Author: Sharon Chamberlin

Working in an office all day is no excuse not to be active. While the exercises listed below aren’t substitutions for time well spent in a fitness center, they are designed to reduce the physical toll our bodies receive from sitting for 7, 8, or more hours each day. They will help lessen the tightness of our muscles and the stiffness of our necks, and assist us in focusing on our posture. Some suggestions are to: Bring athletic shoes to walk in during lunch, or before/after work if you take the bus or are in a carpool which requires you…

Times are tough. The recession is affecting everyone either directly or indirectly. Most people are more diligently monitoring their expenses, and many may have found it necessary to cancel their gym memberships in order to pay their mortgage or rent, auto loan, utilities, and groceries. This does not have to be the reason to stop exercising. You can have effective workouts at home, even without dumbbells, barbells, nautilus machines, or cardio equipment. What matters is that you engage your muscles and you keep your intensity high. How do you do this? Bodyweight exercises. By definition, they are strength training exercises…

A gym membership is an investment in your health and your future. Some companies tempt you with month-to-month specials while others try to leverage the value of signing up for a multi-year contract and “locking you in” at a set price. Whatever contract term you choose, making sure you are getting your money’s worth is critical, especially in today’s financial environment. What “red flags” should you be on the lookout for? Have new policies been enacted where there is now a fee for taking group classes or using child care? As you walk around the gym, look at the facility. While…

Every gym has its own set of rules. These are likely listed in the contract you signed, and possibly posted on the walls throughout the facility and even in the restrooms. There are also unwritten rules. In some ways, the unwritten ones are more important as they are what your fellow gym-goers, group classmates, and trainer want you to know ahead of time to help you and them have a positive and rewarding experience. Take a look at the items below and see if you’re breaking any of these gym etiquette rules! Personal Care 1. Wear appropriate clothes. This is…

When you read an ad like “Sign Up for Boot Camp Classes Today!” do you envision a U.S. Army Sergeant, at 0400 hours with his face in yours and yelling as loudly as he can for you to wake up? Standing at attention while your uniform is being inspected? Being put through physically and emotionally grueling days and tests to ensure you are able to handle the demands of being a soldier? Rest assured that not all camps are quite like that. Well, at least not the civilian ones! Fitness boot camp classes are, however, effective in helping people to…

Many fitness and nutrition myths pervade the gym, media outlets, magazines, and the Internet. There are so many in fact, that this will be a three-part article, and still won’t address every one. When these myths are accepted as true, they could lead to injury, muscle imbalance, possible malnutrition, and are basically a waste of your time. Myth #1 – If you eat after 7 p.m. you will gain weight. Truth: Energy balance determines your body weight. If your energy intake (food and drink) is greater than your energy expenditure, then you will gain weight. This is called a positive energy…

Times are tough. Fortunately, exercise can be performed nearly anywhere so you don’t necessarily have to spend a fortune to get a great workout. Many people are opting to workout at home, whether for convenience or due to the cost of pricey gym memberships. If this appeals to you, before you race to the store and buy a truckload of equipment, bars, and weight plates, I urge you to ask yourself why you want a home gym and be sure to answer it honestly. Or better yet, if you invest the money, will you really use it? You really don’t…

Cardiovascular disease is the number one killer of U.S. adults. 900,000 people die every year. One way to help prevent this is by exercising regularly, either at a gym or at home. If you prefer exercising at home, do your research before investing in a cardio machine. You may want to read Consumer Reports, online user reviews, and talk with friends and family who own them or use them at a local gym. Here are some guidelines to follow for three of the more popular cardio machines. Treadmill: Display – is it easy to read, does it provide the information…

Bodybuilding is a serious sport. The elite athletes have transformed their bodies into amazing specimens. These men and women have dramatically changed their lifestyles, altered their nutrition, and have reprogrammed their mindset so everything they do is focused on their next competition. With this being said however, it doesn’t mean that to lift weights you must aspire to be the next Arnold Schwarzenegger or Rachel McLish. Bodybuilding can be an enjoyable activity for everyone, but to succeed at any level from beginner or recreational through highly competitive, there are basic guidelines you should understand. Consult your physician before starting an…

Trans fatty acids. We hear about them but what are they? Why all the fuss? Well, although a very small amount of these TFAs are found naturally in some animal-based foods, by definition they are a “specific type of fat formed when liquid fats are made into solid fats by the addition of hydrogen atoms.” In laymen’s terms, TFAs were originally added to foods to increase their shelf life. They make it simple to transport products, allow for easy commercial frying, and provide solidity at room temperature to make spreads. TFAs are present in many of the foods that line…