Gear to Rev Up Your Workout

Thu, 06 Apr 2017 16:40:52 +0000

In the past, much of the high-tech gear available for workouts was bulky, difficult to manage and often hard to understand. Today’s gear is not only slimmed down, it’s more intuitive, easier to use and often able to do more than one thing at a time. Whatever your workout involves, your choice of gear should add to your experience and not become an impediment to your routine.

Keeping It Simple and Sporty

Your choices in fitness gear should be based on your personal tastes and the requirements of your routine, not the latest fads. It is all about simplicity and can be packed easily into luggage or a gym bag. Bringing music along for your workout is easier today than it has ever been. Whether you are walking, running or doing yoga, it’s easy to bring along your favourite music on a smartphone, MP3 player or even a tablet.

Apps and High-Tech Gear

Apps on a smartphone or tablet, as well as portable gadgets designed for monitoring your workout, can be valuable additions to your gym bag, provided you get what you want out of them. The use of apps on the smartphone are usually simple and accessible.

It is important not to become encumbered by the gadgets that are available. If you are not particularly tech savvy, it’s often better to delete an app or leave a troublesome gadget behind

Pedometers

Knowing how many steps you take in those new running shoes isn’t just good for your workout routine; it’s good for your feet as well. Just like the tires on your car, running shoes are only designed for a limited number of miles before they should be replaced. For runners, this is usually around 300 miles.

The longer you wear your shoes, the less cushioning and support they give your feet, which could result in injuries that could take months to heal. Pedometer apps loaded onto a smartphone use the phone’s gyroscope or G-sensor to detect each time you take a step, even when the phone is asleep.

Smart Gear

Fishing out your smartphone in the midst of a workout to check your progress or to change a song can be distracting. Today’s smartphone apps combined with a compatible watch can give you your distance, speed and even an estimate of the calories you’ve burned with a single glance at your wrist. If you are expecting a vital phone call or an email important enough to interrupt your workout, the watch can notify you as well. A smartphone with a compatible watch can do all of these things, eliminating the need for other devices you may have strapped to your wrists or ankles in the past.

Workout Videos

Videos on your smartphone, tablet or TV can be perfect companions for a home-based workout or for when you travel. Videos are a good way to learn from fitness professionals. However, not all videos are made with your health in mind. There are so many ineffective or even unsafe workouts available nowadays and instead of relying on celebrity endorsements, videos should be chosen by the merits of the programs themselves. Internet-based videos and programs can also be valuable sources of motivation, as can podcasts and Internet radio shows.

Photo Credits: Shauna Hundeby/Demand Media

7 Easy Pre-Workout Snacks

Fri, 24 Mar 2017 15:45:45 +0000

Squeezing a workout into an already-busy day is a worthwhile challenge, but a challenge nonetheless. One of the issues you’ll face is how and when to fuel up for your workout. Morning trips to the gym make it hard to find time for breakfast, while too large a snack before an afternoon workout can interfere with your dinner. The secret is to stock your Samsung refrigerator and cupboards with simple, healthful foods you can combine for light but energizing snacks.

1. Fruit and Nut ButterFruit is a good source of workout-friendly carbohydrates and it’s light enough to be tummy-friendly even for people who struggle to eat breakfast. Add a tablespoon or two of your favourite nut butter for protein, and you’ll be ready for the gym. Peel a banana, or slice an apple or pear and spread the slices with almond butter, natural peanut butter—not the sugary, kid-friendly kind—or one of the nut-free alternatives. Eat at least 30 minutes before your workout, it’ll provide enough fuel to get you through a light to moderate routine.

2. Homemade Energy BarsA few minutes’ advance preparation can speed your pre-workout snacking, if you’re especially pressed for time. Make your own energy bars by combining equal parts dates, nuts and your favourite dried fruits in your food processor. Process the mixture to a stiff dough, then press it into a square 20- by 20cm cake pan. Cover the mixture and refrigerate it for at least an hour in the coldest part of your Chef Collection Refrigerator. Cut the mixture into 8 bars or 16 squares, depending how hard you work out and wrap them individually. They’ll easily keep for 7 to 10 days in the fridge.

3. Granola CupsFor longer or more intense workouts, add the longer-lasting carbs found in whole grains. Oats are an excellent choice, but pausing for a bowl of oatmeal isn’t always an option. Instead, layer your favourite homemade or store-bought granola into reusable cups along with Greek yogurt and fresh fruit. The yogurt’s protein and the slow-digesting carbs from the oats complement the fruit, fueling your body for greater exertion. Make up a few at a time and keep them in the fridge for a quick snack on your way out the door.

4. Spread and GoBread is another convenient option for whole-grain carbohydrates. Whether you prefer to eat it in the form of a whole-grain bagel, wheat toast or a multigrain wrap, it’s a perfectly portable option for your pre-workout snack. Add the necessary protein in the form of almond butter, natural peanut butter or one of the legume-based, nut-free alternative spreads.

5. A Savory TreatIf nut butters aren’t your thing, legume-based dips can give you a similar protein boost and some carbohydrates as well. Keep a stock of hummus in your refrigerator, or your favourite bean dip. When you’re ready to head to the gym, spread it on a piece of toast or roll it up in a whole-grain flatbread. For a hot option, reheat low-fat refried beans in a whole-grain tortilla for a quick bean burrito.

6. Eggs and ToastSitting down to a plate of eggs and toast is a fine and leisurely way to start your day, though it’s not always practical before your workout. That doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy them—just that they need to be rearranged a little bit. Keep a few hard-boiled eggs in your refrigerator, where they’ll be ready to go any time you are. Skip the fatty egg salad approach and just slice the egg onto a piece of whole-grain toast. You’ll get the same combination of useful carbs and muscle-repairing protein, but in a quicker, more portable package.

7. Cheese And…Unless you avoid dairy products for dietary reasons, cheese is another valuable and versatile protein option for your pre-workout snack. One of its great virtues is that it goes with almost any source of carbohydrates you care to mention. Scandinavian-style crispbreads? Check. Toast, a bagel, or a wrap? Check. Fresh or dried fruit? Absolutely. If you’re really up against a time constraint, even pairing the cheese with a fistful of whole-grain crackers does the trick. Dairy-free cheeses are similarly rich in protein and can be a substitute if you don’t do milk products.

Photo Credits: Kate Van Vleck/Demand Media