Fitness

Lower Abs Myth Explained

Of all the myths floating around in the wide world of fitness, one of my favorites is the legend of the "upper and lower abs." One of the reasons this ranks high on my list is because even though its so easy to debunk, this myth is so persistent, that it just refuses to go away. Hundreds of years of anatomical research are conveniently brushed aside in seconds by every late night infomercial selling the latest gadget or contraption to help sculpt, tone or chisel your lower abs for a perfect washboard, six-pack stomach. And, it'll do it in less than...

Avoid Training Injuries: The Importance of Stretching

We all have been told that we must stretch-stretch-stretch before and after every workout. Yet many of us have no idea what stretching does for us, and don’t bother to do it. Worse still, we rush through a quick stretching routine that is not only ineffective but sets us up for potential injuries. Proper stretching does play a very important role in both overall health and performance in workouts or sports. The importance of stretching for our bodies? One of the primary benefits of regular stretching is that it can help prevent muscular imbalances. Because no one has perfectly symmetrical muscular development,...

Stability Ball Push Up: Exercise of the Week

Pushups using the Stability ball make a great exercise even better! By placing the ball underneath your feet adds instability to the pushup, it forces you to engage your core and transfers more weight to your hands increasing the resistance for your chest and shoulders. If you choose to position the ball beneath your hands, this will challenge your shoulder stability. It is important to keep your shoulder blades held down and slightly squeezed together when performing pushups on the ball. Goal: Hold tension through your core and stay in alignment. Muscles involved: Pectorals, Triceps, Anterior Deltoid and Lower Abdominals. Action: Kneel behind the...

Five Reasons You Have a Bad Personal Trainer

If you’ve gone out of your way to hire a personal trainer it means you’re looking to have a professional teach you how to eat, exercise and help get you in great shape. Working one-on-one with a trainer is something I recommend to everyone even if it’s just for one session. You can learn a ton of information on proper movement form, which exercises are the best for your goals and what intensity to train at. Personal training costs more than going to group fitness classes and for the most part you’ll see better results as the training is tailored specifically for...

Preparing for a Marathon: The Nutrition Factor

Optimum nutritional habits are essential during your marathon training. Fundamental components include hydration status, carbohydrate and protein intake as well as electrolyte repletion, and joint health. To ensure proper muscle recovery post-exercise and to reduce your risk of injury, consider the following points: Restore electrolytes and water (essential electrolytes being: sodium, potassium, magnesium) in the form of a sports re-hydration drink. Electrolyte repletion is essential as minerals such as sodium, potassium and magnesium promotes post-exercise recovery while ingredients such as citric acid and malic acid are essential factors required for energy production. Drinking plenty of water before during and after your...

2011 Must Have Holiday Wish List

If you’re stuck for gift ideas check out Fitness Goop’s Must Haves for the holidays. We have chosen several delicious and healthy food suggestions, as well as fitness gift ideas that are sure to make workouts more fun, and help you or your loved ones stick to those healthy New Year’s resolutions. The Grid Foam Roller ($45.99) Forget everything you've ever known about traditional foam rolling, the Grid takes foam rolling to a whole new level. If you’ve ever had sore muscles you have to get one of these. Simply a must for runners or anyone who sits in front of...

Beat the Outdoor Heat: How to Exercise Safely in Hot Weather

Now that another Summer is upon us and the days are longer with the temperatures rising, who doesn't want to get outside? There's nothing better than going for a run, a hike or a bike ride on a nice sunny Summer day. But before you head outside into the sun for some exercise, here are a few things to consider. Consult your Doctor You've probably heard it a hundred times before; consult your doctor before doing this or that. And, I'm going to say it one more time: If you're a novice or beginner or have not exercised is a while, be sure...

Got Shin Splints?

Runners and other athletes, as well as fitness enthusiasts get it. It is also very common in active people. The pain in the front of the lower leg known as shin splints. Many people use shin splints as an excuse to stop working out, but I am not going to let it stop you. Here are some causes: Exercising on concrete or uneven ground. Working out in shoes that don’t fit properly. Here’s exactly what it is and how to manage it. To prevent or reduce shin splints, you must find out your foot type so that you can purchase the right athletic shoes. Foot...

How Much Exercise is Enough?

How Much Exercise is Enough? Dieting may get the scale to start moving, but exercise revs your metabolism. Learn why and find out how much exercise is needed. If one person just cuts calories and someone else just increases the amount of time spent on exercise, who will lose weight first? The answer--The person who cuts calories will lose weight more quickly, provided they cut out enough calories to get results. But that’s not to say that exercise isn’t an important part of your weight-loss efforts. Although exercise may take longer to show results on the scale people who exercise burn more...

Ask The Expert: Avoiding Low Back Pain in Golf

Whether it’s the sunny skies we have seen in late March, the recently re-crowned #1 player in the world wearing ‘Sunday-Red’, or the near approaching 1st major of the season on the PGA Tour, you must be getting excited for the beginning of the golf season! Research has shown that golf injuries do occur at high frequencies.  To no surprise, the number 1 injury associated with the game of golf is Low Back Pain.  Statistics show that 1 out of 2 golfers will experience some type of low-back-pain or injury during their playing career. Why is this so prevalent, you might...