Benefits of Stretching
Benefits of Stretching
The body is flexible. It is supposed to be flexible. You must be able to bend and reach that something you dropped on the floor. You must be able to zip the back of your favorite dress on your own. You must be able to reach that book you need to read at the top shelf.
These are simple activities. Nothing grand about them, you merely stretched out a bit. However, if there are difficulties in doing such simple motions, then you have to stretch your limits. You already need a stretching program.
What Is Stretching?
Stretching is simply the act of extending to full length the body or simply a part of it. This activity involves straightening or stretching the structure or the limbs.
How Does One Do the Stretching?
Stretching is fairly easy. As mentioned in the introduction, it is involved in the normal activities. It can be done by any people, regardless of age.
However the extent of stretching and flexing differs. The muscles tighten as a person ages. The range of joint movements can be minimized. This can very well obstruct an on-the-go lifestyle. That is why as the person grows older, bending or flexing becomes more limited. This is why stretching regularly, as part of a routine is very important.
Simple stretches can be done everyday. It can be incorporated in the lifestyle and the daily activities. It does not require much of your time.
Stretching exercises can also be done while training. Actually, stretching is an essential part of any training or sport. It must be done first before anything else. Stretching the body and the limbs is a good preparation for a more rigorous activity.
Most athletes would do the sit and reach, wherein they position on the floor, extend their legs and reach the tip of their foot with the tip of their hand. Actually, most trainers actually require their athletes to really do the stretching before playing.
There is actually an ideal length of time in stretching. It is best to do it in 10 minutes. This will give the body enough opportunity to move and flex the muscles, thus preparing it for more complicated and strenuous movements.
Experts however would frown upon going way beyond 10 minutes. Stretching the exercise to 30 minutes or more will already wear out the body. This will not be favorable if one is preparing for a game.
What Are the Benefits of Stretching?
1. Increase the Range of Movement
As one constantly do the stretching exercises, the length of the muscles and the tendons are also increased. This will help in increasing the range of your movement. Thus, the limbs and joints will be able to move, way before an injury can take place. You are definitely physically fit.
2. Increased Ability to Perform Skills
When you have a wide range of movement, the more you will be able to do more things. For example, you can jump high without feeling any pain when you land back on the floor. This will also help you start a new sport or improve more if you are in one. Stretching in this aspect also allows you to have a more active lifestyle.
3. Injury Prevention
One can prevent injury to joints, tendons and muscles with stretching. When the muscles and tendons are well-flexed, they are considered in good working order. This will help in a faster recovery and decreased soreness. The muscles of the body will be able to take more exhausting and rigorous movements with less probability of being injured.
4. Reduce Muscle Tension
If the muscles are given their regular exercises and stretching, it is less likely that they will contract. This will definitely relieve you of any muscle pain or problems.
5. Enhance Energy
Being able to move more will also give you more energy. Stretching will also help enhance your awareness, like knowing that you have a body that is capable of doing many things. As such, you are going to be more driven to move rather than sulk in the corner.
6. Reduces Cholesterol
Research also shows that doing prolonged stretching exercises, like yoga, will help reduce the cholesterol in the body. This of course must be done with a healthy diet at hand. This could prevent and even reverse the hardening of the arteries, allowing you to avoid coronary diseases.
Incorporate stretching in your everyday lifestyle. It has benefits you can not say no to. It also does not require much. It can be your usual activities, bending and flexing every now and then. After all, your fitness is everything so do what it takes to keep the body healthy.
condron.us
condron.us
To find out more, CLICK HERE
Is Atkins right for you?
Is Atkins right for you
The Atkins diet is very popular, but is it right for you? Before you start down the low carb road, you should take some time to decide whether low carb is the right way for you to lose weight. Just because it has been effective for others doesn’t mean it will be right for you. No specific diet works for everyone, and you may even find that a type of low carb diet that works better for you than another. There are many things to consider before you start the Atkins diet.
First, evaluate your past dieting history. If you’ve been trying to lose weight for a long period of time, you’ve no doubt tried a wide variety of diets. Take note of the different diets you’ve tried over the years. Write down the basics of each diet, what worked and what didn’t. Also, write down why you didn’t stay on the particular diet. Evaluate your experience with high carbohydrate diets. These types of diets include most low-fat and calorie controlled diets. How did you feel while on these types of diets? Were you hungry, obsessed with food or experiencing negative reactions? Or did you feel full of energy and generally good?
If you’ve had experience with low carb diets, write that down as well. Past the negative effects of the first week, how did eating low carb make you feel? Why did you stop using the low carb diet?
The answers to these questions will help you decide whether Atkins is right for you or not. If you’ve had good experiences with low-fat diets and bad experiences with other low carb diets, then Atkins is probably not for you. If other low-carb diets have worked but not without difficulty, then you may have been on the wrong type of low-carb diet and Atkins might work better. If you’ve had bad experiences with both types of diets, then you may have better success with a modified Atkins diet.
Your food and eating behaviors can also give you a clue to whether or not Atkins is a good choice for your weight loss efforts. Carb sensitivities are indicated by a certain set of behaviors. You may be carb sensitive if you feel like eating right after you’ve finished a meal. You will also feel strong urges to eat throughout the day. You may feel dizzy, fuzzyheaded and fatigued without getting a boost from sugar or another carbohydrate. Carb sensitivity is also shown when you feel sluggish after eating. This occurs especially after you eat a meal rich in sugars and carbohydrates. If you experience these symptoms frequently, you may have carb sensitivities. Try paying close attention to how carbohydrates affect you and if you continue to experience these symptoms, try doing a low carb diet.
Your success on the Atkins diet can also be determined by your medical and family history. If you have any pre-diabetic symptoms, or diabetes itself, a reduced carb diet like Atkins may be right for you. Significant weight gain can also be helped by the Atkins diet. Normally, the more overweight you are, the more likely you are to have high blood pressure, high triglycerides and high blood glucose.
If any member of your family has diabetes or is significantly overweight, this can also put you at risk for these conditions. Your tendency toward these conditions on a genetic level can mark a necessity for a low carbohydrate diet like Atkins. The Atkins plan has been shown to improve weight and control blood sugar issues. If these are problems in your family history, then you may want to consider the Atkins diet.
There are a lot of good reasons to try the Atkins diet. Whether you have responded well to other low carb diets in the past or you have a medical history that warrants a controlled carbohydrate diet, the Atkins diet can meet your needs.
condron.us
condron.us
condron.us
Atkins and Ketosis
Atkins and Ketosis
The basic principle of the Atkins diet is that a state of ketosis will help you burn your fat stores as energy. Many people, even those who are on low carbohydrate diets, don’t quite understand ketosis and why it works.
Most diets are calorie-reduction diets. They help you lose weight, but some of the weight is from fat and some of it is from lean muscle tissue. While you may look smaller on the scale, your metabolism is actually slowing down. The more muscle you lose the slower your metabolism will be. This makes losing weight more difficult and gaining weight back even simpler.
The Atkins diet, on the other hand, is carbohydrate restrictive. It creates a state of ketosis in your body that burns only fat, and not muscle. The primary source of your energy for your body will be fat in the form of ketones. Your liver will convert fat into ketones and it cannot be converted back. It will be excreted naturally.
Ketones are actual a normally and efficient source of fuel for the human body. They are created in the liver from the fatty acids that result from the breakdown of body fat. These only appear when there is an absence of glucose and sugar. In the Atkins diet, you reduce the amount of glucose and sugar that is in the bloodstream. As a result, your body produces ketones for fuel. When your body is creating ketones it is called ketosis.
There is a common misconception that following a ketogenic diet like Atkins is dangerous. The truth is that being in ketosis is a completely naturally state. The human body creates ketones to use as fuel in the absence of glucose.
In the Atkins diet book, Dr. Atkins suggests using ketone-testing strips to determine your state of ketosis during dieting. These small plastic strips are held in the urine stream and contain a special chemically treated absorptive pad. This pad will change color if ketones are present in the urine. With the presence of ketones, the strip will change varying shades of pink to purple. There is a color scale on the label of the bottle that will help you determine your ketone levels.
Ketone strips are available in any pharmacy and can be found among the diabetic supplies. In some stores, they are kept behind the counter so you may have to ask for them. You won’t need a prescription to buy them though. Once you open a package of ketosis strips they have a shelf life of 6 months. It may be helpful to mark the opening date on the box.
Ketone strips will let you know if you are progressing correctly on the Atkins diet. If you are following the Induction plan to the letter and aren’t seeing purple, don’t worry. Some people never show trace amounts of ketones or they may show just above the minimum line. As long as you are losing weight and inches then you are successfully using ketones. Also, if you’ve just exercised a few hours before using the strips, you may not see purple.
Some dieters may mistakenly believe that a dark purple result on the testing strips means that they are losing weight faster. Actually, the darkest purple color is a sign of dehydration. It means that your urine is too concentrated and you need to drink water.
Ketones come from fat in the bloodstream, whether it is fat that you eat or fat that you burn. So if you eat a meal heavy in fat and then immediately use a testing strip, then you’ll see a dark purple result. Use the strips as a guide, but don’t get hung up on the color.
Reaching a state of ketosis is key to success on the Atkins diet and it as simple as eliminating carbohydrates from the diet. Make sure to follow the eating plan correctly and use the ketone testing strips as needed.
condron.us
condron.us
To find out more, CLICK HERE
Exercise And Asthma
Exercise And Asthma
If you suffer from asthma, you probably think that you
can’t exercise properly or safely. Contrary to what
many think of this subject, there are ways that you
can get in shape and exercise, even if you suffer
from asthma.
Asthma is a chronic lung disease that is marked by
characteristics such as coughing, wheezing, shortness
of breath, and chest tightness. Asthma tends to occur
with people who are genetically or environmentally
presdisposed to the condition.
Some of the triggers that may start or make an attack
worse include exposure to allergens, viral respiratory
infections, airway irritants, exercise, and exposure
to things such as dust mites or cockroaches.
You can prevent asthma attacks by doing the following:
1. Bathe your pets weekly.
2. Don’t smoke or permit smoking in your
home.
3. When mold or pollent counts are high,
you should stay inside with air conditioning.
4. Wash your bedding and any stuffed toys
at least once per week in hot water.
5. Wash your hands every chance you get.
6. Get a flu shot.
7. Wear a scarf over your mouth and nose in
the winter months.
8. Be proactive and know your triggers and
how you should avoid them.
Now that you know what you know about asthma, you
may be wondering where exercise fits in. As most
doctors will tell you, you shouldn’t give up on
sports or exercise at all. You just have to be
smart about how you play and take special pre
cautions to avoid attacks.
Almost all doctors agree that the best way to
prevent attacks during exercise is to keep your
inhaler and medication close by. You should never
use the inhaler more than 3 times during a game
or exercise session. If you are up the previous
night with coughing and wheezing, it’s always best
to go light with your exercise the next day.
For something known as IEA (Exercise Induced Asthma),
the symptoms are somewhat different, in the fact
that they appear after 6 – 10 minutes of exercise
and will often be worse in cold or dry air.
If you have IEA, there are several activities that
you can enjoy such as swimming, walking, biking,
downhill skiing, and team based sports. There are
many activities for you to choose from, to ensure
you get the exercise you need as well.
Keep in mind that the condition of asthma isn’t
“all in your head”, it is a real physiological
medical treatment that will require treatment to
prevent and treat. Even though your doctor will
be your best friend in treating asthma, you are
the one who can prevent your symptoms.
Always be smart, take your medication, and be
proactive. Don’t let it put you in a life of
misery – as you can enjoy exercise just like
everyone else.
To find out more, CLICK HERE
Quit Smoking with Exercise
Quit Smoking With Exercise
When you decide to stop smoking, you’ll bring on
other changes in your life as well. Smoking is a
very addictive habit, meaning that it is very hard
to quit. There are a lot of changes that take place,
although exercise can be a big help to you when you
decide to quit.
Try to set a new routine, such as working out or
going to the gym. If that isn’t possible, you
should try waking up earlier and going for a short
walk. If you can turn that walk into a run or a
jog, it is going to be very stimulating and the best
way that you can start your day.
Keep in mind that exercise doesn’t really mean
pumping metal. If you don’t have the time to stop
by the gym every day, then it isn’t really that big
of a problem, as you can always choose to workout
at home.
Whether you choose to workout at home or at a gym,
you should always remember that regularity is the
key. It isn’t getting started that’s the difficult
part, it’s sticking to a regular exercise program
that is difficult and proves to be stumbling block
for most people.
Some people have a great start. They will buy
track suits, gym wear, running shoes, and a lot
of other gear, so their first day at the gym is
almost like a celebration. As the days go by,
they find it very difficult to meet the demands
and their routine will slow down a lot and finally
come to a complete exercise burnout.
One mistake that several people make is choosing
the evenings to exercise. If evenings fit your
lifestyle, then it’s fine. For most people however,
the evening hours are when they are completely
pooped. By the evening most of us are drained,
and simply too tired for exercise. Therefore, it
is always best to set some time aside for exercise
in the morning.
In the morning, wake up a half an hour or so
earlier, put on your shoes, and hit the road. Most
roads are less crowded in the morning and less
polluted as well, making it a wonderful and relaxing
way to start the day.
You should also steer clear from the coffee and try
tea instead. If you are moving around in the house,
try playing music. You can also redecorate your
room by adding a few pictures around. When you
redecorate, you should get rid of everything
that reminds you of smoking.
Plan your day where you’ll have something fun to
do at the end of the day. It doesn’t need to be
something that involves money, as you don’t want
to end up bankrupt. Spending time with family,
playing games, or going for a walk with your
family are all good activities.
Watching television doesn’t really fit into the
list. The reason is because television isn’t
something that demands a lot of attention. You
can easily do something else while you are
watching television.
You should also make a list of things that build
up your stress and try to avoid them. If it
isn’t possible, you should try to find out some
some ways to bust stress and use them. Whatever
you do, you shouldn’t use stress as an excuse
to start smoking.
There are many other methods that you can use to
beat stress. You can try breathing exercises,
mediation, or even music. Another great way to
beat stress is using the distressing ball. If
you don’t have one or access to one, you can
always wiggle your fingers and toes. This too
is a great and natural method to beat stress.
To find out more, CLICK HERE
Exercising Properly
Exercising Properly
There are two main types of exercise that you can do -
aerobic and anaerobic. The first one, aerobic, means
with oxygen. Aerobic type exercise has an important
distinction, it burns fat as the main fuel.
Anaerobic on the other hand, burns sugar as the
main source of fuel. Despite common myths, exercise
doesn’t have to be drastic in any way to provide
massive benefits. Even if you choose light exercise,
you will still burn fat.
Light exercise will clear out lactic acid, which is
a waste of the body, and stimulate your cells to
regenerate. To be sure that you are burning fat
rather than sugar, it’s very important to make sure
that you are doing several things as you exercise.
The most important thing you can do as you exercise
is breathe deep. You should always breathe in deep
into your stomach through your nose, hold it for
a few seconds and then exhale hard through your
mouth.
Second, you should make sure that you exercise at
a comfortable level. You should exercise at a level
of 7 out of 10, and still be able to carry on a
normal conversation while you exercise. You should
do this for 45 minutes or so each day, then
you’ll begin to notice just how much your energy
will explode.
Even if you don’t think you have the time to
exercise, rest assured that there is always time.
If you have to, use the time that you would
normally spend sleeping. With exercising, you’ll
actually need less sleep than before.
You can also use the time of your lunch break to
exercise as well. The increase in productivity
will have you more on the ball, and you can save
your time through the dramatic increase in your
overall productivity.
Cellularise, or rebounding, is one of the best
forms of aerobic exercise there is. If you have
access to a rebounder, you shouldn’t hesitate to
use it. Use any break you have at work to engage
in some type of movement and deep breathing.
Any type of exercise you do will strongly benefit
your heart. It will make it a stronger and larger
organ. Deep breathing will help your lungs
become stronger and larger as well. There is
research now that links exercise to helping benefit
and almost prevent each and every type of disease
or ailment.
Movement of the joints will promote proper blood
flow and create energy, as sitting down all day
will rob your body of much needed energy. If you
sit down all day, it’s very important that you
promote blood flow, circulation, energy, brain
flow, and the strength of your heart. With just
a little bit of your time devoted to exercise,
you’ll find yourself healthier than you have ever
been in the past.
To find out more, CLICK HERE
Reasons to Exercise
Reasons To Exercise
Many us need to follow an exercise program, in order
to remain healthy. Below, you’ll find several good
reasons why you should start exercising now.
1. Contributes to fat loss
It is well proven from scientific research all over
the world that physical exercise contributes to
weight loss. If you burn more calories than you
consume through nutrition, you’ll lose weight. When
you exercise, you burn more calories than when you
don’t. It’s really simple – the more you exercise,
the more weight or fat you’ll lose.
2. Prevent disease
The chances of developing several various diseases
has been proven to decrease when exercising. These
diseases include heart disease, cancer, diabetes,
and the stroke.
Around 4 out of 5 deaths caused by heart disease
and cancer, are linked to factors that include stress
and lack of exercise. We all know that diabetes
increases the chance for heart attacks and strokes.
What this shows, is that many of the risk factors
and diseases caused by not exercising are working
in conjunction to damage your health. To prevent
this from happening, start exercising.
3. Improving disease
Many severe and minor diseases can be improved or
even healed through regular exercise. These even
include the diseases listed above. By following
a regular plan, you can also decrease HDL
cholesterol levels, decrease triglyceride levels,
and decrease your blood pressure as well.
Exercising on a regular basis will also reduce
the risk of prostate cancer for men, breast and
uterine cancer for women, and much more. All of
this is scientifically proven, which is why you
should start exercising today.
4. Enhance your state of mind
Everyone knows from the many scientific studies
that regular exercising will lead to an increased
release of endorphins in the body. These chemicals
will fight depression and make you feel happy. The
body releases these endorphins only 12 minutes
into the workout.
There is another chemical known as serotonin that
is increased during and after a workout. The
increased levels of serotonin in the central nervous
system is associated with feelings of well being
and decreased mental depression. The chemical
can also help you sleep better at night.
5. Enhance your wellness
When you are in great shape and well fit, you’ll
have more energy and you’ll notice that your overall
mood is improved. You will have experienced that
you can stretch beyond your own limits and you
know that you can do more than you thought possible.
6. Persistence
Exercising regularly will give you more energy,
which can help you be more productive at home and
at work. Exercising can help give your new goals
a sense of purpose and give you something to focus
on and aim for. This can help you increase your
persistence and prevent you from going off track
while you aim for your goal.
7. Social capabilities
After a workout on a regular basis you can boost
your self esteem. This can help you look better
and you’ll be more comfortable as well. Exercise
will also help you to become more active and meet
new people, which will prevent you from feeling
isolated and unsupported. Exercise will also
increase your interests in sex, and can help you
to improve your marriage or your partner
relationship.
After knowing all of these tips and reasons to
exercise, you shouldn’t hesitate to get out there
and exercise. You can exercise at home or go out
there and join a gym. There are several different
ways that you can exercise, all you have to do
is select a few that you like. Take a little bit
of time out of your day and start exercising -
you’ll feel better than ever before and your body
will thank you.
To find out more, CLICK HERE
Alcohol and Exercise
Alcohol And Exercise
On Friday afternoon after you leave work, you probably
think about going out and having a few drinks with
friends to relax and wind down. Even though you
may think you deserve to go out and have a few drinks,
there are some things that you should certainly keep
in mind.
Like any other day, tomorrow is going to be a day
for exercise, and since you are exercising on a
regular basis, a few drinks of alcohol won’t really
hurt anything, right? Before you decide to rush out
to the local bar, there are a few things below that
you should think about before you make your choice
about going out to drink some alcohol.
Research has proven that even small amounts of
alcohol with increase muscular endurance and the output
of strength, although these types of benefits are
very short lived. After 20 minutes or so, the
problems will begin to surface. All of the negative
side effects associated with alcohol will easily
outweigh any possible benefits that it can have.
No matter how you look at it, alcohol is a poison
that can really harm your body if you aren’t careful.
The negative side of alcohol can reduce your
strength, endurance, aerobic capability, recovery
time, ability to metabolize fat, and even your
muscle growth as well. Alcohol will also have an
effect on your nervous system and brain. If you
use it long term, you can cause severe deterioration
of your central nervous system. Even with short
term use, nerve muscle interaction can be reduced
which will result in a loss of strength.
Once alcohol reaches the blood cells, it can and
probably will damage them. With alcohol users,
inflammation of the muscle cells is a very common
thing. Over periods of time, some of these cells
that have been damaged can die which will result
in less functional muscle contractions. Drinking
alcohol will also leave you with more soreness of
your muscles after you exercise, which means that
it will take you a lot longer to recuperate.
Alcohol will also have many different effects on
your heart and circulatory system as well. When
you drink any type of alcohol, you may begin to
see a reduction in your endurance capabilities.
Anytime you drink, your heat loss will increase,
due to the alcohol simulating your blood vessels
to dilate. The loss in heat can cause your
muscles to become quite cold, therefore become
slower and weaker during your muscle contractions.
Drinking alcohol can also lead to digestive and
nutrition problems as well. Alcohol cause a
release of insulin that will increase the metabolism
of glycogen, which spares fat and makes the loss
of fat very hard. Due to alcohol interfering
with the absorption of several key nutrients, you
can also become anemic and deficient with B type
vitamins.
Because your liver is the organ that detoxifies
alcohol, the more you drink, the harder your liver
has to work. The extra stress alcohol places on
your liver can cause serious damage and even
destroy some of your liver cells.
Since alcohol is diuretic, drinking large amounts
can put a lot of stress on your kidneys as well.
During diuretic action, the hormones are secreted.
This can lead to heightened water retention and no
one who exercises will want this to happen.
If you must drink alcohol, you should do it in
moderation and never drink before you exercise, as
this will impair your balance, coordination, and
also your judgement. Think about your health and
how you exercise – and you may begin to look at
things from a whole new prospective.
To find out more, CLICK HERE
Exercise and complexion
Exercise And Your Complexion As we all know and hear all the time, exercise can do a body good. It can help you to stay trim, tone muscles, and help to boost energy as well. What you probably don’t know, is the fact that exercise can actually help you achieve the complexion that you’ve always wanted. It’s true that regular exercise will nourish the skin all over the body with fresh blood, oxygen, and nutrients. As well, the increased blood flow and circulation that come with working out will help to draw toxins out of the body and improve the condition of all your vital organs, including the epidermis. A lot of people think that sweat can trigger acne flare ups. The fact is, sweating is great for any type of congested skin, as it helps promote the flushing of impurities from the epidermal layer and will clean out the pores. As well, vigorous exercise can actually correct the hormonal imbalances that can trigger blemishes, therefore reducing the likelihood of outbreaks. Any physical routine that you like to do, such as yoga, running, biking, spinning, pilates, boxing, and such, will help to lessen the stress that you encounter on a daily basis and help to prevent stress related acne. Keep in mind that exercise may not be a miracle cure for everything, as you may still experience breakouts from time to time although your acne will certainly be less severe and last for a much shorter time frame. Exercise is also great for other skin conditions that may or may not have to do with the presence of acne. Your skin losing its elasticity or becoming thin and less resilient is something that we all encounter. This is a common problem for may of us as we get older. As we all get older, we start to lose collagen, which will make us look tired. As many of us don’t know, physical activity can actually help to promote the growth of collagen in your skin cells, which will plump up your facial skin and make you look younger and more vibrant. If you are worried about wrinkles, you should consider relaxation that comes after you exercise. This has the effect of making your muscles, facial muscles included, soften up. What this means, is that your lines will appear less pronounced, helping to contribute to the youthful look that you are trying to achieve. With exercise you can achieve a smaller waist, better muscle tone, softer skin, fewer blemishes, and an overall younger, more fresher look. If you’ve wanted to add or change to your complexion, you shouldn’t hesitate to exercise. Exercise will help you feel more alive as well as improve your body. All you need to do is take a little bit of time out of your schedule to exercise – its as simple as that.
condron.us
About
Hey everyone. I’m the owner of this blog. Basically i created this blog to show the rest of the world my progress in bodybuilding which is the sport i love. I hope you follow me thru my journey to be number 1!
-
Recent
-
Links
-
Archives
- May 2009 (18)
- April 2009 (7)
-
Categories
-
RSS
Entries RSS
Comments RSS
