Wednesday, 25 November 2009

5 Fitness Tips to combat Christmas weight gain

Christmas is probably one of the seasons when people are expected to just pig out endlessly. Parties here and invitations there are popping out in a spur of the moment. Homes drop the idea of healthy eating as it is a special day for indulgence and bonding. But what if you are way over your limitations and end up gaining one pound a day in the month of December?

It is a nightmare to be gaining extra pounds, say 10 pounds in just 30 days. That can be a problem later even if you are on your fitness routines. In order to take yourself out of the picture of holiday fatness, consider these 5 fitness tips to combat Christmas weight gain:

1.Elevate the intensity and speed of your training. If you're used to not pushing yourself harder during your workout hours at the gym, maybe you can heighten up a little bit as far as speed and intensity of your routines. If you aren't working out, just pick any activity that gets you moving and sweating out even for just 30 minutes.

2.Get adequate time under the sheets. If you are able to sleep adequately at night, you will feel refreshed and normal. If your system is in the standard body clock, you won't have problems with managing your diet. Power naps may also help you. Surveys say that if you deprive yourself from sleeping normally, you will have the tendency to overeat and gain weight.

3.Watch over your food intake. This is very straightforwardly suggested by fitness gurus and nutritionists. Even if your mind is telling you the food at the table is tempting and yummy, be disciplined to eat just tiny portions.

4.Don't be tempted by alcohol and soda. Drinks are probably overflowing during Christmas time. Encourage yourself not to be too tempted to drink beyond a glass. It's okay to indulge but not too much. In lieu of alcohol, you can go for less-fattening juices and zero-calorie energy drinks. Red wine can be good but don't get intoxicated. It's important to know your limits with beverages and liquid choices.

5.Reward yourself with a relaxing massage. Instead of just pigging out, why not go for a relaxing full-body massage or foot spa. In that way, you are diverting your attention to releasing toxins rather than inviting some. Massage services can make you feel good and stabilize your bodily systems, to include your digestive mechanism. If your body doesn't feel rejuvenated and relaxed, there is a chance that you feel restless, hungry and unrelieved at times.

As much as possible, don't allow Christmas season to defeat your weight loss concentration. The steps mentioned above must guide you along the way.

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Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jesse_Miller

Monday, 16 November 2009

Home Fitness - Expand Your Understanding and Get a Clear Definition of Health Related Fitness

Health fitness is a very important issue that more of us need to focus our attention on. It affects both our physical well being and our mental well being. A good definition of health fitness is the ability of your body to operate at optimal capacity and is determined by how healthy your body is internally.

Home fitness

Home fitness is well known phrase which simply means the fitness of your whole family and the exercises can be done in the comfort of your own home. You don't even need exercise equipment to experience home fitness. It is serious business these days and many people try to improve their health by exercising at home with fitness devices, yet sadly often find it difficult to remain motivated.

Most of the people these days use home fitness as a way to improve their body, mind and soul and find no need to go to the gym and do heavy activities there. Home fitness is often accomplished through the use of exercise equipment which can be full sized or smaller sized equipment. And when done properly, home fitness is a great way to stay fit.

Physical Fitness

Physical fitness is now defined as the body's ability to function efficiently and effectively in work and leisure activities. The body has to be healthy, resist hyperkinetic diseases, and to meet emergency situations. It can also be divided into five categories: aerobic fitness, muscular strength, muscular endurance, flexibility, and body composition.

Physical fitness is the state of the human body when it is in perfect health. Being fit is very important to stay alert both physically and mentally, and also to ward off certain diseases that attack as the body ages. It is also a broad term used to describe the physiology of the body as it relates to health.

It is multifaceted and involves both skill-related and health-related components. The skill-related components of fitness (speed, power, agility, balance, reaction time, and coordination) are primarily important in achieving success in athletics and are not as crucial for the development of better health. To be physically fit is important for the performance of everyday activities.

Fitness is a state of well-being with low risk of premature health problems and energy to participate in a variety of physical activities. It is very essential to living happy, active and healthy life, and on the hand it increases our strength, stamina and improves personality.

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Sunday, 15 November 2009

Building a home gym-the top ten reasons

So you've been a member of a public gym for a while now and the frustrations are mounting. We've all been there. One of the best solutions is to build a home gym. I know, you're thinking that buying and assembling home exercise equipment is a lot of work and a space/money eater. Well, it doesn't have to be. To get you started, here are some reasons to think about building your own fitness facility.

1. No competition. You feel like bench pressing? Go to it! How about hitting some cardio? Yep. Public gyms get busy, and you get to wait in line. In your own facility there's no line and no wait.

2. Cost Effectiveness. I bet you're thinking that a home gym will be a big outlay of cash! Well, a good home gym can be put together for a few hundred dollars. Most gym memberships go for at least $40.00 per month, so that's about $500 per year right there! Assuming your spending was under control it wouldn't take long to get your money back at that rate.

3. Time Convenience. Making it to the gym can be tough on most schedules. You've got to drive there and back, which takes time. If you don't work a normal schedule then you might be stuck trying to work around gym hours (unless it's a 24-hour facility). With your home gym you can work out when you want to, on your schedule, and there's no wasted time driving to and fro.

4. Sanitation. This is of course up to your personal sanitation levels, but you're not sharing locker rooms and showers with hundreds or thousands of people. Some gyms are cleaner than others, but even well maintained gyms can't match the sanitation you have at home.

5. Fuel/Transportation fare savings. You probably didn't think of this, but if you're driving or using public transit to the gym it isn't free. Since it's a frequent trip those costs can really add up over time.

6. Your personal motivators. Do you like to work out to loud country music? Do you enjoy watching Rocky movies while you do cardio? In your own facility you can listen to your music, watch your movies, put up your own posters, and decorate any way you like.

7. Rude people. Gyms can be a haven for rude people. It's just the way it is. You don't have to deal with it in your own place.

8. Nobody's watching you. Chances are people aren't paying as much attention to you as you think, but if you're self-conscious in a gym then this is a good alternative.

9. No limit on exercise selection. A lot of exercises like tire flipping, deadlifts, and olympic lifts are frowned upon in public gyms even though they're great and effective exercises. There won't be anyone to get in your way if you have your own little corner.

10. A constantly evolving facility. As your fitness needs evolve your gym can evolve. Nobody says you have to start out with the same equipment that you're going to end with. It's easy to get started with a few simple items and as you become more fit and/or your interests change then add, remove, or modify equipment as necessary.

Those are just ten easy reasons why it's worth looking into getting some home gym equipment. Even if you don't give up that gym membership it might be worth it to develop a small home gym for those days when making it in to the public gym isn't feasible.

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Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Isaac_Wilkins

Wednesday, 4 November 2009

Home Fitness And Exercise Equipment To Keep You In Shape

For more and more people, home exercise and fitness equipment has become a must-have item. The convenience of having access to exercise equipment in their home is a big factor, as is the cost savings of home fitness equipment in comparison to gym or fitness club memberships.

But what is the best home exercise equipment on the market? The answer is “it depends” because each person has different needs, different space available to hold home fitness equipment, and different budgets available to spend.

In generally, the simplest equipment is the most likely to be used on a regular basis. If you select home fitness equipment that is too complicated, too hard, or just not something you like to do, chances are it will sit in a corner somewhere collecting dust. Think carefully about what kind of equipment you are most likely to use, and whenever possible, try it out ahead of time to make sure you really like it.

Home Gyms

A common piece of home fitness equipment is the home gym. This type of equipment is primarily used for building muscle, shaping, and toning the body. There are three main types of home gyms:

• Traditional • Power rod • Gravity resistance

Traditional home gyms may have free weights and barbells, or be machine-type gyms with several stations and functions attached to a single steel frame. A free weight system is good for exercise enthusiasts who are knowledgeable about proper form and technique for lifting weights. For less experienced users, though, a machine-type gym offers most of the same benefits while helping to ensure good technique by using prescribed motions. A traditional home gym usually requires quite a bit of space to hold the equipment and also allow enough room around the perimeter to access the stations and perform exercises.

Power rod home gyms have surged in popularity over the last decade, driven primarily by the Bowflex brand of home fitness equipment. A power rod machine uses flexible rods of varying stiffness connected to a cable and pulley system. When the cables are attached to different rods the user can either increase or decrease the resistance they will experience. Power rod equipment typically requires less space than a traditional home gym and is usually less expensive. The materials are not as durable, though, and this type of home fitness equipment is not suitable for serious athletes who require sturdier equipment with a greater range of weight resistance.

Gravity resistance home gyms are typically the lightest weight and least expensive type of home gym. This home fitness equipment uses an adjustable metal frame and a gliding board or bench to perform exercises. The user lies on the board in various positions, and by pulling on a cable and pulley system, the weight of their body creates the resistance they experience. This type of system is often quite compact, folding up for easy storage. The disadvantage to that feature, though, is that equipment kept out of site tends to be out of mind and not used on a regular basis.

Treadmills

Another popular type of home fitness equipment is the treadmill. While this tends to be a large piece of equipment and can be quite expensive, it is also a very versatile piece that is suitable for exercise enthusiasts of varying fitness and skill levels. The most expensive models are extremely durable and can handle a great deal of intense use by serious runners. More mid-range models are not quite as durable, and the low-end models are generally best suited for walking and light uses.

Treadmills can take up quite a bit of space so you should make sure your home can accommodate the size and weight of whichever model you select. Do not put your treadmill in a garage or any other space that is not climate controlled, because the motor and other parts are not designed for outdoor or semi-outdoor use. Look for a treadmill that has at least a 1.5 horsepower motor, and preferably one that is 2.0 horsepower or more. The belt should be long enough and wide enough to accommodate the length and width of your stride, and it should be constructed of at least two-ply material to withstand the friction and impact of your activity.

Elliptical Trainers

This type of home fitness equipment first appeared in the 1990’s, and it has gained tremendously in popularity ever since. Modern elliptical trainers provide motion and exercise to both the upper and lower body, making it an effective and efficient full body workout.

When looking for an elliptical trainer, whenever possible opt for a rear drive system rather than a front drive system. Rear drive machines are far sturdier, more reliable, and provide a smoother motion for the user. The resistance system will vary according to price, with the least expensive models using a manual system, mid-range models using a motorized brake system, and the most sophisticated high-end models employing an eddy current brake system. Stride length is another important thing to keep in mind, because different people have different natural strides. Look for an elliptical trainer that allows you adjust the stride length to suit your own body style and stride length.

Stationary Bikes

Stationary bikes have been around for several decades, yet they remain popular as simple, easy to use home fitness equipment. Modern stationary bikes come in many shapes and sizes, so it is fairly straightforward to find one that fits in the available space inside your home. While traditional bikes have the user sitting upright, just as they would on a regular bicycle, more and more exercise enthusiasts are turning to recumbent seating instead. A recumbent exercise bike allows you to sit in a slightly reclined position while pedaling with your legs in front of you. The benefit of this type of bike is that is places much less strain on the back, making it well suited to people who are prone to back soreness or pain. Some models also come with the option of arm motion, too, usually accomplished with handles or a cable and pulley system.

Summary

Whatever type of home fitness equipment you choose, the most important thing to do is select something that you will find enjoyable, convenient, and easy to use. If you don’t, it is likely that you will gradually stop using it and it will become just another item sitting unused in the corner. The best home fitness equipment is that which you use regularly, so make your own comfort level the most important consideration when making a selection.

About the Author:

Julie-Ann Amos is a freelance writer for Fitness-N-Exercise-Equipment.com, a consumer guide to the best home exercise and fitness equipment. She frequently writes home gym reviews and has contributed articles on elliptical trainers and exercise bikes.

Copyright 2005 Fitness-N-Exercise-Equipment.com

Permission is granted to publish this article on your site only if the author's byline is included and all links are hyperlinked.

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