A new year. A new plan.


For 2011, after struggling to come up with a singular New Years Resolution for ourselves, we decided to do break down our ideas and goals and do each of them for a set period of time. We started on January 3rd with "Not Eating Out" for 36.5 days and set out to keep the momentum going over the entire year. What we found throughout that process though, was the easier, less collaborative they got, the harder it was to keep, and the easier they were to let go. We SO enjoyed everyday of our toughest challenges - and this year, having reflected on what worked and what didn't- we've decided to bring back our favorites- push ourselves by doing less longer and keeping each other motivated along the way...


So, for 2012, please join us on our new adventure and wild ride that will be 50 days.

Sunday, March 6, 2011

The Lactic Acid Revolution (!)

A substance I knew little about until recently, but since reading more about it, I sort of can’t stop thinking about it…

So, I couldn’t resist sharing these thoughts, musings and most importantly bits of inspiration(!):


Lactic Acid: Isn't that the substance that overwhelms your body and muscles after a great workout and makes it extremely challenging to move the next day?

Isn’t it what is responsible for making your body soar and uncomfortable?


Short answer: Yes.

Better answer: Lactic acid is actually completely awesome and a great, great thing for your body, especially after workouts.


In my most recent workouts, I’ve been desperate for my body to produce more lactic acid, despite the discomfort, because the benefits are so worth it.

Lately, when I have been waking up sore, I smile, because I know my body has been rockin’ out on lactic acid and I just love it!


So, what is lactic acid for real?


Lactic acid isn’t actually it the reason your muscles get sore- quite the contrary- you feel sore when your muscles are broken down in your workouts, and lactic acid is the fuel, rich with nutrients and love that is produced to reconstruct the muscles that have been broken down.


And the health benefits of your body producing this are amazing. Check them out:


-In order to process the lactic acid created during/after a workout, your body has to use extra calories for up to six hours (!) until it is fully absorbed.


-Once lactic acid is absorbed into your muscles they firm up and are able to increase both your aerobic capacity and metabolic rate.


-In following workout sessions, your body gets increasingly better at processing it, and you gain stamina and increase your metabolic rate- meaning, more bang for your buck.


-Lactic acid allows your heart and to send more oxygen through your veins to, which in turn burns fat (fat needs a rich supply of oxygen to be burned as fuel). When your body gains aerobic capacity you become more efficient at burning fat during exercise (score!).


-The more lactic acid you produce, the more HGH is created, which is our bodies' own natural anti-aging serum, allowing us to ward off the effects of aging and keep your metabolic rate high.


-Your body also develops a natural tolerance to lactic acid, meaning you have to workout longer before your muscles are broken down. This increased stamina allows you to more intensely, longer during your workout, which will burn more calories than ever before.


How to produce more of it, faster:

-Interval training: When you work out in intervals, you can more easily work above your threshold, meaning your muscles become fatigued for brief intervals and continually broken down repeatedly.

-Fast-Slow-Fast: After each rigorous effort, pause and go at a slower pace, which will allow the lactic acid to work its way to your muscles faster and target areas of fat, usually stored right under your skin.


So, ready to get soar? Join me in the lactic acid revolution!


Inspiration & facts taken from: http://blog.barmethod.com/

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