couple reminders

Two reminders,
1) Fitness walk this Saturday at 7:15 am. Meet  in the Cimarron parking lot over by the tennis courts.  This is not a SCG event so you dont pay for anything at the desk.

2) New evening  spin class starts Wednesday June 5 at 6:15pm. You have to pay the $18 fee before May 31 or class will not be held.
Have a healthy day

The Truth About Energy Bars

   One word describes what Americans want from their diet these days: Convenience. So stock the supermarket with compact “energy-on-the-go” food touted to fight fatigue, fuel muscle growth, or help you lose weight and it’s guaranteed to fly off the shelves. That’s why sales of energy bars have seen incredible growth over the last decade, with more than $700 million in sales, according to research inDietitian's Edge.
 
   Cut through the hype and flashy packaging, and you're often left with a hefty (and expensive) dose of sugar, oil, and a mass of added vitamins and minerals. With little research to back up the bars claims, many are nothing more than protein-containing candy in disguise.  So do you really need any of this stuff?  Eat This, Not That! took a look at some of the biggest and boldest bars around to find the answer.

They May Not Have as much Protein as You Think

   Some meal-replacement bars may not have as much protein as you think. You won't find pig's feet or cattle hide listed in the fine print, but that's because they're hidden behind names like gelatin, hydrolyzed collagen, or hydrolyzed gelatin. Both collagen and gelatin lack an essential amino acid required to make them a complete protein. That means the quality of the protein is inferior to products that lack gelatin or collagen.

   Look for a bar that lists whey or casein protein—or a blend of both—as the first or second ingredient. These milk proteins contain all the essential amino acids your muscles need. Baylor University researchers found that when men with at least 6 weeks of weight training experience were given a whey-casein mixture before their workouts, they built 50 percent more lean muscle mass over 10 weeks than men who took only whey.

Could it Damage Your Manhood?

   “All-natural protein” is often code for soy, which research shows may cause gynocomastia—the abnormal enlargement of the mammary glands in men. When you consume soy protein, you’re actually courting the Mr. Hyde side of two organic compounds: genistein and daidzein. Both act so similarly to estrogen that they’re known as phytoestrogens (plant produced estrogen). Eat enough of the stuff, and you open up the potential for hormonal havoc.

They are Often Glued Together with Sugar

   Many allegedly healthy bars contain high fructose corn syrup, which quickly raises blood sugar and cancels out any of the potential benefits you might otherwise get from healthy ingredients like oats. Take Health Valley Low Fat Chocolate Chip Granola Bars, for example. The main ingredient is brown rice syrup—a euphemism for sugar. You’re better off snacking on good old-fashioned cheese and crackers to swap out sugar and calories for protein and fiber.

   If you’re tied to the convenience of a bar, look for labels with no more than five ingredients. “The longer the list and the more unpronounceable the words are, the farther it is from real food,” says Jonny Bowden, Ph.D, CNS Board Certified Nutrition Specialist.

They Don't Boost Energy

    Food companies out to make a buck capitalize on “energy’s” double meaning. Most consumers expect an “energy bar” to make them feel energetic or like they could hammer out an extra set of reps at the gym. But to nutritionists, “energy” simply means calories. “Boosting energy is a completely bogus claim,” Bowden says  “It’s a weasel use of the word energy.” Unless you’re recovering from a grueling workout or running a marathon, opt for nutrient-packed snacks.

They are Loaded with Sugar Substitutes

   Reduced-sugar and sugar-free bars appeal to carb-conscious consumers because they have little impact on blood sugar—but not without a price.  Sugar alcohols like malitol and sorbitol can cause uncomfortable side effects such as gas, bloating, and diarrhea when taken in large doses—like you might get in an energy bar.  What’s more, “reduced sugar” does not necessarily mean reduced calorie—at least, not reduced enough to matter. Malitol, for example, has 75 percent the calories of sugar, and since it’s not as sweet as the real thing, more must be used to achieve the same taste.

My Top Picks

Larabar Cherry
190 calories
8 g fat (0.5 g saturated fat)
4 g protein
21 g sugars
4 g fiber

Made from exactly 3 ingredients: dates, almonds, and cherries. Larabar is the closest thing to real food in the bar section of the gocery store.

Atkins Advantage Peanut Butter Granola Bar
200 calories
7 g fat (1 g saturated fat)
17 g protein
1 g sugar
6 g fiber

Great postworkout meal.

Pass These Bars

PowerBar Energize Berry Blast Smoothie
210 calories
3.5 g fat (0.5 g saturated fat)
6 g protein
24 g sugars
<1 g fiber

Besides the fact that it doesn’t contain a single gram of fiber, this bar lists evaporated cane juice (aka sugar) as its first ingredient.

Quaker Oatmeal to Go Apples & Cinnamon
220 calories
4 g fat (1 g saturated fat)
4 g protein
22 g sugar
5 g fiber

High-fructose corn syrup and margarine pollute this package.

5:45am Fitness Class and New Spin

Another week to get fitter!
Tuesday - 21- Total Body - HEAVY - Stability Ball, Matt and Heavy Dumbbells
Wed - 22 - Core Dynamics
Thursday - 23- Cardio Challenge
Friday - 24 - Total Body - HEAVY- Steps Risers, Matts and Heavy Dumbbells

REMINDER - New spin starting June 5th at 6:15pm. This will be a six week class and requires you to pay $18 in advance for the 6 classes.

Lets get stronger and burn some calories!!

5:45am Fit Camp Schedule week of May 13

The start of another awesome week. Looking forward to some intense exercises so we can get stronger, leaner and healthier.

Tuesday- Tabata
Wednesday- Heavy Chest and Back
Thursday- Cardio Intervals
Friday- Legs

Lets workout hard!

5 Signs your UNDERTRAINING

 Did you know there is a good chance you are suffering from "undertraining syndrome" and it's preventing you from achieving your ultimate body? 

 While undertraining is not a real and dangerous condition, it can deflate your motivation and self-esteem.  My  years of experience has convinced me it's negatively affecting people much more frequently than "overtraining" ever has. Undertraining occurs mostly when people lack the following:

• Consistency - do you miss workouts? 
• Intensity - how close do you work to your 1RM ? 
• Density - are you doing more work each month? 
• Frequency - have you been using the same split for years? 
• Progression - how much different do you look than last year? 

   Every day I am asked to analyze people’s programs all of the time, and I am

shocked to learn that many of them have been doing the same exact reps, sets and weights for months without changing.  There is no change in their body either. Shocking... (sarcasm).

 Maybe its time to step up your training and get a personal trainer.  I will help you make the progress that your looking for and make steps towards your fitness and weight loss goals.

So contact me today and lets get started!

In Health,

Arden Straw

623-302-4944

New Spin Class

New spin class will start June 5th at 6:15pm and go till 7pm. This class will be 6 weeks long and you must prepay $18.00 for the six weeks. There is a minimum of 10 people with a maximum of 17 people. So join us while we burn some calories, strengthen our hearts and have some fun.

Please see sign up sheet at the Cimarron Center front desk.

Workout Schedule for Week of May 7th

Lets get another week started and get stronger!
Tuesday - Heavy Legs
Wednesday  - Cardio Challenge
Thursday - Heavy Arms and Shoulders
Friday - Ultimate Ball

Eat Healthy and Work out Hard