Fitness and Health

Being fit is more than just physical fitness; it is also a state of mind, because mental health is very important to our overall health.

When the calendar flips to December, many of us normally get bombarded with invitations to Christmas parties, end of year drinks, get-togethers and other festive gatherings.

This week, I will continue the series of interviews with a well-known face in the sporting fraternity, the multi-talented Alisha Fortune.

This week, I begin a series of interviews with known faces in the local fitness fraternity.

Parents today have a huge problem on their hands. The world is currently experiencing the worst epidemic of childhood obesity.

Last week I discussed in detail about the macronutrient: protein and following the publication, I got an email questioning whether or not protein shakes are best for meal replacement.

Protein is a macronutrient (nutrients we need in large quantities) that is chemically composed of amino acids.

Gym bag? Check. Water bottle? Check. Gloves? Check. Hair Tie? Check Snack? Maybe.

You may see them advertised in magazines, on television and online: “ultimate fat burner,” “super fat burner,” green tea fat burner,” and products that claim to be able to “melt away fat,” “burn calories” and “instantly reduce body fat.” Do they really work?

In response to last week’s column about how it’s possible to achieve a slim waistline by shedding extra belly fat while maintaining curves so to speak, I received some emails from concerned women who would like to just ‘tone up’ without lifting.

“Emmerson how can I lose weight on my stomach and keep my curves?

For the past two weeks, I touched on the benefits of supplementing with Citrulline Malate and Glutamine for cardiovascular health, recovery and effective blood flow.

Last week I disclosed that I consume the amino acid Citrulline Malate to help maintain cardiovascular health, blood flow and other health benefits.

On Wednesday while sipping on a pre-workout supplement in my hotel room overlooking the horizon in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, it occurred to me that I should tell readers about some of the supplements I take and why.

In my last few articles, I’ve focused heavily on cardio and its benefits.

I get told a lot that my writing is hugely based on losing weight.

What is good cardio and how often should you do it Last week I discussed cardio and discussed the two types of cardio, HIIT and LISS.

A question I get asked a lot is what type of cardio is more effective for burning fat and maintaining muscle mass.

One of the most popular phrases in today’s health-conscious society is “low-fat.” Other common phrases we hear are “low-fat diet,” “sugar free,” or “calorie free.” What is being touted by the use of these phrases is that these foods are healthy because they are low in fat or calories.

With the Olympic Games ongoing in Rio, naturally the effectiveness of the Olympic lifts for muscle building and fat loss came to mind.

One thing you need to get into your mind is that fitness results don’t happen by chance.

Columbus travelled the world in a sailboat but you can’t get to gym?

Last week we discussed exercises for toning and how they can help you achieve the ideal physique you have pictured in your head.

If I had a ‘Granger’ ($5000 bill) for every time I heard a woman say ‘I just want to get toned.

Whilst guys are getting shredded or toned to show off our chests, arms and abs for the ‘summer,’ ladies are mostly concerned with their midsection, legs and their butts.

The ‘summer’ season or as we Guyanese say the July/August holiday is here and like I stated last week, this means more outdoor activities.

Summer’ or the July/August holidays, as we know it, is here. It’s that time of year where there are more pool, creek and beach parties.

For the past few nights I have been experiencing chocolate cravings—Cadbury is my brand of choice—which is a no-no since I am preparing for a show in two weeks.

It’s wedding season and it will soon segue into ‘summer’ vacation season. So if you need to shed a few pounds to fit into that suit, gown, dress, bikini or board shorts keep reading.

During the May/June rainy season here it’s also flu season. I’m sure many of you readers can agree that some of your loved ones, friends and/or co-workers have been bitten with the flu bug lately.

The Golden Jubilee Independence celebrations around May 26, were full of fun, fetes, food and frolic.

Last week, I got an email asking about sweet fruits like pineapples and grapes and if their sugar content could be harmful.

The Golden Jubilee Independence celebrations are here. These celebrations mean lots of fun, fetes and music.

Last week we discussed the numerous benefits of not skipping ‘leg day’. But while many of us work our butts off on ‘leg day’ and earn well-developed quads and hamstrings, we still have difficulty building massive calves.

Every gym I’ve ever walked into, I’ve seen most guys working hard on their upper body, while neglecting or just going through the motions when it comes to their legs.

Eating clean (most of the time) and working out are some of the key elements for fat loss or maintaining an athletic physique year round.

For the past three columns I discussed and illustrated some of the staples in my breakfast, lunch and dinner meal stacks and their numerous benefits.

Many are of the perception that eating healthy meals typically only induces a sigh as they are generally tasteless.

Last week I discussed some of the staples in my breakfast meal stack and their numerous benefits.

Whether at the gym, at work or hanging out, I’m constantly approached and politely quizzed on my nutrition which is key to maintaining a lean, appealing physique year round.

The benefits of rest and recovery and massages were discussed in the past two columns as some of the things you should typically do post-workout to help with your fitness goals outside of the gym.

Last week I discussed rest and recovery and their importance to one’s fitness goals.

Last week the topic of training smarter rather than harder was discussed. In that column, I illustrated the significant strength and muscle gains I achieved in 14 months with training just three days per week rather than going ‘balls to the walls’ daily like a pro bodybuilder on anabolic steroids.

Having added to debunking the myth that strength training would suddenly morph women into bulky, manly beings, my thoughts naturally turned to the quality of training.

Last week the topic of women lifting weights was discussed and the perception of weightlifting making females bulky and manly was debunked.

If I had a dollar for every time I heard an uninformed woman say, “I don’t lift weights because I don’t want to look hard and manly,” I probably would be a rich guy.

Last week we looked at genetics and discussed its significance in an individual’s muscle gain or weight loss efforts.

Scrolling through my Instagram timeline last week I came across a funny meme with the caption: “Some people can eat five burgers and not gain a pound; I click ‘like’ on a picture of a Nutella jar and gain five pounds.” While the meme was hilarious and obviously untrue, I asked myself the question “Does genetics play a

Those of you who might have see-sawed through New Year health and fitness resolutions in the past would know that if it has not happened before, it is around this time that your drive will begin to slow.

In last week’s column we discussed some tweaks to training, supplementation and nutrition that can make a difference in your fat loss efforts.