Fitness
Make Fitness a Family Affair
Mar 2010Give kids a good start to a healthy life
The growing rate of childhood obesity may very well be America’s number-one public health crisis. In the past 30 years, the number of overweight children has more than doubled among two- to five-year-olds and 12- to 19-year-olds, and it’s more than tripled among children ages 6 to 11. This sharp rise in obesity has been linked to the dramatic increase in Type II diabetes, high blood pressure and other serious health problems in children.
Many health specialists see a link between children’s declining physical activity and increasing weight. While, on average, children consume fewer calories today tha Read More...
Cross Over to the Crossover Cables
Feb 2010In most gyms, the most versatile piece of equipment is the cable crossover—yet many people are intimidated by it. The cable crossover is nothing to fear—it’s simply a pulley system attached to a weight stack and is mounted on two towers. It can bring variety to any fitness routine and, if used correctly, can work every muscle group. Plus, the crossover’s attachments make it easy to transition from one exercise to another.
Cable exercises provide a unique training stimulus. The crossover’s pulley system allows muscles to maintain constant tension, allowing for greater muscle isolation and contraction. In other words, it works your muscles in a completely Read More...
TONE UP Anywher: Suspension Body Weight Training with the TRX
Feb 2010The TRX (Total Resistance eXercise) suspension training system is new, but it looks and feels old. A simple, low-tech exercise modality—all substance and no flash—it uses straps, a central pivot point and your own body weight to transform the way you work out. Celebrities, professional athletes, U.S. Marines, Navy Seals, Ultimate Fighting Champs and NFL teams use this system. It’ll work you harder than any other gym session, and you’ll feel the benefits immediately. Best of all, it’s portable. You can use it at home, in a hotel room or even in your office.
To understand the strengths of this system, you need to know its origins. While serving in the U.S Read More...
Back to the Basics: 3 Steps to Lasting Weight Loss
Jan 2010If your holiday indulgences are now appearing on the scale, or if years of gradual weight gain have finally caught up with you, then perhaps it’s time to get back to the basics.
Weight loss is simple: burn more calories than you eat. Yes, I know that’s easy for me to say; but, if you can stay focused and follow this three-part plan, you’ll find that lasting weight loss is not so difficult to achieve.
The three basic principles of weight loss are cardiovascular exercise, strength/resistance training and a healthy diet/lifestyle. Combine that formula with motivation and commitment, and soon you’ll be laughing your way to the scale.
Part I Cardio:< Read More...
Shape Up Your Holiday Gift List
Dec 2009Give the gift that comes from the heart (and is good for it, too!)
The hectic holidays are here again. If you’re struggling to think of the perfect gifts for your friends and loved ones, look no further. These health and fitness gifts include options that’ll be perfect for everyone on your list—from the picky teenager to the adult who seems to have everything.
Giving someone the gift of health and fitness shows just how much you care, and it’s a gift that you can truly feel proud to give. While it’s impossible to put a price tag on good health, your gift doesn’t have to be expensive. Gifts can cost as little as $5 or range into the Read More...
My Favorite Tools
Nov 2009The following fitness tools are some of my personal favorites because they are effective, versatile and easy to use. These items are generally available for use at your local fitness facility or can be purchased at a sporting goods store. Try the exercises below for a more dynamic workout.
Body Bar
A body bar is a long metal bar covered in rubber; they come in various weights from three to 36 lbs. Using the body bar allows you to perform t Read More...
Breaking Through the Weight-Loss Plateau
Oct 2009It’s an all-too-common situation: Through exercise and dietary changes, you finally begin to see the results of your efforts. You’re losing weight, looking better and feeling more confident. Then all of a sudden you stop seeing results. Like so many others before you, you’ve probably reached the dreaded “plateau.” Your body has adapted to the same workout that used to produce remarkable results. Your once-ideal fitness plan begins to fall short. When your body becomes ultra-efficient in your current exercise regimen, you have to adjust either the intensity or frequency of your workouts to continue to reap the maximum benefits.
To bust through the Read More...
Make Time to Cool Down
Sep 2009Replenishing your body is just as important as your actual workout.
We are all guilty of it—squeezing in bursts of exercise before rushing back to our busy day. In our hurry we forget one of the most important parts of our workout: the cool-down. You may think cooling down is a waste of time or unnecessary. But in reality, it’s essential for maximizing your workout and preventing injury.
During any type of strength-training activity, the body is subject to many processes. Small tears appear in muscle fibers, tendons and ligaments can incur damage and waste products can build up. A proper cool-down promotes muscle recovery and helps return the Read More...