Showing posts with label fitness. Show all posts
Showing posts with label fitness. Show all posts

Thursday, August 26, 2010

How running helps you be fit

Jogging on a bright November morningImage by Ed Yourdon via Flickr
If you're looking to Keep fit or you need to lose some weight then taking up running is an effective way of achieving that. Running is a great way to improve your aerobic fitness. There are many exercises that improve your aerobic fitness however, running is the most accessible, simplest and requires no training machines or equipment.

   Running is the most common and popular form of exercise to keep fit with. You are not restricted where you can run as you can do it almost anywhere. There is nothing that can give you a sense of freedom as running in the country, where you are close to nature and breathing in clean fresh air.

   Running is one of the most important types of exercises as it forms the foundation of many athletic and military fitness training programmes. If you are thinking of taking up running as a way to keep fit or lose weight and you have not done it for a while then, you need to start slowly. Actually it is better to begin your exercise routine with intense walking rather than running. Walking will build up the health of your body over time and make your body adapt to the change in intensity. Once you have done intense walking for about 30 minutes a day for a minimum of 3 days a week for 4 weeks you can then begin to jog.

   You do not have to do running or jogging to keep fit or lose weight. Many people can find it hard on their joints especially their feet and knees. There are great aerobic exercises that you can use as alternatives. For example you can take up cycling or use many of the cardiovascular machines at your gym or health club.

The following are 6 ways running can benefit you:

1.Running can help to lower or reduce your risk of heart disease which is the biggest killer in the western world.

2.Aerobic exercises are great at burning of calories which mean they can help to get rid of excess fat.

3.By running on a regular basis you will gradually build up your lung capacity and cardiovascular endurance.

4.You will have increased energy levels and a greater resistance to fatigue.

5.A regular run will help to strengthen your bones, leg muscles, tendons and ligaments.

6.Running helps build strength and endurance to your lower body.

   Warm up before doing any physical exercises. Consult a doctor or physician for advice before doing any new exercise program if you have a medical condition or injury.

Monday, August 23, 2010

Why doing exercises is important for you?

Deep fried bovine testiclesImage via Wikipedia
What has happened to the United States that has made it such an obese country? We produce some of the finest athletes in the world (as evidenced every year in the Olympics), so why is the average citizen so fat?

We blame the food, and that's definitely a part of it. But can food really be the biggest reason that the country has gotten so robust. Is anybody familiar with any traditional (meaning old) southern dish that isn't deep fried? This is the food that our forefathers grew up on, and we're bigger than we are. In fact, we are continually passing new legislation to monitor calories and fat content of many types of food, so is there any reason to think that the food is much more conducive to modern weights than in previous generations?

I think it has to fall primarily on a lack of activity. Amenities and entertainment both require less bodily motion than at any previous time in history. As a population, we see an increasing number of desk jobs (at least in a normal economy), we spend more time driving than ever (I know people who are unwilling to walk a city block), and many forms of recreation can be had without moving of the couch. Many people can be entertained by spending 6+ hours on the couch watching television. Whether that should be considered a worthwhile way to use one's time is a completely different debate, but there is no doubt that it burns very few calories.

That doesn't mean that there aren't still plenty of ways to get exercise. Gym memberships aren't expensive from a standpoint of value (if they are used) compared to price. Most gyms also offer classes  such as Yoga  with their membership. Actually, many communities now offer free yoga or dance classes through their recreation department. Also, activities such as running, walking, or biking (once you have a bike) outside that are free and great for the body. Anything that increases your heart rate leads to extra calories being burned, and also works the heart (a muscle) itself. Most things that get the heart rate going are usually a bit enjoyable as well.

But, during the day, DO SOMETHING! Watching television, playing video games, taking a nap, and gaining weight doesn't count. As the wise say  be active, be happy, be healthy.

Monday, August 9, 2010

3 tips for your effective cardio training

KUNSAN AIR BASE, South Korea— Airmen from the ...Image via Wikipedia
   If you've been running on a treadmill in an attempt to strengthen your heart and stay in shape, then you may not be making the best use of your time. Some people go about their cardio routine completely wrong and won't get nearly the results that they could be achieving. Use these 3 simple tips to make your cardio routine effective for weight loss
and cardiovascular fitness.

Cardio Tip #1

   Does your workout consist of you heading to the gym, then getting on a treadmill or elliptical for 45 min to an hour and jogging at a slow pace while watching TV or reading a book? If so, then you're probably not making much progress.

   When you hop on the treadmill you should always ramp up the intensity. If you push yourself just a little harder you could start to see much better results, both in fat burning and in your heart & lung strength.

Cardio Tip #2

   If you're used to jogging on a flat surface when you do your cardio workout, try going on an incline. Most machines in gyms today can do this no problem. Running on an incline can help you engage more of your muscles and will help you work harder and it's easier on your joints.

Cardio Tip #3

   Remember how I asked you if you were reading a book or watching TV while you do your cardio workout? If you are, you should stop immediately. Focusing on something else will destroy your results and you won't get near the workout you would if you paid attention to your workout. You're at the gym so you might as well make it count.

Thursday, August 5, 2010

Get the maximum of your yoga practice

MIAMI BEACH, FL - JUNE 11:  (L-R) Hector Garci...Image by Getty Images via @daylife
Every part of our physical, emotional, and endocrinal being is affected by stress. This type of thing can be corrected with the assistance of yoga.

   At the physical level, yoga along with its cleansing practices, have been shown to be highly successful for several disorders.

The following is a list of a few of the benefits of yoga that you can achieve.

   Benefits of Yoga 1: Yoga increases flexibility, as yoga has positions that trigger the various joints of the body. This involves joints that are not used in standard exercise routines.

   Benefits of Yoga 2: Yoga raises the amount of lubrication in joints, ligaments, and tendons too. The thoroughly researched yoga positions work the various tendons and ligaments of the body. It's also been noted that the body that practices yoga stiffly might have a truly amazing amount of limberness in the end with the body parts that have not been knowingly been worked on.

   Benefits of Yoga 3: All of the bodies organs are additionally massaged by Yoga. Yoga may be the only exercise that can work your internal organs thoroughly, even the ones that rarely get external stimulation over the course of our whole lives.

   Benefits of Yoga 4: Yoga works in a wholesome way on the different parts of the body. This stimulation and massage of the organ helps us by staving off disease and giving advance warning at the earliest onset of disease or illness. One of the long term benefits of yoga is the unusual feeling of awareness that it develops in the practitioner of an upcoming health problem or an infection. This then lets the person take preemptive actions to correct it.

   Benefits of Yoga 5: Yoga gives a total detoxification of the body. It stretches the muscles and joints, and additionally, massages different organs, as yoga supports better blood circulation to various areas of the body. This aids in flushing out toxins from all parts of the body along with giving nourishment up to the final point. Benefits like added energy, a renewed zest for life, and a delay in the aging process are brought on by this.

   Benefits of Yoga 6: Yoga can also be a great way to tone muscles. Excess flaccidity and fat are worked off of any muscles that have become flaccid or weak by using repeated stimulation.

   These physical benefits are not even the true purpose of yoga. When the body and mind are in harmony, which happens because of yoga, the benefits are remarkable.

   It is now widely known that the power of the mind has let people do amazing physical feats, which confirms the mind and body have a real connection.

   As a matter of fact, yoga equals meditation, since both work jointly in attaining the mutual goal of oneness of mind, body, and spirit that lead to the feeling of eternal bliss that you can only get through yoga.

   The meditative practices via yoga aid in attaining an emotional stability by way of detachment.

   This brings amazing relaxations and positive feelings, which also have excellent advantages for the bodies physical health.


Wednesday, August 4, 2010

Keep your legs, hips and back flexible - Top 7 tips

SALLE_DE_FITNESS_3.jpgImage via Wikipedia
   How much time should you spend stretching? This is up to you. To do all the repetitions of all exercises in the following would take at least 30 minutes. It is encouraged to try all the stretches and then decide what works best for you. You may choose to do only a few exercises that seem most helpful for your back condition. Or you may decide to do fewer repetitions of each exercise. Or you may do everything. You are the best person to decide what works for you. The exercises do not all have to be done at once. You can do a little here and there over the course of your day. Here are some of the tips that you can consider to adopt.


1. Trunk Rotation