Appropriate Eating Habits Before Competitions

As athletes work to prepare for competitions and tournaments, it is very important that nutritional needs be met. This includes both in eating habits, what is consumed, and when it is eaten. The old saying that you should not eat before swimming is a very real concern for athletes regardless of which sport they are involved in.

In order to allow the body to fully convert the good foods that you are eating into energy it needs time. The amount of time it needs varies depending on the exact foods that you are eating but the process is certainly not instant. In order to achieve the best results it is ideal if you break up your eating habits before competitions and try to limit the amount of food that you are eating right before engaging in sports. For example, if you are going to be running track at 10a.m. you should not eat anything after 9:30a.m. unless it is an emergency. This allows your stomach time to start converting the food you consumed into energy.

While it is necessary to drink liquids during a work out it is also essential to know what foods are safe before a work out. In order to ensure that your athletic experience goes as smoothly as possible you should always consult your sports medicine doctor for specifics based upon your body type, athletic activity and any other variables that are specific to you. In the meantime, there are some general guidelines that are acceptable to use and can assist in helping you ensure that you are ready to go.

Before you exercise, you should look at eating about 4 hours before your exercise. This means a real meal with components from all of the food groups. This does not mean simply snacking on an energy bar, or even an apple. Instead, it should be a complete meal, this may require you to adjust your workout schedule to better coordinate with your eating habits, or if your schedule handles it better adjust our eating habits around your workout schedule. Either way, it is important to eat a full meal 4 hours before your work out.

Once you are finished eating it is a good idea to eat a snack or even an energy drink that is loaded with carbohydrates. This gives your body an extra burst. It is best to look into this high carbohydrate snack about 2 hours before your workout. Remember, worrying about the calories you are consuming is not as important as ensuring that you are giving your body the fuel that it needs to function. In addition, about one hour before your workout looking into a sports drink is a really good idea. Following this schedule should have your body well stocked with plenty of energy to handle the rigors of your workout.

In the time immediately before a workout or even a competition of any type it is best to stick to small foods that are healthy and offer high amounts of carbohydrates. Examples include fruits, fruit juice, vegetable juices, and even sports drinks are all healthy choices that keep your energy levels full. They are also light enough that they will not cause any problems with your stomach while you are engaged in your athletic activity.

In addition to eating the healthy foods, sports medicine doctors also recommend consuming something sugary approximately 45 minutes before any highly strenuous activities. This includes candy bars, energy bars, and even some soft drinks. Keeping your energy levels up is not always a simple task but if you focus more on your energy levels and less on the calorie intake that you are consuming your body will appreciate it once you are moving and using the stores of energy.

Remember, limiting the amount of sugar that you consume is best since it only gives you energy for the initial start to the activity. The carbohydrates that you consumed before will provide you with the long-term energy that you need to be successful. With some careful planning it is possible to work with your sports medicine doctor and coach and decide exactly what your best eating routine is to keep you in top notch shape.

PPPPP
(word count 701)

Title:

Title:
Good Exercises To Do When Pregnant

Word Count:
482

Summary:
Most women can and should exercise when pregnant. Unless your pregnancy is high risk or your doctor has ordered you to stay in bed, there is no reason in fact you cant exercise while pregnant.

Studies show that there are numerous benefits to exercising while pregnant. You can improve your energy levels, get your blood pumping to your legs and improve your circulation, and improve your chances for a speedy recovery.

Another reason to exercise? Moms who worked out whil…

Keywords:

Article Body:
Most women can and should exercise when pregnant. Unless your pregnancy is high risk or your doctor has ordered you to stay in bed, there is no reason in fact you cant exercise while pregnant.

Studies show that there are numerous benefits to exercising while pregnant. You can improve your energy levels, get your blood pumping to your legs and improve your circulation, and improve your chances for a speedy recovery.

Another reason to exercise? Moms who worked out while pregnant generally had shorter and easier labors.

So what kinds of exercises are good to do when pregnant?

Well lets start with those you should avoid. You should avoid embarking on any stringent exercise program you are unfamiliar with. Avoid running and other jarring activities unless you are a very experienced runner. Even then you should consult with your physician.

Here are some generally good and safe exercises that are recommended during pregnancy:

Walking This is the best overall exercise for pregnant mothers anywhere. It is low impact but still gets your heart rate up and your blood pumping. Walking is usually safe throughout the entire pregnancy.

Jogging Jogging can be done safely if you are an experienced jogger. You should reduce your jogging regimen however the further along you are in your pregnancy. If you are not able to have a conversation when jogging, then you are working out too hard.

Swimming This is the number one exercise and the safest exercise when it comes to pregnancy. Swimming alleviates the heaviness you feel from weight gain associated with pregnancy. It also provides you with optimal cardiovascular benefits and helps you feel light and refreshed.

Yoga Yoga can help you maintain your muscle tone and stretch out tight ligaments during pregnancy. Be sure you investigate a pre-natal yoga class if at all possible.

Weight Training Weight training is a great way to maintain and build muscle during your pregnancy. Just keep in mind you should avoid heavy weights and weight bearing exercises that require you to lie on your back.

To be safe you should always consult with your doctor or physician before beginning any exercise program. Most pregnant women are fine to work out particularly if theyve been active before.

If you are just starting a program be sure to take it easy initially. You should also commit to exercising regularly. Generally 30 minutes of exercise 4-7 days per week is recommended.

One last point be sure to keep hydrated and avoid over-heating which can be dangerous for you and your baby. Avoid getting your heart rate much over 140 and stop any exercise if you start to feel dizzy or lightheaded.

Also dont forget the importance of warming up before any and all activity. Youll reduce the likelihood of injury. Warm up after activities will also help your heart rate return to normal.
Good luck and have fun!

Essential Oils for a Good Nights Sleep

Having a fully restful nights sleep is important for your body and mind. By limiting your sleep, you can ultimately do damage to your body and cause it to lose energy rapidly. Stress levels will also rise with improper sleep, which makes dealing with the days confrontations and people interactions more difficult. Using essential oils through aromatherapy can help you maintain levels of peace, remove the days stress, and help you sleep soundly for the ultimate refreshing morning.

A busy worker whether youre an employee or the business owner will have you building stress throughout the day. Stress can seriously inhibit a good nights sleep. The unsettled sleep will increase chances for increased stress and can ultimately hurt your immune system making you susceptible to disease and illnesses. Essential oils used in aromatherapy can help you relax and sleep more soundly throughout the night. Having a good nights sleep is analogous to recharging your bodys batteries to make it most efficient for the next day. Poor sleeping habits can inefficiently relieve stress leaving it to damage your body and mind.

Some people feel that a quantity of sleep is important. It isnt the amount of sleep that you need that is important, but the amount of highly effective sleep that is most important. Getting six to seven hours of sleep is important for your body to replenish the energy levels that it has lost from the days activities. However, sleeping a quality 6 hours of sleep is highly more beneficial than sleeping a poor, restless ten hours of sleep.

Essential oils used in aromatherapy can help you fully relax to facilitate your ability to fall into a deep sleeping whereby qualifying your sleep as fully effective for your bodys energy replenishment. You will notice the difference the next morning when you wake up and feel totally revitalized from the previous day. Not only will you feel replenished on the outside, your mind and body will be completely healthier from a quality nights sleep.

There are several essential oils that can help you have a good nights sleep. The most relaxing of all of the essential oils are Bergamot, Sage, and Sandalwood. Although each has beneficial effects separately, combining all three has the best effect on your mind and body.

Bergamot

Bergamot is a peel from an exotic fruit that smells like the popular citrus scent you get from other fruits. The potent citrus smell makes you feel refreshed and it calms your emotions to give you the euphoric feeling of a calm spirit. You can also blend bergamot with other oils to produce an uplifting feeling with a relaxing state that helps you sleep better.

Clary Sage

Clary sage is a popular essential oil to relax your spirit and it helps get rid of the restlessness from stress and an overactive emotional state. As with some other essential oils, it is distilled from the leaf of a plant that is known to relax you simply from its aromatic smell. It brings you a feeling of well being and within twenty four hours will make you feel like you can conquer the world.

Sandalwood Agmark

The Sandalwood Agmark essential oil will soothe you so that you no longer feel as if the stress of the world is on your shoulders. It helps you ultimately relax and keeps your emotions at bay so that you can sleep throughout the night. The fragrance of the Sandalwood is great for the mind since it is the main factor for stressfully restless nights.

Although each of these bring a distinct benefit, they are most beneficial used together. You can purchase the essential oils separately, but if you really want to have the most relaxing night of your life use them in combination. The combination of the oils will guarantee you a good nights sleep and give you the most refreshed feeling in the morning.

PPPPP

Word Count 656

Put Yourself in a Better Mood

Your mood can determine how you deal with stress, complicate your health, and help you deal with the daily pressures of the work week. Using essential oils is a great way to uplift your mood and put you in good spirits throughout the day. Not only will your mood become increasingly better, but your energy levels will increase as well. The natural fragrances given off by essential oils helps your body use its natural defenses against loss of energy and bad health. Overall, enhancing your mood through essential oils is a healthy way to increase your mood while bettering your health.

Essential oils used in aromatherapy techniques can also be a preventive against the stress and low energy that ultimately harms your health. Even if you dont expect to have a bad day, using essential oils will help you maintain and uplifted mood when the day starts to go sour. This is especially useful in the office when the day can start out good and slowly become stressful and demanding. A better mood can make you more productive and customer service oriented within the office when your mood starts to drop. Essential oils can help pull you out of a controversial situation by helping you think more clearly while in the office.

Essential oils are also useful in the home for stay at home moms or dads. Using the essential oils in your home is safe for the kids, and it can help you cope with a hectic schedule. If you find yourself losing your emotional control, use essential oils in aromatherapy to help uplift your mood and stay calm while watching your children. The aromatic scents help you control your mood, keep yourself positive, and it can even improve your concentration.

Whether you are at work or at home, using the following essential oils will greatly increase your mood and help you sustain a positive attitude even during the bad days. A positive attitude can increase your health and allow you to eliminate stress from your body. Using essential oils such as grapefruit, bergamot, and geranium can greatly enhance your mood and internal energy levels. The following essential oils can be used individually, but used in combination they provide a powerful way to enhance your mood and keep your spirits high.

Grapefruit

Everyone is familiar with that freshly peeled smell of a ripe grapefruit. The citrus scent immediately makes you feel refreshed and it feels that energy levels instantly rise. The aroma is tangy and brings back an invigorating feeling that happens when your mood quickly becomes better and your spirit is uplifted.

Bergamot

Bergamot is an exotic plant extract that is energizing and has an antiseptic for your mind quality. It stimulates your senses and it even helps balance your emotions while increasing your mood. The bergamot aroma is taken from the fruits peeled layer, and it used to be used in colognes. The bergamot aroma can be used separately, but it blends well with most other essential oils.

Geranium

Geranium is a balancing plant that helps stabilize your mood and makes you feel spiritually healthier. When you allow stress to enter your life, you can start to have a roller coaster of emotions that can affect your health and it affects the people around you. Geranium essential oils can help stabilize these emotional up and down issues with its flowery sent.

You can use each of these scents, grapefruit, bergamot, and geranium, individually for their unique emotionally uplifting qualities. Individually, they are powerful essential oils that should be a part of your day whether you stay at home or if you have a busy day at the office. Essential oils in aromatherapy should be a common use especially if you feel your mood is emotionally unstable. Using essential oils can help you handle the daily stress at work or at home.

PPPPP

Word Count 650