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Posts Tagged ‘workout’

Tips To Succeed When Working With A Personal Trainer

August 7th, 2010

As a personal trainer for 10 years, I have worked with clients as infrequently as once a month and as frequently as 6 times a week. A good rule of thumb is the less experience and knowledge you have about exercise, the more necessary it is to meet frequently especially in the beginning. Maybe you have been working out a long time but you still need that accountability so one weekly appointment is enough. Some people are motivated to workout on their own and just want to 'check-in' once a month to get some new material. There is no right answer because it depends on your particular needs and wants. Below are my recommendations:

If you are totally new to exercise, schedule 2 or 3 appointments a week for at least 3 weeks. The beginning of a new attempt to start exercising is a critical time. Most people fall off in the first month due to injury or lack of motivation. Think of all of the people who make new years resolutions to get in shape. You know as well as I know that the odds are not with them that it will last. If this sounds familiar, you have to break the pattern!

If falling off your exercise schedule is a pattern for you then I suggest having once or twice weekly appointments with your trainer indefinitely. Here's why: An appointment with your trainer once a week makes you accountable and that's good. I have clients that I've worked with once or twice a week for 9 years and counting! Before they started working with me, their exercise came in waves. Not now. I keep them on track. I can't tell you how many times I've had clients say to me "I never would have worked out today if we didn't have this appointment." Be honest with yourself, there's no shame in admitting that you just won't do it on your own but then do something about it. Trainers understand.

If you are at a pretty good level of fitness but you do the same exercises all the time, having an appointment once a month to spice up your routine is a great idea. Here's why: Have you heard people talk about the need to 'confuse your body'? What it basically means is that you don't want you body to become too comfortable. This happens when you do the same thing all the time. Ideally, you should be challenging your body and 'confusing' it by doing different exercises with different levels of exertion. This is the best way to optimize your exercise. So, if you find yourself bored in your routine or not challenged but motivated enough to do it on your own, you would greatly benefit from a once a month appointment. The new material will keep you challenged and engaged.

Maybe you don't need any instruction from a trainer because you've been exercising for years. Maybe you're exercising consistently on your own and you don't need the accountability. I would still suggest having a trainer that you check in with once a month. I'll tell you why. Everybody needs a coach. Even professional athletes and Olympians need coaches. If you work out alone, it's very easy to ignore injuries, fall into a run, get bored and not challenge yourself. Meeting with a trainer once a month is great way to mix up your workouts and keep them fresh and challenging. Also, a trainer will not let you ignore an injury.

Remember that the frequency of your training is not set in stone. Sometimes it may be more frequently, other times less frequently depending on what's going on in your life. Your trainer will always work with you to do what is appropriate at any given time. If you're lucky enough to have a trainer that you really enjoy and that's helping you to get the results you want, they're probably going to be in your life for a long time!

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How Walking Can Help You Shed Pounds

August 6th, 2010

Increasing numbers of people are starting to realise the benefits of walking as a means of exercising. It's easy to do - in fact you do it every day without even thinking about it. It's a low impact workout that requires no special equipment, training or expertise. It's suitable for a wide range of ages - which is probably one reason why it has such a low "drop out" rate. You can do it wherever you like and you can fit it into your daily schedule whenever it's convenient for you.

It's especially effective if you're trying to lose weight. Of course, controlling your calorie intake - the amount that you eat and drink - is important, but dieting alone is not an efficient way to shed pounds. If you combine an element of exercise with dietary control your results will be better. This is not solely because you burn calories by exercising, but also because regular exercise actually increases your metabolic rate - the rate at which you burn calories. What this means is that, even if you're not exercising - sitting and watching TV or chatting on the phone for example - you will burn calories at a faster rate and this will help you to lose weight.

The health benefits which walking is capable of delivering are very impressive. It can lower the risk of heart disease and stroke. It can help to reduce your blood pressure level. It can help to improve your cholesterol levels. It can help to reduce the risk of diabetes. It can even help to lower the risk of contracting certain types of cancer. It will give you more energy and leave you feeling less tired throughout the day. It will help you to sleep better at night. It is effective in fighting anxiety and depression. Recent research in the UK suggests that it might even be effective in fighting off Alzheimer's disease.

That list of benefits reads like the advertising spiel for the latest miracle cure. It should be all the motivation you need to get started with a walking exercise programme. If you're eager to get going, the good news is that, as previously mentioned, you don't need any special equipment. As long as you have a good, comfortable pair of shoes that don't give you blisters, you're all set.

Although not strictly necessary, you might find that a pedometer is one piece of equipment that you would find useful. It will help you to stay motivated by recording your progress and displaying it in terms of the number of steps taken, the distance covered or the number of calories burned - whatever is most interesting for you.

You should seek the advice of your doctor before commencing any new exercise programme. It's also worth remembering that whilst walking may be a low injury risk way to take exercise, it is still exercise. A few stretches before you begin - repeated when you're done - will help to avoid any strains or sprains and will ensure that you get the maximum benefit from your walking workout.

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How Walking Can Help You To Lose Weight And Get In Shape

August 5th, 2010

A great many people avoid taking exercise as they suppose that it will be too much physical effort for them. It's a bit of a vicious circle where it's easy to imagine that you need to already have a certain level of fitness and endurance capability in order to get really fit. When you think about it, it's no wonder that many of us make a mental link between getting fit and getting sweaty and out of breath.

Conversely, many people find it difficult to believe that a low impact, low intensity workout - based around activity which most people do every day without thinking about it - could deliver very significant health benefits and help you to make significant improvements to your overall level of health and fitness. However, that is precisely what walking, a low impact form of exercise which requires no special equipment, expertise or training, can do for you.

When you look at the health benefits that walking can deliver, your feelings of disbelief are only likely to increase. Walking can reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke whilst simultaneously improving the efficiency of the lungs. It can help to lower your blood pressure. It can help to fight depression, boost your energy levels and help you to sleep better at night. It can help to reduce the risk of certain forms of cancer. Recent studies in the UK even seem to suggest that it may be effective in fighting Alzheimer's disease. It can certainly help you to get in shape and lose weight.

Looking at that list you would be forgiven for thinking that it was an advert for some expensive new dietary supplement or even the latest miracle drug. No wonder that it's difficult to credit. It's also worth mentioning that - apart from a comfy pair of shoes - you don't need any special equipment to get started on a walking exercise routine. Neither will it cost you any money - there are no expensive gym membership fees to pay each month. You also have the convenience of being able to fit it into your day whenever it suits you best.

Health professionals seem to agree that we should be targeting 10,000 steps a day on a regular basis in order to get the health benefits previously discussed. That equivalent to just under five miles for most people, although it depends upon your stride length somewhat. It sounds like a fair old distance - but it's easier to achieve than you think. Walk to work and leave the car at home. Take the stairs instead of the lift. Get off the bus a stop before your destination and walk the last leg of your journey. These are just a few examples of ways to increase your daily step count - there are plenty more, and they all add up.

If you have any medical conditions, if you're over forty years old, or if you just haven't exercised for a while, then do seek the advice of your doctor prior to embarking on any new fitness routine. However, as long as you exercise a little common sense and start off slowly, walking will deliver you many health benefits.

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Should Walking Be Part Of Your Exercise Routine?

July 29th, 2010

Are you one of the very many people who would like to take more exercise but, for whatever reason, you just can't seem to get around to it? There are certainly enough reasons - or excuses - to avoid taking exercise. Lack of time, lack of energy, lack of the right equipment, lack of training - there are plenty of justifiable reasons why it's easier to skip exercise than get on and do it. Considering also the fact that exercise can be costly - monthly gym fees can be very expensive - it's perfectly understandable that so many of us get a lot less exercise than we should.

If there was a way to take exercise which didn't need you to get all hot sweaty and out of breath, was easy to do and which didn't require the use of any special equipment, then it would probably be a lot easier to motivate yourself to take exercise more often. If it was an exercise which could be slotted into your daily routine whenever it suited you best, then that would be ideal.

Thankfully, there is a form of exercise which ticks all of those boxes, albeit you may not have thought about (in terms of exercise at least). Walking is something that most of us do every day. There's no need for any training, special equipment or expertise. As long as you have a comfy pair of shoes you can get started on a walking exercise program. Another very significant advantage that walking for exercise offers is that it is practically free - no gym fees to pay. Neither do you have to schedule in a trip to the gym - walking can slot right into your day whenever you have a spare few minutes.

When you look at the potential health benefits of walking for exercise, you could be forgiven for thinking you were looking at an advert for some new miracle drug. It lowers blood pressure levels. It increases the efficiency of the lungs. It builds muscle and increases bone density. It lowers the risk of heart disease and stroke. It can reduce the risk of certain cancers. It helps to fight anxiety and depression and also promotes better sleep. It boosts your energy levels and leaves you feeling generally better. It helps you to lose weight and get in shape.

Health professionals seem to agree that, in order to maximize the benefits to be gained from walking exercise, we should target 10,000 steps each day. For most people that equates to a distance of just under five miles - although this can vary somewhat if you have a very short or long stride length.

Whilst five miles probably sounds like a long way, you would probably be surprised at how achievable this is in reality. Leaving the car in the garage once or twice a week is a good start. Walk to work or school instead. If you travel by bus or subway, then get off a couple of stops early and walk the last section of your journey. Use the stairs instead of the lift. Take a ten or fifteen minute stroll during your lunch break. Walk around when you're talking on your mobile phone. These are just a few examples of ways to increase your daily step count. There are plenty more.

Be sensible and start off slowly at first. If you haven't exercised for a while, or if you have any medical conditions, then talk to your doctor before starting any new exercise regime. However, walking is a low impact, low injury risk form of exercise which, as previously discussed, offers many potential health benefits if carried out on a regular basis. You will be pleasantly surprised at how quickly you see and feel the benefits.

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How Walking Can Help You To Get Fit

July 25th, 2010

Walking is a fantastic way to take exercise - and it's a form of exercise which most people can take part in and enjoy. There's no requirement for any special equipment, it costs practically nothing and you can slot it into your daily routine whenever it's most convenient for you. The health benefits to be obtained from walking read like an advert for the latest miracle drug - and you can get them with fairly minimal effort.

A target of 10,000 steps daily is often quoted as being the magic number required in order to achieve the health benefits on offer. That's roughly equivalent to a distance of between 4.5 and 5.0 miles for the average person. It does sound like a fair old walk - but it's a lot easier to achieve than you might imagine. Besides, when you think about the possible health benefits, it's worth a little extra effort.

Of course, we live in a society which is increasingly sedentary - so it may very well be that you currently miss the recommended 10,000 daily steps (possibly by quite some way). If you're not sure how many steps you currently take then it might be a good idea to get hold of a pedometer in order to find out what your daily average is. You can pick these up pretty cheaply these days - but be certain to choose one which has a double axis sensor fitted as these tend to be more accurate.

Once you've established exactly how many steps you average per day, you should look for ways to make up any difference between your daily average and the 10,000 step target. There are many different ways to do this - but be sensible and build up gradually - don't try to do everything all at once.

If you can set aside time each day for a dedicated walk then that's great. However, if that's not a practical proposition for you then there are plenty of ways to fit walking into your day. Go for a ten or fifteen minute walk during your lunch break. Leave the car at home and walk to work, or get off the bus a couple of stops early and complete your journey on foot.

Take advantage of modern technology and walk around whilst talking on your mobile phone. A fifteen minute telephone conversation can let you fit in an extra 1,000 or 1,500 steps. There are plenty of other opportunities to fit walking into your day - and it all adds up.

Be sure to seek the advice of your doctor before you commence any new exercise routine - especially if you have any medical conditions, haven't exercised for some time or are over forty years old. However, because walking is a low impact workout which carries a very low injury risk (as long as you're sensible), you should begin to receive a number of health benefits if you walk on a regular basis. You'll be pleasantly surprised at just how quickly you see and feel the results.

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Why You Should Incorporate Walking Into Your Weight Loss Efforts

June 28th, 2010

If you are one of the many people who would like to get in shape and lose a few pounds, then this is a goal which is readily obtainable. It really is very simple - if you wish to lose weight then you must take on fewer calories in the form of food and drink than you use up in the form of physical activity. Consistently burning off more calories than you take on will, over time, result in weight loss. There is no magic formula, pill or wonder drug that will modify that simple equation.

Basically, if you want to lose weight, then you need to eat and drink less (diet), burn more calories (exercise) - or both. In fact, the best solution is very definitely to do both simultaneously. Taking regular exercise will increase your metabolic rate - the rate at which you burn calories. As long as you exercise on a regular basis then you will burn calories at a greater rate when you're not exercising, for example sitting watching the TV, typing on your computer or even sleeping.

Unfortunately for many people the mere thought of exercising can be off-putting - but there's no sound reason to avoid physical exercise - it doesn't need to involve getting all hot and sweaty. One of the best exercises that you can do is walking - which most of us do on a daily basis. Just walk a little more often and a little further and you'll soon achieve benefits that you can both see and feel.

The recommendation of many health and fitness professionals is that we should try to walk 10,000 steps a day. That equates to a distance of between four and a half and five miles for the average person. It sounds like a long way - but you may be pleasantly surprised at how easy it is to achieve. Remember, that 10,000 steps is the total distance, it includes the normal walking that you do every day anyway. You're not starting from scratch.

Leave the car at home and walk to work - or get off the bus a couple of stops early and finish the last part of your journey on foot. If you do take the car then park it in a corner of the parking lot that's well away from the entrance so that you have further to walk. Take the stairs instead of the lift. Take a fifteen minute walk at lunch time. It all adds up.

Apart from a pair of comfortable shoes, you don't need any special equipment to get the benefits of walking for exercise. However, you might find it useful to invest in a pedometer - especially if you're walking is broken up into short sessions throughout your day. It will help you to keep track of your progress and to stay motivated.

If you are able to fit longer walks into your day then you might also want to think about getting an mp3 player if you don't already have one. Listening to your favourite music as you walk along will make both the miles and the time fly by much more quickly.

Find out how Fitflops exercise shoes can help to increase the effectiveness of your walking workout program and monitor your progress with an Omron pedometer - it'll help you to keep motivated.

Why You Should Consider Nordic Walking As Part Of Your Exercise Program

June 21st, 2010

Physical exercise, carried out on a consistent and frequent basis, is a very important factor in raising health and fitness levels and lowering the risk of - or avoiding - many health problems and diseases. Most of us are aware of this - but it can be difficult to find the motivation to take regular exercise. Aside from the fact that many people will perceive exercise as physically draining, dull and expensive (gym membership fees cost a lot of money), it can also be difficult to find the time for exercise in your busy and demanding daily schedule.

Walking is a form of exercise that is carried out by most people on a daily basis. It is a very important factor in determining the general health and fitness level of any particular individual. It walking is carried out on a regular basis, then it can deliver a great many health benefits. It has the potential to lower blood pressure and to reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke. It will help to combat both depression and anxiety. Walking will help you to sleep better, and you will have more energy and feel less fatigued during the day. It can reduce the probability of contracting certain forms of cancer. It will help you lose weight and build muscle.

There's no need for any special equipment to start walking - all you need is a comfortable pair of shoes. You can also fit walking into your daily routine whenever it's most convenient for you. If you can walk for half an hour a day, 3 or 4 times weekly, then you will quickly begin to see - and feel - the benefits. If you can slowly work up to 10,000 steps daily - the equivalent of 5 miles for most people - you will really see a difference. You will look better and feel better.

If, after slowly increasing the time and distance that you walk for each day, you feel that you might like to get a little extra from your walking workout, then you could consider Nordic walking. Nordic walking is a relatively recent innovation which was started in Finland by skiers who needed a method of keeping their fitness level up during the summer and a way to get ready for the winter skiing season. Basically it's walking with modified ski poles. It's just like skiing - but minus the skis (and the snow).

Nordic walking has two main added advantages compared to normal walking. Firstly, it makes more use of the upper body, encouraging the use of muscles which would not be engaged whilst walking normally. Secondly, it decreases the amount of load on lower body muscles and joints.

These two factors provide even further benefits when compared to "standard" walking. Energy expenditure is increased by between 20 and 40%. Increased motion in the upper body whilst walking promotes flexibility and agility. Reduced loading in the lower body results in less stress in the lower body joints and muscles. For some walkers, the use of poles may be safer, and this may allow even those recovering from injury or illness to take part in a higher intensity workout than would otherwise be possible.

Whether you decide to choose Nordic or conventional walking, the health benefits on offer for you are considerable. If you haven't exercised for some time, or if you have any medical conditions, do seek your doctor's advice before you start any new exercise program. However, as long as you apply a little common sense and start slowly, building up over time, then you should soon see some very real benefits as a result of a walking workout regime.

Discover how Fitflops exercise shoes can boost the effectiveness of your walking workout. They are specially engineered to increase the amount of work done by the lower body muscles whilst walking. Both women's and men's Fitflops are available in a wide range of colors and styles.