Health & Fitness FAQ

Health & Fitness FAQ

Health & Fitness Questions? We've got answers

What is the supplement 5-HTP and what does it do?

5-HTP has been called the “natural Prozac” by many. Without getting to complicated, it works by boosting serotonin levels; it basically increases cell production of serotonin, a hormone that plays a significant role in mood, appetite, and sleep patterns, among other things.

Studies overseas have indicated that 5-HTP can actually be a more effective antidepressant than many prescription drugs. Other studies suggest that 5-HTP may also act as a significant appetite suppressant, which is where it’s weightloss application comes into effect.

There are no reported side-effects with regular doses of 5-HTP, and though more studies need to be done it appears to be a promising natural antidepressant and appetite suppressor.

Is Tae-Bo an effective workout for women?

Tae-Bo is, indeed, a great way to get your kicks, ladies. You don't have to be Billy Blanks or Jean Claude Van Damme to participate in such classes.

Tae-Bo, the aerobics class turned kickboxing class, is for everyone, regardless of age or gender.

There are numerous celebrities - raging from Shaquille O'Neal to Goldie Hawn - who are swearing by the benefits of Tae-Bo. A Tae-Bo class is such a marvelous, effective form of exercise that cardio kickboxing classes are cropping up in fitness clubs throughout the country.

Tae-Bo is generally offered in three different levels of intensity: low-impact, moderate-impact, and high-impact.

The low-impact version is an excellent way to obtain flexibility and form, while the high-impact version is a tremendous method of losing weight and strengthening the heart. Aside from learning various punches and kicks from different Martial Arts forms, Tae-Bo is also a great way to work up a sweat, requiring full body activity.

Cardio kickboxing is ideal in toning up the muscles, particularly in the arms and legs, while getting you into tip-top shape. Aside from all of the above benefits, Tae-Bo is non-stop fun, a great way for fitness fanatics to get their kicks.

I hope this doesn't sound stupid but I hear a lot of people at the gym talking about "cross training" and I'm not sure what it means. Can you please explain cross training and maybe give an example?

Cross-training is the method in which you blend a series of different activities into your workouts. For instance, instead of running every day or biking every day, cross-training allows you to delve into a variety of exercise routines.

These different activities can vary from day to day or even from minute to minute. Instead of devoting an entire workout to one particular exercise, like stair climbing, blend in several exercises during the session. Devote 15 minutes to the treadmill, perhaps another 15 on the exercise bike, indulge in light weight training for another 15 minutes, and then take on an aerobics class. That's cross-training. The possibilities, the combinations, are endless.

Along with cross-training comes a slew of training benefits. The variation you throw into your workouts should trigger faster, most satisfying results.

When you're partaking in the same, old exercises day in and day out, you're body becomes accustomed to the regular routine. Thus, the gains will come to a standstill.

Cross training aptly initiates the change-up that your workouts may need by shocking your body with new, foreign exercises. If you're used to swimming five days a week and suddenly, you substitute a swim for a jog through the park, your body will recognize the difference.

Also, cross-training may be a better option for avoiding injuries. While a constant strain is put on certain joints if you're running every day, other joints will be used in specific exercises like weight training or say, rockclimbing.

Hi, I’m a 32 year old female trying to stay lean and healthy while working a hectic full-time job. I seem to do OK with my program in spurts. My biggest problem is staying motivated. Any tips?

Proper motivation is an absolutely essential element to any successful training and physique program. That much is a given.

While it’s natural for an individual’s motivation level to go through peaks and valleys, there are a few proven ways that can help most people to maintain a high level of commitment to their training, diet, and supplement programs.

Here’s a few simple but effective suggestions:

1. Write down what your training and physique goals are for the rest of the year. Where do you want to be by July 1? By September 1? By January 1, 2001! Be as specific as possible, and be sure to actually write them down. There’s something about putting your goals on paper which makes them more tangible. You can even post your goals on your desk or somewhere where they’ll serve as a constant reminder and motivating tool.

2. Take the pledge to stop making excuses and to start making some serious progress. I’m too busy. I’m too tired after work to get to the gym. I don’t have the right genes to have a lean, muscular body. Blah, blah, blah . . . When it comes to getting and staying in shape, excuses are a dime a dozen and are as addictive as a drug. Anyone can make excuses, but in order to reach your goals you need to make a conscious effort to NEVER make excuses. Just get it done.

3. Constantly remind yourself that this is the one life you have . . . why not live it to your full potential? It may sound harsh, but so many people never achieve what they want in their professional and personal lives simply because they refuse to understand that this is it. This is your chance . . . your moment in time. Seize the day!

 I used to work out quite frequently but because of my busier schedule, I have not been able to slide exercise time into my everyday agenda. Some people suggest that I work out in the morning, before work, but I am NOT a morning person. What should I do?

The first thing you should do is remember these nine words: If there is a will, there is a way. You can always squeeze exercise time into your daily activities, even if it is at the expense of cutting down on TV time or slicing away all those hours you spend gabbing away on the phone.

Too many people are under the impression that you need to dedicate a few hours a day to exercising. That's nonsense. You can get your daily fill in just a half-hour of time. And the 30 minutes you log to whipping yourself into shape does not have to be a continuous session.

In fact, it has been concluded that segregating this time into three ten-minute intervals throughout the day may be beneficial to you for two reasons: 1) It allows you to be more intense in your mini-workouts, considering you've had time to rest and recharge your batteries; and 2) it burns more calories because it accelerates your metabolism.

And it's perfectly fine if you are not a morning person. Many of us aren't.

If you cannot find time to head off to the gym during the moonlight hours - or if the health clubs is simply closed by the time you can work out - there are countless exercise videos on the shelves that can assist you in a great workout, right inside your own home.