Okay, let's just accept the fact that if you want to lose weight, be healthy, or both, you need to get some sort of exercise program going. This has been proven over and over again. Yes, you CAN lose some weight without exercise, but your health will not improve, and you may find you have created some new problems if all you do is alter your diet in order to lose weight. Also, trying to lose weight without changing the way you have lived your...more
IntroductionIt's that time of year again. The temperature is dropping. The nights are getting longer and the days are getting shorter. People during this time of year tend to sleep more, lose interest in physical activity, gain weight, experience more frequent bouts of anxiety and depression, and socially isolate themselves. Don't let that be you this year! In the following article, I am going to discuss some ways you can beat the blues with...more
Nasal labial folds: you know - the folds and lines (wrinkles) that are determined to develop into permanent grooves on the side of your mouth, in your cheeks and up to your nose. They're more than just laugh lines. Even if they were formed by laughing, you don't feel like laughing now because every time you see them, you know they are winning the war of aging.Flabby muscles make you look older; if your arm muscles jiggle, those muscles need exercise. If your thighs look dimply or the skin on your upper inner thigh feels thickly soft, you can firm and tone that area with exercise. The same with a thick waist, a droopy backside or a bulging tummy; exercise is the solution. An exercised body looks streamlined; improved posture means you no longer slouch and your tummy looks flatter because your core muscles have new life and strength; they're in better shape from oxygenated blood, contractions and resistance.The face and neck muscles can become flabby, too. When these muscles soften and then droop, it is blatantly apparent that something unflattering is occurring.Mind you, aging in the face is sinister because it takes a lot of years for faces to develop lines, folds and sags. By age...more
We have now reached a level of obesity in the US, South America, Canada, and throughout Europe which is unprecedented in recorded history.It is also accepted that the lifestyles we lead are often very high stress.It is no coincidence that these new peaks of obesity and stress correlate directly with an increase in the occurrence of "modern" or...more
How should you refuel your body after exercise? We seem to be surrounded by commercial recovery foods and fluids. These recovery foods and fluids offer a combination of carbs and protein, but are they the best for exercise recovery nutrition?If you are an athlete who exercises one or two times a day to the point of total exhaustion, you most...more
I talk to young and adult ballet students and the questions I get asked most commonly relate to:1. Getting onto pointe and finding the right pointe shoes2. Stretching - especially doing the splits3. Cannot get to enough classes in a week to advance more quickly4. Concerns about good diet and body weight/shapeWhen to start taking pointe classes is a frequent discussion on dance forums. I talk very generally since I have never seen nor taught any of the students that I get into a discussion with. Basic technique has to be very strong before you can do pointe work. Posture and turnout must be correct and strong. Here is one thing you can do just as a self-test, to determine how your strength is developing. Either at the dance studio or at home, stand next to the mirror in first or fifth position, so that you are looking at yourself sideways. With arms in fifth-en-avant (I'm speaking Cecchetti here) slowly press up onto 3/4 pointe. Do you have any difficulty maintaining your correct posture and turnout? Do your ankles wobble toward your big toe or your little toe? Do you cramp right away? Can you keep your shoulders and neck relaxed?Can you do some simple port-de-bras without losing...more
How can Pilates for weight loss be effective if it is not a sustained aerobic exercise?First you must understand that there are three, not just one, component necessary for weight loss, then you will realize why Pilates for weight loss can work.Most...more
Well defined shoulders are very important for the overall health and look of a body . Strong shoulders are an asset in nearly every activity. You should devote an equal amount of times training your shoulders as you do your any upper body part. To...more
A well defined and developed back is the dream of most men (and woman) . To achieve a well defined and balanced back you must incorporate several exercises. Your back exercise workout must have different exercise from different angles to develop all...more
A well defined and developed body is important for the overall health and look of a body. How many times have you seen a guy with a big upper body and tooth pick legs. This not only looks bad, it can lead to injuries and cause stress on the knees and...more
Exercise and fat loss may not be as easy as some advertisements claim it to be; oftentimes, you don't reap the fruits of your labor until much time and effort has been exerted. However, by knowing and applying a few simple exercise and fat loss...more
A fat burning exercise prescription is a MUST for the long term success of any healthy weight loss program. Guidelines for healthy weight loss related to exercise and physical activity have been steadily improving over the last 20 years. Along with...more