Archive for the ‘Fitness Tips’ Category
Thursday, February 21st, 2013
You may have heard about the many benefits of adding weight training to your current workout routine, or perhaps you’ve done your homework and debunked some of myths that were holding you back. Either way, you are about to embark on a new mission – to get PUMPED UP! Or ripped. Or shredded.
In any case, you are probably keen to start trying out weight machines at your gym and pumping iron with free weights and barbells. But before you begin your sojourn into the wide world of weight training it’s not a bad idea to cover the basics so that you don’t end up injuring yourself or others.
Here are just a few common mistakes that you’ll definitely want to avoid:
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Tags: exercise, fitness, mistakes, myths, newbies, noobs, safety, tips, training, workout
Posted in Fitness Tips, Injuries, Weight Training | 2 Comments »
Tuesday, February 19th, 2013
Many women have misconceptions when it comes to the prospect of adding a weight routine to their exercise regimen.
For example, there seems to be a common myth that lifting weights will transform you into a bodybuilder, laden with bulky muscles. Although this is indeed a goal for some women, it takes a lot more than lifting weights to bulk up.
Ladies, you shouldn’t allow these virtually baseless rumors to hold you back, especially considering the many benefits you stand to gain by adding weights to your fitness routine.
Rather than paying heed to rumors, you might want to first discover just what will happen when you start lifting weights, and here are some positive side effects that could just have you heading for the weight bench, or more likely for the squat rack, the next time you go to the gym.
Here are 5 benefits of weight lifting for the girls:
Remember, building muscle does not mean getting huge. It actually means elevating your metabolism, tightening your buns, and firming your abs.
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Tags: benfits, bum, buns, butt, exericse, female, fitness, glutes, women, workout
Posted in Fitness Tips, Healthy Lifestyle, Women's Health | 2 Comments »
Saturday, February 16th, 2013
Many people like the energy boost that they get from exercising early since it stays with them throughout the day and leaves them pleasantly sleepy at night. But if you’re not an early riser, you might find that you prefer working out during your lunch break or in the evening, despite the fact that it can leave you pumped up and unable to snooze when your head hits the pillow.
Of course, you may find that exercising later in the day presents you with myriad problems. Perhaps you’re too tired or demands on your time inevitably pop up, preventing you from getting in your workout.
In any case, you might end up deciding that starting your day with a workout is the best way to go. However, it can definitely be difficult to roll out of bed an hour earlier than usual, even if you’re committed to making it work.
So here are a few strategies that should help you find the motivation you need to exercise first thing in the morning.
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Tags: cardio, exercise, fitness, lifestyle, morning, sprints, tips, Weight Training, weightlifting, workout, workouts
Posted in Fitness Tips, Healthy Lifestyle, Motivation | 1 Comment »
Friday, February 15th, 2013
Exercise is Recommended at Any Age
For some reason, people seem to harbor the misconception that turning fifty means you’re old. In truth, it wasn’t really so long ago that the average life expectancy was about fifty-five, but thanks to modern medicine and advancing technology, many people now live to be far older than that. A growing awareness about the role diet and exercise play in human longevity hasn’t hurt, either.
What’s truly astonishing is how many people still believe that there is ever a time in life when it’s too late to start paying attention to your relative state of health and making changes that can benefit you for the rest of your life.
While you might not be surprised to see those in the 50+ category changing their diets to lower blood pressure or cholesterol, it’s likely that you’ll register wonder that your contemporaries are starting a workout routine.
The honest truth is that exercise at any age has the power to transform you if you go about it in the proper way. So here are a few tips to help you get the physique you seek, even if you’re starting to get letters from AARP.
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Tags: Diet, diet plans, diets, event, exercise, fat loss, fitness, food, lifestyle, lose fat, lose weight, nutrition, older, weight loss, workout
Posted in Fitness Tips, Healthy Lifestyle, Medical | No Comments »
Tuesday, February 12th, 2013
When most women picture their ideal physique, there are a few body parts that are always the main focus in many ladies mind. A tight and toned mid-section, arms, legs and last but not least; their derriere. Female Fitness competitors such as Larissa Reis and pop stars such as Shakira have a back side that is desired by many women. Many a women also have the desire to have beautiful built glutes to show off in their bikinis, dresses, underwear or just about anything to show off their physique.
If you have a million and one questions and just simply feel lost amongst all the information or simply don’t know where to start, then hopefully this article will be perfect for you. With good research combined with personal experience this article shall be the saving grace you have needed.
Anatomy of The Glues:
To achieve a well-shaped and curved butt it is important to know basic information on the anatomy of the glutes. The glutes are made up of three muscles, which all need to be targeted.
- Gluteus Minimum: The gluteus minimus is the smallest and deeper of all the muscles.
- Glueteus Medius: This covers the outer surface of the pelvis.
- Gluteus Maximus: The biggest muscle of the gluteus muscle group, which contributes to the main muscle mass of the glutes.
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Tags: bum, buns, butt, exericse, female, fitness, glutes, women, workout
Posted in Best Exercises, Bodybuilding, Fitness Tips | No Comments »
Tuesday, February 5th, 2013
Weight lifting is a great way to exercise, build toned muscle, burn calories, and promote overall health–but it can be dangerous as well. Our bodies aren’t used to the stress of heavy lifting, and our backs are particularly vulnerable to strain and injury.
An injured back can keep you out of the gym for weeks, or even months at a time, depending on the severity of the injury and your ability to recover. If you want to stay healthy, strong, and transform your body into a work of art, always remember to protect your back.
Step 1: Warm Up
Never start a workout without warming up first. Your body just isn’t ready for the stress of heavy lifting when you walk through the gym doors. You need to get primed before you start hitting the weights.
- A short cardio warm up on the treadmill or elliptical is a great way to warm up your muscles and get the blood moving in your body. It is not necessary to use high intensity during your warm up. This is just a 5 minute effort to get the muscles moving.
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Tags: back, deadlifts, exercise, fitness, injuries, injury, Medical, powerlifting, Weight Training, weightlifting
Posted in Fitness Tips, Injuries | 1 Comment »
Thursday, January 31st, 2013
Everyone knows that to have visible abs, a good clean diet is absolutely essential to get rid of the fat covering them. However, this article is about creating bullet proof abs, not flimsy beach abs. The type of abs that are useful in sports, taking punches to the stomach, and that make for a strong core.
Having a strong core helps prevent back pain, so don’t skimp on regular abdominal work!
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Static Holds
Having the strength to hold your body in a certain position is key in several ways. There are examples of static hold training being useful for every day situations, and for athletic endeavors.
When you’re driving, activating your core to support your spine will release stress on your back, and bring your shoulders into better alignment. When you are rock climbing and stabilizing your body to keep it from moving, or trying not to move your upper torso back and forth while running… static holds are everywhere.
Some key exercises to perform are planks, both on your hands in the push up position, on your elbows, and on your sides using one hand. An even more advanced position is raising one leg on your side – known as the starfish pose (right) – which causes a lot of imbalance and seriously engages your core.
Still too easy? Try adding a weight vest or holding a dumbbell or kettlebell overhead with your free arm.
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Tags: ab workout, abdominals, abs, exercise, fitness, six pack, tips, workout
Posted in Best Exercises, Conditioning, Fitness Tips | 1 Comment »
Wednesday, January 23rd, 2013
A Short Term Solution
If you’re committed to your health and fitness, then you’ve probably got a regular routine worked out already. But you may have found that over time, your targeted regimen begins to deliver fewer returns in the way of results.
This is not such a terrible thing when you’re merely maintaining your level of fitness. But when you have to look your best for an event like a wedding, a body-builder competition, or even a stroll down the red carpet, you may be keen to up your game where your workouts are concerned.
The process starts with assessing your current state, determining your goals, and then figuring out the steps needed to get you where you want to be within a set time limit. So whether you have several months to prepare or just a couple of weeks, here are some tips that will help to get you in peak physical condition before the big event.
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Tags: cardio, Diet, event, exercise, fitness, lifestyle, nutrition, Weight Training, weightlifting, workout
Posted in Fitness Tips, Motivation | No Comments »
Friday, January 18th, 2013
Injuries
Nearly everyone who trains, whether bodybuilding, powerlifting, strongman, or just a general fitness routine, has at some point suffered from an injury. And whether it’s a minor sprain or a broken bone it can definitely derail your progress towards your fitness goals, leading to weeks or months of recovery in which all of your hard work slowly slips away via loss of both muscle mass, strength, and conditioning.
My Personal Experience
I mean, I once walked into a Gold’s Gym after taking about a month off from training, with the intention to deadlift. I wasn’t planning to hit a 1rm or a PR that day. It was just simple sets of 5 to get back into the rythym. On the second set, at 50% of my previous 1rm, my back spasmed, I dropped the weight, and I was out of the weight room for another solid month.
Every athlete and weightlifter has some version of this sad story.
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Tags: back, deadlifts, exercise, fitness, injuries, injury, Medical, powerlifting, Weight Training, weightlifting
Posted in Fitness Tips, Injuries | No Comments »
Tuesday, January 15th, 2013
I recently told you how to make time for fitness in college, but still the majority of college students are not overly concerned about their weight, at least not when they first enter the vaunted halls of learning. And it’s really not that surprising considering that young adults tend to enjoy a speedy metabolism.
Unfortunately, the high stress, lack of sleep, and unpredictable eating habits of college students can quickly wreak havoc with an otherwise healthy and functional metabolism, leading to the dreaded freshman fifteen. And when you’re studying abroad, the unfamiliar surroundings and generally overwhelming experience could make it difficult to devise a plan for improved fitness.
However, it’s not so hard to stay in shape, and college kids are bound to bounce back more quickly than older adults. So if you happen to be suffering from this all-too-common issue, here are a few tips to help you stay in shape during your time on campus, even if you’re in another country.
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Tags: college, education, exercise, fitness, school, tips, workout
Posted in Education, Fitness Tips, Healthy Lifestyle | No Comments »
Thursday, January 10th, 2013
It’s a brand new year, and that means that the average adult will once again find him or herself pledging to lose those five extra pounds that have crept onto the scale over the holiday season (not to mention the five from last year that stubbornly refused to leave). But rather than brave the overcrowded gyms that leave you waiting an hour for your turn on a given piece of equipment at this time of year, or squeezing into an exercise class where you bump your neighbors at every turn, perhaps you’ll want to consider a different strategy this year.
Wouldn’t it be nice not to have to rush to the gym after work and vie with the hundreds of other patrons that have made New Year’s resolutions? If you’re really interested in getting in shape this year, perhaps what you need to stay on track is a home facility that allows you the privacy and ease of use needed to reach your goals.
Here are a few tips that will help you to design a home gym that you’ll actually use.
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Tags: design, exercise, fitness, gym, home, workout
Posted in Fitness Tips, Healthy Lifestyle | No Comments »
Tuesday, January 8th, 2013
College Fitness
Most students suffer not only from a lack of disposable income during their time in college, but they are also decidedly short on time. Some can chalk it up to bad time management skills, but for others, attending classes, studying, and holding down a part- or even full-time job makes it nearly impossible to find a few spare moments in any given day to sleep, eat, join clubs, or socialize.
For this reason, it can be difficult to stick to a fitness routine, as well. But four years of poor eating habits and a lack of exercise can turn the freshman fifteen into a much more significant weight gain, leaving students unhealthy, unhappy, and ultimately worse for the wear.
So if you are a student that wants to maximize energy, focus and retention, and overall fitness levels, here are just a few ways to make a little room in your busy schedule to squeeze in some exercise.
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Tags: college, exercise, fitness, freshmen, school, time management, tips, workout
Posted in Education, Fitness Tips | 2 Comments »
Monday, January 7th, 2013
Driving to work is a boring necessity for many of us, but it doesn’t have to be so. You can use that time spent crawling through traffic to get some much needed exercise and keep your body in top shape. Don’t just sit in your seat and sulk through your commute–try some of these easy exercises that you can do without ever getting out of your seat.
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Biceps Curls in Traffic
Working the arms to ‘tone’ and build muscle is one of the most popular activities at the gym for many people, and it just so happens to be an exercise that you can do in your car. Stash a small dumbbell under one of your seats or in the glove compartment, and you can do sets of bicep curls while you’re stuck in traffic to make productive use of your time. The sitting position is perfect for maintaining posture while you do this simple exercise.
I don’t however, recommend curling at full speed on the highway. Instead, the following tips will teach you how to exercise in your car without any equipment at all.
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Tags: car, commute, drive, exercise, extra workouts, fitness, health, healthy, ride, tips, tricks, vehicle
Posted in Fitness Tips, Healthy Lifestyle | No Comments »
Monday, January 7th, 2013
How to Fit In Your Wedding Dress or Tux
Brides and grooms can be Swole too!
For most brides-to-be, a wedding qualifies as one of the most important events in life. And since the vast majority only plan to do it once, they understandably want the event to be perfect. It is for this reason that months of planning go into selecting the right venue, floral arrangements, catering service, seating charts, photographer, and so on. And of course, there is the dress to consider.
For every bride this garment will be a little different, reflecting her own personal style and sense of beauty and propriety. But one thing that many women struggle with is the ability to fit into their selected gown once their wedding day arrives.
Every bride wants to be beautiful and radiant on her special day, but the truth is that the planning process can be extremely stressful, leading to fatigue, depression, and weight gain. But for the woman determined to look her best on the big day, there are ways to ensure not only that the dress fits and flatters when floating down the aisle, but that the body underneath is in peak physical condition. And there are all kinds of tools and tricks to ensure this outcome, as well as several other reasons to address fitness before the wedding day arrives.
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Tags: bride, Crossfit, exercise, fitness, groom, lose fat, lose weight, marriage, married, sexy, wedding, workout
Posted in Fitness Tips, HIIT Routines | No Comments »
Sunday, January 6th, 2013
If you are the type of person who enjoys physical fitness, then you’ve no doubt tried several different types of exercise, from basics like jogging, cycling, and swimming, to instructional classes in yoga, Pilates, and step aerobics, to workout DVDs for P90X or Insanity. But if you’re looking for an up-and-coming exercise regimen that is going to continue to challenge you for a while, then perhaps Crossfit should be on your radar.
The only real caveat with this intense form of exercise is that it is all too easy to injure yourself if you’re not careful. Since you are pushing yourself to your physical limits with timed circuits that require you to fit as many reps into the allotted time as possible, you’ll find that you tire long before you’re through. So it’s not only important to know your limits, but also to observe proper form in every exercise. Here’s why.
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Tags: Crossfit, exercise, fitness, form, health, safety, technique, workout
Posted in Conditioning, Exercise Technique, Fitness Tips, Injuries | No Comments »
Tuesday, January 1st, 2013
New Year Resolutions – there, I said it.
The most common New Year’s resolution is to lose weight, but you might have noticed in years past that declaring a commitment to this end rarely results in a comprehensive plan that will actually help you to reach your goal. Perhaps you sign up for a diet program and even attend a few meetings before getting too busy to go. Or maybe you take advantage of Obama care and see a doctor. Or maybe you join a gym and shell out major money for access to equipment that you never end up using.
Whatever you have done in the past, you can make 2013 the year you turn it all around.
The trick, in many cases, is not to put such an emphasis on the number you see on the scale, but rather to address your health and fitness in a way that provides you with other forms of success. So here are just a few things to consider when setting your goals for the coming year.
First and foremost, forget about weight!
Okay, so there is a lot of hubbub circulating about the obesity rate amongst adults and the concurrent rise in heart disease, diabetes, and more. But these aren’t necessarily a byproduct of your weight so much as your lifestyle.
What you really need to address is not the readout on the scale, but rather the bad habits that brought you to this pass.
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Tags: exercise, fitness, goals, health, Motivation, resolutions, tips
Posted in Fitness Tips, Healthy Lifestyle, Motivation | No Comments »
Monday, December 31st, 2012
When Should You Workout?
The short answer here is yes, there is a best time of day to exercise. The longer answer is that you may face some difficulty when it comes to finding that magical hour in which you’ll get the most out of your workout regimen. The problem is that we are all different and thus, what works for one person may not be at all ideal for another.
For example, you may hop out of bed in the morning the minute your alarm goes off, raring to go and ready to throw on your jogging shoes. On the other hand, you might have no frame of reference for people who can rise even earlier than usual to get in a workout before a full day of work.
It could be that you prefer to exercise after work as a way to refocus and relieve stress. Maybe you like to head to the gym late at night when no one else is around to get in your way. Or perhaps you enjoy the hustle and bustle of other active adults moving all around you. The point is that everyone has different wants and needs when it comes to exercise, and they could play a role in finding the best time of day to workout.
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Tags: day, exercise, fitness, schedule, sleep, time, workout
Posted in Fitness Tips, Healthy Lifestyle | No Comments »
Thursday, December 27th, 2012
Work, Life, and Stress Keeping You Soft?
Just because your apartment is the size of a postage stamp doesn’t mean you are any less inclined to create a personal workout space that allows you to squeeze in some exercise at your leisure, rather than having to cram in a session at the gym during their daytime hours. Most of us hold down full-time jobs that result in long hours and high stress.
The hassle of having to schlep over to the gym before or after work can put the kibosh on even the best-laid plans where fitness is concerned (as can a minimal budget). When having the equipment in front of you, ready to go at a moment’s notice (not to mention staring at you accusingly every time you decide to skip your workout), you’re much more likely to stick to the game plan. So here are just a few ways to get the home gym you want even when you live in a tiny apartment.
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Tags: apartment, dumbbells, exercise, fitness, gym, home, house, workout
Posted in Exercise Equipment, Fitness Tips | No Comments »
Thursday, August 9th, 2012
Whether you’re trying to lose those 20 pounds or just looking to fit into your old jeans, steering clear of weight loss mistake is of upmost importance for long term success. Let’s face it, we all make the odd mistake—and when it comes to burning the flab, it’s all too easy.
Without further ado, here are the 3 most common weight loss mistakes and how to avoid them.
Mistake 1: the Fat Burning Zone
Though when exercising at lower intensity level, the body relies heavily on fat as the main source of energy than when doing high intensity exercise, the total calorie burn at the end of the training will be lower, thus leading to more weight loss plateaus and setbacks.
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Tags: Diet, fat loss, fitness, lose fat, lose weight, mistakes, nutrition, running, weight loss
Posted in Diet, Fitness Tips, Nutrition Tip | No Comments »
Friday, June 29th, 2012
Any physical activity makes you expend more energy and as a result, if you are an active person, you will burn fat. Normally, the body will transform carbohydrates into energy. However, fat is used as fuel for metabolism and movement.
You could also use thermogenic foods and supplements, such as caffeine and hot peppers, to facilitate faster results, but diet and high intensity exercise are the two top ways to lose weight fast.
Weight Training and Burning Fat
Aside from a sensible diet, your fat loss program should include physical activities such as weight training and conditioning drills. However, the training sessions should implement an appropriate fat loss strategy for optimal results. Training with heavier weights and fewer reps has shown in numerous studies to preserve muscle mass on a low calorie diet, increase strength, stimulate fat burning, and elevate metabolism.
It is a common myth that we should train with low weight and high reps when trying to lose fat – that strategy is just a prescription for strength and muscle loss.
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Tags: burn fat, cardio, fat loss, intensity, intervals, lose fat, lose weight, weight lifting, weight loss, Weight Training
Posted in Conditioning, Fitness Tips, Weight Training | No Comments »
You may have heard about the many benefits of adding weight training to your current workout routine, or perhaps you’ve done your homework and debunked some of myths that were holding you back. Either way, you are about to embark on a new mission – to get PUMPED UP! Or ripped. Or shredded.
