At first glance, smoking and exercising do not seem to go hand in hand. Smokers are generally not known for their stamina and overall good health. They do, however, put their health in jeopardy if they do not engage in some kind of exercise to offset the health effects of…
Exercising and dieting are tasks that are very difficult for many of us — just the thought of it makes us queasy. There are some simple ways to get out and get fit, and you just might enjoy yourself, too. Some people like to get up and head to the…
One of the benefits of exercise is that it improves cardiovascular fitness. Your heart rate, or pulse, is the number of times your heart beats in a minute and is an indicator of how hard your heart is working during exercise. Learning to monitor your heart rate will help ensure…
You’ve thought about it for a long time and have decided that you’re ready to make the commitment. But before you jump in too soon and find yourself stuck in a yearlong contract, there are a few things you need to consider before joining a gym. Gyms come in all…
According to the Department of Health and Human Services, more than 30 percent of Americans are obese (defined as having a BMI rating of 30 or more). That equates to roughly 90 million people. Unfortunately, the knowledge of this statistic alone is not sufficient enough to create a positive trend…
By David LaMartina After the squat, the deadlift is the most effective movement that you can do in the gym. Epitomizing the term “compound movement,” it uses nearly every muscle in your entire body, from your traps all the way down to your calves. Bodybuilders, competitive lifters, and many other…
by Trent Lorcher In this age of technology, many fitness buffs have forgotten the benefits of old-school workouts. They’ve traded gym shorts for spandex, blacktop for treadmills, and t-shirts for sports bras. If you’ve reached a fitness plateau, want to jump start your fitness routine, or just need to get…
If winter has you singing the blues because you have to set aside some of your workout routine due to the bad weather, don’t look so glum. Here are some ideas for workouts you can do in the winter — both indoors and outdoors. The main objective with any workout…
While some workout gadgets are worth their weight in gold, others are a complete waste of time and effort. Using workout tools correctly should lead to positive results, and each item should be affordable. These five effective gadgets deliver in both departments: Stability Ball Whether called a fitness ball, yoga…
The strong muscles of your legs help you walk, run, jump, skip, dance and hop your way through life every day. Finding the best leg exercises to shape and tone the legs can be a challenge. Maintaining your leg shape can be just as difficult. Variety is the key to…