Help! I’ve Hit A Weight Loss Plateau | Q+A

Help! I’ve Hit A Weight Loss Plateau | Q+A

by | Dec 28, 2017 | All, Ask Our Dietitian, Home, Nutrition

Question:

I’m trying to lose weight. I have been going to the gym about 5 times a week for about 4 months. I feel like I’m getting stronger, I have more energy and generally feel better. I noticed that I haven’t lost any weight and figured I should check my diet. Can you point me in the right direction?

– Jesse

Answer:

First, keep in mind that muscle is denser than fat, so it weighs more. Getting more tone or noticing looser pants, but still seeing the same number on the scale could mean a gain in lean muscle plus fat loss. Hurray!  Embrace your success in getting healthier. 

If you still suspect your diet has problems, you probably know the reason why better than I’d guess. Common culprits that prevent weight loss are caloric beverages (especially alcohol, smoothies and gourmet coffee drinks), large portions and skipping meals. Here is a 10-point checklist of suggestions to help you identify where you might improve: 

  • Starting meals when hungry, finishing when satisfied (instead of ravenous/stuffed)? 
  • Eating 4-6 servings of vegetables per day? 
  • Drinking 6-8 cups of water per day? 
  • Starting your big meals off with salad or raw veggies? 
  • Limiting fried, sugary or alcoholic items to three small servings weekly? 
  • Eating no more than 1 packaged/prepared meal daily? 
  • Eating on a regular schedule, not more than 6 hours apart during the day? 
  • Including a small amount of your favorite foods so you’re not deprived? 
  • Reading labels for comparison to choose better items at the grocery store? 
  • Recording your intake so you stay on track? 

– Debbie J., MS, RD

This article should not replace any exercise program or restrictions, any dietary supplements or restrictions, or any other medical recommendations from your primary care physician. Before starting any exercise program or diet, make sure it is approved by your doctor.

Some questions have been edited for length and/or clarity.

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Have a nutrition question? Our registered dietitian is ready to help!

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Warm Ups For Cold Weather Workouts

Warm Ups For Cold Weather Workouts

by | Dec 27, 2017 | All, Exercises, Fitness, Home, Workouts

Well the weather outside is frightful… but don’t let that deter you from your winter workout routine! It’s important that when the weather gets cold and frosty you take the time to properly warm up your body before jumping into your training. Warm-ups can help improve performance and reduce risk of injury1, especially when the weather is cold and your muscles feel tighter than normal.

Some helpful tips for warming yourself up before starting your workout include:

  1. Bring your warmup and workout routine into the gym! Staying indoors will help keep your core body temperature at a higher level than if you were to go on an outdoor run. (Find an LA Fitness near you, here!)
  2. A quick 15-minute run on the treadmill or warmup on the bike.
  3. Jumping jacks.
  4. Dynamic stretches such as walking lunges, leg swings and arm circles (read more about the benefits of stretching here).
  5. Take a dip in our 25-meter heated lap pools, or get your body feeling nice and relaxed in one of our relaxing saunas.*
  6. Squats, squats and more squats. The burn of that exercise sticks around all year.
  7. Walking. Simply taking a walk around the gym, your home, or a track can help warm up your muscles by getting them moving. Add in upper body stretches while you’re walking

Andrea Fradkin, an associate professor of exercise science at Bloomsburg University in Pennsylvania, suggests that for every 10°F drop below 30°F you extend your pre-workout warmup by five minutes.2  While not all regions experience extreme drops in temperatures, it’s important to keep in mind that even a slight drop in temperature can still be a shock when your body isn’t used to it.

Did You Know?

According to Gerald Endress, an exercise physiologist and fitness director at the Duke University Diet and Fitness Center, the ideal temperature for working out is between 68 and 72 degrees Fahrenheit.3 However, personal preferences may impact this.

How to Dress

It may go without being said that cold weather calls for warmer clothes. Even though you may be gearing up for a sweaty workout, be sure to dress in layers so you can remove the extra clothing when your temperature rises, and then add it back on when your core body temperature cools. If you’re opting for an outdoor workout, consider wearing protective gear for your face, ears, hands and feet. When dressing in layers, try wearing a synthetic material, something that will wick away moisture from your skin.4 The second layer should help insulate, think a fleece or wool layer, and the third layer should be a breathable/waterproof material (depending on outdoor conditions). Use your best judgment contingent on the weather, and take into account whether you are working out indoors or outdoors.

To find an LA Fitness near you, click here, and avoid the outdoor chill.

*Amenities vary by location.

Sources:

  1. O’Mara, Kelly. “The Art of Warming Up in Cold Weather | MapMyRun.” Under Armour, 8 Aug. 2017, blog.mapmyrun.com/art-warming-cold-weather/.
  2. Ibid
  3. George, Shannon. “Is It Better to Workout in the Cold or Hot?” LIVESTRONG.COM, Leaf Group, 11 Sept. 2017, www.livestrong.com/article/423074-is-it-better-to-workout-in-the-cold-or-hot/.
  4. Schwecherl, Laura. “When Is It Too Cold to Exercise Outside?” Greatist, Greatist, 6 June 2016, greatist.com/fitness/it-safe-exercise-cold.

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Why Can’t I Lose Weight?

Why Can’t I Lose Weight?

by | Dec 26, 2017 | All, Ask Our Dietitian, Home, Nutrition

Question:

I cannot lose fat despite exercising 4x a week which is cardio and lifting. I’m not sedentary either except at work sitting 8 hours. I overdose on veggies and eat very high fiber and lean. Hardly any bread/starch. I am 51, 6″2, somewhat muscular, but 225 lbs. I should be 210-215 as I was 5 years ago. I can’t get there.

– Gordon K.

Answer:

My guess is that perhaps your body is adapted to maintaining at your current intake and exercise level. Often after increasing activity, people experience a subtle increase in appetite which causes compensatory intake. In other words, calories consumed go up. Usually in healthy vegetable-based diets this could be in nuts/seeds, pesto, avocado, dressings, dried fruits or beverages. It only takes about 100 calories per day to forestall a weight loss of 10 lbs. in a year.

Try altering your workouts by increasing time, duration or intensity. To find hidden calories, I’d suggest tracking your intake for a few days and using dietary software with a comprehensive database for analysis. It might reveal where you have room to improve. Don’t forget that proper hydration and adequate sleep are also key to successful weight loss.

– Debbie J., MS, RD

This article should not replace any exercise program or restrictions, any dietary supplements or restrictions, or any other medical recommendations from your primary care physician. Before starting any exercise program or diet, make sure it is approved by your doctor.

Some questions have been edited for length and/or clarity.

Ask our Dietitian

Have a nutrition question? Our registered dietitian is ready to help!

Email nutrition@lafitness.com or submit your question below and it may be featured in an upcoming article!

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Which Is Better: A Protein Drink Pre or Post Workout? | Q+A

Which Is Better: A Protein Drink Pre or Post Workout? | Q+A

by | Dec 21, 2017 | All, Ask Our Dietitian, Home, Nutrition

Question:

Do you recommend taking a protein drink after working out or before? I’m also taking creatine with my protein shake. Should I take creatine before work out or after? I am a woman body builder 62 years old.

– Yvonne B.

Answer:

You are right to take your protein and creatine supplement in close timing of your workout for the most benefit. This is because of increased blood flow and therefore increased transport of amino acids and creatine to skeletal muscle1. There is a window of opportunity surrounding a workout for maximum impact of nutrients, but the overall intake during the day also matters.

The International Society of Sports Nutrition’s position stand on protein and exercise2 in 2007 mentions that the timing of protein ingestion should be before, during and after exercise. Their latest 2017 position stand on creatine did not mention timing of supplementation, only daily dose.

Protein consumed during recovery helps recovery. The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics’ Evidence Analysis Library for Athletic Performance Nutrition3 from 2014 summarized that “Ingesting protein during the recovery period (post-exercise) led to accelerated recovery of static force and dynamic power production during the delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) period and more repetitions performed subsequent to intense resistance training.” The International Sports Sciences Association website’s article Nutrient Timing for Bigger Muscle4 indicates protein timing depends on previous meals. Protein shakes are suitable before training in lieu of a recent meal, and protein can be consumed right after a workout to boost gains within an anabolic window of 3-4 hours.

Specifically looking at creatine, a small 2013 study examining the timing of creatine use among recreational male bodybuilders over a month-long period suggested that creatine monohydrate is more effective immediately post-workout5.

As you have no doubt found, depending on the body building source, recommendations for protein and creatine timing vary. I’d say it depends on when you are exercising and when your meals are. Fill in the gaps so that you are consuming protein every 3-4 hours.

– Debbie J., MS, RD

Sources

  1. Timing of creatine or protein supplementation and resistance training in the elderly. Candow DG, Chilibeck PD. Applied Physiology, Nutrition and Metabolism. 2008. 33(1): 184-190
  2. https://jissn.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1550-2783-4-8
  3. https://www.andeal.org/topic.cfm?cat=5053&evidence_summary_id=251754&highlight=protein%20recovery&home=1
  4. https://www.issaonline.edu/blog/index.cfm/nutrient-timing-for-bigger-muscles
  5. The effects of pre versus post workout supplementation of creatine monohydrate on body composition and strength. Jose Antonio, Victoria Ciccone.  Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition 2013, 10:36

This article should not replace any exercise program or restrictions, any dietary supplements or restrictions, or any other medical recommendations from your primary care physician. Before starting any exercise program or diet, make sure it is approved by your doctor.

Some questions have been edited for length and/or clarity.

Ask our Dietitian

Have a nutrition question? Our registered dietitian is ready to help!

Email nutrition@lafitness.com or submit your question below and it may be featured in an upcoming article!

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Holly, Jolly & Healthy

Holly, Jolly & Healthy

by | Dec 20, 2017 | All, Home, Nutrition

A round belly that shakes like jelly may be desirable for Old Saint Nick, but not the rest of us. Did you know that holiday weight gain may be slow and subtle, but it can take up to 5 months in the new year to lose those pounds? Any gain retained can contribute to “creeping obesity” that gradually accumulates over the years. Start making changes now to your normal festive food routines to avoid an extra “gift” in your midsection after the holidays. Here are our top tips to stay slim and trim this month:

Gifts to groups

  • Be a role model – Don’t bring edible goodies to share, unless it’s fresh fruit or individually-wrapped mints.

Candy bowls

  • Limit yourself to 1 piece for each hour since your last meal.
  • Keep a pile of your wrappers in plain view as a visual reminder of how much you’ve eaten. You’ll be less likely to indulge again with the evidence in front of you.

Bakery trays

  • See a donut or brownie you want? Leave the room for at least an hour and tell yourself you can have half of that particular one the next time you pass by. Chances are it may not still be there!

Drinks

  • Dilute sugary fruit beverages with sparkling water.
  • Split deluxe coffee drinks in half and fill with plain coffee.
  • Alternate an alcoholic beverage with water or a virgin drink.

Celebration meals

  • Use an Air Fryer for those traditionally decadent fried foods like latkes.
  • Limit yourself to 2 starches of any kind. (Ex: a roll + scoop mashed potatoes; or a corn cob + scoop noodles)
  • Do most of the cooking from scratch. You have more control over the ingredients, plus you burn calories working in the kitchen!

Buffets

  • Make just one trip through a buffet, taking only a single entrée, side and vegetable.
  • Keep portion sizes small and choose items that have been baked, steamed or grilled.

Other    

  • Focus on conversation and the festivities by playing games, dancing or taking a walk instead of eating mindlessly.

Good intentions only go so far. Write out your action plan to stay on track and keep your waistline trim. What are your ways for preventing holiday weight gain? Share them in the comment section below!

Reference:

Weight Gain over the Holidays in Three Countries. Helander EE, Wansink B, Chieh A.  The New England Journal of Medicine 2016 Sep 22; 375(12): 1200-1202.

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