Are you looking to increase your cardiovascular endurance? Look no further than moderate intensity steady state cardio (MISS). Running, rowing, or biking at a slightly elevated heart rate two to three times a week for as little as twenty minutes can make a huge difference in your cardiovascular capacity. All of these activities are also a great way to get outside, connect with nature, and have some time away from our day to day stresses. Be careful to avoid too much MISS if fat loss is your goal, however, as some research has shown a correlation between excessive MISS and stalled fat loss. Have you hit a plateau in your fat loss? We can help you identify if your workouts are helping or hurting your progress.

Are you doing high intensity interval training (HIIT)? If not, there are a lot of reasons why you should consider adding it to your workout routine, especially if your goals include fat loss or improved cardiovascular capacity. So what is HIIT anyway? It is a style of workout that includes periods of intense work with periods of recovery. One type of HIIT workout is the Tabata style workout, in which an athlete performs a certain movement for a period of time, then rests for a designated period of time. Think twenty seconds of pushups followed by ten seconds of rest, repeated for ten minutes. Studies have shown that this type of workout improves cardiovascular function and, in connection with proper nutrition, helps reduce whole body fat mass when performed consistently. HIIT workouts can be done with or without added weight, don’t require a fancy gym membership, and generally can be done in a short period of time. So if you are looking to score a fitness home run, think HIIT!

I stumbled across an opinion piece the other day advocating for a national institute of nutrition. The author makes some good points, particularly with regard to the need for nutrition science that isn’t dependent on grants from commercial entities. In light of the amount of junk studies put out there for quick headlines (see last week’s post), it sounds like a good idea to me. Take a look and let me know your thoughts in the comments! thehill.com/opinion/healthcare/410620-the-case-for-a-national-institute-of-nutrition

Every day or two, we read or hear about some new study that suggests we change the way we eat immediately to lose weight, stave off some disease, or lead a longer, more active life. Often one study directly contradicts the findings of another. The New York Times just published a great piece on the current shortcomings in nutrition research, and unfortunately, those shortcomings aren’t going away any time soon.

www.nytimes.com/2018/09/29/sunday-review/cornell-food-scientist-wansink-misconduct.html

The takeaway? Don’t change your dietary habits with the news cycle. Take the time to find out whether a study’s findings are supported by the greater body of research, or ask someone like us who actually enjoys diving into the scientific literature and research reviews.