.
Turns out there may be more to this joke than you think.
On the Savannah, you might go days without food. Hunger and discomfort was associated mentally with “gathering” — picking up second choice. Is it any wonder so many of us as children seem to have a built-in aversion to vegetables? Our ancestors probably viewed what little vegetables were available during the warmer seasons as scraps from a table — not nearly enough calories, protein or fat to sustain themselves against the ravages of the day.
But bring home a nice tiger or lean game and presto: Hero status. The clan celebrated. The women swooned (great hunters were like rock stars in that day, or so I can imagine.) And the clan ate like crazy. Why? Who knew when the next high-fat, high protein, super-filling meal would come?
Folks, this same pattern, now just a vestigial mental organ if you will, is very much alive in your DNA. The problem? That tiger is now conveniently packed in your grocery’s freezer section. You may expend about 75 calories driving to the store, picking up a nice fatted piece of beef, drive home, cook it, and serve it. Hardly worthy of lavish praises from the female in your “clan”… but again, that genetic memory is a monster. It kicks in. The “provider” is still “worshiped” in the recesses of your DNA guys.
Unfortunately, it’s now a matter of economics, not hunting prowess. And being good with money rarely entails expending calories. So, that same drive to collect high-calorie, high-fat, energy-sustaining food is all but useless in today’s evolved society.
Same with sugars. When sweet fruits were in season on the Savannah, they provided the energy needed for the hunt. They tasted great. They were, as some anthropologists suggest, a type of early aphrodisiac. Sugar can trigger powerful “feel good” hormones, especially in its refined form. So, if you cannot eat filling food, how about a quick fix of feel good food?
Again, you were rewarded for this, albeit probably not as much — and definitely in different ways — back on the Savannah.
So you’re bucking eons of societal evolution folks… countless thousands of years of how humans ate, every time you sense hunger. Every. Single. Time.
Only now, everything is at your fingertips. Ladies, you no longer need a “hunter” — you can “hunt” for yourselves. Unfortunately you expend far less calories than males, both then and now. Some theorize than the females were responsible for preparing the meals. that, in and of itself, was very demanding calorically. Now… er… not so much. Guys, the hunt is over. All that’s left is brining in the cash to pay for the meals — one of the reasons, btw, many psychologists believe women are attracted to security of wealth. Yep — it all goes back to the hunting fields.
The obvious problem is that we now have these foods — but we have them at our fingertips and we have them on steroids multiplied by infinity. Our sugars are 100x sweeter than any fruit ancient man could have ever tasted. Our beef is loaded with hormones and unhealthy altered fats never known in the ancient world.
But our vestigial cravings are still there.
So, while craving foods that are high in sugar and fat makes perfect biological sense, it is no different than your appendix. It is a useless vestigial organ if you will, and it must be removed.
That part is your responsibility. It is the price we pay for societal evolution. But you can do it. As we’ve evolved, we’ve also become far more intelligent. More aware of our actions and their consequences. And we can fool the body quite nicely into thinking it has all the nutrients it needs.
I cover more about how to trick the body out of this historical “loop” of hunter/gatherism in my book The Every Other Day Diet…
Think about it. Comment below. Let me know if this resonates with you at all.
Thanks.
The Truth About Core Training Unmasked by Washington, DC Personal Trainer
Everyday millions of people pack themselves into Pilates classes or simply lie down on the living room floor to exercise their core. The core muscles include the abdominals and surrounding muscles that are often trained by doing basic sit-ups or crunches. These exercises are some of the most popular in the world today. In fact, there are many people who don’t do anything other than train their core. Why? The answer is simple: they want to obtain that elusive six-pack. They want rock hard abs like the Spartan warriors in the movie 300.
Most people don’t realize that core training by sit-ups and crunches alone does not normally give you the results that you desire. Those that work solely on their core or abs rarely see any kind of results at all. Many Washington D.C. personal trainers and other physical coaches know this little tidbit of information, but fail to mention it to their clients in order to keep them working on the unattainable, thus their clients keep coming to them for help and putting money in their pockets.
Why doing crunches seem to be getting you nowhere in the shrinking tummy department
There are many contributing factors to obtaining the unicorn of muscle sculpting, the six-pack. Most people will never accomplish this feet. The six-pack really does require a ton of dedication and hard work including years of training, eating right and the thing many people omit from the “How to obtain a Six-Pack” speech, good genes. So instead of daydreaming about the six-pack, we should really simply be concentrating on a flat and toned stomach!
The biggest waste of time when working out at the gym or at home, thinking you will lose the pounds and inches, is only core training. The midsection or abdominal region seems to collect fat quicker than any other part of the body, especially in men. This seems to be evident in the amount of men sporting the beer belly look and their determination in getting rid of that “spare tire”. They are so desperate to get rid of their ever growing abdomen that they work out only on those muscles without realizing that it is really doing nothing but making them work extra hard and seeing no results.
The truth about core training is that while they may indeed make your core muscles a little stronger, nobody will notice them. You see, everyone is born with abdominal muscles that you can’t see because they are covered by a layer of fat. So, if you want a flat stomach or you want to shoot for that elusive six-pack, you must take off the fat. Core training will not help you do that.
There are so many people that believe the myth that working out one particular area of the body will result in weight loss in that zone. This is defined as target weight loss and it is simply not true. Our body is programmed to function as a whole unit, not in individual sections so weight loss happens all over the body, not just in one place.
Therefore, the best thing to do is a series of exercises that will help you burn calories and burn off the fat. Core training, as we said, is not an efficient use of your time because it doesn’t burn many calories and it won’t help you take off weight. Probably the best exercises that you can do are cardiovascular ones like swimming, running, bike riding, jumping rope, or simply walking, fast.
The truth about core training is that it can also damage the neck and spine if the exercises are not perfectly performed, and we all know when we start to get tired our form is the first thing to suffer. If you have preexisting back or neck problems, you should not attempt to do core work, it will often aggravate your condition.
The best away to achieve a flat, healthy stomach is to do all around exercising and not concentrate solely on the core section. Cardio is an excellent way to burn calories and help get rid of the extra fat you may be carrying around in that area. So stop wasting your time chasing after the unattainable and work on being a healthier person.
Be Aware of These Things Before You Purchase Mari Winsor Pilates
Remember that Winsor Pilates is by far the biggest selling Pilates program ever and that is in large part due to the marketing efforts of Guthy Renker
Many experts agree that Mari Winsor Pilates is too fast for beginners. However, it may be a perfect fit for you because of its popularity a lot of time and money has been spent to make sure that it is a safe way to begin Pilates.
You can get into this program for a small fraction of the cost of many ways that you could start Pilates. That way you find out if it is right for you.
So, is Mari Winsor’s program just too commercial? It seems that most of the instructors who say this are the one’s who would love to have more business themselves. Do you get what I mean?
When buying on-air offers or over the internet you most certainly want to find out if you are signing up for a continuation of products being sent to you on a regular basis. If so, find out exactly what steps you have to take to cancel.
Before beginning any routine you must make sure that watch the warm ups and the precautions carefully. People can be injured doing Pilates!
Don’t just buy the first Winsor Pilates package you can find. Look for deals online. Coupons. Auctions. Even online classifieds might have just what you are looking for at a good savings.
Pilates has been proven for decades to be a fantastic form of physical enhancement. This product is just one instructor’s take on it. So, you don’t have to get wrapped up in whether it is the be all and end all. There are many, many different opinions on the best way to do Pilates.
Posture, Back Pain, And Spine Health
Lower back pain can be quite agonizing, affecting many otherwise mundane aspects of daily living. Without a reliable and pain-free lower back, every moment spent up-right is a challenge, leaving us hopelessly wondering if the pain might ever improve or go away completely.
There are forms of lower back pain that can be caused by such trauma that there really aren’t any remedies to help cure it. However, if you have not suffered from any severe spinal cord injuries such as a break, then the chances are your pain can be corrected by adjusting your posture and exercising.
This can be sometimes an easy thing to correct if you do research and understand exactly how to do it. Poor posture is fixed by the person being disciplined and re-teaching the body to sit up straight and hold itself that way.
The back is under an interesting set of contrary demands. It needs to be rigid, capable of supporting lots of weight in an efficient manner. The head, shoulders and even the arms apply constant pressure during every moment we are upright, and how we carry this weight is key. Similarly, the spine must remain flexible enough to promote maneuverability.
The spine maintains the needed stability by its two natural arches. An arch is an incredibly stable structure featured quite heavily in architecture. One need only look to the stability of early Roman aqueducts and bridges which are still standing today to appreciate how effective arches can be.
However, we often compromise these efficient structures without even realizing that we’re doing it. The arch of the spine is maintained by the tension and relaxation of hundreds of muscles. If we lean or strain, our vertebrae are slowly pulled out of alignment. Soon, the arches of our spine vanish and we are left with pain whose cause we can’t even identify.
You see the back muscles work in a different way than some of the other muscles in our body, because they are used to support a lot of other body parts. As your posture gets worse, your muscles are required to work harder to keep you standing upright. The harder that these muscles have to work, the faster they tire out and then you tend to slouch even more, because you can’t hold yourself up.
Fortunately, all of this can be corrected. By simply learning what constitutes good posture, by strengthening disused muscles and by daily practice, this cycle can be broken. Imagine a life free of debilitating back pain. Such a life is completely within your reach.
It isn’t enough to simply be shown what constitutes good posture, however. Good posture is only effective if used regularly, so it is important to acquire the strength that will enable you to maintain a healthy stance without picking up old habits once more. You must also gain the confidence in your efforts to persist with them, as those first few changes will feel very unnatural.
Just by doing the simple things of sitting up straight not only will help you with your lower back pain but will affect others as well. People see you making changes and see what it is doing to affect your body everyday and they will want to make changes as well. So go out there and get all the knowledge you can about how to sit up straight, and the various exercises you can do to strengthen your back, and you will be on your way to a pain free life.
8 Ways to Make your Beginner Pilates Translate to a Life of Benefit
Pilates is meant for long term use. You are a beginner now, but if you start out the right way you will be amazed at the benefits and that you will be doing it for the rest of your life. You know this form of exercise is really unique. For 50 years people have been having results with Pilates and they probably will for 50 or 150 more. So get set for a proven and long lasting way to get your body in a good place.
You may not be planning to pay anyone to train you in Pilates, and that is fine; but think about having a few sessions with a qualified professional to get you going on the right track. This is not a pitch. This is just to let you know that there are very qualified people all over the planet that could make your beginning with Pilates a lot smoother. Just tell them you want to learn a mat class that you can do on your own. Or if you have a machine in your home ask them to develop a routine for you to do on your own machine.
If you are going to start training using a DVD or Online Instruction, make sure that the person is highly qualified with a proven method that will reduce your risk of injury.
You don’t want to start out your Pilates career with an injury. Understand all warnings and warm ups that have to do with your specific routine.
The lowest cost way to enter Pilates training is to find a good mat class and start attending it on a regular basis. Then you can progress from there.
Don’t try to start off fast. In other words, don’t jump to an intermediate level, or you may end up giving up before you find out how great Pilates really is.
Pilates offers many benefits. If you don’t lose weight or look better to yourself, don’t worry. This will also give you strength, grace, balance, and many other benefits.
There are so many forms of exercise that come and go. So many that people only do when they are young. Pilates has been around for decades and can be done for a persons entire life.
Pilates Accessories are Not Just a Whim and Here's Why
Joseph Pilates created this unsurpassed form of bodywork with several important accessories. And the choices within each category of accessory can be a bit overwhelming. But if you familiarize your self with a few key points and try to remember to embark into this area of your life with a focus on the traditional, in no time you will be comfortable.
If you’ve ever worked out on a reformer you probably know what a loop is. They are what you put your feet it while your doing leg work. Also, there is an accessory called a double loop which is allows you to effectively adjust the ropes with the loop.
Handles come in many shapes and sizes, but the basic and classic style is still my favorite. Pick the one that is in your price range and you will probably be happy. Over time you can try different styles and materials and you may find one that you prefer over all others.
The Gondola pole is the most commonly used Pilates pole and for a good reason: it helps one maintain their balance when they are doing standing work on the reformer. Poles are all about adding even more diversity then the basic 500 exercises already allow.
Other poles can also be used for various needs or specific routines. If you’re just starting out though, don’t worry you do not need to concern yourself with Pilates poles for awhile.
Cushions can be helpful pilates accessories. Like poles, they can help to provide different aspects (of the same exercise) to different people thus making Pilates almost infinite in its versatility.
The pilates mat, while it may seem simple, has some aspects that need to be considered. One is the thickness of the mat. This is not the same as a yoga mat because a Pilates mat needs to be thicker. Also, you have foldable mats which may feel better to you or may be more or less convenient. Another consideration is the color and the choice of patterns on the mat. This can and does have an effect on the mindset of the practitioner so this is a real factor in the choice of a mat.
These are just a few of the many accessories that can ad value to any Pilates experience. Many other factors come into play. Price and quality are two big ones of course. I like to view all accessories with an eye toward longevity because I like to think I have decades of Pilates ahead of me.
Pilates Accessories are Not Just a Whim and Here’s Why
Joseph Pilates created this unsurpassed form of bodywork with several important accessories. And the choices within each category of accessory can be a bit overwhelming. But if you familiarize your self with a few key points and try to remember to embark into this area of your life with a focus on the traditional, in no time you will be comfortable.
If you’ve ever worked out on a reformer you probably know what a loop is. They are what you put your feet it while your doing leg work. Also, there is an accessory called a double loop which is allows you to effectively adjust the ropes with the loop.
Handles come in many shapes and sizes, but the basic and classic style is still my favorite. Pick the one that is in your price range and you will probably be happy. Over time you can try different styles and materials and you may find one that you prefer over all others.
The Gondola pole is the most commonly used Pilates pole and for a good reason: it helps one maintain their balance when they are doing standing work on the reformer. Poles are all about adding even more diversity then the basic 500 exercises already allow.
Other poles can also be used for various needs or specific routines. If you’re just starting out though, don’t worry you do not need to concern yourself with Pilates poles for awhile.
Cushions can be helpful pilates accessories. Like poles, they can help to provide different aspects (of the same exercise) to different people thus making Pilates almost infinite in its versatility.
The pilates mat, while it may seem simple, has some aspects that need to be considered. One is the thickness of the mat. This is not the same as a yoga mat because a Pilates mat needs to be thicker. Also, you have foldable mats which may feel better to you or may be more or less convenient. Another consideration is the color and the choice of patterns on the mat. This can and does have an effect on the mindset of the practitioner so this is a real factor in the choice of a mat.
These are just a few of the many accessories that can ad value to any Pilates experience. Many other factors come into play. Price and quality are two big ones of course. I like to view all accessories with an eye toward longevity because I like to think I have decades of Pilates ahead of me.
History of Pilates
Pilates was designed by Joseph Pilates during World War I to improve the rehabilitation program for the returning veterans. Joseph Pilates had the belief that both mental health and physical health are essential to one another.
He recommended some precise body movements that control and form to aid injured soldiers. These movements were used to regain their health by strengthening, stretching and stabilizing the key muscles in the body.
He created the Pilates Principles to condition the whole body aiding in proper alignment, centering, concentration, control, precision, breathing and flowing movement.
The Pilates method is a physical fitness system, which Joseph Pilates developed in the early 20th century. As of 2005, there are eleven million people who practice pilates regularly.
There are also 14,000 instructors in the United States alone. Pilates believed his method uses the mind to control the muscles. Focuses for this program are on the core postural muscles, which help keep the body balanced.
These are essential to providing support for the spine and in turn supports the entire body. Pilates teaches awareness of breathing and the alignment of the spine and aim to strengthen the deep torso muscles.
Joseph Pilates was a legendary physical fitness trainer born in Germany in 1880. As a child he was small and frail. This fuelled his fascination for physical fitness that would make him stronger and more physically attractive.
He later became an accomplished skier, boxer and gymnast. In 1926, he and his wife opened their first studio in New York City. Many of their first clients were from the dancing world.
Getting your Desired Body Shape through Pilates Ring Exercises
The Pilates ring is one of the helpful equipments that enhance Pilates workout routines. Also known as the “Magic Circle”, the Pilates ring can create a fantastic look to your body, as it facilitates muscle toning. Joseph Pilates, the forerunner of the Pilates exercise, developed the ring during the early twentieth century. The most common type of Pilates that makes use of the ring is the Windsor Pilates.
Exercises that make use of the ring mainly target the so-called core muscles. The core muscles include the muscles located in the buttocks, back, pelvis, and abdomen. With the help of the ring, the core muscles are toned and toughened more quickly. Although the main target of Pilates ring exercises is the core muscles, it can also be used in working out other muscles such as the legs, biceps, and triceps. The ring is considered to be very effective in toning and sculpting the muscle.
There are a lot of benefits that can be gained from Pilates ring exercises. Pilates ring exercises can help you achieve excellently toned muscles without the need for weight lifting that usually cause injuries, muscle strains, or any pain after the workout.
If you want to make the lower part of your body stronger and well-tones, you can try the following exercise. From a lying position, squeeze the ring between the legs and allow resistance to increase in the leg muscles and the abdomen.
Another type of Pilates ring exercise is the Straight Arm Floor Press, which builds up resistance in the arms, abdomen, and back. The Straight Arms Exercise also causes resistance in the upper portion of the body, particularly the shoulders, chest, and arms. For making the triceps and the muscles of the upper back firmer, the Arms Back Exercise is the effective form of ring exercise. If you wish to make your inner thighs well-toned, then you can do some Seated Legs Exercise.
There are several types of rings in the market. They differ in color, material, size, and resistance levels. Most of the rings available for sale are made out of fiberglass, steel, or plastic. The size of a ring ranges from 12 inches to 15 inches in terms of the diameter. The resistance of the ring also varies depending on the size and material of such equipment. Newly available rings also have handles that can be customized based on the request of the users. Regardless of your age, gender, or body strength, there is surely a ring that can suit you and your exercise program perfectly.
Introduction to Pilates For Beginners
Developed my Joseph Pilates, Pilates is a fusion of routines from yoga and gymnastics, with breathing exercises and weight training in the purpose of achieving proper body alignment. It’s one of the most popular fitness trends nowadays because it can help you make long, lean muscles and have sculpted body. Pilates is believed to not only condition the body, but also the mind. Pilates routines aims to make the abdominal muscles strong specially focusing on the small muscles which are ignored most of the times during weight training. These small muscles support the bigger muscles.
One of the good of benefits of pilates for beginners is its adaptability to different types of body and fitness levels. Pilates for beginners can be modified to meet specific needs of individuals. A beginner needs to decide to either have pilates in a group, or have a private lesson. However, it is advisable to have private lessons in pilates for beginners. If you cannot afford to have private lesson, you can always buy DVDs, books, or get instructions online on pilates for beginners.
Before jumping to your first lesson, you might need a little preparation. Most pilates routines are done on mats. Although most studios provide these mats, you may opt to buy your own, especially when you decide to do pilates at the comfort of your home. Keeping a water bottle is also very important. You need to keep your body hydrated before and during exercise. Clothes should not be too baggy and must allow you move and stretch fully. When having pilates with an instructor, your clothes must let your instructor see if your muscles are engaging and if your bone is properly align.
Moreover, wearing dangling accessories is a no-no. It is basically unnecessary and can even put you in danger when they get caught on the equipments. Long hair should also be kept tied so as not to cover the face. You will not need a good pair of shoes because routines are done barefoot. When you choose to do pilates in studios, you should keep in mind not to wear strong scents to consider people who are sensitive to strong perfumes or deodorants.
If you want to make your first class easier, it is also advisable to read on basic terminologies that will be used by the instructor during work out. You can usually hear phrases like, “neutral spine” which means that all body parts are well-aligned and your body is in natural position. Another commonly used phrase is, “Zip it up”, which means dropping your chest, engaging the pelvic floor muscles and pulling all your abdominal muscles to the center. There are more terms that your instructor needs to explain, but it will be better to read ahead.
Pilates is getting popular now among people who wants to achieve toned and sculpted body, but it is also now recognized as a way of freeing one’s mind and spirit. Pilates helps manage negative stress, release anxiety and lift depression.
Recommended
Links
Categories
Recent Posts
- Watch The Latest Movies Online
- Finding Out On New Movie Releases From Online Film News
- Finding Out About Movies News Through The Internet
- Unlimited Movie Downloads Recommendations – Pick The Best, Avoid The Rest
- The Matrix – The Real Success Of Wachowski Brothers
