The Busy Fitness Pro

Posts Tagged ‘weight training’

The importance that exercise plays in the health of the individual is now universally recognized. Everyone should be incorporating exercise into their life as a regular part of their life routine. As true as this is, there are special reasons why regular exercise helps those in recovery lead a healthier life. Exercise improves a person’s outlook on life and raises their sense of well being. This eliminates any desire to reach for a drug to artificially improve how you feel in life. Many people have used drugs in the past to compensate for negative feelings. However, if you greatly alleviate, or even totally eliminate these negative feelings, your need to compensate for them with drugs will no longer exist. This is exactly what happens to most people when they embark on and carry through with a program of regular exercise.

When you hear the word “exercise” do you think of it as something that is pleasant or unpleasant, as fun or work? How you feel about exercise plays a role in how often you will do it? Have fun when you exercise because if you are having fun when you exercise, you will automatically find it more pleasant. Focus on how good it feels to move your body. Remember also, if life makes you stressed and tense, exercise automatically releases stress and tension and gives you more energy. You can’t help feeling better about life and yourself too. So think of exercise as a wonderful way to make yourself feel better in just a short amount of time.

If you’re feeling stressed and down, exercising will pick you up and make you feel better and more resourceful. And by releasing stress, you will no longer be drained of energy from stressors and tension creating situations that occur in your daily life. What did you do in the past when you had a stressful day? Did you hurt yourself by doing unhealthy things like overeat, drink, smoke or worse? Now you will be making a conscious choice to do what makes you healthier, while achieving the exact same goals of relieving your daily stress and making yourself better, with fun exercise. You’ll have made a new commitment to yourself to treat yourself better by respecting your physical being and becoming healthier and healthier.

Later on in this article I will discuss an often neglected aspect of the health promoting qualities of exercising, but first I want to discuss what types of exercises are best for you.
The most valuable exercise and the most valuable piece of equipment for doing this exercise is obvious, but usually not known by most personal trainers, who often seem to have a particular favorite regardless of the individual they are advising. It is, to put it succinctly, any exercise that you will enjoy doing regularly. People often ask fitness advisors what piece of equipment they should buy to work out on. Well, the correct answer is the one you will enjoy using and thus will use consistently and regularly. For example one person might enjoy a rowing machine in their home, while another might enjoy a treadmill. While, again, another might enjoy using a climber or stair-like workout piece of equipment. People have different tastes, and that must be recognized and acted upon. Just because your friend has an exercise bike at home, doesn’t mean you should get one instead of say, an elliptical trainer that you would find more fun.

Often people are being advised to “watch television when you work out,” I, on the other hand, typically advise my clients, to “work out when you watch television.” When you are listening to your favorite music, you can also work out at the same time. If you have time to watch your favorite TV shows or again, if you have time to listen to some of your favorite albums, then, right there, you DO have time to work out, which can be done at the very same time. You probably have noticed that there are television sets in fitness centers. This strategy can easily be applied within your home. So have the equipment right there in your television room, and get on it whenever you watch television. In fact, a sedentary life style created by people spending hours sitting in front of a TV can be totally turned around, so that watching TV becomes the thing that propels you along the new path of getting a lot of exercise into your life. You don’t even have to go to a gym, you don’t even have to go outside, and you don’t even have to set aside extra time, just do it while you are watching your favorite TV programs in your own home.

Of course, you can also get good exercise and fresh air at the same time with an outside exercise such as walking, jogging or biking. However, you should only do these if you enjoy them. Since running can leave some people with wear and tear injury because of its impact nature, walking is more highly recommended because it is much safer.

It might surprise some of you that I believe that strength training is equally as important to good health as aerobic exercise. Doing aerobic exercise can improve the strength of your muscles, but only up to a certain point because a particular aerobic exercise will provide only so much resistance, so that after awhile, you are only maintaining the muscle you have already developed and not building any more muscle. The value of strength training for the health of every individual is becoming more and more recognized in the fitness world. It is now accepted that working out with heavy resistance provides benefits far beyond just being stronger and looking better.

Today using heavier resistance, moving at very very slow tempos, in both directions, and quickly reaching the point of failure, when you just cannot move the resistance any longer, is considered the best form of strength training. At the moment when your body tries but cannot overcome and move the resistance any longer, your muscle will signal your body to stimulate muscle growth to increase your muscle’s strength, and also improve the metabolic functions employed in the use of your muscles, so that any future challenge can be more easily met. Maintaining a slow rate of movement in both directions eliminates the effects of momentum, and counters the effects of gravity as the weight inside the workout machine is being lowered. This system of slow training with heavy resistance creates a more intense and productive workout while lessening any potential injury to the body, both through the very slow speed of movement and the reduced number of repetitions. This is the form of strength training I recommend, both to achieve the results you desire and protect you from any injuries. Because of the large increase of the resistance you will be dealing with, this method of working out is best done only using exercise machines, rather them free weights. In addition, proper form must be maintained at all times, both to prevent injury and insure you will get a proper workout that will provide all the benefits that are intended. When people hurry through their strength training by doing many rushed repetitions instead of going slowly, and jerk the weight, twist their body, clench their teeth and hold their breath, they are doing wrong things that will only keep them from making good progress in a safe way. I want to further reiterate that no matter what type of weight training you do, it is essential that you breathe freely and never ever hold your breath.

The positive side of this increased effort from using much heavier resistance, and slower and fewer repetitions in your fitness center’s machines, is that your sessions working out can be much much shorter in duration. With this new method that is more and more recognized as the best way to train, you can be finished with your complete workout in a surprisingly short time while achieving better results than you might have experienced the regular way. Strength training this way strengthens your bones, improves your cardiovascular health, improves your flexibility, makes your joints more stable and less prone to injury, and by improving your metabolism, helps you replace fat with muscle! Your added muscle will make everything in life easier to do and make you feel more energetic, thus, raising your spirit and mood.

Some people promote weight training as the complete answer to becoming and staying fit and insist that there is no additional need to be active. The truth is that even were you to work out with very heavy weights a couple of times a week, if you aren’t staying active the rest of the week you will not be able to maintain your health. The reason for this is that an integral part of keeping yourself healthy and young is the working of your body’s lymphatic system. Unfortunately this aspect of staying healthy has not received the attention it really deserves. This system is particularly important for the health of anyone in recovery since its main role is detoxification. Most people who have abused drugs have taken in and inundated their body’s systems with toxins. It is very important for those in recovery to do all that they are able to remove these substances from their bodies as quickly and thoroughly as possible. And then, because of a need to continue to feel and be healthy to stay away from drugs, those in recovery should remain on a program that keeps their bodies detoxified and clean.

The lymphatic system is the metabolic cleanser of the body. It draws in and carries toward disposal the many substances that need to be removed for the cleansing and detoxification of the body’s systems, including toxins, dead cells, cancer cells, nitrogenous wastes, fatty globules, pathogenic bacteria, infectious viruses, foreign substances, heavy metals, and other waste byproducts that the cells give off. However unlike the blood’s circulatory system which has the heart to pump the blood through its system, the lymph system lacks a pump to move the lymph fluid with all its waste through its many capillaries and ducts toward disposal. It is absolutely vital that the lymph fluids continue to flow in order to eliminate waste from the body, otherwise the toxicity of the body will increase leading to poor health and disease. Using a set of one way valves, lymph is moved along the vessels of the lymph system by the movement and contraction of the muscles during activity. Now you understand why just working out once a week, is not enough even though that will give you more muscle, stronger bones and a better working metabolism to burn calories to become and stay thinner. Spending the rest of the time sitting in your office 9 to 5 during the day, and in front of your television as a passive and sedentary person during the evening, will not keep your lymph system properly active to promote health. Without regular exercise, the toxicity of the body would build up because of a relatively inactive lymph system.

One very good exercise that is fun and can be done while watching television or listening to music is rebounding. Running or jumping up and down in place on a rebounder burns calories effectively. Using one of these mini-trampolines is remarkably gentle on ones joints and avoids the wear and tear of other similar activities, and it can burn as many or even more calories as other similar activities like running and jumping rope.

But more importantly, in regard to our present discussion on detoxification during recovery, this bouncing activity, running or jumping on a rebounder, effectively moves and recycles the lymph within the lymphatic system. In the end, it is very effective for detoxification and for continuing to keep your body in a cleaner less toxic state.

Those of you who have not been exercising and keeping your body in the best of health are going to be surprised and delighted with how much better you will be feeling and enjoying life when you have a stronger body and you are getting a lot of health enhancing exercise.

Technorati Tags: Addiction, aerobics, Drugs, exercise, health, Recovery, Toxins, weight training

One article about fitness that I came across has this to say: You have taken the important first step on the path to physical fitness by seeking information. The next step is to decide that you are going to be physically fit.

That sounded encouraging. Not to mention that it just about sums up everything I’ve been doing when it comes to my physical fitness plan. Yes, indeed, I have taken that all important first step. Hundreds of times in fact. Top Ten Best Foods for a Flatter Belly, Seven Steps to Flab-Free Arms, 30 Days of Walking Tips, these and every other top ten list I have perused. I have also scoured countless columns of so-called fitness experts, from celebrity trainers to Phys Ed professors with Ph.Ds. I can then confidently say that I am a fitness information addict.

As for the second step, the one about making a decision to be physically fit, that deserves a check mark on my to-do list as well. I’ve made lots of decisions. I’ve decided to buy a new pair of running shoes, enroll in a jiu jitsu or muay thai class, go to the gym, and go jogging on Saturday nights instead of confining myself to a debilitative state in front of the TV.

Now, if I can only gather enough willpower to actually act on my decisions, then I’ll be good to go. As of now, my only physical activities consist of walking from the bus stop to the office and vice versa and frequent trips to the bathroom. I’ve heard a good number of raves about the benefits of walking and that made me feel better for a while. I even resorted to drinking lots and lots of water so that I could have an excuse to go to the bathroom more often. But my efforts proved to be futile as the bulge in my belly still refused to budge.

I took up weight training as a Phys Ed course back in college and my instructor used to say then that Asian women are naturally predisposed to having a somewhat fuller midsection. I still haven’t verified the veracity of that statement and I have serious suspicions that he was just saying that to make us feel less pathetic. Another professor of mine, this time in a literature class, said that some cultures actually consider women on the, uh, heavy side to be sexier and more appealing. Well, too bad. The culture I grew up in doesn’t exactly adhere to that belief.

The choleric side of me is already screaming “Do Something!” in an insanely hysterical manner so I decided to take on a more proactive stance regarding my fitness condition. I checked out gyms. And I don’t just mean doing a google search. Ha! I did some offline research as well. One tip I got about choosing a gym is a classic real estate principle: location location location. Basically, the idea is to choose a gym near your house or at least located somewhere that’s not a two-hour drive away.

Fortunately, there happens to be one on the street adjacent to where I live. Unfortunately, its location is the only good thing about it. The equipment are regretfully very limited and are cramped in a tiny space. That’s already a violation of item number six in the top ten list of things to consider when choosing a gym. (And yes, I happen to like lists.) And let’s not talk about personal trainers. It doesn’t have one. Apparently, the gym’s philosophy is to each his own. You come in, pump some iron, and if you strain a muscle or a barbell falls on you, well, some people have had it worse so just thank the heavens for a relatively milder bad luck.

Locker rooms are nothing more than tiny stalls where you could change and don’t ask where the showers are. Your stinky post-workout smell is not the gym’s problem. The cost, set on an hourly basis, is unsurprisingly dirt cheap. Their second philosophy: you deserve what you pay for, tetanus (courtesy of the rusty equipment) and fungal infection included. Looks like I just found the gym from hell.

I still like myself very much despite my less-than-perfect figure so of course I didn’t even consider going back there. So much for a near-the-house gym. It’s time to look for the not-a-two-hour-drive-away. A friend told me about the gym where he is a member. It’s about 40 minutes from my place but is definitely way more decent than the last one I checked out. The equipment is fairly adequate and well-maintained, there are shower stalls and real locker rooms, and personal trainers are available to help you.

Here’s the best part: there’s TV! How awesome is that? I could burn calories on the treadmill and still have my much needed dose of The Simpsons. Before I lose myself in workout ecstasy and sign up for membership, there’s just one important thing I need to know. Who gets to have a say on the TV channel? The choleric side of me may be happier now that I’ve finally taken a more active stand on my fitness plan but it will not be completely pacified until it has control of the remote.

Technorati Tags: Addict, Asian Women, Bulge, Bus Stop, Decisions, Ed Course, Excuse, exercise, Fitness, Fitness Experts, Fitness Plan, Frequent Trips, Gym, health, Physical Fitness, Professors, Running Shoes, Saturday Nights, Seven Steps, Sums, Suspicions, Top Ten List, Veracity, weight training, workout

The 8 Training Principles are research-based guidelines that can help you accelerate your training progress and optimize your results. Knowing how to apply these principles gives you an educated basis on which you can make informed decisions about designing your fitness or sports training program. The principles can also help you evaluate the merits of fitness equipment and personal training services.

All of the principles complement each other. For best results, they should be applied in concert throughout every phase of training.

1. Principle of Specificity suggests that your body will make adjustments according to the type of training you perform and in the very same muscles that you exercise. How you train determines what you get.

This principle guides you in designing your fitness training program. If your goal is to improve your overall level of fitness, you would devise a well-rounded program that builds both endurance and overall body strength. If you want to build the size of your biceps, you would increase weight loads on bicep curls and related exercises.

2. The Principle of Overload implies that you must continually increase training loads as your body adapts over time. Because your body builds and adjusts to your existing training regimen, you must gradually and systematically increase your work load for continued improvement.

A generally accepted guideline for weight training is to increase resistance not more than 10% per week. You can also use percentages of your maximum or estimated maximum level of performance and work out within a target training zone of about 60-85% of maximum. As your maximum performance improves, your training loads will increase, as well.

3. The Principle of Recovery assets that you must get adequate rest between workouts in order to recuperate. How much rest you need depends upon your training program, level of fitness, diet, and other factors.

Generally, if you perform a total body weight workout three days per week, rest at least 48 hours between sessions. You can perform cardio more frequently and on successive days of the week.

Over time, too little recovery can result in signs of overtraining. Excessively long periods of recovery time can result in a detraining effect.

4. The Principle of Reversibility refers to the loss of fitness that results after you stop training. In time, you will revert back to your pre-training condition. The biological principle of use and disuse underlies this principle. Simply stated, If you don’t use it, you lose it.

While adequate recovery time is essential, taking long breaks results in detraining effects that may be noticeable within a few weeks. Significant levels of fitness are lost over longer periods. Only about 10% of strength is lost 8 weeks after training stops, but 30-40% of endurance is lost in the same time period.

The Principle of Reversibility does not apply to skills. The effects of stopping practice of motor skills, such as weight training exercises and sport skills, are very different. Coordination appears to store in long-term motor memory and remains nearly perfect for decades. A skill once learned is never forgotten.

5. The Principle of Variation implies that you should consistently change aspects of your workouts. Training variations should always occur within ranges that are aligned with your training directions and goals. Varying exercises, sets, reps, intensity, volume, and duration, for example, prevents boredom and promotes more consistent improvement over time. A well-planned training program set up in phases offers built-in variety to workouts, and also prevents overtraining.

6. The Principle of Transfer suggests that workout activities can improve the performance of other skills with common elements, such as sport skills, work tasks, or other exercises. For example, performing explosive squats can improve the vertical jump due to their common movement qualities. But dead lifting would not transfer well to marathon swimming due to their very dissimilar movement qualities.

7. The Principle of Individualization suggests that fitness training programs should be adjusted for personal differences, such as abilities, skills, gender, experience, motivation, past injuries, and physical condition. While general principles and best practices are good guides, each person’s unique qualities must be part of the exercise equation. There is no one size fits all training program.

8. The Principle of Balance is a broad concept that operates at different levels of healthy living. It suggests that you must maintain the right mix of exercise, diet, and healthy behaviors. Falling out of balance may cause a variety of conditions (e.g., anemia, obesity) that affect health and fitness. In short, it suggests all things in moderation.

If you go to extremes to lose weight or build fitness too quickly, your body will soon respond. You could experience symptoms of overtraining until you achieve a healthy training balance that works for you.

For fitness training, balance also applies to muscles. If opposing muscles (e.g., hamstrings and quadriceps in the upper legs) are not strengthened in the right proportions, injuries can result. Muscle imbalances also contribute to tendonitis and postural deviations.

Keep these 8 Training Principles in mind as you design and carry out your fitness training program. They can help you make wise exercise decisions so you can achieve your goals more quickly with less wasted effort.

Stop Being Lazy

Start Getting Skinny

Start Taking responsibility

Technorati Tags: Adequate Rest, Bicep Curls, Biceps, Body Strength, Fitness, Fitness Diet, Fitness Equipment, Fitness Training, Fitness Training Program, Key Training, Maximum Level, Maximum Performance, Percentages, Personal Training Services, Principle Of Overload, Principle Of Specificity, Principles Of Training, Sport Fitness, Sports Training, Target Training, Training Principles, Training Zone, Weight Loads, weight training, Workouts

Amazon.com
Health and fitness experts are exhorting us to incorporate weight training into our fitness programs–it’s especially important for women for building bone density, but the truth is that working with weights increases your metabolism (are you listening? this means more fat-burning) all day. As with the cardio workout, Smith has designed two 20-minute workouts; on hectic days, doing the first alone is plenty, and on other days doing both programs will combine to help you s (more…)

Technorati Tags: Amazon, Bone Density, Cardio Workout, Fitness Experts, Fitness Programs, health and fitness, Hectic Days, Incorporate, Kathy, Kathy Smith, Lift, Lose, lose weight, metabolism, Minute Workouts, Smith, Timesaver, Truth, Vhs, weight, weight training, Weights

Bear Powered

Do You Want to Uncover the Secret of Faster Running Techniques? Read this Exclusive Report Now!

· Discover the real secret to faster running – and why most training methods make you slower!

The real secret to faster running is understanding the spring-mass model, used by all locomotion experts to describe how we run. Misunderstanding how we run causes improper or wasted training efforts. In fact, some of the strength workouts you’re doing may actually make you slower!

· Learn the 53 minute workout, which includes 31 minutes of rest, that will supercharge your progress

Can the proper rest time in the weightroom lead to breakaway running! YOU BET IT CAN!

In fact what if you don’t leave the weightroom feeling better than when you came in, then you’re NOT using the training method found only in Underground Secrets To Faster Running Proper rest time is one of the key factors to incredibly fast times.

· Unmask the “demon” of the weightroom to leave every workout exhilarated, not exhausted

There’s a demon hiding in your weightroom. His goal is to make every weight training session pure burning torture. Pain is the name of his game, and he is very good at his game. When he turns his fire on, your done! How can you defeat this evil monster? Underground Secrets To Faster Running will not only expose him, but toss him out for you.

Never again spend time recouperating from the evil deeds of the weightroom demon!

· Discover why “Ballistic” training is baloney and keeps you from reaching your absolute maximum speed

Ballistic (or explosive) exercises are widely recommended for sports training. The most common reasons for recommending ballistic/explosive training are a commonly held belief that ballistic exercises have elements of movement specificity, and the belief that speed of the lift will translate to faster limb movement. It’s the old lift fast to be fast.

· Recruit the super-power generators in your muscles to crush your opponents

Recruiting the best and the brightest is a great goal for any business. If your “business” is faster running, then you want to recruit the biggest and the fastest…motor units. There is only one way to do that, easily and consistently…Underground Secrets To Faster Runningwill show you the why and the how of recruiting the best your muscles have to offer in a safe and simple way. Fire up these monsters for incredible BREAKAWAY POWER!

Click HERE to Learn More

Technorati Tags: Baloney, Breakaway, Evil Deeds, Evil Monster, Exclusive Report, Explosive Training, Limb Movement, Mass Model, Maximum Speed, Minute Workout, Misunderstanding, Power Generators, Proper Rest, Recouperating, Rest Time, Specificity, Training Session, Underground Secrets, weight training, Workouts