Search Results for: blog getting fit before the first flake falls

Bad Things Happen When You Stop Going to the Gym

Remember when you first got your gym membership? Everything was new and exciting; you were determined to drop excess weight, get fit, and look great for your high school reunion, pool party, 40th birthday, etc. You used that adrenaline to fuel regular gym visits for the first month or so, then you discovered how easy it was to skip the gym one day, then the next day and the day after that. If this scenario sounds familiar to you, I have bad news: A new University of Missouri study found that the negative effects of skipping exercise can occur in … Continue reading →

Getting Fit: No More Excuses

With the holidays fast approaching many people find themselves sucked into the shopping vortex. To-do lists are growing and finding time to get everything done is challenging to say the least. The months of November and December are also the time of year when many people slack on their fitness routines because they simply can’t find the time to get in a workout. Personally, I feel the opposite should be true. This is the time of year when you should try even harder to maintain your exercise regimen. After all, most of us tend to eat more during the holiday … Continue reading →

Who Benefits the Most from Exercise?

Attention couch potatoes: According to a new study, the people who stand to gain the most from exercise are those who go from doing nothing to doing something. Just when you thought that one-minute stroll from your car to the front door of the movie theater couldn’t possibly aid your health, researchers at the University of South Carolina release a study that says your walk actually is worth something. Scientists maintain that a one-minute walk is a great way to start an exercise routine. “Start” being the operative word. As long as that minute long stroll is the springboard for … Continue reading →

Finding Time to Exercise

I know what you are thinking—-you can barely find time to take a shower and brush your teeth, so how can you possibly find time to fulfill the government’s recommendation of exercising five days a week? Fitness experts suggest exercising less, but with more intensity. Basically, if you can’t devote five days a week to exercise then train three days, but pick up the pace during those sessions. For example, if your fitness routine includes using a treadmill or stationary bike run or pedal at your normal pace, then pick up the pace for five minutes before easing off for … Continue reading →

Weight Lifting and the Elderly

It’s never too late to start lifting weights. At least that’s what the authors of a new fitness study maintain. A recent study published in the Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise found that individuals should be hitting the weights as they age. The reason: As time goes on people gradually lose muscle mass and become more prone to falls. Researchers say as individuals age they lose fast-twitch muscle fibers, used for activities such as running, kicking a ball, or getting up and down from a chair. To reverse the effects, scientists say older people need to … Continue reading →

Motivating Your Kids to Move

These days that might be tougher than finding a TV commercial that’s not politically motivated. For millions of kids the idea of putting down video game controls and picking up a bike to ride is a foreign concept. This, despite the fact that the federal government recently announced new fitness recommendations for all Americans. The guidelines stipulate at least 60 minutes a day of moderate or vigorous activity for children ages 6 to 17. Federal officials also noted that parents should be creating opportunities for their children to be physically active and encouraging them to consistently participate in those activities. … Continue reading →

Weightlifting: It’s Not About the Weight

How many times have you seen guys at the gym try to lift as much weight as they can without paying attention to form or technique? They’re grunting and sweating and throwing weights up instead of lifting them correctly and later that day they’re limping around because they tweaked their back. Experienced weightlifters know that the sport is more about good form and technique than it is about how many pounds of steel you can throw around. Professional weightlifters are the first to chastise guys who are in need of a serious ego check because they know first hand the … Continue reading →

Keeping a Workout Journal

When I first started a workout routine that included weightlifting and running (nearly 20 years ago) I kept a journal to keep track of what exercises I was supposed to do on a particular day. After a while my routine became second nature and I stopped journaling. Recently, though, I’ve been hearing more and more trainers recommend that athletes continue keeping a workout diary regardless of whether or not they have memorized a set routine. The reason: Keeping a journal helps you recognize improvements. For example, if you started a training program that includes running you would track the number … Continue reading →

Running While Pregnant

In a previous blog I marveled at a spirited mom who was featured in a recent issue of Runner’s World magazine. She ran a marathon while she was eight months pregnant and is now preparing to run another with the son she carried in utero. Having struggled to complete the various marathons I’ve run (while not pregnant) I can’t imagine the mindset this mom possesses. It’s simply amazing to me. While sharing my thoughts about the fearless mom with a fellow running friend of mine I was reminded that super runner Paula Radcliffe also trained for the New York City … Continue reading →

Should You Run a Marathon While Pregnant?

In the current issue of Runner’s World magazine there’s a very short piece on a woman who ran a marathon while she was 8 months pregnant with her son. Now her son is a teenager and is preparing to run alongside his mom in an upcoming 26.2-mile race. Wow! I read that blurb nearly two weeks ago and I still shake my head in utter amazement when I think about what that mom accomplished. I’ve run a few marathons (and am currently training to run another next spring), but I was far from pregnant while completing any of them. Think … Continue reading →