It is important that kid's stay active, especially with all the electronic entertainment that's booming these days. I think that kids should get involved with youth sports or if that isn't their thing maybe skateboarding or bike riding. Kids just need to stay active and not worry about hard weight lifting until about the age of 15. If kids want to engage in working out they should focus more on things like running, push-ups, sit-ups, and light dumbbell exercises. These exercises are meant to build lean muscle not mass.
From the age of 15 on you can start engaging in more muscle building exercises. Always keep in mind that you should have a foundation built to get into more strenuous exercises. This is why kids should be active. When your established you can start doing more exercises like bench press, squats, leg presses, cleans, etc. But a solid foundation is important to have in order to properly and safely preform these exercises.
As we age our metabolism slows down and we can't remain on the same diet that we had as a child. Also as we age our body begins to wear and our bodily systems slow down. Exercise and a healthy diet are the key to remaining healthy as we age. Living healthy has to become a lifestyle not just going to the gym here and there. Get out of the house and go to the park. Find something you enjoy doing like skating, riding your bike, running, playing basketball, sand volleyball, etc.
So the key to staying in shape as an adult is keeping a healthy diet, exercising regularly, and staying active in your day to day life. Remember, living healthy is a lifestyle not just something you do a few days out of the week. Make it your goal to do some form of physical activity each day weather it's going to the gym for a workout, swimming, or playing sports at the park. If you begin to do this you will begin to feel and be more healthy.
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Exercise & Music
Music motivates us, it relaxes us, it pumps us up, and it helps set the tone for the moment. When you exercise it's good to have music playing. Music can help get your respiration's and slightly rise your heart rate preparing you for the exercise to come. You should have music on while you prepare to work out following into your warm up and stretching. Then when you get to the actual work out you are pumped up and ready for the task at hand. Just as athletes throw on some music to pump themselves up before a game you can do the same with working out.
Slower music has been found to decrease muscular fitness potential. So if you are going to listen to music while exercising it should be something upbeat that promotes energy. For example some hard rock or upbeat rap would be beneficial whereas some slow alternative, country, or R&B would promote a more relaxed atmosphere. It is very important that when you go to workout you are looking to expend energy. Fat burn and muscle gain come from expanding energy not relaxing. If that where the case we could sit at home all day doing nothing and stay in perfect shape.
It's not that music improves the workout but that it stimulates the mind so that you can stay engaged and motivated. Music can help you push through to that last rep, it can keep you excited about what your doing, and it can help maintain your stamina. Music can endure you to overcome challenges brought on through exercise. This is why music is important with exercising. But remember it should be stimulating music, not relaxing music.
Relaxing music is great for post workout therapy. You could throw on some relaxing music when you cool down and stretch to begin the relaxation phase. So the basic principal of music and exercise should be something like this. Upbeat energetic music for the warm up and exercise phase. Then as you cool down turn on some more relaxing music. This will allow you to leave the gym feeling good about yourself but at the same time refreshed and relaxed.
Slower music has been found to decrease muscular fitness potential. So if you are going to listen to music while exercising it should be something upbeat that promotes energy. For example some hard rock or upbeat rap would be beneficial whereas some slow alternative, country, or R&B would promote a more relaxed atmosphere. It is very important that when you go to workout you are looking to expend energy. Fat burn and muscle gain come from expanding energy not relaxing. If that where the case we could sit at home all day doing nothing and stay in perfect shape.
It's not that music improves the workout but that it stimulates the mind so that you can stay engaged and motivated. Music can help you push through to that last rep, it can keep you excited about what your doing, and it can help maintain your stamina. Music can endure you to overcome challenges brought on through exercise. This is why music is important with exercising. But remember it should be stimulating music, not relaxing music.
Relaxing music is great for post workout therapy. You could throw on some relaxing music when you cool down and stretch to begin the relaxation phase. So the basic principal of music and exercise should be something like this. Upbeat energetic music for the warm up and exercise phase. Then as you cool down turn on some more relaxing music. This will allow you to leave the gym feeling good about yourself but at the same time refreshed and relaxed.
Monday, March 29, 2010
Do You Believe In Your Own Potential?
Every action begins with an thought transmitting a signal from the brain to the body part telling it to move. When you lift a weight your brain tells your arm to lift it and you do. This is where the term mind over body comes from. Now you do have to take into account that there are physical limitations that could lead to injury or just not be done with your current state of strength. But for the most part if you believe in yourself you can get the job done.
Think about this, Michael Jordan was cut from his high school basketball team. But he decided in his mind that he was going to be the best basketball player in the world. He accomplished his task. I think it is important that everyone realizes that they can accomplish anything they set their minds to!!! Weather it's fitness, school, sports, dreams, etc. When you tell yourself you can do something you have pretty much done it, you just have to go through the motions. It's also important to put your goals down in writing and keep them posted where you see them every day to keep you on track.
Your goals need to be broken down with steps. Say you're benching 150 lbs and you want to get it up to 210 lbs. What you need to do is start by first setting a goal like "Bench 160 lbs by next Friday" and so on. You need to be able to see your progress. When you see your progress you gain more motivation knowing that you are making gains and not remaining stationary. Its a continuing process! Keep Moving Forward!!! It all starts with that first step and putting one foot in front of the other.
Think about this, Michael Jordan was cut from his high school basketball team. But he decided in his mind that he was going to be the best basketball player in the world. He accomplished his task. I think it is important that everyone realizes that they can accomplish anything they set their minds to!!! Weather it's fitness, school, sports, dreams, etc. When you tell yourself you can do something you have pretty much done it, you just have to go through the motions. It's also important to put your goals down in writing and keep them posted where you see them every day to keep you on track.
Your goals need to be broken down with steps. Say you're benching 150 lbs and you want to get it up to 210 lbs. What you need to do is start by first setting a goal like "Bench 160 lbs by next Friday" and so on. You need to be able to see your progress. When you see your progress you gain more motivation knowing that you are making gains and not remaining stationary. Its a continuing process! Keep Moving Forward!!! It all starts with that first step and putting one foot in front of the other.
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