Category: General fitness (Page 15 of 15)

Five common exercises you should never do

March 27, 2007 / Anthony Stalter

In a recent Best Life article posted on MSN.com, exercise physiologists listed five exercises that should be taken out of daily routines.

The five:

– Posterior (Behind-the-Neck) Pull Downs
– Behind-the-Neck Shoulder Presses
– Straight Ball Curls
– Leg Extensions
– Sit-Ups

I’ve heard sit-ups are bad for the back and some personal trainers aren’t big on posterior pull downs, but avoiding straight ball curls and leg extensions are news to me. Regardless, the article gives a brief description of why the exercise should be avoided, as well as safer alternatives.

To read the entire article, click here.

Exercise, General fitness, General training, Magazine Hype, Xternal Fitness

Is mandatory exercise in school a good idea?

March 20, 2007 / Anthony Stalter

Lawmakers in Kentucky won an approval to pass a bill requiring public elementary and middle schools to make physical activity a part of children’s daily routines.

Under the bill, schools would have to include a half hour of moderate to vigorous physical activity each day, or 150 minutes a week, by the 2008-09 school year.

Personally, I think this a fantastic idea. According to an About.com article, experts estimate that 15% of kids are overweight and another 15% are at risk of becoming overweight. Anything that could potentially help get these numbers down should at least be experimented with. I don’t see how teaching children about daily exercise and proper nutrition could ever be a bad thing, especially with obesity being a major problem in U.S. adults too.

Not all are thrilled about the idea, however.

Sen. Jack Westwood, R-Crescent Springs, expressed some misgivings but voted to advance the bill.
“I’m nervous about the potential that this is going to take away some time from the classroom,” he said.

Sen. Westwood has a valid concern, but I doubt 30 minutes of daily exercise is really going to take away from a child’s normal studies. Plus, daily exercise is great for keeping the mind active and alert, which should only heighten a child’s learning capabilities.

Exercise, General fitness, Magazine Hype, Uncategorized

Get on your feet!

March 1, 2007 / Anthony Stalter

Think about how many weight lifting exercises we do sitting or lying down. Just to name a few, there is the flat bench press, incline bench press, military press, lateral raises, bicep curls, triceps extensions and lat pull downs.

I’ve read several publications that recommend standing up for as many exercises as you can. The more we sit down, the more likely we are to weaken our backs and abs. Also, if we don’t develop the core strength, we’re more likely to suffer an injury too. I’ve read that this especially works for hardgainers, because it forces you to work more muscle groups at one time.

Now granted, there are some exercises – like the bench press for example – that standing up is just not an option. However, the more times we get up on our feet while working out, the more likely we are to build core strength and overall balance.

Bodybuilding, General fitness, General training, Magazine Hype, Weight training

Don’t let common workout myths detour your main goal

January 17, 2007 / Anthony Stalter

On a whole, we all have it within ourselves to want to be healthy, be fit and look our best. However, it’s easy to get sidetracked by bad advice or information overload. The most common problem some of us face is that we think we have to find a magical workout regime or a diet that’s tailor made for us.

The truth of the matter is that any workout that continuously challenges are body and mind will work. Don’t get hung up on what specific exercises will work best for you, because then it’s easier to lose focus. Just pick out a regime from a magazine or online article or talk to someone that you trust that has had success in the gym to build you a plan. Knowing the fundamentals in the gym, changing up your workout every four to six weeks and of course having a proper diet will get you on the right track. And keep you there.??

For more workout myths and facts, including whether or not muscle will turn into fat, sweating means you’re losing weight and if working out when you’re injured actually is beneficial, check out this article from msnbc.com.

Exercise, General fitness, Magazine Hype, Men's Health and Wellness, Sports Health and Fitness, Uncategorized

New Year’s approaches

November 1, 2006 / Mike Furci

The New Year will be here before you know it.? Many?people are already thinking about possible resolutions.? Unfortunately, many do not follow through?with their resolutions.??A big contributor to failure is a lack of knowledge.??The vast majority of?people who?join a gym do not have the tools necessary to stay on track.

Equally important, and?Perhaps more important than the workout itself, are the following guidelines:

1. There is no “off season”
Understand that getting into shape has no down time. Losing body fat, gaining muscle or just wanting to be healthy must be a lifestyle. If you don’t make changes in your lifestyle, you are destined for failure.
2. Visualize your ultimate goal
Your mind can be your greatest ally on the road to success.
3. Big Goals, Little Goals
To reach your big goals, you must set small goals. These small goals must be made daily and weekly. Simply establish your nutrition and workout goals for each day and each week. Take your big goals and segment them into smaller, more attainable goals.
4. Keep a Journal?
In your road to fitness, you must track your successes and failures and constantly monitor your progress.

This goal setting process is essential if one wishes to attain?their fitness goals.? With the above guidelines, your chance of success is greatly improved.? Without them, you are doomed.

General fitness, General training, Workout programs