Complex Carbs vs Simple Sugars

It seems lately, all we hear when talking diets are carbohydrates and how bad they are for you. Well is this really the case? In fact, certain types of carbohydrates may help you lose weight. But choosing the proper types of carbohydrates will determine this. Let's break down the two types of carbohydrates which you will find in your local grocery store.

Let's start off with the “good carbs”. These carbs are known as “complex carbs”, because foods containing complex carbohydrates maintain their natural water content, fiber, vitamins, and minerals. A big plus is they help you maintain your fullness after consuming them. Carbohydrates that fall into this category are fruits, vegetables, legumes, and grains.

The “bad carbs”, are known as simple sugars or simple carbs. These are usual processed foods. Foods containing these simple carbohydrates have had the nutrition removed from them, leaving you unsatisfied after eating and trigger overeating. This is all due to the increased insulin levels needs to balance out blood sugar levels. Our bodies can only handle so much sugar, any extra sugar is then turned into fat, leading to those extra pounds.

So let's review:

Complex Carbs: Vegetables, fruits, legumes, nuts and seeds, whole grains, etc.

Simple Sugars: Most baked goods such as pies, cakes, cookies etc, white bread, soda, candy, pastas, and fruit juices which contain corn syrup.

So make sure you check your carbohydrates before eating them. This will not only help keep you full throughout the day, it will also help you keep those extra pounds off the waste line.

Source: www.tryingfitness.com, www.livestrong.com

HIIT Training in Omaha, NE

Are you looking to break through that plateau to peak your fat burning in your workouts or are you wanting to increase overall cardiovascular endurance and speed? If either of those is correct performing High Intensity Interval Training, HIIT, workouts is the solution. Interval training has always been an important component to help make an individuals fitness levels excel and with more individuals knowing the benefit of HIIT more people are in the best shape of their lives.

There are several ways to perform HIIT but the general rule with this type of training is that you perform a cardiovascular activity typically at 75% or higher of your maximum heart rate for a short duration which is then followed by a short recovery phase before repeating the process again. An example would be sprinting for 20 seconds and then resting for 10 seconds before continuing on. The duration of the sprint and the recovery time can vary dependant on the individual and the exercise being performed. That cycle can be repeated as many times as needed. Tabata training is a form of HIIT in which the cycle is repeated 8 times in a row. Typically steady state running will have your around 60% of your maximum heart rate but with HIIT your heart rate is higher allowing you to burn more fat.

Anyone of any ability can perform HIIT cardiovascular workouts. Any form of cardiovascular workouts can be used such as running, biking, swimming, jump roping etc….So if you are wanting to truly get you on your way of building your best body and being in the best shape that you can be; implement some HIIT cardiovascular workouts into your workout program and you will be well on your way.