Exercise

“Common workout mistakes” has always been a very popular topic in fitness publications. But no matter how many times this subject is re-hashed, you almost always hear about the same half a dozen or so mistakes, including poor form, overtraining, going too heavy, not stretching, not warming up, yadda, yadda yadda. Ironically, you seldom hear about the biggest mistakes of all. I call these humongous bloopers “bonehead mistakes” because once you start to analyze and think about them, it's really just common sense and it all seems so obvious… except of course to the person doing it… who is often quite oblivious until someone else points it out to them... then the light goes on and it's like... "Doh!"

Before I begin the countdown, (in no particular order), there’s one more gripe I have about the treatment this subject has been given in the past: Most of the attention has been put on ...

Would you like to lower your risk of heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, colon cancer, and diabetes with one simple action? Would you like to help keep bones, muscles, and joints healthy, reduce anxiety, depression, and stress with the same action? How about controlling weight and improving energy levels, sleep, and appearance at the same time? What action could possibly have all these effects, you wonder??? It’s very simple: choose an activity that gets your body moving and stick with it!

That’s right, it’s that old friend, “exercise”! Now, before you turn away in disgust and dismiss the idea, let me assure you that all exercise does not have to be the regimented 1-2-3-4 and boring trips to the gym, flexing your flab in spandex.

I recommend choosing activities that are fun and varied. Even two or three, 10-minute walks a day will help. Gardening, housework, yard w...

Exercise is a key element to staying young and feeling healthy. It improves upon overall circulation, metabolizes fats so they don't settle on the body (for example, cellulite) and it allows us to detoxify. We all know that it is good for us, but many Americans resist the positive qualities it can bring to our lives, such as looking and feeling better about ourselves. When compiling our anti-cellulite program which may include supplements, a heart healthy diet, a good cellulite product, massage techniques and flushing the toxins out with water, we cannot forget to include exercises to get rid of cellulite. It is important, however, to note that no one exercise can perform miraculous results on the body if it is not part of a bigger anti-cellulite regimen.

There are several exercises to get rid of cellulite that can be included in your gym routine to help rid the body of the over...

Let's start with a definition of calisthenics. Wikipedia defines it as

"a type of exercise consisting of a variety of simple movements usually performed without weights or other equipment that are intended to increase body strength and flexibility using the weight of one's own body for resistance."

These are really simple exercises you can do most anywhere and with little or no special equipment. Ideally you would create a routine where you do a set number of each exercise a couple days a week. Over time you can increase your number of repetitions as you strength increases. How about a quick rundown of the most popular ones?

Sit-ups/Abdominal Crunches - While you may not end up with a washboard stomach, you can do some things to get your abdomen in better shape. Sit-ups and crunches have long been a favorite for many athletes for the very reason that they work. Lying...

It’s the middle of July, and you know what the means:

It’s Half Year Resolution time!

OK, let’s backtrack a minute. Resolutions are for New Years. And New Years was six months ago, and is still six months away. What possibly is he talking about?

Well, what better way to make a successful resolution than by getting a six-month head start, putting less pressure to succeed? By getting this head start today, in July, your goals will be six months easier when January 1st rolls around.

Some gyms estimate that half of their business is generated by New Year’s Resolutions. We’ve all made them. Whether your goal is to lose 20 lbs, go to the gym five days a week, stop smoking or spend more time with your family, what is so special about the New Year that makes people want to strive to do better.

It’s July, it’s the dog days of summer, and you need to get a six mont...

For someone who just started exercising, the right guidance is critical. If you are a newcomer, the first thing you want to do is exercise in a safe and effective fashion. Many individuals avoid the gym due to the fear of making a mistake in public. For the weight room rookie, there is nothing more demoralizing than the disheartening smirks of veteran trainees. Mistakes start to happen, and these prevent you from getting optimal results. In fact, it increases the chances of injury!

If you are considering joining a gym / are a gym rookie, then you must avoid the most common mistakes. Try these tips - before you know it, you could be teaching a thing or two to uncompromising ‘experts’ in your local gym or fitness center.

Presenting the most common mistakes made by rookie trainees.

1. Incorrect technique.(dumbbell or barbell).

Always speak to a ...

Stretching both before and after exercise is key to any fitness program. Stretching prior to exercise warms up your body making it less prone to accidents and injuries. Stretching exercises increase joint and muscle flexibility making for a better workout. During the warm-up period, stretches should be held between 15 and 30 seconds.

Stretching following exercise relieves muscle tightness, improves flexibility and cools down the body. After a workout, your body will be able to stretch even further than it did prior to your exercise program. During the cool-down period, stretches should be held between 30 seconds and one minute. It is during these longer stretches that flexibility increases the most.

It is important to breathe normally as you stretch and avoid holding your breath. Concentrate on the stretch itself and on your breathing, relaxing the rest of your body. ...

Do you want to strip away the body fat try burpees. Burpees are some kind of sick result producing exercise that will strip the fat away, if you can manage to do them.

Burpees will get the job done, they will burn fat like no other exercise, they will make you into a fat burning machine.

Burpees are extremely demanding and are not for the weak, they will produce great results if done on a regular basis, but because of the intensity people will quickly abandon these monsters because this kind of torture is not worth it.

Burpees done with or without a pushup are hard either way, if you are going to do burpees you better be ready physically and mentally or you will quickly give these up in search for less demanding exercise.

I believe in short, intense, explosive types of exercise for overall fitness, health, and fat burning.

However, most people w...

Wednesday 9th August 2006

As soon as you being exercising, you lose water in the form of sweat. Sweating is actually a very good thing as it rids your body of the excess heat produced in your muscles. If this didn't happen you would quickly over-heat and die. You lose about 500ml in 30 minutes, depending on the heat, humidity and exercise intensity.

If you don't replace that water, your core temperature will rise and your performance will suffer. As your blood becomes 'thicker', your heart needs to beat faster to pump the blood around your body, and your body is put under undue stress.

Losing the equivalent of 2% of your body weight as sweet - that's a mere 1.3kg loss if you weight 65kg - results in a 10-20% drop in your performance (or aerobic capacity). Whatever kind of exercise you are doing, once you become mildly dehydrated it will be harder to keep going at the...

These days people live busy lives. Demanding work schedules, children and other obligations take up much of our time. When you do find free time do you really want to use it exercising? For most people the answer is no. So how can you stay in shape without spending hours in the gym? You can simply add more exercise to your daily life. Its that simple. Here are five ways to add exercise to your life.

Use your car less
This is the best way to add exercise to your life. How many times do you get in your car only to drive around the corner. Instead of using your car for short trips ride a bike or walk. Your trip probably will not even take any longer since you will not have to fight traffic or search for a parking spot.

Take a parking spot further back
If you must take your car, choose a parking spot closer to the back of the lot. The few extra feet you...

There are various methods available now to shape up your body.Winsor Pilates being one of the hottest and favorite fitness trends. Developed by Mari Winsor, it helps you get into shape fast. It involves dynamic sequencing technique which is a complete set of exercises to be performed in a specific order to get the best results and the amazing thing is it requires no equipment and can be done anywhere and everywhere. It not only tones your body but also makes it stronger. The basic principle of Winsor Pilates is concentration which is very important to attain a successful workout. With the mind-body connection the awareness of your body will be enhanced. How does it help?

Motion and flexibility: Winsor Pilates helps to improve the motion of the body and the muscles that are critical for the joints also become stronger. It formulates flexibility in order to relieve stress in th...

First the bad news: the fast pace lifestyle that we have nowadays has finally rendered most of us very easily vulnerable to diseases and illnesses that were seldom in the past, such as heart diseases, cancer, hypertension, obesity, chronic conditions like asthma, constipation, etc.

The good news is: the simple answer to most of these physical conditions can be easily found in regular and frequent exercises like yoga, stretching, Tai Chi, swimming, or walking. Although these kinds of exercise don't have the macho look and feel as pumping iron, they're very good treatment or preventative measures for a majority of the nowadays medical conditions and diseases such as those mentioned above.

Among these exercises, simple walking can go a long way to improving one's health. Besides, walking is a fun and easy exercise that is also a great stress reducer. One of the gr...

Vary your exercise regimen. It not only prevents boredom, but it keeps your mind occupied and your body in top shape. I know some would have you believe that you should only lift weights, others might tell you run 3 to 5 times a week on a track or treadmill, still another might say swim or bike everyday. Who do you believe? What I have found to be true is to vary your routine. Telling someone to do the same fitness routine everyday, the same way, is like telling you to just to eat carrots everyday. Now carrots are a good food source, however, a variety of different foods meets nutritional needs best. This is the same truth as a fitness regimen.

So, run and walk, lift weights, swim when you can, walk in the mall, exercise with your dog, my point is to have many choices of exercise. Exercising with a buddy prevents boredom. Some benefits are; you can motivate each other, ...

Trying to consciously live a healthy life can be difficult, given all of life’s pressures. Between the stresses of work, family, and situations that are out of our control, it can be easy to fall into the habits of poor eating and a sedentary lifestyle. But, it is important to eat a healthy diet and exercise, not only to maintain a healthy weight, but to also keep your stress levels manageable. While stress in our lives is not completely unavoidable, it’s effects can be controlled.

Through a healthy diet, exercise, and relaxation, it is possible to not only keep your stress levels at a manageable level, but you will feel healthier and stronger, better able to take what is thrown at you. It is when you ignore the needs of your body that you can cause major physical and emotional problems, which can have long-term effects.

When you are experiencing stress, all parts of your ...

Yes, exercising is very boring for many people. Some people are too lazy to do exercises and some are simply too busy. You may have a highly paid job and spend a lot of time on it. You think that you will be able to relax whan you're fifty. But with such temp of life you might not be able to even reach the age of fifty. Your health simply might not not be in top shape.

Simple exercises for 20-30 minutes a day can make you live longer and be more healthy. It can be boring and time consuming and doesn’t always help you relax in any way, but it does help your body cope with pressure and it does help your endurance at all levels. You'd better to rewrite your shedule and pay attention at your health. Take a rest during a day and do some exercises. It's boring, takes some time. BUT it also gives y...

People, the world over have become health conscious and therefore have begun to understand the importance of exercise. Exercises can be performed either at home or a fitness center. The main drawbacks with working out at home are the lack of expert supervision and boredom of exercising alone. Exercise videos are useful for people who prefer to exercise at home. The videos are a substitute for personal instructors as they guide a person through the exercise routine. They also help prevent an individual from feeling lonely while working out in isolation. A well-paced video increases the fun of exercising and motivates an individual to complete the daily set of exercises, regularly. Exercise videos have become popular and many people prefer to work out with an exercise video playing in front of them

Dance and aerobics videos are currently the most popular exercise videos. An exerci...