You've heard the expression a thousand times "use it or lose it". As we get older it is important that we stay active and get our bodies moving. If you are over forty and are not very active, I'm sure you have noticed your muscle size and tone disappearing and weight gaining. Well read on because I have discovered an excellent way to start an exercise program that you can gradually increase over time.Let's first discuss why exercising is so...more
In past articles I've talked about how dietary sugars (white flour, corn syrup, table sugar, etc.) alter blood sugar levels, and how the body tries to regulate blood sugar through glycogen storage, insulin secretion and body fat creation.Now let's explore the causes of adult-onset diabetes, and how people can both prevent and even reverse diabetes by applying fundamental knowledge of how the human body deals with dietary sugars and refined...more
I know what you're probably saying right now. "Yea, right" or "what is this guy, some kind of a joker". Well, ordinarily you would be right on the mark with those comments, but there is a video game out there that not only can be a ton of fun, but can also give you a pretty good workout and make you lose weight in the process. If you are a teenager or the parent of a teenager with a "Sony play station 2", then you likely already know what game I'm talking about. If not, the video game in question is called "dance, dance revolution" or DDR for short. This is a game that started out in video arcades, but now there is the home version you can buy. Let's look at how this video game can become part of a weight loss and fitness program.The game itself is played on a mat with four arrows pointing out in each direction, two out to the sides and one forward and one back. The corresponding arrows on your TV screen are your target arrows. When the moving arrows coming up from the bottom of your screen overlap the target arrows on the screen, you step on the appropriate arrows on the mat. All of this happens to your choice of upbeat music.The nice part of DDR is that there are skill levels...more
The back supports the weight of the upper body and has to be strong to carry out its work unhindered. People focus on strengthening their lower back, but upper back muscles too need toning up. A well toned back looks good and helps in maintaining correct posture. Upper back exercises are a good way of strengthening the upper back. Some effective...more
Back exercise stretches the lower back muscles to help bring relief to back pain caused by over-stressed back muscles. Spine rehabilitation too is done through back exercise. People suffering from back pain are put through an exercise regimen, as exercise stretches the back and promotes better blood circulation in the area. You will hear many...more
Lower back pain exercises are very important for the treatment of back pain and the strengthening of the back muscles. These exercises should be recommended by one's orthopedic surgeon or the physiotherapist and need to be carried out regularly in the correct manner, in order to derive maximum benefit.Doctors recommend different exercises in accordance to the condition of a patient. The exercises recommended in the initial and final stages of the treatment also vary. Walking, swimming, biking and aerobic exercises are commonly recommended lower back pain exercises. In the initial stages of the treatment, doctors recommend exercises involving upward and downward movements of ankles. Exercises, such as the abdominal contraction, wall squats, heel raises and straight leg raises, involve tightening of the abdominal muscles while moving the knees or heels.In the intermediate treatment program, one can perform back pain exercises, such as the single knee to chest stretch, the hamstring stretch and the lumbar stabilization exercise with the Swiss ball. It is important to ensure that the abdominal muscles remain contracted during each exercise. For this, one needs to lie on his/her back...more
Sciatica refers to the pain caused by the compression or irritation in the nerves at the lower end of the spine. Sciatica is also known as radiculopathy, which refers to the extension of the spinal disc beyond the normal position, resulting in the...more
A question that people normally ask is whether exercises to correct scoliosis are effective. Scoliosis is the lateral curvature of the spine. It is a progressive disease. Experts feel that exercises to correct scoliosis are not that effective, as...more
The popularity of the exercise bike among many exercise machines is that exercise bikes moves almost all the back and leg muscles of the user while riding.Resistance on the exercise bike can be adjusted to intensities that will suit individual's...more
Working out is working out, right?Wrong.Depending on the environmental conditions where youlive, there may be extra precautions that you'll want to consider when trying to lose weight by following a healthy diet and weight loss program.HIGH...more
As a certified personal trainer and editor of a popular fitness site, FitnessGear101.com, I've heard every excuse in the book when it comes to why people don't exercise. However, the one that takes the, pardon-my-pun, "fitness cake" is lack of time....more
My girlfriend and I are preparing to go on a hiking trip to Glacier National Park. We are going to do some camping along with staying at various small hotels and inns. I have been involved with doing some aerobic exercise my whole life, either by...more