I was up late last night watching infomercials. I guess you can sometimes call me an infomercial junkie when it comes to fashion, make-up, and fitness. But what I saw last night was another amazing workout from Billy Blanks!! I am sorry that I am so excited, but I just love the results I get from doing his other workouts. The workouts I currently use are:
Both DVD sets has helped me sculpt and tone my entire body during and after my weight loss and now I can’t even bare to imagine the benefits you can get from this new workout!! In this Brand-New Billy Blanks’ Tae Bo AMPED you are getting the amplifier sculpting bar along with 5 DVD with new workouts on it!*
I sure wish I could located a you tube of this, but there is not one. If anyone comes across one please let me know. Why? Well the video really show how much more muscle your are working out with this bar in addition to the cardio workout your are getting too. My hubby is going to kill me because on top of me wanting a new elliptical, I now want this system too! Gotta love me! But, if you are looking to tone your body before, during, or after your weight loss you have got to add this one to your collection. I am off to check out more details on this, but for only $39.95 this is an awesome deal!
Tags: Billy Blanks Tae Bo, weight loss, fitness, tae bo
Elliptical machines and trainers are classified as low-impact cardio workouts because you move the platforms on which your feet stand, rather than hitting the surface with your feet. According to USA Today, the number of elliptical trainer machines in use has increased by over 700 percent since 1997. People who are concerned about the effect of impact on their joints are embracing elliptical trainers as a good low-impact alternative to treadmills.
People who have experience with treadmills will take a while to get used to the motion of elliptical trainer machines, but the progression of a workout can be much the same. Elliptical trainers can increase resistance, go faster, and add an incline, so a treadmill workout can easily be adapted to elliptical trainers.
Most elliptical trainer machines also have handlebars that can be moved to work out your upper body as well as your lower body and add to your cardio workout. Another advantage of elliptical trainers is that they can be used to add variety to a low-impact workout. If you get bored with low-impact aerobics or dance, a workout on an elliptical trainer can be just the change of pace you need to get you more engaged with your workout again. If you’ve put enough mileage on stationary bicycles to cross the country and rowed across virtual oceans on rowing machines, elliptical trainers can give you a good workout and burn calories without the lower-body joint impact that running and jumping can cause.
Popular pieces of health club equipment, elliptical trainer machines are increasingly available and affordable for home use.
Are there any Step aerobic divas out there that love step aerobics? I love it so much I almost do step 4-5 times a week!! I am not kidding, but I am not complaining either because my legs are really toning up! Yey!! I came across this wonderful article talking about this subject and I thought to share it with any of you that may have the same interest too. By the way. can you share with me what step aerobic classes you currently take or what DVD’s you use? I currently am addicted to Cathe Friedrich’s Cardio Fusion. It’s awesome!!!
Step Aerobics For Your Health
By Al Villa
One of the more popular aerobic exercises is step aerobics. Most of the time step aerobics is conducted as a class in a gym. This can really be fun and you can make a lot of good friends. But with the number of videos that have hit the market many people do step aerobics at home. There are also the many TV programs that conduct daily exercise classes. Most of the TV exercise classes conduct a variety of aerobics so if you are into step aerobics only this may not be for you.
Step aerobics is done on a platform where you step up and down usually to the beat of music. It is recommended that you not exceed 128 BPM as this can cause injury. Sometimes this can cause people to want to go faster to get a better workout. Well you can actually get a better workout by staying below the 128 BPM and modifying your routines. The platforms are usually from 6 to 10 inches. For a better workout if you are in good physical condition choose the higher platform. You can stay below 128 BPM and achieve the same step aerobic workout.
But before you even get started doing your step aerobic routines, it is a good practice to warm up for about 10 minutes doing stretching exercise and maybe some light jogging.
Another thing that is very important is the Choreography. Increasing power and force can add significantly to the intensity of your routine and cardiovascular benefits. Raising you upper limbs and bringing your knees up higher is also helpful. This way you can get that good workout that you want and still stay below 128 BPM.
Sometimes we get very enthusiastic and want to to do step aerobics everyday. This is not a good idea. Most experts suggest that you limit step aerobics to no more than 4 days a week. But you are encouraged to participate in cross training activities with equipment you find in a gym or bicycling. The idea is that you need to be cognizant of possible injury doing step aerobics, especially if you increase the tempo beyond 128 BPM.
Al Villa is a former Judge and now an internet entrepreneur. He loves to do research and write Articles about Health. You can find links to all his Articles at Lose Weight Fast. You may use the Articles as free content as long as they are copied in full including this resource box.
Are you in need a something fun to add to your workout routine? Well, I was watch Live with Regis and Kelly the other day and just loved this simple workout called the ABC workout by Kelly Ripa. All you need is a medicine ball or something weighted, some awesome music and you are set to go. If found that this workout really works your core area, legs, and arms!! You have got to watch and try.
Diet VS Exercise - Which One Is More Effective For Losing Weight
By Brian Darrow
Just how important is eating right for weight loss compared to exercising for weight loss? Before we let these two weight loss heavyweights (no pun intended, ok maybe a little) go head to head let me start by saying that both have a key role in your goals for weight loss.
Round 1. Aerobic exercise does have the ability to burn an abundance of calories at the time the exercise session is taking place. A good thirty to forty minute aerobic activity can usually burn between 300-400 calories. Aerobics are definitely effective in obtaining a healthier heart. Getting your heart rate up and sustaining it for an extended amount of time is essential for your overall fitness level. Although cardio vascular health is very important and is an added bonus for trying to loose weight with aerobics, we are only looking for overall effectiveness at getting those extra pounds off.
Round 2. Resistance training or weight lifting is another form of exercise that is very popular especially in men. However more and more women are finding out that adding a couple of pounds of muscle can transform their bodies drastically. Weight training has a vital role in a couple areas of weight loss. First weight training performed with little or no rest between sets (commonly called circuit training) has the benefit of building muscle and getting the heart rate up just as with aerobics. Building muscle is essential when trying to transform the shape of your body. Also with every pound of muscle added, your body will burn 50 more calories a day, even on days that you do not work out. In my opinion there is no comparison between weight training and aerobics in terms of transforming the way you look and shedding some pounds, but let’s not close the book on this battle just yet…
Round 3. A balanced diet is crucial for someone interested in weight loss. Obesity has reached epidemic proportions across America and the main reason is our diet. We live in the fast food age and without changing our eating habits there is little or no hope for us as far as loosing weight. I am sure that we all know someone that goes to the gym constantly or someone that stays very active and is still overweight. Their body just never really sees the physical benefit of all that exercise, why? Because they are not watching what they eat. Eating a balanced low fat diet means eating plenty of fruits and vegetables, especially the dark colored vegetables as these are loaded with nutrients and antioxidants. Eat only lean cuts of meat, so you are going to have to opt for the baked fish instead bbq ribs. You can workout regularly with aerobics or weight lifting and without changing your eating habits your weight loss will be very lack luster as compared to someone that only changes their eating habits.
Knockout. It is pretty clear that if you want your short term and long term weight loss goals to be met that you are going to have to eat less fat, sugars and simple carbohydrates and eat more in terms of a well rounded balanced diet including lean meats with plenty of fruits and vegetables. Weight loss is 75% diet and 25% exercise, so even though exercise can assist in your weight loss and is very important as far as overall health, it cannot make up for continuous bad eating habits.
Tips for Turning Your Hate of the Gym into Love
By Bill Healey
Are you an exercise hater? Does the shear thought of climbing onto a treadmill send you into a panic? Do you take panic attacks stepping a foot into a gym? If you’re one of these people, the first thing you need to do is take a deep breath and relax. The gym isn’t such a horrible place. It’s actually a place where you can add years on to your life. Why wouldn’t you like that?
Every single study shows that daily exercise is an important part of living healthy. It’s good for your heart, immune system, and fights obesity. Exercise also plays a part in mental health as well as physical. It releases endorphins which gives the body a feeling of a natural high. Exercise is the safest drug you can ever do to make you feel good about yourself.
Leading fitness experts are here to help you overcome any of those misguided gym fears you may be suffering from. They put together a list of things for you to try and do everyday in your mission towards good health.
Find something you enjoy - If you don’t like what you’re doing, you’re not going to do it. If you’re not sure what you may like, don’t be afraid to spread your wings and try out a lot of different things: Take a dance class, learn to rollerblade, or hike in some nearby mountains. Try something you’ve always wanted to do. Keep experimenting until you find one that moves you, mentally and physically.
Set goals - Write down all of your goals and review them daily. Realize though you need to be realistic. If you’ve just started a walking routine at 10 minutes a session, don’t expect to run a marathon in three months. Your goals should start short term and lead to long term. Create specific, measurable, action-oriented goals. You should also set a time frame for accomplishing them.
Be a morning exerciser - Figures show that people are more likely to stick with a fitness program if they do it first thing in the morning. There’s less of a chance to make excuses about why you can’t make the gym. Plus, you get it over with before the day begins.
Schedule your workout – Schedule the gym in your day just like you would with a meeting or doctor’s appointment. Plan a whole month in advance, writing the day and time of your workout. If you cancel one, reschedule it immediately.
Have a partner - Exercise can be very social if want it to be. You don’t necessarily need to be involved in a team sport but there isn’t anything wrong with having a gym partner. By having the commitment of a friend or spouse will only increase your own commitment.
Reward yourself – A reward inspires people to set small goals along their way towards achieving larger ones. When you can easily complete a thirty minute walk on the treadmill or do twenty sit-ups reward yourself with a new pair of jeans or shirt. When you’ve stayed with the program for 12 weeks, get yourself a new pair of shoes. You can reward yourself with anything that isn’t food related.
Chart your progress - Write down your weight, measurements, and BMI. Then record how long you’re able to exercise on the first day and what types of exercises you did. In three months, you’ll see how much progress you made and give you extra motivation in seeing results from a job well done.
Try a mind-body approach - Classes like yoga or Pilates, in which you focus on breathing and stretching, can give you a taste of exercises feel-good benefits right off the bat. By breathing and oxygenating the muscles, you feel an immediate release in stress, and feel the benefits sooner without feeling any of the soreness that comes with strength training or even cardio.
Abandon the all-or-nothing approach – Don’t sabotage a trip to the gym if you can’t spare the hour time limit you normally set aside. So what you don’t have an hour? Go for a half hour then. It’s better than nothing, and if you work smart you can really reap benefits from that workout.
Seek the opinion of your doctor before following of any diet treatment and regiment. Only a doctor can provide you with advice on what is safe and most effective for you.
For further information on keeping your colon healthy, visit the experts at Dual Action Cleanse at www.dualactioncleansenow.com. Dual Action Cleanse’s all-natural herbal colon cleanse formula has changed hundreds of thousands of people’s lives through gentle and effective whole body safe and effective internal colon cleansing.
There are a lot of benefits in trying new workouts. Not only is it more motivating to give yourself different exercises to do, but your body and social life can benefit to. You’ll meet different people, and by combining outdoor and indoor activities, you can get some fresh air and have a break from noisy, sweaty, and crowded gyms.
Perhaps more importantly, our bodies become conditioned to our exercise programs. We tend to focus on specific muscles during our routines, and by changing the activity we do, we can work more muscle groups without having to think about it too much. We start to see results more quickly if we vary our program regularly.
Here are some different fitness activities to try:
Aqua fitness takes on many styles, as the four examples below show:
Aqua boxing - a combination of taebox, tai chi, karate, and kickboxing. Aqua boxing is great for cardiovascular fitness, coordination, muscle control and flexibility.
Aqua cardio - using a buoyancy belt.
Low impact aqua classes - good for those recovering from injuries. This is done in shallow water.
Aqua pilates - pilates movements are done in the water to build core strength, flexibility, coordination, and balance. If you haven’t done pilates before, it might be best to try it on dry land first, as it may seem a bit harder in the water.
Check out your nearest aqua fitness center as there are no doubt more types of classes available.
Nordic walking - Even if you live in a country as dry as Australia, you can still get the benefits of a cross country ski workout. Essentially, this style of exercise mimics the gait of cross country skiing, and uses poles, but no skis, and no snow necessary. The poles make it an upper body workout as well, and the long strides are great for the legs and buttocks.
Pole dancing - This exercise is a favorite with some celebrities, including Teri Hatcher. It’s a great cardiovascular workout, and helps improve confidence and body tone.
Duo training - This style of training is for two people. Each person provides resistance for the other, and you both get a workout at the same time. This is also a good way to motivate each other to stick to a fitness schedule. Now, instead of meeting for coffee or a drink, why not meet to workout together!
There are of course many other ways to add variety to our programs. Simply by adding weights to a cardio workout, using different machines, trying a different fitness DVD, or even going back to basics like using a skipping rope, cycling with varying intensity, or trying shorter workouts at a greater intensity. They key is to break any routine that your body and mind are settling into. Fitness becomes a lot more fun then, and there is nothing more motivating than fast results.
I came across this great article and I wanted to share this all with you. I don’t know about you, but I definitely want to get my body sculpt and toned for summer. Swimsuit season is approaching us very, very soon.
Enjoy :)
Designing Your Own Body Sculpting Workout Plan
By Machelle Lee
A body sculpting work out plan can be hard on your body. By using intense resistance exercises and multiple repetitions, you can define your muscles, tighten any ‘loose’ areas, and reshape your figure. But all the information you find on the internet and in magazines may have you wondering if it’s even possible for you to find one body sculpting work out plan that will work for you – there are just too many choices out there. In truth, you can design a body sculpting plan that will work for you. Here’s how.
When you want to create your own body sculpting work out plan, you need to look at what your body needs. Are you looking to add muscle tone or are you new to exercise altogether? Once you determine your goals, you will be able to create a plan that’s custom-made for you. Make a list of all the goals you want to achieve with this fitness plan and then consider the following body areas you can target:
* Upper body
* Abdominals
* Lower body
While you may have certain areas that need more toning than others, you will want to create a body sculpting work out plan that includes all of the major areas of your body. This allows you to have a balanced look instead of creating a body that’s toned in some areas, but not in others. And it’s also good to note that spot reducing is not possible. Trying to reduce the size of your thighs is not something a body sculpting plan can do necessarily possible, but when you increase the muscle in your arms and torso, your thighs can look thinner in comparison as well as be tighter from your fitness work.
There are seven exercises that every body sculpting work out plan should include:
While these exercises might seem too simple, they are simply the most effective choices for a beginning plan. As you progress, you can add more exercises to the routine or reconfigure the routine entirely. After all, why make your body sculpting work out plan more complicated than it needs to be?
To make your body sculpting work out plan effective, we sure to workout out certain muscle groups every other day. For example, you should workout your upper body one day and the lower body the next. Or you can do all of your exercises on one day and then rest the day after. You need to include this rest in order for your muscles to repair themselves and be ready to work hard the next time.
Machelle Lee owns and operates, The Invisible Gym in Santa Cruz, CA. Her mission is to inspire people to become physically active and enjoy the benefits of a balanced, healthy lifestyle.
Newbies not quite ready for high cardio? Today I just worked out to Denise Austin’s Shrink your female Fat zones which is one of my favorites. This workout is wonderful!! It includes 2 complete 20 minutes workouts that are low-impact and help sculpt and tone your abs, arms, butt, thighs and etc. And, after the workout you feel great and not dead to the world. I forgot how much I loved this DVD ecspecialy when I first started exercising at 225 pounds and now that I am 170 I still love because I can still tone my muscles for the summer months too. You should really dry this if you are looking for something new to add to your existing routine.
Have any of you ever tried this DVD by Denise austin? If so, I would love to get your opinion on it. Was is:
1. Fun
2. Exhausting
3. Or, darn right never buy it again!!
I would love to know.
Otherwise I hope that you had a wondeful day on whatever weight loss plan you are on and I hope that you got up and got moving too!!!
Are there any Step aerobic divas out there that love step aerobics? I love it so much I almost do step 4-5 times a week!! I am not kidding, but I am not complaining either because my legs are really toning up! Yey!! I came across this wonderful article talking about this subject and I thought to share it with any of you that may have the same interest too. By the way. can you share with me what step aerobic classes you currently take or what DVD’s you use? I currently am addicted to Cathe Friedrich’s Cardio Fusion. It’s awesome!!!
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