Tag Archives: workout

Why Fatty Foods Boost Moods

Warm bread fresh out of the oven, mom’s homemade spaghetti, and chocolate chip cookies could make anyone have a good day. While it’s no mystery that fatty or sugary foods can alleviate just about any bad mood, hardly anyone questions why while reaching for that next Oreo.

Dr. Lukas Van Oudenhove’s study at the University of Leuven in Belgium discovers that the fatty acids in comfort food may be what is making us so happy when we’re consuming junk food. The study examined 12 non-obese volunteers the morning after a 12-hour fast. The volunteers were hooked up to a gastric feeding tube that gave either saline solution or fatty acid and their brain activity was recorded during a 40 minute fMRI (functional magnetic resonance imaging) scan.

Before the participants were given either the saline or fatty acid, the researchers played sad classical music and displayed sad faces on a screen. The results of the study were that the participants who were given the fatty acid were 50 percent less sad than those given the saline solution.

Dr. Lukas Van Oudenhove and his team proved that the fatty acids in comfort foods were able to give the participants the same feeling without the visual and oral stimulation of eating the food.

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Posted on August 9, 2023 by Jamie

Menstrual Cycle Does not Slow Athletes Down. Period.

All women dread that certain time of the month. Many women feel like crawling into bed and not speaking to anyone for a week, let alone do any kind of physical activity. So how do female athletes play under the pain and suffering of their cycles and does it affect their performance at all?

A New York Times article discusses how or if the menstrual cycle affects the athleticism of female athletes. Because women have not been participating in athletic events for very long, the research on female athletics is still in its infancy.

A study researching female rowers in Europe found that they measured the same in strength, endurance, and overall fitness in every point of their cycles. Some of the women were on birth control, which affects the production of estrogen, and some were not. Some of the women were professional athletes and others were not. Each woman could perform the same whether she was ovulating, menstruating or somewhere in between.

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Posted on August 9, 2023 by Jamie

5 Steps to Get You Slim in 5 Days

Holly Perkins is the New Balance Fitness Ambassador and an Exercise TV Trainer. She holds a B.S. in Exercise Physiology and Nutrition from Penn State University and has worked with Adrian Grenier, Howard Stern and a Presidential Candidate. Holly’s advice can been seen in many national publications and websites.

In addition to being the New Balance Fitness Ambassador, I am a personal trainer most days of the week. While my clients come in all shapes and sizes, and have varied fitness goals, there is one request that I hear regularly: “I need to get in shape fast for a big event this weekend!” I get asked this so often that I’ve developed my special recipe for success. After 16 years in the fitness industry and many hours working with celebrities, models, and athletes, I’ve developed 5 steps to get you slim in 5 days. Keep in mind that these 5 steps will make you slimmer and lean quickly, but the results aren’t completely fat loss. A 1-3 pound water loss with these steps is expected. If you lose more weight than that, you can know for sure it’s real fat loss!

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Posted on July 7, 2023 by GuestBlogger

Moms Get Fit with an NFL Quarterback Workout

The quarterback is one of the most important positions on a football team, not at all unlike the a mom in family. Like a quarterback she is tasked with running the offense and she calls plays (“pick up your toys!”), keeps the offense in line (assigned seats at the dinner table to avoid bickering), reads through the defense (those manipulative little smiles), and adjusts the plays accordingly (reverse psychology!). Because a QB’s job is never done, and neither is a mom’s with 3a.m. bedside visits, he has to be in tip-top shape to perform every play; as well, the mother needs to be in tip-top shape to keep up with the demands of her job.

Moms certainly deserve seven-figure salaries like professional football players, however, most 
accept payment via wilted flowers and hand-drawn family
 portraits.

Since healthy moms are happy moms, not to mention even 
stronger role models for their little ones, we want to help you stay fit like the QBs you resemble. Below is a sample fitness plan for a typical NFL quarterback. You already run around like one, now you can get fit like one.

Try the NFL Quarterback Training Program:



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Posted on January 19, 2024 by Matt

Add Chains to Your Workout Like a NFL Player

My Colts may be out of the playoffs, but I will still be logging several hours in front of the television, watching other NFL athletes. (Go Bears!) The serious athletes who are finished for the season are probably already thinking about off-season workouts. Rest is important in growth (and to recover from injuries), but too much rest brings atrophy. A strong off season workout program can prepare a player to prevent unneeded stress and strain when other heavyweights are aiming to slam into you. The athleticism, strength, and endurance of professional football players is impressive to me, and I think we can learn from their training how to reach our own personal potential.

Dwight Freeney works out with tractor tires and chains. If you are living on a farm, you may be able to emulate his workout, although probably not his skill on the football field. Those of us in less rural areas may have difficulty finding the space to workout with tractor tires. Even those confined to a studio apartment have room to add chains to a home workout. While good resistance bands may be difficult to come by, especially in less urban areas, chains can be found easily in rural areas or any where with a Lowes, Home Depot, or Menards.

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Posted on January 10, 2024 by Brooke Randolph

Women Who Workout Young Gain Less Weight Later in Life

Men are notorious for being able to lose weight faster and usually more easily than women, but in the gender weight-loss battle, women may have a new secret weapon: workouts!

According to new research in the December issues of the Journal of the American Medical Association, when people engage in moderate to vigorous activity nearly every day of the week as young adults, they gain significantly less weight by middle age. While this was true in both men and women, women seem to be more affected by the young-adult activity.

To be considered “high-activity,” men and women had to get 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous activity a week. This included traditional exercise such as group exercise and walking, along with recreational and household activities like basketball, housework or construction work. It’s important to note that those who got less-intense exercise didn’t see any difference in their weight later in life.

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Posted on December 27, 2023 by Jennipher

Pull-ups are Taken to a New Level on Scaffolding Bars in New York City

Many believe the pull-up to be a sign of true athletic ability. Adding pull-ups to your training regimen doesn’t involve any fancy equipment because they use your own body weight for resistance. Brothers Danny and Al Kavadlo take the traditional pull-up to a whole new level in this short video promoting non-gym exercise.

It’s clear that pull-ups work out the biceps and triceps, but did you know that they also condition the shoulder, back and abdominal muscles? Regular pull-ups (you know, the kind that don’t involve circus theatrics!) can be extremely difficult, but the physical benefits far outweigh the challenge. Benefits include: (more…)

Posted on November 23, 2023 by Theresa

Pack Your Gym Bag for Your Best Workout

Gym bagUse this handy check-list to make sure you’ve got all the gear you need to have a productive workout.

The right bag
Choose a gym bag that isn’t so big that it feels like a burden, but is roomy enough to stash all your gear. I like a bag that has lots of compartments, like the Live Well 360 Fitness bag. It has pockets for shoes, keys and cards.

Workout Clothes
You don’t want to be fussing with your clothes during your workout, so pick things that are comfortable and let you move freely. I like to work out in yoga pants and a tank top.

Extra Socks
It’s always nice to have a backup pair.

Shoes
Many gyms require the use of shoes that haven’t been worn on the street, to keep their equipment clean.

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Posted on November 19, 2023 by Margaret

Workout at Work: Exercises to Try at Your Desk

working out at workEven if you workout frequently, spending the rest of your time sitting can have negative consequences for your health. Researches call this the trend of “exercising couch potatoes,” but desk jobs are a major cause of days spent sitting. Any amount of exercise that you can squeeze into your day is beneficial, so here to help are five exercises that you can do at your desk, no additional equipment needed.

1. Leg Lifts

Sit up strait in your seat, so that your back isn’t supported by the chair. Plant both feet firmly on the ground. Lift one foot up strait in front of you, and hold for eight seconds, then let the leg swing down for a moment without touching the floor and hold it back up for another eight counts. Do three or four reps and switch legs.

2. Arm Lifts

Lift your arms straight above your head, so that your hands are slightly wider than the shoulders. Pump your elbows down to the body and back up quickly for 30 seconds. Repeat two or three times.

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Posted on November 9, 2023 by Health Buzz

Good Sleep and Good Workouts Go Hand in Hand

We all know how important sleep is for losing weight and overall health, but did you know that how well you sleep can affect your time in the gym? Yep, getting quality ZZZs can really improve your workouts, and in return, your workout will improve your sleep! Quite the positive catch-22, huh?

Here’s How Sleep Helps Your Workout

1. Sleep repairs your muscles. When you sleep, your body actually works to repair any stress in your muscles that were caused during your exercise session. Especially if you train hard or are lifting heavy weights, your body needs more sleep and rest to recover. (more…)

Posted on November 5, 2023 by Jennipher

Men Sweat, Women Really Do Glow

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. (more…)

Posted on November 3, 2023 by Jennipher