You know the saying “women don’t sweat, they glow”? Turns out it’s more than just a cute phrase. It’s kind of true.
A recent study published in the journal Experimental Physiology found that men are more effective sweaters during exercise. How is one more effective, you ask? Well, when it comes to exercising, women have to work harder and more intensely than men to start sweating.
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With so many different workout DVDs out there for you to purchase, it’s hard to know which ones deliver and which ones fall flat. I know you’re not supposed to judge a book or DVD by its cover, but in the world of workout videos, you can tell a lot from its packaging.
Read on for some tips on how to find a solid workout DVD that’s worth your money!
1. Look at the details. Have you ever taken the time to really read the back of a workout DVD? You can tell a lot about a DVD just from reading its packaging. For example, at the very bottom in small print it should say how long the DVD is. If it’s less than an hour, you know you’re probably not getting much for your money. Also, does the DVD say if the workout is for beginner or advanced exercisers? If it doesn’t say, just know that you may be taking a gamble on its intensity. Lastly, a good DVD will specify what equipment, if any, is needed. If you see dumbbells or other equipment being used in the photos on the packaging yet the back cover doesn’t specify what equipment it requires, beware! As I’ve learned, there’s nothing worse than popping in a DVD to realize you don’t have the equipment they’re calling for. Learn from my mistakes.
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Supermodel Adriana Lima starts preparing for the annual Victoria’s Secret fashion show six weeks in advance. She works out for two hours a day, six days a week. Lima says she prefers boxing, jumping rope and isometric exercises that don’t require equipment. “I don’t lift weights, I don’t like machines. Everything I do is with my body weight,” she said. Lima keeps a positive attitude about working out. “Every day’s a challenge, every day you’re stepping out and learning something new. So it’s wonderful, I like it a lot. It’s very intense, but I like it.” She feels that working out helps her body cleanse itself of toxins.
Lima also shifts her diet, cutting back on carbs and upping the protein for three weeks before the runway show. “I’m doing a combination of different protein shakes — it’s called Metagenics,” said the model. “Also, I only can eat green vegetables, everything grilled or steamed, or four ounces of any type of protein. And usually that’s what I have for lunch and dinner, and every three hours in between I have a protein shake or cereal bar.”
CrossFit is a brand or style of strength and endurance training that combines almost every aspect of sports training available. From gymnastics and weight training to sprinting and pushing the body to max, this style of training improves your endurance, stamina, over-all strength, speed, power, agility, flexibility, balance, coordination, and mental toughness. Phew.
I recently took a CrossFit class and was sore for a week. I normally do traditional cardiovascular training (jog 30 to 60 minutes) and standard weight training (45 of strength training) and consider myself a workout veteran, but CrossFit challenged me to almost failure (which is good because the gym is the only place where failure is encouraged). The class I took consisted of a jump rope warm up, jumping from balance beam to balance beam, squats, shoulder presses, and pull-ups. It was an amazing workout! Every workout is different, though, and you are encouraged to compete against yourself to finish the workout as fast as you can.
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Who doesn’t love a great deal? Whether it’s a pair of summer sandals you found during a January sale or an amazing price on automobile insurance, these days it seems increasingly more important to spend that extra bit of time doing your homework and bartering your way to a great deal.
When it comes to memberships to gyms and fitness clubs, you can up your chances of walking away with an awesome deal by keeping a few things in mind.
Follow these guidelines to score a win for your health and your wallet.
Check with your employer. Many companies have deals with gyms that give you a gym membership at a significantly discounted rate. If your boss considers exercise walking to and from the microwave, inquire with your company’s human resources department to get the most accurate information.
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