Posts tagged in shape

CHANGE THE WAY YOU TRAIN

You’ve seen them at gyms. They are the cannon ball-looking weights with a handle. But what makes the kettlebell truly stand out from the other exercise equipment is their ability to create a combined strength and endurance workout that targets the entire body. Training with kettlebells is also a great way to boost your regular routine. These are some of the benefits:

Do More, Save Time

Kettlebell training is very time efficient. With only a handful of moves, you can train most major muscles in your body at a pace that will elevate your heart rate, combining your resistance and cardiovascular workout into one.

Train for the Real World

When training with kettlebells, every movement and action is geared to facilitate daily tasks such as carrying groceries or picking up objects. This is done by the improved balance and core endurance that is built when performing kettlebell exercises.

One Tool, Many Uses

Moving from one exercise to the next without having to stop is one of the best features of kettlebell training. They are also great to take anywhere, as you can train with them in the gym, at home, or outdoors.

If you’ve never trained with Kettlebells before, it’s always best to have a trainer show you the proper form and technique. Start out with some of the basics: Kettlebell Swings, Kettlbell Squats, and Around the World.

Top 5 Free Fitness Apps for your Phone

A recent study has found that nearly half (46%) of all American adults own some kind of smartphone. With such a demand for smartphones, it seems like nowadays there’s an application for pretty much everything. Fitness applications are a good way to help you track your progress and keep you going. Here’s a list of some good ones to check out:

5. Pedometer by: Arawella Corporation

Like a regular pedometer, this app allows you to keep track of how many steps you take in a day. Unlike a regular pedometer, it’ll tell you the calories you’ve burned, keep track of your body composition, and let you customize your own playlist.

4. Nutrition Tips by: Michael Quach

This app is literally food for thought, giving you quick nutrition tips a la Post-It style that may help you choose healthier food on your next trip to the grocery store.

3. Daily Ab Workout by: Daniel Miller

Start working on your rock-hard abs with this cool app. Everyday you get a five-to- ten minute core work out that will strengthen and tone your abdominal region.

2. Lose It! by: Fitnow Inc

This app takes the hassle out of tracking what you eat by making it simple to select name brand or off brand foods and letting you know how many calories you’ve consumed. The app will also allow you to set up weight goals to make sure you’re not consuming more than you should.

1. Body Fitness by: Ticklish Turtle LLC

If you’re bored with your usual resistance training routine, check out this app. With a library of over 300 exercises, this app has enough work outs to constantly keep you challenged and prevent you from hitting a plateau.

image by Google.

Don’t Make it Hard. Simplify it!

Many people whose goal is to lose weight can become overwhelmed thinking about what to do, what to eat, when to eat, etc. Health seekers in general tend to over-complicate the whole weight loss process and forget that there are very simple factors that will get them to where they want to be. Here are a couple of tips to get you there:

Burn More Than You Consume

It’s simple. If you’re going to eat a lot, you’re going to have to spend some extra time in the gym. For most people, if they want to lose 1 pound a week, they must burn off 500 calories a day.

Check the Nutrition Facts

Don’t worry too much about counting calories. Try to eat foods that have 0 trans fat, low saturated fat and rich on protein, vitamins, and minerals.

Hit the Weights

Strength training is just as important as cardiovascular training for the weight loss process. The great thing is that after just 30 minutes of strength training, your body continues to burn calories throughout the day.

Have Patience

Don’t get discouraged just because you don’t see results right away. If you’re eating right and you’re getting the most of your exercise at least 3 days a week, you should see some kind of change between 4-5 weeks. 

image by Google