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Health & Fitness

Fitness Matters

Submission Date:

March 12, 2014

Media Contact:

Find out what's happening in Montvillewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Dawn Gilday

860.848.0383 | uncasvillect@anytimefitness.com

Find out what's happening in Montvillewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Fitness Matters

Expert answers to your health and wellness questions

By Dawn Gilday

Question: Is there a proper way to breathe when lifting weights?

Answer: If you are new to exercise, it’s far more important that you just breathe rather than how you breathe.  Often, synching your breath with your movements can be overwhelming to a new exerciser.  There are more pertinent pieces of information that need to be addressed when getting started, such as becoming familiar with the strength training machines, execution of the exercises, or understanding which muscles are working.  Once the exercises become familiar and you are out of the beginning stages of weight lifting, you will most likely be lifting a slightly heavier load and will be syncing your breath with your movements. This becomes more important to move the increased load.  Exhale during the “work” phase of an exercise.  The “work” phase will be the most strenuous part of the movement pattern.  Inhale during the “recovery” phase on an exercise. The “recovery” phase is typically the return back to the starting position.

Question:  I like to eat nuts but usually avoid them because they are high in fat and calories.  But recently, I’ve seen information in magazines saying nuts are good for you.  Is it true, and how can that be with a food so high in fat?

 

Answer: Eating nuts as part of a healthy diet can be good for your heart.  Nuts contain polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fatty acids, which may have an effect on reducing blood levels of both total and LDL (“bad”) cholesterol.  Nuts also contain protein and fiber which helps you feel full, so they make a great on-the-go snack.  Yes, nuts are high in calories, but you don’t need to eat much to reap the benefits as a handful is considered a serving.  Almonds, cashews, and pistachios are all great choices. When possible, make sure to choose nuts that are raw or dry roasted for the most nutritional value.

About the author: Dawn Gilday is the club owner and a Certified Personal Trainer at Anytime Fitness in Uncasville. To submit a question for future articles, please contact the author at uncasvillect@anytimefitness.com.

 

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