Archive for August, 2010
Why Tone Your Core?
When people begin their weight loss routines, one of the most common problem areas is the abs. That’s why people will often turn directly to sit ups and crunches. For the best results, though, you should seek total core strength. After all, if you move from a strong and developed core, you’re likely to move with more grace and endurance. You are even at a lower risk for injury in the abdomen and lower back.
This is why many people make ab workouts one of their focal points. In order to train the abs effectively, you need to realize that the abdominal muscle has different areas, not to mention the obliques, each of which is target by different exercises. The upper and lower abs, as well as the obliques, all need to be worked and isolated in order to achieve a strong, well-defined core.
Motivation Is a Real Key to Fitness
I’ve always been a creature of habit; once I find a viable exercise routine, I have no trouble sticking with it. The problem is settling on the right schedule and budgeting time to do the work. Last year I bought a gym membership, which I figured would be enough incentive to hop in the car and drive there on a daily basis. As it turned out, I managed to make excuses that kept me away from the gym.
I finally turned a corner and started making progress investing in the Tony Horton 10 Minute Trainer. I no longer had any valid excuses for putting off my workout, and I was able to fit it in neatly between dinner and bedtime. Home fitness equipment has numerous benefits, but the best one is that I can exercise complete control over my immediate environment. If I feel like watching a soap opera to distract me from the exertion, I can do so. If I feel like cranking up some motivational ’80s rock anthems, that’s exactly what I do.
Physical and Mental Benefits of Exercise
By now it’s common knowledge that workout routines do wonders in terms of alleviating stress. Physical activity provides us with an outlet to work out our annoyances and frustrations in a positive way. Those who worry about body image are placated by the cosmetic differences a workout routine can create. But just exactly how does exercise reduce stress?
There are two primary answers to the question – one of them concerns a physical phenomenon and the other a mental effect. Physically, exercise actually decreases production of stress hormones and boosts the production of pleasure chemicals known as endorphins. Mentally, focusing on an activity can distract the mind from niggling worries; this is especially true when exercise entails a change of scenery.
Creating a Fitness Program
One of the two essential components of losing weight and getting into shape is exercise, the other being diet. Though diet is arguably more important than exercise, your chances of losing weight and keeping it off through diet alone are not as substantial when done in conjunction with physical activity. When it comes to choosing amongst fitness programs, the two most common approaches are either design the program yourself, or consult a personal trainer and have them design it for you. There is a third option, however, which is incredibly effective and cost efficient: fitness videos.
Start off slow with your fitness program, commit to thirty minutes three times a week, then once you’re comfortable, ramp up the amount, the duration, and the intensity of your workout. If you start to dislike your fitness program, change it, but never stop; when you quit, it’s unlikely you’ll start back up.