Posts Tagged ‘exercise’

Tips To Succeed When Working With A Personal Trainer

August 23rd, 2010

As a personal trainer for 10 years, I have worked with clients as infrequently as once a month and as frequently as 6 times a week. A good rule of thumb is the less experience and knowledge you have about exercise, the more necessary it is to meet frequently especially in the beginning. Maybe you have been working out a long time but you still need that accountability so one weekly appointment is enough. Some people are motivated to workout on their own and just want to ‘check-in’ once a month to get some new material. There is no right answer because it depends on your particular needs and wants. Below are my recommendations:

The less experienced you are, the more often I recommend meeting with a trainer especially in the beginning. Maybe three times a week for 4 weeks. After you’ve learned enough of the basics you could start to see the trainer less frequently. Here’s why: People that don’t know much about exercise and form have a lot to learn and that’s what the trainer is there for. In the beginning I suggest doing all of your weight workouts supervised by a trainer until your form is really good. I call it my ‘high five of approval’. I will not send a client off to do weight lifting exercises on their own until I am 100% confident that their form is great. Otherwise, the result is that they may do it wrong and end up with an injury. Exercising on your own is a decision that you and your trainer should make together. Create momentum in the beginning.

Working with a trainer frequently in the beginning will help to create the momentum you need to get you over the ’stage 1′ hurdle. Also, if you’re a beginner you have a lot to learn. A trainer will show you how to do things correctly so you don’t end up with an injury. As you feel more comfortable with the exercises and as your trainer becomes confident that you are doing everything correctly, you can expect that you will become more confident and be able to work out on your own.

Lots of people know what to do at the gym but they can’t seem to get to the gym. If you know you have a hard time making it happen I suggest maintaining a weekly appointment with a trainer. So often my clients will say to me “I never would have come today if we didn’t have this appointment.” Accountability is a perfectly fine reason to have a trainer. Keeping that appointment on the calendar ensures that weeks and months aren’t going to go by without working out. It’s easy to blow off a workout we schedule with ourselves it’s a lot harder to blow off a workout scheduled with you trainer.

Maybe you don’t need any instruction from a trainer because you’ve been exercising for years. Maybe you’re exercising consistently on your own and you don’t need the accountability. I would still suggest having a trainer that you check in with once a month. I’ll tell you why. Everybody needs a coach. Even professional athletes and Olympians need coaches. If you work out alone, it’s very easy to ignore injuries, fall into a run, get bored and not challenge yourself. Meeting with a trainer once a month is great way to mix up your workouts and keep them fresh and challenging. Also, a trainer will not let you ignore an injury.

Remember you don’t have to sign on for a package of sessions right away. Take your time in deciding if you have picked the right person and if you want to keep working with them. It may seem like a lot of money but if you re lucky enough to find a trainer you enjoy and you’re getting results, I am confident that it will be worth every dime!

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Burn Calories And Increase Your Metabolic Rate By Walking

August 14th, 2010

More and more people are beginning to realise the many advantages of walking as a way to take exercise. It’s easy to do – it’s a low impact, low intensity, low injury risk workout that you already know how to do. It doesn’t need any special equipment or training and you can do it wherever and whenever you feel like it. You can walk in the street, in the park, on a treadmill – wherever you like and you can fit it into you day when it’s most convenient for you. It’s suitable for people of all ages as well.

If you’re trying to get in shape and shed a few pounds then it’s extremely effective. Watching the amount that you eat and drink is very important of course, but dieting alone is not a highly efficient way to lose weight. Combining an element of exercise with dietary control will get you better results – and faster. Obviously you will burn calories when you exercise, which is great, but regular exercise will also help to raise your metabolic rate – the speed at which you burn calories. This means that even when you’re not exercising – sitting at your computer, watching TV or listening to music for example – you will burn calories more rapidly which will promote further weight loss.

The benefits to be had from walking are numerous. It can increase your lung capacity, lower the risk of heart disease and stroke and also help to lower your blood pressure level. It can lower bad cholesterol levels whilst raising good cholesterol levels, reduce the risk of developing two types of diabetes and even reduce the risk of developing certain forms of cancer. It will help you to sleep better at night and is effective in combating anxiety and depression. It will give you more energy and you will feel less fatigued throughout the day.

That’s a lengthy list of benefits and should be more than enough to get you motivated. And if you’re keen to get started then don’t forget, there’s absolutely no need for any special equipment. All you need is a good pair of comfortable shoes and you’re all set.

Although not strictly necessary, you might find that a pedometer is one piece of equipment that you would find useful. It will help you to stay motivated by recording your progress and displaying it in terms of the number of steps taken, the distance covered or the number of calories burned – whatever is most interesting for you.

Before you embark on a walking exercise regime – or any exercise programme for that matter – it’s a good idea to seek your doctor’s opinion, especially if you haven’t exercised for a while or have any medical conditions. Walking is certainly a low impact, low injury risk mode of exercising – but it’s still exercise and a few stretches before you begin – and again when you’re finished – will help to make sure that you avoid any strains or sprains and get the most out of your exercise routine.

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What Can A Walking Exercise Regime Do For You?

August 12th, 2010

Are you one of the very many people who would like to take more exercise but, for whatever reason, you just can’t seem to get around to it? There are certainly enough reasons – or excuses – to avoid taking exercise. Lack of time, lack of energy, lack of the right equipment, lack of training – there are plenty of justifiable reasons why it’s easier to skip exercise than get on and do it. Considering also the fact that exercise can be costly – monthly gym fees can be very expensive – it’s perfectly understandable that so many of us get a lot less exercise than we should.

If there was a way to take exercise which didn’t need you to get all hot sweaty and out of breath, was easy to do and which didn’t require the use of any special equipment, then it would probably be a lot easier to motivate yourself to take exercise more often. If it was an exercise which could be slotted into your daily routine whenever it suited you best, then that would be ideal.

The good news is that this form of exercise does exist – walking. It’s something that we all do every day. It requires no special equipment, training or expertise – all you need is a comfortable pair of shoes and you’re good to go. It’s also a very low cost way to take exercise – and you can fit it into your daily schedule whenever it’s convenient for you.

When you look at the potential health benefits of walking for exercise, you could be forgiven for thinking you were looking at an advert for some new miracle drug. It lowers blood pressure levels. It increases the efficiency of the lungs. It builds muscle and increases bone density. It lowers the risk of heart disease and stroke. It can reduce the risk of certain cancers. It helps to fight anxiety and depression and also promotes better sleep. It boosts your energy levels and leaves you feeling generally better. It helps you to lose weight and get in shape.

Health professionals seem to agree that, in order to maximize the benefits to be gained from walking exercise, we should target 10,000 steps each day. For most people that equates to a distance of just under five miles – although this can vary somewhat if you have a very short or long stride length.

Whilst that may sound like a long way, you would probably be surprised at just how easy it is to achieve. Leaving the car at home and walking to work once or twice a week is a good start. Or, if you travel by bus or subway, get off one or two stops in advance of your final destination and complete your journey on foot. If you do decide to take the car, then don’t feel guilty about it. Just park in the corner of the parking lot so that you have further to walk to the entrance. Go for a ten or fifteen minute stroll during your lunch break. The possibilities are endless – and they soon add up.

Be sensible and start off slowly at first. If you haven’t exercised for a while, or if you have any medical conditions, then talk to your doctor before starting any new exercise regime. However, walking is a low impact, low injury risk form of exercise which, as previously discussed, offers many potential health benefits if carried out on a regular basis. You will be pleasantly surprised at how quickly you see and feel the benefits.

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Walking Will Make You Look Good And Feel Good

July 28th, 2010

A lot of people avoid exercise because they think that it will be too strenuous for them. It’s almost as if they are too unfit to get fit. It’s perfectly understandable that most of us associate getting in shape with a high intensity workout – getting all hot and sweaty in other words.

On the other side of the coin, it’s hard for many people to imagine that a low impact, low injury risk workout – an activity which we all do every day – can deliver major health benefits and help you to get in much better shape. However, that’s exactly what walking – a form of exercise which needs no special equipment, training or expertise – can do for you.

And when you take a look at the list of health benefits which regular walking can provide, your sense of disbelief is only likely to grow still further.Walking can help to reduce your blood pressure level. It can reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke whilst simultaneously improving lung capacity. It can release endorphins and help to combat depression, make you feel more energetic and help you to sleep better. It can be effective against different forms of cancer. Recent research in the UK suggests that it may even help to stave off Alzheimer’s disease. It can raise your metabolic rate and help you to lose weight.

Reading that list you might think that it was an ad for some new wonder drug, or maybe an expensive health supplement. Small wonder that it’s hard to credit it. Don’t forget, you can get started on your walking exercise plan without any special exercise equipment. All you need is a good, comfortable pair of shoes and you’re all set. Neither are there any expensive monthly membership fees to pay – walking is free. What’s more, you can slot walking into your day whenever it suits you best.

The general consensus is that, if you can take 10,000 steps a day, you will achieve all of the health benefits previously mentioned. For most people, that equates to a distance of between four and a half and five mile a day – depending upon your height and stride length. It sounds a lot, but it’s easier to achieve than you might think. Leave the car at home and walk to work. Get off the bus or subway a stop or two early and finish your journey on foot. Take the stairs instead of the elevator. It all adds up.

If you haven’t exercised for a while, if you have any medical conditions, or if you’re over 40 years of age, then be sure to take medical advice before you start any new fitness programme. However, as long as you’re sensible and start off slowly, walking will, in all probability, be extremely good for your health. You will be pleasantly surprised at how quickly you both see and feel the results.

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Information On How To Indulge In Bodybuilding Coaching For The Greatest Final Result

July 20th, 2010

Body building is about a lot more than simply turning yourself into the next (1980s version of) Arnold Scwarzenegger. Common society views body building as little more than a way to grow grotesquely large muscles. The simple truth is that body building is all about strengthening your muscles and then building them up to give you a “prettier” physique. There is a lot more to it than “getting ripped.” It is about getting healthy. If you are interested in starting a body building routine, here are some tips to help you out. It is very important to remember that “getting stacked” is not the primary goal of body building; the primary goal is getting healthy.

Find someone to help you. As a beginner you are bound to make mistakes when you are putting together your workout. A training partner or a personal trainer can help you form good habits from the outset. Working with someone who has more experience than you will also help you develop a good training regimen. You are far more likely to have success and will make fewer mistakes and be less likely to hurt yourself. Eventually you might get to the point where you can plan out your own work out routines but when you are first starting out, find someone to teach you what to do. Your body will be very grateful that you did.

Make some time to try out all of the different exercises that body builders do. Trying them out does not mean that you have to include them in your workout routine forever. Doing this will help you learn which exercises to do when you want to work certain groups of muscles. It will be simpler to develop a workout plan and to see results that you want to see when you know exactly which exercises and what tools to use to develop each part of your body. After all, if you want to develop your triceps and biceps, you don’t want to do exercises meant for your pecs or your abs. Hurting yourself and wasting time won’t be issues if you take some time to learn the sport properly.

See your doctor regularly. Your doctor can help you make sure that you are getting the work out you need while still keeping your muscles in check. A doctor will be able to help you take steps to prevent causing yourself accidental harm when you work out while still making sure that the workouts are having the effect on your body that they should be having. A doctor can also help identify problems as they develop and keep them from getting out of hand. At the very least you should see a doctor when you start your body building to make sure you take the right approach to your new fitness routine.

Body building is a perfectly legitimate way to work your muscles, build your strength and increase your health. Lots of people chalk body building up to nothing more than a hobby. It is actually a wonderful way to strengthen and tone your muscles as you work to increase the healthfulness of your lifestyle. If you have the right mindset, you can strengthen and reward your whole body with body building.

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Why Walking Should Be A Key Part Of Your Weight Loss Program

July 14th, 2010

When it comes to exercise, walking is a great low impact workout that the vast majority of people can do. It needs no special equipment, there are no expensive monthly gym fees to pay and you can work it into your daily schedule whenever it’s good for you. If you look at the potential health benefits of walking you might be forgiven for thinking that you were looking at an advert for some new wonder drug – but they are very real and easily obtainable with no more than a few minor changes to your daily routine.

A target of 10,000 steps daily is often quoted as being the magic number required in order to achieve the health benefits on offer. That’s roughly equivalent to a distance of between 4.5 and 5.0 miles for the average person. It does sound like a fair old walk – but it’s a lot easier to achieve than you might imagine. Besides, when you think about the possible health benefits, it’s worth a little extra effort.

Modern living can be somewhat sedentary – so many people will, in the absence of remedial action, fall short of the recommended 10,000 steps a day target. In order to find out what your daily average step count is, you might want to consider getting yourself a pedometer. These can be picked up for just a few dollars nowadays, and a pedometer will not only tell you how many steps you take but how many calories you burn and the distance you cover.

Having established what your daily step count is (take an average over a few days), you should actively look for opportunities to wipe out any gap between that value and the 10,000 step per day target. There are numerous different ways to do this – but be sensible and start slowly – there’s no need to do everything at once.

If you have enough time in your daily routine to fit in a dedicated walk then that’s ideal of course. However, if you can’t manage this, then there are many other ways to increase your daily step count. At lunchtime take a ten or fifteen minute stroll around the block instead of sitting in front of your computer. Get off the bus one or two stops early and finish your journey on foot. Leave your car at home and walk now and again – or, if that’s not possible, then park your car in the far corner of the parking lot so that you have further to walk to the entrance.

Make the most of modern technology by walking and talking when you’re on your mobile phone. A fifteen minute telephone call can give you the opportunity to get in somewhere between 1,000 and 1,500 extra steps. There are many other opportunities to get your step count up – and they soon mount up.

If you’re over forty, if you have any medical conditions, or if you just haven’t exercised for some time, then it would be a good idea to seek the opinion and advice of your doctor before you start any new fitness regime. However, walking is a low impact, low injury risk workout which will, as long as you exercise a little common sense, deliver significant health benefits. Before you know it, you will be feeling better, enjoying higher energy levels and shedding pounds.

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Losing Weight Fast

June 28th, 2010

Other than physical appearance, weight affects a person in many ways. This could be the overall quality of life, self-esteem, depression, health risks, or physical incapabilities. There are a lot of plus-points to losing weight, which is why a lot of people are searching for a weight loss program that will trim down those extra kilos and get a beautiful, jaw-dropping body.

First of all, an overweight person ought to do is seek a health care expert to provide the best weight loss regimen for you. This will only be done after a full physical examination, which leads to the recommendation of a proper weight loss technique. To shed excess weight fast and effectively, four aspects of one’s life has to be altered: what to eat, how to eat, behaviour and amount of exercise.

Here are fast tips that can change an over-weight persons’s life:

1: Quick weight loss is achieved by a multi-faceted plan that is made up of mindset, exercise, and, in some cases, dietary supplements. Commence by following a diet regimen that can be easily adopted into your current way of life. Follow an exercise plan that includes at least fifteen minutes a day brisk walking, running, swimming and/or dancing.

2: Set yourself realistic goals. The ability to focus and have a proper mindset enables someone trying to lose weight to rapidly shed those extra kilos. You must develop discipline and a proper mind set, a dieter will not become discouraged and give up.

3: Listen to your body. Each person’s metabolism reacts differently to the various fast weight loss plans. Try substituting one program for another to gauge the body’s reaction. The exercise program ought to be suited to your body, because some can not exercise as strenuously as others. If walking is all that you can do, then walk, for this is one of the best exercises. Remember that muscles burn calories so it’s definitely a good idea to put on a little more muscle – it looks sexy too.

4: Eat more fibre because it makes you feel fuller sooner and takes longer to digest, making it longer before you will be hungry again. For example, a couple of slices of whole grain bread will remain in the gut longer and put off hunger longer than white bread, which turns in to glucose more quickly. giving you a quick, sugar spike, which soon dissipates, leaving you hungry again.

5: Stay away from fried food especially deep-fried, since it contains a large amount of fat. But remember, although fish and chicken appear to be much leaner than beef, these white meats can retain even more fat than beef if it is fried. It is advisable those on a strict diet opt for grilled food, since it does not have much fat after the food has been prepared.

6: Take lots of fluid. Drinking at least six to eight glasses of water a day keeps the body ‘flushed’ and because weight loss depends on how the body eliminates body wastes, the body must stay hydrated.

All in all, discipline and consistency is still the best practice and the key to quick weight loss success. Light dieting, workout, and the right amount of supplementation applied in a regular way everyday will result in a faster weight loss than having a massive action campaign that is only followed by a return to your bad old ways, since this would only lead to gaining more weight than before the weight loss plan was started.

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Why Walking Is The Ideal Way To Lose Weight

June 20th, 2010

If, like many people, you would like to lose weight and get into better shape, then it really is quite simple (and achievable). In order to lose weight you must consume fewer calories by eating and drinking than you burn off as a result of physical activity. If you consistently burn off more calories than you consume over a period of time then you will lose weight. There is no magic formula, health supplement or pill that will change that.

So if you want to lose weight then you need to eat and drink less (by dieting), use up more calories (by exercising) – or both. Doing both is very definitely the most effective solution. Regular physical exercise will increase your metabolic rate – the speed at which you burn calories. If you exercise on a regular basis then your higher metabolic rate will mean that you use up calories faster even when you’re not taking exercise – for example, when you’re sitting reading a book, watching the TV – even when you’re sound asleep.

Of course, the very thought of exercising can be off-putting for many people – but there’s no reason to avoid exercise, it needn’t involve getting all hot, sweaty and out of breath. One of the very best exercises that you can do is walking, something which the large majority of us do every single day. You just need to walk a little more often and a little further and you will soon reap the rewards – and there are many health benefits available to those who walk on a regular basis.

The recommendation of many health and fitness professionals is that we should try to walk 10,000 steps a day. That equates to a distance of between four and a half and five miles for the average person. It sounds like a long way – but you may be pleasantly surprised at how easy it is to achieve. Remember, that 10,000 steps is the total distance, it includes the normal walking that you do every day anyway. You’re not starting from scratch.

Leave the car in the garage and walk to work or the shops now and again – or get off the bus one or two stops before you reach your final destination and complete the last leg of your journey on foot. If the distances involved are too far to walk then don’t feel guilty – take the car anyway. Just park it in a faraway corner of the parking lot so that you need to walk further to get to the entrance. Forget the lift and take the stairs. Take advantage of modern technology and pace around when you’re talking on your mobile or cordless phone. Go for a quick walk around the block at lunchtime. All of these small changes soon add up.

Other than a good pair of comfortable shoes, you require no specialized equipment to start a walking workout. However, you may find a pedometer to be a useful investment – especially if a lot of your walking is done in short bursts throughout the day. It will help you to record and monitor your progress. You will find it easier to keep motivated – and also to find new ways of increasing your step count.

An mp3 player might be a good idea if you are able to fit longer walks into your day. The time and the miles will pass much more quickly when you’re listening to your favourite music.

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Fitting A Walking Workout Into Your Daily Routine

June 11th, 2010

Walking is a great way to take exercise. Most of us do it, to a greater or lesser extent, every day. It requires no special equipment other than a comfortable pair of shoes, and it can be fitted into your day whenever it suits you best. It’s also a very cost effective form of exercise – there are no costly monthly membership fees to be paid.

The health benefits of walking are many and varied. It’s actually hard to believe that so many benefits are obtainable from such an easily accomplished, low impact, low injury risk workout. Consistency is the key – regular low level exercise is very much better than sporadic bursts of intense physical activity.

Walking for thirty minutes, three or four times weekly, on a regular basis will soon generate results that you can feel and see. If you can build up to 10,000 steps daily – that’s between four and a half and five miles for the average stride length – then you will really start to reap the rewards.

There are any number of opportunities to get a little extra walking in each day. If you have the time to schedule in a thirty minute or one hour walking session then that’s ideal. However, if that’s not possible for you then don’t worry – there are plenty of ways to increase your daily step count.

Leaving the car at home and walking to the shops or work is an oft repeated piece of advice. However, if that’s not practical for you due to the distance involved, then take the car as usual. Just park up in the far corner of the parking lot so that you have a greater distance to cover to the entrance. If you travel by subway or bus instead of by car then consider getting off one or two steps before your final destination and complete the last leg of your journey on foot.

During your lunch break, take a ten or fifteen minute walk around the block. It’ll be better for you than munching a sandwich in front of your computer (you’ll have more energy and be more mentally alert in the afternoon as well). Put modern technology to work and walk around when you’re talking on your cordless or mobile phone. You can fit in an extra 1,000 paces during a single fifteen minute telephone conversation. That’s the kind of multi-tasking that’s a real benefit to you!

If most of your walking is fitted into your day on a piece-meal basis, then you might want to consider getting yourself a pedometer. These can be worn discreetly on your belt or carried in your pocket. A pedometer will let you monitor your progress in terms of the number of steps taken, the distance covered or the number of calories burned. Tracking your progress in this manner will help you to stay motivated and will encourage you to seek out ever more innovative ways of incorporating walking into your daily routine.

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Get In The Habit Of Walking And Lose Weight

June 8th, 2010

The health and fitness industry is absolutely massive. It’s a multi-million dollar – quite possibly multi-billion dollar – business. There are any number of wonder drugs and miracle health supplements available on the market – usually at quite high prices. Since many people equate exercise and fitness with weight loss, there’s no shortage of slimming and diet pills either.

More traditional options – such as a trip to the gym – are also quite expensive. Monthly membership fees can be very high. Some people will prefer to exercise at home – but even then, home exercise equipment, such as bikes, treadmills, rowing machines and cross-trainers can be quite costly. They also take up a fair bit of space around the house.

Those who don’t have the room – or the notion – for dedicated exercise equipment in their home are still well catered for. There’s an absolute plethora of fitness DVDs available – endorsed by TV fitness trainers or celebrities. One of the most recent innovations in home fitness has been the Nintendo Wii – or more specifically, the Wii Fit program for the Nintendo Wii. It’s proven to be very popular. People seem to relish the prospect of being able to exercise in the familiar surroundings of their own living room whilst using the Wii as a computerised personal trainer to record their progress and help them to set targets.

As well as the membership fees, the exercise equipment, the DVDs – and the games consoles and software – a lot of money is spent on accessories and apparel. Sweat bands, baseball caps, jogging pants, fitness shoes – people are prepared to pay surprisingly large sums of money for these. It’s important to look good while you’re making yourself look good it seems.

However, there is one way to exercise and get in shape which costs very little and which can deliver very significant health benefits. Walking is a great way to take exercise which can help you to lose weight, look better, feel better and deliver a whole host of additional health benefits. Walking can help reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke as well as helping to lower your blood pressure level. It will give you more energy and help you to sleep better. It can combat anxiety and depression. It can even reduce the risk of certain types of cancer.

It’s a long list of benefits for an exercise mode which is practically free, needs no special equipment and which can be fitted into your daily schedule as and when it suits you best. There’s no need to find the time for a trip to the gym – and no fees to pay either. All that you will need is a pair of comfortable shoes and you’re all set. You’ll be pleasantly surprised at how quickly you see results if you make walking a regular part of your daily routine.

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