Do you like to switch up your workout routine so you don’t get bored and you don’t hit a plateau with your gains (or losses, depending on what your goals are)?
If you’re like me, you get bored easily with your routine if you’re following the same plan over and over. I have a great workout you can try that will change all that!
High Rep Sets
For two weeks,…
An oft-forgotten benefit of exercise is its effects on bone health. As adults get older, bones become more brittle and develop pores. While women are more likely to develop osteoporosis, this condition is also common in men, as is osteoarthritis.
Interestingly, the worst thing you can do when you develop osteoarthritis or osteoporosis is to become less active. An abundance of research has demonstrated that resistance training is effective for…
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It’s been 2012 for almost three weeks. How are your New Year’s resolutions going so far? If you’re the type to use the New Year as an excuse to redefine your fitness goals, I imagine you’re still mostly on track. But if you haven’t been severely challenged yet, or haven’t thought about abandoning your resolution altogether, you likely will in the near future.
The one-month period is a critical measuring…
I’ve never been a big fan of protein shakes made with the combination of protein powder and fat free milk or water. I came across a lot of great low carb and high protein baked goods but I never seem to have ALL of the ingredients. Thus, I decided to just make a recipe up using stuff I might just have lying around and lo’ and behold – it was…
Why does it take New Year’s resolutions for people to start thinking about their health and making changes? Your bodies health, which affects your minds health, is your temple, and should always be respected and taken care of all year long. I’m grateful for new clients who come to me during January with a list of fitness goals they have set for their New Year; however, most of these goals…
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Have you thought about travelling lately, or bravely conjured up the idea of moving to another country? I did, five months ago. I moved to the south of France Aix-en-Provence this August 2011 and now reside in Paris. I have been studying one of the most beautiful languages in the world through a study abroad program. Imagine this, tranquil fountains, sunny skies as far as the eye can see, baguettes,…
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Caffeine is that magical drug that wakes many of us up in the morning and keeps us alert late in the day. But did you know that this widely-consumed drug can also enhance your exercise performance? In fact, athletes have been using caffeine as a performance-enhancer for more than 30 years, and many nutritional supplements and beverages are effective primarily for their caffeine content. Caffeine is a stimulant, and is…
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If you’re seeking to get stronger, build muscle, reduce your risk of injury, improve your posture, or just generally feel better, weightlifting is an effective means to accomplish these goals. Sometimes walking into a gym for the first time can be overwhelming with so many machines and stations available. Here are some helpful tips to get you started, as well as a sample program you can follow in your first…
Working at a health club for the past two years has provided me with a little extra insight on people’s work out routines. With 2,000+ members at our club, I see just about the same few hundred people every day. The others? I’m sure some are here in the evenings after I leave work or perhaps just come on the weekends. However, there are also quite a few who simply…
With the holidays upon us, I though I might reach out to Tweakfit readers, Santa Claus, and anyone else who might be listening and provide the top fitness-related products I’d love to have this year. Here’s my list, and why I know they will help me get in better shape this year.
1. Garmin Forerunner 910XT
Why: It’s really, really cool. With all the features of its predecessors, the 910…
Ever wonder why you seem to prefer those early morning runs, or tend to work out harder late at night? A recent review, published in the Journal of Sports Science & Medicine, highlights yet another factor that can possibly be contributing to your ability to perform your best in the gym. A group of researchers from New Zealand believe that by understanding your body’s natural rhythms and response to light,…
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It’s a story I hear all the time… You’ve spent the entire day focusing on eating right- you started out the day strong with a balanced breakfast, packed a healthy lunch, even ate baby carrots for a mid-afternoon snack. You did everything right, then just around 9pm,the sure-tell cravings begin…and they aren’t cravings for more baby carrots or even sugar plums…you’ve got visions of sweets and carbs dancing in your…
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There is much confusion in fitness centres regarding what the best methods are for reducing body fat. So many people are using terrible training and nutritional protocols that I cringe every time I step foot in a gym! This article aims to help abolish some of the common misconceptions people have regarding fat loss, as well as offer some appropriate guidelines to achieving a more toned physique.…
Recent research (e.g., Willardson, 2007) highlights the numerous benefits of core stability training for a variety of outcomes. A strong core region takes pressure off the lumbar spine and can prevent injury to the lower back. Core stability training is becoming increasingly popular in sports conditioning programs as well, as it can improve the transfer of force between the upper and lower body. Core stability can also promote better balance,…
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Gyms are great. I love putting on gym clothes, walking to my car, driving 20 minutes, finding a parking sport, doing 30 minutes of cardio, performing a weightlifting circuit, and then heading back out in the cold to drive home again (it’s really cold where I live right now). Since I have so much time to kill in my life, I try to take a one hour workout and turn…
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A quick internet search of weight loss programs will provide more information on the subject than any normal human being could possibly digest. From low-carb diets, protein-based diets, rotating carbohydrate intake, and popular weight-loss programs such as Jenny Craig, Weight Watchers and Nutrisystem, you won’t have any trouble finding sites that claim they’ve discovered the secret to losing weight.
I’ve written about some of these diets in other posts, but…
Some days an extra ten minutes on the snooze button is enough to leave me running around flustered trying to get out the door in the morning. However I always make it a priority to make sure I have a lunch cooler filled with nutritious and filling foods to get me through the day at work. The key to healthy eating is planning ahead, but we have all encountered the…
Shin splints, IT band issues, plantar fasciitis. These are all common injuries of which most runners will at least get a taste at some point in their training. Each is treatable in its own way. One of the most common, if not most annoying, “injury” symptoms that many runners experience is blistering.
Here are some tips to combat these debilitating nuisances:
Get professionally fitted for shoes–This is the single most…
Protein bars can be a great snack or meal substitute for people trying to lean up and lose belly fat. Although most bars will be a good source of protein, some can also be packed with calories, contain little fiber, and as much sugar as a candy bar. Below I have compared several different common protein bars to help you find the best fit for you. Take my advice, reading…
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An increasing body of research (e.g., Karp et al., 2006; Pritchett et al., 2009) is supporting the effects of chocolate milk as an effective post-workout beverage. One group of researchers from Indiana University investigated the effects of drinking chocolate milk following a workout in a group of elite cyclists. Following a series of interval workouts, one group of athletes consumed servings of chocolate milk while a control consumed another commercial…
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