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Get in shape playing basketball

December 13, 2011 / Staff

With the holidays around the corner, there are tons of great gift ideas out there. When you consider fitness equipment and gear, the ideas are endless. You can go with small gifts like dumbbells or more elaborate equipment like a treadmill.

The key is finding something that fits the person, whether you are purchasing a gift or buying something for yourself. So much fitness equipment just sits there. Too often people get some inspiration, and then reality sets in and you end up with an expensive clothes rack.

One this to consider is a basketball hoop for the home. Basketball is one of the best games out there for cardio health and people of all ages can play. Kids love the sport and many will play for hours with their friends. That sure beats having them sitting around playing video games all day!

It’s also a great option for those of us who are now older who struggle to find the time to get our cardio exercise time. It’s so easy to just pick up a basketball and start playing, whether it’s with kids or old friends who used to love to play when they were younger. Of course you need to be careful as you get older. Make sure you put on good basketball shoes and remember to stretch and warm up. But once you start playing regularly you’ll feel so much better.

If you shop around you find all sorts of options for basketball backboards and hoops. It’s obviously easier if you’re buying this for yourself or your own kids, as you know what best fits your home. But if you do some research you can find out what best fits for your grand kids or others on your list.

So think about something that everyone can enjoy that won’t be wasted. A basketball hoop is always a great option.

Exercise

basketball basketball hoop

Down time and rest is important

December 1, 2011 / Staff

There’s a ton of advice out there on how you should be working out. One constant theme involves focus and challenging yourself. This is very important, particularly in a world where too many people don’t put the time in and don’t challenge themselves.

At the same time, people who are pushing themselves to get in shape are often pushing themselves in other aspects of their lives. Many of us work very hard to make sure we provide for our families or to advance our careers. Again, things like focus and hard work are emphasized, and for good reason.

Yet one thing that isn’t talked about enough is rest. It’s the importance of making sure that your body and your mind are rested. When working out, it’s important to consider things like pacing and also proper rest between set and between workouts. Some people decide they want to start working out or work out more, and of course they want to work at it. But you have to be smart about it and give your body the rest it needs. This will improve your overall performance and your quality of life.

The same principle applies to taking mental breaks. Stress is a huge problem and it can have all sorts of negative impacts, both emotional and physical. Take time away from work, working out and your loved ones to take a real mental break. Do short ones daily, and then make sure you take your vacations. Find time killers that help you take your mind off of work or exercise, whether it’s vegging out in front of the TV or playing online bingo or poker. Yes, even bingo can help you relax. I know for many people the opposite is the problem. They veg out too much and they can’t get motivated to work out or to put the work into their careers. But the opposite is also true, particularly in today’s crazy, fast-paced world.

So if you’re about to embark on a new workout regiment, keep this in mind. Develop good habits from the start and get your rest.

Exercise

bingo mental breaks Motivation rest stress tv

FiveFingers running shoes

November 20, 2011 / Staff

One of the most interesting developments over recent years regarding fitness gear has to be the FiveFingers line of running shoes from the Italian company Vibram. They are basically gloves for your feet and are a part of a movement turning running dogma on its head.

Here’s a summary from Forbes:

Here’s something you need to know about: Could we be seeing the beginning of the end of the modern running shoe? A growing legion of runners and recreational joggers—I am one—backed by a rising number of physiologists, believe that running shoes do more harm than good for millions of people. With their inflexibility, cushioning, and raised heels, they almost force you to crash down on your heel and send the impact of all your weight in every step straight into your knees and hips. That’s not how our bodies were designed to work, and it does terrible harm.

These shoes are not for everyone. You really need to consult your doctor and see whether this new style of running and new gear makes sense for you.

Equipment and Gear

Five Fingers FiveFingers running gear running shoes Vibram

Intense workouts with Georges St-Pierre

November 4, 2011 / Staff

The switch grip explosive pull up demonstrated in this video is just one aspect of an intense training regimen from MMA superstar Georges St-Pierre.

Workouts come and go, but with the emergence of mixed martial arts we’re seeing a whole generation of guys getting motivated to get into shape like these fighters. The result is a lean but sculpted look that is all the rage and is definitely popular with women of all ages. Guys want this look, but the key is you have to be willing to follow an intense work out program like the ones used by MMA fighter like St-Pierre.

We also discuss the need to do something and how to find a workout routine that fits your goals. This program should be considered by people who are motivated to test themselves and push themselves to the limit. If you’re serious, you should get results.

Motivation

Georges St-Pierre

The lowdown on training with nutritional supplements

October 31, 2011 / Staff

Whatever you’re into, whether it’s weightlifting, bodybuilding, athletics of whatever sort or just plain keeping fit, there’s a huge, huge and often pretty bewildering range of sports supplements out there that will complement your training routine. But which ones do you really need? From instant whey proteins to amino acids, nitric oxide (Jack3d being a good example of a popular one) there’s loads of stuff out there. If you want to get a good overview about the essentials, then read on…

Find yourself a nutritionist
Because it can be a bit daunting, many people who want to get serious about their fitness regime – it’s not essential that you do, but can be a bit of a minefield for a newbie.

Protein Powders
Found in food like meat, fish, dairy, and soy, pulse and vegetable products, protein is essential for building muscle. The three principal types used in supplements are:

• Whey
• Casein
• Soy

Found in milk, whey protein is arguably the best and most popular of this trio of proteins, because it’s fast-absorbing has the highest value of providing branched-chain amino acids. In this way, instant whey helps build and maintain muscle mass. And not only this, but whey is also an antioxidant, helping to jack the body’s immune system, helping in the fight against regime-ruining illnesses.

There are three principle types of shake you can get:

• Low carb, low-calorie, low fat: perfect for weight loss while maintaining muscle mass
• High protein, high calorie, low fat: perfect for muscle gain
• Medium carbs, medium calories: perfect for a quick and easy meal replacement

Amino Acid Supplements
The essential building blocks of protein (the stuff your muscles are made of), amino acid supplements provide the combination of essential amino acids the body requires to grow and repair itself – and ones that the body simply doesn’t produce itself, and must therefore get from food sources – or supplements. Found in protein-rich sources such as meat, fish, dairy, soy, vegetable, pulse and grain products, athletes also commonly complement their intake with supplements.

Nitric Oxide
Necessary for intercellular communication, nitric oxide is made by the body and is required for all physiological processes that take place inside the human body, enhancing blood flow to the furthest corners of the body. This is therefore a really important supplement for those who want to build muscle.

N.B.
It’s entirely possible to overdose with NO2 and common side effects can include (but are by no means limited to) weakness, diarrhoea and nausea. You find out your optimum level by “tolerance mapping”, whereby you take a small dosage for one week, recording the associated benefits and side effects, and continue raising the dosage over a number of weeks until the optimum level is reached – which, if course, will have you seeing the most benefits with the least amount of side effects.

Nutrition

Protein