Showing posts with label workout. Show all posts
Showing posts with label workout. Show all posts

Monday, September 6, 2010

A Muscle Building Diet - The Top 3 Components

By Stephen "the Body" Jones

There are 3 major things that go into a diet for those
wishing to build muscles: protein, carbohydrates and water.
Here are a few ideas on how to arrange your diet to include
the most necessary building blocks for muscles.

As we all know, water is required for life and some do not
take into consideration the effects on the muscles it has. A
doctor would recommend for a healthy adult to drink at least
64 ounces of water a day. If a person were to exercise more
than a half hour daily, it would be suggested that a minimum
of another 16 ounces be taken in to replace the lost fluids
from exercise.

Carbohydrates are off limits in many diets. But if you are
trying to build up muscles, they are have an essential
function. For someone who has a 2,000 calorie a day diet,
half of this should be from carbohydrates. If your diet is
more than 2,000 calories a day, the carbohydrate intake has
to be elevated as well so the energy required for exercise
is available and the muscles can be built up.

Your carbohydrate intake should be from foods like fruit,
potatoes and vegetables, and avoid sources that include
added sugars like fruit juices and sports drinks. The added
sugars will offer short bursts of energy and also normally
add fat that the body does not need. Your healthy
carbohydrates should come from bread, green vegetables,
colorful fruits and almost any type of noodle or pasta.

Your last half of daily caloric intake should come from
proteins. Some foods that are considered the healthiest
means of getting your intake includes baked chicken or
turkey as well as salmon or tuna in water. Do not take in
any fried foods, since they offer additional fats that you
do not need and this could cause fatigue of the muscles.

Since muscles have to break down and then rebuild, each of
these 3 components are needed in a diet. They can be changed
as needed due to special diet requirements or medical
conditions. However, if you do have a medical condition it
is best to consult your doctor before starting any diet.



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Monday, August 9, 2010

Five Fun Ways To Get In Shape

By Mckayla Anna

There are so many ways to get in shape, but they don't all
fill us with excitement! Getting fit is something that can
be fun, however, if you're a little creative about it. To
help you out I've put together five fun tips to help you get
fit again but without the traditional kind of exercise!

1) Dance Classes

One of the best fun ways to get in shape is to dance. There
are so many different types of dance class these days,
you're bound to find one that suits you. Better still, go
with a friend. It's a fantastic night out and you'll be
burning calories at the same time! When you're not out at
your class, just put on some uplifting music at home and
dance around the place. See how tired you get in just thirty
minutes - you'll be getting a fantastic workout without even
trying!

2) Play With Your Pet

If you have a dog then there's no better way to bond and
have some fun than going out for a long walk or run. Your
dog will love it: and you will too when you start to see
those pounds falling off! Even running around with them in
the back yard can have a great effect.

3) Play Some Sport

Most of us dread the idea of facing the gym regularly, but
doing something like sports with your friends can be a lot
easier to get your head around. Whatever sport you like,
even if you just end up playing catch, it'll get you moving
which will, in turn, get you back in shape without you even
realizing it.

4) Sign Up for A Charity Run

Doing a sponsored walk or run is one of the best ways to
earn some money for charity. What better motivation do you
need to get out there and to start exercising? Whenever
you're feeling tired or down about being active, just
remember that you're doing it for a fantastic reason.

5) Get A Fitness Game

These days, even playing a computer game can keep you fit!
Games such as the Wii Fit are now some of the most popular
ways to get in shape. They give you a real workout but they
make it fun, helping to take the pain out of exercising
regularly. Not only this, but they're a fraction of the cost
of buying a membership to the gym!

No matter how you exercise, have some fun! You'd even be
surprised at the
(http://www.gettinginshape.org/walking-as-an-exercise.html)
walking exercise benefits that you'll reap just by taking
your dog for a walk each day. If you still need a bit more
motivation then head on over to
(http://www.gettinginshape.org) Getting in Shape for more
exercise and dieting tips.

Thursday, May 14, 2009

Aerobic Exercise - How To Prevent Injuries

Woman exercising

Aerobics are great exercises to do to get your heart pumping and your body sweating. You can use aerobic exercises in order to lose weight, build endurance, and stay heart healthy. However, there is also a downside to aerobic exercising for some people. If you are not careful, you could get injured due to aerobic exercise. Therefore, it is important to follow these tips to making sure you are exercising and using aerobics in a fun and healthy way for your body.

First and foremost, when you are doing aerobics consider your dress. Wearing good shoes is important. Aerobics require lots of movement, so when you have worn shoes or laces that come untied often, there is a good chance you may slip and fall. You should also consider the other articles of clothing you’re wearing. If they are too constricting or too heavy, you may become more easily overheated. Your clothing should breathe well and not be too tight in order to prevent you from injury.

Also consider your workout area, especially if you are working out at home. When you’re at home, you’ll need to make sure that your area is large enough for you to move and not bang into anything. It is also crucial that you service your workout equipment to make sure that it is in the best shape possible and will not cause injury. Your workout area at home should also be clean. When you workout, you sweat a lot and breathe heavily, so if you’re doing that in a dirty environment, you could pick up some nasty bacteria or viral infections.

Another tip to staying safe is to not push yourself too much. While it is important to push yourself in order to have the best and most intense workout possible. When you push yourself too hard, however, you may find yourself pulling muscles, experiencing cramps, or otherwise injuring your body.

Your doctor can tell you more about how to stay safe while exercising. Remembering to warm up and cool down is necessary, as is doing the right exercises for your body, age, and gender. When you work out, you should feel your best, not be worried about injury.

Staying safe is important. If you are hurt, you won’t be able to do aerobics while you recover, and you will miss out on days or even weeks of training. If your health is important to you, that should include your safety, so take measures to being safe whenever you hit the gym to do your aerobics workout.




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Tuesday, May 12, 2009

The Secret To Long-term Weight Loss

Asian chicken salad

If you have been trying to lose weight, but have been
unsuccessful, new studies suggest that your diet may be to
blame. In the past it has widely been believed and taught
that a low-calorie diet will help people lose weight quickly
and safely. However, there is new evidence that the best,
most successful and long-term way that a person find
themselves shedding weight is through a high protein diet.

You might ask, why a high protein diet gives people
better weight loss results? It's a great question and there
is a real, scientific answer. Muscle burns more calories
than fat at rest. That means that a body that carries extra
weight will actually be more likely to continue carrying
that weight. That's why it's so hard for people to lose
weight quickly. When a person decides to go on a high
protein diet at the same time that they begin a vigorous
cardio and weight lifting routine, they are making the
factors work in their favor. Not only will they be burning
fat by doing cardio but they will be building muscle which
will make it easier to keep the fat off in the long-term.

Although a low-calorie diet might help a person lose weight
initially, it is exactly the kind of diet that will cause a
person to gain more weight if they falter. That's because no
muscle was gained in the process of losing weight. Losing
weight and building muscle is the best way to get fit, trim
and healthy.

Typically, if a person decides they want to put themselves
on a high protein diet, they should try to consume as many
grams of protein as they are pounds heavy. For instance, a
150 pound person would need to consume 150 grams of protein.
Although protein consumption should be spread out over the
entire day, a bulk of protein should be consumed right away
in the morning and after each vigorous workout. When you
consume protein after a workout, you are actually feeding
your muscles and telling them to grow.

Although people who go on high protein, muscle building
diets do not lose weight fast, they tend to keep the weight
off better in the long-term because they have replaced the
fat they've lost with muscle. If you are planning on going
on this type of diet, be sure to keep a protein shake handy,
as well as lots of lean protein meats like poultry and fish.


About The Author This article has been brought to you by Dr.
Gee Surin, the owner and leading correspondence specialist
at (http://www.sapibontv.com) Sapibontv. If you have any
comments or suggestions concerning this article, please use
the contact form on our website above. Alternatively you may
email Gee at gee@sapibontv.com.


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Monday, May 4, 2009

Do Not Skip Your Warm Up!

Women warming up

When you have to fit an exercise routine into your already
busy schedule, you might be tempted to simply skip the warm
up routine, even though you’ve heard horror stories about
people getting injured while working out. Three words: don’t
do that. When you skip your warm up, you are not only
putting your body at risk for personal injury, but you are
also making the workout more difficult and less effective.
For the best results, it is important to warm up every time
you work out.

Warming up doesn’t have to eat up the time you allotted for
exercise in your day. In fact, a decent warm up only has
to be 5 minutes long to do its job. It doesn’t have to be
boring either—you can mix up a number of great moves to make
your warm up as fun as the rest of your exercising. Remember
that a good warm up gets all of your muscles moving, even if
you don’t think that you’ll be intensely working out a set
of muscles on any particular day. Warming up is also
important regardless of whether you’re doing cardiovascular
exercises or lifting weights.

The moves you do for a warm up shouldn’t necessarily be
difficult or make you break a sweat. The main goal of the
warm up isn’t to become a part of your workout, but simply
to slowly move muscles that you haven’t really thought about
all day to wake them up. Good moves, therefore, include
things like jogging in place, doing jumping jacks, lunging,
and jumping rope.

A good warm-up can also include slowly stretching your
muscles in a variety of ways, although this is usually more
effective for a cool-down. Also consider exercises that work
on balance and form in order to prepare you for the
exercises you will be doing in the workout.

If you’re really short on time, why not try warming up
before you even get to the gym. Slowly jog or power walk to
the gym, park as far away as possible and lunge to the door,
and take the stairs instead of the elevator. That way, when
you get to the gym to workout your warm up routine is
already half way done.

A good workout always builds in intensity. This is the best
way to shed pounds and maintain a healthy weight. Weight
loss workouts are only risky if you don’t warm up, because
otherwise your body will respond to prevent injuries.
Although you may be tempted to skip this step, that is never
a good idea.


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Thursday, April 23, 2009

No Time To Exercise? Try 10-Minute Exercise Bursts

High angle view of businessman stretching on a purple mat in office setting


The recommended amount of exercise determined by fitness
gurus and physicians is 30 minutes to 1 hour per day. This
may be more than you have time for, especially if your job
is demanding or you have children.

Identify New Opportunities

Exercising is always possible provided you just squeeze it
into your schedules in a more resourceful manner. Get off
your couch and start moving around, advises fitness guru Ann
Grandjean. Every bit of chore inside your house is an
opportunity to get fit. The trick is to get yourself moving
- clear out the attic, do some gardening, walk to the
grocery store. Any activity that expends energy also burns
up calories.

Don't Waste Your Mini-breaks on Coffee

If you are thinking that short spurts of exercise wouldn't
affect your fitness level, you're in for a surprise. One
recent study showed that participants who spread out their
exercise throughout the day into 10-minute blocks are
disposed to exercise regularly, and shed more pounds in 5
months, compared to most women who'd rather work out
straight for an hour.

What the Professionals Have to Say

In Virginia, exercise physiologist Glenn Gaesser recently
conducted a study in which subjects exercised for 10 minutes
at a time. He determined that 15 sets of 10-minute workouts
caused those who did them to essentially turn back time.
Participants who followed this regimen were rewarded after
one month when Gaesser found that their levels of fitness
matched those of men and women 20 years their junior.

Splitting exercise into smaller blocks during your busy days
can build your confidence, says time management consultant
Harold Taylor. Missing out on regular gym sessions shoots
down your momentum and motivation. You may surmise that
fitness training isn't worth pursuing anymore because you
just don't have the time for it. However, if you can manage
to squeeze in some exercise opportunity any way you find it,
however small it is, it somehow encourages you to hang in
there and stay on.

Not a Replacement

Remember, however, that short exercise blocks are intended
to make use of available free time; it should not take the
place of your existing fitness program. Here are some
practical tips to squeeze exercise in your daily routine
even if you "don't have the time." Don't tackle all of them
in one day; simply choose the ones that work for you.

* When you pick up the morning paper, take a quick 5-minute
walk up the street and back again.

* If you're stuck at home to care for a sick child, work on
the exercise bike or Stair walker while your "patient" is
asleep.

* Set aside a few minutes to do jumping jacks. You can burn
90 calories in just 10 minutes this way.

* Do a few sets of upright push-ups while standing at the
kitchen counter. This works your arms and shoulders.

* Go outside and shoot some baskets or play tag with your
children after dinner.

* Take a moment to do a few dumbbell exercises before going
to bed each night. Sheila Cluff, a professional exercise
instructor at The Palms in Palm Springs, CA, leaves a set of
dumbbells in her bathroom.

* Join your kid at baseball or football practice and walk
laps around the field.


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Sunday, April 12, 2009

Do You Want Effective Weight Loss? Strengthen Your Core

Muscular torso of man


Ask any gym buff what the most difficult part about
working-out is and chances are they'll say it's losing fat
quickly. A major detriment to working-out consistently is
boredom brought about by lack of motivation. Of course,
results will come even slower by skipping workout sessions
regularly.

In muscle development and fat loss, how fast we achieve
results have less to do with body type (ectomorph,
endomorph, etc.) than how we eat and exercise. Losing weight
from body fat reduction really depends on how much excess
calories we have when we hit our pillows at night.

Any fitness expert will tell you that the problem of
fat-loss comes down to creating a calorie deficit- burning
more calories than we take-in through food each day. Due to
the sheer number of novelty diets and workout schemes out
there however, they will not always tell you the fastest way
of getting lean and forming a shredded six pack.

Core-strengthening exercises have recently been recognized
by experts to bring about faster gains in toning-up the body
and losing excess fat. The upper and lower abs, lower back,
the obliques and buttocks make-up our body's foundation- our
core. Strengthening our foundation will inadvertently
improve our strength, endurance and balance also.

The simultaneous activity of the core muscles translates to
more caloric energy being consumed, leading to fast and
effective weight-loss. Adding exercises that improve core
strength to normal workout routines is a good option for
frustrated folks who want results yesterday.

Doing typical workout routines are quite ineffective in
developing core strength. Normal gym routines leave-out
certain muscles of the midsection because of their limited
movement.The same applies to all those traditional cardio
machines, never my favorite weight loss method.
Incorporating Pilates sessions into your weekly workouts
will let you reap the maximum benefits of core exercises
and ensure rapid gains.

The wider range of motion and balancing efforts involved in
Pilates and core exercises recruits more muscle fibers
around the midsection. This entails further usage of stored
calories from body fat, toning-up the body and giving you
faster results and increased motivation.

Increasing the efficiency of your exercise sessions by
maximizing calorie burn can shorten the hours you spend in
the gym- letting you focus on other priorities. Improving
your core-strength will also lessen back pain and injuries
from bad posture at the same time giving you a lean,
well-defined abdomen.

Friday, March 20, 2009

Avoid These 7 Time Wasters In The Gym

Weightlifter


In case you hadn't noticed, it's nearly impossible to set
aside the time you need at the gym each day. It seems there
are always more "important" things to be doing. When you do
get into the gym, avoid these 7 time wasters.

1.Too much time in the gym - Cardio exercise should be a
portion of your time in the gym, not the bulk of it. It's
meant to compliment your resistance training and a proper
nutrition plan.

2. Stop stopping for too long! - You know if you're one of
these people. You see a friend walk in the gym who you
haven't seen in a while and suddenly your heart rate is too
high and you need to rest "for a little bit." Don't stop
every time you have a chance. It's not going to help you
reach your goals.

3. Plan, Plan, Plan. - If you walk into the gym with no idea
of what you're going to do, I can promise you there will be
a lot of time wasted. Figure out what you're going to do
before you even step foot into the gym.

4. Not having a backup plan - There is nothing more
frustrating then going to the gym with your plan in hand and
someone is already using the machine! Having a backup plan
ensures you spend more of your time in the gym exercising
and less time feeling frustrated. If someone is using the
chest machine, no big deal: Do push-ups instead.

5. Get intense! - Push yourself further than you thought you
could go. Physical gains don't happen when you're barely
pushing yourself. You need to be going to failure on almost
every exercise. Even if you're just building strength and
have no interest in bulk, you should still work to failure,
just at a higher level. Remember, bulk comes between 8 and
10 reps and strength comes when you're doing between 12 and
15.

6. No "cheat reps" - If you're like me, you've had a few
cheat reps when you're starting to run out of steam. It
happens and you don't want to beat yourself up over it.
But, you do need to realize it's not helping you. You're
almost better off just not doing those reps. Fewer reps
with perfect form is always better than more reps dong
incorrectly.

7. Not seeking the advice of a professional - If all the top
athletes have coaches and professional trainers, don't you
think you could use their advice? Having a trainer will help
you to get further along in your training then trying to do
it by yourself. He or she will help you to use proper form,
technique, rep ranges, tempo, rest intervals and exercise
combinations to maximize your results and minimize your
frustrations.

If you could only relate to 2 or 3 of these items, don't
just brush them aside thinking you're well beyond this
information. Take those 2 or 3 things and concentrate on
fixing them. It will give you more time away from the gym
and increase the quality of your workouts.

Thursday, February 12, 2009

Age - Destroy This Fitness Myth

Myth -- only the young should exercise and as one ages
muscle mass and strength cannot be increased anymore. This
has been negated by various studies in Harvard and other
places. It is plain myth and has no scientific basis.

With aging comes slowing metabolism, accumulation of fat,
clogged arteries, hypertension, thinning bones, sagging
muscles and skin, and a lot of other conditions. Exercise
can slow down the onset of these conditions. So who said
that those beyond 50 should not exercise anymore? In fact,
exercise can slow down or even reverse these unwanted
conditions.

Regular and age-appropriate exercise can help aging people
retard the onset of various age-related ailments. According
to the American College of Sports Medicine, aerobic or
oxygen enhancing exercise done 15-60 minutes a few days a
week is a great boost to one's health.

The safe maximum heart rate is 220 beats minus your present
age. When you are working out, you should target an increase
of between 60% and 90% of this safe maximum. What
cardiovascular exercises can you do? Brisk walking for 30
minutes or three 10-minute walks per day, mild jumping
jacks, gentle jogging in place, swimming, dancing are some
of these exercises. These exercises ensure a healthy heart
and blood vessels.

Other exercises that strengthen the muscles act to keep it
toned while keeping weight down and blood sugar at
appropriate levels. Exercises that develop balance can help
strengthen the muscles found in the legs, which can better
support the body and reduce the likelihood of falling. This
is good, especially since a good majority of broken hips
among the elderly is a result from the elderly falling.

It is recommended that in order to keep the muscles flexible
for movement and the joints lubricated, the elderly also do
a couple of static and dynamic stretches during their
workouts. This improves their ability to balance themselves,
but also to make it easier for them to move freely. This
will, on the overall, reduce the amount of pain they
experience as they go about their daily activities.

Endurance exercises help keep the heart and lungs healthy as
well as keeping muscles toned, joints moving freely and
other body systems functioning well. A slightly higher
metabolic rate stimulates a variety of organs to produce
needed biochemicals. The human body functions better, longer
when it is subject to mild activity than when sedentary for
long periods.

All these activities help raise the onset age of
osteoporosis and to minimize its effects after it begins.
Non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus is less likely for
the physically active. Certain forms of heart disease are
less likely for those who exercise moderately later in life.

Many elderly people experience episodes of depression and
low morale because they are left with no family and friends
most of the time. There is evidence that with mild and
regular exercise, these episodes are minimized.

You should consult a physician or trainer (preferably both)
before starting any new exercise program. Begin slowly,
especially if exercise has not been part of your lifestyle.
Build up flexibility, strength and endurance gradually.

If you have a medical condition, be sure to discuss your
plans with a physician and sports expert to develop an
exercise routine appropriate to you.

Monday, February 2, 2009

I LOVE BANANAS!!!

A friend of mine sent me this piece on bananas, and since its my favorite fruit, along with strawberries, I found it brilliant and thought it a good idea to share it with you. Read on and be amazed:

Never, put your banana in the refrigerator!!!
This is interesting.


After reading this, you'll never look at a banana in the same way again.


Bananas contain three natural sugars - sucrose, fructose and glucose combined with fiber. A banana gives an instant, sustained and substantial boost of energy.

Research has proven that just two bananas provide enough energy for a strenuous 90-minute workout. No wonder the banana is the number one fruit with the world's leading athletes.


But energy isn't the only way a banana can help us keep fit.

It can also help overcome or prevent a substantial number of illnesses and conditions, making it a must to add to our daily diet.



Depression:
According to a recent survey undertaken by MIND amongst people suffering from depression, many felt much better after eating a banana. This is because bananas contain tryptophan, a type of protein that the body converts into serotonin, known to make you relax, improve your mood and generally make you feel happier.


PMS:

Forget the pills - eat a banana. The vitamin B6 it contains regulates blood glucose levels, which can affect your mood.


Anemia:

High in iron, bananas can stimulate the production of hemoglobin in the blood and so helps in cases of anemia.


Blood Pressure:

This unique tropical fruit is extremely high in potassium yet low in salt, making it perfect to beat blood pressure. So much so, the US Food and Drug Administration has just allowed the banana industry to make official claims for the fruit's ability to reduce the risk of blood pressure and stroke.



Brain Power:

200 students at a Twickenham (Middlesex) school ( England ) were helped through their exams this year by eating bananas at breakfast, break, and lunch in a bid to boost their brain power. Research has shown that the potassium-packed fruit can assist learning by making pupils more alert.


Constipation:

High in fiber, including bananas in the diet can help restore normal bowel action, helping to overcome the problem without resorting to laxatives.


Hangovers:

One of the quickest
ways of curing a hangover is to make a banana milkshake, sweetened with honey. The banana calms the stomach and, with the help of the honey, builds up depleted blood sugar levels, while the milk soothes and re-hydrates your system.

Heartburn:

Bananas have a natural antacid effect in the body, so if you suffer from heartburn, try eating a banana for soothing relief.



Morning Sickness:

Snacking on bananas between meals helps to keep blood sugar levels up and avoid morning sickness.


Mosquito bites:

Before reaching for the insect bite cream, try rubbing the affected area with the inside of a banana skin. Many people find it amazingly successful at reducing swelling and irritation.


Nerves:

Bananas are high in B vitamins that help calm the nervous system.



Overweight:

and at work? Studies at the Institute of Psychology in Austria found pressure at work leads to gorging on comfort food like chocolate and chips. Looking at 5,000 hospital patients, researchers found the most obese were more likely to be in high-pressure jobs. The report concluded that, to avoid panic-induced food cravings, we need to control our blood sugar levels by snacking on high carbohydrate foods every two hours to keep levels steady.


Ulcers:

The banana is used as the dietary food against intestinal disorders because of its soft texture and smoothness. It is the only raw fruit that can be eaten without distress in over-chronicler cases. It also neutralizes over-acidity and reduces irritation by coating the lining of the stomach.


Temperature control:

Many other cultures see bananas as a 'cooling' fruit that can lower both the physical and emotional temperature of expectant mothers. In Thailand , for example, pregnant women eat bananas to ensure their baby is born with a cool temperature.



Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD):

Bananas can help SAD sufferers because they contain the natural mood enhancer tryptophan.


Smoking &Tobacco Use:

Bananas can also help people trying to give up smoking. The B6, B12 they contain, as well as the potassium and magnesium found in them, help the body recover from the effects of nicotine withdrawal.


Stress:

Potassium is a vital mineral, which helps normalize the heartbeat, sends oxygen to the brain and regulates your body's water balance. When we are stressed, our metabolic rate rises, thereby reducing our potassium levels.. These can be rebalanced with the help of a high-potassium banana snack.


Strokes:

According to research in The New England Journal of Medicine, eating bananas as part of a regular diet can cut the risk of death by strokes by as much as 40%!


Warts:

Those keen on natural alternatives swear that if you want to kill off a wart, take a piece of banana skin and place it on the wart, with the yellow side out. Carefully hold the skin in place with a plaster or surgical tape!



So, a banana really is a natural remedy for many ills. When you compare it to an apple, it has four times the protein, twice the carbohydrate, three times the phosphorus, five times the vitamin A and iron, and twice the other vitamins and minerals. It is also rich in potassium and is one of the best value foods around. So maybe its time to change that well-known phrase so that we say, 'A banana a day keeps the doctor away!'

PASS IT ON TO YOUR FRIENDS


PS: Bananas must be the reason monkeys are so happy all the time! I will add one here; want a quick shine on our shoes?? Take the INSIDE of the banana skin, and rub directly on the shoe....polish with dry cloth. Amazing fruit.


What's your take on bananas, and if its not your favorite what fruit is?

Monday, January 5, 2009

Training Your Body After Your 40th Birthday

By Ricardo d Argence

They say that age is just a number, but when it comes to
work outs and staying in shape that age factor is a definite
factor in how you will approach your fitness regimen. Some
people want to say that they are over 40 and they use their
age as an excuse for not maintaining a healthy lifestyle and
a regular workout routine.

Regular exercise and staying fit are very important no
matter what your age. If you approach weight training, diet
and work outs the correct way you can maintain a remarkably
healthy and fit body for many years, regardless of your age.
There are many benefits of both weightlifting and
bodybuilding. You can reshape your body, become healthier,
increase bone density and weight loss.

It is well known that individuals who partake in regular
physical fitness tend to have a better outlook on life, and
are balanced emotionally, mentally and spiritually. Exercise
also causes the brain to release endorphins which increase
happiness and the feeling of wellness.

Let's start with some basics, being over 40 means that you
do need to make a few concessions in your workout routine,
but it does not mean that you have to be a victim of false
notions about aging. As we get older, our muscles and joints
are less limber and this means that adequate stretching and
warm up prior to exercising is very important.

A time frame of 15 minutes is needed for stretching routines
so you can increase flexibility and lessen the chance for
muscle pain, sprains or other damage. Your muscles will
become better conditioned the more complete you stretch.

Next is a 15 minute cardio portion on a treadmill,
elliptical, stair master, or a bike. You don't need to strain
yourself when doing this exercise; instead, you just want to
increase your heart rate slightly and continue to tone and
stretch like before. This exercise will let your body know
that you are serious about doing some work.

If you are doing circuit training or a free weight routine,
have a quick run through without the stress of heavy
weights, and then follow this brief warm up by doing reps
with the appropriate weights,the next step should be to work
out with light weights.

When using the pyramid system, you add reps but use less
weight, then you start adding weight and decreasing the
reps, which is how a lot of the bodybuilders do their
workouts. Pay constant attention to your posture. This
method of weightlifting has great success for those who want
to add muscle and bulk to their bodies. Even if it means
decreasing the weights or the amount of repetitions, correct
posture must be your main consideration. This maximizes your
results and reduces your risk of injury.

You should be training with weights at least four days per
week and each session should be no more than 30 to 45
minutes. One could repeat a cardio workout to wind down
after lifting weight. This also give your heart and lungs
strength.

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Wednesday, December 24, 2008

8 Reasons Why Building Strength Should Be Your Primary Goal

Read this article right away to find a number of good
reasons why I think building strength should be your most
important goal (although you just want to build mega-muscles
and nuke lots of fat)...

1. Strength Training Is More Efficient:

Ever needed to lift something heavy? Move fixtures? Lift your
girlfriend up and pin her against the wall for a sizzling
make out session? All those things require strength, not
necessarily muscle size.

Actually, at times having extra muscle is not beneficial -
it weighs more, as a result if you have to run or walk long
distances it takes additional calories to sustain, in short you
have to eat more...

2. Building Strength Takes Less Time:

Majority of expert weightlifters spend up to 6 days in the
gym and some even do twice a day workouts. If you're like me
(or most people) lifting weights isn't your permanent job, and
therefore not likely to spend that much time in the gym.

You can turn in super strong training 3-4 days a week, and
spend not greater than 20-30 minutes in the gym each time -
That means you could be consuming 2 hours in the gym vs. 12.
It doesn't take long to improve strength.

3. Building Strength Is Encouraging:

Nearly no one has any goals when they go to the
gym, they think "I want to look better" but that's unclear
and open-ended. Knowing you want to add 5lbs to your
deadlift whenever you come in the gym though is VERY
motivating.

Plus, watching the weights build and seeing how far you've
progressed over the course of time is very motivating and
makes you want to keep going back to the gym.

4. Strength Makes It Simpler To Increase Volume:

Most weightlifters these days don't recognize that guys like
Arnold and bodybuilders from his day all did powerlifting
routines early on in their careers to build high starting
levels of strength and power.

They had a matchless "dense" look to their physiques from
all this heavy weight training. And were able to employ
heavier weights when it came to doing out-of-date
bodybuilding style set/rep schemes - so it was much easier
for these strong lifters to build muscle.

5. Better For Well-being:

There's been much contemporary research that shows strength
training helps to avoid age related diseases and
deteriorating diseases.

Losing muscle mass is an expected upshot of
aging, but strength training in particular will tell your
body to "hold on" to muscle mass as it needs it to continue
lifting weighty stuff. Also, your bones will become stronger
as well to support your framework of muscle mass.

6. Improves Self-Confidence:

There's nothing better than KNOWING you can lift a heavy
weight off the floor or press a heavy weight up on top of
your head. Or knowing that you have the strength to pull
yourself up and over a wall, up and over the edge of a cliff
and things like that. Knowing you are as strong as you look
is a big confidence booster.

7. Strength Training Is Better For Sports:

Strength is the source for all other physical qualities.
Boosting your strength enhances your power, explosiveness,
speed, agility, endurance, and the like.

Numerous sports - particularly martial arts -
require athletes to have high relative strength. They need
to be extraordinarily strong for their size since they have
to stay within a particular weight class.

There's nothing worse than putting on 20 MORE pounds of
muscle you have to carry down the field, or move around the
ring to avoid getting knocked out - and that 20 pounds of
muscle is doing you no good.

8. Strength Training Is Excellent For Females:

Nearly all women don't want to be like the hulk. They don't
want to gain 20 pounds of muscle. They just want to get
"toned". As I mentioned earlier, strength training is the
greatest way to get the toned look.

So if you're a girl you can get strong very quickly and
improve your health and quality of life without taking away
from your femininity in the least.

Saturday, December 20, 2008

How To Enjoy Eating Out Healthier

Dining out is a big part of our lives. Maybe you are eating
out frequently because you entertain clients. Perhaps you
don't like eating out. Regardless, if you want to keep a
nice fit body, restaurant meals will give you a huge
obstacle to overcome. In fact, eating out at restaurants is
one of the biggest reasons why so many people fatten up
while traveling.

I'm going to give you some very simple tricks you can use to
eat more healthy while dining out and stay lean.

The 3 vital things to avoid in restaurants are:

1. Any sodas, juices and other sugary foods (except fresh
fruits, which are great).
2. Deep fried foods (anything dropped in a scorching bath of trans fats).
3. Refined starchy foods.

Skip these 3 culprits and you'll eliminate most of the major
food sources that do the worst damage to our food supply -
trans fats, refined vegetable oils, refined starchy
carbohydrates, and refined sugars.

What you should try to do is, to skip the bread, skip the
french fries that come with every single sandwich on every
menu known to man, and reduce all of the heaping portions of
pasta and rice that are often loaded on your plate as well.

Substitute a salad for the typical french fries, pasta, or
rice, that most restaurant meals come with. And of course
eat your meat and other vegetables as usual.

Almost all restaurants that I have been to will always let
me substitute vegetables or a side salad for the french
fries or chips that come with all burgers or sandwiches.

Just a quick side note, it amazes me how many people
scrutinize my substitutions of veggies for fries by telling
me that I am 'not living' because I refuse to eat deep fried
french fries... are you kidding me! If french fries are your
idea of 'living it up', you need to get a better hobby!

Ironically, the same scrutinizers are the very first to
complain that they're fat, overweight and have tried
'everything' to lose their big guts. I'm not sure why people
think eating deep fried foods equals 'living it up'... I'm
for moderation with many things, but 2 things that should be
totally removed from every diet because they are simply
dangerous... is sodas and fries!

Take a look at the typical difference a simple substitution
makes between choosing smart and doing what other people
do...

Most people will eat a meal out such as this:

* soda or other sweetened drink (and no, diet sodas are
NOT healthy!) * Burger or sandwich * chips
or french fries.

A MUCH smarter alternative if you care about your body and
health is this simple change:

* Salad or fresh raw veggies * Burger or other
delicious sandwich * unsweetened iced tea or water (no
diet pop - unless you like to drink poison!)

Make these 2 simple substitutions and save at least 400 -
900 calories every time you dine out... AND you are cutting
out the most harmful foods to your body as well by avoiding
the evil trans fats of deep frying foods and high fructose
corn syrup from the fries and soda.

On a side note: a semi-secret method to eat full portions of
breads, pasta, and rice, and actually get away with it
without packing on the extra fat is to schedule a high
intensity full body resistance training workout before your
scheduled meal time. This can be free weights or body weight
training.

It may be hard to fit the exercise into your schedule right
before a meal, if you can, the meal can be your
'post-workout meal'. After this high intensity resistance
training workout, your body will handle a higher amount of
carbs than it normally can to help replenish the muscle
glycogen depletion it had during the intense exercise.

Your typical moderate cardio exercise will NOT cut it for
this... it must be a high intensity resistance training
workout to deplete enough muscle glycogen to handle
restaurant portions of carbs.

I hope these dining tips help you choose smarter and
healthier for a leaner body next time you eat out.

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

How To Get A Flat Stomach In Just 15 Minutes A Day

When it comes to weight loss, one of the most frequently
asked questions has definitely been how to lose belly fat.
That's not really surprising right? I mean, who doesn't want
a flatter stomach? Now while you can't specifically target
the belly when you want to burn fat, I'm going to show you a
really effective way to loose belly fat and strengthen your
abs.

The best way to go about getting rid of any fat is to
perform intense workouts. And to lose belly fat, this is
definitely among the best intense workouts you'll ever come
across.

This intense workout is known as High Intensity Interval
Training (HIIT). Why is HIIT so good? Because unlike
conventional jogging (for some reason, people think jogging
is the best weight loss exercise, when it definitely isn't),
HIIT increases your metabolism such that you will be burning
calories even after you are done with the workout. And here
is another thing really good about HIIT. Unlike jogging, you
can finish one HIIT workout in just 15 minutes. Who says
you have to spend a lot of time to work out?

Here is how you can properly perform the HIIT so that you
get the maximum benefit from it. All you need for this
workout is a good pair of running shoes, a stopwatch and
sports clothes. It's better if you head to the a track for
this workout. After you warm up and stretch, you will start
the workout.

What you are going to do is jog for 60 seconds and then
sprint as fast as you can for 30 seconds, then jog for 60
seconds and sprint for 30 seconds. Continue this for 15
minutes. Just make sure you include a healthy, varied diet.
If not, you will render this workout useless.

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Thursday, December 11, 2008

Cardio Is Dead - Get Ready For Turbulence! A Turbulence Training Review

It's Friday, which means review day...

Desperate to burn fat? No time to exercise? Now there is no
excuse, introducing Turbulence Training, the program that
promises maximum fat loss in minimum workout time.
Turbulence Training assures quick fat loss solutions for men
and women who don’t have much time for exercise. This is an
audacious challenge, and the workouts assure maximum results
in only three workouts per week.

Before we check out the plan, let’s have a look at the guru
responsible for the workouts. I’ve seen Craig Ballantyne’s name
numerous times in top fitness books such as Men’s Health and
Men’s Fitness, and also in Oxygen and Shape magazines.
So the plan is no doubt assembled by a respected fitness master.

As a matter of fact, Craig’s reports are always particularly critical of
conventional aerobic cardio exercises. Therefore, if you are
seeking fresh methods to pass 30 or 60-minutes performing
cardio, then this plan isn't recommended. However if you
merely have 45 minutes to exercise, a couple of times per
week, and you have access to just a work bench, dumbbells,
and an exercise ball, then you’ll enjoy what Craig presents
here.

Now among the most asked questions about the program
is simply, "What is Turbulence Training?" Well according
to Craig, it is the combined use of resistance training and
interval training to advance your metabolism, thus burning
more calories and fat between workouts. He says, "Cardio
does not advance your metabolism after physical exercise.
Only strength training and interval training do that - while
you exercise, rest, and eat - your body will be shedding
fat."

Luckily, Craig’s unequaled system of bodyweight
exercises, dumbbell exercises, and interval training can all
be performed at home, with nominal equipment. Therefore,
once more, if you're among those people who enjoys
machines, or cardio equipment, or long workouts, then this
plan is not for you.

These exercise plans are ideal for busy men and women.
However it’s not the type of program that's going to change
anybody into a professional muscle man. If you desire huge
muscles and want to look like a WWE wrestler, check out one
of Craig’s other programs. However the Turbulence Training
program is most effective for burning fat without losing muscle,
so you finish up lean, defined, chiseled and toned, the perfect athletic
body.

And its enjoyable! So many other exercises are
tedious (i.e. drawn-out cardio) or unvaried (i.e. Executing
the identical bodybuilding exercises again and again).
However Turbulence Training utilizes many distinct (but not
soft) exercises, including a few cool, killer bodyweight
movements that will establish a more athletic frame and
develop your functional and core intensity - once more,
entirely with nominal equipment requirements.

I also encourage this system for people who are barely beginning,
as Craig has organized a 6-week basic plan, and a 4-week
intermediate plan besides the 16-week supercharged training
system (PLUS, the Turbulence Training system is accompanied
by a monumental number of bonus exercises for muscle
building, bodyweight alone, progressive fat loss, and even a
female specialized bonus).

Every exercise advances into the next. He’s applied all of
these workouts with hundreds of clients - thus they're secure
and efficient. Certainly, you'll be able to find different systems
that result in you being shattered and barfing after the first exercise,
but Turbulence Training is different. Stiffness is not an issue,
only solutions count! and you're in skilled hands with
Turbulence Training, and Men’s Health expert, Craig
Ballantyne.

In addition, Craig’s Turbulence Training also
incorporates a declaration - essentially, your pledge to
embodying and being dedicated to the plan. It also includes
an ebook on Nutrition Guidelines from expert, Dr. Chris
Mohr, Ph.D., and a comprehensive question and answer
segment, a 21-Healthy Habit Building program, and the
full-blown Turbulence Training exercises for the novice,
moderate and advanced level individuals.

All users will also profit from the Turbulence Training MP3
audio where Craig describes the system, plus you'll be able to
check out each and every single exercise down to the bone,
complete with pictures.

Right, so bottom line. Turbulence Training is NOT…

- Marathon, boring cardio exercises
- A machine-based exercise system
- A muscle building plan to acquire huge mass
- A workout with loads of time
- Wasting isolation exercises
- A limiting eating program

Turbulence Training offers NONE of the above. On the
other hand, Turbulence Training is ideal for busy men and
women who prefer to burn fat in the comfort of their own
homes without an outlay of too much money on equipment or
space on exercise machines. Oh, and you’ll most probably enjoy and
not "dread" these workouts - heck, they'll be complete
before you know it!

If you are even just a little interested, I highly encourage you
to take a serious look at Craig’s system. I was really taken with
all of the Turbulence Training workouts, the bonuses, and Craig’s
incredible,and some would say controversial knowledge. For
what you'll pay ($39.95), it’s by far and away the hottest
bargain in the fitness and fat loss market - rather more
beneficial than diet tablets don't you think?!

And remember… Craig Ballantyne’s Turbulence Training is
endorsed by an 8-week money back guarantee. And this is a
serious guarantee… if you're not totally satisfied, you
will get your money back, no "ifs," "ands," or "buts."
So you simply have nothing to lose.

Click Here To Visit The Program : TurbulenceTraining.com

Tuesday, December 2, 2008

How To Achieve A Healthy Body Weight

The portion of Americans who are overweight and heavy is
increasing at an alarming rate. "Overweight" is determined as
having a Body Masses Index (BMI) of 25.0 to 29.9 whereas a
BMI of 30 or above is defined as "obese." According to the
National Center for Health Statistics, 56% of the population
was overweight during the reporting point from 1988 through 1994,
and 23% was obese. During the period from 1999 through 2002,
these shares had increased to 65% and 30%, respectively.

Not only is there strong proof that dieting does not work in the
long run, but of even more concern is the proof that
they can really contribute to further weight gain and turn
down in health. In fact, yo-yo dieting can weaken the immune
system by as much as 30%.

A search of the research literature on weight loss
powerfully supports the general consensus that key life
style and dietary modifications are absolutely essential to
achieving success. Here is a fairly general listing of what is
needed to achieve a healthy body weight:

1. Eat lots of veggies and fruits.

2. Increase protein intake to build and support lean muscle
tissue.

3. Utilize fiber-rich foods, which are more fulfilling and
encourage a healthy digestive system.

4. Promote calcium and other minerals to aid in the
disposal of unwanted fat.

5. Increase intake of omega-3 fatty acids by taking fish,
flax, and nuts.

6. Reduce amounts of "junk" carbs, containing
sugar and white flour to a minimum.

7. Greatly reduce--or eliminate--saturated and trans fatty
acids.

8. No alcohol.

9. Reduce the amount of food eaten gradually to head off the
unfavorable results of sudden diet.

10. Eat on steady, small snacks, to maximize calories
used up for energy.

11. Never skip breakfast. Always eat a solid breakfast to
aid in controlling cravings later in the day.

12. Be sure to work out for a half-hour, at least 3 times a
week

13. Get some sun for at least 15 minutes each
day.

14. Get a good night's sleep - 6 to 8 hours.

16. Incorporate all of these changes into your lifestyle and
maintain them consistently, and you will feel and see the
difference, guaranteed.