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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.
Exercising Safely With Your Pet 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:
Do you have a dog and, if so, do you exercise with him or her? What kind of dog do you have and how did you condition him/her to exercise? Leave a comment and tell us about it!
More about exercising your dog. Janet also offers ideas for exercising your cat. She makes some great suggestions but, um, good luck with that. Exercising Safely With Your Pet originally appeared on About.com Exercise on Friday, July 30th, 2010 at 05:00:26.
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.
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).
