Saturday, November 27, 2010

Oat bran study!


Effect of oat bran on time to exhaustion, glycogen content and serum cytokine profile following exhaustive exercise

Felipe F Donatto1,3 , Jonato Prestes1,2 , Anelena B Frollini1 , Adrianne C Palanch1 , Rozangela Verlengia1 and Claudia Regina Cavaglieri1

1 Health Science Faculty, Methodist University of Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil

2 Graduation Program in Physical Education - Catholic University of Brasilia, - Brasília/DF/Brazil

3 Molecular Biology of the Cell Group, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of São Paulo, Brazil

author email corresponding author email

Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition 2010, 7:32doi:10.1186/1550-2783-7-32


Published: 18 October 2010

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of oat bran supplementation on time to exhaustion, glycogen stores and cytokines in rats submitted to training. The animals were divided into 3 groups: sedentary control group (C), an exercise group that received a control chow (EX) and an exercise group that received a chow supplemented with oat bran (EX-O). Exercised groups were submitted to an eight weeks swimming training protocol. In the last training session, the animals performed exercise to exhaustion, (e.g. incapable to continue the exercise). After the euthanasia of the animals, blood, muscle and hepatic tissue were collected. Plasma cytokines and corticosterone were evaluated. Glycogen concentrations was measured in the soleus and gastrocnemius muscles, and liver. Glycogen synthetase-α gene expression was evaluated in the soleus muscle. Statistical analysis was performed using a factorial ANOVA. Time to exhaustion of the EX-O group was 20% higher (515 ± 3 minutes) when compared with EX group (425 ± 3 minutes) (p = 0.034). For hepatic glycogen, the EX-O group had a 67% higher concentrations when compared with EX (p = 0.022). In the soleus muscle, EX-O group presented a 59.4% higher glycogen concentrations when compared with EX group (p = 0.021). TNF-α was decreased, IL-6, IL-10 and corticosterone increased after exercise, and EX-O presented lower levels of IL-6, IL-10 and corticosterone levels in comparison with EX group. It was concluded that the chow rich in oat bran increase muscle and hepatic glycogen concentrations. The higher glycogen storage may improve endurance performance during training and competitions, and a lower post-exercise inflammatory response can accelerate recovery.

Thursday, November 11, 2010

A short and sweet workout!



A 15-25 minute workout.... a continuation after the short and sweet warm up posted a few weeks ago. The 2 arm KB swing is performed with a 16 and 20kg to challenge the core more.

Perform 3-5 sets. Rest 1-2 minutes in between. Enjoy....I'm out......




Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Do you fish oil?

Effects of supplemental fish oil on resting metabolic rate, body composition, and salivary cortisol in healthy adults

Eric E Noreen, Michael J Sass, Megan L Crowe, Vanessa A Pabon, Josef Brandauer and Lindsay K Averill

Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition 2010, 7:31doi:10.1186/1550-2783-7-31

Published:

8 October 2010

Abstract (provisional)

Background

To determine the effects of supplemental fish oil (FO) on resting metabolic rate (RMR), body composition, and cortisol production in healthy adults.

Method

S: A total of 44 men and women (34+13y, mean+SD) participated in the study. All testing was performed first thing in the morning following an overnight fast. Baseline measurements of RMR were measured using indirect calorimetry using a facemask, and body composition was measured using air displacement plethysmography. Saliva was collected via passive drool and analyzed for cortisol concentration using ELISA. Following baseline testing, subjects were randomly assigned in a double blind manner to one of two groups: 4g/d of Safflower Oil (SO); or 4g/d of FO supplying 1,600mg/d eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and 800mg/d docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). All tests were repeated following 6wk of treatment. Pre to post differences were analyzed using a treatment X time repeated measures ANOVA, and correlations were analyzed using Pearson's r.

Results

Compared to the SO group, there was a significant increase in fat free mass following treatment with FO (FO= +0.5 +/- 0.5kg, SO= -0.1 +/- 1.2kg, p=0.03), a significant reduction in fat mass (FO= -0.5 +/- 1.3kg, SO= +0.2 +/- 1.2kg, p=0.04). and a tendency for a decrease in body fat percentage (FO= -0.4 +/- 1.3% body fat, SO= +0. 3 +/- 1.5% body fat, p=0.08). No significant differences were observed for body mass (FO= 0.0 +/- 0.9kg, SO= +0.2 +/- 0.8kg), RMR (FO= +17 +/- 260kcal, SO= -62 +/- 184kcal) or respiratory exchange ratio (FO= -0.02 +/- 0.09, SO= +0.02 +/- 0.05). There was a tendency for salivary cortisol to decrease in the FO group (FO= -0.064 +/- 0.142ug/dL, SO= +0.016 +/- 0.272ug/dL, p=0.11). There was a significant correlation in the FO group between change in cortisol and change in fat free mass (r = -0.504, p=0.02) and fat mass (r = 0.661, p=0.001).

CONCLUSION: 6wk of supplementation with FO significantly increased lean mass and decreased fat mass. These changes were significantly correlated with a reduction in salivary cortisol following FO treatment.


If you are not..... you are surely missing out. I'm out....

Friday, October 15, 2010

Multi- events for 2010!





Check with official contact for event verification



Dates Event Name Contact
October 10 , 2010 Quantum 5km, 1/2 Marathon, Marathon Run Quantum
October 23, 2010 Lemesia 10km & 3km run Limasol Municipality
October 23, 2010 5km open water swim Federation of Swimming 22449840
October 24 2010 Mountain Triathlon @ Governors www.cytrifed.org
October 28th 13 km hike trail - Madari Get out Shop
November 7, 2010 Nicosia Kids triathlon - 7-14 years old www.cytrifed.org
November 20, 2010 Aktotiri 1/2 IRONMAN TRIATHLON K1 TRIATHLON CLUB
November 21 Amathunta 1/2 marathon & 10 km Nikis Sports Management
November 28 21Km and 5 Km Races (Pafos www.runclub.com.cy/new_races_2010.htm
November 25- 28 Akamas 4-day running challenge Paphos http://www.cypruschallenge.com/
December 4, 2010 Athalassa 5km www.dromearacing .com
January 30, 2011 21 km and 5 km , Pervolia G.S.Z.
February 2, 2011 Mountain bike - Cyprus Sunshine Cup #1 – Voroklini, Larnaka http://sunshine.mtbcyprus.com/
Febrary 25- 27, 2011 Cyprus Sunshine Cup #2 – «Afxentia 2011» Stage Race http://sunshine.mtbcyprus.com/
February 27 , 2011 Lemesos Marathon, half Marathon & 10km G.S.O.
March 6, 2011 Cyprus Sunshine Cup #3 – Amathous, Ag. Tychon http://sunshine.mtbcyprus.com/
March 13, 2011 Duathlon - (run/bike/run) Nicosia www.cytrifed.org
March 25, 2011 Strovolos 5km run Cyprus Health Runners Club


Goooooooo for it! Emailed to me by a great triathlon coach Mr. Kypros Nicolaou. I'm out......

















Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Are you one of those trendy Pilates person?


Recently, I came across so many individuals that are crazy about Pilates. They consider it the best exercise ever, and especially women love it. Hhhhhmmm.........is Pilates a complete training philosophy for you? What is Pilates ?...do you really know or you just join cause you want to look cool.

Personally, people's ignorance on the topic is one thing that drives me nuts. Here are my pros and cons on Pilates philosophy.

Pros:

  1. It's a form of a less strenuous activity...which is great....targeting mainly the core.


On the other hand, the Cons:

  1. Gooofyyy Instructors. These are people that do a 2 weeks certification and they think they are the experts on the topic. They literally do not know anything else. They just know few exercises. They do not have a justification for what is going on and they are the ones that most of the people out there, especially in Cyprus that trust and they consider it as 'value for money'.
  2. No specificity what so ever. Is there a connection between Pilates and a sport or an activity that you are part of? If you have a back pain...maybe is the right form of exercise for you, but does the trainer understands exactly what is the problem and what he can do to help.
  3. Forgotten other important elements of training such as power, cardiovascular endurance, and joint stability and mobility.
  4. Not such a variety of equipment used. Challenging the body with different equipment can keep the workouts more fun and surely more beneficial towards your fitness goals.
  5. Not much resistance used. The resistance that is use is not that much sooooooooo that equals with a lower metabolism and not an effective method if you are goal is to loss excess fat. This goes out to all the women out there who think that weights are bad for them.
  6. Low intensity. Have you ever seen someone doing a pilates class and be out of breath or depict that pilates is a tough training regime? Easy workouts are not very beneficial for you health, performance and great results, so accept it and move on. Of course you need easy workouts, but in the long run tough workouts to the point of your goals are crucial.


Finally , I believe that there are some great Pilates instructors out there that know really the WHY of everything. If you want to experience a more complete training philosophy just come by the 3 D studio anytime. The question remains...Why do you use Pilates for? I'm out......

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Short and sweet warm up video!


A short warm up (2:33 minutes) that surely is effective and anyone can do it. Any comments? Enjoy!







Wednesday, September 8, 2010

Bruce Lee comments on training!

Here it is...... this was emailed to me by a great friend Jo... the man. I though it was a good idea to share it with you.



A powerful athlete is not a strong athlete, but one who can exert his strength quickly. Since power equals force times speed, if the athlete learns to make faster movements he increases his power, even though the contractile pulling strength of his muscles remains unchanged. Thus, a smaller man who can swing faster may hit as hard or as far as the heavier man who swings slowly.

The athlete who is building muscles though weight training should be very sure to work adequately on speed and flexibility at the same time. In combat, without the prior attributes, a strong man will be like the bull with its colossal strength futilely pursuing the matador or like a low-geared truck chasing a rabbit.

Endurance is lost rapidly if one ceases to work at its maximum.


Work on speed, flexibility, and endurance....these 3 elements are some of the missing links that most sports are not taking into consideration. Speed, endurance, and flexibility for each sport varies, so you should be aware of that.

On the other hand, weight training is essential. Mainly for injury prevention, building up your strength/power, and in case of hypertrophy of course. For power, it can be done working on relatively 60-70% of Max with faster movement. Medicine ball training is another way to increase your power. Sport performance is not complete without weight training!

What do you think......I'm out!