3 Frequently Asked Archery Equipment Questions

Question #1. What is a good beginner bow for someone who is new to archery?

Answer. Any 3-piece recurve bow is a good starter bow for someone who is just getting into archery.

I don't recommend compound bows, longbows, traditional horsebows or Olympic recurves for beginners. Compound bows require extra attention to safety and how to tune them properly. Longbow stance is more difficult than recurve and people really should learn recurve stance before learning longbow stance. Traditional horsebows and similar shortbows are great historical examples of traditional recurves, but a person would still be wise to learn recurve first before jumping into the deep end of the pool. And Olympic recurve is really unnecessary for the vast majority of shooters who are doing archery for fun. Olympic is all about using gadgets to try and get as much accuracy as you can out of the bow and like compounds you need to know how to properly tune those gadgets - and again, you really should learn to swim before jumping into the deep end of the pool.

Regarding brands, 3-piece recurve bows are all basically the same except for looks. Ragim Matrix, Samich Sage, Jandao, PSE, Hoyt, Bodnik and 50+ other brands all make basically same bow. Minor differences in colour, shape and materials.

Question #2. How should I select which kind of arrows are right for me and right for my bow?

Answer. It all comes down to the spine flexibility of the arrow. Follow the steps below to find which spine is right for your arrows.

First, determine your draw length when pulling back to your anchor spot. (If you don't know what your anchor spot is, maybe you should get archery lessons first.) You will want to get arrows approx. 1 inch longer than your draw length.

Next, determine the poundage of your bow at that draw length. eg. If your bow is a 28 lbs @ 28 inches draw, then it should be roughly 1 lb of pressure per inch. So if your draw length is 26 inches you will need to get 27 inch long arrows that are good for a bow that is 26 lbs since your draw length is a bit shorter.

Next you will Google the words "arrow selection chart" (see graphic below for an example) and consult various manufacturers charts. Use the charts to find out which type of arrow are good for someone using that draw length and that poundage. The brand name arrows and model numbers will typically have a 3 or 4 digit number on the arrow somewhere showing the range of uses it is good for.

So using our example above, someone with 27 inch arrows and pulling 26 lbs will want "600" spine arrows.

Then order the arrows online or visit a local archery shop that makes custom arrows on order, and get yourself the arrows that suit you best in the fletching that you want.

Question #3. Which are better? Tabs or finger gloves or trigger release aids or thumb rings?

Answer. Whichever feels best for you. Archers are all unique and choose what they want to. Generally speaking compound shooters use mechanical release aids, Olympic recurve shooters use tabs, and super traditional archers use carved bone/antler thumb rings... Myself I prefer good ol' finger gloves and I sometimes shoot without gloves at all - barehand shooting. It hurts the fingers more, so it is not for everyone.

Try not to get too hung up on having the perfect / most expensive equipment. Any archer worth their salt has been doing archery for years and knows it is not the equipment that makes the big difference, it is the archer's training, experience and ability to focus on the task at hand. An old archer with their bow should be like an extension of their arm. Thousands of hours of practice has taught them what to do to get the most accuracy out of the extension of themselves. Equipment won't teach you that. Get equipment that works, practice-practice-practice, and everything else will fall into place.

How to do Archery in the Wind and Rain - Part Two

I have already written a post on the topic of How to do Archery in the Wind and Rain before, so you may want to read that one first.

What I am writing here is more advanced skills for succeeding at archery during even more horrific weather conditions.

I do struggle to imagine when a person might use such skills, such as maybe bowhunting during a rainstorm, windstorm, etc.

If it was a competition I would wager they would just reschedule the competition for the next day.

Included below are some basic archery tips for shooting in wind and rain, mixed in with more advanced skills.

#1. Practice on rainy and windy days - the rainier and windier the better. The more practice you get the better you will understand how to shoot in adverse weather conditions.

#2. Dress for the weather conditions. Clothing that keeps you warm and dry, water resistant hoodies, rain jackets, pants that don't flap in the wind, boots that are waterproof, double socks for warmth, etc.

#3. Water resistant sunglasses or glasses. Why? The water will run off them faster instead of collecting in droplets. If you wear glasses, you will want these when shooting in the rain.

#4. Don't fuss about the rain. REVEL IN IT. Enjoy this opportunity to learn how to shoot in horrid conditions and you will be better for it. Don't let the weather put you in a foul mood. Let it uplift and make you excited to try something new and challenging.

#5. Have fun. Experiment with shooting longer distances than you normally do, fast shooting, shooting while kneeling in the mud, etc. Having fun while shooting will allow you get rid of your fears of the rain and give you confidence when it comes to future events when you need to be able to shoot in the rain.

#6. Learn to adjust your shots during heavy rain. Typically you need to aim a few inches higher.

#7. Keep your arrows dry until you are ready to shoot. Your fletching will get wet and clump together. They will fly better if they are not soaked.

#8. Once your arrows are already soaked, nothing you can do about it. Just keep practicing and learn how to shoot with wet fletching. (Wider fletching would be better in conditions like this.)

#9. Bring a towel. Honestly, you will need it.

#10. Bring an umbrella. Well worth it just to keep warm.

#11. Bring a friend, someone who is willing to hold the umbrella for you while you shoot.

#12. During windy conditions use a wider stance to help keep yourself still so the wind doesn't blow you around so much.

#13. Shoot from a kneeling position to get better stability in extreme wind. (This means you will need to practice shooting from a kneeling position in extreme wind.)

#14. Learn to shoot without fletching on your arrows. This will be a good learning experience so you learn what happens when there is no fletching.

#15. Learn to shoot in-between wind gusts for increased accuracy.

#16. Watch the grass or trees (or a wind sock) to give you a better idea of when it is gusting and when it is not.

#17. Do yoga and body weight exercises to give you better balance during windy conditions.

#18. Tie a ribbon or feather to the bottom of your bow, to give you a better idea of wind direction and gusts.

#19. Learn from your mistakes.

#20. Learn from your clusters where to aim.

#21. Adjust for shifting wind conditions - be vigilant and learn to aim in a different direction depending on what the wind shifts to.

#22. Stay hydrated. Yes, you are surrounded by wind and rain, but being dehydrated internally won't help you. Many archers forget to stay hydrated even on hot days.

#23. Make sure you slept well the night before and are well rested. Your balance will be better if you are well rested.

#24. Shoot in wind and rain for longer periods of time (eg. 4 to 6 hours). The longer you shoot the more used to the wind and rain conditions you will become, making you more in tune with how to shoot in such conditions. Shooting for 30 minutes and then going home is not enough time to kickstart your learning process.

#25. Bring hot tea with you. Avoid coffee and things with caffeine in it. Hot tea will keep you warm, whereas caffeine will make you jittery and make your brain jumpy - which slows the learning process.

#26. Take a hot shower after your archery session is over. This is more for health reasons, so you don't get sick. Drink some hot tea too to warm up your body temperature.

#27. Eat fruit - releases fructose sugars into your blood slowly and raises your blood sugar / energy levels slowly, which is what you will need. Avoid white sugar, brown sugar or sugary foods.

#28. Take up bowfishing - and wade into the water while doing bowfishing instead of standing on a dock or in a boat. Get used to the water and shooting while in the water and cold / shivering.

#29. Practice even in the winter - in cold, windy, snowy conditions. If you can practice in cold conditions then you can learn to shoot in any weather conditions.

#30. Strip down to your skinnies and shoot in barely any clothing. This will give you a better appreciation and understanding to what cold does to your body while doing archery. (South Korean Olympic archers go through a similar process, including sitting under ice cold waterfalls in order to make them resistant to cold. This gives them a mental edge when doing archery.)

#31. Take up Zen meditation. I recommend the book "The Unfettered Mind", which is a series of letters written by a Buddhist monk and sent to samurais, but the concepts he discusses applies to archery too.

#32. Practice archery daily, regardless of wind, rain, fog, snow, mud, low light conditions.

#33. Practice archery at night sometimes, even during wind and rain on a cold dark night. Learn to shoot at night and shooting during the day will seem easy.

#34. Learn to block out distractions and yet still be in tune with your surroundings. Food for Thought: You sense the rain, but don't feel the rain. It is the difference between sensing something and becoming distracted by something.

#35. Always look to challenge yourself. Remember wind and rain is just an extra challenge. Learn to accept and embrace challenges by trying new things, not just in archery but in life in general. You will be more mentally prepared for a challenge if you learn to accept every day challenges as a learning experience.

Causes and Cures for Chronic Back Pain

While many people experience back pain, chronic back pain is actually more like a sports injury like tennis elbow.

Why? Because often chronic back pain can be solved through proper form while lifting objects, more exercise, diet, sleeping positions and more.

Below is a list of causes for chronic back pain - and their solutions.

Years of poor posture

The Solution - Practice good posture when sitting, standing and even sleeping. For added benefits take up yoga to build stronger core muscles.

Improper lifting and carrying of heavy objects

The Solution - Practice proper form while lifting things (lift with your legs and your back straight), even when lifting small objects. When in doubt, let someone younger and fitter carry it for you. Wearing a back brace is also a smart idea to help prevent injury.

Even lifting small objects improperly can put a lot of strain on your back - unnecessary strain. So if you drop your toothbrush, bend over without thinking and pick it up improperly you can still hurt your back - not because of the weight of the toothbrush, but because of the weight of your upper body.

Being overweight, which puts excess strain on the back and knees

The Solution - Go for daily walks, cut back on the sweets, keep doing this until you attain your ideal weight. Also try swimming, cycling and other cardio exercises to help you lose weight.

Wearing high heels

The Solution - Stop wearing high heels. Wear flats with cushioning instead. Take up yoga to help correct muscle imbalances in your back.
Congenital condition such as curvature of the spine

The Solution - Seek medical treatment from a back / spinal specialist.

Traumatic injury (eg. car accident damaged your spine)

The Solution - Seek medical treatment from a back / spinal specialist.

Note: Sadly the above two can only be solved with the help of doctors and trained specialists.

Sleeping on a poor mattress

The Solution - Buy a better mattress that supports your back better. Research proper sleeping positions that won't damage your spine.

No obvious physical cause

The Solution - Experiment with different solutions above until you find something that works. I recommend starting with practicing good posture, taking up yoga and sleeping in better positions that are good for your back. Many people have poor posture / sleeping positions and don't realize it.

Ordinary aging of the spine (degenerative changes)

The Solution - Regular exercise and a healthy diet will keep you younger longer and give your spine more longevity. Walking, yoga, light weight lifting with proper form can all help you keep you feeling younger and build bone density.

May Motivational Quotes plus Im Dong-Hyun Quotes

"Nobody can make you feel inferior without your consent."
- Eleanor Roosevelt

"It took me a long time not to judge myself through someone else's eyes."
- Sally Field

"It's not who you are that holds you back, it's who you think you're not."
- Author Unknown

"I'm not old enough to play baseball or football. I'm not eight yet. My mom told me when you start baseball, you aren't going to be able to run that fast because you had an operation. I told Mom I wouldn't need to run that fast. When I play baseball, I'll just hit them out of the park. Then I'll be able to walk."
- Edward J. McGrath, Jr.

"You have to expect things of yourself before you can do them."
- Michael Jordan

"Always act like you're wearing an invisible crown."
- Author Unknown

Below are quotes from 'legally blind' Korean archer Im Dong-Hyun. In the quotes he describes how he does archery, despite being barely able to see the target.

"Archery requires very sensitive muscles."
- Im Dong-Hyun

"If I couldn't see the colors, now that would be a problem."
- Im Dong-Hyun

"Archery is not a sport for everyone. The equipment costs a lot, and it is not easy for everyone to find a place to play. It is perhaps similar to golf, but of course there are more golf courses than archery fields."
- Im Dong-Hyun

"I used to play football at school, and I enjoyed really physical sports, but I now try to avoid any sports that might build up different muscles. That might have a negative impact on my archery."
- Im Dong-Hyun

"For me, seeing the target and not seeing the target doesn't make any difference."
- Im Dong-Hyun

"I had a strong desire to become an archer from the very first time I tried it. I forgot my other ambitions. I just wanted to compete in the Olympics."
- Im Dong-Hyun

"I try not to push myself too hard, but I also need to perform and earn the results."
- Im Dong-Hyun

"When I look down the range at the target all I can do is try to distinguish between the different colors."
- Im Dong-Hyun

10 Ways to do Boxing more often

Want to do boxing more often?

#1. Do 6 minutes of shadow boxing in the morning when you wake up, combined with some morning stretches. Helps wake you up in a hurry.

#2. Install a boxing punching bag in your basement or garage - and then schedule 20 minutes every day to use it.

#3. Practice shadow boxing while you wait for water to boil. eg. When making coffee, tea, when boiling water for pasta, when making soup, etc.

#4. Buy an old used punching bag that has seen better days and take it with you to the cottage and take it out whenever you want to practice with it.

#5. Get yourself some portable boxing punching bags so you can practice while camping or on road trips.

#6. Practice boxing while waiting for a bus or taxi outside. Also keeps you warm if it is cold outside.

#7. Sign up for boxing lessons with a trainer (like me) or sign up with a local boxing gym.

#8. Encourage your friends or family members to get into boxing too, and practice boxing together in a safe manner.

#9. Go jogging and practice boxing while you jog. Great for your endurance.

#10. Install a homemade boxing bag in a nearby wooded area for everyone to use. A cheap way to do this is to use old tires like in the photos below.

Catastrophe! How to get back on the horse after binge eating over the weekend

We all do it once in awhile.

We go away on vacation, often for Thanksgiving, Christmas or some similar family or friends oriented event, and we end up eating too much.

So what do you do about it and how do you recover from it?

#1. Moderation is Key.

Sometimes overeating is unavoidable, but if you know you are going to be overeating because Grandma keeps pushing cake at you and you are trying to avoid a third helping here is a handy thing to say:

"I already ate two. If I have any more I might burst."

At which point grandma will leave you alone and focus her attentions on fattening up the younglings.

Having the willpower to lie to your grandmother may take some effort, but your quest for moderation will not be stopped after the second helping. The cascade of sweets will wear down your willpower, so each time you sit down and eat your goal should be to limit yourself to no more than two helpings.

Two helping of Aunt Marjorie's pie. Two helpings of Grandma's cake. Two cookies from the tray of cookies your mother brought with her to the event. You get the idea.

And at some point you should start to fill full, at which point you should reach for the water - drink your fill of water, and pronounce yourself full.

When amongst friends it may be an even more glorious smorgasbord of junk food. Chips, pizza, chocolates, candies - like a junk food filled Halloween party. Your goal here will be to avoid becoming the Cookie Monster, crumbs flying in every direction, shovelling it in two hands at a time.

Same deal as before, eat your fair amount - then drink a large glass of water and then you should feel full.


#2. Plan Ahead to Prevent Over Eating.
There are ways that you can prevent the junk food from storing as long-term fat. Amongst the best preventative measures are...

-Eat a solid meal before going out.
-Eat a good sized portion of only what you have been craving...OR
-Try a *little* bit of everything.
-Avoid excess alcohol. It will just make you more hungry. Focus on water instead and stay hydrated.

#3. Don't Repeat Binge.

Okay, so you tried moderation and prevention, and possibly failed miserably. Or maybe you were successful. Even if you were not, no biggie.

What you need to do is don't do it again the following day (eg. The Sunday after the Saturday Pie Eating Contest). Your body stores extra fat over longer periods. If you only slip once in a while, it will be burned off easily with exercise because the blood sugar will still be in your blood system for 24 hours, and balanced by good nutrition and exercise you will be fine. However if you binge again a 2nd day then your body will start reducing your blood sugar levels by storing it as fat instead. So the trick on the 2nd day is to continue moderation as much as you can. Hopefully you are still full from the first day and this won't be too hard.

Honestly, there is also a psychological benefit to this too. If you're eating really healthy 90% of the time, eating "bad" food is psychologically GOOD for you. Why work out so hard, and monitor food intake, if you can't let loose once in a while and enjoy having a sweet tooth once in awhile? As long as your calorie input is less or equal to the output, you will continue to lose/maintain weight. Falling off the wagon (or horse) is a minor setback. It's only when you are eating more than you burn on average, over the course of the week, that you should be worried about losing results.

#4. Post Catastrophe Clean Up, aka Getting Back On The Horse!

Exercise. Burn fat the next morning. You will feel better about yourself in a hurry.

Drink lots of water and herbal tea. Give your body a flush. Liquids are your friend. Staying hydrated will keep the metabolism revved, and will reduce bloating. You may end up needing to urinate a lot, but every time you do your body will be ridding yourself of excess chemicals.

Calorie cycling. Calorie cycling is just a theory, it has yet to be proven, but it is a sound theory that involves tricking your metabolism into changing itself. The technique is very simple: If you have a heavy calorie day, cycle with lower calories on the following day. Basically, just eat lighter the day after you binged. (I do a similar thing whereby I have a high calorie day every Friday, and the rest of the week is low calorie days. This way I maintain higher energy levels, but only eat excessively on Fridays when I hang out with friends.)

Eat lots of fruit and veggies. Your body needs a dose of nutrients. Fruits especially, and vegetables have a high water content, and both contain: vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and fiber. Fill up on good stuff.

NOTE

One or two days of eating badly isn't that big of a deal. You don't need to be alarmist about it. Just get right back on the horse and don't worry about it. Stuff happens and you can't let the small stuff get in the way of your big picture.

So if you eat a whole chocolate rabbit once a year during Easter, no biggie. You will make it up through smart diet and exercise during the weeks and months and years after the fact.

Archery 101 in Toronto

Where to buy Archery Equipment in Toronto

ArcheryToronto.ca maintains a list of all the reputable places where you can buy archery equipment in Toronto. The good news is that the list includes traditional bows, compound bows, and even places where you can buy Olympic archery equipment.

Archery Ranges in Toronto

There really is only big one that everyone can use: The Toronto Public Archery Range.

There are several smaller private archery ranges at Hart House (for University of Toronto students), the JCCC (primarily for people seeking to learn Japanese Kyudo), and also at Casa Loma (which offers longbow archery lessons for small groups several times per year).

Archery Lessons in Toronto for Kids

If you are looking for archery lessons for your kids you can...

A. Ask me to teach them.
B. Sign your kids up for Boy Scouts / Girl Guides. (I first learned in Boy Scouts myself.)
C. Send your kid to a day camp / summer camp near Toronto that offers archery lessons.

Note - Finding archery lessons for kids can be tricky as many instructors don't teach kids and have a set age limit.

Archery Lessons in Toronto for Adults

A. Ask me to teach you.
B. Sign up for Kyudo at the JCCC.
C. Sign up for longbow lessons at Casa Loma.
D. Browse other individuals / places which offer archery lessons in Toronto.

Guide to DIY Archery in Toronto

For starters read the Do-It-Yourself Approach to Archery in Toronto, an article I wrote for the Canadian Daily. That will give you a good idea of how to get started and how to do archery without hiring an instructor.

Other Archery Resources

#1. The Canadian Toxophilite Society.

#2. The Toronto Survivalist Meetup Group.

#3. The Toronto Public Archery Range on Facebook.

#4. The Ontario Outdoor Magazine Bowhunting Forum.

#5. Buy one of the following books that I recommend: "Precision Archery" by Steve Ruis and Claudia Stevenson; "Archery: Steps to Success" by Kathleen Haywood and Catherine Lewis.

5 Whey Protein Recipes on Video

There are lots of ways to mix whey protein in with lots of your daily foods. Everything from cereal to coffee to even pancakes and cookies. Go browse YouTube for whey protein recipes to see what I mean. Below is some examples that I found.

Up first on the list of whey protein recipes...



Whey Protein + Cereal!



Whey Protein in a Sandwich???



Whey Protein + Yogurt!



Whey Protein Oatmeal Cookies!



And lastly...

Whey Protein + Coffee!

Frequently Asked Questions about Whey Protein

Below is a list of Frequently Asked Questions about Whey Protein - and their corresponding answers.

#1. Does Whey Protein Have any Side Effects?

Whey protein is found in milk. There are no documented side effects provided a person does not have an allergy to dairy proteins or does not need to restrict dairy products for medical reasons. If you are allergic to dairy proteins please consult with a physician prior to consuming any type of whey protein.

#2. There are so many different kinds. Which Whey Protein Supplement is right for me?

When it comes to choosing a whey protein supplement that's right for you there are two main things you need to take into consideration: budget and quality. There are 3 main types of whey protein available:

    Whey protein isolate - the most pure form of whey protein - more expensive.

    Whey protein concentrate - not as pure, slightly higher fat & lactose - cheap.

    Whey protein blend - a mixture of isolate and concentrate - moderately priced.

Obviously, the more pure and high quality the product is then the higher the price tag will be. This is why whey protein isolate is the most expensive form of whey protein. But you get what you pay for, pure whey protein is literally zero fat, zero carbs and zero lactose. It's the highest quality protein and will give you the most protein per serving with the least amount of calories. So if you have the money to spend, then whey protein isolate is the best quality protein available.

#3. What are the Pros and Cons of Whey Protein Isolate?

Pros of Whey Protein Isolate:

1.     Purest form of whey protein available
2.     Fat free, lactose free, carb free
3.     Excellent amino acid profile
4.     More protein per serving
5.     Ideal for both muscle building & fat loss

Cons of Whey Protein Isolate:

1.    More expensive than concentrate & blends.

#4. Which whey protein brand name company is the best?

There isn't a "best". That is like asking which clump of sand is best. Sand is sand. Whey protein isolate is whey protein isolate, it is chemically no different from other whey protein isolate.

However when it comes to whey protein concentrate and whey protein blend, there will be definite differences in purity between different companies because they will be filtered differently and some concentrates will be higher quality than other concentrates, and the same goes with blends.

For someone who is looking for weight gain - muscle mass - they might want the concentrate or blend because it will give them more energy during their exercise routine. For someone who is actually looking to LOSE weight, but wants to gain muscle while shedding fat, they might want to pick the isolate instead - or if they feel they need more energy, the concentrate.

So it isn't a matter of which is the best brand name company, it is a matter of which product suits your needs in terms of protein, energy and price.

A quick rule of thumb, the bigger and shinier the container, the more likely the contents are overpriced. Myself, I whip out my smartphone and start doing protein per price calculations with the calculator on my phone.

#5. What are the Pros and Cons of Whey Protein Concentrate?

Pros of Whey Protein Concentrate:

1.     Well priced, with 5lbs starting at under $30
2.     High in amino acids
3.     Great for muscle building

Cons of Whey Protein Concentrate:

1.     Higher in fat and carbs than whey protein isolate
2.     More calories per serving coming from fat

#6. What are the Pros and Cons of Whey Protein Blends?

Thankfully there is some middle ground - Whey protein blends, as the name suggests, is literally a blend of whey protein isolate and concentrate. Roughly half and half, depending on the company. By doing this, supplement manufacturers have found a good middle-ground between price and quality.

Not all protein blends are created equal though. Some have more isolate than concentrate, and vice versa. So like I said earlier, now is a good time to get out your calculator and do some calculations to determine the price per protein.

Pros of Whey Protein Blends:

1.     Good mix of isolate and concentrate protein sources
2.     Great value for money
3.     Excellent amino acid profile
4.     Less fat/carbs/lactose than whey protein concentrate
5.     Loads of brands to choose from

Cons of Whey Protein Blends:

1.     More fat/carbs/lactose than whey protein isolate
2.     Some blends contain a lot of whey protein concentrate

#7. Can I mix whey protein with other supplements?
Yes of course. Whey protein goes well with a whole host of supplements. A few examples are creatine, dextrose and glutamine. In fact, the uptake of protein can be improved by combining it with high GI carbohydrates. This produces an insulin spike that delivers nutrients to muscles faster than water or milk.

However what really matters is what your goals are. If your primary goal is to add on muscle, then you need to learn more about whey protein and the other supplements you are using to see how each works independently.

#8. How much protein should I take?

How much whey protein you need is completely dependent on your weight, exercise level and goals. No 2 people are the same. Bodybuilders generally consume between 1 and 2 grams of protein per pound of bodyweight per day - but to be fair, not everyone is a bodybuilder and doing that much exercise. If you are an average joe who is trying to put on extra muscle, 1 scoop is probably all you need.

#9. When is the best time to take whey protein?

When you take whey protein depends on your goals. Whey protein is fast digesting, so it's ideal for when you need it quickly. The most common times whey is used is first thing in the morning, after sport or training and sometimes before exercise. So you can mix it with milk, water, yogurt - I even enjoy mixing it with my cereal and milk in the morning to make my Kellogg's Vector flakes taste chocolaty.

#10. Will whey protein help me lose weight?

More likely you will add weight first - as you put on more muscle weight.

However assuming you are exercising, especially cardio exercises, adding whey protein to your diet will add more muscle mass to your heart and lungs and give you a greater endurance.

And greater endurance means you can run faster for longer periods of time - which will ultimately burn more calories and shed fat. Thus yes, whey protein can help you lose weight - but only in combination with regular cardio exercises.

Studies have also  found that individuals who combine diets with leucine rich protein foods, like whey protein, and exercise have more lean muscle tissue and they lose more body fat. As they lose fat their metabolic rate increases and they naturally burn more calories each day. Another way that whey protein helps manage weight is by promoting satiety, or a feeling of fullness.

#11. What is better, whey or casein protein?

Whey protein has the highest BV value, and is the richest source of BCAAs of any protein. This means it is far superior to any other type of protein for muscle building, weight loss and general health. Casein protein has its place though. Casein protein is absorbed much slower by the body (up to about 7 hours). This means it's ideal for a "night time" supplement, taken before bed. Bodybuilders and professional athletes have used casein for decades as a slow release protein to repair muscle tissue during sleep.

Thus for best results, use whey protein in the morning, before and after workouts, and consume casein protein as part of your evening meal.

#12. Is whey protein OK for vegetarians?

    Absolutely. Whey protein is an ideal protein source for vegetarians who include dairy products in their diet. However for vegans, who don't consume dairy, they won't like where the source of the whey is coming from: Dairy farms.

#13. Is whey protein easy to digest?

Whey protein is water soluble and a very easy to digest protein. It quickly enters the body to provide the important essential amino acids needed to nourish muscles and other body tissues. This is one of the reasons it is a common ingredient in infant formula and protein supplements for medical use.

Some people also make granola bars, biscuits and cookies using their whey protein. There are lots of recipes online for you to browse.

#14. Can whey protein harm my kidneys?

No. Bodybuilders frequently consume up to 500g of protein per day for months - even years. There is no scientific evidence that this ridiculously high protein intake causes kidney problems. (Although there is evidence of bodybuilders taking steroids, and that DOES cause kidney problems and all sorts of other problems with internal organs.)

For animals studies have shown that animals with high protein intakes (like cats, dogs, bears and other carnivores) they don't suffer kidney damage for the first half of their life time. The kidney damage they sometimes suffer later in life is more closely linked to aging and getting older.

High protein intake may be hazardous only for individuals who have abnormal kidney function or kidney disease, and the reason is because their kidneys are the first to suffer if they become dehydrated.

Even for the disease-free individual, the most serious concern with high protein intake is dehydration, because it takes a lot of water to metabolize protein. Thus for best results, drink between 250 mL to 500 mL of water for each scoop of whey protein you take.

8 Benefits of Jumping Rope

Jumping rope for 6 minutes is a great cardio activity that you can do every day and you can see some dramatic health benefits.

• Fantastic cardiovascular workout that boosts weight loss dramatically.
• Tones lower body, especially calves
• Improves co-ordination
• Improves agility
• Increases heart and lung capacity
• Increases endurance
• Improves heart rate recovery time
• Great for fat burning programs

The trick about jumping rope is to pace yourself if you haven't done it for a long time.

Start off doing it for 6 minutes every day.

Then work your way up to 20 minutes every day.

After several months of 20 minutes every day then work your way up to 40 minutes per day.

Jumping rope for a minute is roughly 120 jumps. That makes it a pretty tough exercise to do because it requires so much more energy and coordination.

Calories Burned

A 170 lb person burns 539.78 calories during 40 minutes of moderate jumping rope.

A 200 lb person burns 635.03 calories during 40 minutes of moderate jumping rope.

A 240 lb person burns 762.03 calories during 40 minutes of moderate jumping rope.

Note, because skipping rope is such a big cardio exercise it can also trigger the Afterburn Effect, which will cause you to burn even more calories than you thought. Thus 20 to 40 minutes of vigorous jumping rope every day can burn approx. 1 to 2 pounds of fat (or more) per week thanks to the Afterburn Effect.

A 170 lb person burns 323.87 calories during 20 minutes of vigorous jumping rope.

X 7 is 2267 calories per week, which you can then (conservatively) multiply by 1.5 because of the Afterburn Effect = 3401 calories. 3500 calories equals 1 lb of fat.

Thus anyone who weighs 170 lbs or more, doing 20 minutes of skipping rope every day, can see dramatic differences in just 1 week. So how big is 1 lb of fat? See the photo below.

Now imagine all the health benefits if you started off at say 240 lbs and wanted to lose 80 lbs, down to 160 lbs? They would be plentiful health benefits, but lets do the math to see how this could be accomplished.

Assuming an average weight of 200 lbs during this weight loss period, we use that as the number when inputting into a calorie calculator.

A 200 lb person burns 381.02 calories during 20 minutes of vigorous jumping rope.

x 720 days = 274,334.4 calories burned. That is 78.38 lbs of fat in less than two years... and that is NOT counting the Afterburn Effect, that is not counting additional exercises the person might also try / start doing in addition to skipping rope, and that is not counting dietary changes if they start eating healthier.

For best results, I recommend a healthy balanced diet with lots of veggies, lean meat, and a moderately low amount of carbs. To stay motivated I recommend listening to fast adrenaline filled music while doing your rope jumping.

For fun combine rope jumping / skipping rope with other body weight activities like squats, crunches, sit ups, push ups, chin ups, etc for an all over approach to fitness.

:)

For even more fun try to get friends and family involved too.