ABC of Fitness News Feed

Cholesterol Levels Linked to Alzheimer's, Dementia

QuickMedical, a leading distributor of the CardioChek® cholesterol testing instrument for healthcare professionals, and the CardioChek® home cholesterol analyzer released a statement today hailing a new study by Kaiser Permanente. The study suggests that high cholesterol levels are a significant risk factor for developing dementia and Alzheimer's Disease later in life.

The results of the study were published in the journal of Dementia & Geriatric Cognitive Disorders. The research study tracked 9,844 men and women for four decades, starting when the participants were between 40 and 45 years of age.

After controlling for weight, hypertension and diabetes, the researchers discovered a significant link between borderline-high cholesterol and dementia.

The participants in the study, who had high cholesterol, or a value of 240mg/dl or more, had a 66 percent greater risk of developing Alzheimer's Disease later in life. People with borderline-high cholesterol, between 200 and 239, had a 25 percent spike in risk.

According to the American Heart Association, more than 106 million Americans reportedly have borderline-high cholesterol levels.

"With the availability of our CardioChek® cholesterol testing device for the healthcare professional and the CardioChek® analyzer for home use there is now a way for the public to know their cholesterol level number," said Robert Huffstodt, President and CEO of Polymer Technology Systems. "The continued emergence of research findings such as these strongly reinforces the rationale for including cholesterol screenings as an integral part of healthcare preventative maintenance; not only with regards to heart disease and diabetes, but now with the risk of dementia and Alzheimer's Disease.

The study concluded that people as young as 40 with borderline or high cholesterol levels are at increased risk for developing Alzheimer's disease or vascular dementia. Previous studies have linked heart and brain health, but this study is the first to examine the association between borderline cholesterol levels and dementia.

source: www.quickmedical.com

Women's Fitness: Walk On Ladies!

In its effort to promote women's fitness, good health and living a healthy lifestyle, Lady of America wants to make sure women are incorporating walking into their fitness program.

Walking five to seven days for a minimum of 30 minutes exposes women to many health benefits of walking. Studies have shown that for every hour of regular exercise two hours of life are gained. The President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports reports that walking one mile burns about 100 calories, depending on intensity, pace and speed. Walking has also been shown to help control weight, lower cholesterol, strengthen the heart, improve muscle tone and reduce the likelihood of serious health problems. And, it can slow the aging process.

AARP � a leading non-profit organization for people 50 and over � lists managing weight, controlling blood pressure, decreasing risk of heart attack and stroke among the many health benefits of walking. Walking also improves strength around the joints, which can help with degenerative joint disease. Other studies have found walking five days a week can significantly help reduce the risk of diabetes, obesity, osteoporosis, arthritis and some cancers, including breast and colon for women over 50.

Simple and flexible, walking can be done anywhere � outdoors, indoors, in the city, on a treadmill or on a trail. To make sure every step counts, Lady of America offers some basic principles: wear a supportive and comfortable walking shoe; wear socks that are made of a breathable material; practice correct posture and good stride; drink plenty of water before, during and after; maintain a brisk pace; and cool down after the walk.

To help in the battle of the bulge, Lady of America suggests striving for 10,000 steps every day � that's equivalent to approximately a 5-mile walk or an hour of speed walking. Use a pedometer to accurately measure the number of steps walked in a day. "Though 10,000 steps may seem daunting, it's the perfect way for a sedentary person to start an exercise program and offers a new challenge for someone who focuses only on group classes,� said Natalie Brabner, Lady of America's official women's fitness trainer.

Can't get all 10,000 steps in at one time? Brabner suggests breaking it up � walk to the store, take the stairs instead of the elevator, walk on work breaks or park the car further away. Going to a Zumba class or kickboxing class? Jump on the treadmill beforehand and sneak some extra steps in.

Like any other women's fitness program, it's important that the walking routine is consistently varied to avoid boredom and to challenge the body. Lady of America suggests getting a walking group together or joining a local walking club. If the weather is acting up, take the walk indoors [think treadmill or the mall]. Be sure to check out http://www.startwalkingnow.org and http://www.ava.org to find � or start � walking clubs in your local neighborhood.

Brand New Program To Build Lean, Full Body Muscle

Research indicates that in order to stay lean the body needs a workout schedule that builds muscle. There is a difference in building bulky muscle versus lean muscle. The goal imbedded in long term health and fitness centers around building and maintaining the right kind of muscle mass. Men and women can achieve the benefit of lean, full body muscle training through the Victa Home Workout Program recently released through the HomeWorkoutPros.com.

There are many advantages of lean muscle. First it is a type of muscle that is built more naturally to fit the shape of the body and will not tend to hinder flexibility. Second, the a workout program that focuses on the more natural movements of the body results in improved strength rather than increase awkward bulk. In addition building lean muscle does not require hours in the gym with specialized equipment to achieve results. In the end the body shape of the person focused on building lean muscle is more natural and promotes better long-term success with fat loss.

According to a recent report published at MayoClinic.com the older people get the more they need to make maintaining muscle mass a fitness focus. "Muscle mass naturally diminishes with age. �If you don't do anything to replace the lean muscle you lose, you'll increase the percentage of fat in your body,' says Edward Laskowski, M.D., a physical medicine and rehabilitation specialist at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn., and co-director of the Mayo Clinic Sports Medicine Center. �But strength training can help you preserve and enhance your muscle mass � at any age.' "

There is long list of health benefits associated with improving full body, lean muscle mass. The strength training advocated by the Mayo Clinic has proven links to the following health benefits: "Development of strong bones. By stressing your bones, strength training increases bone density and reduces the risk of osteoporosis. Controlling your weight. As you gain muscle, your body gains a bigger "engine" to burn calories more efficiently � which can result in weight loss. The more toned your muscles, the easier it is to control your weight. Reduce your risk of injury. Building muscle helps protect your joints from injury. It also contributes to better balance, which can help you maintain independence as you age. Boost your stamina. As you get stronger, you won't fatigue as easily. Manage chronic conditions. Strength training can reduce the signs and symptoms of many chronic conditions, including arthritis, back pain, depression, diabetes, obesity and osteoporosis. Sharpen your focus. Some research suggests that regular strength training helps improve attention for older adults.�

The professionals at Home Workout Pros have a clear vision through the Victa Home Workout Program to help all achieve the best, total lean muscle results. The highly effective, cost efficient program targets muscle build up in key areas of the body according to a personalized schedule and intensity level. Aaron Ormiston founder and co owner of Victa Creations LLC partnered with fitness professional, Josiah Grimes to deliver the vehicle for long-term fitness success to as many homes as possible throughout the world. For more information on how to sign up for the personalized, lean muscle mass building regimen visit the website at their website.

source: www.pr.com

Survey Reveals Parents Struggle to Keep Kids Fit

Today, nearly one in three U.S. children is overweight or obese, and while summer should be a time to get up, get out and grow, kids will be at a greater risk for brain drain and weight gain when the school year ends. Research shows that without activities to keep their minds and bodies active, kids are likely to gain weight twice as fast and show little to no academic growth over the summer than during the school year. Despite these findings, only 21 percent of American parents rank overall physical health as a top concern for their children, while 20 percent rank education as a top concern, according to national survey findings released today by YMCA of the USA (Y-USA).

The Y's second annual Family Health Snapshot, an online parents survey gauging how physically and intellectually active children are during the school year and summertime, also revealed that parents face many barriers to providing a healthy environment. Fifty percent of parents say technological distractions, such as cell phones and television, are a big barrier to getting their kids to engage in healthy behaviors, which is higher than last year.

With summer less than two months away, keeping kids healthy and active requires planning and preparation. To help parents begin thinking early about what their kids need to grow and achieve all summer long, the Y is celebrating YMCA's Healthy Kids Day® on April 28. Healthy Kids Day, the largest health day of its kind in the nation, is an initiative of the Y to improve the health and well-being of kids. More than 1,900 Ys across the country are holding free community events for hundreds of thousands of families, filled with fun, active play and educational opportunities to help parents improve their kids' lifestyles for the long term.

"Summer weight gain and summer learning loss often go unnoticed, but they impact many of today's youth. Some studies have shown that children's BMI increases nearly twice as fast during the summer than during the school year,� says Dr. Matt Longjohn, senior director of chronic disease prevention for Y-USA. "To help kids stay healthy and retain important skills learned during the school year, the Y provides opportunities for kids to move and learn all summer long.�

Parents Doing a Better Job but Are Still Struggling
The Family Health Snapshot also found that although parents are spending more time with their children in general, 40 percent admit they could do a better job of encouraging their children to engage in physical activity, while 35 percent say they need to encourage more reading for fun. When asked which leisure activity parents most participate in with their children, nearly 85 percent of parents responded that they watch television with their children, which is a marked increase from last year's survey of 74 percent of respondents.

During the school year, only 19 percent of kids play outside and get at least the recommended 60 minutes of physical activity seven days a week; only 17 percent of kids read books for fun every day; and only 12 percent of kids eat at least the recommended eight fruits and vegetables daily. Parents are also struggling to maintain a healthy lifestyle: only 11 percent get the recommended 30 minutes of physical activity for adults each day; only 9 percent eat at least eight fruits and vegetables each day; nearly 50 percent report reading books with their kids less than one day a week and 30 percent admit only playing with their children three to four days a week.

"As our nation's leading nonprofit dedicated to youth development, the Y is committed to addressing critical gaps in communities that negatively affect our kids, particularly in the areas of summer learning loss and summer weight gain,� says Neil Nicoll, president and CEO of Y-USA. "For over 160 years, the Y has helped kids learn, grow and thrive during summer months by providing quality activities and resources that help kids reach their full potential.�

Following are five ideas to help families combat summer brain drain and weight gain:

Give kids a jump rope. It's an awesome way to have fun and keep moving. Kids can go solo or get others in on the fun. Commit to healthy living by keeping kids' bodies and minds active this summer.
Visit a local library. Explore new books kids may have missed to keep their minds sharp during summer.
Have a family outing at a local park to get hearts pumping before evening meals. Play ball, run or create an obstacle course by using equipment in the park. Take turns letting everyone in the family make up something and have fun!
Take a walking staycation. Map out a new neighborhood or hiking trail in the area and get the family to explore on foot. It's a great way to make Saturday a healthy, active start to the weekend.
Start a book series and read together each night as a family. Reading at night keeps the brain buzzing and young minds active!

With a commitment to strengthening community through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility, the Y holds Healthy Kids Day to teach healthy habits and inspire a lifetime love of physical activity through active play. Healthy Kids Day is generously supported by the Dodge brand, which is committed to furthering the health and well-being of families. To learn more or to find a local Healthy Kids Day event, visit ymca.net/healthy-kids-day/.

The Family Health Snapshot was conducted online by Toluna Research (http://www.toluna-group.com) between Mar. 16 and 22, 2012. Participants were 1,632 U.S. parents of children ages 5 to 12. A full list of all survey results can be found on ymca.net/healthy-kids-day/.

First IYCA East Coast Conference

Leaders in the field of youth fitness will be appearing at Tyler English Fitness in Canton, CT for an event hosted by the International Youth Fitness Association this summer. Scheduled for Friday June 22nd and Saturday June 23rd, the event will mark the first ever IYCA East Coast Conference.

The IYCA focuses its efforts on improving coaches in the fields of youth fitness, youth conditioning, and youth athletic development. The organization unites youth fitness professionals to set forth guidelines for best practices in long-term young athlete development.

The upcoming first ever IYCA East Coast Conference will bring together 9 of the leading experts in the field of youth fitness to work with and teach all levels of coaches and trainers.

"The IYCA is dedicated, first and foremost, to improving the way youth sports coaches develop young athletes,� said IYCA CEO Pat Rigsby. "While coaches can buy books and videos, nothing beats hands on experience with renowned experts.�

This year's lineup includes 9 youth fitness specialists who have experience training NCAA Champions, Olympians, and professionals. Such coaches include speed expert Latif Thomas and David Jack, two former elite NCAA athletes with thriving youth coaching businesses.

Other presenters include resistance band training expert Dave Schmitz, kettlebell training expert Pamela MacElree, youth and professional coach Jim Kielbaso, east coast gym owner Dave Gleason, and the IYCA's own Pat Rigsby.

While all the youth fitness specialists will cover unique aspects of training young athletes, one notable speaker stands out for bridging the gap between mind and body.

Connecticut local Melissa Lambert, a licensed professional counselor and the IYCA's coach of the year, will be giving a lecture and hands on coaching session on the psychology of game play and movement in kids. "Kids fitness isn't just about winning games,� said Rigsby. "The IYCA is about young athlete development for the long term. This includes using youth sports training for their overall well-being.�

After many successful live events in the past, this is the IYCA's first major event on the East Coast. "We have hosted a major event of this kind annually in Louisville for the past 4 years, and now we're trying to bring our world class trainers' expertise out East.�

The first ever IYCA East Coast Conference is open to coaches and trainers of all levels of youth athletics. In fact, many attendees of past IYCA events have come in with little knowledge of youth sports training.

Given the in-depth nature of the event, those same trainers are unlikely to leave without having first accumulated a great deal of knowledge about the most up to date methods for training young athletes.

The IYCA East Coast Conference will take place on June 22nd and June 23rd. The event costs $197; however, coaches who secure their spot by May 11 will be able to attend at the discounted rate of $97. For more information on the event, visit http://iyca.org/events/canton/.