Tag Archives: cardio

The Importance of Cardio

Cardio is important because it helps to burn calories. Unlike weightlifting which is designed to build muscle, cardio works off those excess calories. This is why you need to implement cardio into your fitness routine if you want to shed some weight. Cardio exercises are those kinds that get you moving. This can include running, walking, biking or dancing. Some sports such as golf, tennis or racquetball are great cardio workouts. Getting in some cardio everyday is the most beneficial to your fitness routine. If you put some variety into your cardio, you won’t become quickly bored. The morning is … Continue reading →

Yet Another Reason to Run

We all know that running is an excellent way to get fit. An exercise program, which includes running, can help you lose weight, build stamina and muscle, lower your blood pressure, increase metabolism, and decrease body fat. Now, health experts are adding one more benefit to the list: Prevention of bone mineral density (BMD). A new study conducted by researchers at the University of Missouri found that high-impact activities, such as running, might have a greater positive effect on BMD than resistance training. The new information is welcome news for individuals who are at high risk of developing osteoporosis. The … Continue reading →

Simple Ways to Burn Calories in the New Year

It’s the first week of the New Year… do you know who’s riding your stationary bike? If you belong to a gym, then you’ve likely noticed a few new faces strolling around the locker room and several more bodies jostling for your favorite treadmill or elliptical machine. While you may not appreciate the company, the fact is that gym membership spikes during the first couple months of a new year. Some newbies are there to cash in on memberships received as holiday gifts, while others are making good on New Year’s resolutions to get fit in 2009. If you have … Continue reading →

Which Comes First?

Do you include both weightlifting and aerobic exercise in the same workout? If so, which do you tackle first? If you workout at a smaller gym (like I do) then your answer might vary depending on the day. Smaller gyms typically mean less equipment, so if you enter the gym hoping to get your run in on the treadmill before heading to the weights, but all of the treadmills, stationary bikes and elliptical machines are in use, then you might be forced to switch up your schedule and lift first. On other days the opposite might be true. You might … Continue reading →

Summer T.V. is Back – Exercise Fun

Posted on by

I’ve talked about how much I love television before. I don’t get to watch it nearly as much as I may like it, but that’s why I have a TiVo and lots of shows on DVD so I can watch them on my schedule, typically when I’m exercising. My daughter has developed a similar love for her television shows, only she doesn’t hit the treadmill. So we have a deal, especially where her favorite shows like “Drake and Josh” are concerned. Exercise on Cue We play the television exercise game. For those needing a crash course, you choose a moment … Continue reading →

I Want to Know How to Build My Own Exercise Program

Last week, I asked and you answered. One of the things you wanted to know about was how to build your own exercise program. An exercise program needs to consist of three basic elements: cardiovascular exercise, strength training and flexibility. These are the three tiers of fitness that you want to address. Cardiovascular Training Cardiovascular training refers to building fitter heart and lungs. Exercises you might do to increase your cardiovascular fitness include: walking, running, bicycling, roller blading, jump roping and more. Essentially, you want to hit your target heart rate and maintain it for at least 15 to 20 … Continue reading →

R is for Running

In How to Get Started … Running we discussed the facts about running: It is an exercise you can take anywhere You do not need a lot of special equipment to run You can run outdoors You can run indoors Running is a cardiovascular sport that boosts your metabolism, strengthens your heart and burns a ton of calories Running is not for everyone, though. For example, I have a bad knee and a lot of running is far too punishing for my knee. It hurts me more than it helps me. I prefer fitness walking and bicycling to running. On … Continue reading →

End of April Fitness Goal Check

Can you believe it’s the end of April already? It seems like just yesterday we were celebrating the New Year and then it was Valentine’s Day, St. Patrick’s Day and Easter and now – tomorrow, we celebrate May Day, then Cinco de Mayo, then Mother’s Day and the list goes on and on and on. We’ve come out of the Winter, into the Spring and now we are on the fast track to summer and the swimsuit season. There’s no better time than today to make your fitness plans, check your goals and more. End of the Month Fitness Goal … Continue reading →

Dear Heather … Fat Burning Workout

Hello, well I’m 16 and going to start running and eating healthy. I weigh 240 and I want to lose 70 pounds or more in 6 months what should I do? And if I walk and run at the same time around a football field for a hour or more how many calories could I lose every week cause I’m want to do this every day until I reach my goal and drink lots of water only water and how many pounds u think I could lose every months? Could you help me Heather? Could you give me tips and … Continue reading →

Post-Natal Fitness: Workout Week Number 1

I promised the new moms out there some workout advice and a few posted routines to help kick start your fitness program. In an effort to cover all areas of fitness, we’ll talk about cardio and weight training this week. Next week, we’ll tackle an aerobic recommendation. Ideally, you should schedule a workout time for being 9 a.m. For most of us, when we work out first thing in the morning, we get our exercise in and we are less likely to be distracted from completing the workout later in the day. For new moms, you should have consulted with … Continue reading →