Researchers followed 125 men and women, ages 18 to 35, who had lost more than 8 percent of their initial body weight and were trying to keep it off. They assigned them randomly to follow one of three diets.

The study received funding from a variety of sources, including The Danish Heart Association and the Danish Pork Council.

The findings weren’t all that surprising, experts said.

“We know that most dieters have some weight regain despite the type of diet they may have been on,” said Lona Sandon, an assistant professor at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, and spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association. “The trick to preventing weight regain seems to be more in increasing exercise rather than diet strategies.”

Connect with Kris Geier kgeier@sportsplex-ct.com Set your fitness course.

• Include Aerobic Exercise in your Routine:  Swimming, Group Ex
• Take advantage of the guidance Personal Training provides.
• Take up Sportsplex Squash

Personal Training can help counter act genetics when it comes to weight gain.

High levels of physical activity can help to counteract a gene that normally causes people to gain weight, according to a new study by researchers at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. They analyzed gene variants and activity levels of the Old Order Amish in Lancaster County, Pa., and found that the obesity-related FTO gene had no effect on individuals who were the most physically active.

“Our results strongly suggest that the increased risk of obesity due to genetic susceptibility can be blunted through physical activity,” the authors conclude. “These findings emphasize the important role of physical activity in public health efforts to combat obesity, particularly in genetically susceptible individuals.” The results of the study are being published in the Sept. 8, 2008, issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine. - IHRSA

Fitness Solutions:

• Personal Training - Get the knowledge, expertise and motivation you need to succeed
• Aerobic Exercise:  Swimming, Group Ex, Spinning
• Sportsplex Lose Big Program
  

The Power Of Focus

Here at Stamford Sportsplex, we believe focus is the key to better fitness results. Functional training is an exceptional way to achieve focus.

Why? Because functional exercise demands balance, stability and coordination.

If you take your mind off a functional exercise for even a moment, you’ll find it almost impossible to complete. The great news is your mental focus improves right along with your physique when doing functional training.

5 Ways To Make Your Workout More Functional

1. Stand On One Foot - When doing standing dumbbell exercises like curls, lateral raises and shoulder presses try lifting one foot off the ground. Every muscle in your body is recruited for stabilizing to help keep you balanced as you perform each rep.
2. Go Circular - The human body doesn’t only move straight up and down or to the side - so why only exercise that way. Try putting more rotational movement into your exercises.