Choosing the Right Warm-Up Or Training Bicycle

Exercise bikes are very good for exercising cardio, burning fat, strengthening muscles and building on the levels of endurance. It does not really matter where you use the exercise bike; whether it is before a bodybuilding exercise, the essential thing is to make sure you know the safety and basic uses that pertain to a full throttle bike exercise.

Naturally, there exist two exercise bike styles, the recumbent and upright styles, which have the same operation. To begin the exercise, position your frame upon the bike seat and put the feet upon the pedals. Adjust the bike seat to be able to close the range towards a full extension of the knee, but make sure you don't go beyond the normal limits. For comfort, try to adjust the seat-back angle. Immediately you feel ready to don't hesitate. The go ahead then starts the bike machine and the remaining item is to select which workout programs you want from the preset available, or you can personalize the workout to the limits that you want. You can also use the bike to harness your aerobic fitness by doing intervals. For exact warm ups, cycle fast for around 30 seconds, slow down for about 60 seconds and repeat the exercise. To end the exercise bike workout, decrease slowly the bike speed till you have reached that final stop.

As a word of caution, use the pedal straps if your exercise bike has, since they could halt an injury that may be brought by an over-extension or a slippage. Always remember to make a consultation with your doctor before you embark on any exercise program.

The basic operations are quite easy but shopping for an exercise bike is very intimidating. The exercise bikes come in distinct brands, styles, and models which makes it a complex affair to purchase the right bike for your exercise endeavors. Have in mind that the exercise bike which you are buying is a crucial investment. It is a true investment mostly for those people who have made a decision to start that important step towards true health and physical agility.

Invest on an exercise bike that is well constructed and your whole family will always offer thanks for it. Choose the one which has been built with the use of steel alloys or aluminum frames since they are very strong and can support any heavy person.

Some bikes come with a noise control and come in handy when you want to camouflage any noise. You can go through all the motions to assess the level of noise of the exercise bike. Also, you have a choice to make between getting a recumbent bike or an upright one. It all depends on your taste and preference. A recumbent bike has a characteristic sitting position, as if you are on a chair and works well for those who have back problems, while the upright type is the perfect choice for anybody who wants a spinning workout with a classical seating position. Always test the exercise bikes and make your choice.

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Girls Hockey Training - What to Avoid This Summer - Part 1

I recently reviewed the off-season training program of a varsity women's hockey team from a major university.

The off-season training programs available to female hockey players have come a long way since I was a 16 year old reading women's fitness magazines to find tips and advice on how to take my game to the next level.

But reading this program was like getting transported back in time.

I could probably write a critique of the program that is nearly as long as the 76 page program.

But instead I will show you the 3 biggest problems I saw with the program and how to avoid making the same mistakes that can actually decrease your performance and increase your chance of injuries this off-season.

BIG PROBLEM #1: The exercises were NOT FUNCTIONAL

Functional training has become a big buzzword in the world of fitness in the last few years.
Essentially, the term applies to training that increases the ability of the person being trained to function in their daily pursuits.

In the case of hockey players, this would mean that the training addresses the specific needs of the athlete for their sport.

The exercises and drills included in this particular training plan were NOT functional for 2 main reasons:

1) They were largely machine-based

Machine-based training, whether used for hockey strength training or conditioning, is not only non-functional for young athletes, but it is also dangerous.

Most exercise equipment is designed for 6 foot tall 170 lb males. The size and configuration of these machines is completely inappropriate for young female hockey players. What's worse is that these machines provide far too much support and rigidity in movement to be specific for hockey. When was the last time you were in the corner trying to push a player off the puck with your body completed support by a comfy exercise machine?

This varsity training program relied far too much on machine-based training. All players must learn how to control their own body-weight safely and effectively in free space in order to excel at their sport.

This is simply impossible to do when sitting on a machine.

2) They were mostly linear in nature

Hockey is NOT a linear sport.

It is a multi-directional sport that is more lateral than linear in nature. In the average shift, a skater changes direction 40 times! Players will skate in straight lines every once in a while, but even that requires a stride that is largely lateral in nature.

The multi-directional nature of hockey must be addressed in a properly designed off-season training program.

Simply running sprints in straight lines or performing strength exercises in a single movement direction will not cut it!

Doing a largely linear training program will put players at a serious disadvantage once the season starts.

Moving laterally and changing direction are complex and demanding movements that MUST be trained in the off-season if players are going to be adequately prepared once the pre-season rolls around.

The summer training programs of girls hockey players must address their hockey-specific needs and be as functional as possible.

In Part 2 of "What To Avoid This Summer", I will discuss how an off-season conditioning program that is largely aerobic in nature can harm a young player's ability to excel on the ice.

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High Intensity Interval Training - How to Optimize Your Workout Routine and Achieve Optimal Fat Loss

Humans evolved over the millennia being physical - survival meant performing consistently varied relatively low intensity endurance activities such as gathering food, building shelter, tracking animals, and simply moving with the seasons (this was 40,000 years before agriculture appeared). This means that humans developed the physiological need for moving at a low level of exertion for several hours a day.

Occasionally, short-duration outputs of peak power during fights and sprints were required - to chase, or flee an opponent or animal. Rarely, if ever, did man spend any long periods of time with his heart rate significantly elevated as a distance runner might today - just as we can look to those genetic ancestors of ours for answers to our dietary needs (i.e. eat plants and animals; do not eat grains or dairy), today we can and should take note of our ancestors' movement patterns for the exercise component of optimal health.

The Danger of Lengthy "Cardio Sessions" and Aerobics:

As a general description, physical efforts two minutes or less are considered anaerobic and those that last more than several minutes are aerobic. An aerobic "cardio" session is defined as spending long periods of time at 75% of your maximum heart rate. The danger of engaging in lengthy aerobic workouts, such as an hour running on the treadmill or 90 minutes on an exercise bike, is that it creates a stress response within the body. This can result in chronic damage to the body and less optimal fitness than is commonly believed.

"But, I love my 60 minute cardio sessions on the treadmill."Unfortunately, that kind of training (and thinking) is commonplace in today's gyms and health clubs; however, our bodies don't love those lengthy cardio sessions on our favorite piece of exercise equipment as much as we'd like to think.

Lengthy Aerobic Exercise Results In:

increased cortisol levels (cortisol is the stress hormone)
increased oxidative damage to your cells
increased systemic inflammation
depressed immune system
muscle breakdown (called muscle wasting)
decreased fat metabolism

Did you notice that last part about decreased fat metabolism? That's what comes as a surprise to many people - you can actually achieve optimal fat loss with short term high intensity workouts, also known as an interval training routines, than with long drawn-out cardio sessions.

What is Short Interval High Intensity Training?

Short interval high intensity training routines consist of alternating periods of high intensity work with rest in repeated timed intervals. Research conducted by Dr. Izumi Tabata from the National Institute of Fitness and Sports in Tokyo, Japan found that an interval training cycle of 20 seconds of maximum intensity exercise, followed by 10 seconds of rest, repeated without pause 8 times for a total of four minutes produced remarkable results. His research showed that high-intensity intermittent training routines produced greater aerobic and anaerobic capacity than an hour of endurance exercise.

The Value of Short Interval High Intensity (Anaerobic) Exercise:

burns fat
builds muscle
builds endurance or aerobic performance (that comes as a surprise to many endurance athletes), but without the muscle breakdown
helps improve 'strong finishes' in endurance events

How to Create a High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) Workout:

The high-intensity phase should be strenuous enough that you are out of breath - typically one to four minutes of exercise at 75 to 85 percent of your maximum heart rate
Recovery periods should not last long enough for your pulse to return to its resting rate.
Pick any type of exercise (running, swimming, recumbent bike, treadmill, elliptical machine, pushups, squats, etc).
Warm up sufficiently to get your body prepared to perform your workout
Select the time intervals and the number of rounds you would like to perform during your workout. (e.g. Tabata workout is 20 seconds of work, then 10 seconds of rest for 8 rounds)
Begin your workout exerting as much effort as possible with each consecutive round of work and get a good sweat on!

How Often Should I Do A Short Interval High Intensity Training Workout?

Short interval high intensity workouts are recommended to be done at least once per week on top of regular movement every day, weekly strength training, sprinting, and other metabolic conditioning workouts.

Are Short Interval Training Workouts for Everyone?

Yes, anyone can do short bursts of intense exercise, although you should start slowly if you've never done it before. Also, it's very important to do a good warm-up beforehand to ensure your body is primed and ready for exercise.
Yes, interval training is hard work, but the sessions are short and you won't be bored.
Interval training is not the only way to exercise, but it is an excellent foundation or for any fitness routine and a wonderful way to get healthy, lose weight, gain muscle, and... get back to your primal roots!

"You try to stay within the rules for the sake of the game, but you can always turn up the intensity."- Lawrence Taylor, ex-NFL pro football player.

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Cardio Fitness Training Basics

Cardio fitness training is a fundamental part of any exercise program. The words "cardio" is interchangeable with "aerobic" and is short for "cardiovascular". Improvement in the ability of the heart to deliver oxygen to the muscles and in the muscle's ability to generate energy with oxygen results in increased aerobic fitness. Engaging in aerobic training has many benefits. Many people report feeling more "energy" from their program. Aerobic capacity is associated with a faster metabolism, which means that stored body fat burns faster. This enhances weight loss.

The type of activity you choose is less important than the quality level that you maintain. Tennis, racquetball and basketball can be considered cardio if they are performed with adequate intensity and duration. Otherwise, the Scottsdale, Arizona climate is perfect for swimming, running, cycling and hiking are great forms of aerobic training. Of course indoor machines such as the elliptical, treadmill and stair-master are primarily designed to increase aerobic fitness.

A few general guidelines for cardio fitness training:

o Perform cardio training for at least thirty minutes four days a week. To qualify as aerobic, you should break a sweat and/or stay within your target heart rate for at least twenty minutes. Your approximate target heart rate is between 65 and 80 percent of your maximum heart rate (calculated as 220 minus your age) Heart rate zones vary tremendously from person to person. It's often advisable to work with a certified personal trainer to help establish your personalized heart rate zones.

o Include intervals in your aerobic fitness program at least once weekly. Interval training involves alternating high-intensity aerobic bursts with periods of rest. This can significantly increase your metabolism.

o Properly designed strength training can actually increase your aerobic capacity. A full-body circuit training program with short rest intervals doubles as aerobic training. These workouts should be performed at least twice weekly in addition to your more traditional aerobic workouts.

o Remember to consult with your doctor before starting a any fitness program.

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Aerobic Vs Anaerobic Energy Training Systems

To help understand Aerobic training think "with oxygen," and how the body needs oxygen to perform a certain activity. Being in an aerobic state is when the body demands for oxygen and fuel which can produced through breathing in. The most commonly used example of someone who would need to train aerobically is a marathon runner.

Anaerobic means "without oxygen," and is shorter than aerobic training in duration (less than two minutes. With anaerobic training, oxygen is not a limiting factor in performance, and requires energy from anaerobic sources. These energy sources involve the utilization of phosphagen and lactic acid by the athlete's body. This is why when you are running a sprint your legs start to burn or feel tired(that is the lactic acid building). A track athlete who competes in events 400m or less would make their most efficient gains using a Anaerobic training program.

When you are becoming an efficient athlete you need to understand the purposes of all of these energy systems as well as some other variables involved, such as Lactic Acid. Lactic acid is formed from glucose, and used by working muscles for energy.

By using a high intensity training program(lactate threshold training) the body creates additional proteins that help absorb and convert lactic acid to energy.

Lactate threshold (LT) training is a popular method of improving high intensity endurance performance. This method of training is popular among MMA fighters and wrestlers who need to have explosiveness while maintaining endurance. While V02 Max may reveal an athlete's genetic potential and natural ability, their lactate threshold can be dramatically increased with a proper training program. Due to the room for improvement of your lactate threshold both complex and simplistic workouts have been created to increase lactate threshold ability.

When looking to improve your lactate threshold, increasing your exercise intensity so you train at or barely above your (LT) heart rate. This training can be interval training or steady training.

I would recommend interval training for athletes who are looking to increase endurance, burn fat, and increase your lactic threshold. You can do this by warming up on a track or a treadmill(depending on knee and joint health with a light jog. After a two minute jog and little sweat, you need to incorporate a higher intensity sprint. For example...

2 minute jog
45 second 60% sprint x3
60 sec break
30 second 80% sprint x3
60 sec break
20 second 100% sprint x2
90 sec break

That is just one example of a interval sprinting workout. With this you will see dramatic gains in little time. Please, if there are any questions, comments, or concerns, please feel free to let me know. Hope this Helps.

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Aerobic Cross Training for Weight Loss

Do you sometimes get bored with your aerobic exercise? Do You sometimes feel like you're not getting the results you should from your aerobic exercise? If so, then aerobic cross-training is for you.

Aerobic cross-training refers to using two to three different types of aerobic exercise during an exercise session. For example, if you plan to exercise for 60 minutes, you might start with 20 minutes of walking or jogging, followed by 20 minutes of biking, and finish with 20 minutes of rowing.

Now, please don't get the impression that you have to be in great shape to do this or that it has to be 60 minutes long. You can start with something as simple as a ten minute walk followed by ten minutes with an exercise video. This is cross-training too. You can gradually build up from there.

Here are some of the exercises you can use in your cross-training program; walking, jogging, biking, rowing, stair climbing, swimming, exercise videos, etc. Any combination of aerobic exercises will do. You simply go from one to the next with very little time between them.

Aerobic cross-training is beneficial to you in several ways:

1. It provides variety which eliminates the monotony often associated with doing the same exercise for a long period of time.

2. If your exercise sessions are less monotonous and more enjoyable, you are much more likely to exercise more often and for longer periods of time.

3. You are less prone to over-use injuries that sometimes occur from doing the same exercise movements over and over again.

4. You tone more muscles because you are using more muscles. For example, walking tones mostly the lower body muscles and rowing tones upper body muscles also. Even exercises like walking and biking that both tone lower body muscles, tone them at different angles and each tones some small muscles that the other doesn't.

5. Aerobic conditioning is very specific to the muscles being worked. For example, you can walk ten miles a day and still be somewhat breathless after climbing stairs because you haven't trained the muscles for that specific movement. Aerobic cross-training allows you to develop more comprehensive aerobic training.

6. Aerobic cross-training is effective for weight loss because your are toning and training the fat-burning systems of more of your muscles. It turns more of your muscles into 24-hour fat-burning machines! You are also more likely to exercise on a regular basis and for longer periods of time. this also promotes weight loss and fitness.

copyright 2007 by Greg Landry, M.S.

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Elliptical Cross Trainers - A Great Alternative For Aerobic Fitness Training

Elliptical Cross Trainers represent an important alternative to other types of fitness machines available for home and Fitness Club use. The treadmill originally became, perhaps, the most popular fitness machine with the public because it provided an excellent tool for aerobic training. But, the treadmill presents problems for many users. For example as a person jogs, or walks rapidly, foot impact with the surface can cause severe pain in the ankle, knee, or hip Joints. Additionally, many people find it difficult to maintain their balance, while using the treadmill, unless holding the hand supports, and as a result they do not get the benefit derived from using their arms, as well as their legs during the exercise session..

The Elliptical Cross Trainer was developed to provide for aerobic training with virtually no Joint impact, which is by far the most important reason for selecting the elliptical over other types of fitness equipment. It provides the additionally benefit of adding positive use of the arms to the training session. Most users can quickly master the correct use of the machine without experiencing balance problems. The resistance setting can be varied allowing for a broad range of user physical fitness levels. Consequently, one can begin their program regardless of their fitness level.

Aerobic training, as opposed to weight training, can be enjoyed by a vast number of people. If one develops a consistent routine, of a least 3 sessions a week, it can almost become addictive, and result in a very beneficial fitness level. So much so that many look forward to the sessions with anticipation. Sessions on the elliptical can be painless and maybe even build a little muscle without your noticing it.

If you would like to learn more the elliptical cross trainers report site will provide more good information.

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Weight Training Routines - Building and Sculpting Your Body

There are basically two types of weight training routines, each with a different end goal. The first one is body sculpting or toning. The second one is body building or bulking. While both can be done almost simultaneously, this is not easy.

Women generally seek body sculpting, believing that bulking up will make them look masculine. This, however, is not the case. It is one of the biggest weight training myths out there. For one, you need testosterone to bulk up, which women do not have much of. Secondly, not everybody, and that includes men, has the genetics to build up huge muscles.

The good thing is, weight training can speed up fat burning, and give you more muscle tone and better body proportions. Even better, more muscle mass helps enhance aerobic exercise and prevent injury.

Whichever of the two is your goal, sculpting or bulking, you need muscle definition. Weight training routines help build up that impressive muscle and burn fat that covers the muscle so you get definition. You can't have six pack abs without well developed abdominal muscles, for example.

There are basically two types of weights training routines; compound and isolation. Compound exercises use multiple muscles, joints and ligaments. These should form the staple of your workouts, whether or not you want to bulk up. Isolation exercises target a specific muscle or group of muscle and one joint at a time. These are for adding detail.

Examples of compound weight training exercises are bench press, squats, shoulder press, dead lifts, bent over rows, etc. Isolation exercises include preacher curls, concentration curls, side raises, leg curls, leg extensions, seated machine rows, etc.

And, yes, there are exercises that fall somewhere between compound and isolation. The upright (EZ or straight) barbell row is a good example.

Your weight training routine should mainly focus on free weights, that is barbells and dumbbells. And you should always use the heaviest weight you can handle for about 10-12 repetitions without losing form. This applies to you ladies too; don't be afraid to look like man, it won't happen.

Some people, women especially, tend to relegate weights training routines to the end of their aerobic workout. This is a mistake for two reasons, 1) most of your energy will be spent on aerobics exercise therefore compromising weight lifting intensity and 2) weight lifting burns fat and doing aerobic workout after helps speed up fat loss.

If your goal is to pack on slabs of muscle, it may be wiser to cut back on aerobics in order to give your body a chance to bulk up. Cutting back is not the same as cutting off. Some aerobic exercise is good for your heart and will also help build up stamina as well as speed up recovery. In turn this will help increase weight training intensity, which we know is what's needed to stimulate muscle growth.

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The abstruse that is breach training

Have you heard of interval training? It's one of the most effective ways to lose weight and burn fat at a lightning-fast pace. Many exercises lose motivation when hours of low-impact exercises don't produce the results that they want. One of the best solutions is interval training.
Internal training provides several results. It increases your metabolism. You already know intuitively that a high-intensity workout will increase your metabolism more than a low-intensity workout will. However, the difference with interval training is that you can perform several sets of high-intensity exercise. That will increase your metabolism more than one or two sets of high-intensity exercise could. That sustained high metabolism can burn fat for days after your workout!
Secondly, interval training will help to burn unwanted fat and calories. A low-impact workout will burn a minimum number of calories. In fact, you'd need to do such exercises for two hours daily, if you want to burn a significant amount of fat. Meanwhile, a high-impact workout will burn more fat and calories. But if you want to burn the optimum amount of calories and fat, you should use interval training. Basically, it puts your body's metabolism into overdrive, which transforms it into a fat-burning machine.
Thirdly, interval training can improve your overall fitness levels. That's because it creates a perfect blend of aerobic and anaerobic exercises. Your lungs will get a workout. Your blood circulation will improve. Of course, your muscles will be fitter. So consider interval training if you not only want to lose weight and fat, but also improve your overall fitness.
What exactly is interval training? It's essentially an activity that includes alternating between high intensity exercises, and low intensity exercises. That might not sound too innovative, right? Well, besides the alternating of high intensity and low intensity exercises, the rest periods (in the form of the lo-intensity exercises) are shortened. This allows you to turn your body into a fat-burning machine. In fact, interval training can cause your body to keep burning fat days after your exercise session! Also, clinical studies have shown that interval training can burn up to 600% more fat than standard low-intensity workouts. That's due to factors such as the boost in your metabolism.
You can implement interval training using a wide variety of different exercises, such as jogging and sprinting. However, there are several other ways to implement it. Remember that the training's essence is in the alternating of high and low intensities.
Wouldn't it make more sense to sustain a high-intensity workout for a longer period? In theory, that would seem to be logical. But in fact, the rest-periods allow your body to recover, so you can do several sets during a single workout session.
One of the main benefits of interval training is that you can adjust it based on your own fitness level and goals. For instance, you could combine walking and jogging, or jogging and sprinting. However, using high-intensity exercises will produce the best results.
If you want to maximize your weight and fat loss, then eat right and use interval training.

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Types of Aerobic Training

There are three different types I wanted to talk about today and cover the basics, which will then give you some options to try something new and freshen up your cardiovascular routine.

Long slow duration training (LSD)

A long distance runner is typically a great example of LSD type training, low intensity 65-70% VO2Max and anything from 30 minutes to 2 hours plus. LSD can be a great way of developing an aerobic based line for beginners and de-conditioned athletes. LSD is defiantly the average gym goer's choice for aerobic training. Think

aerobic classes
spin classes
your 10 minutes of each CV machine
Interval training- This form of training enables the body to use to different types of energy systems the aerobic like the LSD system uses and also the anaerobic energy system; the anaerobic system uses anything from 80-100% VO2Max which is pretty tough let's use a sprinter as an example they cover 100meters over 10 or so seconds.

Aerobic - long distance, high duration

Anaerobic - Shorter distance, slow duration
Interval training it involves structured periods of work and recovery, so we will use the sprinter as the work phase and a long distance runner as the rest phase.

Example - 2 minutes LSD, 200 meters Sprints - and repeat 20 minutes

Remember when working at such a high intensity the lactic system will also come into play and provide missing energy and you may give you a burning feeling, and it will increase your heart rate and raise you blood pressure. You'll have to be conditioned in the aerobic system and have a good base level.

Fartlek training

What do you get when you mix interval and LSD training together and then randomize them?! Fartlek training is just that, a Swedish term meaning "Speed play" it's a give you the chance to play with different speeds and distances using an unstructured manner. So you could be jogging one minute and sprinting the very next second with a walk to recover. The trick is to do whatever comes into your head at the time making a split second decision.

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Fitness Circuit Training

Fitness circuit training will take you through a series of exercise stations, with short rest periods between each station. The amount of stations can range 4 to 10.

Traditionally, circuit training programs were developed to increase muscular endurance and included exercises to help improve muscular endurance such as the bench press, push-ups, leg press and sit-ups.

A circuit would consist of 4 to 10 stations with a low impact aerobic warm-up and cool-down station (you might use a stationary bike). The exercise stations could be set-up using free weights and/or weight machines that train one muscle at a time.

An example of circuit training exercises using your environment is par course exercise training. This style intersperses jogging or walking with numerous strength, flexibility and muscular endurance exercises.

Aerobic circuit training for women is particularly very popular. Four to eight aerobic exercise stations are used with one to five minutes per station with a 15-30 second rest between stations, this is considered one circuit. The different stations will be set up with stationary cycling, elliptical rider, treadmill, stair climbing on a stair master at a moderate pace and the use of a rowing machine.

It will depend on the number of stations that are set-up but the number of circuits completed usually adds up to 20 to 60 minutes of aerobic exercise.

One thing to remember that will help you to be successful is to not train to failure at each station. What I mean by this is when the appointed time is coming to an end for that station, you should be able to complete the designated time with out having exhausted yourself.

You should be training some where between 50 percent and 70 percent of your functional capabilities

When participating in circuit training you will notice an increase in strength, improved muscular and aerobic endurance and last but not least weight loss.

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Cross Training Strategies

Cross training involves a training routine that incorporates several different forms of exercise. A cross training machine allows you to exercise various muscle groups throughout your body and provides flexibility and variety. Cross training is very beneficial if you would like to increase and improve your overall fitness levels and attain a very high standard of fitness. It is also suitable for people who are easily bored and like variety when they exercise.

Starting Fresh With Each Activity

Just because you are a highly effective runner or cyclist, does not automatically mean you will be able to immediately excel and train hard when you switch to a new or different sport or activity. Essentially, being in outstanding shape does not necessarily guarantee ultimate fitness in every sport. Begin with your new exercise carefully and gradually increase your endurance levels. By starting slowly and increasing gradually you will maintain your motivation, enjoyment and avoid any injury.

Avoiding Fatigue

It does challenge your body and mind. It is the supreme fitness solution, however, you to need to approach this fitness approach carefully. Adding too many new activities too quickly will lead to a serious case of fitness fatigue. You may injure yourself and feel unmotivated, so go slow.

Alternating Strategies

Avoid cross training with areas that you may have already trained. For example, if you are a runner, you should exercise your arms by lifting weights and give your legs a rest. It is really just common sense, by alternating your fitness approach and strategy you will be able to target and work specific areas and then rest these areas so that the muscles can repair and renew in between training sessions.

If you consider yourself in better than average shape, cross training is a very effective way of targeting different muscle groups and developing them. It allows you to remain fresh and focused by offering variety and a different range of exercise routines. Boredom is one of the main reasons that people don't stick to their exercise routine, so it is important to mix it up whenever you can.

Cross training allows you to ensure that the stress placed on different areas of your body, or on your heart, is balanced and can be varied as required. If your body is becoming far too efficient with your usual form of exercise, then cross training can offer the perfect solution. Cross training can help you to reduce the risk of injury associated with repetitive exercise.

The main benefits of cross training include:

Enhance weight loss
Variety and Added Interest
Reduced risk of injury
Greater rest and repair time for muscle building
Increase flexibility and strength

You can choose for a wide array of different exercises and sports, however you should try to focus on achieving fitness balance. To achieve fitness balance you want to combine the elements of strength, flexibility, speed and aerobic intensity.

Cross training will strengthen your heart, improve your muscle tone, reduce your body fat and enhance your balance and coordination.

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4 Steps To More Effective Aerobic, Streching, and Weight Training Exercise

We all know that well-balanced diets include the different nutrients we need to maintain health and well-being. But did you know that your exercise program needs to be well-balanced, too? There's three types of exercise to include in your work-out diet.

Aerobic Exercise

Aerobic exercise burns energy and oxygen, through continuous movement of the largest muscles in your body (your thigh muscles). Aerobic activities include bicycling, swimming, jogging, and (a great one for beginners or those who are recovering from illness) walking. If you're just starting, try 10 minutes a day four days and increase as it feels comfortable until you're exercising 30 to 60 minutes. Some people find that adding variety to their program (a new route every day; alternating classes and stationary biking) keeps them motivated.

Finding the right pace for aerobic exercise is important. Rambling at too comfortable a pace may not maximize the benefits of aerobic exercising, but overdoing can make exercise "anaerobic" (non-oxygen burning). A good way to make sure you're exercising aerobically is to measure your heart rate. After exercising, put your fingers (not your thumb!) across your wrist (palm up). Count the number of pulses you feel during 10 seconds, then multiply that by six to convert it to a one-minute heart rate. Keep your exercise heart rate to 55 percent to 80 percent of your estimated maximum heart rate (220 - your age)

If that's too much math, you can estimate using the sing/talk test. While you're exercising, carry on a conversation with your gym-buddy or (if you're exercising at home) sing a song ("Yankee Doodle" works well). If you feel just as you would if not exercising, pick up the pace a tad. If you're out of breath and having to puff after each word, you're no longer in the aerobic range - cut back a bit to get the full exercise benefit.

Strength Conditioning or Weight-Training

Strength conditioning can include callisthenics, lifting free-weights, and machine-assisted lifting. Strength condition helps build muscles that can stabilize joints and may help prevent bone loss as you get older.

Strength conditioning seems to help weight loss. Conditioned muscle burns more calories even between aerobic exercise sessions. training seems to assist with retaining if you're And if you're on a reduced calorie (weight reduction) diet, weight training may help you lose more fat and less lean muscle.

Some women are nervous about weight bearing exercise because they are afraid of getting "too bulky" or looking "too masculine." Not to worry: men make testosterone in large amounts, which may contribute to that sort of muscular development; women generally don't respond to strength training the same way and are more likely to lose inches as they work out.

Stretching Is Very Important

Stretching helps retain joint and tendon flexibility while you exercise. In addition, stretching may be an important part of recovery from a previous injury; your healthcare provider may recommend special stretches to part of recovery from an injury or stroke.

How To Stretch Safely:

Keep in mind that overstretching can increase your risks of being hurt during exercise. Here are some tips to help ensure that you are getting the maximum benefit out of stretching before or after exercise:

* Start gently. When you're first starting out, you may not be able to stretch your joints very far. Don't push it or you may end up damaging your tendons, ligaments or muscles

* Stay gentle. The American College of Sports Medicine notes that the "no pain, no gain" method of stretching may destabilize your joints. Try a gentle stretch of the muscles you use for 10 to 30 seconds. If it hurts, there's a reason.

* Match stretches to exercise. If you're an avid dancer, make sure that your legs and ankles have been gently stretched; if you lift weights, stretch your arms and legs.

*Accommodate your history. If you've had a previous injury, make sure that your stretches accommodate rather than exacerbate it. Your doctor or a sports medicine practitioner can help you to finding the right stretches and will often have handouts showing you how to perform them.

Remember, before starting any exercise program, you should consult with your health care practitioner to tailor it to your needs, particularly if you are 40, have existing health issues or a prior significant injury, or have suffered in the past from heart disease or stroke.

"Three things every exercise program should have," American Council on Exercise 2001

Amisola, R.V. "Physical activity, exercise, and sedentary activity: relationship to the causes and treatment of obesity." Adolescent Medicine Volume 14, issue 1, pages 23-35 2003.

Cussler, E.C., " Weight lifted in strength training predicts bone change in postmenopausal women." Medicine and Science of Sports and Exercise , Volume 35, issue 1, 2003

Garry, J., "Physical Activity and Exercise at Menopause," Clinics in Family Practice, Volume 4, issue 1, 2002

Hobson, K. "The stronger sex. Women who lift weights get healthier, better bodies--not, new research shows, bulkier ones." US News World, Volume 132, issue 16, p 52-53

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Aerobics or Strength Training: Which is Better?

Which is better? Aerobic training (long distance running, stints on the Stairmaster) or anaerobic training (weight training & short intense conditioning work)

I've been asked this question hundreds if not thousands of times. First I'll give what I think is best and then I will talk about whether what I think is best even matters.

I my own professional opinion and from my experiences I believe a combination of strength training exercises (with free weights, machines, or bodyweight) and high intensity anaerobic exercise (e.g. Sprinting, running up hills, or stairs etc... have yielded the best results for me and the people I've worked with. I'll take it a step further by just looking at what the elite athletes do. The first thing that comes to my mind when it comes to ideal body composition (low body fat levels) and weight loss are long distance runners and sprinters. Marathoners run and workout for what seems like forever. One hour runs 4 to 6 times a week are the norm for many of them. Combine that with strength training (which many won't do because they're too tired and over trained from running) and you're working out almost everyday. Sprinters on the other hand use short intense workouts to build their speed. Many sprint 2 to 4 times a week for about 30-45 minutes and strength train 2-4x a week for about 30-45 minutes. Many times it looks as if they're not even training hard because they rest a while between their sprint sets.

With out getting too far into the details of the workouts of sprinters and marathoners I'll say this: The sprinters get far more in return for what amounts to less time spent working out. Just take a look at an elite marathoner (they look stringy and many times weak and sickly). Now look over at an elite sprinter and they look like an Adonis (It all boils down to what their training offers them. Long distance running will improve your aerobic endurance but at the cost of you overtraining, possibly having more colds, less muscle, you not looking and feeling your best and also leaving less time to do other things you might like. Sprinting and strength training will not give you the endurance to run 2 hours but you will look better, have more muscle, less fat, have more time to do other things. So I guess it's safe to say that I think strength training and anaerobic work wins in my book. Absolutely! Now does what I believe really matter when it comes to finding what works best for you?

Here's a true story:

I had a client a few years ago that loved to run. When I made my pitch to try and get her to do sprints and strength training she rebelled. She really had no interest in strength training and she truly loved to run as it made her feel like a million bucks. How could I fight that? World famous holistic healer Paul Chek once told me in a seminar that the best exercise is the one you will do and like to do consistently. Ultimately you need to do what works for you and what you like doing. If you do a workout program that you dread many times you'll just stop doing it and sometimes you may even get hurt. So, for those who love to run: I've got nothing but love for you. Have fun, be consistent and keep it up.

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New HIIT Training Technique - Not The Same 'ol HIIT!

Yes, there's already a new HIIT training technique.

I know the entire concept of high intensity interval training is fairly new in and of itself, but things change quickly -- hopefully not as frequently as new iPod models, or you may be changing techniques three times before you're even warmed up!

There are already several variations of HIIT, but the changing variables tend to be either the duration of the intervals or the different equipment/methods (exercise bike, sprinting, elliptical machine, etc.).

You don't have to completely abandon your "old school" HIIT training, because let's face it: any technique is better than none. In fact, the old way is still amazingly effective, and you may actually prefer it, but I've absolutely fallen in love with the "new school."

HIIT Training 2.0

This new technique is most effective and easiest to perform on an exercise bike, which just happens to be my weapon of choice for my HIIT workouts. You can adapt this method to sprinting or ellipticals as well, but I've always liked the exercise bike, because I can use it anytime right here at home (none of those "I don't have time to drive to the gym excuses"!).

Ok, so keeping with the exercise bike example, I, along with most other HIIT'ers, would (back in the old days of about two weeks ago) pedal along at a high intensity pace (100-150RPM) for a certain amount of time (30-60seconds), followed by a low intensity pace (50-75RPM) for a bit, then rinse and repeat.

As I said, this works wonders for anyone who can really keep up the intensity for a relatively short amount of time. Most HIIT sessions take only about 10-20 minutes; if you're lasting longer than that, then you probably overlooked the "high intensity" portion of H.I.I.T.

The only problem I was having, as my endurance increased and my intensity got higher and higher to keep up, during my high intensity intervals, I was topping out over 160-170RPM (rotations per minute).

Not only did this make me look like a bouncing, schizophrenic lunatic, it put unnecessary stress on my knees and hips.

But, how can I keep up the intensity without continuing to increase my RPM?

Viva La Resistance

Resistance. So simple, yet I never thought of it, until I was browsing and read an article by Craig Ballantyne.

Craig knows his stuff, so the idea really intrigued me. He writes for several health and fitness magazines, including Men's Health and Men's Fitness, and he creates some excellent workouts for everyone from beginners to elite athletes (heard of the Bodyweight 500? you can thank Craig for that one as you struggle to pick yourself up off the floor).

So, by keeping the RPM constant and adjusting the resistance up and down for each interval, you get the same benefits of high intensity vs. low intensity, but without the potential joint stress.

If you're already doing HIIT on a regular basis, try it out as a change-up to your regular routine. For the first-timers, be sure to read the original HIIT article for more background on the training method itself, then try out both techniques.

HIIT By The Numbers

We're all at different fitness levels, but I'll give you my numbers as something to compare to if you need to figure out how your current RPM technique will convert to the resistance technique:

"Old School" (adjusting RPM)

Low intensity intervals: 70RPM on resistance level 5 for 30 seconds
High intensity intervals: 150RPM on resistance level 5 for 30 seconds

Here's what I do now to achieve the same level of intensity and workload while keeping the RPM constant:

"New School" (adjusting resistance level)

Low intensity intervals: 100RPM on resistance level 3 (out of 10) for 60 seconds
High intensity intervals: 100RPM on resistance level 8 (out of 10) for 60 seconds

Again, you can play around with the numbers since everyone's body and equipment is going to be different, as long as you stick with the basic idea of adjusting resistance levels while keeping RPM fairly constant.

Adapting To Other Methods

If you usually do cardio on another type of machine, like an elliptical for example, then adapting this technique to your workout should be fairly easy, as most exercise equipment has an option to digitally or manually increase resistance.

For example, on a treadmill, rather than increasing the speed, you could increase the incline during your high intensity intervals, then bring the incline back down during the low intensity intervals.

If you're not part of the pasty, digital-world bunch, and you prefer to actually run out in the real world, things get a little bit trickier.

When you're using running as your HIIT method, your high intensity intervals are going to be significantly shorter, because not many people can maintain a true sprinting pace for 30-60 seconds.

You can always experiment with those attractive running parachutes to increase resistance, but you may find them to be a bit impractical with the shorter intervals, in which case you can just keep it "old school."

No matter what method, technique, or variation you choose, you simply can't go wrong with any type of HIIT training.

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Elliptical Training Machines vs Treadmills

When you're looking to buy just one piece of gym equipment to use at home, two things will stand out to you: treadmills and elliptical training machines. They're practically the most popular exercise gear, coming close in second to the ever-popular dumbbells and weights. Both machines are known to be excellent tools for cardio workouts and because of their effectiveness, are considered useful for all regimens.

Elliptical training machines and treadmills are not created equal, however; just because they're both cardio workout equipment, doesn't mean they improve exactly the same things in the human body. These two pieces of equipment have entirely different functions, and you should look into these functions before making your decision to buy.

Treadmills, being older and thus having enjoyed a longer stint in the market, are a traditional favorite. The treadmill focuses on working out the lower half of your body, by simulating running and walking exercises indoors. This makes treadmills an excellent device to help you burn up unwanted calories. Treadmills provide a reasonably lighter impact so that your legs don't get as strained as they would be during regular outdoor runs or jogs. The less impact there is on your legs, the less chances there are of your leg muscles bulking up, like competitive runners' legs do. Electric treadmills are especially useful for lessening the friction between your feet and the running belt. You can set speeds so that you can walk or run at different paces, depending on what's comfortable and recommended for you.

But while newer in the market, elliptical machines deserve a second look. They not only exercise the lower body and pump up the heart like treadmills do; they also give your upper body a good aerobic workout. Elliptical machines have different models and makes, but for the most part they resemble cycling machines where you don't actually get to sit down while you cycle - in fact, you do your pedaling standing up, on flat vertical pedals! If the treadmill lessens the friction between your feet and the running area, the elliptical trainer virtually removes it, providing more fluidity of movement but at the same time inviting the body to use less force.

If you want a stronger and more solidly "built" lower body, you should definitely get the treadmill. The treadmill is great for people who want to build up their stamina while toning their leg muscles. It's especially useful for people who need to train for marathons or walkathons. The elliptical training machine, being a lower-impact device, doesn't bulk up your limbs as much, but does provide a full-body workout. It distributes the results of the exercise equally throughout both the upper and lower parts of the body.

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Various Aerobic Training Equipment Options For Your Fitness Needs

Being fit and healthy is something important to people's lives. They come in different forms like being healthy by losing weight, having a good oxygen distribution, toned muscles and a lot more. If you'll look at these forms, you'll find that an aerobic training equipment is the most helpful equipment that will help you get the most exercises that will help you achieve the ones that you want to have. One of your options is a treadmill that will let people have their daily walk inside the house. The great thing about these treadmills is they can be customized depending on the intensity the user wants. In addition, elliptical machines are also great choices for people who want to experience more exercises than the usual because of its intense workout for everyone who will use it without any problems.

The good thing about elliptical machines is they have lots of features that will be suitable for every user. For instance, they can be inclined to the preferred height of the users to get the most intensity they can get from it. With the help of this aerobic training equipment, people will be able to find their heart rate increased that will help their body get the best supply of oxygen. It will be a challenge so people can get the intensity they're looking for. They can start from several minutes and then continue to increase it together with the pace to ensure they'll get the most of the program. Other options like weights that will not that is not that heavy for you and also do programs using other simple aerobic equipments give you the result that you want to have.

One of the simple equipments you can use for exercising is a medicine ball. They are great choice when it comes to giving you the best aerobic exercise focused on your cardio vascular training. You can even do several varieties in doing these programs to avoid being bored with it. Remember that the quality always comes first in buying an aerobic training equipment. It pays to buy a better machine that will help you get the most result that you're looking for.

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Circuit Training For Fat Loss

The term circuit training simply refers to a group of different exercises that are done back to back in a round-robin "circuit" fashion. This is contrasted with the more traditional method of doing multiple sets of a single exercise before moving on to the next exercise. Circuit training can be utilized with any exercises under the sun, from weight lifting to machines to bodyweight exercise and even bouts of walking or running.

Circuit training has many benefits. The first benefit is that it is much more time efficient. By doing different exercises back to back, it minimizes rest time in between sets and a lot more work is accomplished in a shorter period of time. The second main benefit is an increase in caloric expenditure over traditional methods. This is due to less rest (or no rest) when switching from one exercise to the next.

When doing multiple sets of the same exercise, you have to rest those muscles before they can work again. With circuit training, since you are switching exercises, your muscles from the previous exercise will rest while you are doing the next exercise. Your cardiovascular system isn't getting to rest and this is what leads to the third benefit of circuit training: you can get your resistance and cardio training done at the same time.

The cardiovascular system has two main ways of providing energy to the muscles. The first way is known as oxidative or more commonly referred to as "aerobic." Aerobic exercise is where the intensity level is low enough that the body is able to supply oxygen to the muscles rapidly enough to be used for energy. Aerobic activities (walking, running, Jazzercise) can typically be done for long durations meaning anything over 2 minutes up to multiple hours in the case of long distance running and bicycle riding.

The second way muscles get energy is known as "anaerobic" or without oxygen. This is where the exercise intensity is too high to wait for oxygen, so energy is provided to the muscles through a chemical process. This energy is of a very short duration and depending on the specific process (ATP-CP or glycolysis) can last from about 10 seconds to 2 minutes. These different energy pathways (aerobic/anaerobic) don't work completely independent of each other. The initiation of activity always activates the anaerobic system and there will always be an aerobic component as well. How you train will determine which energy system is emphasized more than the other.

Circuit training focuses primarily on the anaerobic system because you are doing different exercises with little or no rest in between them. This is good because studies have shown that increases in anaerobic performance transfer to increases in aerobic performance as well. The reverse however, is not true. No amount of aerobic activity will help much anaerobically because you are never working hard enough to push past the lactic threshold and activating that system to any appreciable degree.

So, in case I lost some of you, here is the bottom line: Anaerobic activity will lead to a high intensity workout that burns fat, builds a strong heart and cardiovascular system as well as provides more stamina and a faster recovery time than traditional aerobic training. As a bonus, since we are using resistance exercises, you will add lean muscle mass as well which will further help to burn fat by increasing your metabolism (not to mention make you look better and be stronger.)

When combined with a sensible nutrition plan, you can expect to see some good results in terms of weight loss and body composition with an intense circuit workout three or four times per week. Good luck with your training and stay healthy.

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Benefits of Elliptical Training

The basic motion of an elliptical trainer is a smooth, flowing...well...elliptical motion. The low impact nature of these machines greatly reduces stress on the joints of the lower body (ankles, knees, and hips).

Since it is a weight-bearing exercise, elliptical training promotes cell growth in the bones of the lower body and spine thus helping ward off the debilitating effects of osteoporosis. This is a distinct advantage that elliptical trainers have over other exercise devices that are not weight-bearing such as rowing machines and stationary bikes.

The other great advantage that elliptical trainers have over other exercise machines is that most models work the muscles of both the upper and lower body. This results in a cardiovascular efficiency that produces an equivalent training effect as other forms of exercise, but over a shorter period of time.

Joggers for example, will sometimes swing small dumbbells while jogging in order to achieve this training efficiency. This was popular during the height of the jogging craze during the 1980s, but is now rarely observed in the wild. Perhaps joggers decided it wasn't worth the hassle. Maybe they also finally realized how goofy they looked in the process. Remember, no one ever looks goofy while gracefully striding away on an elliptical trainer!

Cross Training with Elliptical Trainers

Cross training has come to mean several different things over the years. The original definition of cross training was the use of exercise movements that benefited an athlete's performance in a given sport. Lately, the definition has expanded to mean doing a variety of cardio exercises, which also may include working out with weights.

If you're looking to maintain your conditioning for a sport, then elliptical trainers can get your heart rate up quickly and keep you in good cardiovascular condition. For non-athletes that just want to stay fit and lose a few pounds, then alternating training days between lifting weights and 20 minute sessions on an elliptical trainer will get you to your goal.

Whatever definition of cross training you go with, you can be sure that cross training with an elliptical trainer will fit your definition!

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Try Low Impact Circuit Training to Lose Weight Fast and Easy While Getting Fit

If you have decided that this is the year you're going to get back into shape I would recommend looking into first conditioning your body for regular exercise. Quite often we make the decision to begin an exercise program and under estimate our ability to follow through. If your goal is to lose weight let me show you how to lose weight fast and easy using low impact fat burning exercise routines.

You can start these routines at an even slow pace and build up your intensity as your body becomes more conditioned to the workout. If you have been sedentary for a long period of time, start by going for 20 minute walks each day. After a week of walking, increase your time to a half an hour. The main goal is to get your body moving consistently every day.

By week three you should begin incorporating other low impact aerobic exercises while still walking for the fat burning effect. Low impact fat burning exercises can include stair climbing, rowing machine, cycling even boxing. It is important to pace yourself and take it easy in the beginning in order to avoid injury.

Many of these low impact workouts can be done at home. If you have a gym membership, that makes it easier to find equipment to allow you to vary your low impact exercise routines. In truth, you can have a very effective low impact aerobic workout with an inexpensive jump rope. The jump rope routine is considered low impact and is very effective a fat burning.

One way to lose the weight and keep it off is to develop workout schedule that incorporates daily walks, a strength training routine three times a week and a variable intensity low impact aerobic routine on alternate days. You can find that your fitness program can be completed each day within 20 minutes.

By adopting a variable intensity low impact workout you can keep your body from adapting to your routine and by using variable intensity from medium to high, you train your body to reach new levels of fitness. Many health enthusiasts build their exercise routines around variable intensity exercises and circuit training.

Circuit training is a method of working out that involves a combination of resistance training and aerobics using a variety of exercises. You usually go from executing a single set of exercises then move onto another. This is an excellent method of fat burning while building up your lean muscle mass and endurance. Circuit training can be done with machines, hand weights or body weight exercises.

You can use circuit training as your method of burning fat and increasing your metabolism. This method of exercise is also very good for beginners. You can start off slowly and work at your own pace. Sessions usually last for 30 minutes in which you get a full body workout. Give this method a try to lose weight fast and easy while getting fit at the same time.

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