<

Archive | Physical Fitness

12 September 2010 ~ 1 Comment

Tabata – Ultra-High Intensity Interval Training

4 minute Workout??  In 4 minutes you can burn fat, increase power and endurance, and improve your fitness level.   No this is not another one of those ‘all you need is 10 minutes a day to get in bikini shape’ article.  This workout is definitely not for people just starting to exercise.  The regimen of Tabata training is for people who work out already, are in good condition, know their bodies and abilities and perhaps are looking for something to break through a plateau, reach the next level of athletic  fitness  or break up the boredom of a routine.

1 Star2 Stars3 Stars4 Stars5 Stars (No Ratings Yet)
Loading...

16 February 2010 ~ 2 Comments

The 15-Minute Workout Routine – Part 1

Fifteen minute workouts!?
We are all pressed for time, and rather than skip a workout due to lack of time, it is great to have some exercises that we can simply do in less time and still feel that we got a good workout . I have taken the challenge to suggest such workouts, and will be blogging these suggestions for the time challenged over the next couple of weeks. The objective is to make the workouts shorter in duration and still be effective.

1 Star2 Stars3 Stars4 Stars5 Stars (No Ratings Yet)
Loading...

19 January 2010 ~ 3 Comments

Women and Personal Trainers – Part 3 – When is it Time to ‘Fire’ your Trainer

In my previous blog post I discussed getting the most from your trainer; how to do it and what your responsibilities are as a client. So why are we talking about whether to end the relationship with the trainer? Fact is, like any relationship, things can feel ‘old and stale’, or we reach the point where we are no longer ‘feeling the love’. Though these generally apply to a male-female romantic relationship, the metaphor applies equally to the trainer-client relationship.
As women we are pretty sensitive and intuitive and can sense when things are ‘just not working’. If you are unsure of your instincts, then ask yourself the following questions:

1 Star2 Stars3 Stars4 Stars5 Stars (No Ratings Yet)
Loading...

31 December 2009 ~ 0 Comments

Women and Personal Trainers – Part 2 – Getting the Most from your Fitness Trainer

Now that you have selected your trainer, negotiated the price and number of sessions, how do you get the most for your money?  And as a reminder – this is a business relationship  –  each party has obligations to make the relationship function productively.

I have had personal trainers for short periods occasionally over the years, and I have been a personal trainer.  I have seen what works and what doesn’t work from both sides.  I am also a keen observer of current personal trainers when they are training others.

1 Star2 Stars3 Stars4 Stars5 Stars (No Ratings Yet)
Loading...

19 December 2009 ~ 0 Comments

Women and Personal Trainers – Part 1

Last week, my guest spot topic on Carl Lenore’s Super Human Radio Show was about Women and Personal trainers.  (The link to the show is posted at the end of this blog post.)  The topic is so broad and deep, and on the show we covered a small part, so I have this pent up need to share more.   And specifically, cover some things that women have spoken to me about or asked me about.

Figured I would break it into three parts:

  1. Choosing a Personal Trainer
  2. Getting the Most out of your Personal Trainer
1 Star2 Stars3 Stars4 Stars5 Stars (No Ratings Yet)
Loading...

27 September 2009 ~ 1 Comment

Follow up on Variety in Exercise Routine

A few weeks ago I blogged about “mixing it up”  –  changing and adding variety to your fitness schedule.   I made mention of some ‘Butt’ exercises I had found and planned to try.  Amazingly I couldn’t find that great set of exercises again.  Found similar but not the ones I was so excited about when I blogged.  This has bugged me  –  and I am now working on building up my own list and finding individual exercises to include.   I was annoyed to ‘lose’ the list and it kept me from blogging ’till I could find it’.  Really silly how our minds work.  So I am moving on while I build the Butt List.

1 Star2 Stars3 Stars4 Stars5 Stars (No Ratings Yet)
Loading...

27 September 2009 ~ 1 Comment

Mud Runs

It is just what it sounds like  –  a grueling run through mud (not by accident) and a variety of obstacles.  The annual Mud Runs take place all over the US in Summer and Fall.  Here is a link to the search I just completed using Bing.  Google brings up a similar result.  Some are 5 miles or 10K (just over 6 miles).

Every year Camp Pendleton (in San Diego)  holds a variety of fitness activities that are open to the general public.  This includes Mud Runs –  more than one each year.  Below are some tips posted  on www.crossfitweekendwarriors.com earlier this year right before a Mud Run (June 10th ).  The tips are attributed to Ken Davis and give one a flavor of the challenge. Read on:

1 Star2 Stars3 Stars4 Stars5 Stars (No Ratings Yet)
Loading...

25 August 2009 ~ 0 Comments

Variety is the Spice that Keeps the Motivation

I don’t know about you – but I have been working out with weights for a lo-o-o-o-ng time.   I really notice it when the workout routine comes around to the start of the cycle and I think “man I just did legs….  or so it seems”.   Does no-one else get that feeling?  Is it just mydays and weeks that fly by, along with the workout cycle?

1 Star2 Stars3 Stars4 Stars5 Stars (No Ratings Yet)
Loading...

10 August 2009 ~ 1 Comment

Looking Young and Fit is ‘Whack’* if you Act Old

Of course our objective in working out and bodybuilding is to stay healthy  –  but who are we kidding, it is also to stay looking and feeling young ( well at least a good deal younger than our chronological age).  So it seems ironic that  we give ourselves away, by acting old in oh so many ways.  In fact Pamela Redmond Satran has written a book “How Not to Act Old” and excerpts have been reproduced in More magazine http://tiny.cc/uF2rq,  and even the Wall Street Journal took time to give an excerpt http://tiny.cc/jDTot.   I tweeted a couple of excerpts that I found funny  (one regarding Twitter and one regarding exercise).  I figure there is something for everyone even though a few women commented in More that they were insulted.

1 Star2 Stars3 Stars4 Stars5 Stars (No Ratings Yet)
Loading...

13 July 2009 ~ 2 Comments

The Athletic Training Pyramid

I wish I had thought of this, the Pyramid, it makes so much sense.  Conditioning gurus view athletic training as a pyramid.  They use it for football players, surfers, runners, cyclists (I’ll bet Lance knows all about this) to make sure the athletes get to and stay at the top of their game.  The pyramid works like this:

·         at the bottom are the fundamental, functional movements,
·         above that is the power,
·         and above that, the skill.

1 Star2 Stars3 Stars4 Stars5 Stars (No Ratings Yet)
Loading...