Walking for Health

You want to start with something you know you can do every day.  So starting off by lifting heavy heights or doing sprints right away are going to leave your body sore and make you less likely to workout the next day.

Lunch Break Walking

A great way to start a workout routine is by taking a half hour walk during the lunch hour.  The goals right now are to get your heart pumping, break a little sweat and make your body to want to do it again the next day.  Once you get into a routine, your body will crave the exercise and will begin to want more.  Also, walking will prepare your legs for the running you’ll be doing in the coming weeks, which we’ll get into in my next article.

By Kevin Finley

Mind Exercise

Consider isometric exercise. First, place your left hand flat across your right chest and shoulder. Take your right hand and extend it to the side. Make a fist and imagine that you are pulling a beautiful new Mercedes in front of you. The car is heavy, imagine the brakes on, but pull with all your might—if you can pull that monster 5-series hard enough, it will be yours.

In reality, there is no car, no handle, and no brakes. But if you put your mind into that visualization, your pecs were rippling under your left hand and if you were in front of a mirror you saw the pump.

But you never touched a weight.

That was your mind working the muscle. And that’s the only way a muscle works to achieve the anaerobic effect that builds strength and size.

Mind Exercises

Mind Muscle Control

This is nothing new to weight lifters. The mirrors in gyms are not for the benefit of looking at beautiful bodies, the mirrors are there so lifters can better focus on the muscle they are working. The mind, not the weight, creates the catalyst for a chain reaction that is anaerobic (without oxygen) and creates ultimate strength. It only lasts a minute or so, which is why boxing rounds are so short.

My brother used these techniques to break handcuffs, pop tennis balls in his hands, bend quarters and even survive hanging. Crazy? No, there’s plenty of evidence, in first hand witnesses, video and print.

Exercise with No Results

If you’ve been working out on a regular basis with no results, then you are not truly making the mind-muscle connection. Sometimes I call this ugly face exercise: it’s the point when you are exercising where you grit your teeth, your eyes are not really focused and you may not for the moment know where you are or what you’re doing, other than giving it 110%. That is when you’ve your anaerobic range. That is when you’ve told your body to deliver more nutrients for muscle tone and strength and for bone density. Your body is devouring carbs and you’ve also sparked your metabolism to stay on the ready for the next 24 hours, thereby burning more calories.

So, want to exercise brainless or do you want to incorporate some mental muscle?

By Laura Dayton

Yes, there are numerous reasons or excuses one can cite for carrying around those extra pounds. Many people blame a fast-paced lifestyle that doesn’t allow proper time for good eating. Some point to poor metabolism, believing that counting calories just won’t work for them. Most commonly, though, the real reason is a diet high in fat and calories and low in fiber and nutrients, along with an insufficient level of exercise. While nutrition is extremely important, it goes hand-in-hand with burning calories through some sort of fitness plan.

Exercise Procrastination Exercise

Many people who have experienced a roller-coaster ride of weight highs and lows have failed to integrate proper nutrition and exercise into their daily lifestyle. Often, these same people have always impulsively turned to the latest diet trend, only to become discouraged when the most current weight-loss trick didn’t peel away the pounds as was promised. Does this sound familiar?

If you’ve passionately followed a fad diet only to find it didn’t work, you may have gotten discouraged. If you’ve ever lost weight quickly only to rebound with the same old bad habits when you reached your target, you know that diet integrity needs to be a constant element of your lifestyle. Maybe you have decided that you just don’t have the patience for that long road that is the only real path to the sexy figure you long for. Or maybe you’re clinging to the excuse that losing weight just isn’t in the cards for you. Nonsense!

Stop the Procrastination

The fact is you can change your metabolism by boosting it with aerobic activity. And you can lose pounds forever if you maintain a higher standard for what you put in your mouth. It may not happen quickly, but it will happen if you follow the rules. Why then, are you putting it off?

You have probably delayed your diet for any one of a few reasons mentioned above. It could be disillusionment atprevious failed attempts. It could be the fear that you will never lose the weight. Or, quite simply, it could be that you are addicted to the comfort that certain foods provide.

When you lose the weight, (and you will if you just stick with it), you’ll have more energy. You’ll probably have a more upbeat outlook. And your health will certainly be greatly improved.

You’ve surely heard the adage about today being the first day of the rest of your life. That’s a poignant message for anyone who needs to reclaim their health through weight loss. So stop procrastinating. There is no tomorrow in weight loss.

By Mike Brooks

Home Exercise Routines

This workout will combine quick bursts of cardio to get your heart rate up in the right target zone (to find out what this zone is for you check this article out on calculating your target heartrate and then incorporate strength moves to get you lean and toned.  The best part is you can do this routine virtually anywhere, even while catching up on your favorite TV shows!

Jog in place for 5 minutes—it’s always best to warm-up into any routine

15 push-ups—drop on the floor and pump these out without a break

15 chair dips—keeping the momentum, place your hands on a stationary chair or chair step and extend your feet in front of you; lower yourself until your arms are bent at the elbow at 90 degrees and parallel to the floor, and then raise yourself back up until your arms are straight

Jump rope for 5 minutes—if you don’t have a rope, just jump in place keeping your heart pumping

Home Exercise Alternatives

30 lunges—hands on hips and feet together, extend your right leg and drop into a deep lunge until your left knee is almost touching the floor and then push yourself back to the starting position and repeat with your left leg in front. Do 15 on each leg for a total of 30 lunges

15 bicep curls—grabbing either 5 or 10 pound weights, or you can get creative and use filled water bottles or even canned goods; as long as you feel the burn my the last few

Stair stepping for 5 minutes—finding either a step or raised surface alternate stepping your feet one at a time up onto the stair and then down; you will stay in the same place, but with one foot on the stair and the other under you as you quickly switch the positions of your feet

15 squats—squat down low and work to keep your weight balanced on your heels

Home Exercises

15 upright rows—grabbing your weights or water bottles stand with your feet shoulder width apart and arms hanging in front of your hips; pull your arms upward in front of your torso until your upper arms are at shoulder height and bent at the elbow.  Lower your arms and repeat.

Scissor step for 5 minutes—place your hands and feet on the floor and bend at the waist so that your bottom is toward the ceiling.  Alternate hopping your right foot forward and then switch positions so that your left leg jumps forward as your right goes back

30 second plank—placing yourself in the push-up position, hold yourself up concentrating on pulling your abs in and keeping your back straight

30 crunches

5 minutes sideways hops—facing forward with your feet together jump first to the right and then the left; keep yourself working and sweating!

15 side arm raises—with a weight in each hand and your arms at your side, keep your arms straight and lift them until they are shoulder height and parallel with the ground.  Lower your arms and repeat.

30 front punches—with the same weights alternate punching one arm in front of you and then the other for a total of 15 punches on each side.

5 minutes running in place—gradually work yourself into a cool-down

You’ve just done a perfect total body workout while getting your pulse moving and lungs working.  The strength moves will help build muscle and the combined cardio will help you torch calories, and the best part is you didn’t have to spend a penny!

By Caitlin Chock

'The Pistol' - One Legged Squat

Before Getting Started

The one legged squat is a lot like a regular two legged squat except that you are standing on only one leg. I’m sure that seems pretty obvious, but my point in stating that fact is to remind you that the same elements that make for good form during a regular squat must still be considered. Maintaining good posture, keeping your knee (on the squatting leg) from tracking forward in front of your toes, and achieving parallel depth are all essential components of any safe, effective squat–regardless of if you’re using one or both legs.

One Legged Squat

If you are going to be working towards single leg squats, there are a few prerequisites that you ought to have out of the way to ensure a solid foundation. You should be able to perform a proper two legged squat with resistance that is equal to your body weight (ladies this goes for you too!), or if you aren’t into going for one rep maxes, you should be comfortable squatting at least 65% of your body weight for multiple reps. Additionally, you should ensure that your form while doing these is safe by having a qualified supervisor watch you and look for any red flags. For example, if your heels come off the ground while you do your squats then you are probably not ready to try a single leg squat yet.   Also keep in mind that while one legged squats are great for building your legs, but they also require a ton of core strength.

Bottom Up and Top Down

Now that we’ve gotten that taken care of, there are a few ways to approach training your body to do a one-legger. One method is to start from the bottom up. While sitting down on a bench, lift one foot off the ground. Lean forward and use the heel of your other foot to push into the floor while squeezing your abs tight, puffing your chest out, and reaching your arms out in front. Once you get to the top, try to lower yourself slowly and repeat. You will likely lose control during the lowering phase and wind up plopping down onto the bench at the bottom. That’s fine for now. In time your control will improve to the point where you no longer need to sit on the bench.

Another One-Legged Squat

Another method to employ while practicing towards doing a one legged squat is to practice from the top down. Stand on a bench, a bit off to the side with one foot hanging off the edge. Squat down so that one leg drops below the level of the bench. Make sure you stick out your hips and butt, and lean forward a bit–otherwise your balance will be off. If you are having a hard time balancing with this, hold onto something to guide you. A resista-band that is securely in place or a cable machine balanced with a full weight stack are great options. A broom handle works well too if you are doing these at home. If you have a training partner, have them assist you by either holding your hand or standing right by you so that you can grab them if you lose your balance. This is an exercise that I will literally hold my client’s hand through the first time they try it!

Other Variations

In time you can progress to doing them on your own. Then you can try coming down off the bench. When you’re standing on the ground, you’ll reach your other leg farther out in the air and hold it as close to parallel with the ground as you can. This is commonly referred to as a pistol squat. A lot of people find holding the other leg out to be the real challenge of performing a solid pistol.

Another variation is to perform them with your secondary leg crossed over the squatting leg. This gives extra stability and is sometimes easier for beginners. However, for those of us with tight hips, this position adds a flexibility challenge that isn’t a concern with the pistol squat. Each variation will be a unique experience on your journey, and a unique challenge to you as an individual. As always, experiment with as many variations as you can. And of course, don’t just sit there reading this–get out there and live it!

There are some great Yoga shows in the mornings. In Australia, men everywhere tuned in at 6am to watch Gloria and the girls on Mats outside the Opera House. In the US, there are a tonne of Live Exercise Programs that radiate over Networks at all hours of the day and night.

TV Yoga

The problem? You can’t rely on TV for fitness.

Yes that’s right! While it’s tempting to sit in front of the television and put on your favorite exercise program, you might be forgetting one very simple thing that make the television an incredibly ineffective device for exercise…It’s addictive. Shocking I know. But in all seriousness, how can anyone be expected to exercise effectively if their only motivation for performing the exercises is doing them in-sync with a program on television.

More TV Yoga

Grow up! TV is not the answer. You don’t need someone to do the exercises in front of you. Learn them once, remember them and get outside to exercise as hard and as fast as you can. one other problem associated with exercise programs on television is that they change so regularly. Times, hosts, programs, they can all be different from day to day. Exercising to TV program offers no stability and no motivation. Two things that are essential to maintaining a healthy exercise regime.

Get off the couch, changing channels won’t help you!

By Tim Howard

“The Zone” is sometimes hard to find. It is often said to be a mythical place that only the greatest athletes will ever visit. Alternatively, some people believe that “The Zone” is a state of mind. But it’s much simpler than that. You know that girl with the ponytail on the running machine who never looks up or goes for a drink? She’s in “The Zone”. The guy who’s done 400 crunches with his eyes closed? He’s in “The Zone”.

In the Zone

When you get there you don’t even realize you are. It’s the second wind during a marathon, the final sprint in a stage of a cycle race, the last 3 pushups in your daily goal of 100 or pulling away from the field and not realizing you’ve crossed the finish line. But how do you get there?

In the Zone?

There’s a reason why so many people exercise with iPod’s blasting in their ears. You can hear them coming up behind you at the water fountain I’m sure. But the practical reality of using music in order to get in “The Zone” is a long-established practice. Anything from Rage Against the Machine to Dolly Parton can get someone in “The Zone”. Listening to external stimulus takes you mind off the physical activity you’re performing.

Crank the tunes!

The secret to making exercise time fly by is to be completely tuned out to the rest of the world. If you’re trying to concentrate on the exercises you’re performing, the session will drag on with no end in sight. Having a special playlist that you know and love will give you the motivation and distraction to follow your exercise program without focusing on it.

Buy a portable music player. Tune out to everything around you. Get in “The Zone”!

By Tim Howard

Bring Lunch to Work

By bringing a lunch to work, you control what is being put into the meal, which can lead to a smaller waistline line. At a restaurant, there is no way of knowing how much how oil is being put into a pan to make your dish. Even dishes that have been deemed healthy can be some of the worst menu options. Salads sound good. A mix of vegetables and salad leaves are wonderful things to put into your body, but they aren’t the problem. The dressing can quickly negate those greens and then when you add buttered croutons, bacon bits and meat the salad quickly becomes an unhealthy option. This doesn’t include the side of garlic bread that a lot of salads come with.

The first step is getting into the habit of packing a lunch. Our evenings and mornings are valuable and every minute is usually accounted for. There are kids that need to get to school or practice. There are evening obligations as well, so you may not want to make a meal before bed or when you get up, but the decision to do so is your first step towards a healthier lifestyle.

Fitness Lunch

In the weeks and months to come, I’ll go over how to make the brown bagged lunch healthy. I will also delve into the other two meals of the day and healthy snacking options. In addition to eating right, excise has to become part of the ritual for the working person to get back into shape. Again, the workday consumes most of us, making it hard to find extra time to go to the gym, go for a walk, run, swim or bike ride. It’s not impossible tough. In fact, you could be leaving the office every evening with two healthy meals in the books, a workout and only a nice dinner to finish the day. How is that possible? In my next article, we’ll go into the art of the lunch hour workout routine.

By Kevin Finley

But things are what they are, and everyone seems to feel like if they want to be fit that joining a gym is the only way to do it. It doesn’t have to be like that though. There are methods of getting in shape that have been around a lot longer than gyms and there are lots of exercises that require very little or no equipment. I bet you’ve already even done a lot them.

Pushups at Home

The pushup is probably the best and most classic example of an exercise that requires no equipment. This one exercise alone can make a noticeable change to your chest, shoulders, and arms. There are endless ways to vary it up as well. Putting your feet up on a wall at an angle will make them harder because you are putting more weight on your arms. You are changing your position and therefore you have less leverage. You can gradually progress to walking your feet up the wall all the way until you wind up doing handstand pushups! On the other side of it, if you keep your feet on the floor and walk your hands up on to a ledge, step, or any other sturdy surface that it higher than the floor, you can give yourself better leverage. This is a good technique to use in order to train towards doing one armed pushups. By doing a one armed push up on an angle you can get better at the technique and gradually build towards doing them on the floor. Experiment with different variations on the push up and it can stay fresh and challenging for you.

Pullups for Fitness

Pull-ups and chin-ups are also among the best exercises for building the upper body and they require very little equipment. If you don’t have a pull-up bar then try to find a park or playground with monkey bars nearby. I love to take my workouts to the park when the weather is nice. I find it beats working out at the gym by a landslide. Pull-ups and chin-ups can also be varied in many ways. Technically speaking a pull-up is done with your palms facing away from you (overhand grip) and a chin-up is when your palms are facing towards you (underhand grip). But there are many other ways to vary these two basic themes as well. You can do a mixed grip with your palms facing each other. You can also vary the width of your grip, the position of your legs, or the placement of your head on either side of the bar. And of course let’s not forget the granddaddy of them all: the one arm pull-up.

Way to Lunge

Squats and Lunges are two of the best exercises for your legs. And while these are great exercises to perform with weights, they can also be very effective with just your body weight. Even if you have strong legs, doing an endurance workout with just your body weight consisting of hundreds of squats and lunges can lead to you having a hard time getting up out of a chair the next day. Taking squats and lunges and turning them into plyometric exercises is another great way to add a new challenge with no equipment. All you need to do is jump on your way up and then land right into the lowering phase of the next rep. Repeat until your legs are quivering and your heart feels like it’s going to explode. Then rest and repeat. Or go into another set of pushups while you wait for your legs to recover. Of course, squats can be performed with one leg as well–and this is just the tip of the iceberg!

Creative Exercise

Your creativity is the only limit to finding ways to vary these fundamental exercises. Experiment for yourself and don’t feel the need to conform to the limits of conventional methods. Finding new challenges and adding different variations is one of the keys to success in the world of fitness.

By Al Kavadlo

Starting Interval Training

The best way to start adding interval training into your routing is to pick an activity: running, biking, and using an elliptical are excellent choices, but you can even use a rowing machine, stair stepper, or swim.  Start by doing a warm-up of 5-10 minutes at a relaxed pace, what you would generally do your routine at; on a scale of 1 to 10 your effort should feel like a 7 or 8.  Then, do one minute almost as hard as you can (an effort of 9) by upping the pace.  Follow this by a two minute recovery at an effort level of 6 or 7, and then repeat the cycle and follow it with a short cool-down.  Start with adding a few intervals and then work your way up to doing a total of 10 minutes of hard efforts.

Tough Interval Training

Play around with different types of intervals, by changing the times of your hard efforts and recovery paces.  You can do shorter sprints of 30 seconds hard with one minute recovery, or do two or three minutes hard and then recover.  You can further mix it up by varying the resistance or incline along with the pace.  Intervals are excellent tools to add to your training routine; you can do them up to three times a week, but be sure to rest or do a steady, recovery cardio workout at least a day between sessions.  Soon you will notice that the days you do your steady cardio, they will be feeling easier and you will be encouraged by improvement in your interval days as well!

By: Caitlin Chock, Home Fitness Guru