Wellness WORD Health And Fitness Tips

The question of the day is why in the world do you exercise? Why are you investing your valuable time on an exercise program? Have you really thought deeply about this? Some will say health. Some will say beauty. While others will say both.

A recent survey of 2,882 people was conducted by Everyday Health, and ACE (American Council On Exercise). The survey wanted to know why people participate in an exercise program. Most of answers were either for health reasons, or beauty. I bet you are thinking that beauty is the most logical choice. Right? Not so fast.

According to the study, which was comprised of 90% women with an average age of 44, 54% stated their main reason for exercise is to stay fit for loved ones. Meanwhile, 40% reported they are on an exercise program to look good. I’m sure you are as surprised as I was regarding the value of health as the main reason for exercise participation.

Let’s take a closer look at the study. Since 90% of the people surveyed were women, perhaps the answers would have been much different if they surveyed 90% men. I wish the study would have consisted of surveying 50% men,  and 50% women.

Another aspect of the study that needs to be addressed is the age of participants. It would have been nice to see a wider spectrum of age, say 18 - 80 years old. A 20 year old male will definitely have a different reason for being on an exercise program than a 65 year old man.

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A majority of workout warriors are on a fitness program that is both inefficient, and ineffective. This eventually leads to frustration, and lack of workout results.

The sad thing is these particular people have no clue that their fitness training program is not as effective as it could actually be. When starting an exercise program it is first important for participants to question the ultimate effectiveness. Most simply copy a fitness program, and don’t implement the very best workout plan for them.

In order to make sure your fitness training program is the most productive, and efficient it can possibly be, I have devised a checklist of 6 important points to consider when designing your plan. Think about each of these points while designing, or implementing your exercise program.

Here are 6 exercise program tips you need to consider before your next workout.

1. Be ultra clear on your goals.

You must know exactly what you want to accomplish from your physical fitness program. Make sure you bring these goals to life by writing them down on paper, and making them time sensitive.

Before you can accomplish a workout goal, you must know exactly where you are going. If not, your program will not be very effective.

Closely consider your goals when planning your fitness program.

2. Consider your medical history.

You must consider your medical history prior to implementing any training program.  If you have an injured lower back, then you might have to eliminate certain exercises in your exercise regimen. Play close attention to medical history.

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Is is a good idea to take in sugar during your exercise training session to improve athletic performance? How does it pertain to power, and endurance? These are the big questions of the day! Should you, or shouldn’t you ingest sugar during your aerobic, or anaerobic fitness training session?

There has been a recent study completed in Copenhagen, Denmark that showed sugar consumption during exercise increased endurance, and power.  The study was published in the Journal of Applied Physiology, June 2009.  There were two groups of men studied. Group 1 was given a solution of 6% sugar to consume during an extended endurance training session. Group 2 was given an artificially sweetened drink to consume during their leg of the endurance exercise.

The sugar supplemented exercise leg had 14% more power, and a 30% greater time to exhaustion. Therefore, if you want to improve athletic performance, it is important to consume sugar throughout your training session. This is especially true for endurance training workouts. Therefore, taking in carbohydrates throughout your endurance training session will increase power, and endurance.

Now the whole key towards increasing  aerobic performance is your bodies ability to preserve stored sugar in cells. Ingesting sugar during your training session will do this. Also, taking a caffeine supplement  30 - 60 minutes prior to exercise will  cause a preservation of stored blood sugar in cells.

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Have you taken your caffeine supplement before working out today? If not, why? One of the most effective, scientifically proven ergogenic aids, caffeine, is available everywhere you turn, and for very little money.

When it comes to sports nutrition, and increasing athletic performance, all the scientific studies say it is a go. Many professional athletes are taking in supplement caffeine from Tour de France cyclists to professional baseball players. The bottom line - it works!

So how  does a caffeine supplement effect metabolism, and improve athletic performance? First off, it is a stimulant that stimulates the central nervous system to enhance metabolism of free fatty acids. This, in turn, may spare the use of glycogen during physical activity. Caffeine supplements have also shown in studies to improve muscle contraction.

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Making money doing what you really love is a common theme of a fitness enthusiast who decides to become a personal trainer. After discovering the type of fitness trainer salary that is possible, a growing number of fitness participants are turning to a personal trainer career for financial security.

According to the United States Department Of Labor, the fitness trainer industry will grow at an above average pace  throughout 2016. This equals a profitable opportunity for fitness enthusiasts to profit doing something they really enjoy. There is no better time in history than to become a personal trainer right now. Fitness business financial opportunities are endless!

So the next question I always receive is how do I begin my personal trainer career? What is the exact process? How can I set myself up for success? Very simple! Begin by following the steps I have presented below.

5 Steps On How To Become A Personal Fitness Trainer

1. Determine if you have what it takes.

The first step is to make sure the personal training business is really for you. Do you have the right mindset, and personality to become a personal trainer?

I already assume you enjoy fitness, and exercise, otherwise you wouldn’t even be reading this article. One of the first prerequisites to becoming a fitness trainer is passion for health, fitness, and sharing that enthusiasm with others.

Next, you must like people. If you don’t like people, the personal trainer business is not for you. You must be passionate, and enthusiastic enough to want to spread your health fitness knowledge to empower others. If you don’t possess this attitude, then a personal trainer career isn’t for you.

When you first become a personal trainer working early mornings, and early evenings is a possibility. Most people like to workout either before, or after work. Weekends might also be a possibility.

Significant financial opportunity awaits you, but first dig deep, and take this personal trainer business readiness test.

2. Seek a personal trainer education.

Before you become a personal trainer it is important to know you are qualified, and have the knowledge to profit. Just because you have been successful in the gym on your own fitness program doesn’t give you the full qualification to begin your personal training career.

Just as experience in the gym is crucial, basic exercise physiology knowledge is also important. Remember, you will be commanding professional fees, right? Then you must be a professional. That means proper academics.

Of course, receiving a personal trainer education in the form of a degree in exercise physiology, or kinesiology is optimal, but not necessary. There are many trade colleges you can attend, and personal trainer certification programs that will get you up to speed. Please remember, the more qualified you are as a personal fitness trainer, the higher the fees you will command.

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Stretching is the most neglected, and often misunderstood component of fitness training. The only reason to stretch is to improve flexibility. Do not count on it for anything else.

In 2004, the CDCP (Center for Disease Control and Prevention) closely analysed 361 research studies, and discovered there is no correlation between stretching, and injury prevention, or muscle soreness. To make a long story short, do not count on stretching to improve your performance, decrease your chance of injury, or decrease muscle soreness.

Most people are still misled by this flexibility training fiction. You should only be performing stretches to improve flexibility, and expect no other benefits. By clearing up the fitness confusion, and understanding this simple concept, you can correctly incorporate flexibility training.

Please understand that flexibility is a fitness program component you should not neglect. Many exercise participants forego stretching because they really don’t understand its benefits. It is as important as strength training, and cardiovascular work. Do not neglect it! You will be sorry in years to come.

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As I look deep into my crystal ball, I see, in the next 5 years, the explosion of smartphone devices, and many more iPod fitness applications. You will soon notice that most people will not only have a phone, but a phone, plus, a computer capable of browsing the Internet, taking pictures, shooting video, and just about anything else you can imagine. Welcome to the smartphone generation! If you are not carrying a smartphone now, you surely will be in the near future.

That leads me to smartphone applications. We have just seen the beginning. Therefore, at the time of publishing this post, I am going to list my top 8 favorite iPod fitness apps.

1. iFitness - This fitness iPhone application has over 100 illustrated exercises with added text descriptions. You can create your own favorite workout, and save it. To make it easier on the user, exercises are grouped together by the muscles they target.

2. Ultra Pedometer - iTreadmill - Keeps you on pace just as a treadmill would. They have a feature called  “dial-a-pace.” According to reports, it is very accurate.

 3. Tap & Track - This fitness nutrition app has a built in USDA database of 7000 food items to assist you in making intelligent decisions. The iPod application has four different weight loss diet plans, and can calculate your BMR (basal metabolic rate).

4. Calorie Tracker by Livestrong - This nutrition tracking tool has a database of a whopping 525,000 foods that provides accurate nutrition information. This app allows you to track how many calories you really consume, burn, and your daily net caloric intake. Calorie Tracker is the companion piece for The Daily Plate service.

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America is getting fatter, unhealthier, and spending more money on health care costs than ever before. The 2008 obesity statistics have just been released. Adult obesity increased in 23 states compared to the previous year. These are alarming numbers; and the United States needs to take immediate action!

American obesity rates are not only affecting adults, but unfortunately children as well. Childhood obesity rates have tripled since 1980. Mississippi has a child obesity, and overweight rate, for kids ages 10-17, of a whopping 44.4%. These alarming numbers equals future trouble! Troubling obesity statistics like these translates into hypertension, heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, and even premature death. Along this these horrible medical conditions, it sure looks like health care spending is only going to get worse if something isn’t done real soon.

It has become so bad that 31 states are now reporting obesity rates over 25%. Just to compare, in 1991, not one single state topped 20%. In 1980 obesity statistics showed an average of 15%.

In the study conducted by the Trust for America’s Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Mississippi had the greatest adult obesity rate at 32.5%.  Colorado was the leanest at 18.9%.

Check your states obesity statistics.

What is even more alarming is not one state showed a decrease in obesity from the previous year. Childhood obesity is of great concern. Overweight, and obese children turn into unhealthy, at risk adults riddled with bad eating, and physical activity habits formed in their younger years.

What is causing these alarming statistics?

…Continue Reading Shocking Obesity Statistics Released

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