Ascend Fitness Studio

There is an ancient and powerful tool for changing one's state of stress and arousal to move toward a parasympathetic and more relaxed state. Andrew teaches you the O' Ki Nage breath, a Japanese practice of using an extended exhale to move from the sympathetic state to a parasympathetic state. This breath is an easy way to find a more relaxed center during stressful times which in turn has the chance to change stress and blood sugar levels (See tip of the week #4 on how stress affects your blood sugar levels).

Andrew explains how stress can affect the levels of sugar in your blood, how stress pulls you from the parasympathetic to the sympathetic nervous system and some options for mitigating the effects of stress on your blood sugar and insulin sensitivity. You might be amazed at HOW MUCH your sugar levels jump in response to high stress levels. Watch the video to hear the astounding number. For reference, a healthy glucose level is less than 100 mg/dL.

Andrew explains some things to consider when changing body composition. Exercise, eating well, Protein?! What is the thermogenic effect of the macros you are consuming? Protein, fats and carbs are all digested differently in your body. Listen to some tips on why adding more protein to your diet can be beneficial when working towards a healthy weight and body composition.