It’s called a super full moon, and though it might not give you superpowers, it’s still worth the view! Apparently, June 25, 2013 will be the closest and largest full moon of the year and the closest encounter with Earth in 2013.
If this isn’t a call for a hiking trip, then I don’t know what is! So, get your hiking gear ready, pick a mountain and let’s start the training! Just to make sure you’re on the right track, here are a few basic health tips to help you train.
Proteins, fats, and complex carbs. I mean you don’t have to be training for anything to know that your everyday diet should include complex carbohydrates. You want to make sure 50% of your diet AT LEAST is from whole grains, fresh and dried fruit, vegetables, and brown rice. I only mention carbohydrates because many people make the mistake of thinking all carbohydrates are created equal. This is false. Refined sugars like white flour, white rice, etc. are not the same as whole grains and will not give you the same benefits (more fiber, lowering cholesterol, preventing colon cancer and basically making the world and your digestive system a better place).
Proteins and fats are also very critical but they really need to be customized to your body weight, training intensity and so forth (this will need a lot more than just a single post!).
Hydration I’m not pro buying sports drinks. Scratch that – I’m not pro buying anything you can make at home. So I always recommend to either make your own sports drink*, or if it’s not a very intensive training, just rely on water. More importantly though, time your drink appropriately. Make sure not to let yourself go completely parched before drinking, as this will affect your endurance. It is also good to start the habit of drinking more water on a daily basis, before any new high intensity training activity.
Packing Right Pack a few snacks for your hiking trip, avoid stocking up on high sugar, high fat chocolate bars and make your own mix of: almonds, walnuts, dark chocolate shavings, and raisins or dried fruits. Raw walnuts and almonds are high in omega 3 fats (I’m sure you have heard of these before, simply these are good essential fats that your body needs and does not produce) and are powerful antioxidants. The trick here is that they are also high in calories, and the body doesn’t require omega 3 in high quantities, so before gushing these by the dozen – pace yourself. Dar chocolate means less full fat milk which is then simply LESS FAT consumed by you, and includes the benefits found in caffeine (double score!).
Dietitian’s take home message: Right food AND the right time is key when thinking of any form of training. It’s not just a matter of letting me eat anything I find!
*For an easy sports drink recipe, and more details on training and snacks, go to TeaCalls!