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The more you want to use it, the more we would recommend that you go for high quality treadmills.
When you understand the basics of a quality treadmill, then it will be easy to find one that is perfect for your home and budget.
Long or short workouts determine the quality of motor you need for your treadmill.
I usually end my treadmill routine with about 15 minutes of quality stretching.
Researches have shown, that during exercising most people forget to breath deeply or they are unable to integrate their breathing pattern with the exercises causing them muscle pain and fatigue after the workout.
The Truth About 'Toning' Shoes There are plenty of 'toning' shoes out there, but do they really help you burn more calories and tone your hips and thighs as the ads claim? According to the American Council on Exercise, the answer is, not really. In the ACE-commissioned study, researchers had a group of women go through a series of treadmill trials to compare how they responded to exercise while wearing different shoes - regular running shoes, Skechers, MBT shoes and EasyTones. They then measured muscle activity using EMG (electromyography) to find out if the muscles responded differently while using the 'toning' shoes. The results:
Now, some readers who have reviewed the Reebok EasyTones say they think these shoes work because they can feel it in their legs and butt. Some even reported being sore after wearing them, concluding that there must be some kind of toning going on if they felt it the next day. The experts say that isn't the case. Wearing any shoe that's different may cause some soreness, but that doesn't necessarily translate into toning the butt and thighs.
So, should you avoid these shoes? If you're buying them just for the toning benefits, you might be better off with regular running shoes and a solid cardio and strength program. Aside from the lack of toning, there is some concern about long-term wear and the potential for injuries. Some readers have reported problems with their knees, feet and Achilles tendons, but there's no way of knowing who might be at risk for these types of problems or who, on the other hand, might actually benefit from wearing these types of shoes.
What do you think? Does a study like this make you re-think buying 'toning' shoes? Or maybe you've tried them and have some experience one way or the other? Leave a comment and tell us what you think or, if you've tried the Reebok EasyTones, post your detailed review here.
Source: Porcari J, Greany J, Tepper S, et al. Will Toning Shoes Really Give You a Better Body?. ACE. Retrieved 7/27/2010. The Truth About 'Toning' Shoes originally appeared on About.com Exercise on Thursday, July 29th, 2010 at 05:00:37.
Can shoes really tone your butt? That's the burning question that has emerged this year, what with the introduction of 'toning' shoes like the Reebok EasyTone Shoes, Skechers Shape-Ups and MBT Sport Walkers.
Liberate Yourself From Perfectionism Perfectionism can leak into every part of your life, especially exercise. We perfectionists get so worried about doing the right workout for the right length of time at the right intensity that we barely focus on how we actually feel about our workouts, much less enjoy them. If this sounds familiar, there are some things you can practice to liberate yourself from the constant need for perfection:
What about you? Are you an exercise perfectionist and, if so, how does that affect your workouts? How do you let go of perfection and find satisfaction in what you're doing? Leave a comment and tell us about it. Liberate Yourself From Perfectionism originally appeared on About.com Exercise on Friday, July 9th, 2010 at 05:00:45.
If you're a perfectionist, you know how hard that job is. You work 24 hours a day, 7 days a week with no lunch break, no vacations and, well, no pay. Perfectionism has its upside - You're focused, you're driven and you never stop. To some people, you're the go-to person in any given situation. To others, you're a pain in the rear but, either way, you get things done. The problem is, you may not get much satisfaction in your accomplishments because you're always worried they just aren't good enough.
Exercises of the Week: Stretch Your Hamstrings Sitting tends to tighten the hamstrings and tight hamstrings are angry hamstrings. When your hamstrings are mad at you, they can cause problems like knee pain, back pain or even pulled muscles.
Today I'm highlighting three different stretches you can do for your hamstrings. These should look familiar to you and they different positioning depending on what feels best to your body. You can pick one or do all three, holding each one for about 15-30 seconds. You'll find the hamstrings are most receptive after a workout when they're nice and warm, although you can also gently stretch them throughout the day. Just keep the stretches gentle, especially if your muscles are cold.
This is a great way to stretch your hamstrings while standing and you can use your own body weight (and a little gravity) to deepen the stretch to a point that feels comfortable. Make sure you tip from the hips and try to keep the back straight rather than rounding forward. You'll get more out of the stretch and you'll protect your back.
This is a good choice if you want a more supported position. You can do this on a step or you can sit on a chair and prop your foot on another chair for an even more comfortable stretch.
Lying down is my favorite part of my workout and this stretch is my next favorite part. When you bring the leg in, gently use your hands to deepen the stretch or use a strap or band to get a deeper stretch.
Do you have a favorite hamstring stretch? What advice do you have for keeping the hamstrings supple and strong? Leave a comment and give us all the details about your hamstrings. Exercises of the Week: Stretch Your Hamstrings originally appeared on About.com Exercise on Tuesday, July 20th, 2010 at 05:00:26.
You may not give your hamstrings much thought but they're probably thinking about you, especially if you've been sitting for long periods of time (and, frankly, I wouldn't want to repeat what they might be saying to you).
Weight Loss Backlash Unfortunately, not everyone will respond to your weight loss in a positive way. They may be jealous or they may be a little confused if your appearance has changed dramatically. They may not even realize they're not being supportive, but whatever the case, it's possible you'll get one or more of the following reactions to your weight loss:
What about you? Have you experienced a weight loss backlash when you expected support? What reactions have other people had to your weight loss? Leave a comment and tell us about your experiences. Weight Loss Backlash originally appeared on About.com Exercise on Friday, July 16th, 2010 at 05:00:19.
When you lose weight, you probably expect, or at least want, people to be supportive and complimentary. It's nice to hear things like, "Wow, you look amazing!" or "You look so good, I kind of hate you!"
Exercise Challenge of the Week - Find Your Focus If you've caught yourself zoning out the same way, maybe you're ready for a new challenge: Focusing on your workouts. I know, it's a crazy idea, but stay with me here.
Zoning out isn't always a bad thing. If you're doing a steady, rhythmic workout, you let your body go through the motions while your mind roams free. You can solve problems, make mental to-do lists or list all the things you would say to your boss if only you didn't have to worry about getting fired.
But there are times when distraction can actually keep you from getting an effective workout. You see, the body is awfully sneaky and it will cheat if given a chance. During squats, your body will think, "Gee, these squats make my butt burn. I wonder how I can make them less painful?" Next thing you know, you're only squatting a few inches, your shoulders are rounded forward and we won't even discuss what your knees are probably doing.
Bringing a little focus to your form and exercises can make them more effective. Yes, it's harder to do the exercises correctly but, in the long run, that good form is what you need to get a strong, fit body.
With that in mind, your challenge this week, should you choose to accept it, is to find focus during each of your workouts:
Are you ready for the challenge? Leave a comment and tell us how you did or how you keep yourself focused during your workouts. Exercise Challenge of the Week - Find Your Focus originally appeared on About.com Exercise on Wednesday, July 7th, 2010 at 05:00:13.
The other day I was working out at the gym and I caught myself doing about 10 things to distract myself from my boring treadmill workout. Not only was I listening to my iPod, I was watching TV, monitoring a woman in the weight room (had to make sure she was doing all her reps) and watching the guy in front of me as he methodically and endlessly flipped through 100 or so channels on his little treadmill TV. There's never anything good on, is there?
