A couple of weeks ago my husband and I decided to take a walk by the lakefront in our hometown of Milwaukee. The reason had less to do with exercise and more about getting out of the house. We had just experienced our firstborn child leaving the home. He left for basic training in Texas with the Air Force. We were left with a lot of mixed feelings. Dealing with our emotions was difficult. At times we were even at odds with each other, which is why my husband suggested a walk by the lake. For some reason being away … Continue reading →

Weight lifting has never been something that appeals to me. Yet I would still like to increase my strength. Although I use my lightweights for some parts of my exercise program, it wasn’t until recently that I learned how much they actually help with increasing strength and building muscle. Repetition is the way to that. Apparently, some Canadian researchers conducted a study in which they found that heavy weights aren’t the only way to do it. Lighter weights can work just as well. The key is to reach the point of muscle fatigue. I had never heard the phrase “muscle … Continue reading →

I am in the final segment of my “The Benefits of…” series. I am ending today with the benefits of a fitness ball, otherwise known as a stability ball. Now I am about to paint a really scary picture for you. Actually, it was mostly scary to my nephew who was about 4 years old when it happened. My first experience with one of these oversized balls was when I was giving birth to my youngest son (who is now 12). I had to sit on one of these to move my labor along. I will never forget my nephew’s … Continue reading →

Pilates has become a very popular type of exercise over the years. Today we are going to be looking at the benefits to it. Ever been told to tuck in that stomach, or to stand up straight? One of the benefits to pilates is becoming more aware of your posture. This is whether you are sitting, standing or moving. The focus is on your core. You need a strong core in order to have better posture. But a stronger core can also prevent injuries, along with aches and pains of all sorts. Now if you are looking to have a … Continue reading →

We have been looking at the benefits to different types of exercises. Today we will be talking about core body exercises, which focus on your abdomen going down to your lower torso. Although your abdominal muscles don’t contribute much to core stability, the reality is that any core muscle which isn’t conditioned or strengthened could increase the risk of injuries and discomfort. Strengthening your body overall is important to a fitness routine, so focusing on the core body should be part of it. Your core body includes your abdomen, hips and buttocks. One of the best types of exercise equipment … Continue reading →

In today’s blog we are going to be looking at the benefits of strength training. This form of exercise is a combination of flexibility exercises and cardio. Although weights are a part of it, there is much more to it. One of the greatest benefits, physique-wise, is that strength training tones your body, adding definition to your muscles. Overall body strength is the focus. Strength training consists of movement and non-movement. For instance with movement, this is when you contract your muscles through a range of motion (an example would be weight training). Non-movement strength training is when you contract … Continue reading →

Have you heard of cross fitness training? I only recently learned something about this. It is basically incorporating a variety of routines and exercises in order to get better overall results. Actually, I recently mentioned something about changing up your routine in order to avoid boredom and to keep your motivation going. This is very similar to what I was sharing. First you have to figure out what your fitness goal is. Is it to increase strength, gain flexibility or improve your heart rate? Depending on what your goal is, you then begin to incorporate a variety of appropriate exercises. … Continue reading →