Vacations are a necessity! Without a break from the norm, we would all go crazy with the stresses we face on a daily basis. However, most of us fall out of our fitness routines while we are on vacation, and it is a major reason that people state for stopping a workout regimen. That is
Ah, the crashing waves, the sun rising over the mountains, the sights of the rising skyscrapers, or whatever beauties your vacation offers you! Being on vacation is often very relaxing, especially those first few moments after rising from bed. However, it is easy to fall out of your workout routine. There is a way to get in an incredible workout
The last thing we want to do while on vacation is to get lazy with our fitness. Sure, we can slack off a bit and allow our body to get some rest as we relax the mind, too. However, a down week should be used to switch to a different gear, not to turn off the engine all together.
For many it is more stressful to find a gym with the same types of weight machines or whatever that you are used to
Welcome to the summer! This is the time of the year where the kids are out of school, and we are excited to take the family vacations. However, I always fear getting out of my exercise rhythm while relaxing on the beach or chasing my kid who just saw Mickey Mouse. There are some very easy ways to exercise while away from your usual stomping ground.
The easy method and boring one is to simply go to the hotel fitness center. Very few
You likely already know that you should limit exposure to loud sounds to protect your hearing. However, did you know that constant noise at acceptable levels can also harm your health? Although the noises do not have an effect on your hearing ability, the sustained sounds can activate your stress hormones.
The constant background noises you hear every day may not actively register, but your psyche is taking note. As your mind processes the sounds, your sensory system automatically kicks into action. If
With hundreds of deaths per year attributed to heatstroke, the warning bears repeating. Memorize common symptoms of heatstroke and act fast to treat yourself if you are feeling unwell. If left untreated, heat stroke can land you in the hospital or worse. Although some groups, like the elderly and young children, are more susceptible to the risk of developing a heat related illness, the symptoms can strike anyone out in the heat, especially during strenuous exercise.
As heatstroke develops, you will usually develop
About five years ago I discovered the best exercise ever. I had always heard about it, but never tried it. I am not sure if it was fear, intimidation, or whatever; however, I just never attempted it. Now, it is
Your back muscles need to grow stronger in line with your arm, leg and abdominal strength increases to prevent imbalances. Weak back muscles can decrease your potential for gains in other areas and possibly increase the risk of injury. Luckily, you can target your back muscles directly and get your heart pumping at a healthy rate with a few easy moves. Here are four exercises to combine to create a safe and successful back workout routine.
As you slowly pull
I have said this many, many times in the past - I love working arms. For me there are not many other muscle groups that you can isolate as easily as arms. When you walk away from an arm workout, you know you hit your targeted muscles.
Really there are three major muscles to work with your arms: forearms, biceps, and triceps. All of which can be isolated very easily. There is a strategy I am going to share
When you head into the gym, you have to make the equipment there work for you. Luckily, you can use a few key tools to increase the challenge of your workout without permanently altering the gym equipment. Using tools that increase grip or resistance allows you to maximize your effort to start seeing even better gains with every session. Here are three tools you need to pack in your bag to make the most of each trip to the gym.
You hit them gym, go to yoga class, or run three to four days a week, but why? To stay motivated, you need to not only go through the motions, but think about why you work out. Do you want more energy, to lose weight, to improve your health, or just want to look better? Figuring out your reasons will help you to stay inspired and reach your goals.
Break down whatever it is that motivates you and keeps
After a long, stressful day, you might just want to sink into a hot bath to relax and put the stress behind you. If you do not have time for a luxurious bath, you can mimic the stress-relieving effects of that rest time using a face mask. The cool, refreshing touch of the mask always seems to melt tension away in an instant. Try one
Arms and abs are two areas most men want to strengthen. With summer fast approaching, there is still some time left to look great at the beach or pool. Not much time, though.
There are really only
As April showers work on nourishing the May flowers, you can gear yourself up for a mood boost from these amazing blooms. Flowers have bright, vibrant colors that catch the eye and encourage positive imagery. Upon coming in close, the heavy scents may improve your mood, inspire creativity and lower stress in an instant.
Although coupling your flower-filled adventures with a brisk walk is the simplest way to bring in positive energy, it's possible to keep the vibe going by bringing a bouquet indoors. Instead of
Living in the south I can already see summer peeking around the corner. This is great; however, I definitely need to get my beach body ready. I am going to do this using my never-fail three part plan.
Part one of the plan is calorie reduction. I vacillate between calorie counter apps, but usually always go back to the Lose It! app on my iPhone. This app has everything you need to count your daily calories and only takes a minute each meal.
If you cannot calm and quiet your inner voice, you may be your own worst enemy. Negative reactions to your image in a mirror or photograph can instantly derail your efforts to achieve self-acceptance. Even if you are working toward a firmer body or lower weight, you need to learn how to accept your image in a positive manner.
The first step definitely involves changing your knee jerk
I love re-discovering exercises that I used to do or have done in the past. It is like moving the couch and finding the lost remote. Recently, I had such an experience, and it led me to think of some other lower body exercises I have filed away.
As I was doing some crunches on the floor, I had the urge to stretch my back and came across an exercise I did
Your core muscles provide the support your body needs while getting in shape and gaining strength. Without strong abdominal muscles, you are at risk of injuring your lower back while performing heavy lifting moves. You also need a strong core while performing high intensity movements during your exercise routine. You can slow down and strengthen your abdomen by performing four
Spring is here and that means more and more people are heading outside to run. Sometimes it can be a bit tricky dressing to run outdoors in the spring because it is not quite warm enough to run in just a t-shirt and running pants, but after a few minutes you are so warm it can be too uncomfortable to run with heavy layers. Here are a few tips for dressing for a run as spring rolls in.
1) Lightweight jacket - I love my running rain
Basing our body image expectations on images seen in pop culture is much akin to chasing rainbows. The images do not represent a healthy or obtainable female form. Photo editing tools, makeup and lighting tricks are prominent. The video depicting the creation of an "ideal" image for an advertisement details
