Health & Welliness Center
CT Spokesperson Anna Kournikova Joins ‘Biggest Loser’
Cardio Tennis spokesperson Anna Kournikova is the newest trainer on “The Biggest Loser” reality show. The tennis star first came to the show in an episode that aired last October, when she put the contestants through a Cardio
Tennis workout. Kournikova replaces Jillian Michaels, who left the NBC show after Season 11.
“As a former professional tennis player and certified trainer, this is a wonderful opportunity for me to share my enthusiasm for staying fit across America's homes,” Kournikova says. “I'm honored to join a program that embraces the values of a healthy lifestyle and is committed to fighting obesity. I look forward to the upcoming season and seeing the results we can achieve together.”
“When Anna taped the Cardio Tennis segment for ‘The Biggest Loser’ last year, she was so totally into helping the contestants improve their fitness and their lifestyles,” says Michele Krause, the national program manager for Cardio Tennis, which is owned and managed by the Tennis Industry Association. “It’s great that she’ll be helping this season’s contestants reach their fitness and health goals.”
NBC reality show chief Paul Telegdy said the network was "confident that [Kournikova] will be a powerful motivator to contestants to get fit and healthy." And the TV show will reportedly take on a new direction this season, shifting from a focus on the tape measure to a focus on the “overall well-being and health” of the contestants, says Executive Producer Todd Lubin.
Tennis workout. Kournikova replaces Jillian Michaels, who left the NBC show after Season 11.
“As a former professional tennis player and certified trainer, this is a wonderful opportunity for me to share my enthusiasm for staying fit across America's homes,” Kournikova says. “I'm honored to join a program that embraces the values of a healthy lifestyle and is committed to fighting obesity. I look forward to the upcoming season and seeing the results we can achieve together.”
“When Anna taped the Cardio Tennis segment for ‘The Biggest Loser’ last year, she was so totally into helping the contestants improve their fitness and their lifestyles,” says Michele Krause, the national program manager for Cardio Tennis, which is owned and managed by the Tennis Industry Association. “It’s great that she’ll be helping this season’s contestants reach their fitness and health goals.”
NBC reality show chief Paul Telegdy said the network was "confident that [Kournikova] will be a powerful motivator to contestants to get fit and healthy." And the TV show will reportedly take on a new direction this season, shifting from a focus on the tape measure to a focus on the “overall well-being and health” of the contestants, says Executive Producer Todd Lubin.
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Tennis Players Have Stronger Bones Than Non-Players, Study Shows
A study published in the Journal of Physical Activity and Health shows “tennis players have stronger bones than non-players.” Playing tennis, the study indicates, helps protect against the loss of bone mineral during pregnancy.
The pilot study, of 18 healthy women between ages 18 and 39, showed that while bone mineral density levels dropped overall during pregnancy, they were still “significantly higher in tennis players” versus the control group at 12 weeks and through the birth.
Researchers at the University of Cincinnati and Children’s Hospital Medical Center in Cincinnati conducted the study, titled “Bone Mineral Loss During Pregnancy: Is Tennis Protective?” It showed that bone mineral density (BMD) was greater in pregnant women who played recreational tennis when compared with sedentary pregnant women. Tennis was the only exercise activity that the pregnant women participated in.
Ten women in the study did no exercise during their pregnancy, while eight played recreational tennis. The tennis players were recruited from clubs in the greater Cincinnati area. All were rated above 2.5 on the National Tennis Rating Program scale and played tennis at least twice a week for more than 30 minutes at a time. The players kept log sheets of their activity, and they all generally stopped playing by the third trimester, by their own choice.
Importantly, during the period when they reduced or stopped playing tennis, bone mineral measures also fell. “‘Detraining’ may undo positive benefits” of exercise such as tennis when it comes to BMD, the study said.
“This study has potential important public health implications regarding recommendations for continuation of activity during pregnancy,” wrote researchers Mina Dimov, Ph.D.; Jane Khoury, Ph.D.; and Reginald Tsang, M.D. They caution, however, that it is a pilot study, with a small sample size, intended to provide information relevant for future research.
The study was supported by the Tennis Industry Association, the Women’s Sports Foundation and the National Osteoporosis Foundation, among other groups. To download the complete study, click here.
The pilot study, of 18 healthy women between ages 18 and 39, showed that while bone mineral density levels dropped overall during pregnancy, they were still “significantly higher in tennis players” versus the control group at 12 weeks and through the birth.
Researchers at the University of Cincinnati and Children’s Hospital Medical Center in Cincinnati conducted the study, titled “Bone Mineral Loss During Pregnancy: Is Tennis Protective?” It showed that bone mineral density (BMD) was greater in pregnant women who played recreational tennis when compared with sedentary pregnant women. Tennis was the only exercise activity that the pregnant women participated in.
Ten women in the study did no exercise during their pregnancy, while eight played recreational tennis. The tennis players were recruited from clubs in the greater Cincinnati area. All were rated above 2.5 on the National Tennis Rating Program scale and played tennis at least twice a week for more than 30 minutes at a time. The players kept log sheets of their activity, and they all generally stopped playing by the third trimester, by their own choice.
Importantly, during the period when they reduced or stopped playing tennis, bone mineral measures also fell. “‘Detraining’ may undo positive benefits” of exercise such as tennis when it comes to BMD, the study said.
“This study has potential important public health implications regarding recommendations for continuation of activity during pregnancy,” wrote researchers Mina Dimov, Ph.D.; Jane Khoury, Ph.D.; and Reginald Tsang, M.D. They caution, however, that it is a pilot study, with a small sample size, intended to provide information relevant for future research.
The study was supported by the Tennis Industry Association, the Women’s Sports Foundation and the National Osteoporosis Foundation, among other groups. To download the complete study, click here.
GAME . SET . LIFE
Ed Tseng, a leading authority on mastering the mental aspects of sports and life, is the founder of the Tseng Performance Academy in Princeton, NJ. He was named Pro of the Year USTA 2005 and is the author of "Game. Set. Life. - Peak Performance for Sports and Life" which has been on Amazon's Top 10 in Sports Psychology and featured at the 2009 US Open. He is a volunteer coach for the Special Olympics and has given lectures at the USTA Tennis Teachers Conference, Arthur Ashe Youth Tennis and Education, Harlem Tennis Program, Special Olympics, USPTA, Ferris State University's Professional Tennis Management Program, Princeton Regional Chamber of Commerce, Mercer County Juvenile Detention Center, Rider University Leadership Day, and numerous sports teams.
Check out Ed's blog for more tour and general information
Check out Ed's blog for more tour and general information
How to Think Like a Champion
By Ed Tseng
Peak Performance/Mental Fitness Expert
Pro of the Year USTA 2005
Author of Game. Set. Life.
1. Winners do what losers don’t feel like doing.
2. Winners look the same whether they’re winning or losing.
Losers act how they feel.
3. Winners loosen up and focus more when the pressure’s on.
Losers tighten up.
4. Losers are in their sport.
Winners are into their sport.
5. Winners focus on things they can control (effort, attitude, strategy, mindset, energy).Losers focus on what they can’t control (weather, opponents, winning/losing, line calls).
6. Winners ask how. How can I make an adjustment?
Losers ask why. Why do I keep missing that shot?
7. Losers focus on the past and future.
Winners focus on the present moment.
8. Winners focus on the process (effort).
Losers focus on the product (winning/losing)
9. Winners learn from losses.
Losers don’t.
10. Winners go all out.
Losers hold back.
Ed Tseng is the founder of the Tseng Performance Academy. He is an internationally recognized tennis teaching pro (Pro of the Year USTA 2005), peak performance expert and author. He has delivered lectures to organizations such as the USTA Tennis Teachers Conference, Special Olympics, Princeton Regional Chamber of Commerce, Mercer County Juvenile Detention Center, Arthur Ashe Youth Tennis and Education, Harlem Tennis Program and numerous sports teams. His book Game. Set. Life. has been on Amazon’s Top 10 in Sports Psychology and featured at the 2009 US Open. For more information and daily peak performance messages, visit www.edtseng.com.
"A true champion is someone who goes all out, especially when they don't feel like it."
Ed Tseng
Peak Performance/Mental Fitness Expert
Pro of the Year USTA 2005
Author of "Game. Set. Life. - Peak Performance for Sports and Life"
Order "Game. Set. Life." http://www.amazon.com/Game-Set-Life-Performance-Sports/dp/1419654756
Daily Motivational Messages: http://www.edtseng.com
Twitter.com/GameSetLife
Facebook.com/ed10s26
Linkedin.com/pub/ed-tseng/3/ba0/a0
Tseng Performance Academy/Tennis Solutions
President/Founder
P.O. Box 6514
Lawrenceville, NJ 08648
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Peak Performance/Mental Fitness Expert
Pro of the Year USTA 2005
Author of Game. Set. Life.
1. Winners do what losers don’t feel like doing.
2. Winners look the same whether they’re winning or losing.
Losers act how they feel.
3. Winners loosen up and focus more when the pressure’s on.
Losers tighten up.
4. Losers are in their sport.
Winners are into their sport.
5. Winners focus on things they can control (effort, attitude, strategy, mindset, energy).Losers focus on what they can’t control (weather, opponents, winning/losing, line calls).
6. Winners ask how. How can I make an adjustment?
Losers ask why. Why do I keep missing that shot?
7. Losers focus on the past and future.
Winners focus on the present moment.
8. Winners focus on the process (effort).
Losers focus on the product (winning/losing)
9. Winners learn from losses.
Losers don’t.
10. Winners go all out.
Losers hold back.
Ed Tseng is the founder of the Tseng Performance Academy. He is an internationally recognized tennis teaching pro (Pro of the Year USTA 2005), peak performance expert and author. He has delivered lectures to organizations such as the USTA Tennis Teachers Conference, Special Olympics, Princeton Regional Chamber of Commerce, Mercer County Juvenile Detention Center, Arthur Ashe Youth Tennis and Education, Harlem Tennis Program and numerous sports teams. His book Game. Set. Life. has been on Amazon’s Top 10 in Sports Psychology and featured at the 2009 US Open. For more information and daily peak performance messages, visit www.edtseng.com.
"A true champion is someone who goes all out, especially when they don't feel like it."
Ed Tseng
Peak Performance/Mental Fitness Expert
Pro of the Year USTA 2005
Author of "Game. Set. Life. - Peak Performance for Sports and Life"
Order "Game. Set. Life." http://www.amazon.com/Game-Set-Life-Performance-Sports/dp/1419654756
Daily Motivational Messages: http://www.edtseng.com
Twitter.com/GameSetLife
Facebook.com/ed10s26
Linkedin.com/pub/ed-tseng/3/ba0/a0
Tseng Performance Academy/Tennis Solutions
President/Founder
P.O. Box 6514
Lawrenceville, NJ 08648
.AOLWebSuite .AOLPicturesFullSizeLink { height: 1px; width: 1px; overflow: hidden; } .AOLWebSuite a {color:blue; text-decoration: underline; cursor: pointer} .AOLWebSuite a.hsSig {cursor: default}
How Fast are 8 oz. of Fluid from Sports Drinks Absorbed in the Blood?
The absorption of a sports drink into the blood is determined by the rates of stomach emptying and intestinal absorption. Some ingested fluid can appear in the blood after only 5 min. Overall, the maximal rates of fluid absorption are approximately 1,300 - 1,500 ml/hr, while carbohydrate can be delivered at 60-80 g/hr. These rates are sufficient to help compensate for the fluid and energy losses experienced during exercise and thereby enhance exercise performance.
-- Mark Hargreaves, PhD, FACSM, School of Health Sciences, Deakin University, Australia
-- Mark Hargreaves, PhD, FACSM, School of Health Sciences, Deakin University, Australia
Dietary Fluid & Sodium Requirements for Exercising Adults
The Food and Nutrition Board of the Institute of Medicine* (IOM) recently convened a panel to determine the appropriate dietary intake levels of water, salt and potassium necessary to maintain health and reduce the risk of chronic disease.
The panel discussed:
While the IOM report states that most people drink when they’re thirsty to stay hydrated, research shows that this seemingly simple statement may be misleading for two reasons:
Instead, these groups recommend active adults drink before, during and after exercise and other active occasions (i.e., sports, physical work, recreation, etc.) to:
The average American consumes between eight to 12 grams of salt daily—too much, according to the standards set by the IOM. In its report, the Institute advises healthy adults should consume an average of no more than 3.8 grams of salt (1.5 grams of sodium and 2.3 grams of chloride) each day—going no higher than 5.8 grams.1 This upper limit is based on the suggestion that eating more sodium leads to high blood pressure.
Yet, while cutting back on overall dietary sodium may be sound advice for the sedentary public, it is not recommended for athletes. They need sodium in the diet because they:
Thirst, behavior and occasion all drive fluid consumption. That’s why it’s important to consider the practical application of the IOM’s report on an individual basis, since some of its recommendations may not be appropriate for athletes and active individuals. Team physicians, athletic trainers, sports nutritionists, registered dieticians and other professionals who work with athletes must work to make correct interpretations.
In that spirit, it’s important to consider that optimal hydration is the replacement of fluid and electrolytes based on individual needs. A properly formulated sports drink is an effective hydration beverage that helps to replace fluids and electrolytes (including sodium and potassium) lost in sweat by sustaining the physiological drive to drink and by helping maintain fluid homeostasis.
Diluting a good sports drink compromises its efficacy and reduces the benefits it can provide:
For more information and healthy updates please visit my blog section.
The panel discussed:
- How much fluid adults consume daily.
- What governs fluid intake.
- Recommendations on the proper intake levels for water, sodium and potassium.
While the IOM report states that most people drink when they’re thirsty to stay hydrated, research shows that this seemingly simple statement may be misleading for two reasons:
- Daily fluid requirements fluctuate greatly for people in hot climates and for those who are physically active. Dehydration resulting from the failure to adequately replace fluids during exercise can lead to impaired heat dissipation, elevated body core temperature and increased strain on the cardiovascular system.
- Behavior, not thirst, is primarily responsible for determining fluid intake. That’s because people typically drink when they’re eating, passing a water fountain or refrigerator and whenever they find fluids readily available, such as at meetings or parties.
Instead, these groups recommend active adults drink before, during and after exercise and other active occasions (i.e., sports, physical work, recreation, etc.) to:
- Regulate their body temperatures.
- Replace fluids lost through sweat—preferably at a rate close or equal to sweat rate to minimize the potential for heat illness. (To determine adequacy of fluid intake, weigh individuals before and after exercise.)
- Stay properly hydrated without overdrinking.
The average American consumes between eight to 12 grams of salt daily—too much, according to the standards set by the IOM. In its report, the Institute advises healthy adults should consume an average of no more than 3.8 grams of salt (1.5 grams of sodium and 2.3 grams of chloride) each day—going no higher than 5.8 grams.1 This upper limit is based on the suggestion that eating more sodium leads to high blood pressure.
Yet, while cutting back on overall dietary sodium may be sound advice for the sedentary public, it is not recommended for athletes. They need sodium in the diet because they:
- Can lose large amounts of sodium in sweat.
- Have to replenish sweat sodium losses to ensure proper fluid homeostasis in the body.
Thirst, behavior and occasion all drive fluid consumption. That’s why it’s important to consider the practical application of the IOM’s report on an individual basis, since some of its recommendations may not be appropriate for athletes and active individuals. Team physicians, athletic trainers, sports nutritionists, registered dieticians and other professionals who work with athletes must work to make correct interpretations.
In that spirit, it’s important to consider that optimal hydration is the replacement of fluid and electrolytes based on individual needs. A properly formulated sports drink is an effective hydration beverage that helps to replace fluids and electrolytes (including sodium and potassium) lost in sweat by sustaining the physiological drive to drink and by helping maintain fluid homeostasis.
- Recommendations for daily intake of fluids, nutrients, vitamins, minerals, etc., differ for athletes compared to sedentary adults.
- Thirst is a very poor indicator of fluid needs during physical activity.
- The volume of fluid that athletes consume during and especially after exercise should be based on what they lose in sweat. Weigh the athlete before and after activity to approximate the effectiveness of fluid replacement and the need for additional fluid intake.
- Athletes can lose large amounts of sodium. Unless a sports health professional recommends otherwise, athletes should liberally salt their food, favor sports drinks and include healthy high-sodium foods (i.e., pretzels, chicken noodle soup, etc.) in their diets.
Properly formulated sports drinks are designed to provide carbohydrates and replace the electrolytes and fluids athletes lose in sweat to help:
- Promote proper hydration.
- Prevent dehydration and other heat-related illnesses.
- Fuel athletes for optimal training and competition.
Diluting a good sports drink compromises its efficacy and reduces the benefits it can provide:
- Light flavor and sweetness to encourage athletes to drink more and stay better hydrated.
- A small amount of the right types of carbohydrates to fuel the body’s energy needs while aiding fluid absorption to prevent stomach upset.
- The right amount and types of electrolytes to encourage continued drinking, help maintain fluid balance and important physiological functions, and, in some cases, help prevent cramping.
For more information and healthy updates please visit my blog section.
