“Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” Albert Einstein’s famous statement also applies to exercising. Think of all of the people who have been going to the gym 5, 6 and even 7 days a week for years. They show up like clockwork. They have been on the same cardio machines, lifting the same free weights, and using the same nautilus equipment since day one. They do each for the same amount of time, and always in the same order without fail. Yet they don’t see any changes in their physique and they wonder…
Author: Sharon Chamberlin
Sharon Chamberlin
From an early age, Sharon was encouraged to participate in competitive sports including soccer, basketball, track, softball, and volleyball. She has been an athlete and fitness enthusiast ever since. She explains that her parents instilled in her a level of self-confidence that has touched everything she does. See my profile page for more information!
The answer to this question is remarkably simple: It all depends on you. By the time we are teenagers, we – and probably our parents too – know if we are “morning people” or “night people”. Do you hit the snooze button every day? Can you name the celebrities who have been on the television late shows this week? At what point during the day are you most productive? When do you think the clearest? When do you have the most energy? The answers to these questions lead you to when you should work out. There are always exceptions due…
Women who think they shouldn’t lift weights or don’t need to do so are fooling themselves. Strength training is an important component of improving one’s health, and it isn’t necessary to bench press twice your body weight or curl 50 pounds with each arm to reap its benefits. What is important however is consistency and planning. Like all exercise, doing it once doesn’t give you long-term health benefits, but incorporating it into your routine does. These are just some of them: Increases your resting metabolism which helps you to lose weight Improves your strength. You’ll not only notice this in…
From the time we were kids, our gym teachers and coaches told us to stretch. Since then there have been many studies published about stretching. Each one answers the questions of when – before or after exercise, how long – for each muscle and total amount of time, and what type you should do to get optimal performance. A lot of the results are contradictory, but this should come as no surprise, as this is what often happens with research. There are different controls, variables, and situations, and therefore different results. And, not everyone defines optimal performance in the same…
If your muscles are sore then you had a good workout, right? Well, maybe. There is soreness, fatigue, and pain. If you experience sudden severe pain while exercising you should stop immediately. If it continues for two or three days or if it interferes with your normal daily activities including interrupting your sleep, you should seek medical attention. One type of sudden pain that does not require a physician’s help is a muscle cramp. A cramp is an involuntary spasm that is forceful and sustained. It usually lasts between a few seconds and several minutes. The pain it causes can…
I started to write about the “Top Exercise Excuses” that I’ve heard from my clients over the years for not working out. Well, 5 excuses turned into 10, and then 10 ended up turning into 16. Yes, 16 different excuses for not exercising! Not sure why, but that’s the current count so far. These are listed in no particular order because when it comes down to it, excuses are like butts, everyone has one! Let’s get started! Exercise Excuse #1 – I’ll Do It Tomorrow Procrastination is not the answer for anything, whether it’s related to work, home, or health.…
Fitness is a way of life. To achieve and maintain a high level, there are many parts that need to fit together. Type and intensity of exercise, and nutrition are well-known components. However, many people overlook the importance of sleep. Without an adequate amount on a regular basis, we will not attain the success we work so hard for in the gym. The recognized average is 8 hours a night. While it is true that people can and do function with less, 8 hours has been scientifically proven to be the optimal amount that the vast majority of us need…
If you are a woman, wearing the right sports bra while you exercise is important for your success. Let’s face it, if you are uncomfortable while you workout, or if your skin is rubbed to the point of becoming tender or chafed, you are less likely to exercise again. Lotioning up after-the-fact just doesn’t cut it. With this in mind, consider this to be Sports Bras 101. There are two main styles of sports bras: Pullover bras which are also known as compression bras Separating encapsulation bras Compression bras do exactly what their name says. They compress the breasts against…
The Great American Smokeout is November 18. If you know you should stop smoking, but aren’t sure you can do it alone, this is your opportunity to give it a try. People from all across the country will be doing the same. In some respects the first day is the hardest, so tell your family and friends that you are going to participate in the Smokeout and ask them to support you. Most of the negative health effects of smoking are well-known so instead of listing all of the reasons that smoking is bad for you, this is a different…
In the fitness industry, the word flexibility has a dual meaning. The first is obvious – it is the range of motion about a joint in the body. The second is acknowledging that sometimes we have to balance the demands of family and work with our commitment to ourselves to stay in shape. Travel has become a requirement of many of our jobs. It can be exciting to visit different cities and learn about their histories and cultures, but following a workout routine can quickly become challenging. Some people try to make their travel arrangements to only include hotels with…