Many resistance training exercises can be done both seated and standing. Doing any exercise seated supports the back and allows the exerciser to do the exercise without rocking, swinging, using the back, using the legs, or using momentum to move the weight. While seated, the exerciser can concentrate on form and using the intended muscles to move the weight. Think about sitting for the exercises that can be done seated. It is a great way to concentrate on form and really work your muscles without cheating. Many upper body exercises, especially those using dumbbells and barbells, can be done seated as well as standing.
Why Skipping Meals is Not the Way to Lose Body Fat
People often ask me about skipping meals as a way to lose weight and, more specifically, to lose body fat. Many people feel that they can skip a meal without even missing it. Skipping meals is a big “no-no” and here’s why:
Skipping meals actually does just the opposite of your goal and makes it harder to lose weight. Skipping meals lowers your resting metabolic rate (how fast you burn calories at rest), lowers your energy level (no fuel to burn), and makes your body think it is in a state of starvation (therefore “rationing” the fat on your body). Skipping meals also creates cravings, throws off your hormone levels, and alters the chemicals in your brain. Rather than skipping meals to lose weight, use healthy snacks, like fruits and vegetables, to fill in the time between meals to boost your energy levels and your body’s metabolism.
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Why You Should Drink More Water: The Real Facts
Most people know they should drink at least eight to ten eight-ounce glasses of water each day. We keep hearing “Drink more water,” but here are some “cold, hard facts” from the American Institute For Cancer Research about why increasing your water intake is important.
1. Water helps your body get moving by helping to relieve dry mouth and by refreshing the rest of your body.
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Memory Foam Mattresses: Check Out Memory Foam for Back Pain Relief
Tired of waking up with back pain? Tired of sleeping in that crater in the middle of your old inner spring mattress? Perhaps it’s time to take a look at a memory foam mattress for back pain relief.
The 2010 article, The Shocking Truth About Back Pain Revealed offers up chiropractic instead of drugs and surgery. Another thing to think about is your mattress. Many people found their back pain lessened once they started sleep on a memory foam mattress. It’s not a cure-all or a substitute for medical care, but many people have found a memory foam mattress has helped ease their back pain.
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Seven Tips for Avoiding Processed Foods
Most of us eat way to much processed food. We eat much more processed food today even than just 10 – 15 years ago. The MSN article, 7 Tips for Avoiding Processed Foods, makes some good suggestions on how to avoid processed foods. It is based on suggestions from the book, Unprocessed, which details a 26-year old grad student’s year of eating nothing but unprocessed foods and even doing it on a salary of just $16,780 per year. (She did spend about 27% of her income on food…)
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Swimming is a Great Workout
Swimming is a great cardiovascular workout. It works all of the large muscle groups in your body and is especially ideal for people who have joint problems, problems with overheating, or are too obese for weight bearing exercise yet. Make sure that you are a proficient enough swimmer to get your heart rate into its target range and swim continuously for at least 20 – 30 minutes. Some people may need stroke instruction before being able to use swimming as a fitness activity. Check with your local recreation department or a private swim club for adult lessons. Many areas have masters programs for adult swimmers that can provide stroke instruction as well as group workouts. Remember to always put safety first and never swim alone.
Why Control is Better Than Speed When Lifting Weights
I often see people in the gym slinging heavy weights around very quickly without regard to form or effectiveness. When concern for, “How much do you lift?” becomes an important factor (males of a certain age are often guilty of this), then often times form goes out the window in favor of the “how much” bragging rights.
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Memory Foam Mattresses: Better Sleep Means Fewer Sleepy Drivers on our Roads
Do you feel sleepy during the day? Tired of tossing and turning and waking up tired? According to the National Sleep Foundation’s 2008 Sleep in America poll, 36% of Drivers Have Nodded Off Behind the Wheel. This is an extraordinarily scary statistic. We, as a nation, need to address this health and safety crisis.
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Lower Your Risk of Adult-Onset Diabetes with Moderate Exercise
It is an absolute fact that exercise can lower your risk of adult-onset diabetes (Type 2 Diabetes) tremendously. Study after study has shown this to be true. In one study of 41,000 women, it was found that moderate exercise (walking, biking, etc.), done four times per week, cuts the risk of diabetes in half as we get older. This is a very exciting finding! It was also found that 8% of diabetes found in inactive adults may have been prevented with moderate exercise. Although there are genetic factors involved in acquiring adult-onset diabetes, the biggest culprits in the development of the disease are inactivity and excess body fat. This research shows yet another debilitating disease that can potentially be avoided through moderate exercise.
Memory Foam Mattress: Great Sleep Guaranteed!
Is it time for a new mattress? Do you toss and turn trying to get comfortable? Maybe you wake up tired because you aren’t getting enough good sleep. What about that crater in the middle of your innerspring mattress? Maybe you’re tired of sleeping in that… Maybe it’s time to think about getting better sleep with a memory foam mattress.
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