The Best Pull Exercises and Why You Need Them
What’s your ratio of “push” to “pull” exercises? If you’re doing a higher ratio of push exercises to ones that involve pulling, you’re setting yourself up for muscle imbalances and problems with posture and alignment. The strength you develop should be balanced and you don’t want one muscle group to…
Why Supplements Can’t Match the Health Benefits of Real Food
Nutritional supplements are skyrocketing in popularity as people seek ways to compensate for deficiencies in their diet and lower the risk of future health problems. No wonder! Up to 80% of chronic health problems have a strong diet and lifestyle component. With the poor quality of the American diet, people…
Can a BOSU Improve Your Workouts?
Can a BOSU workout help you take your workout to the next level? You’ve seen these popular fitness props shaped like a half ball, so named because you can use both sides. Hence the name, BOSU, which stands for “both sides utilized.” This unique half-ball came into being almost 20…
Can the Type of Fat You Eat Affect Your Ability to Concentrate?
Fat is one of the three macronutrients that your body uses for energy. Plus, you need a certain amount of fat in your diet to get two essential fatty acids called alpha-linolenic acid and linoleic acid that your body needs but can’t make. Decades ago, dietary got a bad rap…
5 Simple but Powerful Tips for Getting the Most Out of Your Workouts
Working out is a must for optimal health. There’s a reason people say exercise is good medicine! Studies show people who are physically active have a longer lifespan and healthspan, the number of years they live fully functional and free of major health problems. In fact, exercise is the best…
3 Surprising Things That Age Your Skin Prematurely
Why does one person look their age or 10 years older? Yet another looks fifteen years younger. You’ve probably known people who never show their age, despite the ravages of time. Not only are they young at heart, but their skin also has the youthful luster of someone much younger.…
How Your Rise in Blood Pressure to Exercise Says Something About Your Health
Blood pressure varies over the course of the day, depending upon what you’re doing. Yet it tends to follow a daily pattern. Blood pressure drops to its lowest point during sleep as the parasympathetic, or rest and relax portion of the nervous system, takes over. As morning draws near, blood…
Mechanical vs. Metabolic Failure: How Do They Impact Strength Training Success?
When your goal is to build strength or muscle size, how you train, and the consistency of that training matters. The most basic principle of strength training is progressive overload, the practice of increasing the demands on your muscles over time. You start out using a light weight or no…
3 Ways Tight Hamstrings Can Impact Your Workouts
Can you bend over and touch your toes? If you can’t, you might have tight hamstrings, a common problem among people who sit too much. Hamstring tightness is more than a nuisance. If your hammies are too tight, they can impact your workouts too, especially if you run or sprint.…
4 Major Limitations of Abdominal Floor Exercises
Most people have a trusty mat they lie down on to do certain exercises, especially abdominal exercises. Floor exercises have a certain appeal. All you need is a mat and some space, although you can increase the intensity of some floor exercises by adding weights or using resistance bands. Some…