Overview Only two major companies manufacture TreadClimbers, which resemble a combination stair stepper and treadmill–Nautilus and its subsidiary Bowflex. You’re unlikely to find TreadClimbers in gyms. Elliptical trainers, on the other hand, are commonly found in gyms and are available…
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Only 1 percent of the world’s water is available and drinkable, according to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. The scarcity of fresh, drinkable water may be difficult to imagine in the U.S., a country accustomed to having running water…
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The comfort of the 6-iron can get into a golfer’s mind. To win a match or merely improve your game, you must continue to work hard at all times, and the comfort-factor of the 6-iron tends to go against this…
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Survival is a natural instinct. There may come a time in your life when survival skills may save your life. Be knowledgeable by learning what you can now and practicing these skills when the opportunities arise. Many books have been…
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Have you ever walked past a yoga class and seen people come out dripping wet, looking great, with lean muscle? You ask yourself, “Will yoga help me lose weight? All the celebrities are doing it and they look great, so…
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With all the new exercise DVDs and videos produced each year, it can be overwhelming to try to keep up with the latest releases. One way to measure the marketplace is by keeping track of Amazon’s product sales rankings and…
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Overview Though most fitness experts recommend including aerobic activity into your exercise routine, the concept is still fairly recent. Aerobic exercise and its connection to fitness wasn’t widely recognized until a doctor, just over 40 years ago, focused on how…
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As of 2010, you and other Americans use a collective 43 billion gallons of water daily, reports the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Not only does excessive water use drive up your utility bills, but it may also reduce the flow…
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Swimming is an effective overall workout. Not only does it provide a cardiovascular workout, but the effort to move through the water also works out your core, arm, shoulder and leg muscles. Swimming also requires only a bit of gear:…
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A strong and well-developed butt is essential for every man, and especially for an athlete. Every man should build strong hips and a strong butt because all athletic movements originate there. Functional hips and buttock muscles increase athletic performance and…
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While self-massage and flexibility enhancement are the most traditional uses for foam rollers, they are also effective for integrating strength training with balance conditioning. Their cylindrical shape imposes a balance challenge for exercises performed in the supine, prone and standing…
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Having a baby brings many new concerns into the lives of parents. One concern that many parents have is how to safely and effectively clean baby supplies. Healthy Children encourages parents to give their house a good cleaning but to…
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It’s a common misconception that Pilates is only beneficial for strengthening and lengthening the core muscles. Pilates has many more pluses attached to it than just creating a strong powerhouse. This powerful training method is fabulous for sculpting and toning…
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Overview Many people are interesting in building muscles, either for aesthetic reasons or for physical performance improvements. Lifting weights to increase your muscle size–also known as hypertrophy–requires consistent participation in a certain type of training program. A specific intensity, volume…
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Gaining strength involves challenging your body to a new level of performance by adding variety and progression to your routine. There are many ways to increase your strength, aside from the traditional dumbbell, barbell or machine. Performing exercises that use…
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In a California State University study sponsored by the American Council on Exercise, testers found that running on a treadmill burns more calories than other cardio equipment. Participants in the study burned 25 percent less calories on other common exercise…
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The good morning hamstring exercise is so called because the movement resembles bowing as if greeting someone. Good morning leg weightlifting exercises are beneficial for toning and shaping the back of the legs, or hamstrings, and can be performed at…
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Improve your balance and posture by doing ab exercises that target the small, deep muscles of your abdomen without bulking up the rectus abdominis muscle. The rectus abdominis muscle is the superfical ab muscle that has been nicknamed the six-pack…
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Fitness sources often talk about the importance of strengthening abdominal muscles, but it is also crucial to do the same for back muscles, including the erector spinae, latissimus dorsi and rhomboids. Healthywomen.org emphasizes that strong back muscles contribute to better…
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Abdominal muscles are important to all body movements. Benefits from abdominal strength and endurance include enhanced athletic performance, spinal support and a decreased chance of lower back injuries. Increases in abdominal strength and decreases in abdominal body fat will improve…
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Eccentric strength training refers to the movement of the muscle when lowering a weight. It has nothing to do with bizarre or unusual behavior. When lifting weights, a person’s muscles contract in what is called the concentric movement. This would…
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The hip flexors are the muscles at the top and front of the thigh. Their primary function is to draw the thigh bone forward at the hip. Repetitive movements, such as running–especially uphill–or forward kicking, can lead to adaptive shortening…
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It’s not always easy to figure out how to keep a healthy lifestyle. There are so many dubious fitness and weight-loss gimmicks available, it’s easy to fall victim to false claims that result in slow progress. Staying in shape with…
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Of all the places to store excess fat on the body, the belly is the most dangerous. If left alone, visceral fat can develop and surround your organs, raising your risk for high cholesterol, heart disease and diabetes. The best…
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Not all cardio machines are created equal. The selection of cardio exercise machines allows for variation in exercise routines, but each machine provides different cardiovascular response in the body. Some machines are more effective at increasing the heart rate while…
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Talent is a funny and often misused word, particularly when it’s employed in the “talent vs. hard work” paradigm to characterize athletes. Some athletes learn easily and excel quickly, even at new endeavors, so they are considered natural talents. Others…
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Big family vacations, eating out and going to the movies together are great ways to bond as a family, but they can get expensive in a hurry. For families who are looking to cut costs without cutting family time, they…
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Yoga is characterized by a series of mind-body poses that focus on toning the muscles and breathing. Yogis benefit from stress reduction, increased fitness and weight loss. Yoga can even help control certain chronic health conditions, according to the Mayo…
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When it’s really hot outside you probably can’t wait to jump into the pool with your child, but before you do, take a moment to think about safety. Drowning is one of the leading causes of death for children under…
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The modern approach to weight loss, healthy eating and athletic training has some serious problems. I see flawed mentalities and overly stressful approaches to lifestyle goals at every level, from basic fitness enthusiasts to competitive endurance athletes like marathon runners…
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