Now even your work-out can be bad for you: The dangers of extreme exercising

By Daisy Dumas


Buff: Jake Gyllenhaal and Heidi Montag are extreme exercisers. Gyllenhaal became addicted while training for Prince of Persia while Montag exercised for up to 14 hours a day before the MGM Grand pool party last month


We all know that exercising is a vital part of staying healthy.

But, even when it comes to fitness, anything in excess can be damaging.

A worrying new trend points to some Americans over-exercising, in what is known as ‘extreme exercising’.

High-profile addicts include Hollywood actor, Jake Gyllenhaal, and reality TV star, Heidi Montag.


Gyllenhaal, who completely transformed his body for the buff title role in Prince of Persia, admitted in March that he became addicted to exercise after working out for the blockbuster movie.

In an interview with Men’s Journal, the ‘cardio monster’ said he even suffered shin splints and has ‘had to teach [him]self to slow down a bit.’

Montag has replaced an apparent addiction to plastic surgery with a hours at the gym. Following drastic facial augmentation in 2009 - in which she underwent 10 dangerous procedures in a single day - Heidi Montag told ABC News in an interview last year that she ‘almost risked everything, all my relationships and myself, for vanity.’

Whether or not driven by the same urge, the fake-breasted celeb reportedly worked out for up to 14 hours a day before the MGM Grand's Wet Republic VIP pool party in Las Vegas last month.


Her dedication to the gym has raised alarm with experts.

Fitness expert, Michael Shaw, owner of New York Personal Training, told MailOnline, 'Like anything in the extreme, extreme exercise is a problem.'

'The most obvious danger is injury, overusing and overloading joints. The body's not meant to withstand that type of training.'

He says that the central nervous system can be affected, causing sleeplessness, while problems can also arise from 'the body not being fuelled right.'

Perhaps most worrying is his observation that extreme exercisers 'tend to have an unrealistic view of what the body is', suffering from body dismorphia.

Extreme exercise can lead to anorexia athletica, when working out becomes compulsive.

Addicted: Extreme exerciser, Brooke Mora, works out for up to 30 hours a week


Shaw recommends that his clients do not work out for more than 45 minutes to an hour at any one time.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recommends just 2 and a half hours of moderate aerobic activity a week for adults, while the American College of Sports Medicine recommends doing moderately intense cardio 30 minutes a day, five days a week, or vigorously intense cardio 20 minutes a day, three days a week.

Both Gyllenhaal and Montag's work-out routines far exceed the recommendations – and it's not limited to celebrities, either.

In an interview with Good Morning America, extreme exerciser Brooke Mora described how a bad break-up lead to a fitness compulsion.

Forgetting the balanced lifestyle mantra, 'everything in moderation', the 31 year old works out for up to 30 hours a week, fitting training in before and after work and on her lunchbreak.


source:dailymail

Now even your work-out can be bad for you: The dangers of extreme exercising

By Daisy Dumas


Buff: Jake Gyllenhaal and Heidi Montag are extreme exercisers. Gyllenhaal became addicted while training for Prince of Persia while Montag exercised for up to 14 hours a day before the MGM Grand pool party last month


We all know that exercising is a vital part of staying healthy.

But, even when it comes to fitness, anything in excess can be damaging.

A worrying new trend points to some Americans over-exercising, in what is known as ‘extreme exercising’.

High-profile addicts include Hollywood actor, Jake Gyllenhaal, and reality TV star, Heidi Montag.


Gyllenhaal, who completely transformed his body for the buff title role in Prince of Persia, admitted in March that he became addicted to exercise after working out for the blockbuster movie.

In an interview with Men’s Journal, the ‘cardio monster’ said he even suffered shin splints and has ‘had to teach [him]self to slow down a bit.’

Montag has replaced an apparent addiction to plastic surgery with a hours at the gym. Following drastic facial augmentation in 2009 - in which she underwent 10 dangerous procedures in a single day - Heidi Montag told ABC News in an interview last year that she ‘almost risked everything, all my relationships and myself, for vanity.’

Whether or not driven by the same urge, the fake-breasted celeb reportedly worked out for up to 14 hours a day before the MGM Grand's Wet Republic VIP pool party in Las Vegas last month.


Her dedication to the gym has raised alarm with experts.

Fitness expert, Michael Shaw, owner of New York Personal Training, told MailOnline, 'Like anything in the extreme, extreme exercise is a problem.'

'The most obvious danger is injury, overusing and overloading joints. The body's not meant to withstand that type of training.'

He says that the central nervous system can be affected, causing sleeplessness, while problems can also arise from 'the body not being fuelled right.'

Perhaps most worrying is his observation that extreme exercisers 'tend to have an unrealistic view of what the body is', suffering from body dismorphia.

Extreme exercise can lead to anorexia athletica, when working out becomes compulsive.

Addicted: Extreme exerciser, Brooke Mora, works out for up to 30 hours a week


Shaw recommends that his clients do not work out for more than 45 minutes to an hour at any one time.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recommends just 2 and a half hours of moderate aerobic activity a week for adults, while the American College of Sports Medicine recommends doing moderately intense cardio 30 minutes a day, five days a week, or vigorously intense cardio 20 minutes a day, three days a week.

Both Gyllenhaal and Montag's work-out routines far exceed the recommendations – and it's not limited to celebrities, either.

In an interview with Good Morning America, extreme exerciser Brooke Mora described how a bad break-up lead to a fitness compulsion.

Forgetting the balanced lifestyle mantra, 'everything in moderation', the 31 year old works out for up to 30 hours a week, fitting training in before and after work and on her lunchbreak.


source:dailymail

Where have all the telly tubbies gone?: TV stars and their dramatic weight loss

By Daily Mail Reporter


As Pauline Quirke becomes the latest TV star to show off her dramatic weight loss, we look at other famous television faces who have slimmed right down...

Nadia Sawalha, 47, lost 3½ stone, going from a size 18 to a size 10, by working out with a personal trainer three times a week and eating healthier meals

Pauline Quirke, 51, went from 19½ stone to 13 stone on the 500-calories-a-day Lighter Life diet after doctors told her she was in danger of needing a hip replacement

Dawn French, 53, has shed three stone, dropping from a size 20 to a size 16. Denies rumours of gastric band and says it's down to walking plus no chocolate or chips

Fern Britton, 53, lost five stone and dropped from a size 22 to a size 12. Claimed it was down to diet and exercise before admitting to having a gastric band

Claire Nasir, 41, went from 10st 4lb last year to eight stone and a size 6, thanks to a five-meals-a-day diet and exercise sessions that burn up to 1,000 calories

Anne Diamond, 56, ballooned to 15st 10lb after having five sons. Tried diet and exercise, but lost four stone only after having a gastric band fitted five years ago

Lorraine Kelly, 51, slimmed from a curvy 14 to a slim 12 after running the London Marathon last year. Keeps the weight off by eating bananas instead of sweets

Vanessa Feltz, 49, lost weight after her marriage break-up in 1999, but regained it all. A size 24 before gastric band surgery last year, she's now a size 16


source:dailymail

Where have all the telly tubbies gone?: TV stars and their dramatic weight loss

By Daily Mail Reporter


As Pauline Quirke becomes the latest TV star to show off her dramatic weight loss, we look at other famous television faces who have slimmed right down...

Nadia Sawalha, 47, lost 3½ stone, going from a size 18 to a size 10, by working out with a personal trainer three times a week and eating healthier meals

Pauline Quirke, 51, went from 19½ stone to 13 stone on the 500-calories-a-day Lighter Life diet after doctors told her she was in danger of needing a hip replacement

Dawn French, 53, has shed three stone, dropping from a size 20 to a size 16. Denies rumours of gastric band and says it's down to walking plus no chocolate or chips

Fern Britton, 53, lost five stone and dropped from a size 22 to a size 12. Claimed it was down to diet and exercise before admitting to having a gastric band

Claire Nasir, 41, went from 10st 4lb last year to eight stone and a size 6, thanks to a five-meals-a-day diet and exercise sessions that burn up to 1,000 calories

Anne Diamond, 56, ballooned to 15st 10lb after having five sons. Tried diet and exercise, but lost four stone only after having a gastric band fitted five years ago

Lorraine Kelly, 51, slimmed from a curvy 14 to a slim 12 after running the London Marathon last year. Keeps the weight off by eating bananas instead of sweets

Vanessa Feltz, 49, lost weight after her marriage break-up in 1999, but regained it all. A size 24 before gastric band surgery last year, she's now a size 16


source:dailymail

How to tame your tum: Is yours a spare tyre or a stress bulge? Finding out your tummy type is the key to getting a perfect midriff

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER


Get a flat stomach: First you need to identify your tunny type


For many women, getting bikini ready means tackling one dreaded area in particular — our tummies.

Most of us still think the best way to achieve a washboard stomach is by doing hundreds of sit-ups. Not so, says A-list trainer and body guru James Duigan.

James, who sculpts supermodels Elle Macpherson and Rosie Huntingdon-Whiteley among others, insists there is no ‘one size fits all’ method for getting a flat belly.

Instead, he’s identified five key ‘tummy types’, all of which require a different approach to achieve successful toning.

Once you’ve identified your type, you can transform it following James’ tailor-made plan and get that flat tummy fast.



THE SPARE TYRE TUMMY
The spare tyre: This is one of the easiest tummy troubles to eliminate because it's caused by eating the wrong foods and not exercising enough


HOW TO IDENTIFY THIS TYPE
These people are likely to lead sedentary lives, perhaps with jobs that keep them desk-bound. They may also have an emotional attachment to sugary foods.
Luckily, this ‘spare tyre’ is one of the easiest tummy troubles to eliminate as, according to James, it’s caused by eating the wrong foods and not exercising enough.

TYPICAL BAD HABITS
‘If you exercise very little, eat lots of sugar and refined carbohydrates in products like biscuits, cakes and white bread, or rely on starchy carbs like pasta and rice, you probably have an overweight tummy with accompanying fat on your legs and hips,’ says James.



THE STRESS TUMMY
Stress tummy: These types are typically over-achievers with perfectionist personalities


HOW TO IDENTIFY THIS TYPE
Stressed-tummy types are typically over-achievers with perfectionist personalities. They are usually also susceptible to digestive conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), which can cause bloating and make their tummies look far worse.
‘Stress tummies are easy to spot, as the weight is specific to the front of the midriff and the umbilical area,’ explains James. ‘When stressed, we produce cortisol, a hormone which encourages the body to cling on to fat around the stomach.’
Stressed tummies will also be fairly hard to the touch, rather than wobbly.

TYPICAL BAD HABITS
It’s likely you skip meals, abuse your adrenal system with too much caffeine and grab junk food for convenience.



THE LITTLE POOCH
The little pooch: These women are likely to be busy mums or have demanding careers - hey may even be a gym junkie


HOW TO IDENTIFY THIS TYPE
These women are likely to be busy mums or have demanding careers. ‘They may even be a gym junkie, but stuck in a workout-and-diet rut, perhaps always eating the same foods and doing the same routine at the gym, which keeps you slim but leaves you with a lower belly that spoils your silhouette,’ says James.

TYPICAL BAD HABITS
‘Doing excessive crunches and using gimmicky gym items such as ab-rollers can place a strain on the hip flexors and the lower back, causing the tummy muscles to protrude so your belly sticks out,’ says James.



THE MUMMY TUMMY
The Mummy tummy: Women with these bellies have usually given birth in the past few years, and, being a typical mum, have little time for themselves


HOW TO IDENTIFY THIS TYPE
Women with these tummies have usually given birth in the past few years, and, being a typical mum, have little time for themselves. ‘After giving birth, the uterus drops and is much heavier than it was pre-pregnancy,’ says James. ‘It takes at least six weeks to return to its usual size, so don’t even think about trying to get a flat stomach until after then.

‘You need to re-train your pelvic floor and lower abs to increase blood flow and strengthen loose muscles.’

TYPICAL BAD HABITS
Rushing back to exercise too quickly. ‘I would suggest waiting around two to three months,’ says James. ‘Being stressed about getting rid of your baby weight will only make you cling onto it more. Give yourself a break!’



THE BLOATED TUMMY
Bloated tummies: These are often flat in the morning, but swell throughout the day with gas or indigestion


HOW TO IDENTIFY THIS TYPE
Bloated tummies are often flat in the morning, but swell throughout the day with gas or indigestion. Bloating affects both slim and overweight women. It is almost always caused by food intolerances and allergies, or sluggish bowels as a result of a poor diet.

TYPICAL BAD HABITS
You eat the same foods and may have done so for a lifetime without realising you’re intolerant to them.


source : dailymail

How to tame your tum: Is yours a spare tyre or a stress bulge? Finding out your tummy type is the key to getting a perfect midriff

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER


Get a flat stomach: First you need to identify your tunny type


For many women, getting bikini ready means tackling one dreaded area in particular — our tummies.

Most of us still think the best way to achieve a washboard stomach is by doing hundreds of sit-ups. Not so, says A-list trainer and body guru James Duigan.

James, who sculpts supermodels Elle Macpherson and Rosie Huntingdon-Whiteley among others, insists there is no ‘one size fits all’ method for getting a flat belly.

Instead, he’s identified five key ‘tummy types’, all of which require a different approach to achieve successful toning.

Once you’ve identified your type, you can transform it following James’ tailor-made plan and get that flat tummy fast.



THE SPARE TYRE TUMMY
The spare tyre: This is one of the easiest tummy troubles to eliminate because it's caused by eating the wrong foods and not exercising enough


HOW TO IDENTIFY THIS TYPE
These people are likely to lead sedentary lives, perhaps with jobs that keep them desk-bound. They may also have an emotional attachment to sugary foods.
Luckily, this ‘spare tyre’ is one of the easiest tummy troubles to eliminate as, according to James, it’s caused by eating the wrong foods and not exercising enough.

TYPICAL BAD HABITS
‘If you exercise very little, eat lots of sugar and refined carbohydrates in products like biscuits, cakes and white bread, or rely on starchy carbs like pasta and rice, you probably have an overweight tummy with accompanying fat on your legs and hips,’ says James.



THE STRESS TUMMY
Stress tummy: These types are typically over-achievers with perfectionist personalities


HOW TO IDENTIFY THIS TYPE
Stressed-tummy types are typically over-achievers with perfectionist personalities. They are usually also susceptible to digestive conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), which can cause bloating and make their tummies look far worse.
‘Stress tummies are easy to spot, as the weight is specific to the front of the midriff and the umbilical area,’ explains James. ‘When stressed, we produce cortisol, a hormone which encourages the body to cling on to fat around the stomach.’
Stressed tummies will also be fairly hard to the touch, rather than wobbly.

TYPICAL BAD HABITS
It’s likely you skip meals, abuse your adrenal system with too much caffeine and grab junk food for convenience.



THE LITTLE POOCH
The little pooch: These women are likely to be busy mums or have demanding careers - hey may even be a gym junkie


HOW TO IDENTIFY THIS TYPE
These women are likely to be busy mums or have demanding careers. ‘They may even be a gym junkie, but stuck in a workout-and-diet rut, perhaps always eating the same foods and doing the same routine at the gym, which keeps you slim but leaves you with a lower belly that spoils your silhouette,’ says James.

TYPICAL BAD HABITS
‘Doing excessive crunches and using gimmicky gym items such as ab-rollers can place a strain on the hip flexors and the lower back, causing the tummy muscles to protrude so your belly sticks out,’ says James.



THE MUMMY TUMMY
The Mummy tummy: Women with these bellies have usually given birth in the past few years, and, being a typical mum, have little time for themselves


HOW TO IDENTIFY THIS TYPE
Women with these tummies have usually given birth in the past few years, and, being a typical mum, have little time for themselves. ‘After giving birth, the uterus drops and is much heavier than it was pre-pregnancy,’ says James. ‘It takes at least six weeks to return to its usual size, so don’t even think about trying to get a flat stomach until after then.

‘You need to re-train your pelvic floor and lower abs to increase blood flow and strengthen loose muscles.’

TYPICAL BAD HABITS
Rushing back to exercise too quickly. ‘I would suggest waiting around two to three months,’ says James. ‘Being stressed about getting rid of your baby weight will only make you cling onto it more. Give yourself a break!’



THE BLOATED TUMMY
Bloated tummies: These are often flat in the morning, but swell throughout the day with gas or indigestion


HOW TO IDENTIFY THIS TYPE
Bloated tummies are often flat in the morning, but swell throughout the day with gas or indigestion. Bloating affects both slim and overweight women. It is almost always caused by food intolerances and allergies, or sluggish bowels as a result of a poor diet.

TYPICAL BAD HABITS
You eat the same foods and may have done so for a lifetime without realising you’re intolerant to them.


source : dailymail

Why 45 is start of a golden age of health: Confronted with their own mortality many kick drinking and improve diet

By Andrew Levy



Health kick: Many opt for a healthier lifestyle as they get older


It is an age when our plans to exercise regularly have usually petered out and our waistlines are expanding.

But this doesn’t mean people have given up wanting to be in good shape when they reach 45.

For many, halfway through their fifth decade is a ‘golden age’ when they try to slow the march of time by cutting out as many health risks as possible.


Confronted with their own mortality as they, or family and friends, have health scares, more than a third opt to limit drinking to three or fewer units a week, according to a study.

A similar proportion avoid processed food, while more than eight in ten eat the recommended five pieces of fruit or veg every day.

Nine in ten are also non-smokers, compared to three-quarters of people under 45, and nearly 40 per cent say they ‘never over-indulge in food or drink at the weekends’, a rule just one in six younger people stick to.

The snapshot of middle-age resolve was gathered in a Health of the Nation study commissioned by new supplements company Bioglan, which questioned 5,000 people aged 16 and over.

It found the age of 45 was linked to a decline in health, with a third of people at that age reporting they suffer joint pain, one in five having high blood pressure, and one in ten experiencing shortness of breath.


At the same time, there was a marked increase in concerns about ailments including heart disease, dementia and stroke, with around half of those midway through their fifth decade fearing for their health.


Almost six in ten of this age group re-evaluated their prospects after suffering a health scare, while four in ten took stock after a family member was taken ill.

Other triggers included performing badly on a medical assessment, or an unflattering comment about their appearance.

The level of concern was higher in over-45s than in over-55s, suggesting a laissez-faire attitude in those approaching retirement – perhaps because they were more set in their ways or they felt they had escaped the health problems that often emerge when middle-age begins.

One 45-year-old who has worked hard at maintaining her fitness is former model Cindy Crawford, combining a high-protein diet with a rigorous exercise regime of pilates, cardio work and yoga.

Young people aged 16-17 recorded the greatest reaction to a celebrity health scare, with one in 11 saying they had been affected by one. This compared to one in 30 over-45s and just one in 83 over-55s.

GP Mary Shelby, who helped analyse the survey, said: ‘In the same way that people in their 20s and 30s don’t worry about a pension plan, similarly they are lax about their health choices.

‘Long-term diseases such as stroke and heart disease seem a long way off but once we hit our 40s these health issues become much more real.’



source:dailymail

Why 45 is start of a golden age of health: Confronted with their own mortality many kick drinking and improve diet

By Andrew Levy



Health kick: Many opt for a healthier lifestyle as they get older


It is an age when our plans to exercise regularly have usually petered out and our waistlines are expanding.

But this doesn’t mean people have given up wanting to be in good shape when they reach 45.

For many, halfway through their fifth decade is a ‘golden age’ when they try to slow the march of time by cutting out as many health risks as possible.


Confronted with their own mortality as they, or family and friends, have health scares, more than a third opt to limit drinking to three or fewer units a week, according to a study.

A similar proportion avoid processed food, while more than eight in ten eat the recommended five pieces of fruit or veg every day.

Nine in ten are also non-smokers, compared to three-quarters of people under 45, and nearly 40 per cent say they ‘never over-indulge in food or drink at the weekends’, a rule just one in six younger people stick to.

The snapshot of middle-age resolve was gathered in a Health of the Nation study commissioned by new supplements company Bioglan, which questioned 5,000 people aged 16 and over.

It found the age of 45 was linked to a decline in health, with a third of people at that age reporting they suffer joint pain, one in five having high blood pressure, and one in ten experiencing shortness of breath.


At the same time, there was a marked increase in concerns about ailments including heart disease, dementia and stroke, with around half of those midway through their fifth decade fearing for their health.


Almost six in ten of this age group re-evaluated their prospects after suffering a health scare, while four in ten took stock after a family member was taken ill.

Other triggers included performing badly on a medical assessment, or an unflattering comment about their appearance.

The level of concern was higher in over-45s than in over-55s, suggesting a laissez-faire attitude in those approaching retirement – perhaps because they were more set in their ways or they felt they had escaped the health problems that often emerge when middle-age begins.

One 45-year-old who has worked hard at maintaining her fitness is former model Cindy Crawford, combining a high-protein diet with a rigorous exercise regime of pilates, cardio work and yoga.

Young people aged 16-17 recorded the greatest reaction to a celebrity health scare, with one in 11 saying they had been affected by one. This compared to one in 30 over-45s and just one in 83 over-55s.

GP Mary Shelby, who helped analyse the survey, said: ‘In the same way that people in their 20s and 30s don’t worry about a pension plan, similarly they are lax about their health choices.

‘Long-term diseases such as stroke and heart disease seem a long way off but once we hit our 40s these health issues become much more real.’



source:dailymail