Live A Longer Life By Doing Strength Training.

Hi All, 

Mark here from Alltone Fitness and BNG Boot Camp & Personal Training Greensborugh. Any of you that know me, have heard me constantly going on about the health benefits of strength training. Its great for fat loss, joint health, and the list just goes on and on. Well here's a fantastic one, strength training can actually help you live longer! Wow! That's great news!  Enjoy this nice little article I came across in regards to strength training and living longer. Courtesy of Health.com and written by Don Rauf. 

By Don Rauf

HealthDay Reporter

You probably already know that strength training, such as lifting weights or doing pushups, is good for you, but now new research suggests it may help you live longer, too.

When people 65 and older did strength training twice a week, they lowered their odds of dying from any cause by almost half during a 15-year study.

“The secret to a longer and healthier life may not be available in pill form, but it may look like a barbell,” said lead study author Dr. Jennifer Kraschnewski. She’s an assistant professor of medicine and public health sciences at Penn State College of Medicine, in Hershey, Pa.

“Strength training can substantially decrease mortality risk, and more importantly, some of our other work demonstrates the impact of strength training on improving functional limitations [in older people],” she added.

The study included data on more than 30,000 adults, all 65 and older. Information was collected from 1997 through 2001 through the U.S. National Health Interview Survey.

Nearly 10 percent of the adults in the study reported strength training at least twice a week. That’s consistent with guidelines from the American College of Sports Medicine/American Heart Association (ACSM/AHA). Kraschnewski said this training included muscle-strengthening activities for the legs, hips, back, abdomen, chest, shoulders and arms.

While the study didn’t prove cause-and-effect, it found that people who did strength training at least two days a week were 46 percent less likely to die from any cause. And they were 41 percent less likely to die from heart disease, Kraschnewski said. She added that seniors who did at least two days of strength training were also 19 percent less likely to die from cancer compared to those who didn’t do the training.

Responding to the study findings, orthopedic surgeon Dr. Brad Thomas said, “Strength training has been well identified as a means to strengthen our bones and joints, but with this study we have a new benefit of longevity.” Thomas, who was not involved with the study, is an associate professor at UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine.

Previous studies have shown that strength training may improve muscle mass and chronic conditions such as diabetes, osteoporosis, lower back pain and obesity. Stronger muscles may also result in better stamina, physical function, and balance, according to background information in the study.

ACSM/AHA guidelines also recommend that adults participate in moderate-intensity (such as brisk walking) aerobic activity for 150 minutes each week. That’s 30 minutes a day, five days a week. If you are performing vigorous-intensity aerobic activity (such as jogging or running), the guidelines suggest 75 minutes each week.

Kraschnewski urged older adults who have not been active to talk with a doctor before starting an exercise program.

“In general, there are safe exercises for everyone, but it may require tailoring for your specific conditions,” she said. “Strength training can be done at home and many exercises don’t actually require equipment.”

A few of her suggestions include doing pushups, abdominal crunches and leg squats, all of which use one’s own body weight.

Kraschnewski said resistance bands are another great option for home-based programs. These inexpensive bands or tubes provide resistance when stretched and can be used for strength training exercises in all major muscle groups, she said.

If you feel that you could benefit from additional help, consider joining a gym that offers coaches to help create an exercise regimen, she suggested.

“Typically, two to three exercise sessions a week for 20 to 30 minutes are enough for most people to develop results,” said Kraschnewski. “Our studies have demonstrated older adults can double their strength in just 12 weeks.”

Both Kraschnewski and Thomas said there’s no age cutoff when it comes to getting benefits from aerobic exercise and strength training.

“Older adults have the ability to achieve strength similar to those decades younger by engaging in simple strength training routines,” Kraschnewski said.

The study findings were published recently in the journal Preventive Medicine

Have a Great Week  - Mark Frangiosa 

Alltone Fitness April Newsletter 2016

Hi all, Mark here with our April Newsletter. This month has seen BNG Boot Camp move indoors at Watsonia Primary School Hall. With winter fast approaching it can become a struggle staying motivated and keeping fit. Put this together with having to exercise out in the cold and it usually results staying in bed or on the couch instead of staying active.  Well, no more excuses as our fantastic newly built  indoor venue comes with full amenities and ample parking just outside the main entrance. Our Boot Camp is guaranteed to help you with weight loss and to get fit fast. Sessions all tailored to all fitness levels so everyone can participate. Best of all, its only $2 to try! For more info or to book your $2 session then head to www.bngbootcamp.com.au 

JOIN US FOR THE MCG STADUIM STOMP ON SUNDAY 26TH JUNE 

 I have decided to put a team together for the stadium stomp held at the MCG on Sunday June 26th. The stadium stomp is a stair climbing challenge designed to take you around the bay's of the MCG containing the longest rows. The two options with this stair climb are - The half course, which  is approximately 1,890 steps and should take between 20-30mins ( great for beginners ) The full course, approximately 7,343 steps and can take anywhere from 45min to 2 hours to complete depending on your fitness level. What a great way to stay fit and motivated over winter! For more info head to www.stadiumstomp.com 

please note - this is note a race and everyone is encouraged to go at their own pace.  If you would like to register then head to the stadium stomp website, choose venue as the MCG, and then register under the BNG Boot Camp team. The paasword you will need is alltone fitness. 

START YOU YOGIC JOURNEY TODAY!  

What to expect 

Yoga classes run for 60 minutes and are based on traditional Hatha Yoga Teachings. Most classes incorporate Vinyasa or flowing from posture to posture with the breath.

Classes are suitable for all experience levels, from beginner to the experienced Yogi.

All classes begin with either a short 5 minute practice of Pranayama breathing exercise or a Dharana single focused concentration and meditation. Majority of the class is Asana (postures) based and there is an opportunity to move into stronger variations of the postures, if the body wants to. The class is then finished with a guided relaxation, also known as Savasana practice.

 

 

Benefits of Yoga

Increases strength and flexibility

Helps reduce stress and anxiety

Improves energy levels

Better mental clarity, concentration and memory

Improved cardiovascular fitness and circulation

Increased self-awareness and connectedness

Improved balance and body awareness

Increased blood flow to internal organs, which may improve function e.g. digestive system

For more info and class times head to www.yogicjourney.com.au 

Hope to see all soon at either Boot Camp or Yoga. Wishing you all a fit and healthy April.

Mark :)

Cardiovascular Disease - How to reduce your risks.

Hi all, Mark here from Alltone Fitness & BNG Boot Camp in Watsonia. In this week’s blog I have decided to tackle the topic of cardiovascular disease and how we can all reduce our risk factors.

Cardiovascular disease (cvd) is the term used for heart, stroke and blood vessel diseases. CVD is the leading cause of death in Australia, accounting for 38% of all deaths in 2002 claiming the lives of more than one in three Australians. There are a number of different conditions associated with this which include.

Coronary Heart Disease

Coronary Heart Disease, (CHD) is caused by the slow build-up over many years of fatty cholesterol containing deposits in the inner wall of one or more of the hearts arteries.

Heart Attack

Heart Attack occurs when a coronary artery is suddenly blocked by a blood clot and the part of the heart muscle supplied by that artery is damaged because it is starved of oxygen.

Heart failure

Heart failure occurs when the heart muscle has become too weak to pump blood through the body as effectively as normal. This causes blood to dam up behind the heart and fluid to collect in the lunges and other body tissues.

Angina

Angina is temporary chest pain or discomfort, resulting from a reduced blood supply to the heart muscle. It occurs because part of the chest muscle is temporally unable to get enough blood and oxygen to meet its demands

High Blood Pressure

Also known as hypertension, simply means that your blood is pumping with more blood force than normal through your arteries.

Stroke

A stroke occurs when an artery supplying blood to a part of the brain becomes blocked or bursts. As a result, that part of the brain is damaged because it is deprived of its blood supply.

Exercise Considerations and reducing your risks of cardiovascular disease.

If diagnosed with one of the above conditions, it is extremely important you acquire medical clearance from your doctor before commencing personal training,group fitness, boot camp or any fitness related activity.   A recent American Heart Association consensus statement on preventing heart attack and death in patients with coronary disease suggested a minimum of 30 to 60 minutes of moderate-intensity activity 3 or 4 times weekly along with an increase in daily lifestyle activities (e.g., walk breaks at work, using stairs, gardening, household activities); 5 to 6 hours a week was suggested for maximum benefits. Increasing physical activity in daily living can be helpful in this regard. Both aerobic and resistance exercises are encouraged at a moderate intensity level.

Sudden stop-and-go or extremely strenuous activities may be beneficial, but are more likely to place undue stress on the heart, especially for those who are normally sedentary. It is recommended to commence with a low intensity program and slowly increase when appropriate. 

 If in doubt about exercising, seek the advice of a fitness professional like a personal trainer in your local area. At Alltone Fitness we offer personal training, boot camp andyoga in the Bundoora, Watsonia, Mill Park and Greensborough area, so feel free to get in touch.

Reducing your risks of CVD.

It goes without saying that being active can significantly reduce the risk of developing CVD. Joining a gym, going for a brisk walk, swimming, group fitness classes, boot camp, or hiring a personal trainer are all fantastic ways to stay fit and active. If there is a history of heart disease in your family, having regular checkups with your doctor is a must. Keeping cholesterol and blood pressure levels in check with your doctor can help pick up early signs of CVD. Diet plays an extremely important role, cut out highly processed foods and include whole foods which are high in fiber and nutrients like fruit and vegetables.

Take a look at your lifestyle factors that could increase your risks, the obvious ones being smoking and excessive alcohol consumption. Lastly, high stress levels could be a problem. Take time out and don’t sweat the small stuff. Schedule time out during the day the switch your brain off. A simple 5 minute meditation or breathing exercise could do wanders in reducing stress levels.   

My top 5 exercises you must be performing.

Hi all. Mark here again for this week's blog installation. 

I hope everyone is looking forward to the Easter break.  Alltone Fitness Studio will be closed over the easter break and will re open on Tues 29th March.  BNG Boot Camp and group fitness will not be running over Easter and will recommence indoors at Watsonia Primary School, 240 Nell Street, Watsonia on Tues 5th April. Happy Easter!

This week I will be sharing with you my top 5 exercises and explaining the benefits and why you should be performing them in your exercise programs. Most of you that know me well, won't be surprised to find out that all 5 exercises are full body movements. 
What are full body exercises I hear you ask? Well let me explain. Compound exercises (full body movements) also known as multi jointed exercises, burn more fat, use multiple muscle groups and build the most strength and muscle. Examples of compound exercises are push ups, squats, chin ups, medicine ball slams and burpees just to name a few. Some compound exercises can be difficult to learn while some may be more effective than others. In this blog I will explain why my top 5 full body exercises will give you maximum results in the shortest amount of time. 

5 Burpees ( Insert evil laugh here )

Used by fitness boot camp instructors and personal trainers world wide, burpees are one of those full body exercises most people love to hate. This high intensity exercise will give you a entire full body workout in just minutes. A high level of focus and intensity is required to be able to push through a set of 15-20 repetitions. Here's how to perform a burpee. 

From a standing position, squat down, put your hands on the ground, kick your legs out behind you, do a push-up (optional), then kick the legs back up into a squat position, stand and jump as you swing your arms overhead. If you’re an advanced exerciser or want to add even more “oomph” to this exercise, you can wear a weighted vest as you do your burpees. Good luck! 

4 Medicine Ball Slams 

Not only is this exercise fantastic at building upper body, core and leg strength, it is also fantastic for stress relief. Best of all though, it is quite easy to perform. 

To do a medicine ball slam, you simply get a medicine ball (those big heavy balls you can often find in the corner of the gym), raise it overhead, then swing your arms down as you release the ball and slam it into the ground as hard as possible. Keep your spine in a neutral position thorough the entire move, abs are tight and slight bend in your knees as you slam the ball into the ground.

3. Push Ups 

Push-ups are one of the oldest and most basic of exercises for a simple reason. They work! The exercise positions all the muscles in our upper body and builds optimal strength in the forearms, shoulders and chest. Performed correctly, you will also target your core and glute muscles. 

To do a pushup get into a high plank position. Screw your hands firmly into the ground directly under shoulders. Keep you abs and glutes tight throughout the movement. Lower your body by bending your elbows back on a 45 degree angle and keep your forearms vertical. Keep your back flat and eyes focused about three feet in front of you to keep a neutral neck—until your chest grazes the floor. Push back up

2. Barbell Squats 

It is one of the most primitive movements known to man and without doubt one of the best exercises for lower body muscular and strength development. Barbell squats will increase your core strength. This is because through the entire movement your core muscles need to work hard to keep your body upright and support your lower back. 

Begin with the barbell supported on top of the traps. The chest should be up and the head facing forward. Adopt a hip to shoulder width stance with the feet turned out as needed. Keep your abs and glutes tight.  Descend by flexing at the knees and hips while pushing your hamstrings back. Keep the knees tracking in line with your feet and avoid them tracking too far forward over the toes. The goal is to keep the torso as upright as possible. Continue all the way down, keeping the weight on the front of the heel. At the moment the upper legs contact the lower legs reverse the motion, driving the weight upward.

1. Deadlift to Overhead Press

The premise of the deadlift-to-overhead press is fairly straightforward: you pick a heavy object off the ground and lift it overhead. The object can be a dumbbell, barbell, kettlebell, medicine ball or sandbag. However, the following people who display poor mobility/stability, are inexperienced or have lingering injuries should seek advice on properly performing this exercise before attempting it.

When youpick the object off the ground, which is called a deadlift, you’ll need to have good form: looking forward with your knees bent, butt out, and back straight. You then stand by extending your hip forward, as you stand or after you are in a standing position, hoist the weight overhead – using your hip and leg muscles to assist your upper body with driving the weight up.

Why you need to stretch after training?

Hi all,

Mark here again from Alltone Personal Training Watsonia and BNG Boot Camp in Bundoora.
This week's blog covers the importance of stretching after exercising and the different types of stretches which can be performed.

We are all aware that after an intense workout or fitness class that we should spare a couple of minutes to stretch out those sore and tired muscles. However on most days you are running late and skip hitting the mat to stretch, and you seem to be getting away with it.. Right?  Well, let me explain why skipping this important part of your training routine can be risky in the long run.

Stretching plays an important role in injury prevention and muscle maintenance. All exercise involve repeated muscle contractions. This can leave our muscles in a state of high tone meaning that they are not fully relaxed, in the long run this can lead to the shortening of muscles which then become super tight. A tight muscle loses its elasticity and its ability to deliver maximum force. Also, a short and tight muscle will most certainly affect your mobility and biomechanics.

Stretching can be split into two categories; Static, without movement and dynamic with movement.
Static stretching involves holding the muscle for usually 10-20sec without moving.  The picture below is an example of a static hamstring stretch

The Benefits of Static stretching after exercise include:

• Returning the muscle to its pre exercise length 
• Reducing post workout soreness 
• Preventing injuries 
• Improves your flexibility 
• Reduces the stress and tightness in that working muscle 

As mentioned above, dynamic stretching is with movement and is recommended prior to exercising to help prepare you for your session ahead. Its fantastic for helping improve your range of motion, warming up your joints and increasing your rate heart. Its is also a fantastic opportunity to work on areas you lack mobility. 

An example of a dynamic stretching routine would be:

• Neck Circles ( 5 each direction )
• Shoulder rolls ( 5 each direction )
• Arm Circles ( 5 each direction )
• Leg swings ( 10 swings )
• Sideways leg swings ( 10 swings )
• Crossover Lunges ( 5 each leg )
• Wide climbers ( 10 in total alternating )
• Hip Hinge ( 5 reps )
  
  

The picture below is an example of a leg swing which is a dynamic stretching movement 

Alltone Fitness is a fitness studio and Gym in Bundoora. We offer personal training, yoga and boot camp fitness classes in the Greensborough, Bundoora and Watsonia area. Please contact us if you would like any more importation about stretching or any fitness related topic. 

Yours in health & fitness - Mark 

What you need to know about your pelvic floor...

Hi all, Mark here again from Alltone Fitness personal training studio and BNG Boot Camp Greensborough.

Did you know that a large number of exercises can negatively affect your pelvic floor, and some of these can actually harm these muscles? This can lead into bladder or bowel control problems. This is very common amongst men and women however most people are too embarrassed to talk about it or believe as we age that it is normal. Well it's not, and fixing this problem could be as easy as strengthening your pelvic floor. Women on average suffer more than men, with one in three who have ever had a baby experiencing urinary incontinence. Over half the people with bladder problems don't seek help from a health care professional.

The pelvic floor muscles form the base of the group of core muscles known as the core. The pelvic floor work with these deep core and lower back muscles along with the diaphragm, to stabilise and support the spine as they maintain pressure within the abdomen. The pelvic floor muscles support the bladder and bowel in men, and the bladder, bowel and uterus in women.

People who are more at risk of pelvic floor problems are, pregnant women, women who have had a baby, women who are going through or gone through menopause. For men, any surgery undergone for prostate cancer can make them more at risk. Other factors that put people at risk include those with a history of lower
back pain, an injury to the pelvic region, suffer regular constipation, being overweight or regular heavy lifting. Individuals with pelvic floor problems can experience the following symptoms, leaking urine when they exercise, constantly needing to go to the toilet. finding it difficult to empty their bladder or bowel, pain in their pelvic area and accidently losing control of their bowel.

Safe cardio and resistance exercises for the pelvic floor.

Certain exercises place greater stress on the pelvic floor and should be avoided. There are a number of safe exercises which can be performed and are considered safe without placing excessive downward pressure on the pelvic floor.

Safe cardio exercises:
Walking, swimming, upright bike, cross trainer, low intensity water aerobics, low impact exercise classes.

Cardio exercises to avoid:
Running, jumping, star jumps, skipping, boxing, high impact exercise classes, sports that involve stop start running or sudden direction changes.

Safe resistance exercises:
Seated exercises like rows and shoulder press. Bicep curls and knee extensions. Dumbbell exercises on a swiss ball, partial swiss ball squats, glute bridge, cable flys, leg curls, incline wall pushups.

Resistance exercises to avoid:
Sit ups, crunches, leg raises, deep lunges, deep squats, jump squats, lifting heavy weights, lat pull down with heavy weights, leg press with heavy weights, deadlifts and any exercise where there is downward pressure on the pelvic floor.

How to train your pelvic floor. 
A method of training your pelvic floor muscles is to relax the muscles of the thighs, glutes and abs, then squeeze the muscle of your front passage like you are stopping the flow of urine. Now squeeze in the muscle around your back passage as if you are trying to stop passing wind. You should now feel the muscle in between your front and back passage lift up towards your pelvis. Become familiar with the feeling of those muscles activating before relaxing and letting go. This exercise is best performed sitting on the edge of a chair slightly leaning forward at the hips. It can also be performed standing or lying down. Aim to perform 3 sets of 8 repetitions.

If this is a problem for you please feel free to reach out as we can help construct an exercise program to help strengthen your pelvic floor. At Alltone Fitness we offer personal training in the Greensborough, Bundoora, Mill Park and Watsonia area. We also run boot camps and group fitness at the most affordable prices in Greensborough.

A Quick 101 Class On Nutrients

A Quick 101 Class On Nutrients  By Mark Frangiosa 

Hi all, Mark here from Alltone Fitness and BNG Fitness Boot camp. This week’s blog covers the important role nutrients play in our daily lives and why it is important to consume to right amount of nutrients. Lacking in certain nutrients can affect our exercise output thus stalling progress.

The science of nutrition involves studying nutrients in foods and the body’s handling of them. Even though nutrition is a relatively young science, we already know what nutrients are needed for an adequate diet and what foods provide them.

Nutrients are substances obtained from food that promote growth, maintenance and repair in our body. Below are the six classes of nutrients found in food. 

Carbohydrates – Protein – Fat   (These three nutrients provide us with energy to function and the                                                            ones I will be covering today)

Vitamins – Minerals – Water

1 gram of Carbohydrates equals to 4 cals

1 gram of Protein equals to 4 cals

1 gram of Fat equals to 9 cals.

CARBOHYDRATES

We store carbs as glycogen in our liver, this provides us with the most readily available source of energy. Glycogen assists in maintaining blood sugars and in muscles for use during rest and physical activity. Due to these energy stores being relatively limited we must consume the right type of carbs in sufficient quantities on a daily basis. Carbs are composed of three molecules being carbon, hydrogen and oxygen. They are found in many different forms such as sucrose, lactose and glucose just to name a few.

Quick overview: Carbs and Exercise

Glucose is the most readily available source of fuel for exercising.

Exercise reduces muscle and liver glycogen that’s why active people need an adequate carb intake to maintain and boost glycogen stores.

Stores must be continually refilled from dietary carbohydrates

PROTEIN  

Proteins are water soluble molecules that are made up of 20 amino acids and are like the body’s building blocks. Eight of the 20 amino acids are essential as they cannot be made in the human body so they must be consumed in our diet.  The functions of protein in our diet are many, we need it for the transport of lipoproteins and hemoglobin, protection against antibodies and blood clotting, it carries nutrients across cell membranes, maintains water balance, the growth and maintenance of cells and tissues and acts as an energy source.

We obtain protein from both animal and plant sources. Protein from animal sources are referred as complete proteins because it contains all the essential amino acids. Protein from plant sources usually

lack one or more essential amino acids, although when one or more plant sources are combined they can become complete sources. General recommended protein intake for active people who exercise regularly are 1.2 – 1.8 grams per kilo of bodyweight

Quick overview: Protein and Exercise

Protein is important for muscle growth and repair.

High protein intake assists muscle growth only if training is adequate.

DIETARY FAT.

Fat provides the body’s major store of energy. It is a molecule also composed of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen that is a sub category of compounds called lipids. Apart from providing energy, fat also has many other functions in the body. It assists in supplying the body essential fatty acids, it provides insulation and protection for structures and organs and the absorption and supply of fat soluble vitamin. The types of fatty acids are, Saturated, Monounsaturated, Polyunsaturated and Trans Fatty Acids.

Saturated fats are generally animal fats, solid at room temp (lard, butter ). 

Monounsaturated  fats can be summarized as liquid or semi solid at room temp, they appear to decrease the risk of heart disease. Sources include nuts and seeds, avocado and olive oil.

Polyunsaturated fats are liquid at room temperature and sources include plants, fish, grains and cereals.

So there you go. I hope that has been informative and shed some light on the different types of nutrients and the role they play in our bodies. Apart from maintaining a balanced diet with adequate nutrients we should also take part in regular physical activity such as boot camp Greensborough, or outdoor group personal training to live a long and happy life.

Take care – Mark Alltone Fitness& BNGBoot Camp Bundoora, Mill park and Watsonia.