Static and dynamic stretching are two elements in a warm-up routine that help prevent injury and maximize performance. But, consider, why do we warm-up at all? And, are there other aspects to a good warm-up routine? By performing warm-up routines, you actually do literally just that - warm up the body. Internal body temperature can't raise by a large amount, or you would have all the symptoms of... ❯❯❯
Most upper body exercises have as their goal to build strength. In order to maximize the beneficial effect of the routine, you'll want to mix in some good cardiovascular workouts - spinning, jogging, etc - and alternate the activities with lower body work. Before starting any routine, be sure to spend at least 10 minutes warming up, including good stretching exercises. Warm, loose muscles are... ❯❯❯
If your workout consists of more than just jogging, at some point you'll want to invest in some fitness equipment. Which you select will, naturally, depend on lots of things - budget vs price, quality vs needs, type and interests and so forth. Fitness equipment can run anywhere from $50 to $5,000 or more. You may be satisfied with an exercise ball or you may want a complete gym. That depends, of... ❯❯❯
Some of the major goals of exercise are to improve muscle tone, strength, and endurance. All of this is made possible by, and requires, the body's energy production-and-use system. Central to that system is a complex molecule called ATP, Adenosine Triphosphate. ATP is a core element of a process known in biochemical studies as (ready for it?): the tricarboxylic acid cycle, or the Kreb's cycle.... ❯❯❯
Being flexible - having well lubricated joints and stretchable muscles - is one of the best ways to reduce the prospect of injury and give you the basis for a wide variety of workout routines. Your overall goal is to attain good range of motion, while gradually extending that range to a degree appropriate to your fitness level and body type. There are several different ways to accomplish that... ❯❯❯
Most articles on fitness, when discussing routines and exercises will recommend consulting a physician first. That isn't just a means of covering the author against potential legal action. It's a recognition of the fact that exercise, done improperly, can be harmful and sometimes you can't get everything you need to know with a few web searches. A medical doctor, especially one that specializes... ❯❯❯
Though stereotypes are dissolving with each generation, there are some that persist - in part, because they are based on real differences between men and women. While some women can and do achieve the upper body strength of some (even very fit) men, the overwhelming majority of males have a natural advantage in this area. Male aesthetic values, the source of which isn't clear, reinforce this and... ❯❯❯
What kind of leg exercises you do will, of course, depend on your goal. Are you trying to build massive thighs or heart-shaped calves? Do you want to build strength, increase running endurance or improve balance and flexibility? Are you a weight-lifter, a jogger or a ballerina? Naturally, not all goals are mutually exclusive. Building strength can combine well with improving balance, for... ❯❯❯
It's a commonplace observation that as you age you have to work harder to keep the pounds off and to stay fit. One major reason is the inescapable biological fact that metabolism slows as we age. Inescapable for now, at least, until medical technology finds some safe way to alter it. Genetic research into aging is trying, in a way, to do just that. Several studies in the last two decades have... ❯❯❯
You can enjoy all the benefits of gym membership - a wide variety of equipment and facilities, good advice from staff and other members and the incentive to work out by making the gym a destination. But, you can also enjoy having the ease of access and the absence of a commute by purchasing home gym equipment. But what to buy? If you're just getting into, or back into, a fitness routine, you... ❯❯❯