The thought of taking a few weeks or a month or two off from training might scare you, but there’s something working in your favor – muscle memory. Muscle memory means you don’t have to start all over again if you stop training for a while. How does it work? Learn more about the science of muscle memory and how it helps you rebuild strength quickly.
What type of workout clothing do you reach for when it’s time to work out – and does it matter? This article looks at various types of workout clothing, the pros and cons of each, and whether some can actually improve recovery time and exercise performance.
It’s important to replace water when you exercise, but you may need to replace sodium too if you work out for long periods of time. Hyponatremia, or a low sodium level, is a common problem among marathon runners. Find out how to prevent low sodium levels when you exercise.
Without change your muscles will adapt to the stimulus you place on them and stop growing. One way to vary a resistance workout is to change the lifting tempo or timing of each rep. Super-slow training is one way to promote muscle hypertrophy – but what about a fast rep speed?
Who wants to feel sore after a workout? Research suggests that certain dietary components may help ease the discomfort of delayed-onset muscle soreness, the uncomfortable and sometimes painful sensations you feel in your muscles, a day or two after a tough workout. Read on and find out how to eat right to reduce muscle soreness.
Everyone, especially women, need strong hamstrings. Find out how weak hamstring muscles increase our risk for injury, why women need more hamstring work than men, and how to best target this important muscle group.
One resistance training variable that bodybuilders don’t change enough is rep speed and cadence. By slowing down the speed of your reps, you increase the time a muscle is under tension. This is the basis for a form of training called “super-slow” training. Find out more about time under tension, rep speeds, slow training and how they impact muscle gains.
Metabolism slows with age. As a result, you have to work a little harder to control your weight. Sleep plays an important role in all aspects of health, especially if you’re physically active. It even impacts muscle recovery after a workout. Read on and find out what role sleep plays in muscle growth and weight control.
Exercise has a lot of positive health benefits, helping almost every organ in your body function better. Can it even help you tame the symptoms of menopause? Find out what research shows about menopausal symptoms and physical activity.
With so much emphasis on protein and good nutrition, it’s easy to forget about the necessity and value of staying hydrated. Short-term, hydration is even more important than nutrition for exercise performance. If you’re dehydrated, you won’t be able to put forth your best effort. Plus, you can suffer more severe consequences if your fluid or electrolyte levels drop too low. Here are five hydration mistakes you don’t want to make.
What does economics have to do with resistance training? They’re both subject to the “law of diminishing returns.” Read on and discover why more effort and more volume of training doesn’t always lead to better results.
It’s hard not to get motivated when you think about the health and fitness benefits of HIIT training. In fact, some people get so excited that they do it every day. Is this a good idea? If not, how often should you do high-intensity interval training?
