Monitor Your Way to a Healthy Heart and Better Body
March 26, 2007
Of the many fitness-oriented pieces of equipment available today, one the most effective is also one of the least understood. A heart rate monitor, however, is not a complicated device. In fact, it un-complicates a wieldy but essential fitness formula by putting the calculated answer right before your eyes. In so doing, it aids you in reaching your fitness goals more safely and quickly.
While calculating your heart rate during a workout can be accomplished manually, there are some inherent problems in tackling this task yourself. Fitness proponents suggest two self-measurement heart-rate methods, each with its own set of complications:
1. The "Perceived Exertion" method requires that you evaluate the level of your activity by means of a "talk test." In other words, at various stages throughout your workout, you are to measure your exertion by how easily you can utter a complete sentence. It goes something like this: If you can let loose a string of statements, or carry on a lengthy conversation with yourself, you’re likely not working hard enough. If, on the other hand, you’re huffing and puffing halfway through that sentence, you’re probably working too hard. While the simplest to put into use, two difficulties plague this heart-rate measurement strategy: 1) You have to actually remember to implement the test at various stages throughout your workout, thereby distracting you from the task at hand; and 2) Exertion perception is in the eyes of the beholder, meaning human error is probable. That is, what a novice exerciser perceives as heavy breathing may be only moderate to an expert.
Programming Brief: Exercise Order
March 26, 2007
One of the fundamental principles of exercise prescription, specifically resistance training, is the principle of exercise order. Which exercises do I do first? Which do I do last? Does exercise order really matter? From personal observations in the weight room, it would seem to many it doesn’t matter. However, if you want an effective exercise program you must consider the order of the exercises.
Multi-joint Exercises
As a general rule you should perform complex multi-joint exercises first in your exercise routine while you are fresh. Typically, multi-joint movements require more skill and energy to perform. Such exercises include squats, deadlifts, bench presses, and pull-ups. Nothing annoys me more than seeing someone perform bicep curls until their head explodes, then go right into lat pulldowns (notice, lat pulldowns, not pull-ups?anyone who does pull-ups knows better than to work their biceps beforehand).
Of course, there are exceptions to the rule. Such is the case when using the pre- exhaustion technique. For example, perform a set of dumbbell flys to exhaust the pectorals then going directly to a set of bench press. In this case, however, you are pre-exhausting the larger muscle group, not the smaller muscle group.
Single-joint Exercises
A Golf Coach Is Important If You Want To Improve Your Game
March 25, 2007
Why would anybody need a golf coach when most of the famous golfers of old developed their game pretty much on their own? And besides, wouldn’t a golf coach take away all the fun of the game and make the whole thing too serious to call a leisure activity anymore?
These are some of the many concerns amateur golfers have whenever the idea of a golf coach is suggested to them. Genuine concerns but mostly outdated because the modern game has changed a lot and continue to change.
One of the most distinct changes witnessed in the game is the wide acceptance of golf coaches, exercises and muscle conditioning programs in a sport that has for generations been viewed as a leisure sport with no room for any sort of exercising or muscle strengthening programs.
Has your golf game been getting just a little too frustrating in recent times? Have you been suffering many more humiliating defeats than is the case ordinarily? Then there is the increasing possibility that you are playing against people who are involved in exercise programs and have a personal golf coach who has been helping them work on improvements in their game.
A Golf Exercise Program Will Leave Your Playing Partners In Envy
March 25, 2007
It’s no secret that a golf exercise program can put you heads and tails above your playing partners and competitors. Why do you think all the Pro’s are doing it?
Golf is no longer just the leisure game it used to be. It is now recognized as an athletic sport. As with all other athletic sports, your body’s strength plays a crucial part in how well you play the game.
FACT: A stronger body plays better golf. Most strength-building workouts can be beneficial to some degree, but a golf exercise program will enable you to hit longer — and straighter — drives with less effort and hit more accurate shots, which will consequently lower your scores.
GOLF TIP: Strengthen Your Back and Prevent Low Back Pain — so that you can play 18 holes without fatigue
Did you know that doing even just one exercise will greatly improve the strength of your back so that you will be able to play 18 holes, or hit balls all day without any pain?
Celebrity Personal Trainers
March 24, 2007
Personal Trainer to the Stars!!
Celebrity Personal Trainers!!
Who are these amazing personal trainers that train the stars, professional athletes, celebrities, rock musicians, and the rest of the rich and famous?
Well, being a personal trainer and a perfectionist, I did some research to find out who they are and how one becomes a personal trainer to the stars. The research I uncovered about these so-called celebrity personal trainers that charge fees of $300+ per hour for their expertise indicates that, like the rest of the personal training industry, there are no requirements of any sort to become a celebrity trainer. Most of these celebrity trainers simply happened to be in the right place at the right time.
I had a close friend who was in a car accident. Since the insurance covered it, he went to see a chiropractor after the accident. During the first few visits, he and the chiropractor got to talking, and they hit it off. The chiropractor happened to know some celebrities, and just by knowing him, my friend got a gig training a star. Fortunately, my friend had a good knowledge base and was great at working with people, although the chiropractor had no real way of knowing this at the time. There was something in it for the chiropractor, though, in that he got a cut for recommending the my friend to the celebrity.
Debunking Common Exercise Myths, Part 1
March 24, 2007
Myth #1: Heavy weights make you "bulky"
Heavy weights typically do not lead to increased muscle mass, moderate weights do. Muscle mass is more of a function of volume (ie. number of sets x number of reps). Muscle mass is best gained using multiple sets (3-5) for moderate repetitions (8-12) at moderate loads (70-80% 1RM). Using heavy loads (85% 1RM and above) for repetitions in the 1-5RM range will lead to strength gains with minimal hypertrophy. Hence, heavy weights do not make you "bulky."
Myth #2: High repetitions are for toning
I don’t know how many times I’ve heard this. Too many times to be sure. Toning (a term I hate to use) is a result of losing fat and building muscle tissue so that you develop a degree of muscle definition. While there are rep brackets better suited for body compositional changes, there are no rep brackets that "tone." Body compositional changes are a result of the program as a whole, not just the rep bracket being used. As for high repetitions, repetitions of 12+, they are better suited for developing muscular endurance.
Myth #3: You can only burn fat by doing cardio
How to Choose an Elliptical Trainer that Suits Your Needs
March 23, 2007
When choosing an elliptical trainer, you’ll want to consider a variety of things to determine which elliptical machine will best suit your needs. You should pay attention to the quality and durability, features, brand reputation (important when buying online), and weight restrictions. Oh yeah, you will need to decide how much you’re willing to spend also.
The great thing about elliptical trainers is that they are a wonderful alternative to the treadmill or stair stepper machine if you have joint problems. There is much less impact (virtually none) to your legs and knees. They also do not take up a lot of space.
First, you may want to visit your local sporting goods outlets/stores to try out different brands of ellipticals, because comfort on an elliptical trainer is difficult to gauge just by browsing online. Don’t be intimidated or pressured by the sales people - you are there to decide which machine is best for you. After all, you’re the one paying for it, right?
Once you have decided which machines feel best to you, you’ll want to check out the features and pricing. What features are you willing to sacrifice for the sake of your budget? One thing you do not want to sacrifice, and I must stress this, is comfort. Because if you’re not comfortable on the machine, then you won’t use it, now will you?
Why Tiger Woods Golf Swing Technique Is So Effective
March 23, 2007
Golf sensation Tiger Woods’ golf swing technique has been the subject of many interesting studies.
One thing that has come out very clearly from this leading golfer’s style and his golf swing technique is his amazing flexibility and high fitness level which have contribute tremendously to his golf career. A career that has seen him crowned in the minds of many as the undisputed greatest golfer in the history of the sport.
The Tiger Woods golf swing technique sees Wood utilizing his flexibility at the back of his swing to comfortably reach far back.
As he begins his swing, his level of fitness and muscle strength enables him to build up club head velocity by turning his torso quickly and pressing his right leg forward. There is minimal waste of energy as he maintains his position above the golf ball.
Driving through, Woods uses his hips, shoulders and wrists to concentrate his force and create a high initial ball speed. Research has shown that within a few feet off the tee, the ball is usually traveling at about 180 miles per hour. The average tour pro usually manages only 160 miles per hour.
The Impact of Golf Specific Exercise
March 22, 2007
Golf specific exercises are part and parcel of the modern day golf game. Yet many people associate golf specific exercises with exercises used in other sports and by other athletes involved in more rigorous sporting activities.
For example many golfers look down on golf specific exercises that involve lifting weights. The fear that they will develop muscles which will tend to make them stiff and less flexible in their golf game. Everybody knows that flexibility is very important in golf.
Yet the truth of the matter is that golf specific weight exercises have nothing to do with building muscles like a weight lifter. This is because lighter weights are used and the lifting action is repeated more times. The effect of this is to build strength and not muscles.
Strength in muscles has a remarkable effect on the quality of a golf game, especially when the muscles targeted are all "golf muscles".
The other wrong image people often have about golf specific exercises is that there are as rigorous and as demanding as the sort of exercises one would find in a marine corps training program.
Train for the Look You Want
March 22, 2007
So the Olympics are almost upon us. While you have the chance, compare the differences between a marathon (long distance) runner’s body and a sprinter’s body. What do you notice? The long-distance runner is skinny, frail, kind of bony, thin and almost sickly looking. On the other hand, the sprinter has well developed muscles, and looks strong, fit, healthy.
Of the two, which one would you rather look like?
Well, this is what should determine how you develop your own training program. If you want to look like the sprinter - and about 98 percent of people desire a sprinter’s body type - why do you spend all that time doing cardio on a treadmill while you watch CNN? In order to look and feel like a sprinter, you must train like one.
Remember, start out slowly. You’re probably not a sprinter now, and if you went out and followed their regimen, tomorrow you’d be insanely sore and probably give up exercising altogether.
Let’s consider, for a moment, these creatures (sprinters). They only move rapidly for about 10 to 60 seconds at most, during a single sprint. Well, that isn’t very much time, if you compare it to long-distance runners, who run for three to four hours, without stopping.
