Fitness, Business, Fitness Business, & Achieving Life Goals

I was working on my mission of videoing 30 variations of the Tabata protocol (see Tabata Revisited), which requires specific timing, and was challenged trying to set up my stopwatch where I could see it. I’d done 12 variations before a colleague called out, “You know there’s an app for that.” I’ll be darned if she wasn’t right. Tabata timer not only times the specific protocol with audible and visual alarms, but gives incredible timing variety that I can use in boot camps and other circuit workouts. Love it!

So, as specific and obscure an app as you might think that is, think about other health/fitness/nutrition apps that could help you. Some are free and some have a nominal fee. There are so many for each area, I’m not recommending the ones I list, just using them as examples. Try some apps out and see how they work for you.

Diet: Any app (application) that makes it easier to journal what you eat and keep track of your calories, would be a great tool. Calorie Tracker and Lose It are two options.

Workout: Giving you ideas for exercise programs are apps from Men’s Health, iPump, and more.

Sports specific: there are apps that are programs to help you train for sporting events. i.e marathon training like Run Coach and Triathlon and Marathon training

Health: Managing your health is also included in programs such as Glucose Buddy for diabetics

Indeed there seems to be apps for every occasion. Go seee what’s out there for you.

That said, a word of CAUTION, nothing takes the place of having a professional create a program that meets your individual needs. That is always your best choice.

Happy app-ing, Mark Nutting

I posted about the Tabata protocol awhile back and thought it was time to revisit it. Much of this is a re-post with some additional thoughts.

The Tabata Method or Protocol isn’t new, but it seems to be getting more and more press of late, maybe because of the popularity of CrossFit, P90X, Turbulence Training, etc. Based on the research of Izumi Tabata et al, at the Department of Physiology and Biomechanics, National Institute of Fitness and Sports, Kagoshima Prefecture in Japan, it is touted as “the best” way to up the metabolism and burn fat in the shortest amount of time. I don’t know if I’d say that any one thing is “the best”, but it is some pretty interesting stuff. The premis of the training is 20 second work interval to a 10 second rest interval that is done for a total of 8 repetitions (totaling 3:50 seconds). The original study was to compare moderate-intensity endurance and high-intensity interval training and was completed on a stationary bicycle ergometer.
“…this study showed that moderate-intensity aerobic training that improves the maximal aerobic power does not change anaerobic capacity and that adequate high-intensity intermittent training may improve both anaerobic and aerobic energy supplying systems significantly, probably through imposing intensive stimuli on both systems.” Tabata Study

Here’s an example of something similar to the study:

Now, from this and other research it has been extrapolated that this training, along with improving both aerobic and anaerobic conditioning, also raises resting metabolism for an extended period of time and translates into greater fat loss. You can see any number of variations on the activities utilizing the Tabata Protocol from front squats to burpees. The key seems to be to make the activity involving large muscle groups and keeping it as intense as possible.

Here’s a different example: (I’d be happier if she didn’t occasionally hit the ball so hard)

Now, I’m old enough to have accumulated a number of chronic orthopedic issues (this is my “Get out of jail free” excuse, just in case), but I’ve decided to demonstrate, record, and post 30 Tabata protocol variations in 30 days. It’ll be fun to see which ones work better than others. If you have a favorite, let me know what it is and I’ll give it a try. I’ll be kicking this off March 1st. Stay tuned and watch the fun.

Best wishes, Mark

Mark Nutting, CSCS*D, NSCA-CPT-AR*D