Fitness

Exercise plays an important role in helping you to stop smoking. Research shows that exercise has helped smokers to quit smoking. Higher the level of exercise, higher is the level of success. Exercise is a great stress reliever and can replace your r...

Exercise plays an important role in helping you to...

Fat Burning Tip #1: Exercise Consistently It may seem like a no-brainer that regular exercise can help you burn fat and lose weight. But, it's not just about the calories you're burning. It's also about the adaptations your body makes when you exerci...

Fat Burning Tip #1: Exercise Consistently It may s...

Have you ever quit an exercise program, started back and realized the weight loss seems a little slower the second time around? If so, you're not alone. Researchers actually studied this phenomenon and reported their findings in the Journal of Medici...

Have you ever quit an exercise program, started ba...

We often think that the only way to get the heart rate up is with high impact exercises - Jumping jacks, jump roping, squat jumps, etc. Those are great exercises, but not everyone's joints are thrilled with all that pounding, making it tough to find ...

We often think that the only way to get the heart ...

If you're trying to burn calories and lose weight using cardio machines, I have a challenge for you: Put down the magazine, turn off the television, take the towel off your display and stop looking at your watch. Okay, you can keep the iPod or MP3 pl...

If you're trying to burn calories and lose weight ...

Pushups. Even just saying that word in polite company often generates horrified gasps, and I won't even mention the responses I often get from my clients, as swearing is frowned upon in our blogs. We love to hate pushups because they work every muscl...

Pushups. Even just saying that word in polite comp...

With the terrible storms and high heat hitting much of the country and many of us (including here in Chicagoland) without electricity, the question of whether one should exercise probably isn't high on our question list right now. However, even with ...

With the terrible storms and high heat hitting muc...

Of all the variations of lunges out there, and there are a lot of them (lucky you), these sliding side lunges are one of my favorites, particularly for people who have knees that hate lunges even more than they do. In this variation, the knee is more...

Of all the variations of lunges out there, and the...

Are we at the mercy of our genes? That's a question many of us may ask ourselves, particularly when we start a weight loss program. As the weight (hopefully) comes off, you may notice that you're not not losing weight where you want to, causing you t...

Are we at the mercy of our genes? That's a questio...

The 'perfect body' is something many of us have spent a lot of energy trying to achieve, often going to extremes. Hours of exercise, fad diets, infomercial gadgets, thousands of crunches...all in an effort to finally get rid of those love handles or ...

The 'perfect body' is something many of us have sp...

The core (which includes the abs, back and pelvic floor) has a lot of important jobs, but one of the most important is to support and stabilize the spine. Now, I've mentioned before that working the abs from a standing position is often more function...

The core (which includes the abs, back and pelvic ...

There are plenty of good things about getting older, but one of the most frustrating is the fact that your body doesn't always have the same resilience that it used to. In fact, almost all of my clients past the age of 40 are struggling with at least...

There are plenty of good things about getting olde...

I've spent a lot of time on the topic of flat abs, both in my blog and in some of the articles I've written and, at the bottom of those discussions lies the sticky thorn embedded in the quest for six-pack abs: Crunches. Crunches aren't the only exerc...

I've spent a lot of time on the topic of flat abs,...

Exercising at home may seem like a convenient option and it is. You save money, save time and you don't have to worry about matching your clothes or combing your hair before you exercise (although not everyone worries about such things at the gym). I...

Exercising at home may seem like a convenient opti...

This total body workout has everything you need for a complete workout, whether you're on the road or just short on time. The workout alternates a dynamic strength move along with a high-intensity power move so you work your entire body and get your ...

This total body workout has everything you need fo...

Kickbacks are great for working the triceps, but this core version is a great way to add intensity and target the abs and back at the same time. This is a tough exercise, so start with a light weight to make sure you can keep good form. You can also ...

Kickbacks are great for working the triceps, but t...

Dips are already a tough exercise for the triceps and you can add even more intensity with an accompanying leg extension. You'll get more work in the triceps while targeting core, stability and more lower body movement. Sit on a step or chair with t...

Dips are already a tough exercise for the triceps ...

Triceps extensions are a great way to target the triceps, and this variation adds intensity and challenge. First, by doing extensions one arm at a time, you allow each arm to work independently from the other, building strength and endurance on each ...

Triceps extensions are a great way to target the t...

Plyo-jacks, or plyometric jumping jacks, are another option for getting the heart rate up and challenging the body in a whole new way. Plyo-jacks are like very slow jumping jacks. You jump out, just as you would in a jumping jack, but slow things dow...

Plyo-jacks, or plyometric jumping jacks, are anoth...

Whether you're adding these on at the end of your workout or using them for circuit training, froggy jumps are a great way to get your heart rate up in a short time. This advanced exercise will enhance your lower body power and cardio endurance while...

Whether you're adding these on at the end of your ...

Though similar to squat jumps, prisoner squat jumps focus more attention on the core, making this a great overall cardio exercise. By placing the hands behind the head and leaning the torso forward, you engage the abs and the back, which challenges t...

Though similar to squat jumps, prisoner squat jump...