According to a new government study, Mississippi, Alabama and Tennessee lead the nation in obesity. More than 30 percent of adults in each of the states tipped the scales (no pun intended) enough to ensure the South remains the nation’s fattest region.

The findings are similar to results from the same survey the previous three years. Mississippi has had the highest obesity rate every year since 2004. But Alabama, Tennessee, West Virginia and Louisiana have also clustered near the top of the list and the difference is so close between their rates and Mississippi that it may not be statistically significant!

Why is the South so heavy? The main reason is the traditional Southern diet – high in fat and fried food. The South also has a large concentration of rural residents and black women – two groups that tend to have higher obesity rates – according to Dr. William Dietz, who heads the nutrition, physical activity and obesity division of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

In addition to a poor diet consisting of Southern favorites like fried chicken, chicken fried steak, mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese, white bread, barbecue and other fried and processed foods, there is a lack of physical activity.

Some people in the South who live in rural areas may not have money or access to biking and hiking trails, fitness centers and other fitness-related activities and programs. In addition, many public schools have cut recess and physical education classes from the budget. Overweight children tend to grow up to be overweight adults. If parents are obese, their children are very likely to follow in their footsteps.

Without a drastic change in the Southern diet and increased physical activity levels, obesity will continue to grow in the South and other areas as well.

Colorado, meanwhile, is a state with a reputation for exercise. It has plentiful biking and hiking trails, and an elevation that causes the body to work harder. Colorado is also the least obese state with 19 percent of the population dealing with ever-expanding waistlines.

The top 10 states with the highest levels of adult obesity (according to the CDC’s 2007 report) are:

1. Mississippi – 32.0%
2. Alabama – 30.3%
3. Tennessee – 30.1%
4. Louisiana – 29.8%
5. West Virginia – 29.5%
6. Arkansas – 28.7%
7. South Carolina – 28.4%
8. Georgia – 28.2%
9. Oklahoma – 28.1%
10. Texas – 28.1%

At Christian Athlete Fitness Training, we utilize individualized training programs that assist with fat loss and provide overall strength and cardiovascular benefits. In addition, we encourage sound nutritional planning and choices to help meet an individual’s goals.

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It’s hard to believe that there could be a benefit from the higher gas prices, but there is! Gas has now become so costly that people are starting to drive less and walk and bicycle more. This means they are beginning to exercise more, and it’s a good thing for our nation’s health.

According to a recent report in the ACE Fitness Matters magazine, if the price of gasoline went up an additional $1 a gallon, obesity rates in the United States would decline by 15 percent over five years!

The rising cost of gas (and food) is getting more people to exercise and also eat fewer meals in restuarants. We already know that after years of eating fast food and supersized portions, more than 30 percent of Americans are obese. Cooking and eating at home more often means healthier and less expensive meals.

Now is a good time to find more fuel-efficient modes of transportation, get more exercise by walking, biking or running and prepare healthy and delicious meals at home to save money and lose weight.

Here’s a tip: Bringing your lunch to work each day can save up to $140 or more per month! Not only that, but it’s a lot healthier than the offerings from fast food joints and other restuarants.

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As I mentioned in a previous blog, I’m currently training three days per week following Alwyn Cosgrove’s Afterburn 2 training program.

Here’s a recap: I performed the first phase (weeks 1-4) of Afterburn 2 during April and early May. Then, Stacey and I started the Warp Speed Fat Loss program for a month. Then I went back to Afterburn 2 beginning with phase 2 (weeks 5-8) in June. I’m on the last phase (weeks 9-12) of the 12-week plan. The current phase looks like this:

Workout A & B (Alternate each workout throughout the week)

Week 1:
Mon – Workout A
Wed – Workout B
Fri – Workout A

Week 2:
Mon – Workout B
Wed – Workout A
Fri – Workout B

Repeat for Weeks 3 and 4

A) Barbell Complex 5×6 (a different barbell complex is performed for Workout A and B)

B1 – B4) Weight Circuits (four exercises using different sets/reps each training day)

C) Ab exercise 2-3 sets of 10-15 reps

D) Finisher x1-2 sets of the Pushup Matrix or Leg Matrix

Recently, I’ve given myself the time and flexibility within my schedule to train with my Bulldog Kettlebell and Outlaw Rope or to perform some extra bodyweight exercises or go for a bike ride.

Also, I’ve decided not to perform the metabolic conditioning portion of the original Afterburn 2 workouts (intervals or Tabata’s) during the last part of this phase for two reasons:

1. I have already used interval training and Tabata’s at a high intensity 3-5 times a week for the past 12 weeks, and
2. I’m playing ultimate frisbee on Sunday evenings and need the rest between workouts so I can play well.

Luckily, the past 12 weeks of intense interval training and Tabata’s has given me the conditioning needed to play ultimate frisbee with no issues. In the past, even though I was performing intervals 1-2 times per week, I was not prepared for ultimate frisbee and I found myself having problems getting through the game without feeling winded or suffering hamstring soreness and cramping.

Although it has been very difficult, I’m glad I spent the last 12 weeks increasing my conditioning through the use of intervals and Tabata’s. And I am able to maintain that level of conditioning now through my weight training sessions (they are metabolically demanding) and from playing ultimate frisbee (and I will add various intervals to my training again in the future).

This has helped me to continue with my fat loss and conditioning goals while not having to train as often as I did during Warp Speed Fat Loss. I am still following the meal plans from Warp Speed Fat Loss and will continue to do so as I like the principles behind how the plan is set up. I have made adjustments as needed (varying the ratios of carbs) to fit with my current training.

I’m also working on designing my next phase of training which will give me a break from what I’ve been doing and help me continue to make good progress.

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Kerron Clement is headed for the Olympics in the 400-meter intermediate hurdles after finishing second during the Olympic Trials on June 30.

Kerron struggled growing up in Trinidad. Despite poverty and having to work hard for every meal he ate, he was blessed with the God-given talent of speed. He has used his talent to set records while at the University of Florida and at various events.

And although he is now financially stable thanks to a sponsorship from Nike, Kerron has never failed to thank God for his ability and the opportunities bestowed upon him.

“I’m financially stable. I’m just happy at this point in my life. I came from having nothing, so I’ve just been thankful to God that he blessed me with opportunity and he gave me favor with man,” Clement said. “Every single time I cross the line I say ‘Thank God,’ because he made it possible.”

When was the last time you thanked God for what he has given you?

See the article about Kerron Clement here – Click me!

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At 41, former University of Florida swimmer Dara Torres has qualified for her fifth Olympics – despite taking several years off, giving birth just two years ago and undergoing two surgeries within the past eight months.

Many people are amazed at this feat (or screaming “performance enhancers”), but exercise experts say Dara’s success at least partly reflects advances in training – and that many of us could come closer to similar achievements than we think.

Sure, we can’t forget about genetics and other advantages such as opportunity, motivation and incentive to train hard. But besides genetics, those advantages are not impossible for anyone to achieve.

It shows us what we can do. It’s just that most people won’t push themselves to do what Dara has done. Instead, I hear people in their 30s, 40s, 50s (and some in their 20s) who make excuses for the fact that they’ve gained weight, lost strength or no longer have the athletic physique they once had in high school or college.

Rather than doing something about it, they act and respond in a way that is self-defeating and shows that they don’t have the motivation, desire, dedication, discipline or work ethic to make changes (or they suffer from “paralysis by analysis” and spend more time thinking or debating rather than doing).

For athletes at any level, a gradual decline in endurance and speed occurs in the 30s and 40s, roughly half a percent a year, even with continued training. However, strength can be gained and maintained well beyond the 30s, 40s and 50s (look at Jack Lalanne!). Not everyone will make it to the Olympics, but with plenty of hard work, a proper nutritional plan and a few of the traits mentioned previously, a lot of improvement can take place. Healthy people can significantly improve their athletic performance with the kinds of exercises Dara does.

So how does Dara do it? Her training regimen includes a lot of resistance training. This includes free weights, bodyweight exercises, weight machines and other tools to strengthen her entire body in addition to skill specific training (swimming, in this case). Dara’s intense resistance training program has helped her achieve the best shape of her life, allowing her to beat competitors half her age.

Resistance training works. The key is to follow a customized training program built for your individual needs while avoiding overtraining and taking time to warm-up and cool down.

So what are you waiting for?

Here’s a good article about Dara’s recent accomplishments – Click here!

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