Chili Technology has officially launched our "Gift of Sleep" campaign that we are running throughout the holiday season. Chili Technology is giving away a ChiliPad Cube this holiday season to one deserving individual with a compelling story who is nominated by a loved one.
ChiliPad is a temperature-regulated mattress pad that regulates the surface temperature of each side of the bed so that users sleep comfortably all night long. It uses water to achieve a wide range of in-bed temperatures. With this technology, the water can change from 55 to 110 degrees fahrenheit.
With the heavy emphasis of consumerism during the holidays, the purpose of our contest is to shift the focus and help out someone who is in need this holiday season. The end of the year is a stressful time for everyone and Chili Technology understands how vital a good night’s sleep is to overall well being, which is why we have chosen this time of year to giveaway a ChiliPad Cube to someone who is in need of a restful night’s sleep.
“Sleep Secrets is the book you should read for good, practical information on how to get a good night’s sleep. Insomnia, sleep deprivation, snoring and sleep apnea — this comprehensive resource has it all.”
Dr. Andrew Weil, MD, author and director of the Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine at the University of Arizona
Get a Good Night’s Sleep – Reset Your Biological Clock
Some people are blessed with the ability to sleep anywhere at any time. Others find falling asleep a challenge that worsens with the passing of years. Left unattended, insomnia can become chronic, disabling and eventually even a medical condition.
Ronald M. Bazar, author of the new book Sleep Secrets: How to Fall Asleep Fast,
Beat Fatigue and Insomnia, and Get a Great Night’s Sleep, says that lack of sleep not only affects your ability to work effectively but can have serious effects on your relationships and your enjoyment of life. Lack of sleep also can wreak havoc with your hormones, your immune system and your body's ability to fight off disease.
“You need six and half to eight hours of good relaxed sleep per night in order to maintain and regenerate your bodies’ natural systems,” he said. “You don’t need to resort to taking drugs and narcotics every night either. There are other natural and alternative ways that work even better."
Bazar’s comprehensive and easy-to-read book includes, yet goes beyond, the sleep tips you've heard about and gets into both science-based research and complementary medicine tips for help resolving insomnia and other problems caused by sleep deprivation.
“One of the most important things to do is to reboot your body naturally and then control every factor that prevents you from falling and staying asleep. Here are some of his top recommendations about how to reset your bodies’ biological clock and create solid reliable sleep habits:
Detach from your electronic devices well before bed. They are insomnia creators.
Stretch before bed time. Get on the floor and do some stretching exercises half an hour before bed time. Do some yoga poses to relax your back and neck, and stretch your legs and especially your calves to help reduce cramping.
If you are hungry before bed, have a light snack like fruit but don’t have heavy foods or a full meal or a very late dinner.
Set your sleep time intentionally. Tell yourself that 10 PM is bed time and 6 AM is wake up time. Mentally establish and commit yourself to sleep on a regular schedule. Stick to it. Go to sleep the same time every night and get up the same time every morning. Make it a habit.
Listen to soothing music or read for fifteen minutes or more before you turn off the lights. Just make sure you choose something that won’t stimulate your thinking, make you tense up or worry right when you want to go to sleep.
Don't have any electronic devices in the room where you sleep. Turn off all lights, TV and radios, cell phones, laptops, computers, and all those power supplies that have a glowing LED or light. Move them into another room and away from your bedroom so they can’t make sounds that wake you up and interrupt your sleep. Use foam ear plugs to reduce noise levels that can prevent you from sleeping.
Go dark, totally dark. Cover the windows with blackout shades to prevent light from entering the room where you sleep. Wear an eye mask for total blackness. You may even need to replace your alarm clock with something that doesn’t have glowing numbers or is backlit.
Get up early! Set the alarm and get up just when it is getting light, before the sun rises. Better yet, learn how to awaken without an alarm. Don’t touch that snooze button.
Get outside and spend 20 minutes or more in the bright early morning sun and fresh air. Take a walk, walk the dog, go for a bike ride, or do some work in the garden.
Eliminate stimulants such as coffee, tea, soda or anything with caffeine, and sweet drinks with sugar. If you drink coffee, only have it in the morning and never have it after lunch or within four to six hours of bed time. Don’t drink energy drinks or caffeine drinks in the afternoon or evening.
Take a short nap during the day only if you are sleepy. But if you have problems falling asleep at night, then do not nap until you re-establish a new rhythm. It’s OK to take a 20 minute nap if you get tired, but don’t go over 30 minutes and take the nap at least six hours before your normal bed time so that you are not over-rested to the point where it interferes with your normal sleep time.
Get a comfortable bed and coverings. Turn the temperature down at night so it’s cool in the air and warm in the bed. Go hypoallergenic or organic.
Here are some other actions you can learn to get to sleep fast:
Mind techniques to quiet the mind and help you relax
Simple breathing techniques that will help you sleep easier and deeper
Eat the foods that will help you sleep, and avoid the foods that don't
How to fall back asleep quickly if you wake up in the middle of the night
The best pillow to use for sleeping
Inclining your bed can help you sleep
Walking outside barefoot can actually help you sleep better at night
Supplements and remedies to target your sleep needs -- or eliminate fears
Solutions to snoring and sleep apnea
Jet lag prevention tips
Cannabis for sleep? How to find the right strain
Special sleep advice for babies, teens, and elders
“Be consistent,” Ron says. “You can train your body and achieve the cyclic rhythms you need to go to sleep when you want to and get a good night’s rest. "
5 Ways To Get Fit
Regularly changing your workout routine is a must if you hope to continue your weight loss or to increase your fitness level. This can be done by having a properly structured fitness program. The program should continually evolve to account for your progress and not to mention keep you interested in going to the gym.
Follow these tips to help increase your fitness:
1. You don’t always need to swap each exercise for new ones. If you like lat pull downs, by all means, keep doing it. Just try switching between eight to ten repetitions at your maximum capacity to as many as fifteen or twenty repetitions at a lighter weight to increase muscular endurance, strength or overall fitness.
2. Don’t be afraid to try something completely new, like kettlebells, balance boards or a TRX suspension training. If you are unsure of how to use the equipment don’t be afraid to ask a trainer, gym attendant or a friend.
3. Changing the number of days you workout or the types of workouts you perform on certain days. For example, many perform whole-body routines, which should be completed at least twice weekly. You could try a split routine that targets half your body during each of two alternating workouts. By utilizing a split, you can perform twice as many exercises per body part during your sessions.
4. Workout routines can be sport specific or activity specific as well. After all you don’t use the same muscles in the same ways in tennis as you do in cycling. Research the movements of your activity and incorporate beneficial exercises accordingly.
5. Finally remember to change your gym routine at least every four to six weeks and if you are unsure how to do this try getting a certified personal trainer to help you.
Your Sleep Patterns May Be Preventing You From Weight Loss
Did you know that your sleep patterns can effect weight loss and can even cause weight gain? Lack of sleep may increase your appetite, effect your metabolism, and cause weight gain. Follow these steps for sleep and nutrition to help you with your weight loss battles.
1) Try to get six to eight hours of sleep a night. Less than this has been linked to a slower metabolism and weight gain.
2) If you are restless and need better sleep eat foods high in tryptophan at night. Tryptophan acts as a natural sedative and is used in your body to make serotonin, the neurotransmitter best known for calming your body and making you sleepy. Foods like this cause what we know as (the itis) and include turkey, lentals and whole grains. Eat these with a carbohydrate source such as brown rice, broccoli, milk or honey. This works because in order for tryptophan to be used, it has to make its way to the brain. When you eat carbs, insulin is released, which transports competing amino acids into your muscle tissue and it then leaves tryptophan alone, so it can make its way to your brain.
3) Don’t drink caffeinated beverages late in the day because it will effect your sleep pattern and ability to fall asleep at night.
4) Don’t drink a lot of liquid late at night. This will cause interrupted sleep to use the bathroom.
5) Give tea a try. Chamomile tea is a natural sedative and can help you fall asleep at night.all asleep with ease.
So the next time you are having problems losing weight make sure to check your diet because it could be causing irregular sleeping patterns and in turn your ability to lose weight.
Here are 5 tips to help you lose weight and it’s easier than you think.
1. Don’t be afraid to lift weights. Total body strength training is one of the best ways to get improve your metabolism. Lean muscle burns more calories than fat. Try strength train between 2-3 times a week and it will help you tone up and lose weight faster.
2. Do cardio. If you’re doing cardio make sure you are doing intervals on any of the machines between 15-30 seconds long are the best. Try going at a good pace for 15-30s then increasing the resistance and intensity for 15-30 seconds. Do tis for 40-60 minutes.
3. Get into a proper sleeping pattern. Get to bed at the same time most evenings. The best sleep you can give your body to recover is between 10 to 12pm. So try and time your sleep between those hours. The ideal amount of sleep is between 5 hours to 8 hours.
4. Eat 3 to 5 times a day with healthy snacks in between! Make sure to have a protein and a dark green with every meal. If this snack is a shake, be sure to add more than just water to your protein, and try to make a delicious smoothy with your favourite fruit.
5. Identify the mental and emotional stressors in your life. Try to write out everything in your life that is a stressor and decide to a) get rid of it, b) change the stressor or the situation or c) accept the stress and move on. Stress also causes your brain to release cortisol (a hormone that causes fat storage).
Tracks your daily activity at different intensity levels, and shows steps, distance and burned calories.
ACTIVITY GOAL
Your daily activity goal and guidance on how to reach it.
ACTIVITY BENEFIT
Feedback about your daily, weekly and monthly activity.
FITNESS TEST
Tells you exactly how your fitness is progressing by measuring your aerobic fitness at rest and evaluating your maximal oxygen uptake.
HEART RATE
When paired up with Polar H7 heart rate sensor, measures your every heartbeat and lets you know if you’re mostly burning fat or improving your fitness. Gives the most accurate calorie burn in heart rate based training.
SMART CALORIES
Shows exactly how many calories you've burned.
INACTIVITY ALERT
Vibrates when you've been sitting still for too long.
SLEEP DURATION AND QUALITY
Automatically tracks your sleep time and quality. See and learn from your sleeping patterns in Polar Flow web service and app.
POLAR FLOW WEB SERVICE AND APP
Free online community and service that helps understand the impact of your activity and see the long term progress you make.
CHANGEABLE WRISTBAND
Vibrantly colored wristbands are easily changed to reflect your mood and style.
SIMPLE CHARGING
Charges conveniently with a simple plug and play USB.
The Benefits Of Exercising While Pregnant
Exercise has benefits for everyone. Age is not a factor, nor is ethnicity, height, or experience. Working out can also benefit expecting mothers. Most women benefit greatly from exercising throughout their pregnancy. According to an article by Zawadski the benefits of exercising when pregnant include:
Helping to relieve backaches
Improving posture by strengthening and toning muscles in the back, butt, and thighs
May help prevent or treat gestational diabetes
Increasing energy levels
Noticeable mood changes towards more positive
Reduction in constipation by accelerating movement in the intestine
Increasing the muscle tone, strength, and endurance
Improving in sleep and quality of sleep
Improving the ability to cope with the pain of labor
Helping women regain pre-pregnancy fitness and shape more quicklyAny pregnant woman wanting to exercise should always talk with their healthcare provider first. The personal trainer or instructor should make sure that it is known to the pregnant client’s medical doctor that she will be starting an exercise routine. This is to make sure that there are no complications with the pregnancy where the mother to be could endanger the baby. Usually there is no problems but occasionally there are extreme cases where the mother to be should be on bed rest. So it is important to check with your doctor first.
How To Handle DOMS - Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness
1. Drink plenty of water before, during and after your workout. Make sure to drink electrolytes or BCAA's during your workout. The essential salts will help regulate muscular contractions and nerve function as well as give you energy throughout your workout.
2.Espesso or coffee before your workout will increase muscle strength and endurance as well as help to reduce the chance of soreness.
3. Make sure to do a proper warm up and cool down. This will help clear out lactic acid, regulate the heart and help with blood flow.
4. Eat a post workout meal or snack that contains a ration of 4:1 carbs to protein. This will help restore muscle nutrients lost in the muscle during the workout. Chocolate milk is actually a great post workout options.
5. Massage, stretching, foam rolling, and trigger point release post workout also helps to increase circulation, help with tight muscles and reduce muscle tension like knots etc.
6. Take a cold shower post workout. This will help reduce inflammation to the muscles.
7. If you can't handle the cold shower a hot bath with epsom salts will also help blood circulation and inflammation of the muscles.
8. Proper rest. if you are training hard it is recommended that you get a minimum of 60-70hrs of sleep a week. This includes naps. Sleep is when your body recovers and rebuilds muscle. If you are training hard and often the more sleep you need to help those muscles.
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