Keys to Fitness: September 2013

Introduction

Hello Everyone!!

Firstly let's get the excuse of being "too old" to get in shape out of the way.
For me my birthday is just a date on a calender as i have competed for over a decade against competitors half my age. How you might ask? By having the knowledge of how the body functions and just as importantly how to get the most out of your workouts, i will pass on my wisdom & tips to you my fellow bloggers and followers.

The "Key"(s) to exercise is having a variety. First not allowing the task to become boring and/or cumbersome as you must keep the brain guessing thus eliminating the plateau effect. Also when changes are not immediate one tends to become frustrated and feels like quitting, so we are going to change this with the blog to keep the routines far from boring and productive.

Secondly i will pass on knowledge regarding nutrition and water which is critical. You can work out all you want but remember what you do during exercise is tearing down the muscle and if you don't repair and hydrate you are just wasting your time, this aspect is probably 60%+ of the equation to a healthy body

Within the continuation of this blog, I will show you how to improve your health, change your shape and improve your game.... from the serious athlete to the weekend warrior. There will be video's of weight bearing exercises per body part and routines that everyone can fit in to their schedule and lifestyle no matter how hectic it is.

And remember, there is no point in having an empire if you are not around to enjoy it. Your body is a temple!

Yours in Fitness,

Terry Keys
www.terrykeys.ca

Testimonials

"Terry's knowledge of nutrition, proper training techniques and insight into how to maximize our player's energy and strength is second to none........ it has proven invaluable in our team's success."

-Trevor Stienburg, Head Coach

SMU Hockey Huskies

2010 CIS National Champions

"Few athletes have the dedication, let alone the physical ability to stay at the top of their sport the way Terry Keys has."

-Jim Reyno

Halifax Daily News Reporter

"Very few athletes have the ability or knowledge to truly help people in reaching their lifestyle goals. With his proven accomplishments in body sculpting, Terry is able to grasp and provide methods that work........ He is a walking testimonial of his success and abilities in living a healthy and happy lifestyle."

-Richard Glover

Director HBS & ProLab Canada

Monday, September 30, 2013

The Dark Side of Sugar

High Blood Pressure, Diabetes and Obesity......an ugly/dangerous trifecta for your health and one of the main culprits is sugar and it particular fructose! We as North Americans AVERAGE almost 23 teaspoons (1 tsp=4.2g) a day without going anywhere near the sugar bowl because of it being added to all the man-made foods we consume everyday. Once in your system from soft drinks, candy, cupcakes, most boxed cereals, processed foods ( added for shelf life, flavor and texture.....also manufactures use High-Fructose Corn Syrup because its much cheaper than real sugar) and so on. Fructose is processed mainly by the liver and if too much is in your daily intake its produces fats called triglycerides which some of these tri-fats stay in the liver but a lot end up in your bloodstream which leads higher blood pressure and in time your body becomes more progressively resistant to insulin, so with that situation happening your pancreas responds by sending out more insulin trying to correct the in-balance. In time a condition known as metabolic syndrome takes over which leads to obesity (especially around the waist) Type 2 Diabetes, high blood pressure and of course danger of a heart attack.....Hmm lots of cheerful news people. Now you have the facts, you need to cut back on sugar (which I know is addictive as it stimulates the brain and its pleasure centers, also why these foods taste so good) but here another evil side of sugar, once your hooked with the initial sugar rush it will sap your energy level then you don't exercise, eat right, get your water intake etc. So to wean yourself of the sugar train slowing get off all the man-made products (think outer aisles of your favorite food market) and stick to the sugar from Mother Nature (fruits, natural honey, etc) and watch your body thank you as it extends your life.