Benefits of Treadmills and Elliptical Exercisers

Going to the gym is not my thing. And I always crack up whenever I drive past the clubs with the large windows, where you can see people walking on treadmills. For some reason, sweating seems like something that should be done in private. But maybe that’s just me. At the same time, I’m not the type of person to fork out a lot of money on gym equipment. Especially if there is the chance I won’t stick to it. But a few years ago I made a worthwhile investment when I purchased a treadmill. Notice that I didn’t say … Continue reading →

The Power of Walking

Earlier this month I read a report from the “Centers of Disease Control and Prevention” (CDC) that compared to five years ago, more people have taken up walking. It is one of the most popular forms of exercise. It really isn’t a surprise. After all, it’s free and a form of exercise that virtually anyone can enjoy. While this is good news, the CDC also says that not enough Americans are meeting federal guidelines when it comes to exercise. In fact, almost a third of the population remains inactive. What are the federal guidelines? They are at least two-and-a-half hours … Continue reading →

Burning Calories with Dancing

So apparently I am behind on the times. I recently blogged about how Zumba (the latest dance fitness craze) is finally coming to the video game world. In February, 2012, “Zumba Fitness Rush” is coming to Xbox 360. However, I should have done my homework. Apparently Zumba has already hit the video game world. In fact, I was complaining that nothing was available for my particular video game system, Nintendo Wii. But apparently last year “Zumba Fitness” had already been available for not only the Wii but Xbox 360 and PS3. Well I might be a bit behind on the … Continue reading →

Getting Back Into Trail Running

Today I went for a power hike that turned into a trail run. I started my workout with hiking over half a mile. After power hiking, I jogged for as long as I felt comfortable about fifteen minutes, then eased into some intervals of power hiking and sprinting spurts. Trail running to me is like taking your hike to the next level. You push yourself harder and blast calories faster. However, because of this it is harder on your body. Trail running is a great outdoor workout. If you like to run in your neighborhood and you like nature, trail … Continue reading →

Why I Love to Hike

One thing I am passionate about is hiking. Simply stated I love to hike and would do it every day if I could. One reason I enjoy hiking is it can offer different intensities that you can set to your needs. You can keep your hike mellow and go for a casual nature walk. Or you can go on a major hiking adventure in the mountains. My favorite type of hiking is to go on a hilly trail for about four to five miles. My favorite trails are a dirt path that are used by bicyclists, hikers, and equestrian. The … Continue reading →

Had a Great Bike Ride Today

Today I went on about a fifteen mile bike ride with a new friend. We did a trail that starts about half a mile from my house and rode for about an hour and a half. As we were biking along the trail, I realized how enjoyable biking is and what I like about it. One reason I like biking is because getting into biking won’t break the bank. I also like how you can use biking for exercise, leisure, errands or getting to work. There are lots of things you can do when you have a bike, even if … Continue reading →

Your Waist Size and Walking

People are often most concerned about their weight, using it a measuring tool to determine success. I know I am guilty of this too, but there is something else I am more concerned about- waist size. Research has show that the size of your waist can determine if you are likely to have heart disease and other health problems. Several research articles I have read encourage woman to have a less than a 35 inch waist and men to have less than a 40 inch waist. Following these guidelines can help save your heart and life. The research shows that … Continue reading →

Thoughts on Zumba

What is Zumba? Zumba is a Latin-inspired dance workout. It has grown in popular over the past several years, through classes offered by zumba certified instructors and then DVDs. I first heard about zumba through a friend who liked to do zumba DVDs at home. My thoughts on zumba So first off I want to say that dancing is a great cardio activity. When you are dancing to music and have a good time, you might not even remember you are burning calories! However for me I have mixed opinions about zumba. Doing zumba in my opinion boils down to … Continue reading →

Enjoying My Spinning Class

Today began week four of my six week summer spinning class. Spinning if you have not heard of it before is a form of indoor cycling. Similar to a stationary bike, but designed very specifically for intense, cardio rides where you can actually go from a seated position to a standing position (while still spinning). A great feature on spinning bikes is they have a knob that allows you to add resistance. I really enjoy spinning class for a lot of reasons. The main reason is that it is a great cardio workout. We spin for about 50 minutes and … Continue reading →

Pool Workout

Summer is by the far the number one season for being in the pool. The sun is hot and jumping in a pool can be majorly refreshing. So when it finally got hot around here, I went into my parent’s pool. I soon realized what a great workout swimming and playing in the pool can be! You can get a great workout from the resistance the water provides. This is great for people of all ages and especially beneficial if you have joint problems. Just remember it is safer to swim with a buddy than swim alone. For some safety … Continue reading →