Personal Fitness | Balanced Life Fitness - Jack Kenefick Certified Fitness Trainer

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’ Personal Fitness Includes a Combination of Nutrition and Exercise

Saturday, June 12th, 2010

Present day health concerns have caused a great deal of research about causes of obesity. People are simply overweight and looking for better methods to improve overall fitness. A good fitness program is not one where a person runs endlessly each day. Over training can complicate an exercise program, as the body requires time to fully recover from each exercise routine. Nutrition is an important component for fitness as proper diet supplies the necessary materials for the body to recover more quickly in preparation for the next exercise period. A good fitness program includes periods of exercise, recovery and nutrition.

The first aspect of exercise recovery is the period immediately following the routine. This is the time the body needs a basic combination of protein and glycogen to fuel muscle recovery. Exercise typically causes small tears in the muscle fibers and is the period the body works hardest to repair. This is how muscles become stronger. Protein provides the amino acids used by the body to rebuild muscle fibers. Glycogen provides the source of energy, fuel for the engine. A post workout meal should be taken immediately following the workout routine. There are a number of sources that combine protein and glycogen into a recovery bar or drink that serve this purpose well. Foods that contain high amounts of quality protein and carbohydrate also work.

For those interested in a fitness program to improve overall health and reduce weight, it is worth investigating the nutrition requirements that will maximize recovery.