In American society, flat abs equal beauty and appeal. That is why Americans spend hundreds of dollars and thousands of hours trying to obtain the perfect, six-pack abs, only to find that it’s not working. The reason it is not working is simple: Six-pack abs involve a well-developed muscle made…
A nice leisurely stroll is an easy way to burn a few calories, but let’s face the facts. A slow walk only helps shed the pounds the same way — slowly. If you want to rev up your weight loss, you want big numbers. For maximum calorie crunching, short and…
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…
There is no secret in the fact that exercise is good for strengthening your muscles and for weight loss, but it is also essential for bone health, as well. Weight-bearing and strength training exercises are imperative for strong healthy bones. While bone strengthening exercise is a necessity, it is also…
You may have caught sight of hundreds of workout DVDs at the local store or movie rental outpost, but how do you know which one is the best fit for your fitness goals? From kickboxing cardio to hip-hop dance workouts, there’s a workout for all fitness levels and tastes. However,…
Many workout and fitness plans get derailed by some common mistakes and bad habits. Be careful to avoid the following mistakes. Working out without a battle plan — Some people walk into the gym and wing it — with no sense of how well they’re working out all their muscles,…
by Shannon Beineke There’s a lot to be said for mixing up your workout. Varying your exercise routine benefits the body as well as the mind. It prevents boredom, lack of motivation, and weight plateaus. Those who have diverse workout routines are also more likely to stay on track. Nobody…
We all want a shapely behind. What we don’t want is the massive effort it takes to get a curvy derriere. We can attack this typical trouble spot with target exercises to tone and define the muscles of the butt. We spend so much of our days parked in a…
by Anthony Stemke Roughly half of all Americans say they exercise regularly. Want to join them? Maybe you don’t want to join a gym because you lack the time or money — or you are too embarrassed to exercise in front of other people. No problem. You can train at…
Beyond firming your belly, strength in the abdominals is essential because the abs’ central location in the torso makes them a linchpin of bodily movement. The abdominal muscles consist of four muscle groups layered at the front and sides of the torso. They are crucial for keeping your trunk firm,…