Tag Archive | "Cardio"

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Cardio Exercise for Weight Loss

Posted on 15 December 2009 by

Cardio exercise is an activity that you will do at a moderate pace for a minimum of 20 minutes, building up to around 45 minutes or at times even higher. You should always begin at a slow pace for about 5 or 10 minutes because this allows your body to warm up and decreases the risk of any injury. It is also a good idea to spend 5 or 10 minutes cooling down after finishing your workout. You do this by going at the same slower pace as you were when you were warming up.


Before starting a cardio program, always consult your doctor, who can evaluate your current situation and give you a rough idea as to where you should be starting and what you are capable of. For the first week or two don’t try to push yourself too much. Spend this time getting to grips with what you are doing. This also gives you and your body the time to get comfortable with these changes. Once you have a couple of weeks under your belt then you can start adding to your program. This can be in the amount of time, or distance that you do. Remember that to keep on improving you must keep adding, otherwise your body will soon adapt to what you are doing and this will lead to your results stopping.


The next thing is decide what type of cardio exercise you want to do. Try to think of something that you may enjoy. If you hate running, it will be pointless taking up running to lose weight, because your heart will not be in it, and you will soon stop doing it. For cardio to be effective you will need to do it for a certain amount of time (20-45 minutes). Some people can find boredom setting in pretty quickly. To compensate for this you should use music wherever possible while you do your cardio workout. Pick your favourite tunes or something fast and motivational. Focus on the music and not the time you are spending doing your workout. This stops you from clock watching and you will find that the time spent doing your cardio workout goes by much quicker.


Here are a few of the best cardio exercisers for burning fat:


Elliptical machines are a great way of burning fat, improving your stamina, and toning your muscles. They are relatively new compared to other pieces of exercise equipment, but are very effective. You have the benefits of working your upper and lower body with an elliptical machine.


Rowing machines are excellent pieces of equipment. Not only do they target all areas of your body, they can up to a point increase muscle mass, which is always a good thing when you are trying to lose weight. Apart from the fitness benefits, you can burn many calories using a rowing machine. The fact is that the more of your body you use during a workout, the more calories you will burn.


Running us another good way of burning calories and it is also free. Running is more effective than jogging for burning calories. A couple of points to remember are that you should make sure that you have a pair of good running shoes. Also try to run on a soft surface such as grass as this will have less impact on your joints than if you were on a road. If you do run on a street, forget the music because you don’t want to be hit by a car that you didn’t hear coming.


A stationary bicycle is a traditional piece of equipment which has been around for many years. It is still considered as an effective cardio workout, but it all depends on what levels of difficulty you choose to use. The benefit of this piece of equipment is that you can ride it while you are watching television, which may alleviate some of the boredom associated with an exercise bike.


These are by no means all of the cardio exercisers that you can do. There are lots of others including swimming, skipping rope, circuit training, using steppers, and walking. You need to pick one or a combination of a few that you will think you might enjoy. Always remember to start slowly and increase what you do a step at a time. One thing is clear and that is the effectiveness of cardio exercise for weight loss.

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Are You Getting Tired Of Cardio Workouts

Posted on 14 December 2009 by

Cardio is a very important aspect of any work out. There are numerous benefits to a good cardio routine. In the real world, there are many ways to get a good cardio workout. You can jog, play sports and get chased by the police. In the gym cardio usually revolves around a handful of machines. There are the stair climbers or steppers, the elliptical trainers, tread mills, and bicycles. That’s about it. A good cardio routine can last anywhere from 20 minutes to an hour and is really intensive. The problem is that when you are on a cardio machine, you do the same thing over and over. What I am trying to say is that for most of us cardio gets boring after about five minutes. Don’t lie, you know what I am talking about. The best I have every heard about cardio is ‘I don’t mind it.’ In other words, I get really bored, but I will keep doing it cause it works.

Being bored is horrible. Being Bored is even worse when you know you have another 25 min left and the seconds crawl by like eons. So what gives. Why does cardio have to be so boring? I think it’s a safety issue. In the real world if you go running or play soccer for example, you environment and all its inputs are constantly changing; you run by different scenery, you miss the shot on goal. These changing characteristics are what make the whole process fun. In the gym, however, since space is limited, you have to do your cardio rooted to one spot. Very little happens to your environment to elevate the boredom. Imagine though, if you could have all the excitement of a soccer game while sitting on a recumbent health cycle? At first you may think it’s a great and fun idea. No more boring cardio! Think about it and it becomes a little terrifying. The sheer amount of stimuli hitting you from all angles, your mind would exhaust quickly and you would run the risk of injury (not to mention getting overwhelmed). That is why cardio machines are so boring. They design them to be boring so you don’t hurt yourself. So when you climb up onto your favorite elliptical trainer, remember that its boring for a reason.

What can we do to make cardio more fun? Being new to the world of the gym I think I have some neat ideas to make cardio a more exciting activity. Ok that’s a lie. I don’t have any way to make cardio more exciting, but I do think there are some techniques to make the cardio experience pass more quickly, which, when you think about it, is the next best thing. I really try to distance my mind from my body. I try to unplug. I daydream, listen to loud music and think about my shopping list. For a whole week I designed a basement apartment for my house. It was quite the undertaking. Really focus on not thinking about time. Cover up the timer, know where the near by clocks are and avoid looking at them. Do what ever it takes to detach your self from the realm of the here and now. Remove yourself from our world governed by the second hand. Slip into recesses of your mind and tune out. While the cardio won’t go away at least you can distract yourself. Cardio machines make cardio boring and boring cardio is hard to stick with. Take comfort in knowing that your body loves the attention of a good cardio workout.

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Turning Up Your Cardio Potential

Posted on 14 December 2009 by

Quite often, people resort to running or cycling for weight loss. While this is what they should be doing, there is in fact, a right way and a wrong way to do this. Depending on your fitness goals, there is an easier way to achieve quicker, easier results. Cardio is a necessary part of any workout routine, especially when there is a concern for eliminating body fat. Cardiovascular training is great for getting rid of stress, helping cope with depression, strengthening your heart, and it is also good for an improved sex life as well. The benefits of cardiovascular training are unlimited and should be a necessary additive to your way of living.

Let’s get started with one of the more effective ways for maximizing your cardiovascular potential: Running. You can run for weight loss and to reduce overall body fat. Since running is a high impact activity, caution needs to be taken when running outside in the heat. Running works your entire body and can be done several times a week for faster results. If you prefer the indoors, you may want to choose running on a treadmill at your local gym. If you own one, you may do this out of your home as well.

Walking is also another highly preferred method for desired fitness. Depending on what your circumstances are, this might be a better choice for you. Walking should be done at a high intensity, either on a treadmill at your local gym, or outside. If you want to achieve maximum weight loss from walking, you should aim for at least 5 to 7 days a week, 45 minutes to an hour and a half daily. The more miles, the better. Just be sure not to overdo it.

If you have weaker joints, cycling might be a wiser choice. Oftentimes, people with arthritis have to choose the option of riding a stationary bike until they feel that they are strong enough to move to a more intense activity. Stationary bikes are available at most any gym. If you prefer to stay at home, you may also purchase one if you would like. Most stationary bikes provide the option of adding resistance, which can increase the effectiveness of this otherwise low-impact workout.

There is always the option of a stair stepper, but make sure that you keep your weight balanced. Quite often people tend to bare their weight on their arms, decreasing the effectiveness of this potentially great cardio workout. Try not to do this, and you will be fine. This machine is also great for creating nicely toned legs.

There is also the elliptical machine; you can usually find them at your local gym. They are the machines that make you feel like you are running on air. When combined with resistance, this can be the most effective source of cardio next to running. This machine tends to work your entire body, which makes this an ever better choice for successful cardiovascular training.

Now that you know the ropes, how are you going to turn up the potential? As stated earlier, it really all depends on what your goals are. If you want to achieve maximum weight loss and aren’t concerned with losing any muscle mass, then you will need to focus on 5 to 7 days a week of your choice of cardio. Be sure to perform your cardio workouts first thing before breakfast in the morning. The reason why cardio is made more effective in the morning before breakfast is because your sugar levels are usually lower and the energy burned will come from body fat instead of recently digested carbohydrates, making this method the best for trimming the fat. Aim for a maximum of 1 hour, but no less than 30 minutes a day. To spike the effectiveness even more, add resistance and intervals to your cardio training. Turn up the speed for about 2 to 3 minutes at a time and then back down for another 2 to 3 minutes. Not only will this increase the effectiveness and the amount of fat burned, it will also make the time pass quicker and you will be getting along with the rest of your day before you know it.

If you are aiming for less fat trimming, but are just trying to maintain your current physique and muscle mass, you may want to opt for something less. The time of day does not matter if you do not want to change your current fat status. Just make sure to incorporate cardio fitness at least 3 days a week for 30 minutes a session. Cardiovascular activity is a must for any human being who expects to live a long and healthy life free of most common disease. Make sure that you are choosing an option that you can enjoy and stick with. In the end, you will be happy that you did and chances are everyone else will notice.

Dr. Sam Bakhtiar is a health and fitness expert and founder of Fitness Concepts INC. Learn more at http://www.fitconcepts.com/montclair-personal-training.html.

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Boring Oil’ Cardio

Posted on 14 December 2009 by

Cardio is a very important aspect of any work out. There are numerous benefits to a good cardio routine. In the real world, there are many ways to get a good cardio workout. You can jog, play sports and get chased by the police. In the gym cardio usually revolves around a handful of machines. There are the stair climbers or steppers, the elliptical trainers, tread mills, and bicycles. That’s about it. A good cardio routine can last anywhere from 20 minutes to an hour and is really intensive. The problem is that when you are on a cardio machine, you do the same thing over and over. What I am trying to say is that for most of us cardio gets boring after about five minutes. Don’t lie, you know what I am talking about. The best I have every heard about cardio is ‘I don’t mind it.’ In other words, I get really bored, but I will keep doing it cause it works.
Being bored is horrible. Being Bored is even worse when you know you have another 25 min left and the seconds crawl by like eons. So what gives. Why does cardio have to be so boring? I think it’s a safety issue. In the real world if you go running or play soccer for example, you environment and all its inputs are constantly changing; you run by different scenery, you miss the shot on goal. These changing characteristics are what make the whole process fun. In the gym, however, since space is limited, you have to do your cardio rooted to one spot. Very little happens to your environment to elevate the boredom. Imagine though, if you could have all the excitement of a soccer game while sitting on a recumbent health cycle? At first you may think it’s a great and fun idea. No more boring cardio! Think about it and it becomes a little terrifying. The sheer amount of stimuli hitting you from all angles, your mind would exhaust quickly and you would run the risk of injury (not to mention getting overwhelmed). That is why cardio machines are so boring. They design them to be boring so you don’t hurt yourself. So when you climb up onto your favorite elliptical trainer, remember that its boring for a reason.

What can we do to make cardio more fun? Being new to the world of the gym I think I have some neat ideas to make cardio a more exciting activity. Ok that’s a lie. I don’t have any way to make cardio more exciting, but I do think there are some techniques to make the cardio experience pass more quickly, which, when you think about it, is the next best thing. I really try to distance my mind from my body. I try to unplug. I daydream, listen to loud music and think about my shopping list. For a whole week I designed a basement apartment for my house. It was quite the undertaking. Really focus on not thinking about time. Cover up the timer, know where the near by clocks are and avoid looking at them. Do what ever it takes to detach your self from the realm of the here and now. Remove yourself from our world governed by the second hand. Slip into recesses of your mind and tune out. While the cardio won’t go away at least you can distract yourself. Cardio machines make cardio boring and boring cardio is hard to stick with. Take comfort in knowing that your body loves the attention of a good cardio workout.

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Cardio is a very important aspect of any work out

Posted on 14 December 2009 by

Cardio is a very important aspect of any work out. There are numerous benefits to a good cardio routine. In the real world, there are many ways to get a good cardio workout. You can jog, play sports and get chased by the police. In the gym cardio usually revolves around a handful of machines. There are the stair climbers or steppers, the elliptical trainers, tread mills, and bicycles. That’s about it. A good cardio routine can last anywhere from 20 minutes to an hour and is really intensive. The problem is that when you are on a cardio machine, you do the same thing over and over. What I am trying to say is that for most of us cardio gets boring after about five minutes. Don’t lie, you know what I am talking about. The best I have every heard about cardio is ‘I don’t mind it.’ In other words, I get really bored, but I will keep doing it cause it works.
Being bored is horrible. Being Bored is even worse when you know you have another 25 min left and the seconds crawl by like eons. So what gives. Why does cardio have to be so boring? I think it’s a safety issue. In the real world if you go running or play soccer for example, you environment and all its inputs are constantly changing; you run by different scenery, you miss the shot on goal. These changing characteristics are what make the whole process fun. In the gym, however, since space is limited, you have to do your cardio rooted to one spot. Very little happens to your environment to elevate the boredom. Imagine though, if you could have all the excitement of a soccer game while sitting on a recumbent health cycle? At first you may think it’s a great and fun idea. No more boring cardio! Think about it and it becomes a little terrifying. The sheer amount of stimuli hitting you from all angles, your mind would exhaust quickly and you would run the risk of injury (not to mention getting overwhelmed). That is why cardio machines are so boring. They design them to be boring so you don’t hurt yourself. So when you climb up onto your favorite elliptical trainer, remember that its boring for a reason.

What can we do to make cardio more fun? Being new to the world of the gym I think I have some neat ideas to make cardio a more exciting activity. Ok that’s a lie. I don’t have any way to make cardio more exciting, but I do think there are some techniques to make the cardio experience pass more quickly, which, when you think about it, is the next best thing. I really try to distance my mind from my body. I try to unplug. I daydream, listen to loud music and think about my shopping list. For a whole week I designed a basement apartment for my house. It was quite the undertaking. Really focus on not thinking about time. Cover up the timer, know where the near by clocks are and avoid looking at them. Do what ever it takes to detach your self from the realm of the here and now. Remove yourself from our world governed by the second hand. Slip into recesses of your mind and tune out. While the cardio won’t go away at least you can distract yourself. Cardio machines make cardio boring and boring cardio is hard to stick with. Take comfort in knowing that your body loves the attention of a good cardio workout.

Did you find this article useful? For more useful tips and hints, points to ponder and keep in mind, techniques, and insights pertaining to Internet Business, do please browse for more information at our websites.
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Home Training – Cardio Workout Tips

Posted on 12 December 2009 by

Whether preparing for an upcoming show, or just trying to keep body fat low, cardiovascular training is an important part of all bodybuilders’ routines. When trying to add mass, cardio should be done at a minimum, but for health reasons it should never be completely deleted. Cardio strengthens the cardiovascular and respiratory system, and gives you a stronger heart and lungs.

It’s often hard to get to the gym four or five times per week to train with weights. It’s even harder to make the trip 5 times a week for cardio, especially if you (wisely) decide to do cardio training in the morning to burn the most body fat, performed on an empty stomach upon waking. For these situations, a home cardio solution is a great idea. But which works best? Let’s examine the options.

Walking or running

This it the easiest option – put on shoes, open the door, and go for it. Cost is free, and it can be done anytime. However, drawbacks do exist. Weather can prevent you from running – it’s very hard to spend 45 minutes in the elements when it’s ten below zero, or a sweltering 90 degrees. Also if you live in a bad neighborhood, utilizing a predictable walking schedule might make you a target.

Exercise bike

This is a favorite of many due to the low-impact nature of the movement, as well as the fact you can very easily watch television while training. Time does pass quickly on a stationary bike. One drawback is the low intensity nature of the machine. It cannot deliver the same kind of full body workout as other machines.

Elliptical

Elliptical machines are very popular in gyms, but less popular for homes due to their size (big), weight (heavy) and cost ($500 and up for a quality machine). They are very effective for full body workouts.

Rowing machine

This very effective piece of equipment suffers from the same fate as the elliptical. It is highly effective for cardiovascular purposes, but also large and expensive. If you have the space and can afford it, a rower is a terrific investment.

Stationary stepper

This small piece of equipment is available for under $50, and it is used by a surprising number of athletes. It’s the size of a shoebox and provides no upper body balance, but it is easily stored and used, and provides full ability to walk or run using very little space.

Dane Fletcher is the world’s most prolific bodybuilding and fitness expert and is currently the executive editor for BodybuildingToday.com. If you are looking for more bodybuilding tips or information on weight training, or supplementation, please visit www.BodybuildingToday.com, the bodybuilding and fitness authority site with hundreds of articles available FREE to help you meet your goals.

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5 Small, But Crucial Cardio Mistakes

Posted on 07 November 2009 by

1.) Not Drinking Water During the Workout

My girlfriend is guilty of this. I notice that when we do our cardio training together, she never sips her water. The bottle just lays in its little cubby-hole on the cardio console and she gulps it down at the end. Did you hear what I said? I said she GULPS it down at the end of the cardio session. Hydration is so important, especially during strenuous physical activity, that even a 2% loss in hydration will affect performance. Dehydration, combined with strenuous exercise, creates an environment of not only physical, but mental stress. How does mental stress affect your performance? If you “feel” that you are over-exerting yourself, chances are you will not increase the level on your treadmill, crosstrainer, bike, or stepper. Chances are as performance decreases, so will your drive to increase the power outage that you may be capable of doing. Hence, steady state cardio work prevails…

The lesson here? Take sips throughout your cardio session every other minute. There are various physical signs that you are beginning to experience dehydration during exercise: 1.) you cannot keep posture and composure during cardio exercise, 2.) your cheeks and face become rosey red and flushed, 3.) you do not sweat normally.

2.) Doing the Same Cardio Machine Day After Day

I know why we all do this. We get good at what we started out doing! Just think 6 weeks ago, you thought level 5 on the elliptical trainer was impossible. Now you are continuously jumping up to level 7 with no difficulty whatsoever. That is a great accomplishment for the standard sedentary individual who has finally adapted daily exercise into their lives and has made some improvements in body composition and overall health. BUT…for the typical hardgainer, this is a carnival merry-go-round. Typically, we need to feel successful to justify the work we put into improving our bodies, increasing strength, or losing fat. I have always said that “success breeds success”. So psychologically, when we “get good” on a particular type of cardiovascular activity (i.e. running, elliptical, rowing, stepper, etc), we tend to believe that we have reached a pinnacle in our training. That’s not a bad thing. But again, for the hardgainer, this can be a vicious cycle of nothingness. This cycle is a result of the body’s specific adaptation to imposed demands (SAID) principle. The hardest exercise becomes easier the better we get at it. Therefore, the better we are at it, the more efficient we become at that particular activity. The more efficient we become at the activity, the less calories we burn. (Read that again if you do not understand) Oh yea…forget the little calorie counter that pops up on the screen. It’s based on total weight and keeps going even when you step on the sides of the treadmill.

3.) Steady State Cardio

We all heard how this one is a waste of time. Let me explain how it is a waste of time in regards to fat loss. The body uses 3 sources of energy to sustain ATP (adenosine tri-phosphate) production. ATP is the body’s end-all, be-all source of energy. In order for the body to live, it must continuously produce ATP. Well, it does this in 3 ways. Our immediate source of energy production comes from creatine phosphate (CP), where a creatine molecule is donated to ADP (adenosine di-phosphate) to create ATP. This action is anaerobic and requires only creatine which the body supplies or is obtained from meats. This immediate source of energy lasts only around 5 seconds and is primarily used for power. The second source of energy is glycolosis—the breaking down of sugars to produce ATP. This process is also anaerobic and lasts usually 3 to 5 minutes. Glycolysis refers to the body using glycogen (stored sugar) in blood and muscles to continuously make ATP. This process is the one we usually exercise in. The third and often never tapped into is oxidative phosphorilization. This process is aerobic and calls upon oxygen to aid in mobilizing fat cells to be used as energy. This process allows the body to last longer in endurance type bouts or high intense bouts of exercise. So…how does this correlate with steady state exercise? Easy. When we perform 30 minutes of walking, we never step out of glycolosis as our primary source of ATP production (energy). We are simply burning off the sugars of foods we have eaten in the last 24-48 hours. We never try to sprint on the treadmill, pick the higher level on the ellipticals, or take a spinning class…we basically do what we have been taught or what comes easiest. This has been my argument in regards to watching TV while doing cardio. If your goal is fat loss, you can try the steady state stuff for a while, but when your cardiovascular system improves and your diet is better, then you need to work harder to expedite oxidative phosphorilization. This fat mobilizing process is also known as EPOC (Excessive Post- Exercise Oxygen Consumption). In simple terms it means that the body continues to mobilize fat as fuel for up to 1 hour after an intense bout of cardio (180+ bpm).

4.) Scared to Do Cardio Before Weights

This is an old bodybuilder’s myth that started way back when. Why do we think cardio (the right kind—not steady state) will cause muscle loss? It is okay to perform your cardio BEFORE your strength training—even if your goal is hypertrophy or strength. Why? Because if you follow the proper food intake and understand the amount of calories you need to sustain lean body mass, than intense bouts of cardio (defined as above 180+ bpm, short duration (12-15minutes)) will actually promote muscle gain. The real fear should come from figuring out the total amount of calories you ingested for a 24 hour period. This is what I used to tell my clients…ever see a sprinter? Ever see how muscular they are?

Doing your cardio first and then performing strength training can lead to the EPOC phenomenon that I mentioned above. Of course, this is dependent on your intensity, rep schemes, rest periods, and fitness level.

5.) Old Sneakers

There is no doubt in my mind that 70% of foot and knee problems come from poor or old sneakers. How many times have you seen gym-goers running on the treadmill with old, beat-up sneakers with grass stains, and cracks all over the “p-leather”? I mean, those sneakers are used for Saturday morning lawn mowing and then taken to the gym to perform your 30 minutes cardio routine? C’mon….

In the last 4 years, every client that I met that had old sneakers evidenced by the condition, wear of soles, and or “lack of bounce”, I had them purchase new ones. I would not start their training program until they came to me with new sneakers. Period. An you know what happened? Knee pain disappeared…foot pain disappeared…and clients didn’t cut cardio out of their workouts. They felt better running or doing inclines. You know that pain you feel on the elliptical in your foot? It disappeared with a brand new pair of Addidas. How does sneaker condition affect lower body function? If your soles are worn, or your have pronated or supinated ankles, chances are your foot strike is not optimal on hard surfaces or a treadmill. What this does is create dysfunction at the ankle joint (usually due to dynamic instability) and weak/tight peroneals and tibialis (ankle muscles). This kinetic chain dysfunction travels up to the next joint, which is the knee and then the hip and causes undo stress on the lower back and entire spinal column. This is another reason why people skip out on cardio or like the steady state easy stuff—because their feet can’t handle it! Besides, a new pair of sneakers gives people the sense of starting something new and committing to a fitness program.

John Izzo holds multiple fitness certifcations, including a BS degree in Public Health Promotion. He is the founder of www.IZZOSTRENGTHtraining.com, a web site geared at providing information
and products to help personal trainers and fitness enthusiasts become better at what they do: training clients and training yourself. John also provides tips on his blog: http://lifeofapersonaltrainer.blogspot.com

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Cardio Workouts While Watching TV

Posted on 06 November 2009 by

If your goal is to lose weight, you need to add some cardio to your TV watching. This next set of exercises will get your heart pumping.


Jog In Place


Jogging in place is about as simple as it gets. Make sure you have supportive shoes, and water nearby. If you’re a beginner, start with jogging for 2 or 3 minutes, and increase it gradually each week.


Jump Rope


Go raid a toy box and visit a childhood favorite! Jumping rope is not only a great cardio exercise, but it’s very fun. If you haven’t done it in a while, it’ll take some time to master, but once you do, you won’t be able to stop.


Jumping Jacks


Another classic, jumping jacks are a great way to get your heart pumping. It may take a while to get your rhythm going, but that’s okay. Start with 5 to 10 a day and work up from there.


Cross Leg Lifts


This exercise is much like marching in place, with a twist. Stand with your arms in front of you, elbows bent. Then, slowly at first, bring your right leg up while twisting your waist so that your left elbow touches your right knee. Alternate, and as you get the hang of it, pick up your speed.


Dance


Nothing good on TV? Turn it to your favorite music channel and dance! Not only is dancing a great way to get a cardio workout, but it does wonders for the soul.


Home fitness equipment is very popular these days. These next tips will list 4 popular exercise machines, and what areas they target.


Treadmills


Treadmills are very popular because of they’re so easy to use. Most people know how to walk or run, and a treadmill is a great way to bring this exercise indoors; and maybe in front of the TV. Treadmills target your legs while giving you a great cardio workout.


Stair Steppers


Stair steppers simulate the exercise of walking up stairs. This gives your lower body a great workout, while getting your heart pumping.


Stationary Bikes


Stationary and recumbent bikes are also popular fitness machines. All of them work your legs, and there are some that work your arms as well.


Rowers


Rowing machines simulate the exercise of rowing a boat. They’re great, because they work the arms, abs and back. In fact, if used regularly, rowers can provide a great whole body workout.


This last set of tips will give you some final ideas and pointers to think about as you start your exercise routine.


Commercials


If you’re still overwhelmed at the aspect of exercising during your favorite TV show, try exercising just during commercials. Most shows have 3 or 4 commercials, so pick 3 or 4 exercises and do one per commercial break.


Music Channels


We already mentioned music channels. You can go a bit further, and keep your favorite music channel on while cleaning or doing other activities. Upbeat music will undoubtedly get you dancing!


Stability Ball


A stability ball is an oversized inflated ball that’s sturdy enough to sit on. You can get them at any fitness store. Instead of sitting on the couch to do the exercises in this ebook, try sitting on a stability ball to do them. It will add an edge to the exercises, and help with your balance.


Stop if it Hurts


Exercising isn’t supposed to hurt. It’s very important that with any exercise, if it’s hurting, stop immediately. You could be hurting your body more than you know. If the pain persists, go see your doctor.


Breathe


With all exercises, don’t forget to breathe. Holding your breath makes it harder to exercise, and could even cause injury.


Relax


As you’re exercising one part of your body, don’t forget to keep the other parts of your body. For instance, when you’re doing sit ups, make sure to keep your neck and shoulders relaxed.

For more health information visit the authors site at: health tips or if you are looking for weight loss advice

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Planning Cardio Around Leg Workout Day

Posted on 18 September 2009 by admin

If you?re a bodybuilder who enjoys the soreness and limp you experience following an incredible leg workout, then you probably already know the woes of trying to do intense cardio with sore legs.? Many bodybuilders consider weight training and cardio training to be two separate things.? In reality, since both utilize the legs, careful planning should take place to ensure your cardio doesn?t interfere with your weight training, and vice versa.

The first key to remember is that you cannot do cardio the day before you train the legs with weights.? Your leg muscles and glycogen stores need to be replenished.? You can?t expect a good performance on the squat rack if you went all-out just 12-24 hours earlier.? Give then a rest before pushing them to the limit.

Second, you must ramp down the cardio intensity and angles in those two days following leg day.? After all, DOMS, or delayed onset muscle soreness, is at its worst in the 48 hours following a workout.? So after you destroy your legs on leg day, the two following days will be slow, relaxed cardio, which gives the lungs a workout, yet works around the well-worn legs.

Finally, you should take advantage of the numbness you are feeling at the conclusion of your leg weight training session, and complete a very intense cardio session directly after completing your leg routine.? Same day, same session.? Climb off of the calf machine and get on the stair stepper.? Your legs will already be torched, so you won?t feel much of the pain.? You might as well get the most possible gains out of the day?s workout by torching them at this moment.

Day 1 ? Rest (no cardio)

Day 2 ? Full leg workout (quadriceps, hamstrings, and calves) followed by 30 minutes interval cardio on the stepper machine.

Day 3 ? Full Chest/Triceps workout, followed by 30 minutes walking on treadmill

Day 4 ? Full Back/Biceps workout, followed by 30 minutes elliptical machine at low intensity

Day 5 ? 30 minutes medium- to high-intensity cardio

Day 6 ? Full shoulder workout, followed by 30 minutes very intense cardio

Day 7 ? Rest day (no cardio)


Listen to your body.? After day 7, (a full rest day), you might want another rest day.? If so, keep day 1 as listed.? However, if you are feeling your legs have fully recovered, then skip day 1 and go right into day 2 and train legs that day.? The most important rule is to listen to your body and train legs and complete cardio with as much intensity as possible, while still giving them required rest for maximum recovery.

Dane Fletcher is the world’s most prolific bodybuilding and fitness expert and is currently the executive editor for BodybuildingToday.com. If you are looking for more bodybuilding tips or information on weight training, or supplementation, please visit www.BodybuildingToday.com, the bodybuilding and fitness authority site with hundreds of articles available FREE to help you meet your goals.

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Cardio Kids Stepper

Posted on 09 September 2009 by admin

Cardio Kids Stepper

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