Category: Fitness

(HealthNewsDigest.com) – What message does the Biggest Loser send in terms of taking charge of your body? Millions of people sit and watch these hard core makeovers as entertainment, or more accurately as a spectator sport since they are not inclined to exercise themselves!

(HealthNewsDigest.com) – Can you find 10 or 15 minutes during the day to move your body? One person I asked responded: “It takes me that long to make up an excuse not to exercise!” Most of us fritter away precious moments checking e-mails, browsing the Internet, chatting on the phone, hanging out at Starbuck’s. Think about using those minutes to stay fit instead.

(HealthNewsDigest.com) – When asked what the secret is to her longevity, Hazel Miller, 100 years of age, responded, “There’s no secret about it really. You just don’t die and you get to be 100.”

(HealthNewsDigest.com) – DALLAS, Nov. 4 — You probably wouldn’t attempt a marathon without proper training. But even short-distance races like the Turkey Trot, held Thanksgiving Day in many cities, require training to prevent injury on race day, says Sarang Desai, D.O., an orthopaedic surgeon on the medical staff at Baylor Regional Medical Center at Plano. Whether you’re eyeing a long or short race, remember Dr. Desai’s tips.

(HealthNewsDigest.com) – ING New York City Marathon participants are in search of every possible advantage to ensure that they, and their feet, cross the finish line in top form. Injinji, maker of the patented Performance Toesock, offers the perfect toesock tandem for marathoners: the Performance Series and Ex-Celerator Compression.

(HealthNewsDigest.com) – INDIANAPOLIS, Nov. 1, 2010 — Obesity alone may no longer be linked to a high risk of death in women, according to research published inthe Nov. 2010 Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, the official journalof the American College of Sports Medicine. Researchers now suggest cardiovascular fitness level, not just a woman’s size, may actually be the key predictor of health level and overall risk for death.

(HealthNewsDigest.com) – Not only is it fun to find innovative ways to shake up your normal routine, but all the body’s systems need to be surprised with diverse patterns of stress in order to continue to improve. When I’m out for a run, I automatically look for inclines to run up, stairs to hop down and places to throw in 20 jumping jacks.

(HealthNewsDigest.com) – The exercise known as “Superman” is one of many variations of back extensions that work the muscles of the spine. It’s an advanced exercise for improving posture, but you can master it by following a simple progression.

(HealthNewsDigest.com) – What does your posture reveal about you? Do you stand tall and confident or do you appear to be carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders? Most of us would benefit from paying more attention to posture. A combination of tight muscles, stiff joints and lack of awareness takes a toll on posture and adds years to one’s appearance.

(HealthNewsDigest.com) – Traditionally, women have been advised against lifting weights and performing repetitive arm movements in order to prevent lymphedema, a possible side effect of breast cancer treatments. According to a recent study, however, strength training exercises can actually reduce the risk of developing this unwelcome complication, improve symptoms if they develop, and prepare women to return to their normal day-to-day activities.

(HealthNewsDigest.com) – Turning forty is a wake up call! Beginning around this age many women begin to notice changes in their bodies that sound the alarm. You may be perplexed by creeping weight gain and stubborn belly fat. Perhaps you feel stiffer in the mornings and are becoming accustomed to living with little aches and pains in your joints. You may notice that your posture has suffered and you no longer stand as straight as you used to.

(HealthNewsDigest.com) – Inevitably, things change: you notice a little chunk at the waist that’s affecting the way your clothing fits; you feel a bit stiffer in the mornings; you look for escalators instead of a taking the stairs; your reflection in a window reveals you’re not as straight as you thought. We’ve all had moments when we realize we could be doing better.

(HealthNewsDigest.com) – Being fit contributes to buoyant health, including feeling good, looking good and enjoying life – in effect keeping you more youthful and upbeat as you age. But does being fit automatically mean that you are healthy; and, conversely, can you be healthy without being fit?

(HealthNewsDigest.com) – Having taut abdominals has many benefits besides looking good! Strengthening your transverse abs (TVA) can not only flatten your belly, but can also help reduce back pain, improve your posture, enhance your fitness training and prepare for childbirth. The key is in abdominal compression.

(HealthNewsDigest.com) – Are you aware that you are endowed with a muscle that serves as a natural slenderizer? The deepest abdominal, the transversus abdominis (TVA), is a flat, horizontal band of muscle that encircles the midsection from front to back. Strengthening it narrows the waist, flattens the belly and supports the lower back, just like a corset!

(HealthNewsDigest.com) – Fact or Fiction? A 20 year-old-woman who does not lift weights will lose about five pounds of muscle and gain about five pounds of fat by the time she’s 50. This is Fact: Even if you maintain your scale weight perfectly over time, there are subtle changes occurring in your body composition that impact your metabolism, muscle tone and risk of disease.

(HealthNewsDigest.com) – As you sit reading this, what is the shape of your spine? Are you hunched over your computer, leaning on your desk or slumped back in a chair? Daily postures sabotage proper spinal alignment, but a few easy exercises can help reinforce the natural curves of the spine, improving both your normal posture and your form in weight training exercises.

(HealthNewsDigest.com) – Too many people think that exercise and fitness means going to a gym, getting on the treadmill and lifting weights. While these forms of exercise do work- and I use them 4-5 times per week – they are NOT the only ways to get fit!

(HealthNewsDigest.com) – When we run or bicycle for any length of time, it is easy for our minds to wander. If we are out on the streets in the early morning, we may be tempted to mentally prepare for the rest of our day. If we are exercising after work, we may be re-playing a stressful incident. While letting our thoughts drift as we run or bicycle may seem like a healthy way to reduce stress, it is important to remember that the roads can be hazardous.

(HealthNewsDigest.com) – To de-mystify the concept of strength training, this fitness expert answers some of the most frequently asked questions regarding beginning a program. Most people are familiar with the term strength training, but may not be aware that it is a method of resistance training, a broader category that also includes endurance training.