Weekly IMF.blog Health Tips

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If you haven't already noticed at the bottom of the IMF.blog side panel, there has been a new feature that has been added. It is the "Weekly IMF.blog Health Tip" feature. As I said in my post from, Vogue Makes a Cameo at the Superbowl, we want to prepare our bodies for looking good in our old age. The only way to do that is to be conscience of our health, right? Now with all the health advice out there, it is really hard to figure out what to do when it comes to taking care of ourselves. I simply want to throw out some short, easy to remember, interesting, and beneficial quips on health for you to take, remember, don't remember, tweet, tell someone about, look more into, whatever. Continue to check back with this post throughout the year to see what facts I have added to this post at the beginning of each week.

In my fashion, health should not be complicated unless your professional calling requires you to know how to perform "electroneurodiagnostic tests" or "medical physical examinations". When it comes to health, as long as you keep your techniques simple and natural and they give you the strength you personally need throughtout the day to work at your best (and look at your best), then you are on the right track!

I try to keep to traditional, wholistic methods that aren't complicated to understand, or to execute, so hopefully these tips will be some type of useful, no matter how into health you are. I will be posting 2 new tips each week, courtesy of the popular supplement, Force Factor, and the weekly SMS they send to your phone when you sign up for the service on their website. After a week, on Mondays I will retire the week's fact from my side panel to this post, so check back here throughout the year to look back at a consolodated list of past facts. Remember, when you look good, you feel good; and when you feel good, you look good! It only makes sense!

Week of March 5, 2012:
Active Recovery! Do a light 30 minute bike ride the day after intense workouts to boost circulation and reduce recovery time.
Eat more Water! Food can supply 20% of daily water needs. Lettuce, yogurt, oatmeal, and tomatoes are great sources.

Week of March 12, 2012:
Focus on Flexibility! Spend 2X as long stretching your tightest muscles (typically hamstrings, shoulders, and low back).
Get Ripped! Work your abs even harder during crunches by exhaling powerfully at the top of the exercise!

Week of March 19, 2012:
Get Ripped! Work Your abs even harder during crunches by exhaling powerfully at the top of the exercise.
Choose Cold! Drink chilled water before AND during your exercise to boost endurance during your workout.

Week of March 26, 2012:FOCUS! Trick yourself into benching or lifting more weight by focusing your eyes on your dominant hand during each rep.
Eat to Live! Have a small meal before early morning workouts. Exercise on an empty stomach can cause your body to burn muscle tissue!

Week of April 9, 2012:
Count Your Reps BACKWARDS! Focus on how many you've got left in the set in order to power through more.
Protein Powder!The sooner you drink a post-workout protein shake the better! Keep protein powder in your gym locker to be prepared.

Week of April 2, 2012:

Calves Feeling Tight? Try sleeping on your stomach with your feet hanging over the bed to stretch them with gravity.

Pre-workout! Pre-workout drinks boost energy and stamina for harder, longer workouts.

Week of April 9, 2012:
Fave Machine taken at the gym? Bring a jump rope in your bag to kill time and calories while you're waiting.
Time to replace your sneakers? Caluculate their milage. It it's over 400, it's time to buy new ones.

Week of April 16, 2012:
Pre-workout snack tome? Go for about 250 claories and a mix of carbs and protien like crakers and peanut butter.
Back to Basics: Warm up with 5 minutes of jumping jacks to tone and condition your body this week!

Week of April 23, 2012:
Jumpstart! Eat breakfast ASAP after waking up to kick start your metabolism. Choose eggs for protein to keep you feeling full.
Some fats can help burn fat! Choose fish, walnuts, olive oil, and avacados for your fat sources.

Week of April 30, 2012:
Work on Balance! Weight training each side of the body seperately can help even out imbalances.
Need Protein?Milk is a good source of both whey and casein proteins. Try a glass of skim or 1% when you're out of protein powder

Week of May 7, 2012:
Improve Chin-Ups!Focus on pushing elbows down, not lifting the body up. You'll trick yourself into better reps.
Chew Slower to Get Leaner!Fast eating doesn't give the body enough time to tell you're full and can lead to weight gain! 

Week of May 14, 2012
Don't underestimate the power of rest! A good night's sleep usually results in a GREAT workout!
Have you reached a plateau? Shock your muscles into growth again by changing-up your workouts.

Week of May 21, 2012
Tea-ing Up: “As soon as I sit down at a restaurant, I order a cup of green tea. It’s hydrating and fills me up so I eat less of my main dish.”
Tamming My Sweet Tooth:“When I’m craving something sugary, I suck on a lollipop or piece of hard candy. It keeps my mouth busy and prevents me from springing for a slice of cake.”
-Mayra Veronica, “Traveling Light”, Shape Magazine, June 2012

Week of May 28, 2012
Walk, Walk, Walk!
Trying to be more active without stepping in a gym? Park your car further away than necessary and always take the stairs.
Slow and Steady!
Maximize your lifting sessions by lifting AND releasing slowly. It will help you focus on form and control.