Category : Article
Posted in Article on February 22, 2012
This is another exercise mainly aimed at working out the Tricep Muscle, although it also works out the chest and shoulders. It will help to build up strength and stamina, as well as muscle mass, and is also a good fat burner.
You will need a dumbbell or other appropriate weight to use during this routine. This exercise is best performed with a second person to assist you when needed.
You will need two benches, set parallel to each other, with enough space between them to enable you to easily reach with both your arms and legs semi-extended. The height of the benches should allow for a full range of movements.
With one bench in front of you, and the other behind you, position yourself so that your hands grip the edge of the bench at your back, shoulder width apart and arms fully extended.
Extend your legs so that your heels are resting on the bench in front of you. With your legs parallel to the floor, and your torso perpendicular to it, cross one foot over the other so that your ankles are touching.
Have your assistant place the dumbbell or other weight onto your lap.
This will now become your starting position.
Lower your body slowly while inhaling by bending your elbows. Keep working slowly until you have lowered yourself to an angle of roughly 90 degrees between your forearm and upper arm. Tip: By keeping your elbows as close as possible and your forearms pointing down throughout the exercise, you will maximize impact and effect.
While exhaling, use your Triceps to raise your body back to the starting position. Pause while contracting your Triceps.
Do the required number of repetitions of the same movement.
Warning: When first attempting this exercise, practice without the weights until you are sure you have the movements correct. When you start to add the weights, go slowly and add them gradually. The more weights added, the higher risk of injury.
For those more experienced in weighted bench dips, there are some variations of the exercise.
Position yourself in the starting position with your arms, but keep your feet on the ground in front of you. Stretch your legs straight out without bending the knees, and either place both feet firmly on the floor, or cross one foot over the other so the ankles are touching.
Slowly lower yourself while inhaling as you would if you were using two benches.
Using your Triceps, raise yourself back to the starting position. Pause while contracting your Tricep muscles, and start again.
Instead of having a weight added to your lap, have your assistant place it on top of your thighs.
Do the required number of repetitions of the same movement.
Warning: As always, practice without the weights until you are sure of the movements. Then build up the weights gradually until you have reached your target weight.
If carried out properly, this is a very effective exercise for both your tricep and chest muscles.
Posted in Article on February 21, 2012
Yoga is another exercise which doesn’t require a whole lot of equipment to start with. Basically all you need is a yoga mat. If you attend a local yoga class these may even be provided for you. Yoga is also a great exercise that can be done at home with just a DVD to follow.
Before starting any type of yoga it is a good idea to do some research and even watch a few DVD’s. There are certain poses that you will need to learn. Plus to get the most benefit you want to be assured of doing them correctly.
You will also want to learn breathing techniques as this will also enhance your performance. Your body is bound to get a little sore after your first yoga session. This is perfectly normal and the soreness can be reduced a little by stretching afterwards.
A good yoga class or video will take you through an entire yoga workout. This should include a warm up period, a breathing or meditation technique and then proceeds into the main yoga session. In between all of this you will be taught certain poses like the child pose that allows you to take a short rest period. The class or video will end with you performing a series of cool down poses along with stretching.
To get the most of your yoga class you should not wear any socks or shoes. You should also not eat a large meal before exercising and you will want to drink some water before your class.
Any good teacher will have the ability to help you adapt any of the yoga positions that you find too difficult. Remember not to compare yourself to others as they may be more advanced than you.
When first starting out with yoga you don’t have to rush out and buy yoga clothing. Just wear pants and a top that are comfortable and be sure your clothes don’t restrict your movements. Lightweight clothes are recommended as they will help keep the moisture away from your skin.
After a few yoga sessions you can decide if this is the type of exercise that you would like to continue with. If so then you can start to purchase more yoga equipment as necessary.
It is possible to find low cost alternatives for exercising. There are many low cost yoga classes that are available. If not you can get a library book or even look online for yoga videos if money really is an issue.
Posted in Article on February 20, 2012
There are several easy ways to deal with weight loss that will help with your diet as well. The simple methods include changing the way you live your life and eat. With the changes will comes losing of weight.
Here are some tips for losing weight:
1. Drink about 8 glasses of water a day. The body needs water to flush the wastes from the body and to create a healthier body.
2. Start your day out by drinking a glass of water, before you do anything else that morning, get the water into your body to jump start your system.
3. Before you eat any of the other meals during the day, drink a glass of water. The water will help you feel fuller and eat less for the meal.
4. Drink another glass during the meal. The water helps your food digest better and helps you eat less.
5. Avoid sweetened bottled drinks. The sodas are filled with sugars that will make you gain weight.
6. Add water vegetables and fruits such as tomatoes and watermelons. They contain about 90water that will provide the essential water as well as nutrition.
7. Eat fresh fruit versus drinking fruit juice. The drinks are sweetened while the fresh fruits do not have the additives and they provide essential fiber to your diet.
8. Add fiber to your diet. The body needs fiber just as it needs water.
9. Eat leafy green vegetable as a source of natural fiber.
10. Eat healthy foods by replacing the sugary and starchy foods with natural foods.
11. Avoid the garnishments on your food. The little tasty additives are fattening.
12. Learn to control your cravings for sweets. You can still have the sweets but in moderation and small amounts. Satisfy the craving by eating a bite or two.
13. Set a standard time for meals. When you have a schedule your body becomes adjusted to the schedule as well as the schedule will help you lose weight.
14. Eat only when you are really hungry. Eating when you are not hungry is one of the largest reasons for weight gain.
15. Avoid snacking between meals. Eat the scheduled meals so you will be hungry at those times.
16. If you must snack, eat vegetables or fruit. The natural foods are far better to eat anytime of the day.
17. Resist drinking too much coffee and tea. Avoid adding the sugar and creamers to the drinks. The caffeine in the drinks is not good for you, actually slowing your metabolism causing fatigue.
18. Avoid fried foods. The frying of foods adds a large amount of fat to the diet most people do not burn resulting in them gaining weight.
19. Eat foods from the basic food groups for every meal every day. The foods help to keep you healthy.
20. Drink alcoholic beverages in moderations. They are not good for you and are fattening adding to the weight gain.
There are several accepted habits in everyones life that can be changed to help with the weight loss. Use some of these tips to make a healthy new beginning in your life.
Posted in Article on February 17, 2012
The front plate raises will concentrate on your shoulders. It will help to strengthen them in order to help give the upper body the look of wider shoulders. When the shoulders appear wider it seems to help build the confidence up in a person. It also makes the body appear to be more balanced and athletic.
You will need a barbell plate when doing your front plate raises. The barbell plates are the big flat weights. Do not pick one that is too heavy instead get a weight that you will be able to lift easily.
This exercise is done in the standing position. Make sure both feet are flat and are aligned with your shoulders. You want to keep your back straight so you do not injury it.
Once you are in the proper position you will need to place your hands properly on the barbell weight. Place your right hand in the 3 o?clock position on the weight. Now take your left hand and place it at the 9 o?clock position. When your hands are placed in the correct position your palms will be pointing towards each other.
Keeping a firm grip on the barbell weight lower it until it is almost at your waist. Your elbows will be slightly bent and pointing at the wall behind you. Your arms will be extended and locked into place. This is going to be your starting position for the front plate raises.
While exhaling, start to raise the plate slowly until it is just above your shoulders. You will know the weight is at the correct height when you can see through the hole. Your arms should have stayed locked in the same position they were at the beginning. You are using your shoulders to pull the plate up in front of you not your arms or your torso.
Hold the position for a second while you look through the hole. Now start to inhale as you bring the plate back down to your starting position. Do the recommended repetitions.
If you do not feel comfortable with the barbell plate or cannot keep your grip on it there are some other items that can be used. The dumbbells can be used and you can do one arm at a time or you can do both at once. Some people prefer using the dumbbells because they can add more weight to it easily. If you feel more comfortable being able to grab a bar with both hands then use the barbells. The cables can also be used if you are worried about dropping the weights on to the ground.
If you are not sure if you are doing the front plate raises correctly then stop and ask a professional. The whole point of the exercise is to build and strengthen your shoulders and not to hurt them.
These three shoulder exercises will give your shoulders the appearance that they are wider over time. They will cut your shoulders and give them definition.
Posted in Article on February 16, 2012
Overweight is the amount of body weight including muscles, bone, fat, and water that are in excess. Obesity is the excess of accumulated body fat. It is possible to be overweight based on factors of muscle, such as the case of body builders, which have muscle that weighs three times the amount as fat. Most people that are overweight are also considered obese.
One in three adults age 20-74 is overweight. This equals 58 million Americans based on the studies from 1980 to 1991, with the numbers growing every day. Overweight and obesity are known risk factors for heart disease, high blood pressure, gallbladder disease, diabetes, some forms of cancer, breathing problems, and arthritis.
Women with more than 25body fat and men with 30of body fat are considered obese. It is hard to really measure body fat based on the fact muscle weighs more than fat and the calculations used to measure body mass index (BMI) does not take into consideration the factor of the amounts of muscle on the person’s body. The most accepted method of calculating body fat is the underwater method, which is limited to laboratories with special equipment and not as widely used.
There are two simpler methods for measuring the body fat. One is the skinfold thickness measurement. This test measures the thickness of the skin on different areas such as the triceps. The measurements vary based on the skill of the person taking the measurements. The other test is bioelectric impedance analysis (BIA). BIA sends a small amount of electrical current through the body to estimate the total body water levels. The higher amounts of water levels indicate the amounts of muscle matter. Yet this procedure may not be accurate for people that are severely obese.
The numbers of overweight adults in America in the age range 20 to 74 years old for females are 32 million and men are 26 million. The numbers of overweight youth ages 6 to 17 years old is about 4.7 million or 11of the children in that age group.
Some of the primary reason for people being overweight can be seen in the foods consumed and the exercise levels practiced. The percentage of dietary fat in adults is 34 Saturated fat is 12
Extra calories consumed to gain a pound or to burn a pound is 3,500 calories. The number of women trying to lose weight is 33 to 40 The number of men trying to lose weight is 20 to 24 The average calories burnt while eating is .023 kcal per minute. The annual number of deaths related to poor diet and inactivity is over 300,000.
The costs economically related to overweight and obesity is estimated at $11.3 billion on treatment, diagnosis, and management. This includes treatment for diabetic kentoacidosis, diabetic coma, diabetic eye disease, and diabetic kidney disease all contributed to obesity. The cost related to gallbladder disease is $2.4 billion.
Obesity is $22.2 billion of medical treatment for the heart disease patients.
High blood pressure in obese people costs $1.5 billion with breast and colon cancer costing $1.9 billion. The indirect costs related to obesity in weight reduction products and a service that includes diet foods, products, and programs is $33 billion a year.
These are just a sample of the many facts that are available about being overweight and/or obese.
Posted in Article on February 15, 2012
There are methods to help prevent heart disease other than leading a healthy life style. Heart disease is the leading cause of death yet it does not have to be a factor in your life. Here are five strategies to help protect the heart from heart disease.
1. Smoking or other tobacco products are one of the most significant risks for developing heart complications. No amount of smoking is safe for the heart. Medical studies have shown any form of tobacco products including smokeless tobacco and low tar or low nicotine
cigarettes are also very risky as well as second hand smoke. Tobacco smoke contains over 4,800 chemicals that are dangerous and harmful to the heart and body.
The chemicals hurt the blood vessels, making them narrow resulting in heart attacks. Smoking also makes the heart work harder when the vessels narrow, which then increases the blood pressure and heart rate.
Carbon monoxide is in cigarette smoke. It replaces the oxygen in the blood stream resulting in the higher blood pressure. Women that smoke and use birth control pills are at greater risks for having a heart attack of stroke compared to the women who do not smoke that use birth control. The risks increase for the smokers taking the birth controls when they are over the age of 35.
2. Regular activity reduces the risks of fatal heart disease. Combining the activity with a healthy diet decreases the risks even more. Physical activity helps to keep in control of weight that also reduces the risks of heart disease by avoiding becoming obese. The physical activity also reduces the risks of other health issues such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes as well as reducing the stress levels. Health guidelines recommend that the amount of physical activity for adults is 30-60 minutes at least four times a week. Simple acts of walking are one of the best ways to include physical activity daily to help reduce the risks of heart disease.
3. Eating a healthy diet helps to reduce the risks of heart disease. Limiting the fats in the diet while adding fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and low dairy products protects the heart. Learning to eat a healthy diet is more about the types of foods consumed compared to the amounts of foods consumed. Omega-3 fatty acids help in the prevention of heart disease and lower the blood pressure. Some fish are natural sources of the Omega-3 that are great for the body and heart. It can be found in flaxseed oil, walnut oil, soybean oil, and canola oil. Reduce the alcohol consumption to lower the risks as well.
4. Maintain a healthy weight with a Body Mass Index or BMI within the limits of the healthy range. Any BMI rate over 25 is considered unhealthy and increases the chances of heart disease and other health related problems. When using the BMI chart, remember that fat weighs threes time more than fat so you will have a higher rate even when muscular.
Get regular health screenings for high blood pressure and cholesterol. They can cause severe damage to the heart and lead to heart disease. The blood pressure rate should not be over 120/80 millimetres of mercury and the cholesterol should be within the range of 130.
Prevention pays off when wanting to avoid heart disease. Learning to live a healthy life style is one of the best methods to use to combat heart disease.
Posted in Article on February 12, 2012
For anyone deciding on starting a new exercise cost is a factor. You may want to join a fancy gym but the membership fees are just out of your reach. So what kind of exercise can you do that doesn’t cost a fortune?
Well, the first one that comes to mind is walking. It really doesn’t cost you anything but a good pair of walking shoes. Now, before you go out and starting walking ten miles there are some things you should take into consideration.
First of all you want to be dressed for the weather. In winter make sure you wear a hat and gloves and layer your clothing. This way if you do get warm you can take off your jacket. Of course wearing sunscreen on those sunny winter days is important too, along with sunglasses if necessary.
Your walking shoes are absolutely important. You need to have a comfortable pair of shoes that are cushioned and support your arches. There is nothing worse than coming home after a long trek and suffering from achy feet. Or worse yet you develop blisters and corns that hamper you from walking for a few days or even weeks.
It is also important to plan your walking route so you know exactly where you are headed. Plus this will give you an estimate of how many miles or kilometers you are walking. A good idea is to drive your planned route so you know the distance.
Another idea is to purchase a pedometer. There are all kinds available on the market from ones that just record the distance, to others that will count the calories you have burned. The prices for pedometers range from $10 up to $50 or more.
When you first start your walking routine don’t overdo it. If you go too far and get sore or worse pull a muscle, your motivation will become low. Eventually you will start walking less and then one day you just don’t bother anymore.
A good idea is to start walking in one direction for ten or fifteen minutes, then turn around and head home. The next time go a little further until eventually you are completing your desired route.
Also make sure that you spend the first five minutes warming up before heading out. Then when you return home stretch your leg muscles as this will reduce how sore you will feel the next day.
So start walking today and have fun!
Posted in Article on February 9, 2012
A calorie intake counter is a digital food journal. The advantages of a calorie intake counter over a pen and paper journal is that the amount of calories in each food are already programmed into the counter. This means that you get a running total of the amount of calories you have consumed throughout the day.
One of the biggest problems that dieters have is that they have no idea of the actual calories they are consuming. For one thing, they underestimate the actual portions they are eating. They also underestimate the calories in each portion. Many foods that are supposedly “good” for us are very high in calories. For instance, a one cup serving of orange juice has 122 calories. Many dieters try to stick to a 1200 calorie diet. So, that glass of orange juice, which is supposedly part of a “balanced” breakfast, takes up 1/10th of the calories for the day! A calorie intake counter will help you avoid pitfalls like this one.
It will also provide a running total of the amount of calories you have had. So, if you have an extra cookie at lunch, you will know that you have to make up for it by exercising more or eating less at dinner.
As the calorie intake counter works like a journal, you will be able to identify your “trouble spots” after using it for just a week. For instance, you may find that the lunch options you have at work force you into eating more calories than you would “budget” for that meal. Therefore, you might make the choice to pack your own lunch so that you can have your calories spread out through the day in a way that you would prefer.
You will also be able to track how many calories you are burning with a calorie intake counter. Again, you may be surprised by some of the results. For instance, running a mile can burn off 78 calories if you are a 120 pound woman and 117 calories if you are a 180 pound man. Knowing exactly how many calories you are burning rather than just estimating is a good way to stay on track as far as losing weight.
Another thing that might surprise you is that you can burn calories by doing things you wouldn’t consider exercise. For instance, playing with your children, playing the piano, and gardening all burn calories.
A calorie intake counter is a sophisticated journal to help you keep track of your weight loss journey. You can buy them as stand alone devises or buy add ons to your iPhone, PDA, or other electronic equipment. In this day and age when we keep track of everything electronically, a calorie intake counter is just one more tool in the battle of the bulge.
Posted in Article on February 4, 2012
When it comes to working out most people envision gyms and having to use all types of exercise equipment. This is absolutely not true! It is possible to get a great workout in just by performing some simple but effective moves. All of which require nothing more than the use of an exercise mat.
Circuit training is very popular and is the perfect way to get a full body workout in over a short time period. Doing quick sets of different movements allows you to exercise all your different muscles groups.
When starting any exercise you want to spend the first five minutes warming up. This can be done by doing some arm circles, some jumping jacks and a few knee bends. Once you have this completed you can start on your circuit training routine.
The ideal circuit training routine will focus on one exercise for the abdominal area, one for the lower body, one upper body movement that pushes and one for the upper body that requires you to pull. Each set of movements should ideally be repeated ten times in each circuit. The number of circuits that you complete will depend upon your physical condition. At first you may only be able to perform one circuit. That’s fine just work up to adding in another one when you can.
Sample Routine
First 5 or 10 minutes spent walking, doing arm circles and jumping jacks
Push Ups or Chair Dips x 10
Squats, Lunges or Walking x 10
Sit Ups or Leg Raises x 10
Inverted Rows or Pull Ups x 10
If you require a break in between circuits you can continue walking in place until you catch your breath and then start another circuit.
Perform a cool down that includes walking to allow your heart rate to come back to normal. Then perform some leg and arm stretches along with deep breathing exercises.
During your circuit training routine take the time to sip on water to prevent your body from becoming dehydrated. If you feel shaky afterwards this is a sign that your body requires some food so snack on something like a banana or other piece of fruit.
To make your routine fun you can aim to start at 10 reps of each exercise per circuit then on the next circuit decrease the number to 8, the next to 6 and so on until you reach 0. Doing this really makes the time go faster and allows you to perform more reps than you thought possible.
Posted in Article on February 3, 2012
Even though there are some exercises that can be combined while working your lower body, not all of them can. The cable crossover is one of those exercises. However, do not think that this is any less of an exercise. When used correctly, you will find that you have a well defined chest and shoulder. This exercise will also help when it comes to your posture as well.
You will need to have cable machine, which has two sets of weights (one for each arm). It is good to also have a mirror, if available, as this can help you to see your form to make sure you are executing the exercise properly. The mirror also helps people to keep you on track because it gives you the visualization to keep going.
How to perform the cable crossover
1. Get the appropriate weight for you and get both hands on the handles. Make sure that you are standing up straight, feet about hip width apart and hold your core so that you do not use it to help you with the move
2. Bring the handles in, pulling the weight in front of you so that you to the front of your chest. Make sure that your elbows are slightly bent so that you do not hurt yourself.
3. Bring your arms back but do not go too far back that it is a strain
4. Repeat these steps until you have completed all the reps in your set
Tips for getting the best results with cable crossovers
Even though you can increase the difficulty, it is important not to start out with weights that are too heavy. If you do not work your chest much, you will find that you need to start at a very low weight.
As with every exercise, it is important to make sure that you are breathing properly while you are exercising. You will want to exhale as you are pulling the weight forward and inhale while you are bringing your arms back.
Focus on your breathing and the muscles that you are working on while doing this weight as this will keep you on track if you do not have a mirror to look at.
It is important not to try and swing your body or your arms while trying to complete this exercise as this can end up causing damage to muscles. Cables are not as forgiving as dumbbells are.
It is also important for you to make sure that you are standing directly in the center of the weights so that you are equally working your arms. If you do not you will find that you can injure yourself and end up getting uneven results
If you do not want to increase the weight, but you still want to give yourself an extra challenge, you can just do the exercise slower. The slower you do the exercise, the harder your body has to work. Increasing your repetitions also helps with getting a greater challenge with the cable crossovers
