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The Best Way to Use Ice Baths

Ice Bath for Exercise Recovery

If repairing and building muscle is a primary goal, people may want to think twice about taking an ice bath after training. New research conducted at Maastricht University in the Netherlands shows that cold-water immersion during recovery from resistance-type exercise reduces muscles’ ability to take up protein for repair and to synthesize protein to muscle building.

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Who Benefits Most From Visualization Training?

Visualization Training for Golfers

Do you have clients who seem to be able to deeply imagine how a movement would feel in the body? If you do, kinesthetic imagery training may help them improve their sports skills. New research shows that golfers who could imagine the physical feeling of putting while visualizing the action improved their subsequent ability to putt more accurately.

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Women and Strength Training

Women and Strength Training Factors

Women do not respond to weight training the same way men do. University of New South Wales researchers in Sydney conducted a comprehensive search of the literature on resistance training and found only 24 randomized controlled studies that focused exclusively on women. Lead study author Amanda “Mandy” D. Hagstrom, PhD, lecturer in exercise science at UNSW Medicine, said, “I was surprised. I knew there wouldn’t be many [studies], but I thought there’d be more than that.” The selected studies included almost 1,000 women.

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Group Exercise Instructors Make an Impact

Group Fitness Instructor Leadership

Group exercise instructors, take heart: Your leadership skills significantly influence participants’ attendance and effort. Australian researchers conducted a study to examine how an instructor’s ability to create a sense of community and group identity among class members affected both effort and attendance. The study examined 249 participants and instructors across a variety of group formats.

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Chili Peppers for Heart Health?

Chili peppers and heart health

People who are fond of adding hot chili peppers to their stews and sauces may be adding to their heart health. Among 22,811 women and men living in southern Italy, 24.3% regularly ate chili peppers four or more times a week. These peppers are part of the Mediterranean diet.

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The Editor Cooks: Greens & Beans

Greens and beans

Need a quick-and-easy recipe to add to your COVID-19 shelter-at-home cooking repertoire? Try this take on greens and beans. You likely have everything you need in your pantry and may only need to source a dark leafy green for the fresh part.

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COVID-19 Relief Legislation: ACE urges policymakers to not leave independent contract

In response to the impact that COVID-19 is having on the businesses of certified health coaches and exercise professionals, the American Council on Exercise published this statement urging policymakers to expand its relief legislation to support the industry: STATEMENT RELEASED March 20, 2020 American Council On Exercise commends the U.S. Congress and state legislatures for…

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IDEA Insurance for virtual training & online video instruction

The Coronavirus crisis is demanding that most professions work and communicate virtually for our own health and safety. Did you know that IDEA Liability Insurance (which you may already have) covers both virtual training and online video instruction for fitness pros? Virtual training in fitness is here to stay and likely will be an added…

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IHRSA Implores Congress to Include Fitness Industry In Stimulus (updated 3/25/20)

Updated story: 3/25/2020 https://ihrsa.quorum.us/campaign/25197/   ————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————- 3/19/20 Hi Fitness Industry friends, Please excuse this mass email. I am simply attempting to communicate in the quickest way possible. Congress is currently debating a stimulus package to get money into affected people’s hands. IHRSA and our lobbyists are on this, so please let your audience know that…

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IDEA World 2020 – Event Status Update (4/14/2020)

Updated: 4/14/2020 It is with a very heavy heart that we must cancel the 2020 IDEA World Convention, July 8-12, in Anaheim, CA. Despite making every effort to host the event as planned or to postpone it, the reality is that it cannot take place due to uncertainty surrounding the COVID-19 crisis. We are committed…

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Training Loads for Women Over 40

Training women over 40

Personal trainers often have female clients over the age of 40 who have similar complaints about losing muscle mass and gaining body fat. Although these changes aren’t unexpected and can be a normal part of the aging process, they are not inevitable. In fact, the right resistance-training program can positively affect body composition by reducing fat, maintaining and building muscle, and increasing strength in this population.

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Helping Teens With Obesity

Teen obesity

Did you know that adolescent obesity has been linked to depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts, poor self-esteem, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, aggressive and destructive behavior, internet addiction, binging and purging, and other severe emotional outcomes (Reinehr 2018)? Emotional issues are often attributed to bullying and weight stigma.

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All Ears

Ear facts

From infections to hearing disabilities, you may think you’ve heard it all when it comes to the ear. This complex system of tiny parts not only helps us to process sound but also keeps us balanced and performing well during physical exercise.

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March 2020 IDEA Member Spotlight

“There is no other experience like attending IDEA® World,” says Elizabeth Lenart. “I remember the first World I ever attended. It was like Christmas morning created just for fitness lovers! The presenters made us all feel special. They uplifted me at a time when I needed it most. That’s when I decided I needed to find a way to pay it forward.”

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Hello, New Website and Member Perks!

IDEA Website and Member Perks

A primary reason fitness professionals are drawn to IDEA is for our gold-standard educational content. IDEAfit.com is constantly abuzz with pros researching the latest evidence-based and most practical health, exercise, nutrition, behavior change and business information available in the trade. Members share their best practices and advice within IDEA Answers and strengthen their body of knowledge by accessing the dynamic news unfolding on the site daily.

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Meet an IDEA Team Member: Linda Morreale

Linda Morreale

Whenever you complete the smooth process of taking an IDEA course for CECs, you’ll want to spare some credit for Linda Morreale. As IDEA’s educational products manager, Linda works with a long list of certification agencies—each with different rules and procedures—to ensure that our content is CEC-approved and ready to enhance your profession. Linda has…

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