June 08, 2008

Jorge Cruise and Tyra Banks share a secret to the Perfect Six Pack

Could this really be the secret to a sexy six pack?

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May 28, 2008

Exercise and Supplements: Better in the Morning or at Night?

With 24 hours in a day, you should be able to find some time for exercise, right? While most people can find a few minutes here and there, the question remains: is it better to exercise in the morning or at night?

Most experts agree that if you are an average Joe, it does not matter when you exercise; as long as you are consistent. With that being said, if you are more interested in strength training and building muscle, you may be better off working out in the evening as your core body temperature will be higher which in turn allows you to achieve maximum results.

As far as taking supplements is concerned, you need to follow the instructions to the letter. If you are taking a muscle building supplement, such as Creatine , you will probably want to do so before working out. But once again, check the label to ensure that you are doing what is best for your body.

When it comes down to it, if you are not an elite athlete in training, you can get away with working out morning, noon, or night.

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May 14, 2008

Bodybuilding is a Lifelong Lifestyle

Although you may be in the best shape of your life right now, what do you think things will be like in 20 or 30 years? Do you plan on keeping with your workout regimen until the day that you die? Well, if you are like Walt Radke, the answer is yes.

Radke is 69 years old and still competing in bodybuilding competitions. In fact, he is doing more than competing. Most recently, he placed third overall in the over 60 class at the Emerald Cup competition.

Staying fit has a lot to do with the exercises that you complete, and the Hydroxytrol supplementsthat you take; this has never been denied. But at the same time, devotion to a better body will take you to new heights and allow you to stay there well into your golden years.

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Lose Weight for the Summer Months the Fun Way

Do you want to look better than ever before when you head to the beach this summer? If so, it is time for you to kick your exercise routine into high gear. While many think that exercise is a boring, necessary evil, this does not necessarily have to be the case.

Believe it or not, people all over the world are putting on their dancing shoes
as a way to lose weight and get in shape. What would your rather do? Dance the weight off, or spend hours on end running on a treadmill.

By combining fun exercise with diet pill supplements, such as the Hydroxytrol Ephedra Diet Pill, you will be able to shed the pounds and attract attention this summer!

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April 30, 2008

Spice Up Your Ab Workout

Pump up that ball! 5 Ways to Make Crunches on the Ball More Challenging can help give you the definition you need fast as summer is approaching.

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Spice Up Your Ab Workout

Pump up that ball! 5 Ways to Make Crunches on the Ball More Challenging can help give you the definition you need fast as summer is approaching.

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Summertime Workout

I always find it easier to complete a Summertime Workout . Summertime spurs on more energy than any other time of the year! For women, one part of the body that is often overlooked during your workouts as a main body part to work on is arms! Sexy arms are essential during the summertime! Two great exercises' to push yourself to incorporate into your workout are the Band Lat Pulldown and the good old PUSHUP!!!

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March 21, 2008

Too Stretch or Not too Stretch

Do you feel guilty when you’re running late to the gym and you finally arrive only to skip your stretching routine?! You don’t feel as though you have the time to stretch when your late on your reps! Eager to gulp down cool bottle of Endorush 12 RTD Energy Drinkand start feeling the sweat...the last thing you want to do is relax and stretch! Is it necessary?

Many people routinely stretch before working out and after a work. We are taught at a very young age to stretch before sporting activities, especially high cardio and weight lifting. Stretching is penciled into most classes thatare elected in gyms across the country.
But the question arises, To Stretch or Not to Stretch? The Answer is Elastic

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January 08, 2008

American Gladiators Revival

People are a buzz about the latest old show to make a comeback. People of all ages have enjoyed watching the Classic battle of strength between our American Gladiators and the average contestant. The original “American Gladiators” series ran for almost ten years from 1989 to 1996. After watching the series last night it was clear the contestants were all prepared to battle against the Gladiators. Supplements like creatine , or protein shakes clearly helped them attain the muscular physiques!

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December 30, 2007

Words to Live By

As we all start the New Year and take time to reflect on the past and look forward to our future goals for the year, we should take the time to ponder the words from Nick Scott, a wheelchair bodybuilder
Nick broke his back in a car accident back in high school that paralyzed him for life. Despite the setback, in the last two years Scott has completed and posed in 10 bodybuilding shows!

Scott states “life is not about having a glass half empty or half full.
It is just having a glass that is enough to be thankful about”.

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Is Physical Activity the Closest thing to a Fountain of Youth for the Brain?

Exercise does seem to slow and even reverse the metal slide that often accompanies aging.
Most people are already well aware of this concept, but researchers are finding more and more evidence to support this finding.

Since it is clear Regular physical exercise can by and large help improve a person’s quality of life, it is important to Take to exercise and harvest the benefits!

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December 26, 2007

Bodybuilding as A Natural Stress Reliever

Bodybuilding helps woman forget problems

With the New Year approaching now is the time to relieve stress, feel energetic and start working your way to a new you!

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Common Off-Season Mistakes

Bodybuilders take time away from the sport just like everybody else with a career. With that being said, bodybuilders need to keep their body in good shape so that they do not undo all of their hard work. Of course, this is easier said than done during an off-season break or vacation. There are many common mistakes that are made in this area. Some of the more popular include: not eating enough of the good foods, not keeping up with a cardio workout, and staying away from carbs. If you are interested in being the best possible bodybuilder, you need to work hard year round. This is not to say that you can never take a break, but when you do, you must still have the best interest of your body in mind.

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December 15, 2007

Raw Eggs for Building Muscle?

Believe it or not, many hard core bodybuilders have found that raw eggs are not among the best foods for building muscle. Yes, you heard that right. Even though this was a huge myth in the past, it is more or less dying down. Not only does the thought of eating raw eggs disgust many bodybuilders, but they are also high in cholesterol; which is obviously bad for your health.

Bodybuilders have found that they do not need to eat raw eggs in order to get the proper level of protein . Instead, they can rely on supplements as well as energy drinks such as Whey protein .

Bodybuilders may have gulped down a couple of raw eggs
per day in the past. But with so many supplements on the market today, this is no longer necessary.

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New Generation of Bodybuilding Supplements

With all of the negative talk about steroids in sports, it is about time that something good comes about. There is a new generation of bodybuilding supplements that are becoming quite popular among online retailers. These Pro-steroids are more or less a natural variation of illegal steroid supplements. As you can imagine, these have become very popular among both amateurs as well as those who are hoping to take their career to the next level.

While Pro-steroids are walking a fine line between legal and illegal, they have been around in some form for many years. For instance, androstenedione became very popular during the late 1990’s and is still widely used for the best performance.

It will be interesting to see if these drugs, such as Permadrol stick around or are simply a fad.

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December 04, 2007

5 Minuets A Day?

A Better Body in 5 Minuets’ is this realistic?!?!
Bodybuilders know it takes more than 5 mins. a day.

Nutritional & bodybuilding supplements, Hard Work, Eating Healthy outweighs the 5 mins a day that is portrayed in this article.

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3 Off Base Exercise Tips from a Celebrity Trainer!

Exercise and working out are something that a lot of people are interested in. Unfortunately, many people get off on the wrong foot because they listen to the many myths that are circulating the fitness industry.

Check out three of the worst exercise tips as given by celebrity fitness trainers

1. An over abundance of sit-ups will help you to get rid of excess belly fat.

2. Unlike men, women should stay away from weight training unless they want to add bulk.

3. Working out in the fat burning zone will produce the best results.

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November 26, 2007

Bulking Season

Countdown to 2008 is underway. The Bulking Season is around the corner! The weather is cold, the midriff is covered… this is the season to bulk up. Breaking up the year into a bulking up season and a cutting up season enables you to make gains that you would never be able to make by trying to do both at the same time.

Workouts: Cardiovascular endurance is very important for your overall health. But the sheer amount of calories it consumes can get in the way of a bulking up program. The solution is to make your cardio workouts short but intense. Sprints on your favorite exercise equipment are in order. Another solution is to occasionally skip the cardio portion of your workout in favor of a heart-pounding strength training session. The key to this is to move from exercise to exercise with little to no rest between. It works out your heart as well as surprises your muscles. Any change in your workout will increase your gains.

Most importantly, change your strength training sessions to utilize the extra calories and nutrition. Regularly change your routine, and in general, concentrate more on heavy weights and less on reps.

Diet: As appealing as it is to turn the bulking up season into a cheat season… resist the temptation! The goal is to gain muscle, but if that goal is accomplished with a good amount of fat you will be doing a huge disservice to yourself when spring rolls around. Instead, take this opportunity to not only bulk up on muscle, but the nutrition that you may have cut back on during the summer. Load up on the fruits and vegetables that were possibly excluded before… sweet potatoes, berries, oranges, kiwi, pomegranate juice.. Include produce from all spectrums of the rainbow to ensure a broad range of vitamins and antioxidants.

Finally, increase your Protein intake to 1.5 grams of protein per pound of body weight. A two hundred pound man would, thus, need to consume 300 grams of lean protein. Since this is such a huge amount, it’s very important to break it up into 7-8 meals. Any more protein than that in one sitting would be detrimental to your goals.

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November 01, 2007

Exorcise with Exercise

The last great holiday between summer and "the holidays" offers many great articles on exercise and fitness.

Exorcise Your Fitness Demons

• What are your fitness demons? Excuses? Desk job? Eating habits? Brewskis? This article helps dispell them thoroughly.

Stick to Your Exercise Program

• Tips on how to be consistent with your fitness routine.

Yawn — why exercise boosts the z z z-factor

• How exercise can help us sleep better -- or not.

Exercise for good health and well being

• Who achieves the most benefit from exercise? The answer: Everyone!
  

Happy Halloween!

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October 29, 2007

Don't Let Winter Throw You Off

Winter's coming, and you don't want the freezing temperatures or short days to derail your fitness progress. Here are some tips to keep you on track.

Don't let winter put freeze on fitness: Urge to 'hibernate' is hard to resist

Although it may be tempting to give it up entirely, head for the comfort food and hibernate when it's cold outside, exercise requirements for health and fitness don't drop just because the temperature does.

Rebel Nutrition: Falling into caffeine addictions

As the weather cools down it’s only natural to cozy up with warmer drinks such as coffee, but the extra caffeine may leave people with a daily habit in the spring.

Get healthy at work

There is a simple way to increase your efficiency and reduce your stress, even in cold weather: exercise while you work. Slip healthy physical activity into your working day.

 

 

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Californians Urged to Take a Fitness Break

Southern Californians are being urged not to do too much outdoor aerobic activity for the time being, as a result of poor air quality due to the wildfires that have plagued the area.

SanDiego.com's Fitness experts suggest a break from workouts reports:

"In San Diego County, normally a paradise for outdoor workout warriors, conditions are especially deceptive because the sun still shines through blue skies. The danger is what you can't see: noxious particulate matter from the wildfires.

"Vigorous exercise outdoors could bring chronic pulmonary problems, and some liken the air quality around the county to that of Ground Zero in New York after Sept. 11, 2001. Even near Ocean Beach, far removed from the fires, a thin layer of particles had to be wiped off windshields for the past two days."

So take a break and "don't inhale."  

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October 13, 2007

Obesity and Fish Oil in the News

For the first time in history, the world's overweight population outnumbers its underweight population. As reported in Worldwide Summit on Fruits, Vegetables Unite Medical, Agricultural Researchers, "The number of people across the globe who are underweight has declined to less than 1 billion in the last decade, while the world's overweight population grown to more than 1.1 billion." Their recommendation? Promote more widely the eating of fruits and vegetables.

In other news, fish oil is not a risk for mercury and alcohol may have social benefits, as reported in The New York Times' The Inbox: Answers About Fish Oil, Alcohol and Eggs. The column answers these questions:

• So I know fish oil is good for you, but is there mercury in it that can be bad for you?
• I always wonder about these studies linking alcohol with breast cancer. Did they take into consideration whether or not the women who drink more than three glasses a day might also ingest a higher level of fat? Did they also look into their intake of red meat?
• How about: drinking is enjoyable? Seems that should be some small part of the equation?
• In your article about eggs, a researcher noted that “the large majority can consume eggs in reasonable amounts.” What is a reasonable amount?

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October 05, 2007

Workout Tips: Nutrition and a Cold Bath

Matching nutrition to your fitness goals and easing discomfort after a hard workout are the subjects of two informative articles.

Linking your nutrition needs with your workouts

Many fitness experts agree that the average person who works out for about an hour a day doesn't require specialized food or drinks, especially if they're trying to lose weight.

Fitness tip: Take a cold bath

“After hard efforts you have microscopic tearing to your muscles,” said Scott. “That tearing causes inflammation, swelling, aches and pains the next day. You want to stop the bleeding and reduce the inflammation. When you use ice it starts to constrict the muscles. Then when the muscles warm up again, blood gorges into the muscles and flushes out the toxins.”

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September 22, 2007

Uplift from Exercise and Breathing

Exercise and relaxation techniques can do more for you than popping antidepressants, say two new articles.

Sweat the blues away, study finds exercise as effective as an antidepressant

Regular exercise could help lift the cloud of major depression as effectively as an antidepressant, research shows. "A lot of people know from their own experience that when they exercise, they feel better," says James A. Blumenthal, a professor of psychology at Duke University and lead author of the study. 

A 5-Step Breathing Exercise to Better Health, More Energy & Longer Life!

Just five to ten minutes practice of this qigong/chi kung diaphragmatic breathing exercise will do wonders for your mind and body.

 

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September 08, 2007

Exercise Important for Regeneration

It's never too late to be healthy. Even cancer survivors and heart patients are finding the benefits of exercise.

Exercise, Yoga Benefit Breast Cancer Survivors

According to two studies published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, exercise—whether traditional aerobic or resistance exercise or yoga—provides important benefits to breast cancer survivors.

Exercise creates heart vessels

Having a bad heart doesn't mean you can skip exercise. Exercise may even help your heart repair itself, doctors say.

 

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August 28, 2007

A Gym to Call Your Own

Home, fit home from naplesnews.com tells about the possibilities of working out at home.

"Some workouts aren’t meant to be shared in others’ gyms, with social pressures, strange sweat," the article proclaims. Many people share this sentement. Karen and Jason Taylor are both experienced bodybuilders who converted the office of their Berkshire Lakes home into a personal gym after becoming dissatisfied with public gyms.

So what will you do with that spare bedroom in your house?  

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Wide Benefits of Exercise

We all know that exercise is an integral part of health. Read these articles to find out more about specific regimens that increase wellbeing.

Weightlifting does a whole body good

"Bone is constantly remodeling -- that is, old bone is chewed up by a group of bone-eating cells that are followed along by a group of bone-making cells. This process of breaking down and building up of bone is encouraged by loading of the bone, or pushes and pulls on the bone."

Bodybuilding: From The Pros To The Everyday Trainers

The dedication put forth by the sport's top pros may be a bit much for the average person -- a daily diet of 5 lbs. of meat and truly grueling training is a lot to ask. However, impressive results are attainable with a more tempered approach. People willing to put in a few intense hours a week in the gym and show some diet savvy are finding that natural bodybuilding training techniques have true power. They are feeling and looking younger. They are getting stronger and experiencing the thrill of having their physiques demand double-takes.

Study claims exercise may help fight fatigue

Exercising is not what a lot of people want to do when they are fatigued, O'Connor said. However, when studying for an exam, a 15 minute walk can help ease fatigue.

Fitness DVD gives heart attack survivors expert guidance on what's next

For people who suffer a heart attack, surviving is just the first step. They then have to choose the best way to live to prevent another one.

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August 05, 2007

5 Surgeries That Are Overused

 

Ever wonder if the surgery that's being recommended is absolutely necessary? CNN.com enumerates five common surgeries that may have alternative solutions. Be sure to be fully informed before going under the knife if one of these surgeries are being proposed:

Hysterectomy
Episiotomy
Angioplasty
Heartburn surgery
Lower-back surgery

Look to the article for information on what you could do instead.

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July 30, 2007

Life-Long Fitness for Long Life and Health

It's never too late to adopt a fitness program for increased energy, health and strength, as these three articles show.

Ventura County women find bodybuilding boosts their fitness and self-confidence

Jeannette Martinez never wore a bikini before becoming a competitive bodybuilder. "Bodybuilding has changed my life in the way that I am more aggressive, more self-assured, and I wear things I never would have dreamed of wearing," Martinez said. "It's a great feeling." Now 48, the grandmother's greatest satisfaction is when her 19-year-old daughter and her friends say, "I wish I had your figure."

At any age, physical fitness key to lasting health

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) recommends four types of senior exercises to improve strength, balance and flexibility and endurance. 1. Strength exercises 2. Balance exercises 3. Stretching exercises 4. Endurance exercises.

Weightlifting advised for heart patients

Pumping a little iron can help elderly nursing home residents and heart failure patients gain strength for everyday life, the American Heart Association says, expanding on earlier advice.

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July 27, 2007

The Fit List from MSNBC

MSNBC brings us a new blog, The Fit List: Workout Tips from Celebrity Trainers. Filled with great tips and sound advice, The Fit List includes entries from Jay Blahnik and Jeannette Jenkins.

Recent entries include:

• Seven Secrets to Avoiding Fitness Failure
• Hit the Stairs to Boost Your Booty
• Getting a Buff Beach Belly
• Your Home The Gymnasium

Visit the blog and browse around for some great fitness tips.  

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July 19, 2007

Wellness Programs at Work

Workplace Wellness from the San Francisco Chronicle tells how some pioneering companies are promoting better health at the workplace -- and they'd like to see their insurance costs go down because of it.

Wellness programs are a key component of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's proposal to overhaul health care. The governor views them as a method to reduce overall health spending. Several studies have shown that companies save about $3 in reduced medical claims and absenteeism for every $1 spent on health and wellness programs. "People don't call in sick as much, and we do have low turnover," said Stephen Dixon, Camico's vice president of human resources and administrative services. 

Getting an insurance break for going to the gym or doing cardio? Great idea!  

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July 09, 2007

Do I Look Shorter to You?

An alarming study shows that white and black Americans are now measuring in at shorter than their European counterparts, for the first time in over 100 years. We've been shrinking dramatically since WWII. To blame is junk food and shoddy health care.  

America's Declining Stature: How Did We Become Shorter Than Europe? explains: 

We had always been giants, with the tallest men in the world going back as far as the data exists (at least to the mid-19th century). During the First World War, American GIs still towered over the Europeans they liberated. But for three decades beginning at the end of World War Two, Americans' average height stagnated while Europeans continued the growth-spurt that one would expect to see during a period of relative peace and rising incomes.

Now, with an average height of 5'10", American men are now significantly shorter than men from countries like Denmark (6 footers) or the Netherlands (6' 1"). In fact, Americans -- men and women -- are now shorter, on average, than the citizens of every single country in Western and Northern Europe.

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Exercise Updates

Some exercise tidbits for this week:

It's better to spread your exercise time throughout the week

While spreading each day's total minutes out in three different sessions is good for your heart and metabolism, it is advised to get activity every day. Therefore, instead of trying to cram all of your working out for the week in a couple marathon days, spread it out.

Exercise can keep you fit beyond your years

King and his co-authors found that people 45 to 64 years old significantly dropped their risk for cardiovascular disease and death by more than a third by adopting four healthier habits: eating at least five servings of fruits and vegetables each day, exercising 2.5 hours per week, maintaining a body mass index or BMI between 18.5 and 30 and not smoking.

Exercise Is Tops For Blood Sugar Control

It's better to stick to exercise than to spread yourself too thin by trying to change your activity level, diet, and medication all at the same time.

A workout for your mind... and body!

A doctor named James Levine designed a piece of office equipment [pictured below] for the Mayo Clinic that not only housed a computer and a phone, but a full-sized treadmill. The idea was to keep moving while doing your desk job.

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June 25, 2007

Young and Old Pump Up at the Gym

These two articles show there are no age limits to keeping fit.

American Kids Shaping Up With Trainers

Kathleen Ballew decided her 7-year-old son, Jordan Sims, who will begin second grade in the fall, could benefit from some one-on-one time with a fitness professional. She had noticed he needed help with balance and coordination in soccer and karate. She'd also observed he was reluctant to do things kids normally do, like climbing on park equipment. Since Jordan began working out at Baylor Tom Landry Fitness Center in Dallas with a trainer about a year ago, he moves more naturally and confidently, his mother said.

Gyms pumping up the gray-haired set

When it comes to designing a gym, it’s not all about attracting the hard bodies anymore, and when it comes to senior fitness, there’s more out there than water aerobics. As more of America’s baby boomers start entering their 60s, more startup gyms are homing in on a more mature market. Nifty After Fifty plays softer music than the typical gym, and uses smooth, air pressure-driven equipment for strength training as opposed to your typical metal weights. So does Healthfit, a club based in Needham, Mass., where paintings adorn the walls and the average client is over 50. FitWright — a club that opened last fall in Dedham, Mass., which has seen particular interest recently from people in their 60s and 70s — offers a special “gentle yoga” class for its less limber members.

Nice to know there will be a place for us when the time comes!

 

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June 11, 2007

Strength Training Comes in Many Forms

Take a little tour of strength and exercise information with these articles:

• The Real Deal: Dumbbell vs. Barbell:  A great little primer on the relative merits of barbell vs. dumbbell lifts.

• Stretch, strengthen with Tai Chi: Read about how the "moving meditation" exercise of Tai Chi strengthens mind and body.

• Recovering Addicts Use Exercise To Keep Sober: For another kind of strength training, learn how addicts use exercise to stay on track.

• And here's two brief exercise tidbits from What Doctors Don't Tell You:

Exercise: You need far less than you think in order to stay fit

Exercise: The best time is after a meal, not before

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June 10, 2007

Dance Your Way to Fitness

This summer, many people are finding a more fun way to get in that cardio -- dance.

As Dance to fitness this summer tells it: "Instead of just congregating around the TV, pounding away at your Wii or PS3, or frying your skin under that penetrating sun, learn how to dance hip-hop, salsa, merengue, cha-cha-cha, and numerous other exhilarating dance moves."

Weight watch: Dance fitness gets popular shows how "Fitness trainers are inducing an element of fun and adding that zing to the regular dance routines - be it bellydancing, dandia routines, variants of the Salsa or even Bhangara aerobics. The idea is to break the monotony of conventional exercise and revamp the workouts to suit today's lifestyle."

Here's a perspective on adding ballroom to schools in China from a commentator in Britian: Come dancing.

And, in New dance, fitness studio strives to get moms and dads on their feet, you can read how it would be fun for the whole family.

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May 29, 2007

Go Green While Staying Fit

A growing industry of green fitness products is helping to ensure that your fitness routine is as good for the planet as it is for you.

In Fitness feels the push to go green, new products are described, such as "organic, non-toxic, recycled or biodegradable balsa-wood-and-hemp surf boards," "environmentally friendly medicine balls filled with sand and iron," and "handmade, hand-loomed, recycled cotton yoga bags."

On a more serious note, the International Olympic Committee reports that snowboarders worry about global warming's effect on snow quality. Surfers have noticed that climate change is altering the face of the sea. Artificial ice-skating rinks and flood-lit golfing ranges and tennis courts are energy-intensive and trigger gas emissions linked with global warming.

It's in all of our best interests to make our workouts green, so we can keep enjoying the sports we've come to know and love.

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May 21, 2007

How to Keep Fit While on Vacation

It may be tempting to kick back and relax on those two weeks in the Caymans, but it could also throw off your fitness routine. Taking a vacation from fitness gives some tips on how to keep your fitness momentum going even while twiddling your toes in the pool.

• Indulge in activities such as snorkeling, skiing or taking the kids somewhere that requires walking -- like the zoo, a museum or a theme park.
  
• Book at a hotel that has an exercise room.
• Get to know the area by getting off the bus or out of the taxi and start walking. 
• And, if you still want to spend time at the pool... Two words: Aqua jogging.

 

 

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May 15, 2007

Study Shows Americans Can Control Their Health

An article from InfoZine, Who's in Control of Your Health?, reports:

"The majority of Americans believe they control their own health, according to a recent Zogby/UPI national poll. However, a much smaller proportion of Americans are actually taking control of their health by making lifestyle choices that can lower risk of the major adult chronic diseases."

The article goes on to delineate the three major ways to prevent health problems: balanced food choices, regular physical activity and tobacco avoidance. These practices are linked to the prevention of most major diseases. Disturbingly, only about a third of Americans practice these healthy choices regularly.

The article concludes, "Research has been emphasizing the power of healthy lifestyles to prevent major health problems for more than 25 years. Perhaps the recent Zogby/UPI poll shows that we've turned the corner on Americans seeing the impact they can have on their health. Now, more people need to move from awareness to action."

 

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May 07, 2007

New Trend? 24-Hour Fitness Clubs

Cadillac, Michigan, has a premier name and now a premier service: a 24-hour fitness club.

Read about it in New fitness club open 24 hours a day:

Cadillac — Can’t find time to work out?

A new fitness club called Anytime Fitness hopes to solve that problem by staying open 24-hours a day.

“With all of our busy lives, we thought this would fill a niche,” explained Kim Lee, who purchased the franchise with her husband Jim. “This works great when the babies go to sleep, you can run out and work out.”

Anytime Fitness is the world’s first 24-hour fitness and tanning franchise. It opened in Cadillac in mid-April with a ribbon cutting ceremony scheduled for Thursday.

A security-access card will be used to get into the club after hours when the doors are locked. “We have eight security cameras,” Lee explained. “With a computer chip in your key, only you can get in.”

So hey, no more excuses!   

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April 30, 2007

Get Moving!

Dance is taking hold as an excellent way to shed some pounds.

In Zumba your way to fitness, you can read about this new exercise program, combining salsa, merengue, samba, cumbia and reggaeton dance moves to create a fun, yet effective, aerobic workout. "If you walked into a Zumba class blindfolded, the booming Latin beats might make it seem like you were stepping onto the set of a music video shoot for Colombian-born pop-star Shakira - or maybe that of reggaeton artist Sean Paul. When you removed the blindfold, though, you would find a roomful of people just like you: eager to step into their best summer body with minimal drudgery."

For a quick exercise that will improve your balance and cardiovascular fitness level while strengthening your legs, check out Side-to-side hops great for balance, cardiac fitness.

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April 24, 2007

Tips Re: Fitness and Workouts

Two informative articles give details on how to improve your bodybuilding workout and your overall fitness program.

5 principles of increasing fitness

Remember these five principles:

1. Individual differences
2. Use/disuse
3. Adaptation
4. Overload
5. Progression

7 Best ways to improve your Bodybuilding Workouts without Injury

Remember these tips:

1. Prevention
2. Proper Warm Ups
3. The Perfect Stretching time
4. All time perfect Weight lifting tricks
5. Be focused on your workout
6. Be Serious about your injuries for quick recuperation
7. The goodness of supplements

Check out the articles for more details.

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Sculpting Catching On among Women

It's not just for bodybuilders.

Having sculpted muscles is becoming desirable across the board, especially among women.

In a study done by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, it was found that 17.5 percent of women did twice a week workouts in 2004, up from about 14.5 percent in 1998. Men, in contrast, held steady at around 21.5 percent.

"Body-celebrating women’s magazines like Oxygen and Shape are part of a cultural shift that has led more women to embrace weightlifting, some fitness experts said. 'Women see this as an ideal they’d like to achieve, and it makes weight-training more approachable to women,' said Teresa Moore, an associate professor of exercise science at the University of South Carolina. Long-term concerns about bone loss, and a recognition that strength-training can help, may also be factors."

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April 17, 2007

Great Way to Cross-Train -- Boxing

Cincinnati.com's The Enquirer reports a new option for fitness: boxing.

From Boxing packs fitness punch: More climbing into the ring to slim down, reduce stress -- 

"Boxing for fitness isn't about competition. It's more about getting a good calorie burn, and improving core and muscle strength, balance and endurance, say trainers and enthusiasts. They say learning to box can even boost confidence. And you don't have to know anything about throwing a punch or fancy footwork. Trainers teach the punches - hooks, jabs, uppercuts - and how to move the feet, bob and weave and react quickly. Nationally, the trend has been called 'white-collar' or 'executive' boxing."

So, for your cardio, consider boxing!

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April 16, 2007

Kids' Fitness: Family and Fun

To keep a kid in shape, you need to main ingredients: family and fun.

Tennessean.com's Susan Cooper maintains that Family should take part in kids' health. Emphasizing good eating habits and increased physical activity, parents can have a huge impact on their children's health. And, it's important as well to teach by example.

In Download this, kids: Fitness really is fun, the OrlandoSentinel gives five tips for convincing a child to be more active:

1. Get up and get involved -- don't be a couch potato yourself.
2. Go on a media diet.
3. Commercial-cise! -- exercise during commercials.
4. Court the unathletic child with nonthreatening activities.
5. Make it fun.

Heck, some adults we know could use these tips!  

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March 26, 2007

Functional Fitness and Building Brain Power

WFAA.com gives a convincing report on the merits of functional fitness.

Go into any gym and you'll see people doing bench presses, but the reality is that you can work out more efficiently and benefit all of your body with functional fitness techniques. More of your body's muscles are working together in the way the body would normally move. You burn more calories faster, and your body's core will be stronger. ... If you're sold on functional fitness but lacking the funds for a trainer, Murphy suggests you save up for a couple of sessions, write down what you learn, and then start training yourself. 

In related news, CNN.com highlights a recent study showing how exercise benefits mental processes:

Exercise boosts brainpower by building new brain cells in a brain region linked with memory and memory loss, U.S. researchers reported Monday.

So not only do we look better, but we're smarter, too!

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March 20, 2007

Fitness Tips from Jari Love

Everyone has to start somewhere, and Jari Love started with fitness when she was just 16. The Winnipeg Free Press tells us: 

PEOPLE snickered and stormed out of the first fitness class Jari Love ever taught.

The self-described "overweight" and "out-of-shape" 16-year-old worked as a receptionist at a Calgary fitness club at the time. The facility manager -- desperate because an instructor hadn't shown up -- urged the reluctant Love to lead the class.

"I told him I didn't have any clothes to teach," recalls Love, whose receptionist's uniform included spandex tights and high heels.

"He went into the lost-and-found and gave me satin shorts and a used pair of running shoes and said, 'You've got to go do it.'"

"I did it. It was the worst class. People walked out. They laughed," says Love, who is now 41.

Despite the less-than-ideal experience, something sparked in Love that day.

Now with two teens of her own, Love has gone on to start the Ripped! exercise program (view her Website here). Jari named her program after the weight lifting term for increased muscle and decreased body fat. After many of her clients were able to meet lifelong fitness goals as a result of doing the workout, and spurred on by requests from those who didn't want to miss a workout when they couldn't make it to one of her classes, Jari developed her workout into a fitness video that people could use anywhere, anytime.

For more tips on how to stick with a fitness routine, check out this article from the Visalia Times Delta.   

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February 26, 2007

Fitness Tools to Keep You in Line

From the highest tech item to the simplest, you can find fitness tools everywhere.

Life Fitness, maker of the ubiquitious Lifecycle, has announced a new feature on its machine: a plug in for your iPod. Detailed in the London Free Press' Fitness equipment tunes up with connection to iPod, "The new fitness machines will allow users to plug in iPods and headphones and peruse their song libraries or watch their videos on the console. This will recharge the gadget's battery at the same time."

On the other end of the spectrum, WMUR.com recommends a return to the humble pen and paper to chart your fitness progress. Fix Your Fitness With Pen, Paper explains, "Thousands of Web sites offer to help you lose weight by tracking your eating. But you can accomplish the same thing with a notebook and a Bic. Experts say it can be one of the most effective, easiest diet tools -- just writing down every calorie that passes your lips and everything you burn off through exercise."

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February 19, 2007

Fitness Is a Lifestyle

As The Cavalier Daily maintains in Let's Get Physical, the key to total fitness is making it a lifestyle. 

It typically takes 12 to 16 weeks of serious training, depending on the individual, to "get fit for the summer," according to Daniel Harper, trainer and fitness consultant at Gold's Gym in Charlottesville. If you're reading this now, you're in luck, because 12 weeks from today is May 14. If you start now, you'll be worry-free by the end of final exams.

Not only does beginning to train early allow for a more effortless ease into summer, it also provides many physiological benefits, according to Harper. Men will lose more body fat and less muscle mass, while women can spot-train particular portions of their bodies.

Harper noted, however, that most people who have their desired physique have most likely been working to improve their bodies for about a year.

"Making it a lifestyle is key," he said.

And the Denver Post brings us a profile of someone who does just that. Diane Israel tells her regimen in Keep exercise & nutrition in balance: "Daily: A 45-minute run, 1-hour hike or 90-minute bike ride up and down Flagstaff Mountain, with nordic skiing at Eldora in winter. For agility and flexibility, three times a week: Pilates, dance or Gyrotonic exercise, a yoga-based system emphasizing arcs, spirals and breathing."

And, have you ever wondered where you should live to get the best support for your fit lifestyle? Surprise--Albuquerque! Albuquerque tops fittest city list.

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February 13, 2007

Fitprofile: Fitness for the Facebook Set

You know how we all talk about getting a workout buddy? Well, Jeffrey Schumann gave us the next best thing: an online version.

Billed as the "Fitness Facebook," Fitprofile.com allows users to track fitness and exercise statistics, upload progress photos, keep connected with friends' fitness, and connect with others with similar goals.

In Fitness Web site helps students stay in shape, Schumann says, "It makes exercising fun because it does all the dirty work for you. If Fitprofile can help even one person achieve their fitness goals, then I'm happy."

 

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January 15, 2007

One Way to Deal with Pain: Keep Moving

Let's say you've hurt your back. What's the first thing you'll do? Lie down? Ice it? Stretch?

Orthopedic surgeon Dr. James Weinstein goes for a run. He's one of a growing group of doctors who recommend that you keep moving, even when injured.

The New York Times' When It’s O.K. to Run Hurt, explains:

The idea, these orthopedists and exercise specialists say, is to use common sense. If you’ve got tendinitis or sprained a muscle or tendon by doing too much, don’t go right back to exercising at the same level.

The specific advice can differ from specialist to specialist. Some, like Dr. Weinstein, say most people can continue with the sport they love although they may need to cut back a bit, running shorter distances or going more slowly. Others say to cross-train at least some of the time and others say the safest thing to do is to cross-train all the time until the pain is gone. You might end up cycling instead of running, or swimming instead of playing tennis. But unless it’s something as serious as a broken bone or a ripped ligament or muscle, stopping altogether may be the worst thing to do.

So no more excuses! Keep moving! 

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January 08, 2007

A School Test Everyone Should Pass

In Obesity Fight, Many Fear a Note From School from the New York Times reports:

"The practice of reporting students’ body mass scores to parents originated a few years ago as just one tactic in a war on childhood obesity that would be fought with fresh, low-fat cafeteria offerings and expanded physical education. Now, inspired by impressive results in a few well-financed programs, states including Delaware, South Carolina and Tennessee have jumped on the B.M.I. bandwagon, turning the reports — in casual parlance, obesity report cards — into a new rite of childhood."

Not everybody's happy about it, however, because some of the kids are confused by the scores and this makes their eating habits even more off kilter. But this is an important step in reinforcing that good eating habits start at an early age and must be encouraged.  

In related news, The Mayo Clinic brings us this informative article: Performance-enhancing drugs and your teen athlete. This section is especially fascinating:

"Teens tend to deny their mortality and take risks that more mature people wouldn't consider. Here are some situations in which teen athletes might consider taking performance-enhancing drugs.

• Frustration. Most athletes reach a plateau at some point in their training. Performance-enhancing substances may help them move beyond it.
• Curiosity. Even athletes making good progress with their training may become curious and take performance-enhancing drugs just to see what will happen. No tests can detect some drugs, so there's little chance of getting caught.
• Psychological effects. Some substances produce feelings of invincibility and euphoria, which may be pleasurable enough that an athlete doesn't want to stop taking banned drugs.
• Peer pressure. The use of performance-enhancing substances is accepted by a significant number of athletes. If they think members of opposing teams use these substances, athletes may feel they need help to remain competitive.
• Implicit approval. Parents and coaches may choose to ignore signs of performance-enhancing drug use in teens who appear to be elite-level athletes."

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January 06, 2007

Warm-ups and Bouncing Around: Great Fitness Ideas

It's always fun to find a new way to move around. These articles offer something old, something new, and some plain old good sense.

Something Old 

• Add jumping rope to your arsenal of fitness: Maybe you jumped rope as a kid, but haven't tried it for a while. Add it to your routine, and see if you can still keep up! "Jumping rope develops hand, eye, and foot coordination, it can burn off more than 1,000 calories an hour, and it is lower impact than running. It does not replace any sport but enhances an athlete's ability in any sport."

Something New 

• Fitness fad combines roll, bounce, respect: Read all about parkour, a new form of aerobics from France, where runners vault, climb and careen their way along, letting no obstacle stop their progress.

Common Sense 

• Warm-ups, exercise, and weights: These folks need an expert to tell them what most of us know: warm-ups are good (although not to be confused with stretching); exercise is good, and you can get quite a lot of it while housecleaning; and if you want a stronger golf swing, exercise the muscles that move the club.
  

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December 30, 2006

Smart Tips for a Happy, Healthy New Year

Being SMART about your goals, deepening your understanding of your fitness regimen, and making small, incremental changes can be the keys to successful resolution-keeping.

• Fitness Guru: Get 'SMART' With Your Fitness Resolutions from Eugenie Jones

If you’d like to see your New Year’s resolutions make it past Valentine’s Day, setting "S.M.A.R.T." resolutions is the way to go. SMART resolutions are thoughtfully considered, scripted goals where the "S" stands for specific, the "M" for measurable, the "A" for attainable, the "R" for relevant and "T" for timetable.

• For the Love of Fit: Understanding can empower a fitness regimen from Milo Bryant

Too many of us are hurting our attempts at gaining better fitness because we do not understand why we are doing the exercises we do.

• When it comes to diet, simple change biggest from J.M. HIRSCH

Maybe this year try a more novel -- and more likely to succeed -- approach: small changes that are easy to live with, but that cumulatively can have significant and lasting effects on your health.

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Fitness: Good for Business

In More businesses promote fitness, the Press-Register reports:

"The push to promote fitness and health at [Celia] Collins' office is just one local example of the growing popularity of corporate wellness, or exercise programs sponsored by employers. These types of programs are increasing nationwide for several reasons, said Collins and Charlie Lord, chief executive officer of the YMCA of South Alabama.

"In a move to battle ever-increasing insurance premiums, companies are trying to encourage their employees to stay healthy and fit. Others have noticed the positive impact such programs can have on morale and productivity, Lord said."

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December 27, 2006

Fitness after the Holidays

Here's a feast of fitness tips for getting back on track if the holidays threw you for a loop.

• Party's over, feasting's finished, time to pay: from Stephen Glass and Terence Rueben. Sensible tips, such as, "Frequent, small meals, at about 500 calories each, will help to reduce the amount of fat storage. 'Think of it as a "dose" of food to meet immediate needs. Too large a dose, and you store the excess as fat.'"

• Test your nutrition knowledge: from Gwen Schoen. Quick: True or false? Fast foods should not be eaten when dieting. Find the answer in Gwen's quiz on nutrution.

• Fitness for the brain: Aerobics!: from Sharon Begley. "For the first time, scientists have found something that not only halts the brain shrinkage that starts in a person's 40s, especially in regions responsible for memory and higher cognition, but actually reverses it: aerobic exercise."

So keep moving, and keep in shape!

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December 18, 2006

Holiday Tips for a Healthy Season

You can survive the holiday season without wandering off your fitness regimen. And, you can encourage your kids to do so as well, with a few simple tips.

• News of Delaware County's Fitness survival guide for the holiday season includes great strategies for staying on track. One useful idea is, if you're short on time, to half exercise sessions rather than skipping them altogether. This can make it easier to pick it up again in full after the new year. Also, build some exercise into your day, perhaps doing a few laps at the mall while shopping. 

• Tuscon Citizen's Kids Fitness: Holiday eating, like life, should be about balance gives some helpful tips to kids (and adults) on how to handle holiday feasting. For example, kids should be reminded to avoid mindless eating, or camping out near the goodie bowls. Beverages can contain as many calories as food. And, your stomach is about as big as your fist, so you probably don't need to heap more than that on your plate.

Enjoy those delectables and be sure to compliment Aunt Sue's pecan pie. But just don't make January be all about getting rid of what you put on in December. 

Happy New Year!

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December 11, 2006

10 Things Your Club Won't Tell You

Ever wonder what the tricks of the trade are at health clubs? SmartMoney.com's 10 Things Your Fitness Club Won't Tell You fills you in on just how it is the clubs make money.

For example, did you know that:

• Most New Year's fitness resolution makers don't make it past April 1.
  

• Most health clubs aren't equipped to care for patrons who have a sudden heart attack while working out. 

• Chances are the "personal trainers" at the club are not that trained themselves.

For these and other insider tips on health clubs, read the full article.

 

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Get Prepped for the Winter

Winter's here, and there are some things every winter sports enthusiast should know.

• Snow Cones Don't Count 

• How does an athlete stay fit and healthy during the coldest months? Eat seasonally.

This article recommends strategic carbo-loading and "eating for warmth."  

• Immune boosters a growing food trend
  

• With cold season around the corner, germophobes are loading up on all kinds of immune-boosting products.

Both sides of the debate as to how much supplements help build our immune systems are presented in this article.

 

Have a fun and healthy winter season!  

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November 20, 2006

How to Keep Fit through the Holidays

Here's a little pre-holiday buffet of nutrition ideas:

• The Jackson Hole Star-Tribune tells how to Avoid post-holidays heftiness.
  

• No, it's not turkey that makes you sleepy! Southern Utah University brings us: Planning, preparation make a difference in season's nutrition

• Avoid diet sabotage over the holidays with these Nutrition IQ tips.
  

• And, last but not least to pet owners: Pets need to watch weight during the holidays, too.

Eat right and enjoy the holidays! Happy Thanksgiving.

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October 23, 2006

Want to lose weight? Be sure to get enough sleep.

"As the numbers of obese continue to rise, researchers are exploring the possible connection between obesity and how too many of us-both adults and children-are getting too little sleep," reports Karen Collins, MS, RD, CDN, in her Nutrition Notes: More Studies Link Lack of Sleep to Overweight.

Consider these statistics:

• Almost one-third of adults report sleeping six hours or less a night.
• In one study of more than 900 patients ranging in age from 18 to 91, those who were overweight or obese reported fewer hours of sleep per night than those at a healthy weight.
• Compared to those who slept at least seven hours a night, adults reporting 6 hours of sleep were 23 percent more likely to be obese; those averaging 5 hours were 50 percent more likely to be obese; and those sleeping four hours or less nightly were 73 percent more likely to be obese.
• A new study of children ages 5 to 10 associated children's sleep habits with the risk of overweight or obesity.

It makes sense: lack of sleep can lead to a feeling of low energy, which can lead to trying to eat more to make up for it.

So get in a full night's sleep each night, and keep your energy level up.

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October 02, 2006

What to Eat When: An Ongoing Dilemma

To breakfast or not to breakfast? Late night snacking or no late night snacking? Two new articles highlight the pros and cons of both.

From CalorieLab.com, Do Taco Bell customers really need a ‘4th meal’? explores the dangers of eating after your evening meal and also reveals Taco Bell's newest plan to encourage such eating anyway.

"Enter Taco Bell, the fast food chain and 'nutrition expert.' Their unique approach is to create a fourth meal — the one between dinner and breakfast. If you visit their website, after registering your age and gender, you are invited to play a series of interactive games looking for prizes that are melty, crunchy, spicy, and grilled. You get the idea. Madison Avenue has now legitimized late night eating — while we viewed it as a problem, to be solved."

From Kansas City InfoZine, Is It Eating Breakfast or What You Eat for Breakfast? reports on a study showing that eating breakfast is a key element for 78% of those who have lost 30 pounds or more. 

"Although it might seem that skipping breakfast would make weight control easier, studies suggest that eating breakfast may help reduce calorie intake later in the day. People who skip or eat an inadequate breakfast may find midmorning a time they are likely to eat high calorie foods. They may also get extremely hungry at lunch and overeat. Studies of binge eating consistently link it with a pattern of eating little in the morning and large amounts near the end of the day."

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September 18, 2006

And You Thought It Didn't Matter What You Wore

In a fun but still informative article, Eric Harr of the Marin Independent Journal answers the question: When are high-tops tres chic, and when are they de rigeur?

Functional Fitness Fashion Is the Rage explains that there's more to dressing for sports than throwing on the closest T-shirt. Carr writes, "The biggest problem with fitness fashion is the inherent contradiction from which it suffers. Fitness and fashion are at direct cross-purposes: Most functional workout apparel (such as Costco's Pour Hommes Sportive) are not fashionable. And most fashionable exercise attire (such as Chanel's Faux Fur Fitness line) is not functional. The key is to strike a balance between the two."

With great tips and some "fashion faux pas" warnings, this article will get you suited up suitably.  

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September 13, 2006

Weight Training Before Weightlessness

You might be surprised to learn that the men and women slated to spend time in the weightlessness of space need extensive weight training before going. But that's exactly what the doctor ordered for astronauts heading for the shuttle Atlantis. (Reported by AP and posted on wcco.com.)

Weight training is essential to astronauts counter the effects of zero gravity. That may sound like it would make life easier. But "training an astronaut for a spacewalk in zero gravity is not all that different from preparing an athlete for competition, said Jamie Chauvin, a trainer at Johnson Space Center." Chauvin says, "Just imagine lying in bed for 11 days." Apparently that's the best way to describe the effect weightlessness has on the body, with the resultant muscle loss and loss of coordination.

Effects are worse for full-time inhabitants of the space station, who live there for six months. Once back home, it can take 45 days of physical rehabilitation for the astronauts and cosmonauts to regain their bone and muscle mass and balance skills.

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September 08, 2006

Fitness for Firefighters in Bismarck, North Dakota

The firefighters in Bismarck are getting a workout.

It's all part of their yearly fitness test, reports the Bismarck Tribune in today's "Fitness of Bismarck Firefighters Put to the Test."

The annual testing is important, because as part of their duties the men are required to:

1. Wear 60 pounds of equipment
2. Haul hoses
3. Carry people
4. Tear down ceilings...

You get the picture. Cardiac strength is also important. The firefighters work out for an hour of their shift and have the help of a peer trainer. Their daily workouts include cardiovascular and endurance exercises.

Soudns like a great job for a bodybuilder!  

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September 06, 2006

Embassy Suites to Help Guests with Fitness

When it is a hotel more than a hotel? When it's a fitness spa and a nutrition center, too.

Embassy Suites Hotels announced today its partnership with fitness expert Rick Bradley and cookbook author Paulette Mitchell in a program especially designed for business travelers.

Drawing on research that shows that business people are 25% more stressed when traveling, Embassy Suites seeks to close that gap. Their Business Balance program, launching in 2007, will include complimentary in-suite television programming, Internet content, and other in-hotel information developed in partnership with Bradley and Mitchell. The program offers:

• Rick Bradley's 15-minute Work Out sessions available on complementary in-hotel television so guests can workout in their rooms.

• Paulette Mitchell's "What to Eat at 25,000 Feet" nutrition tips to help guests create quick, healthful meals on their way to the airport, train station or drive home.

• Each morning, guests will read Paulette's and Rick's coffee cup "Break-Facts," offering tips on how to energize the day through nutrition and exercise.

• Embassy Suites' and Rick Bradley's Internet "Bod-casts" will demonstrate quick exercises to rev up energy, stretch tired muscles and improve cardiovascular strength.

• Paulette Mitchell has evaluated the offerings at Embassy Suites' complimentary breakfast and has created the "Eat for Success" guide that customizes breakfast menus for different levels of business activities.

Definitely not business as usual.

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July 25, 2006

Diet and Exercise More or Less

Everyone knows that diet and exercise help shed unwanted pounds. But if you had to choose one over the other, diet or exercise, which one should you choose? That's the question behind a new study called "Nutrition Notes: Diet Versus Exercise for Weight Loss" by Mary Collins, MS, RD, CDN published online at Infozine. 

The "study confirms the overall research findings that dietary change--especially eating less fat--produces more weight loss than changes in exercise. But it also shows that changes in one kind of behavior may help promote changes in the other, especially among women."

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July 24, 2006

Gastric Bypass has Complications

The National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health list six types of gastric bypass surgery. The diagram shown here, the Roux-en-Y stomach surgery, creates a small stomach pouch connected directly to the small intestines. See the MedlinePlus Encyclopedia for other types of gastric bypass surgery. Typical reasons for having the surgery include obesity related problems like diabetes, sleep apnea, and high cholesterol.

But is the surgery worth it? In a USA Today report, "40% of weight-loss surgeries develop complications." The cost of living with obesity needs to be weighed against the costs of post-surgery complications. "Hernia, abdominal cramping, and pneumonia [occurs] in the six months after the procedure." These medical bills can be expensive. And according to the report, for those that are eligible, the less-invasive laparoscopic procedure is superior to open surgery.

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July 12, 2006

Big Losers Join Forces

Teamwork is key to losing weight according to a Richmond Times-Dispatch report that tells how Mother, daughter shed lbs. and how Having a Dieting Buddy Helps the Process Along. Maria Howard writes, "When it comes to losing weight, getting fit or just about anything that requires loads of commitment and willpower, it helps to have a buddy do it with you." Not only is a diet buddy there to encourage you, but your buddy might be the only one at a party willing to share a salad with you instead of a piece of pizza.

Partnering for success is part of what makes Weight Watchers successful too. "Weight Watchers is based on the principle that group support and weekly accountability make it easier to achieve weight-loss goals." The Richmond Times continues saying "Studies show that people are three times more likely to stick with a fitness regimen if they do it with a partner or support group, according to Web sites that offer match-up services for exercisers and workout 'pen-pals'." 

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July 11, 2006

Dieters Plan for Success

This year's 12-week Summer Fun Weight Loss Challenge for dieters begins July 17th nationwide. Diet.com will provide an expected 3,000 participants with a way to "focus on a healthy sustainable outcome" for their nutrition goals. The plan includes the help of weight loss experts, registered dieticians, and community leaders in an online support group and weekly instruction. As part of the Weekly Motivation Rewards program and the mini-essay contests used for encouragement, there's an iPOD waiting for a lucky participant.

Last year's challenge of 2,344 participants was a success according to Medical News Today's report that "Diet.com Summer Fun Weight Loss Challenge Expects Over 3,000 Participants." They say that in "a post-challenge survey sent to all participants, respondents reported an average weight loss of 14.9 pounds in 12 weeks. Over 80% of respondents reported to have more energy while the majority felt more attractive and confident after losing a few extra pounds."

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June 13, 2006

Fitness for Kids

Only time will tell whether a new program to help a nation of overweight kids will bring positive, long-term results. But if the past results of good ole fashioned diet and exercise are any indication of the future, there is little doubt that kids in a new exercise program sponsored by Tyson Foods and The US Gymnastics Association will overcome the spreading problem of obesity in children between 6 and 14. A fun exercise routine designed to appeal to the tastes and attention span of young children will provide "cardiovascular exercise, strength training, flexibility exercise and strength training" between June 13th and August 5th this summer in USA Gymnastics clubs across the country.

If knowledge is empowering, why not learn from world-class coach, Bela Karolyi? Karolyi says, "The basics of gymnastics are a solid foundation for building fitness, at any level." Karolyi continues, "I have always stressed that flexibility, strength, and cardiovascular exercise are important components to being fit or a good athlete, along with eating a well-balanced diet." While the children will obviously not become gymnastic champions, they will land on first-rate fitness and nutrition information. Who knows, there might even be an olympic hopeful lifting weights for the first time this summer.

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May 31, 2006

Exercise Motivates Us to Eat Well

Achieving a world-class physique requires a lean diet. To habitually eat well, researchers suggest that you start with a little exercise. A regular exercise routine, they say, motivates people to eat healthier. Following are a few fitness and health tips to Tune Up Your Diet from the Herald-Dispatch report.

Since well-intended dieters successfully achieve 60% of the weekly goals they set for themselves, aim high. Setting a goal to exercise every day means you'll end up with three or four substantial workouts a week. And as far as weekly dietary goals, weekends have a way of breaking our stride. Instead of relaxing with a margarita, sleep more. Restful sleep will optimize your weight loss regimen. More tips are available. Keep in mind that every road to success is not without its hiccups, just keep at it. The only difference between a world-class physique like Lenda Murray's (Shown here) and a beginner is time.

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May 28, 2006

Sun Light Is Healthy

All things in moderation, that might be the best advice when it comes to tanning. Everyone is aware of the harmful effects of ultraviolet rays on the skin when over-exposed to sunlight. But there is such a thing as not enough sun. In fact, a small dose of sunshine can be a natural source of vitamin D.

Five minutes of natural light provides "adequate levels of vitamin D [that] can promote health by helping to build strong bones in children and maintaining them into old age, as well as possibly preventing certain malignancies, in particular colorectal cancer" experts say in Sunlight healthy in small quantities. 

Five minutes of sunshine a day will not give you a tan. For that, use tanning products. Get vitamin D from the sun, get your tan from any number of tanning lotions.

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May 27, 2006

Dog Helps Owner Stay Fit

KTUV.com Health News acknowledges the health benefits of the Dog Diet. There are days when nothing seems to be working out. On a day like that, Patti Lawson did something we have all probably done before, she turned to feel-good food for comfort. Pulling herself together with pizza, chocolate and ice cream had fattening consequences. Ultimately, Patti wasn't feeling any better. The more weight she gained, the worse she felt.

There were no books or fad diets that could do what her dog, Sadie, was able to accomplish. As any dog owner knows, even the most lovable lap dog needs exercise. Compelled to take Sadie for walks, Lawson started walking regularly too. Lawson also avoided noisy food packaging like potato chips so that Sadie wouldn't be tempted to beg. And best of all, Lawson had a new best friend. Forced to care for her dog, and having found a happy companion, Lawson shed 30 pounds in six months and startd feeling good again.

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May 24, 2006

Sleep More and Weigh Less

A 16 year study that followed the sleep and diet habits of 68,183 nurses shows that women who sleep longer weigh less. Over the course of the 16 year study, those who slept five hours or less a night weighed about 33 pounds more than those who slept seven hours a night. Does this mean that losing weight is the key to weight loss? Not exactly.

There's no telling why this correlation between sleep habits and body weight occurs. Which comes first, the weight or the sleep? In Fox news coverage of a WebMD article, Skimping on Sleep Linked To Weight Gain for Women, Sanjay Patel, MD, and colleagues do say that, "short sleep duration is an independent predictor of future weight gain and incident obesity." And that "further research is needed to understand the mechanisms by which sleep duration may affect weight."

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May 22, 2006

Strength Training for Kids

Concerns over whether children should strength train or not go back to stories of damaged growth plates in children's joints. But the truth is, children can and should strength train to improve their musculoskeletal structure and for overall better health. Damage to growth plates occurred in children who were unsupervised and lifting too much. Moreover, "'growth plate injuries have not occurred in any youth strength training study that followed established training guidelines' Dr. Faigenbaum says. 'In fact, recent findings suggest that strength training during childhood and adolescence may actually make bones stronger'" in Strength Training and Your Child.

There are two main questions that Kids Health tries to answer in this article: What does it mean to strength train? Is it safe for your child? After making it clear that there is a distinct difference between strength training (weight training), weightlifting, bodybuilding, and powerlifting, Kids Health had this to say: "Weightlifters, bodybuilders, and powerlifters train at high intensities to be able to lift maximal amounts of weight. The goal of strength training, on the other hand, is not to see which child athlete is the strongest but rather to improve the musculoskeletal strength of all children while they are exposed to a variety of fun, safe, and effective training methods. It's important to note that weightlifting, bodybuilding, and powerlifting are not recommended for children."

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May 12, 2006

The Skinny on Body Types

Some body types respond almost instantaneously to weight training, whereas other types take longer to build muscle. But whatever body type you have been genetically endowed with, learning what it needs and what it responds to can help build the physique you want. So, what body type are you?

Building Muscles answers that question in detail. A short description of each body type will make it clear what body type or which combination of body types you are. It will be easy to spot the endomorphs, the ectomorphs, and the mesomorphs in your life. Even the well-trained bodies whose body types are hidden under layers of muscle have tell-tale signs that give their true makeup away. Building Muscles says, "to be the best bodybuilder that you can be, it is vital that you understand the different body types to determine which workout and dieting routine you want to follow."

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May 09, 2006

Reduce the Effects of Aging

It's recent news from Science Daily. Researchers at the University of Florida discover that reducing caloric intake and increasing exercise moderately can slow and reverse "aging-related cell and organ damage in rats." The research also suggests that as humans age, less calories are needed; By reducing caloric intake 8%, humans can reverse the aging process, live longer and healthier.

John Holloszy, professor at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, says, "the study is of major importance because it shows a mild degree of caloric intake--just enough to prevent weight gain with advancing age--can have beneficial effects against aging. From a scientific perspective, it is important to learn that RNA is a very good marker of aging damage."

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April 29, 2006

Download Free Fitness Podcasts

FitCast is a free weekly fitness show available at iTunes. The nutrition podcast is hosted by Kevin Larrabee and Dr. John Williams. Last week's episode, BodyWeight Workouts, featured well-known strength and conditioning guru, Craig Ballantyne. In the next episode, learn professional training tips in part two of the one-on-one interview with Ballantyne.

The show provides round-table discussions and interviews with leading nutrition specialists. A FitCast blog accompanies the nutrition podcast show as a forum for viewer questions and comments regarding recent and upcoming topics and guests. Visitors can also download FitCast episodes from the FitCast blog site.  

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April 28, 2006

Getting Fit in Six Minutes

Staying fit needn't take time. In recent BBC News, researchers at Canada's McMaster University found that six minutes of intense training can be as effective as six hours. This means that most busy people should be able to find the time to maintain a healthy body weight and improve muscle performance.

The risk in an intense six minute workout is in the excessive stress the body must endure. In moderately healthy individuals, these intense stress levels can be safely endured, but caution is given to those who are under-exercised.

This is not to say that intense spurts of exercise are better than longer, less intense exercises. The fact is, the two types of training can achieve the same results.

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April 11, 2006

Recover Faster by Working Out Harder

The Ironman triathlon is one of the most strenuous tests of physical fitness imaginable. So how easy is it and how long does it take for the body to recover from such a hard workout? Triathlon competitors endure a 2.4 mile swim, a 112 mile bike ride, and a 26.2 mile marathon. Researchers wanted to know how fast muscles and tendons recovered after a race: turns out that it takes two weeks in well-trained athletes. They also discovered that heart rates, cardiac output, and blood pressure return to normal in one day; three days for other bodily systems.

The bottom line of the study was this, the well-trained athletes recovered quicker than others in such extreme cases as a triathlon. So the harder you workout, the faster you will recover.

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