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Guest post by Paul Atkins
http://www.fitnessbodyonline.com/

No matter how intense your workout may be, more than likely before, during, and especially after that workout you are going to drink something to rehydrate and replenish that worn out exhausted body. The question then is what are you going to drink?? For the past decade the rise of energy drinks could be described as nothing short of miraculous meteoric rise. Since the days of the mighty Gatorade there has come to the marketplace almost every conceivable color, flavor, and ingredient driven high energy after workout drink.

However, after intense blitzkrieg style advertisements from the television to radio to almost every magazine on earth that has anything to do with fitness many people have started to back away from these so called after workout drinks. If you ask yourself why, the answer is simple and the nutrition label on those energy drinks is the answer. To rattle off just a few of those ingredients words like "horny goat weed", "high fructose corn syrup", and the ever infamous "yellow number 5" are more often than not present in many so called energy drinks.

After analysis and research it seems to be a fitness renaissance going on out there of like minded healthy people that are putting the watermelon berry flavored drinks down and in turn picking up nature's oldest and most trusted hydration drink — Water. Yes water good old fashioned H2O is making a mighty come back on the world scene of fitness and weight loss. Granted there are varying degrees of water from mineral water to sparkling, but the principle idea of H2O is always the same, no added ridiculous named flavors, colors or roots to trick me into thinking I will turn into superman overnight.

As this renaissance of returning to origin continues though many have begun to do extensive studies and research into what types of water should be ingested and have come to the conclusion that not all two parts hydrogen and one part oxygen is the same. No, much of the water that is consumed from bottles distributed to most super markets and grocery store chains has gone through much and lost many of the natural properties it once had. One of the major properties that water needs to keep is the PH balance of the water. For those that are not aware, the PH scale runs from 0 to 14 with a PH of 7 being neutral, neither acidic nor alkaline. You could say that perfect water should be a ph of 7 because this is where it is on the PH scale if you were to go to a melting glacier in Alaska and test that water.

Through the process of reverse osmosis, bottling in plastics, shipping, temperature shifts and sitting on a shelf for weeks most bottled water loses its original neutral ph balance and becomes acidic, therefore becoming almost as useless as all of those energy drinks. This may sound like a conundrum but it is not. With a little research you will find that PH balanced alkaline water is actually easier to come by than you think and is exactly what your body needs for real, proper hydration after a long intense workout.

About the writer: Paul Atkins is a guest writer for several Health and Weight Loss related blogs including Fitness Body Online. Paul enjoys participating in and writing about the newest exercise programs and diet plans and is currently using the P90X Workout program as his program of choice.

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Guest post by Jenna Atkins
http://www.fitnessbodyonline.com

We have heard of this saying for decades. Some of us think of it as catchy, some of us think it is just a saying, but are there those of us who believe the truth of the statement? I can say that there are people that not only believe these words but live them, with great benefit to themselves. What do these words though, have to do with our workouts in particular? Everything, and let me tell you why.

This statement is a very powerful truth that holds no boundaries as far as age, sex, or even time. It is an endless truth that will never change especially when it comes to working out. Let me pose an example for you. Say it's the beginning of the year?January 1st. Most of us know that is the starting day of some kind of new resolution. In this particular case it is to work out 5 times a week. Noble goal. So your first workout day comes, all you have eaten all day is half a bowl of Special K and tuna from a can?now these may not be bad food choices, but how do you think you are going to perform working out? Do you think you will have the fuel to get through a full cardio class? My bet is absolutely no. You haven't given yourself the energy to perform energetic tasks. You will just be empty?.you are what you eat, and in this case not much. The same goes with over eating or eating the wrong foods. All of this has a direct bearing on your performance during and after working out. So what should you be eating?

That question seems like a can of worms doesn't it? Well, it really doesn't have to be. Now of course, age, height, weight and health circumstances do have a direct bearing on certain types of food choices. For instance a diabetic would want to stay clear of dried fruit especially before a workout, and a 5ft woman wouldn't be consuming the same amount of calories as a 6'3" man. Variables. So what basic nutrition rules apply? High protein, low carb, snacks at about 3-4pm in the afternoon, good fats (nuts, avocados, olive oil) in moderation, and of course fruits and vegetables in abundance. These are the golden standards of nutrition. Doesn't sound too difficult does it? Well, it isn't, but it does mean that we have to think before we buy, prepare, or order. This also means reading the labels on things and actually seeing what is in our food. A great standard is 5 or less ingredients on the box?this will help eliminate unnecessary additives and sodium from our diets. One other great tool to use and use well, is a protein formula?pick your flavor it doesn't matter but use it as meal replacements, or your afternoon snack. Make sure these contain more protein and healthy fats then sugar or else you are defeating the purpose and again becoming what you eat.
Using these simple guides to a nutritious life will help you to get the most out of your day, workouts, and your health. You see, the statement "you are what you eat" shouldn't be used as a new diet phrase but a new life plan. Remember, the statement is a powerful truth that won't change, so why should we try and ignore the impact that it can have on us for a lifetime of working out and health?

About the writer? Jenna Atkins is a guest writer for several Health and Weight Loss related blogs including Fitness Body Online. Jenna enjoys participating in and writing about the newest exercise programs and diet plans.

I get this question all the time:

What is the best time to work out?

The answer I give every single time is whenever you can!

I know that living today's fast-paced, rat-race lifestyle can put a real bind on your training schedule. What with kids, family and business obligations, etc., sometimes you don't have enough time in the today for yourself.

I am a perfect example. I bang away at the computer all day and night, hoping to bring you the information you need and want in order to improve yourself. I have 2 small kids, a loving wife, bills to pay, lawns to mow, cars to attend to, older parents to take care of.

When do I train?

When I can!

Now, I've made it my goal to work out in some fashion every single day. I get in at least 3 weight workouts a week, 6 sessions of "cardio," and a lot of play time. Fortunately, my kids take care of me on that one!

Many days, I stack my cardio on top of my weight workouts since I only want to hit the gym once a day. And I don't spend a lot of time there! Last night, for example, I pounded by back, chest, shoulders, and lower back in the span of 20 minutes. Then I went home because I had a LOT to get done.

So, getting back to the point – exercise whenever you can!

I will say that there probably are IDEAL TIMES to train. I made my best "hardgainer" gains when I worked out in the morning. My energy levels were highest, I could eat before and after my workouts (even during!), and I could spend the rest of the day in a relatively lax state.

Now, I am finding it a little difficult to work out in the late evenings (the only practical time of day for me right now) and NOT eat like a freaking horse afterwards, right before bed. Eating a lot right before sleep is okay when you're on the skinny side. But it's really not conducive to effective weight control, if you know what I mean.

It's clear that when you workout determines when, what, and how much you eat. Here are two charts – one for men, one for women – that lay out the when, what, and how much you should eat depending on when you work out.

Again, the best time to work out is when you can. Just make sure it happens. A workout today is better than none at all, if even only just for a few minutes. And use the charts as a baseline for determining what, when, and how much to eat, especially in terms of supplementation.

Timing really is everything.

Guest post by Louise Infante

Give me 10 seconds and I’ll provide you 1 perfect reason for being vegetarian.

While fish can serve as the most important dietary supply of the long-chain omega-3s eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid, which have been shown to be essential in supporting brain health, low intake of eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid in vegetarians will not adversely affect mood, reported by a new study (Nutr J. 2010;9:26. DOI:10.1186/1475-2891-9-26).

A research team from Arizona State University conducted a cross-sectional study that compares the mood of vegetarians who never eat fish with the mood of healthy omnivorous adults.

A total of 138 healthy Seventh Day Adventist adults residing in Arizona and California (64 vegetarians and 79 non-vegetarians) were enrolled in the study and completed a health history questionnaire, food frequency questionnaire and a couple psychometric tests, the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale and also the Profile of Mood States..

Vegetarians had significantly lower mean intakes of eicosapentaenoic acid, docosahexaenoic acid and the omega-6 arachidonic acid; they had higher intakes of the omega-3 alpha-linolenic acid and the omega-6 linoleic acid.

"Seed oils are the richest sources of α-linolenic acid, notably those of rapeseed (canola), soybeans, walnuts, flaxseed (Linseed oil), clary sage seeds, perilla, chia, and hemp."

However, the vegetarians also reported significantly less negative emotion than omnivores in psychometric tests. Mean total psychometric scores were positively associated with the mean intakes of eicosapentaenoic acid, docosahexaenoic acid and arachidonic acid , and inversely in connection with alpha-linolenic acid and linolenic acid intake.

The research team noted there is also the possibility that vegetarians may make smarter dietary choices and may generally be healthier and happier.

If you would like to give it a try, here is an example of vegetarian recipe according to Italian cuisine

Italian Spaghetti with Zucchini

Ingredients:

•  17 oz. Spaghetti
• 24 oz. Of thin sliced zucchini
• A half cup of walnuts oil
• Some basil leaves
• 2 tablespoons of yeast flakes
• Salt and pepper

In a skillet or frying pan heat the oil and when hot, add garlic and zucchini. Raise the heat and stir often to complete their cooking. They should be golden and crispy outside and tender inside. Cook the pasta, drain and sauté in pan with zucchini, basil and yeast. Serve immediately.

Zucchini contain fewer calories and also have no fat. But they are a good source of potassium, vitamin e, ascorbic acid, folate, lutein and zeaxanthin.

Many of these nutrients are extremely sensitive to heat and to enjoy their benefits you need to find a quick method to cook or even eat raw in salads.

From the therapeutic standpoint, zucchini have laxative, refreshing, anti-inflammatory, diuretic and detoxifying action.

About the writer – Louise Infante writes for the vegetarian diet menu blog , her personal hobby blog dedicated to vegetarian food preparation tips to help people live better.