September 2019 – Page 2 – Coach Chrystal's Eat Move Live

Carbohydrates – You ARE What You Eat

Every single gram of carbohydrate has 4 calories, equating its energy value to that of protein. While carbohydrates are non-essential (because given the right circumstances, your body can create glucose), when it comes to fueling your body, they are king. Carbohydrates are your body’s first choice of fuel for every activity you do. As discussed in the section on metabolism and energy systems, recall that almost all carbohydrates are broken down into simple glucose (or sugar) molecules. For the 1^st 20 or so minutes of all exercise, glucagon stored in the muscle (short term glucose storage) is broken down into glucose and is metabolized as our main source of fuel. The glucagon in muscle is then replenished by glucose in the blood stream. When blood sugar levels drop, the glucagon stored in your liver (long term glucose storage) will be broken down and released into the blood stream to replenish it. Read more “Carbohydrates – You ARE What You Eat” →

Nutrition

Protein – You ARE What You Eat

Each single gram of protein = 4 calories. Approximately 20% of our body weight is protein. Protein is the main component of structural elements like our muscles, hair, nails, skin, eyes, and internal organs such as the heart and brain. Protein is also what makes up the building blocks of our DNA. Each protein molecule is complex, made up of various arrangements and combinations of 22 different naturally occurring amino acids. Some amino acids are considered essential; we must obtain them from our diet because our body cannot produce them, while other amino acids are considered non-essential; our body can produce them if all the systems within the body are functioning properly. Protein synthesis is the term for creation of protein from amino acids. Read more “Protein – You ARE What You Eat” →

Body Science

Set Point Theory

Homeostasis is the tendency towards a relatively stable equilibrium, or balance between interdependent elements, especially as maintained by physiological processes. Our bodies’ love and can in fact only thrive when in state of a balance. For example, your body temperature must be maintained at or around 98.6°F (37°C). If this temperature should rise too high or go too low, you will die. To prevent this, Read more “Set Point Theory” →

Body Science

You Are (and can do) What You Eat

Energy Systems

We may not be able to see energy, but we can certainly feel heat, its byproduct whenever we do physical activity. Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is the molecule within the body that holds energy. For this reason ATP is often referred to as the energy currency of the body. We get energy from the macronutrients we consume like carbohydrates, protein and fat. There’s also energy stored in any alcohol we consume, but we do not consider alcohol a macronutrient because Read more “You Are (and can do) What You Eat” →

Fitness

The Shoulder Press

Why it’s Functional

Any time you need to place an object on a surface that’s above your head, you are doing a shoulder press. Pressing weight above your head strengthens your shoulders, back, and abdominal muscles. As a weight-bearing exercise, the shoulder press are conductive of overall bone health. Read more “The Shoulder Press” →

Body Science

Metabolism

We’ve all heard someone blame their excessive weight on having a slow metabolism, or their ability to eat large amounts of food and not gain any weight on their fast metabolism. But what exactly is metabolism? Technically speaking the word metabolism is defined in biology as the chemical processes that occur within a living organism in order to maintain life. When most people are discussing metabolism though, what they’re actually referring to are just a few of those chemical processes, specifically the ones that convert the macronutrients in the food and drinks we consume into energy or Calories, and then taking into consideration how long it takes for our bodies to use that energy. In this way, our food is our fuel. Read more “Metabolism” →

Month: <span>September 2019</span>

Carbohydrates – You ARE What You Eat

Protein – You ARE What You Eat

Set Point Theory

You Are (and can do) What You Eat

Energy Systems

The Shoulder Press

Metabolism

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