1
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…
3
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.…
2
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…
6
While women and men tend to differ in body size and composition, as well as hormonal characteristics, they do not differ in measures of relative strength, nor do they differ in their responses to exercise. The same weight loss principles, therefore, apply to both sexes.
Is There a “Best Weight Loss Program?”
Much debate exists regarding the best weight loss programs. Advocates of Atkins, Paleo, Ideal Protein, and other low-carb…
Running requires endurance and flexibility, but strength also plays a significant role in running performance — especially for women. Because women carry the majority of their weight in their hips and lower body, strength in these areas can enhance their running stride and efficiency, while minimizing fatigue and injury.
You can improve both muscular strength and endurance in the gym through resistance training. To improve endurance, however, you first need…
5
The next time you’re exercising, take some time to notice what your mind is doing. What are you thinking about, if anything? Are you focusing on the activity at hand, or are you lost in the sounds of your iPod? Are you aware of the sensations in your body, or are you intently focused on a newscast on one of the monitors above the treadmill? What you are focusing on during…
4
Timed sets in the weight room are perfect for fat loss. This training method ensures that you will be working at a high intensity because you are not limited by reps and sets like in traditional workouts, but rather the clock. There is no limit to the total amount of reps you can do or the intensity you can reach. The following article will examine why timed sets work, some…
5
Hills. The dreaded HILLS! No matter how many hills workouts I’ve completed, I always go into them expecting them to be brutal. But enough of that. Hills help you add strength, improve overall running economy, and throw in some variety to your training regimen. Get excited about hills and incorporate them into your program. If you want to become a better runner, it is my belief that you have no…
5
Elliptical machines are the second highest selling fitness machine, second only to treadmills. But why? What is so great about the elliptical trainer? Who can benefit from this mode of aerobic exercise? Why is it not for everyone? I hope to at least begin to answer some of these questions through the following list of “pros” and “cons”.
PROS
Low impact – The elliptical puts less stress on the joints…
6
WHY CIRCUIT TRAIN?
There are many benefits to circuit training. It is fun, can be performed alone or in groups, allows for a large variety of exercises/movements, is a great way to get a whole-body workout, and can expedite any training session! Most importantly, circuit training exercise routines are functional, as they target both our aerobic and anaerobic metabolic systems.
Energy Metabolism 101
When we train, our bodies function along a continuum…
The Anatomy
There is somewhere around 640 skeletal muscles in the human body. Skeletal muscle is a complex network of muscle fibers, connective tissue, nervous tissue, and blood vessels. The connective tissue forms a framework of support by surrounding individual muscle fibers, bundles of muscle fibers (called fascicles), and finally the individual muscles that are made up of these fascicles. Another type of connective tissue, called fascia, plays an integral…
1
Use these exercise guidelines to structure your workouts and achieve your desired fitness goals.
Aerobic Training
Aerobic Training has many benefits, including weight loss, increased stamina, and decreased risk of heart disease and other chronic health conditions. Aerobic training is also the core of many exercise routines for women as many women prefer fat burning over muscle building.
Generally, aerobic training should be performed at a level between 60% and…
