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Exercise Equipment Tips

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.

Exercising Safely With Your Pet
The last time I took my cat for a jog around the block was...well, actually I've never done that since my cat collapses in exhaustion after walking 3 steps from his food bowl. Dogs, however, make great exercise companions - They pretty much force you to get more exercise since, if you don't walk them often enough, they get hyper, they chew on everything in sight and, of course, they leave little gifts for you to clean up.

Walking the dog is a nice way to stay active, but getting a little more intense with running is another way for you and your dog to get in great shape. There are a few things to keep in mind if you're thinking about that:

• Take it slowly - Just like people, dogs need time to build endurance and strength. Janet, our Veterinary Medicine Guide recommends that you start with walking. When your dog can handle 20-30 minutes of continuous walking you can add in a little jogging.
• Watch for heat stroke. Dogs are so excited to go out and play that they don't always know when to stop. If it's hot and humid outside, it's possible she'll exhaust herself or experience heat stroke before you even realize it. Janet recommends exercising in the morning or at night when it's cooler, giving her fresh water frequently and hosing her off before a walk or run. If you see your doggie panting too much, that's a sign he needs to cool off and take a break.

Post-Holiday Recovery - Recommit to Your Workouts
From Monday's poll, I can see that many of you spent the weekend doing what I did - snarfing down everything in sight. The worst part about a holiday like the 4th of July is the lingering post-holiday food hangover (or, perhaps, a hangover of another sort), which leaves you feeling out of sorts, lethargic and, maybe, a little guilty.

One sure way to feel better about things is to starve yourself for the next three days.

Okay, not really. The real trick is to get back to your workouts, renew your commitment to being healthy and vow you'll never stick your face into a big plate of pulled pork ever, ever again (although a small barbecue sandwich is just fine).

Sometimes, an overindulgent holiday is the perfect motivation to recommit and I have some workout ideas for you, depending on your mood:

• I want a high-energy challenge - Try one of these workouts: Boot Camp Workout, Cardio and Strength Circuit, Strength and Power Circuit, or this Outdoor Circuit Workout.
• I want to focus on high-intensity cardio: If you want a real challenge, try one of these workouts: Burn 300 Calories in 30 Minutes, Sprint Interval Workout, High Intensity Aerobic Intervals, or this Boredom Buster Treadmill Workout.
• I want to focus on strength and power: If you want to build muscle and work on your total body power, try one of these workouts: Total Body Strength, Core Strength and Stretch, Kettlebell Workout, Legs and Shoulders, Chest, Shoulders and Triceps, or Back and Biceps.
• I want to reduce stress and relax: If you're feeling a little leftover party fatigue, try one of these simple workouts: Basic Ball Exercises, 10-Minute Yoga, Relaxing Stretch on the Ball, Total Body Ball Stretch, or Seated Stretch for the Back, Neck and Shoulders.

Exercises of the Week - Work Your Hamstrings
I've talked about the importance of strong quads before, but strong hamstrings are also important for keeping you injury free. In fact, many lower body injuries we experience, from knee pain to muscle pulls, are often due to an imbalance between the hamstrings and quads. It's not hard to see why the quads are sometimes stronger than the hamstrings when you think of the exercises we do on a regular basis. Squats, lunges and step ups are very quad-intensive, leaving your poor hamstrings neglected, a serious exercise crime that could lead to jail time.

Giving your hamstrings some regular love will keep them strong and fit enough to support your knees and make it less likely that you'll pull a hamstring muscle, which is painful and frustrating. I've highlighted three of my favorite hamstring exercises, but feel free to leave a comment telling us your favorite hamstring exercises as well.

Deadlifts

Deadlifts are my all-time favorite for working the hamstrings, glutes and lower back. If you're new to this move, use a light weight at first because your lower back will need time to build strength for this move. You'll also want to perfect your form, working to keep the shoulders back and the back flat throughout the exercise.

One-Legged Deadlifts

Dealing with Stinky Gym Clothes
It is H-O-T here in Chicagoland and the natives are dropping like flies. I like it oven-hot, but even I had to turn around on my run the other day to finish up in the cool air-conditioned heaven of my basement.

Even sitting around can cause excessive sweating when it gets this hot and, if you're exercising, you're probably soaking through every tee shirt or sports bra in your wardrobe. To fight the stink:

• Clean Out Your Gym Bag - When a husband leaves his gym clothes in his bag for days on end, a fermentation process begins to occur in which stink molecules multiply more rapidly, thus requiring his wife to use a gas mask and rubber-tipped tongs to remove said stinky clothes. Removing stinky clothes immediately can prevent this fermentation process while also improving your marriage. Not that I'm talking about anyone in particular.
• Wash Your Clothes As Soon As Possible - There are a number of suggestions out there for un-stinkifying your clothes (see below) but, whatever method you choose, wash your clothes as soon as possible to avoid permanent funk.
• Try Other Methods of Washing - You may have clothes that seem permanently stinky, as may be the case with sweat-wicking fabrics since they seem to hold onto odor more than cotton fabrics. Some options:
  • Soak your clothes in vinegar before washing them
  • Mix baking soda with your detergent
  • Try a specialty detergent. Running Guide Christine recommends WIN Detergent for getting the stink out
• Get new clothes. You may find that some clothes get stinkier and stinkier, no matter what you do. Use that as an excuse for a new workout wardrobe.

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