Allison’s Training Tips
“Integrating Exercise into your BalancePoint Lifestyle”
As a personal trainer, I often have clients ask me “What’s more important- diet or exercise?” The irrefutable answer is “Both!” The BalancePoint protocol is a positive first step towards decreasing your cholesterol and improving your health and wellness. Countless studies have shown that reducing dietary sugar intake and animal-based fats can not only lower LDLs but also blood glucose levels. However, these dietary changes are only the foundational layer of a much larger structure called “health and wellness.” Now that you’ve made the commitment to changing your diet with the BalancePoint protocol, it’s time to start constructing the additional layers by adding fitness into your routine.
When beginning a fitness program, it’s important to embark on this journey under the supervision of your doctor and ideally a fitness professional such as a personal trainer or physical therapist. There are fairly serious implications of exercising incorrectly for individuals who have Type I or II diabetes, or those with cardiac conditions. The American Diabetic Association recommends strict monitoring of blood glucose levels both before and after exercise for those with Type I diabetes, and advises against exercise for individuals that have fasting glucose levels of >250 mg/dl. For those with levels < 100 mg/dl, it is suggested that additional carbohydrates be consumed before exercise. In contrast is the recommendation for those with Type II diabetes; exercise has been shown to be a significant factor in the prevention of insulin resistance and developing Type II symptoms. For individuals with high lipid profiles and cardiac conditions, exercise has been shown to contribute to lower total cholesterol and higher HDLs.
The take-home lesson is that fitness is an integral part of creating a long-term investment in your health and wellness. By combining the BalancePoint protocol with an exercise routine, you are setting yourself up for continued success.
For further information on how fitness can improve your cholesterol, your waist line, and your quality of life, contact Allison Westfahl at Allison@athletic-edge.com or visit her website at www.athletic-edge.com. All current BalancePoint clients will receive a 10% discount off training packages.
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Allison Westfahl graduated from Yale University and since then has relocated to Boulder, Colorado to start her own fitness consulting company, The Athletic Edge. She holds an MS degree in Exercise Physiology and is also a Certified Personal Trainer through the National Academy of Sports Medicine. Allison is a certified USAT triathlon coach and works as the head trainer at the nationally-recognized Flatiron Athletic Club.
