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…
Navigating the gym is no simple task for newcomers. Fitness equipment can be intimidating for members who’ve never used it before. For people who don’t already have a workout regimen, the choices can be overwhelming. The following pointers will help gym novices become familiar with their new surroundings in no…
by Ruth Belena “Stand up straight!” You’ve heard the command more times than you’d care to count. Well, take heart — mom does know best. There’s a lot to be said for having good posture. Good posture means standing up, or sitting upright, with muscles tight around your stomach and…
You’ve been working with machines, exercising your heart out and eating a balanced, nutritious diet. The evidence, however, is staring at you in the mirror: Your gluteus is particularly maximus. What could you possibly be doing wrong? The unfortunate answer is probably the type of exercise you’re doing. A large…
by Maureen Chapdelaine Cooler days call for a change in wardrobe, especially if you’re planning on taking your workout outside. With fewer hours of daylight and mixed weather conditions, this change in season is the perfect time to think about how to keep safe during outdoor activities. Do you run,…
Fitballs. Swiss exercise balls. Stability balls. They are three different names for one very effective piece of exercise equipment. Originally used to assist physical therapists, this giant inflatable ball adds entertainment to your workout. You can sit on the Fitball, lie on it, roll on it, put your feet on…
by Kevin O’Connell If what you are after are aesthetically shaped and toned legs and calves, there are exercises and routines to favor and to avoid. The primary exercises for the quadriceps and the glutes — thigh and butt muscles — are squats, leg presses and extensions. The primary movements…
How many times have you had the dreaded dream where you are standing in front of a crowd, only to realize you are completely naked? It is every woman’s worst nightmare. And it is pretty obvious why that is. A recent survey conducted by Fitness Magazine and Yahoo! Shine found…
Hiking — some define it as simply putting two feet down in rhythm, and so it is. It is walking extended in terms of time and glorified by specialized gear, which brings it in touch with a universe of diverse topics. 1. This is a diet sport. Putting those two…
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,…