Eat to Lose (or WIN?)

How can calorie restriction lead to unhealthy weight loss?

The summer vacations are over and some of us have come back a few extra pounds heavier than our usual weight. We definitely have gained some extra motivation to get back on our game, clean up some eating habits and/or get a fitness routine going again. Many of us start things off by cutting out some of the bad things we eat. Now when we do that, it is important to substitute those calories with a healthy option, especially once we start exercising. Not eating enough calories compared to how much your body burns off for energy each day can lead to poor results and symptoms we don’t want.

What’s A Healthy Way to Lose Body Fat?

Anytime we gain some “bad” pounds (body fat), the common traditional mindset has been lose weight, rapid weight loss, diet, portion control; terms that can lead you down to the wrong path. A healthy weight loss is considered 1-2 lbs per week. If it’s your first time exercising in a while you may lose a little bit more for the first week or two based on your body burning off some extra stored energy commonly referred to as “water weight”. 1-2 lbs per week is just right because your body has a goal of maintaining a balanced state at all times. Too much lost too fast not only means you’re more likely to gain it back but can lead to some problems as well.

The key to gaining success and keeping it is making gradual adjustments to your lifestyle habits surrounding your eating habits. Give yourself small wins that will lead to an overall healthier lifestyle.

Risks of a Fast Weight Loss

Programs promoting rapid weight loss often have diets very low in calories and nutrients sometimes leading to health problems.

Loss of Lean Muscle

Muscle is the biggest energy burner in your body. If you are not feeding your body energy(calories)then your body will start to get rid of those energy burners. Losing weight is not the same as losing fat.

Effects on Metabolism

Your body’s goal is to survive. Whenever you limit the body of calories, it changes how it operates. It may affect hormones and other functions to help conserve more energy.

Other effects are common such as

low energy
irritability
dehydration
increased cravings
nutritional deficiencies
and more “not so fun” symptoms

How We Can Help?

WE HAVE THE ULTIMATE TRANSFORMATION PROGRAM!

Here at Infinity Sports Institute we have recently launched our all-inclusive individualized Hybrid Program that puts the individual in the best position to be successful based on their goal.

Each individual is assigned a performance specialist that they will spend the first day testing in the sports science lab using nothing but the best research grade equipment to set up the best possible program to attain their goal.

In addition, they will sit down with our sports nutritionist to set up an action plan based on their current lifestyle eating habits and goals.

After their program is created, they will get updated daily workouts from their coach who will monitor their entire journey throughout the program. A weekly meeting with their performance specialist will help the individual make outcome-based changes to their program which is the best formula for success.

To sit down with a performance specialist and learn more about our Hybrid program call 786-591-7586 or email us at info@infinitysi.com

Postural Restoration Institute Method

What is the PRI method?

The Postural Restoration Institute (PRI) incorporates a method to help people of all ages and ability levels stay balanced from postural asymmetries that occur in the body. Our bodies often move and function in asymmetry to maintain balance. A primary example is whenever we walk or run, one side of the body is creating a new step and the other is finishing the step you just took. PRI uses repositioning and repatterning techniques to maintain proper balance of those asymmetrical movements and functions to keep the body from over compensation.

When and Why should you use PRI method?

When using PRI, the idea is to identify and correct standard patterns found in our muscles and joints from side to side, from front to back and from top to bottom. These asymmetrical patterns influence the way we stand, sit, walk, breathe and even sleep. Infinity Sports Institute uses PRI method to help individual maintain postural balance for the long-term based on measuring their compensations through a full functional evaluation. Infinity Sports Institute uses PRI as another added tool to tackle abnormal postural patterns, unbalanced movement, and breathing patterns.

The Takeaway

The PRI method has given us a great resource to evaluate and treat proper functions of the body. This holistic approach has been effective and efficient when treating all different types of diagnoses.

In addition to PRI, Infinity Sports uses Fascial Stretching and Rocktape Techniques that can help restore an individual’s posture. To book an appointment or learn more about these services contact us at info@infinitysi.comor call 786-491-7586.

The Truth Behind the Scale

What the Scale Can’t Tell Me

A lot of us have different goals in the gym, whether that be to gain more muscle mass, lose some body fat, or maybe a little bit of both. Often times we track our goals using a scale, but frequently checking the scale can be misleading. The scale tells you your total weight but not how your body is made up of muscle, fat, and bone. Muscle is the good weight that helps us move better, burn fat and is important to maintain in your body for optimal health. Fat is the weight that we know when excessive, is bad for our health and we all work hard to burn off.

Checking your body fat percentage is the best way to create a start and finish line when it comes to getting the best results with your body and health. The DEXA machine is the most accurate and convenient way to check it. It can pinpoint your body composition by using a low-level x-ray to see how much total body fat, lean muscle mass, and bone mass you have. Keeping track of exactly how your body is made up between muscle and fat is the ultimate measure of health.

There’s Fat on My Organs?

We can break up our fat into different types. Visceral is the most important type when it comes to your overall health. It’s the fat that hangs out around your internal organs. Visceral fat plays the biggest role in longevity and risk of chronic diseases like heart disease and type two diabetes. Your scale at home and even other alternatives to checking your body composition cannot tell you the amount of visceral fat you have. A person may be content with their weight but if there is lots of fat around the organs, that person is more likely to develop lousy chronic diseases including cancer. The DEXA has the ability to show us the mass, volume, and area of visceral fat we are carrying which will tell us if we have to start changing our eating habits for healthier body composition.

Healthy Bones

If you’re an athlete that plays a high-impact sport, bone health can play a role in your risk of injury and performance. Also, women passed the age of 30 are at a higher risk for developing bone diseases such as osteoporosis and osteopenia when not exercising under resistance or eating enough calcium within their diets. The scale can tell you how much you weigh, but it won’t tell you how much of that is bone. The DEXA has the capability to show us if you are at risk or not while other methods do not.

Where Can I Get a DEXA Body Composition Scan?

Infinity Sports Institute has the luxury of having one of the best DEXA machines on the market, the Hologic Horizon DXA system, available to the public. The number one rule to winning a race is knowing where the start and the finish line is and getting a body scan can help motivate you through the finish line.

Schedule an appointment for your body scan so you can know exactly where you’re at and set the goal for where exactly you want to be.

Director of Human Performance, Andre McCormack