Winter is here and so is hot tub season! Hot tubs are very popular this time of year, but they may not be all that they are cracked up to be. Hot tubs are a great way to spend time with friends and family, to relax after a long day, and to reduce stress levels. Hot tubs have also be proven to help heal injuries, improve joint flexibility, and sleep.
Although the benefits of soaking in a hot tub are plentiful, doing so after a long run or hard workout may be more harmful than good. After a long run or tough workout, your muscles and joints are typically inflamed and adding heat to the specific areas will increase blood flow and increase inflammation.
Also, after a long run or hard workout, your body may be a little dehydrated and adding warm water from the hot tub will more than likely dehydrate you more. Below are some more hot tub safety facts that you should keep in mind.
We all have moments when we are trying to accomplish something and then we lose productivity; this can happen for a variety of reasons. Drive is an inherited trait for me, so I usually like to work at something until it is done. In the past, I have delayed workouts until I felt like I had enough accomplished. Although this is a temptation of working at home, working at home also gives me a perfect way to shift my attention and keep productivity high, rather than losing energy and inspiration overly focused on a single task. If I am waiting for inspiration or thinking out a problem or waiting for a response on an issue, it is a perfect time for me to do laundry, wipe down the sink, vacuum, or scrub the toilet. When I am tired of housework, I find it very easy to sit down and do some work. Lacing up my shoes and grabbing a quick run is another great option, if I don’t have a meeting coming up.
When I first began my weight loss efforts, I could not walk around the block without needing to rest. Seriously. I sat down twice on the curb and cried. But I kept on and kept on, a little bit more each day and then, one day, I realized I had walked seven miles. Despite all of this walking, though, my weight loss efforts had stalled, so I decided to take up running.
I had no idea how to do it – just put on my sneakers and run? I looked around and found the Couch to 5K program, which breaks running a 5K down into easily manageable increments. The thought of using the program was overwhelming – was I supposed to count to 60 in my head while I was running, and then remember how many times I’d done so? There’s no way – I could barely remember to breathe while running.
So, in the beginning, I compromised. I used my Garmin, a gadget that I wore on my wrist that calculates time and distance. That was an awkward endeavor, though, trying to remember exactly when I’d started this particular interval and how long I’d already run. I was delighted when I discovered that there was an iPhone app that offered the same program, and the fact that it both buzzes and sounds off a siren virtually guarantees that I won’t miss an interval.
Everything is changing these days and the digital world is taking over. Have you ever played video games? Well, most video games in the past have required very little or no physical activity. But now, digital workout games are becoming far more popular than actually working out itself.
The latest video craze is thanks to the Wii and complimentary games like Wii Fit and EA Sports Active. These “exergames” have made fitness enjoyable by allowing physical activity to be fun, challenging, and adventurous. These fitness video games are great for improving eye-hand coordination, balance, stability, and stamina; all of which you can do at the gym as well.
Thanksgiving is right around the corner, as well as the endless supply of turkey and pie. Thanksgiving is one of my favorite times of the year due to the splendid family time and the non-stop football on TV; although it is definitely all too easy to pack on the weight during the lazy times of the holidays.
Finding ways to eat less and stay active are few and far between, but a must during this time of year. Below are a few fitness tips and a high intensity workout that you can take advantage of during the Thanksgiving season.
Top Thanksgiving Fitness Tips
- Take a trip: Plan Thanksgiving somewhere where the entire family can be active (Ski resort).
- Drink plenty of water: Staying hydrated is a must and a great way to give your mind and stomach a “full” sensation.
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