Thursday, April 03, 2008

5 Tips to Prevent Boredom With Exercise

Exercise is great, but it can get repetitive. After a while of just doing the same things over and over again you might find yourself stuck in a rut. Not only will doing the same exercises over and over again prevent you from seeing more results but it will also allow your body to adapt to what your giving it.

This is why it’s very important to change up your workouts every two weeks at the least. This will give your body enough time to change and grow from the exercises you do without having your body to adapt to the exercises. By doing this, you never allow your body to get to a point where it adapts as well as it’ll keep your workouts interesting because you’ll always be doing something different. Because you’ll always be changing up your workouts, you’ll be able to keep seeing results as you progress in your routine. Another benefit to doing something different every two weeks is that you won’t set your body up to plateau or get stuck at a certain time of your routine.

There are many different ways to spice up your routine. Here are the top 5 ways you can easily adjust your workouts to make them more interesting and prevent boredom.

1. Use Different Equipment

Now a days, you have the benefit to choose from an array of different exercise equipments and tools. From foam rollers to BOSU balls every different piece of equipment can add a little bit more challenge to your exercises. What you can try to do is look for a piece of equipment that you don’t really know how to use and use it for 2 weeks. This will give enough to time to learn how to use it , and how to incorporate it into your routine. If you end up liking it then great if not move on to a different piece of equipment. So already by following this recommendation you’ll be able to try numerous amounts of fitness tools within a matter of weeks.

2. Workout With a Partner/Group

You know that saying two heads are better than one? Well it kind of works the same way for exercise. If you choose to work with a partner or friend you can benefit a whole lot in the motivation and social departments, however one great thing that you get when working with a partner is that you can come up with a crazy amount of exercises that you wouldn’t be able to do by yourself.

3. Learn New Exercises

This is probably one of the easiest tips to employ. There are many resources out there that can teach you how to perform different exercises that fit your preference. Whether you get ideas from magazines or from sessions with a trainer you can definitely pick up some great exercise to add to your routine.

4. Participate in Sports

Do you remember playing sports as a kid? Did it feel like exercise? For the most part not really…you were too busy focusing on what was going on that you didn’t realize you were exercising. Playing sports give you the opportunity to work super hard without you knowing. So if you don’t like to exercise you could try and find a community centre that has different sports that you can play or even join a local house league.

5. Create An Obstacle Course

If your looking for a creative way to add a little spice to your workouts you can look at making some Obstacle courses for yourself. You can make as long or as short as you want, it’s totally up to your preference. Personally what I do is look for a playground with monkey bars, benches and other objects I can implement into my obstacle course. Group 6-8 exercises together and perform one right after the other. It’s simple and creative way to kick your workout up a notch and get some serious results.

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Marci Lall is a Womens Weight Loss & Body Sculpting Specialist. visit his website to get his FREE report "16 tips on how to get maximum weight loss and fitness results in minimum time" http://www.lallpt.com

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Friday, January 04, 2008

How to Stay on the Fitness Track

I have a friend who was just telling me the other day that she is putting on weight and she is now in the process of losing a little weight. I told her that losing weight is a long process and she needs to be patient. Like a lot of people, she asked if there is an easier way to lose weight and thought maybe she will go for liposuction.

"Well, you can consider that if you do not mind spending the money. And to be frank, if you do not change your eating and living habits, the extra pounds will come back to you." I said.

Indeed, changing our eating and living habits are promising ways to losing weight and to
healthier living. However, we need perseverance and determination to see us through. And the most important thing is, you must be ready to commit to the change. Are you ready to lose weight and to live a healthier life? Wishing everyone a healthier 2008!

Resolutions are an opportunity for us to create positive goals.

Unfortunately, on average, most health and fitness resolution last only about four weeks, and then it is back to old habits.

Here are some suggestions to help keep you on track this year.

No more excuses. We often justify our behavior with what we want to believe are good reasons. Two of the most commonly heard excuses when it comes to absence of exercise are lack of time and/or money.

Getting into shape does not require a health club membership, expensive equipment or putting aside hours of your time each day.

It boils down to taking a look at your activity level, and if it is not where it should be, making a few simple changes that will get you up and moving.

If you have desk job, for example, make a resolution to use your breaks to take a walk and stretch out. If your building has stairs, use them.

Create a small fitness group with co-workers. Being around others with similar goals is supportive and encouraging, and provides the accountability necessary to succeed.

Every additional step you take during the day burns that many more calories and moves you closer to your goal.

When it comes to diet, there are no excuses for not cutting back on calories. Small changes include leaving a few bites on your plate at each meal and switching to water in place of higher calorie drinks. When ordering a restaurant meal, ask for the lunch portion or box half of the meal for the next day.

Go for fat-free dressing instead of full-fat versions and ask for your dressing on the side so that you can control how much you use.

Although these examples may seem as if they would have little impact on weight loss, the truth is, it was the little things that added up to the extra pounds and inches in the first place.

No time for a work-out? Many simple strengthening exercises can be performed easily at home in just minutes a day, with no equipment or expense. Examples are squats, lunges, crunches and push-ups, which use your own body weight for resistance and are great for burning calories and strengthening major muscle groups.

A morning work-out consisting of two sets of each exercise will take you 15 minutes or less. Other exercises can be included for additional strengthening using inexpensive resistance bands or dumbbells.

These can be performed on alternate days or, if two mini-work-outs are desired, a morning and an evening work-out can be planned.

Stay positive, stay motivated. It is one thing to have a fitness plan, but seeing it through requires motivation and a positive outlook.

It is important to be active most days of the week, but without understanding just how many benefits can be gained, there is no real motivation driving you forward.

Experiencing the payoff, from an active lifestyle provides continual motivation and is the difference between those who look forward to their work-outs and those who do not.

Unfortunately, many look at exercise as a chore or punishment for having gained weight. These people often start out by doing too much too soon in an effort to lose weight quickly, only to find themselves tired, sore and burnt out. Instead of focusing on weight, try thinking of your exercise sessions in terms of a payoff to you. Few people complain that they feel worse after a good work-out or are sorry they did it.

Exercise brings about many changes in the body, releasing chemicals responsible for positive mood. This feeling is extremely motivating and makes you look forward to the next work-out.

The bottom line is that exercise and a healthy diet are gifts that you give yourself and with consistency, weight loss happens anyway without it being your main focus.

About the Author: Marjie Gilliam is an International Sports Sciences Association Master certified personal trainer and fitness consultant. Her website is www.ohtrainer.com

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Thursday, February 08, 2007

Man Fitness

Man fitness is something they all want, but few actually achieve. That is because men generally don’t make fitness a priority. It can be the result of getting lazy, working too many hours, and having a family. Regardless of the reason behind it, man fitness is very important. Besides making you look good, you will feel better. Too many men claim they don’t workout because they are too tired. Ironically, the more you exercise the more energy you will have. It will help you sleep much better as well. 50% of men die due to heart disease related issues, so man fitness is something that needs to be implemented into your lifestyle to help you life a long and healthy life.

It isn’t easy making lifestyle changes. Man fitness isn’t just about exercising more; it is about cutting down on may other things. If you eat a lot of junk food or fat food then you need to work harder at eating a balanced diet. Make a weekly menu and stick to it. Switch to fresh fruits and vegetables instead of sugary snacks. Reduce the amount of alcohol and tobacco you consume.

Man fitness has many possibilities. You can participate in exercises and activities to get into shape, to lose your spare tire, or to eliminate your love handles. While cardio exercises are important, most men feel silly doing aerobics. Man fitness for great cardio workouts include running, hiking, and boxing. Most men enjoy lifting weights. While this is a great way to your goal of man fitness, it isn’t enough.

Weight lifting allows you to tone up and strengthen your body. Your bigger muscles will make you look good physically as well. It is a good idea to combine a weight lifting routine with a cardio routine. You should only lift weights every other day to give your muscles time to heal. Man fitness magazines often show the guy with rippling muscles and the six pack abs. This won’t be the reality for most men, but you can get a quality workout routine going that will help you look and feel your best.

Man fitness is very important to help you look and feel your best. The sooner you start, the better chances you will have of living a fun and healthy life in the future. Reducing your chances of heart disease is very important because statistically you have a 1 in 2 chance of being affected. Man fitness is the key to not letting it happen to you.

If you aren’t sure where to get started, go online for some information or go to the gym and work with a personal trainer. The types of exercises and activities you participate in will depend on your fitness level and your fitness goals. Make sure you choose exercises and activities you enjoy. Nothing gets a plan sabotaged faster than feeling like man fitness is a chore rather than something you look forward to. It takes time, effort, and dedication for man fitness to really happen and not just be something you read about in fitness magazines.

About the Author: Ramone Stevenson, get all the latest information about Fitness from the only true source at
http://www.1fitnessinformation.com. Be sure to check out our man fitness pages.

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