Archive for July, 2009

Are Aerobic Riders Worth the Money?

Those who bought an aerobic rider several years ago for hundreds of dollars are probably sorry. They spent a lot of money for a machine that has a limited purpose and limited benefit. But at a lower price, for those seeking those benefits, an aerobic rider can be a good addition to the home gym.

Aerobic [...]

Distinguishing Weight Loss Myths from Reality

Few commercialized areas of science are so filled with myths as that focused on weight loss. Everyone wants a simple, safe, no-willpower solution. Someday, we may actually get one. For now there are no magic cures. But there are quite a few myths that need to be exploded.

You may have read this one: eating ice [...]

Pros and Cons of Using Dumbbells

Dumbbells or free weights offer a number of advantages over weight machines. But the latter are not without benefits, either. In the end, the decision of which to choose or use will come down to cost, space and the type of workout you’re after.

Dumbbells typically come in the form of a short bar with a [...]

The Importance of Exercise for the Over-50 Crowd

In generations past, exercise was believed to be mostly for the younger set. It was even believed that older people couldn’t increase muscle mass or strength if they wanted to. Studies at Harvard and elsewhere have now firmly put that myth to rest.
Exercise for the over-50 crowd is decidedly healthy. As people age, several changes [...]

Exercising After Breast Surgery Or Hysterectomy

Exercise after surgery can be part of recommended physical therapy, or a return to pre-operative routines. In either case, done properly, exercise will help create flexibility, improve balance – by strengthening muscles that help stabilize joints – and keep the cardiovascular and other systems functioning well.
When and how you can begin exercise routines after major [...]

Tips for Exercising During Pregnancy

Exercise throughout the entire nine months is healthy for most women – provided they exercise (pun intended) the proper caution.
Mild exercise, of types appropriate to the various stages, will help keep the circulatory system healthy, increase pelvic muscle tone and strength, and help to smooth out mood swings. Done right, you can lessen the severity [...]

The Importance of Sweating – Especially During Workouts

Perspiration isn’t generally considered desirable. It makes clothes wet and uncomfortable, it makes our skin unpleasant to touch and it often smells bad. But the biological fact is that sweating is essential to good health, especially during exercise.
Why?
Humans take in and use water for a number of important physiological functions. It provides a medium for [...]

Warm-Up Tips For Optimal Workouts

Static and dynamic stretching are two elements in a warm-up routine that help prevent injury and maximize performance. But, consider, why do we warm-up at all? And, are there other aspects to a good warm-up routine?
By performing warm-up routines, you actually do literally just that – warm up the body. Internal body temperature can’t raise [...]

Here Are Some Stretching Exercises For Any Sport

Being flexible – having well lubricated joints and stretchable muscles – is one of the best ways to reduce the prospect of injury and give you the basis for a wide variety of workout routines.
Your overall goal is to attain good range of motion, while gradually extending that range to a degree appropriate to your [...]

The Different Types of Flexibility Training

Flexibility training involves performing a series of exercises that help maximize range of motion and muscle stability. The benefits are improved blood flow in the muscles and lower risk of injury.
There are three basic types of stretching exercises that help accomplish these goals: static, dynamic and Isometric/PNF.
Static stretches are the most traditional type, encompassing the [...]