Fitness

Overview Excess belly fat may be an indication of visceral fat, fat deep down that surrounds the organs. Visceral fat contributes to high-blood pressure, diabetes and heart disease, according to the Feb. 25, 2003, USA Today article “Belly Full of…
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Sitting in the same position for a prolonged period of time can lead to a variety of health ailments, says the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. You need to do a variety of stretches in order to keep your blood…
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Whether you’re a friend or a partner, being the birthing coach for a woman in labor is a big responsibility. It is your job to be her advocate, her cheerleader and quite possibly, her punching bag through the long hours…
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We all know exercise is important to good health and weight management. Fitting the American College of Sports Medicine’s (ACSM) recommended 30 minutes of cardiovascular exercise into an already jam-packed schedule may seem impossible. On top of this, ACSM also…
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Speed bags, typically used for training boxers, have a number of fitness benefits. In addition to developing the muscles of the arms, they increase hand-eye coordination, provide a cardiovascular workout and increase reaction time. A few simple exercises provide these…
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Your neck muscles function to move and stabilize your head. Stretching and strengthening your neck muscles is important to help prevent injuries. Stretching your neck is as simple as moving your head through various ranges of motion. To strengthen your…
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There are a variety of exercises that will effectively work the shoulder, or deltoids. The key is first determining what type of equipment you plan on using. Free weights, body weight and exercises machines all can provide excellent workouts for…
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One of the best, yet least used pieces of cardio equipment is a rowing machine. It works both the upper and lower body, is less expensive than many high-quality treadmills or elliptical trainers (on average), is compact and burns lots…
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Resistance training should be an integral part of a fitness program and of a sufficient intensity to enhance strength, muscular endurance and maintain fat-free mass, recommends the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM). Muscular strength and endurance training can benefit…
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“Exercise–including weight training–helps improve your posture, keeps you fit during pregnancy and may improve your ability to cope with the pain of labor,” according to the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Talk with your obstetrician beginning any exercise program,…
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Keeping your skin healthy and young in appearance requires careful care and healthy lifestyle habits, such as avoiding the sun. When you are young, your skin produces significant amounts of elastin and collagen, two materials that help your skin appear…
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Back fat, also described as “muffin-top” or a “spare tire” is the bulge that appears above a person’s waistline when they’re wearing tight clothing. Back fat, like fat elsewhere, can be the result overeating, a sedentary lifestyle, an unhealthy diet,…
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The best workout for your chest without weights or other strength equipment, is a push-up-based workout. Push-ups use your body weight to strengthen and define the pectoral muscles in your chest, or “pecs.” The main pectoral muscle covers a large…
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According to the website SpinningHoop.com, the hula hoop has been in use for hundreds of years, and has been used for cultural traditions, recreation and leisure. Apart from the obviously high fun factor of hula hooping, there are other compelling…
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Although outwardly your knee joint appears simple in design, it’s actually one of your body’s most complex joints. Numerous muscles–including your quadriceps group, hamstrings and gastrocnemius–exert forces on your knee, and your knee is stabilized by an intricate network of…
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A blood pressure increase above a person’s average reading is not necessarily an indicator of hypertension. A temporary rise in blood pressure can be caused by factors such as an elevated heart rate and increased blood volume, and blood pressure…
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The Bowflex Ultimate 2 machine is a complete home gym that can be folded up to save space. You can do resistance training exercises for every muscle of your body whenever you want and then easily lift the bench up…
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Hip muscles execute movement in all planes of motion, enabling you to participate in functional, recreational and sporting activities. An injury to your hip joints limits your ability to perform such fundamental movements as standing and walking. Strengthen your hip…
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Normally, when you think of a muscle contracting, it is the concentric phase or shortening of the muscle that comes to mind, as in the upward movement of a bicep curl. The opposite of a concentric contraction is known as…
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Overview The P90X DVD workout plan is marketed by Beach Body and involves high-intensity “muscle-confusing” fitness training. Along with the workouts, the program offers a diet plan that purports to help you lose fat and achieve high levels of energy….
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Stomach exercises range from complex to simple. If you are a beginner, start out on the lower end of the spectrum and, as you gain confidence and core strength, work your way up to more advanced exercises. Pelvic Tilts Pelvic…
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Kundalini yoga, as taught by Yogi Bhajan, is called the yoga of awareness. According to the Kundalini Research Institute (KRI), yoga that uses mantras and chanting along with breath work strengthens the nervous system. KRI also says when practicing Kundalini…
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Shin pain, an achy lower back or tightness in the hips — every runner has to deal with pain and potential injuries at some point. The Sports Medicine Institute International names weakness and muscle imbalances as two of the main…
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Overview Your calf tendon or achilles tendon as it is more commonly called is the strongest, thickest tendon in your body. It attaches the muscles in your calf, mainly the soleus and the gastrocnemius, to your heel. Every time you…
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Overview The breasts are mostly fat. Their size can depend upon your genetics or participation in physical activity. When you desire to reduce your breast size with exercise, you have two options–aerobic activity and strength training. Aerobic activity reduces overall…
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Overview As a general rule, the more you invest in a treadmill, the better the quality of machine you will get. That being said, it is possible to buy a decent treadmill for a reasonable price. There is only one…
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Overview Many different kinds of back machines in gyms can help you train various angles of the pulling movement. However, machines often put you in a fixed position and isolate back and shoulders, such as the seated row and lat…
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Body toning takes discipline, effort and the execution of exercises that focus on the entire body. If you are at home, you may not have the same amenities that a gym can offer, but you always have access to one…
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Free-weight leg exercises strengthen your major leg muscles and strengthen the smaller, stabilizing muscles of your hip, knee, ankle joints and the joints of your feet. This is a very important benefit of barbells and dumbbells, especially for elite and…
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Your abs are made up of three major muscle types–the rectus abdominus, which runs along the front of your abs; your oblique abdominals, which run along your sides; and your transverse abdominus, which acts like a muscular corset to flatten…
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