Get off the Couch! New Research says Sitting = Death

overweight

Recently, new studies have directly named sedentary lifestyles as a death sentence. The link between a lifetime of sitting and mortality is clearly in focus, and it's not pretty. Obesity and resulting complications are a worldwide issue. There's never been a better time to break free of your cubical or get off the couch. Your life may depend on it. The CDC says that physical inactivity is the 4th leading cause of death, right up there with cancer and heart disease. The cost of dealing with obesity, and related complications like heart disease, diabetes, and stroke, is unbelievable. Getting Started If you're overweight, getting started is always the hardest part. The first few weeks are not only daunting, they can be physically difficult and leave you sore and discouraged. We often refuse to accept our own limitations. Maybe you could run a mile in a few minutes when you were young, but after a few years of inactivity, that ship has sailed. Here are a few tips to get you on … [Read more...]

Boot Camp Workout To Help Burn Off Belly Fat

Burn off belly Fat

Until 10 year ago, boot camps were only conducted to help boost the fitness levels of new military recruits. As you can imagine because these were specifically designed with military personnel in mind they can be killer workouts! During such camps the instructors took the fitness class outdoors and aimed to push the new recruits to higher levels of fitness. Yet this type of physical training has now become a popular and fun way for people to lose weight. Today, anybody can find a special boot camp to fulfill his or her fitness needs, such as baby boot camps and beach boot camps. What is a Boot Camp? A boot camp is actually filled with several types of exercises that are efficient, as they target the entire body, including the heart, by switching from one form of exercise to another. Each boot camp workout involves a mixture of cardio and calisthenics and are very challenging because they are very intense. The aim of these workouts is to challenge you to work your body to … [Read more...]

Outdoor Games Help You Stay Fit and Healthy

games that get you fit

Even though exercising for most people is to keep fit and healthy, many people exercise to have fun as well.  For those who cannot follow a disciplined regime to stay fit, outdoor activities and games are ideal  This will not only help them stay healthy and fit but also lets their body be exposed to nature’s elements like sunlight and fresh air. Visit the community park Apart from being free of cost, outdoor games are great ways to get into shape. In certain Asian countries, a great work-out session can be achieved with a visit to the nearest community park. Communities all over are renovating their parks and installing exercising equipment so that the locals can use them for free. The friendly park environment contributes greatly to an enjoyable fitness experience. Playing outdoor games is a stress-buster and confidence-booster Playing outdoor sports or games is a great idea for outdoor work-outs. Along with achieving fitness through the physical exertion, the spirit … [Read more...]

Simple Fitness Tips for Achieving a Gorgeous Body

fitness -get a great body

It is no secret that women around the world try to get that sexy body flaunted by the cover girls of each month’s magazine. Not only do single women aim for that gorgeous body, even moms want something to be proud of. Many of us have tried several workout routines for women to trim our body and lose weight. Having a beautiful body helps by giving us the self-confidence and pride that every empowered woman must have. Working out shouldn’t be done just to get that glam body, but must also focus on achieving a healthy lifestyle. A body in good physical shape gives you the strength and energy to get by your daily life without getting stressed out easily. Following is a list of things that may help you achieve that gorgeous body and keep you healthy. Set your priorities straight The first step in undergoing a fitness regime is to have a clear picture as to what exactly you want to be, and the things you are looking to avoid. For instance, women who are just out of the pregnancy … [Read more...]

Healthy Ways for Men to Gain Muscle

Healthy Ways for Men to Gain Muscle

Men with high metabolisms will do just about anything to go from skinny to muscle. After all, it’s no fun being the wimpy-looking guy. If you’re doing all you can to gain muscle but it’s still not working for you, you can pack on muscle using these healthy methods. Diet to Gain Muscle If you want to gain muscle, you have to eat the right way. This means protein, protein, and more protein! Protein-rich foods such as beef, eggs, poultry, beans, and dairy products help build muscle while helping you recover from workouts faster. Pair your protein with plenty of fresh vegetables and fruit for a well-rounded diet. While we’re talking about what you need to eat to pack on muscle, it’s also just as important to know what to avoid. Processed foods are a big one. When you’re trying to gain muscle and trim down, the last thing you want to are eat fast-food cheeseburgers and burritos. Carbs are another food group to cut down on. The bulk of your nutrients should come from … [Read more...]

Coffee: weight loss miracle or another dead end?

Coffee: weight loss miracle or another dead end?

When it comes to weight loss, we all tend to look for a magic bullet; that miracle that will make a difference. A number of studies have shown a link between coffee and weight loss, but there is some controversy about long-term effectiveness. How it works There are a number of legitimate, scientifically documented way that coffee contributes to weight loss:   1. Coffee helps curb cravings. Coffee is a natural appetite suppressant, and eating less leads to weight loss. No conclusive studies have been done to determine how long the appetite remains suppressed after drinking coffee.   2. Coffee is a diuretic. Water weight can leave you feeling bloated and uncomfortable. Coffee aids digestion and helps you shed extra water. You should be aware that this is a temporary weight loss. While a discernable weight loss coupled with less bloating offers a significant psychological advantage when starting a new diet, only sustained effort will keep the weight … [Read more...]

A Workout is Incomplete without Music

music for working out

You are fully geared up for your exercise session. All that is missing to push you towards the perfect workout session are the soundtracks. For most of us, our MP3 players or our iPods become our personal trainers while working out.   The impetus Music is the impetus that helps you complete a perfect workout session. If you look through the pages of history, you will see how important music was to the warriors setting out for a war. The Greek warriors always marched off to fight to the tunes of the Dorian music.   Music has always excited and inspired the energy levels of people. Even today, while running on the treadmill most of us listen to motivational numbers and pumped up music like Red Hot Chili Peppers, Queen and Madonna.   Listening to this kind of music helps you pick up your lagging energy during an intense workout session. It keeps you on the move constantly.   Music pushes you to the limit Good music for your workout session gets you all … [Read more...]

The Best Things to Eat or Drink Before or After a Workout to Kickstart Your Metabolism

what to eat to kickstart your matabolism

It’s time to hit the gym. Whether you have plans to do cardio, strength training, or yoga, strategic eating pre- and post-workout can ensure that your metabolism fires up and stays running for hours after your workout is complete.  Adding rocket fuel to your metabolism is the key to getting maximum benefits from your workouts.  It can also help you reach peak performance in whatever sport or activity you pursue. Choose the foods you eat both before and after you workouts carefully to be the best athlete you can – and burn fat and build muscles for hours after your workout ends. Pre-workout Choices Depending on the time of day you exercise, it’s important to get adequate calories to fuel your body and get your system revving.  If you are a morning person who squeezes in a run or hits the gym before work, it’s especially important to take the time to eat breakfast. Working out on an empty stomach doesn’t mean that you’ll be burning extra fat; it just means that … [Read more...]

Pre-BootCamp Foods to Help Maximize Sessions

Pre bootcamp food

One of the easiest ways to kick-start your weight loss regime into over drive is to join a bootcamp class.  Not only do these intense fitness courses help build muscle and break up fat, but they also can lower your medical bills since a healthier lifestyle means less frequent trips to the doctor. But in order to get the most out of your  bootcamp workout and avoid getting too fatigued or ill during (or after), you need to  eat the "right" easily digestible  foods to give you fuel— especially if you plan on joining an early bird session and just underwent 7 hours of foodless sleep. That said, below are a few ideal foods high carbohydrate, moderate protein, and low in fat to help give you the proper energy you need to withstand an hour long (or longer) bootcamp session. Plain, Non Fat Greek Yogurt Yogurt is known for being a great source of probiotics and vitamin c which helps regulate the digestive system and boosts immunity respectively, but it's also an excellent source of … [Read more...]

10 Surprising Weight Loss Facts

Fork and measuring tape

Here is something a bit different for you today I decided to forgo the usual bootcamp related posts and go with some interesting Weight loss facts Working out and staying active is a lifestyle choice, yet there are always those who would rather fast-track the process instead of staying committed to a healthy lifestyle and losing the weight gradually. Those wanting to fast-track usually get caught up in the unhealthy 'healthy' ways of losing weight, thinking they know what's best, however that's usually not the case. Here are 10 surprising fitness facts that just might rock your whole weight loss world and make you rethink the ways in which you are going about your healthy lifestyle. The Top Ten #10 Your body burns more calories in the 23 hours it's not exercising than in the 1 hour in which it is. #9 You CAN eat anything and still be losing your weight. However, 'weight' does not always equal fat, it can mean muscle too and muscle is something you don't want to lose … [Read more...]