Lose weight improve health and confidence. Megan got herself on a healthy track during the Covid pandemic. After losing 40 pounds on her own, she was stuck and needed guidance on how to continue making progress.
She signed up for a 12 Week Lose Weight Feel Great plan, and working with Hitch Fit Coach Diana, continued her journey to shed over 13 more pounds of fat, and even better, got her blood pressure to a healthy place!
Megan’s Before and After Weight Loss Stats:
Starting weight: 154.3
Ending weight: 141
Starting body fat: 38.27%
Ending body fat: 25.92%
Starting waist measurement: 36 in
Ending waist measurement: 27.5 in
Starting hip measurement: 39 in
Ending hip measurement: 37 in
Megan’s Before and After Weight Loss Photos:
Megan’s Story and Hitch Fit Online Personal Training Review:
“I found Hitch Fit through a mutual acquaintance who introduced the program for me!
During the COVID-19 pandemic I decided to make some big lifestyle changes and ended up losing 40 pounds.
I still had about 15 or so pounds I wanted to lose when I met Diana and still wasn’t feeling my best physically.
Lose the last 15 pounds to improve health and confidence
I had plateaued and wasn’t making anymore progress no matter how hard I tried. I also had been diagnosed with high blood pressure about a year prior, and after losing quite a bit of weight, my blood pressure was still high.
After completing my 12 week program I am feeling mentally and physically great!
My blood pressure is lower than ever and I am hoping to be able to go off my medication at my next doctor’s appointment.
This process helped me not to care so much about what my body looks like, but reminded me of the importance of keeping myself healthy physically and mentally.
There were moments where the scale wasn’t moving or I was feeling defeated, but Diana kept reminding me how important it is to tell myself I CAN do this.
Changing my mindset changed everything for me and helped me to continue to make progress.
I still have more progress I want to continue to make, and Diana helped me to establish the basics and create new healthy habits. I feel like this is only the beginning for me and am excited to see where this takes me!
“He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall remain stable and fixed under the shadow of the Almighty [Whose power no foe can withstand]. I will say of the Lord, He is my Refuge and my Fortress, my God; on Him I lean and rely, and in Him I [confidently] trust!” (Psalm 91:1, 2, AMPC).
There’s a secret place in which we can remain safe in God. We can stay stable and fixed when we trust Him and His promises at all times.
Some of it is just common sense. Probably everything your
mother told you to stay away from, but in our fast-paced, warp-speed
microwave world, it’s easy to get caught up into what’s the easiest and
fastest. Before eating that next greasy cheeseburger and French fries
drenched in salt, ask yourself if it’s worth the discomfort you will
experience in your joints the next day. Balance is key in eating but if
you have been diagnosed with arthritis, you will want to keep
inflammation at bay. And as you may already know, the less inflamed the
joints the less pain you will be in.
So, what foods should you avoid that help with reducing inflammation?
As a first step, avoid the foods that science is certain links to
chronic inflammation from your diet. An excellent starting point are
fried foods and refined sugar. While limiting these foods, increasing
less-processed whole foods can alleviate some symptoms of arthritis,
like pain and swelling. The added benefit is, of course, maintaining a
healthy weight which can also alleviate unnecessary stress on the knee
joints.
Keep reading to learn of 3 more foods that are the worst for arthritis that might not be so obvious.
Ready-made frozen foods
Easy, but full of sodium, frozen dinners and pre-made meals are
something to be avoided for those with rheumatoid arthritis. When you
have rheumatoid arthritis, you may want to limit the amount of sodium
that you eat because certain medications such as corticosteroids can
cause you to hold onto more salt, which increases inflammation. Read
labels as the frozen food industry is now offering healthier
alternatives and try to limit your daily sodium intake to about 1,500
milligrams.
Mono-sodium glutamate (MSG) is a flavor-enhancing food additive most
commonly found in prepared Asian food and soy sauce, but it can also be
found in frozen meals. It’s also added to fast foods, prepared soups and
soup mixes, salad dressings and deli meats. This chemical can trigger
two important pathways of chronic inflammation and affect liver health.
Gluten and refined carbs
Gluten, a sticky protein found in wheat and related grains, such as
barley, oats, and rye, can promote inflammation. Unlike other proteins,
we don't digest gluten completely and, in some people, the immune system
sees gluten as the enemy and will unleash weapons to attack it, causing
inflammation in the intestines as well as in other organs, joints, and
tissues.
Refined carbohydrates are white flour products such as bread, pasta,
white rice, cereals and more markedly drives inflammation and also
accentuates the omega-3 deficiencies that powerfully impact joint
inflammation. Omega-3s are that good fat richly found in seafood, nuts,
and certain oils. Research has shown that omega-3s may prevent diseases
like heart disease and diabetes, helping protect your brain in addition
to fighting inflammation. Processed carbs are beginning to supersede
fats as the main driver of escalating rates of obesity and other chronic
conditions. These high-glycemic index foods fuel the production of
advanced glycation end (AGE) products that stimulate inflammation.
Dairy
About 60 percent of the population have a hard time digesting milk
and other dairy products and the proteins found in them, which can cause
inflammation in the body. Most cheeses contain a high amount of
saturated fats, and saturated fats have been shown to be an inflammation
trigger not only for heart disease but arthritis as well.
Dairy products such as ice cream are high in saturated fats.
Saturated fat + sugars = inflammation’s match made in paradises.
Saturated fat is one of the most inflammation-inducing nutrients, and a
study of more than 100 arthritis patients who eliminated dairy reported
self-perceived benefits.
As your own experiment, try cutting dairy from your diet and see what
happens to your body when you give it up. Not all dairy causes
inflammation, so if you want to enjoy it, try slowly adding back in
products that have probiotics known to fight inflammation, including low
fat cheese and unsweetened Greek yogurt.
Cutting back on foods that promote inflammation, increasing the
proportion of fruits and vegetables in your diet, making organic chicken
and fish your main protein and getting more omega-3s can make a big
difference in your arthritis symptoms.
To learn more about what foods you should be eating if you have been diagnosed with arthritis visit https://southlandarthritis.com
“If I [can] speak in the tongues of men and [even] of angels, but have not love (that reasoning, intentional, spiritual devotion such as is inspired by God’s love for and in us), I am only a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal” (1 Corinthians 13:1, AMPC).
Love is the power-packed force in our Christian walk. Love never fails because God never fails. God is love.
Protecting loved ones or innocent people may be a reality in a defensive gun use. Training with your family on how to respond to different incidents is important.
So you've gone to the store and bought a shiny new (or not shiny, depending on your tastes) handgun, did the responsible thing and took your concealed carry permit class, and you're now good to go. Right? You can now carry your gun wherever you're allowed to, based upon the state in which you live. Are you confidently carrying your gun knowing that you're as prepared as you can be?
Or maybe you're like I was just a few months ago … living in a state that didn't require any training to get a concealed carry license. I honestly prefer that. It feels freer to me. I love freedom and feel strongly, on a personal level, that nobody should force us to get training. Knowing that, don't take what I'm about to say the wrong way:
You should take classes, on at least a semi-regular basis, if you are serious about self-defense and don't want your skills to perish. Shooting is a perishable skill. I know some folks have likened shooting to riding a bike. Heck, I think I even have said it like that before. But it's more like learning a new language than riding a bike. If you don't use it, you eventually lose it. Maybe you don't lose all of it, but enough to no longer be considered proficient.
I used to be able to speak Japanese to some degree because I was stationed in Japan during my time in the Marines. These days, I can remember only a few key phrases–which would likely be just enough to get me out of a jam, find a toilet, or ask for the police if needed.
Training with your handgun is the same way. If you don't do it, you'll lose it. Again, maybe you won't lose all of it, but you'll lose enough of it to not be as proficient as you should be IF you ever need to draw your firearm in defense of your own, or a loved one's, life.
Static Shooting only does the body so much good:
Here's the thing though. You don't just need “training” how you've been doing it since you got your permit. You need to take it up a notch. Why? Hopefully it's obvious, but you want to stack as many pluses on your side as possible when it comes to defending your life. That's the training that's going to kick in if you ever find yourself in a critical incident.
If you're statically shooting at a still paper target, it's not enough. Sure, it's great for fundamentals, but it's not enough. Why?
Bad guys fight back:
Why isn't static shooting enough? Because bad guys fight back. In fact, they're the ones who attacked you to begin with, right? So, chances of you being able to get into your full shooting position aren't likely. In fact, you may not even be able to get your support hand on your gun. What then? What do you do if you only have one hand?
Or, worse yet, what if your shooting/strong hand gets hurt in the fight and you still need to defend yourself from other attackers? That's a nightmare if you've never practiced shooting with your support hand. It sounds far-fetched, but it could and has happened. An advanced instructor may teach you these skills, depending on the class you take.
Bad guys move:
You've likely heard of the 21-foot rule. And, while I'm not here to discuss how legit that is, there is at least some merit to it. It's been proven that a bad guy can make up 21 feet in the time it takes for you to draw your gun and get on target. Chances are good that you've never had to shoot at a moving target. I have, and it's not as easy as you might think.
It may happen at night:
I've gone through low-light training of sorts, and it's a different animal altogether than shooting in broad daylight. A lot of the time, criminals attack when they cannot be seen as easily, during the nighttime hours. If you've never tried to acquire your sights in the dark, you need some low-light defensive tactics training under your belt.
There are plenty of advanced-level instructors who offer low-light shooting classes.
It may happen indoors:
Guess what? If you've never shot indoors or maneuvered around a house with a firearm, you're going to have a hard time doing it without any kind of proper training under your concealed carry belt. Think about it for a second–where do you spend most of your time? Is it in your house at night? If you're not getting trained on indoor defense, you could really fumble something up in that situation.
There may be other innocents around you:
This is something most people never think of. If you're in public, or even in your own house, there are almost always going to be other innocent people around you that you need to think of. What do you do with them? What if you have little kids? What if there are innocent bystanders in an active shooter situation? What do you do?
Cover or concealment:
Have you ever taken cover behind an object and fired your weapon? In a real-life situation, you're going to want to find something to get behind if at all possible. You may need to keep shooting if you can't get away fully. First, do you know what to look for in proper cover? Second, do you know how to shoot back if needed? Many advanced training programs will teach this as one of the first tactics they teach.
What about a partner:
This is another one many people don't think about. Are you normally with someone else who carries a gun for self-defense? Are you trained on what to do together should the need arise? There are classes that revolve around two person or team self-defense. They're a great way to learn what to do in a team environment and can be a real eye opener.
Every situation is different:
These above scenarios are more or less just designed to get you thinking about what could happen. There is no way any of us can foresee crime or an attack. It's just not going to happen. All each of us can do is to be as prepared mentally and physically as possible so we can overcome any attack on ourselves or family. To not seek out advanced training of some sort is borderline irresponsible, and you should seek out extra training as your budget allows. Your very life could depend on it. I know I'm overdue, and I'm looking for advanced training as we speak.
Consider attending the annual Guardian Conference where you can train with many of the top trainers in the industry all in one place. This saves you money and time because you're not traveling all over the country. The conference is right around the corner, don't miss out.
“And walk in love, [esteeming and delighting in one another] as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us, a slain offering and sacrifice to God [for you, so that it became] a sweet fragrance” (Ephesians 5:2, AMPC).
To love others freely, we have to receive God’s love, and allow Him to teach us how to love. Human love is fearful and cautious, but God’s love is fearless and extravagant. It drives out fear. With His love, we can love others without charging them for our love.
There are four major strategies to keep in mind when it comes to
getting ready to perform your best in the gym, whether it’s a regular
training day or competition day. (Continued below)
(Video) - Toned trainer and author Tara Garrison lightweight, high reps doesn’t give you the results you may be hoping for. Mom of three shares tips about transforming your body at any age
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Protein as part of your pre-workout routine is often an overlooked
component of performance nutrition, but adequate protein is vital for
preventing the excessive breakdown of muscle fibers during exercise.
Through repetitions in strength training, stress and tension are put
on muscle and their fibers, causing micro-tears. These are ultimately an
important part of training as these tears create room for muscle repair
and growth, which result in both muscle hypertrophy as well as
improvements in strength. However, excessive muscle breakdown can mean
that soreness sets in and muscle fibers are unable to repair at
staggering rates.
Having protein as part of your pre-workout nutrient regimen means
that you are providing muscle fibers with the building blocks to repair
muscle quickly and efficiently, without excess damage being done. One of
the most effective ways to do this is through the use of branched chain
amino acids (BCAA’s). BCAA’s used prior and during exercise is one of
the easiest and most effective ways to have proteins readily available
for muscle recovery.
If consuming a whole protein source, such as meat, eggs, or dairy,
aim to consume around 10-30 grams of protein about 60-90 minutes prior
to the beginning of your workout. Since BCAA’s are already broken down
in the simplest form of a protein, they can be consumed just before and
during your workout while still being effective.
EAT ENOUGH OF THE RIGHT CARBOHYDRATES
Carbohydrates are the primary fuel source for our muscles, and are
therefore an integral part of pre-workout nutrient timing, but we need
to take into consideration the type of carb being consumed in order to
ensure it’s available for use when we need it during exercise.
Our muscles are fueled by sugar, namely glucose which is converted to
glycogen and stored in our muscles and liver for energy. This is what
allows our muscles to perform and function, especially when it comes to
strength training.
Without adequate carb intake prior to a workout, you might notice
that you “hit a wall” during your workout that you’re unable push
through. You may also notice that you experience dizziness and early
onset muscle fatigue. When a movement becomes impossible to complete due
to muscle fatigue, it’s a sign that you’ve depleted the glycogen stores
in that muscle group, preventing you from continuing to use those
muscles.
SIMPLE VS COMPLEX CARBOHYDRATES
For our purposes, there are two major types of carbohydrates: simple and complex.
Complex carbohydrates are those that contain fiber and starch, and
therefore require a longer period of time in order to be digested and
broken down to the glucose to be used by our cells and muscles. Some
examples of complex carbs include:
Potatoes
Vegetables
Bread
Oats
Rice
Since these require some time to digest, these are best used as
pre-workout energy when consumed between 1-2 hours prior to the start of
your workout. While complex carbs may take longer to break down for
energy, one of the benefits of using a complex carb for workout fuel is
that they provide longer lasting, sustainable energy that will carry you
through the duration of your workout.
Simple carbohydrates are those that contain more sugar than they do
fiber, and will therefore breakdown over a faster period of time in
order to be used as fuel in the body. Some examples of simple carbs
include:
Fruit
Simple Sugars
Processed Foods (typically high in sugar content)
Since these carbs don’t require as long to be digested for energy
use, they are best consumed around 30 minutes prior to the beginning of
your workout. While simple carbs provide quick energy, they are also
short-lasting energy providers. They are usually not well-suited for
longer workouts in particular.
DRINK ENOUGH WATER & ELECTROLYTES
As one of the foundational nutrients, water intake is crucial for
optimal athletic performance. Water plays a crucial role in the movement
of nutrients into cells for use (including sugar and muscles), provides
lubrication and cushioning for joints, protects lungs from damage
during aerobic exercise, and serves as the primary conductors between
cells for nerve impulses.
In addition to water intake, electrolytes and a proper mineral
imbalance should be considered to promote healthy water retention and
ensure that the cells of the body are able to best utilize daily water
intake. Without electrolytes, water can simply flush the system rather
than be utilized by cells. Our cells rely on minerals and electrolytes
to determine when a cell should absorb or release water. Low levels of
electrolytes, such as sodium, magnesium, calcium, and potassium, can
lead to hyponatremia (water intoxication) or prolonged dehydration
despite adequate water intake on a daily basis.
To determine a baseline for daily water intake, take your body weight
in pounds and divide it in half. This is the number of ounces you
should be drinking daily in order to maintain adequate hydration levels.
In addition to water intake, you should be a regular electrolyte
source in place to promote hydration. This might look like an
electrolyte supplement in the form of a tablet dropped in your water or
powder mix, or it might be using lemon and other citrus fruit juices
squeezed into water as they contain a balanced amount of electrolytes
naturally. You may also consider adding a pinch of sea salt to your
water before and after your training to provide the body with adequate
sodium, the body’s most important electrolyte, as well as replenishing
any lost sodium stores through sweat loss.
TAKE A PRE-WORKOUT SUPPLEMENT
Pre-workout supplements have become a popular part of pre-workout
nutrition but are often unnecessary and provide a host of chemicals to
the body that put more stress on the body than needed in order to
complete a workout.
If using a pre-workout supplement, look for one that has as few
ingredients as possible to avoid overloading your digestive system and
creating a detox reaction. A clean per-workout supplements (like our's)
offers a natural source of energy such as caffeine as a stimulant to
create fresh blood flow to the brain when a pick-me-up is needed.
IMPROVING YOUR ATHLETIC PERFORMANCE
By implementing these four strategies and being aware of your
nutrient timing prior to your workouts, you can drastically improve how
you feel during your training, but also the strength, endurance, and
recovery of your workouts to reach your athletic goals as efficiently as
possible.
My name is Angel L Rivera Hernandez. I born in January
5, 1989. When I was in high school, I was invited to compete on NASA in
Columbus, Ohio and I win first place. When I was homeless, I open my eyes
and say to myself 'what I want to do with my life' so I started doing
some changes.
“Therefore, while the promise of entering His rest still holds and is offered [today], let us be afraid [to distrust it], lest any of you should think he has come too late and has come short of [reaching] it” (Hebrews 4:1, AMPC).
Because they murmured and complained against God, the children of Israel died in the wilderness. God swore that they would not enter into His rest (even though that rest had been prepared from the foundation of the world). The rest remains today for those who believe God.
Foam rollers are becoming increasingly popular as an aid to
help treat a whole range of musculoskeletal problems and also to help
deal just with tired and aching muscles. There are advertisements all
over the place for them. Rolling a muscle with some force over a harder
or softer roller has a number of physiological effects that are
beneficial to healing. The rolling can help pump lymph fluid and venous
blood away from the area being rolled. The roller also has a significant
effect on different trigger points that commonly form in the muscles in
a range of musculoskeletal problems. Often, they are not the primary
problem that is causing the issues, but they are secondary and do
complicate things. Using the rollers can help with the symptoms.
There
are specific rollers made for different parts of the body. Athletes like
to use the foam roller on muscles after hard workouts to facilitate
recovery. There has been a number of research projects done on the
efficacy of the foam rollers to treat a number of different conditions
and they are generally all showing that there are benefits, however in
some of the studies the benefits were not great.
There are even rollers that are small and made specifically for using
under the foot. One such product is the PediRoller. The PediRoller has
an advantage in that it can be refrigerated and used for some ice or
cold therapy at the same time The PediRoller is placed on the ground and
the foot is rolled backwards and forwards over the top of it. This can
be particularly useful for conditions like plantar fasciitis which
causes pain in the arch of the foot and under the heel. Because of the
pain from the plantar fasciitis and the dysfunction that the pain can
cause on the way the muscles under the arch of the foot can result in
the formation of trigger points in these small muscles. This makes the
pain of the plantar fasciitis feel worse than it really is. The use of a
roller, whether it’s the PediRoller or not is going to be very helpful
to help deal with those trigger points in the small intrinsic muscles of
the arch of your feet. Also, very helpful for plantar fasciitis is
using a larger roller on the calf muscles. The calf muscles, especially
if they are tighter play a very important role in plantar fasciitis, so
using a roller on them is always going to be of some help. To use the
roller here you place the roller on the ground and then sit on the
ground with your calf muscle on the roller and roll the calf muscle back
and forward across the roller. This is not all you can do for plantar
fasciitis as doing the roller on its own is usually not sufficient. But
using it in conjunction with the main treatment can make a very big
difference. Always consult a health professional if you are not happy
about the way your plantar fasciitis is progressing.
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