Kat Wirsing
A medicine ball is like the kale of gym equipment—you know it's good for you, but you've got no clue what to do with it. Once you do, there are so many perks. “It develops explosive power, increases body strength, increases speed and provides more versatile movement in different planes,” says Tatiana Lampa, CPT, ACSM-certified trainer at Fithouse and SLT, and creator of the app, Training With T.
That's why many athletes (baseball, softball, football, and tennis) train with a medicine ball. The versatility of the ball helps them nail down the mechanics and play better. But you don’t have to be anywhere near pro to work out with a medicine ball and get all the benefits.
Meet the expert: Tatiana Lampa is an ACSM-certified personal trainer, corrective exercise specialist, creator of the Training With T app, and instructor at Fithouse in New York City.
Now, you may be wondering…why can’t I just use plain hand weights for these exercises? Well, there’s actually a major difference between dumbbells and medicine balls. “You can’t slam the weights to generate power in a different way like a medicine ball,” Lampa says. “You are definitely working muscles differently with weights and medicine ball in different planes.”
If it's your first time picking up a medicine ball or if your goal is speed, she recommends starting out with a 4- to 6-pound ball. However, if you’re training for power, choose a heavier ball. Medicine ball slams and chest passes are great ways to build upper body power, and medicine ball throws rock at developing rotary power, she adds.
Below, Lampa shares 23 different medicine ball exercises that are perfect for challenging your entire body. Read on to power up your next sweat with a medicine ball.
Time: 18 to 25 minutes
Equipment: 8 to 12 pound medicine ball
Good for: Total body
Instructions: Choose six moves below. Do as many reps as you can for 45 seconds, then take 15 seconds of rest. Repeat that three to four times. Then continue to the next move.
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Understanding the inner workings of your bod can be overwhelming. I get it. But whether you're trying to boost your metabolism, track your fitness progress, or focus on a weight management plan, it’s important to understand one number: your basal metabolic rate.
Simply put, basal metabolic rate (BMR) is the amount of calories your body burns while performing basic life-sustaining functions like breathing, growing hair, digesting food, and keeping your heart beating, says Alyssa Lombardi, exercise physiologist, running coach, and founder of Alyssa RunFit Coaching. 'BMR is the minimum amount of calories that your body needs to sustain your current weight.'
Meet the experts: Alyssa Lombardi is an ACSM certified clinical exercise physiologist, certified personal trainer, certified running coach, and founder of Alyssa RunFit Coaching. Cara Carmichael, CPT, is a NASM certified personal trainer, OrangeTheory coach, and certified PN nutrition coach.
It's also important to know what it's not. BMR is not based on your activity levels or how much you exercise. It is the rate at which your body burns calories to perform essential bodily functions only.
And, don't confuse your basal metabolic rate with your resting metabolic rate (RMR). 'RMR is your BMR plus a very small level of daily activity such as walking to the bathroom, getting out of bed, and eating, but essentially being at rest,' notes Lombardi.
There's no one-size-fits-all BMR. The number is based on height, weight, gender, age, muscle mass, and body fat. Knowing your BMR can help you stay in tune with weight management and how your body responds to life activities. 'As your level of activity, exercise, and age changes, your BMR will change,' says Lombardi. 'Checking it every so often can be helpful to know, so you can adjust your lifestyle to maintain a healthy weight.'
That's just a sneak peek at all that BMR can do. Read on for the complete details of calculating your basal metabolic rate, why knowing your BMR matters, and more from experts.
There are a few different ways to calculate BMR. Getting an exact and totally accurate BMR requires a DEXA scan, says Lombardi. 'This is essentially a picture of your body that will tell you the make-up of your body’s fat, muscle, and bone density,' she says. However, DEXA scans use a low dose X-ray, are performed in a hospital, and require an in-person visit with your physician.
Because DEXA scans are not exactly accessible, Lombardi recommends an online calculator like Omni Calculator for an easier (and free!) measurement right at home. While less exact, studies show online calculators using the Harris-Benedict equation take into account your height, weight, age, and gender to give you a rough assessment of your BMR.
Since the Harris-Benedict equation does not factor in muscle mass or body fat there are limitations to its accuracy. You can estimate it yourself with the equation for women below.
Calculate your BMR: 655 + (9.6 x weight in kg) + (1.8 x height in cm) - (4.7 x age in years)
It’s also important to note that men typically have a higher BMR than women. Generally speaking, men are taller and have more muscle mass than women, resulting in a higher BMR, explains Lombardi. The more muscle you have, the higher your BMR will be.
You may be wondering... does my smartwatch give an accurate BMR? The short answer is no. Fitness trackers use movement, heart rate, and your height and weight to provide some calorie intel, but do not factor in muscle mass or body fat, both of which contribute to your BMR, says Cara Carmichael, CPT. 'The number the watch is creating isn’t necessarily based on the individual,' she says. 'It’s a more basic formula and there’s a lot of room for error.'
Even though smartwatches are not 100% accurate, they can give you a good starting point, adds Lombardi. But remember not to dwell on the numbers. Instead, take this information to understand your body and its necessary caloric intake.
Beyond upping your knowledge (and appreciation!) for how your body works, knowing your BMR can help you reach your health and fitness goals. Here are a few benefits of your BMR:
Understanding caloric needs. Knowing your BMR can help you determine a nutrition plan and recognise your daily caloric needs, explains Carmichael. 'A lot of us don’t truly know how much food we need to consume to get through the day without crashing, but your BMR can serve as a baseline,' she says. By knowing how many calories your body naturally burns, you can gauge how much you need to eat in order to gain (eat more calories than you burn), lose (eat fewer calories than you burn), or sustain weight (eat the same number of calories that you burn).
Weight management. Whether you are looking to lose or gain weight, understanding your BMR can help speed up the process by giving you necessary information to help set a diet that aligns with your goals, says Lombardi. Once you know your BMR - aka how many calories your body burns for basic functioning - you can use it to base the number of calories needed for the day. The higher your BMR, the more calories you can consume without gaining weight, she explains.
Tracking fitness progress. If your BMR increases, that generally means you are gaining more muscle and getting stronger, says Lombardi. Since gaining muscle is the most effective way to change your BMR, consistent strength training and tracking your BMR over time can be a great way to measure your progress and #gains.
Improving metabolism. A high BMR is often associated with a fast metabolism and greater muscle mass, while a low BMR can hint to a slower metabolism, lower muscle mass, and higher percent of body fat, says Carmichael. 'A lot of people want to increase their metabolism, but you have to understand that in order to do that, you need to build more muscle and increase your BMR,' she says.
Take a peek at the stats in the BMR equation above, and you'll get a rough idea of how you can move the BMR needle. Incorporating strength training into your workout and gaining muscle mass is the most effective way to change and increase your BMR, says Carmichael. 'Muscle uses a lot more energy than fat while at rest, so at any given weight, the more muscle on your body, the higher your BMR.'
Carmichael suggests incorporating strength training at least twice a week to build muscle and raise your BMR. But remember, consistency is key and change does not happen overnight. 'So many people look for quick fixes, but in reality, it's about sustainability and sustainable habits.'
Changing your BMR can help boost your metabolism, lose weight, gain strength, or set an optimal meal plan, but there is not one magic number. 'Each individual has a different BMR and cannot be compared to one another,' says Carmichael. What is considered to be 'healthy' varies depending on the person and their goals. The average BMR for women is around 1400 kcal and about 1700 kcal for men, she says.
Bottom line: BMR is a personalised statistic that cannot be compared to anyone else, but measuring yours and learning how your body functions can help you achieve your health and fitness goals.
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Pre-built & configurable expert solution enables utility sector leaders to quickly streamline their ESG reporting processes, simplify compliance and drive sustainable strategies
NEW YORK, Aug. 3, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Wolters Kluwer, a global leader in professional information, software solutions, and services, today announced that Acsm Agam SpA selected CCH® Tagetik ESG & Sustainability Performance Management expert solution to capitalize on advanced, intelligent ESG reporting capabilities.
As one of the main multi-utilities in northern Italy, Acsm Agam, manages four business lines: distribution network, electricity & gas, environment, energy & smart technologies. The efficient use of resources is a distinctive feature of Acsm Agam's environmental policies: sustainability and innovation drive their business to maximize value for society, customers, shareholders, and stakeholders.
Acsm Agam extended its current use of the CCH® Tagetik platform by adding the ESG & Sustainability expert solution to fulfill the EU Taxonomy requirement and optimize their ESG performance. With its strong data processing capabilities, the CCH® Tagetik expert solution will enable Acsm Agam to speed up data collection and KPI calculation, optimize the ESG process, and provide increased efficiency and productivity. The pre-built ESG content, data models, and built-in calculation rules will enable the company to elevate its ESG reporting and disclosures.
"Logging ESG data manually in spreadsheets was painful and time-consuming, making it impossible to get a global, integrated picture of ESG gains and impacts. The CCH® Tagetik ESG & Sustainability expert solution is exactly what we need to help us set a long-term ESG strategy," said Marco Basile, Strategic Project Manager, Acsm Agam. "The solution's ease of use and its guided workflow will help streamline our ESG process and help us meet ESG requirements. We are excited to grow our usage of the CCH® Tagetik platform and are now more confident than ever in our ESG journey."
"We are delighted to be working with Acsm Agam, a company that has grown incrementally, securing a leading role in the utility industry. Beyond compliance, Acsm Agam will benefit from the unification of ESG data with financial results and leverage insightful reporting for driving sustainable growth, identifying cost savings, and combatting risk," said Sabrina Rosati, Vice President and GM for CCH® Tagetik Italy at Wolters Kluwer.
In addition to the ESG & Sustainability expert solution, Acsm Agam leverages the CCH® Tagetik platform to manage financial processes that include Budgeting & Planning, Consolidation, Financial and ESG Reporting & Disclosure. They also adopted CCH® Tagetik SmartInsight for added flexibility to create dynamic reports, perform real-time analysis and quickly react to changing business demands.
About Wolters Kluwer
Wolters Kluwer (WKL) is a global leader in professional information, software solutions, and services for the healthcare; tax and accounting; governance, risk and compliance; and legal and regulatory sectors. We help our customers make critical decisions every day by providing expert solutions that combine deep domain knowledge with advanced technology and services.
Wolters Kluwer reported 2021 annual revenues of €4.8 billion. The group serves customers in over 180 countries, maintains operations in over 40 countries, and employs approximately 19,800 people worldwide. The company is headquartered in Alphen aan den Rijn, the Netherlands.
Wolters Kluwer shares are listed on Euronext Amsterdam (WKL) and are included in the AEX and Euronext 100 indices. Wolters Kluwer has a sponsored Level 1 American Depositary Receipt (ADR) program. The ADRs are traded on the over-the-counter market in the U.S. (WTKWY).
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View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/acsm-agam-spa-chooses-the-wolters-kluwer-cch-tagetik-esg--sustainability-expert-solution-to-address-evolving-regulatory-requirements-301597682.html
SOURCE Wolters Kluwer
Understanding the inner workings of your bod can be overwhelming. I get it. But whether you're trying to boost your metabolism, track your fitness progress, or focus on a weight management plan, it’s important to understand one number: your basal metabolic rate.
Simply put, basal metabolic rate (BMR) is the amount of calories your body burns while performing basic life-sustaining functions like breathing, growing hair, digesting food, and keeping your heart beating, says Alyssa Lombardi, exercise physiologist, running coach, and founder of Alyssa RunFit Coaching. “BMR is the minimum amount of calories that your body needs to sustain your current weight.”
Meet the experts: Alyssa Lombardi is an ACSM certified clinical exercise physiologist, certified personal trainer, certified running coach, and founder of Alyssa RunFit Coaching. Cara Carmichael, CPT, is a NASM certified personal trainer, OrangeTheory coach, and certified PN nutrition coach.
It's also important to know what it's not. BMR is not based on your activity levels or how much you exercise. It is the rate at which your body burns calories to perform essential bodily functions only.
And, don't confuse your basal metabolic rate with your resting metabolic rate (RMR). “RMR is your BMR plus a very small level of daily activity such as walking to the bathroom, getting out of bed, and eating, but essentially being at rest,” notes Lombardi.
There's no one-size-fits-all BMR. The number is based on height, weight, gender, age, muscle mass, and body fat. Knowing your BMR can help you stay in tune with weight management and how your body responds to life activities. “As your level of activity, exercise, and age changes, your BMR will change,” says Lombardi. “Checking it every so often can be helpful to know, so you can adjust your lifestyle to maintain a healthy weight.”
That's just a sneak peek at all that BMR can do. Read on for the complete details of calculating your basal metabolic rate, why knowing your BMR matters, and more from experts.
There are a few different ways to calculate BMR. Getting an exact and totally accurate BMR requires a DEXA scan, says Lombardi. “This is essentially a picture of your body that will tell you the make-up of your body’s fat, muscle, and bone density,” she says. However, DEXA scans use a low dose X-ray, are performed in a hospital, and require an in-person visit with your physician.
Because DEXA scans are not exactly accessible, Lombardi recommends an online calculator like Omni Calculator for an easier (and free!) measurement right at home. While less exact, studies show online calculators using the Harris-Benedict equation take into account your height, weight, age, and gender to give you a rough assessment of your BMR.
Since the Harris-Benedict equation does not factor in muscle mass or body fat there are limitations to its accuracy. You can estimate it yourself with the equation for women below.
Calculate your BMR: 655 + (9.6 x weight in kg) + (1.8 x height in cm) - (4.7 x age in years)
It’s also important to note that men typically have a higher BMR than women. Generally speaking, men are taller and have more muscle mass than women, resulting in a higher BMR, explains Lombardi. The more muscle you have, the higher your BMR will be.
You may be wondering... does my smartwatch give an accurate BMR? The short answer is no. Smartwatch trackers use movement, heart rate, and your height and weight to provide some calorie intel, but do not factor in muscle mass or body fat, both of which contribute to your BMR, says Cara Carmichael, CPT. “The number the watch is creating isn’t necessarily based on the individual,” she says. “It’s a more basic formula and there’s a lot of room for error.”
Even though smartwatches are not 100% accurate, they can give you a good starting point, adds Lombardi. But remember not to dwell on the numbers. Instead, take this information to understand your body and its necessary caloric intake.
Beyond upping your knowledge (and appreciation!) for how your body works, knowing your BMR can help you reach your health and fitness goals. Here are a few benefits of your BMR:
Understanding caloric needs. Knowing your BMR can help you determine a nutrition plan and recognize your daily caloric needs, explains Carmichael. “A lot of us don’t truly know how much food we need to consume to get through the day without crashing, but your BMR can serve as a baseline,” she says. By knowing how many calories your body naturally burns, you can gauge how much you need to eat in order to gain (eat more calories than you burn), lose (eat fewer calories than you burn), or sustain weight (eat the same number of calories that you burn).
Weight management. Whether you are looking to lose or gain weight, understanding your BMR can help speed up the process by giving you necessary information to help set a diet that aligns with your goals, says Lombardi. Once you know your BMR - aka how many calories your body burns for basic functioning - you can use it to base the number of calories needed for the day. The higher your BMR, the more calories you can consume without gaining weight, she explains.
Tracking fitness progress. If your BMR increases, that generally means you are gaining more muscle and getting stronger, says Lombardi. Since gaining muscle is the most effective way to change your BMR, consistent strength training and tracking your BMR over time can be a great way to measure your progress and #gains.
Improving metabolism. A high BMR is often associated with a fast metabolism and greater muscle mass, while a low BMR can hint to a slower metabolism, lower muscle mass, and higher percent of body fat, says Carmichael. “A lot of people want to increase their metabolism, but you have to understand that in order to do that, you need to build more muscle and increase your BMR,” she says.
Take a peek at the stats in the BMR equation above, and you'll get a rough idea of how you can move the BMR needle. Incorporating strength training into your workout and gaining muscle mass is the most effective way to change and increase your BMR, says Carmichael. “Muscle uses a lot more energy than fat while at rest, so at any given weight, the more muscle on your body, the higher your BMR.”
Carmichael suggests incorporating strength training at least twice a week to build muscle and raise your BMR. But remember, consistency is key and change does not happen overnight. “So many people look for quick fixes, but in reality, it's about sustainability and sustainable habits.”
Changing your BMR can help boost your metabolism, lose weight, gain strength, or set an optimal meal plan, but there is not one magic number. “Each individual has a different BMR and cannot be compared to one another,” says Carmichael. What is considered to be “healthy” varies depending on the person and their goals. The average BMR for women is around 1400 kcal and about 1700 kcal for men, she says.
Bottom line: BMR is a personalized statistic that cannot be compared to anyone else, but measuring yours and learning how your body functions can help you achieve your health and fitness goals.
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