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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.
Vote in This Week's Poll: What dieting mistakes are you guilty of? The problem is, those behaviors often backfire. When you skip meals, you're so starved by the time the next meal comes around that you go out thinking, "I really should have that grilled chicken salad, but I may just die if I don't get the double cheeseburger."
Many of us have grown up with the idea of three meals a day, so the thought of eating more often may be completely foreign. However, that's often the best way to keep your cravings in check and keep your blood sugar levels from taking a nosedive, which leads to horrible decision making and the mistaken belief that a cheeseburger is necessary to continue to live. In fact, there are some specific mistakes that often lead to overeating such as:
What about you? Do you ever skip meals or eat at odd intervals throughout the day? Do you feel guilty if you eat more frequently? Vote in this week's poll and leave a comment about how you manage your diet.
Source: Berman, Jae. "You Want Me to Eat When?" IDEA Fitness Journal. April 2010. Vote in This Week's Poll: What dieting mistakes are you guilty of? originally appeared on About.com Exercise on Monday, June 28th, 2010 at 05:00:38.
Do you ever feel guilty when you eat? I ask this because I got an email from a young reader struggling with her weight. She mentioned watching her diet to the point of feeling guilty every time she ate anything and I know many of us can sympathize. We know we should eat fewer calories, but that often spirals into extremes - skipping meals, monitoring every bite and, sometimes, feeling guilty for eating at all.
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.
Exercises of the Week - Work Your Hamstrings 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 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.
Doing these on one leg is tough, but great for working your balance and stabilizer muscles.
Hamstring rolls are another favorite of mine. The ball, of course, adds some instability to the movement which forces you to engage your lower back and core to stay on the ball. Not a bad deal.
Exercises of the Week - Work Your Hamstrings originally appeared on About.com Exercise on Tuesday, June 29th, 2010 at 05:00:32.
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.
