Here’s some quick links to some interesting videos on different topic including a basic one for how fat is stored/burned, a good visual on the difference between running “barefoot” and with running shoes, a simple ab workout (and shoulder routine at the end), big lies in nutrition and a homemade suspension trainer. Enjoy!

How Fat is Stored

Thanks to Marks Daily Apple for pointing this one out (video from the movie Fat Head)

Barefoot vs Shoe Running Video

Thanks to Physical Living for pointing this one out.

The “Commercial Break” Ab Workout

I call this the “commercial break” because you can do it while you are watching TV and during commercials! No excuses!!

Video from Steve Maxwell.

The Big Fat Lies

Here’s a short video that shows how we got to the whole “fat is evil” belief in the first place. Also take note in the beginning how it …

February 4, 2010 | 6 Comments

Crossing the Finish Line

Congratulations to everyone who has completed the 30 day challenge here at Fitness Spotlight!! It wasn’t all that bad now was it? Actually I think it got easier once the first week was over (and allowing the caffeine back in might of had something to do with it too).

So lets take today to really reflect back on the lessons we learned, so we know how to go forward (as the challenge may be over, but life still goes on).

What Did You Get From it?

What were the important things that you learned about yourself, health, body, cravings, food choices, and anything else during these past 30 days?

Many have learned that they have more self control than they thought possible (by limiting or avoiding things like coffee or sweets). Others may have learned how much better they felt without all the grains/breads/dairy in their diets. Maybe you have more daily energy, less inflammtion or even lost some weight.

Of course we can also take other lessons seen such as snacking on such things as nuts will not guarantee weight loss even though we cut out the sugars …

February 2, 2010 | 9 Comments

Hey kids! Almost done! This is the end of week 4…Tuesday marks the official “last day” of the 30-day Challenge. We’ve been having a lot of fun with this and now it’s time to turn you loose. Of course, we’ll still be around with our regular posts, so you won’t have to go far to find us.

Today, a quick rehash of something I’ve talked about before: personal goal setting. Previously, I talked about it in terms of workout goals, but the same rules I mentioned there apply here.

Just to revisit the “rules of goal-setting,” your goals must be:

Specific – Do you know exactly what it is that you’re trying to do and why?
Measurable – Is there a set of criteria you can use for measuring progress?
Attainable – I lump this in with Realistic, but I’m sure there’s some Life Coach out there that can tell us what it really means.
Realistic – Can you really and truly accomplish this goal? Stretch goals are good. Unrealistic or unmotivating goals are bad.
Timely – A goal should have a timeframe. “I want to do X …

January 29, 2010 | 11 Comments

Your lifestyle, and how you react to it, is of vital importance for your health (and even weight loss). I think it is safe to say that most of us already recognize the danger of excess and ongoing stress daily.

So today we are going to talk about how you can reduce stress and simplify your life in the process. A simpler daily lifestyle is usually one that is pretty low in stress after all, but still plenty abundant in happiness!

Fight or Flight, Not Worry All Day

We have seen how the body actually can thrive on “short term” stress such as exercise and even intermittent fasting. Our survival programming allow us to use short periods of stress to the body to come out stronger and ready to handle them again down the road.

What we are just not equipped (hormonally speaking) to handle is those stressors build up over long periods of time and still be able function optimally. That is the real danger, the chronic and ongoing reaction to physical/mental stressors.

Our body and hormones react to “fight or flight” in order to have us survive (raising adrenaline/HR/blood pressure/cortisol for increased blood sugar available for our muscles to use). It …

January 27, 2010 | 18 Comments