Exercises for a Flatter Abdomen

04/16/2012 Leave a comment

Photo Credit: lululemon athetica CC-BY-2.0

Almost everyone wants a flatter belly and defined abdominal muscles. Crunches, planks and many other abdominal exercises can help you achieve flat, strong abdominal muscles. Here are three easy-to-do quick exercises to add to your workout that will help you reach your goal. 
The upper body twist works your obliques as well as your abdominal muscles to help shape and define your waist. Stand up straight with your feet about hip-width apart. Drop your shoulders a couple of inches and look straight ahead to straighten your spine. Interlace your fingers with your palms together. Simultaneously lift your right knee and press it toward the right while twisting your upper body to the left by pushing your arms to the left. Do 10 repetitions on each side for a total of 20 twists. 
Do kick-outs to help strengthen and tone your abdominal muscles as well as your legs and back. Stand up straight with your feet together and stretch your arms out straight from the shoulder on each side. Keep your arms parallel to the floor. Lift your right leg straight up and bring your arms forward toward your foot at the same time. Move your arms in a sweeping motion from the shoulder. Return to the start position and repeat the exercise with your left leg. Do 10 repetitions with each leg for a total of 20 kick-outs.
Stretch-ups will stretch your spine, back and abdominal muscles and help to flatten and strengthen the belly. Stand up straight with your feet together and turn your toes outward slightly. Bring your arms up to chest level with your elbows bent and pointed straight out to each side. Interlace your fingers with the palms pointed toward the floor. Squeeze your abdominal muscles and simultaneously push your arms straight down toward the floor while stretching up as tall as you can standing on your toes. Hold the stretch for 2 to 4 seconds and then lower your heels back to the floor and return your hands to your chest with the elbows bent and forearms parallel to the floor. Do 20 repetitions. 

Filed under abs

Eat For Prostate Health

04/15/2012 1 Comment

Photo Credit: National Cancer Institute

Men can reduce their risk of prostate cancer by living a healthy lifestyle that includes exercise and a healthy diet. There is some evidence to support lycopene in the diet may help reduce the risk of developing prostate cancer, but there is no conclusive evidence that it prevents cancer. The best way to reduce your risk of prostate cancer or any disease is to eat healthy foods, get plenty of rest and exercise regularly. Some foods may help to reduce your risk of cancer and improve your overall health.
Men who want to reduce their risk of prostate cancer should choose a diet that is low in fat. Meat and dairy products are high in fat, which may increase the risk of prostate cancer. Choose low-fat dairy products, like skim milk, low-fat yogurt and reduced fat cheeses. Eat more fresh vegetables and limit the amount of red meat in the diet to reduce fat intake.
Folate is a B vitamin that is found in green vegetables. Folic acid is a synthetic form of folate that is often found in vitamin fortified foods and dietary supplements. According to the National Cancer Institute, a 10 year study of men who took a dietary supplement of folic acid were at greater risk of developing prostate cancer than men who consumed natural folate in their diets. To get enough folate in your diet, eat plenty of green vegetables and fruits. 
Omega-3 fatty acids also help to reduce the risk of prostate cancer. Omega-3 fatty acids are found in fish, including salmon tuna, sardines and trout. Green tea is also helpful to reduce the risk of prostate cancer. Trade steak for fish and coffee for green tea a few times each week to get the benefits of the nutrients in these foods that can help lower your risk of cancer. 

Filed under cancer, diet, health, healthy foods, men's health, prostate

Weight Gain? Blame It On Your Thyroid

04/14/2012 1 Comment

Photo Credit: Erifyli Tsavdari CC-BY-2.0
The thyroid gland is located in your throat and produces hormones that regulate a number of body functions, including how your body uses energy, protein production and oxygen use. Hypothyroidism is a condition in which the thyroid is under-active and does not produce enough thyroid hormone. Hypothyroidism can result in weight gain because the metabolism slows down when the thyroid does not produce enough hormones to stimulate metabolism. A slower metabolism can lead to weight gain due to fat storage and water retention. Symptoms of hypothyroidism include dry skin and hair, muscle cramps, constipation and a general sluggish feeling or a lack of energy. Menopausal women are more susceptible to hypothyroidism than men of the same age. Untreated thyroid problems can lead to other, some very serious, health problems. Osteoporosis, heart disease and stroke are possible. Only your doctor can diagnose a thyroid condition. See your doctor for a complete physical, including tests to determine your thyroid health.
Regular exercise is important generally, and especially if you have hypothyroidism. Exercise, combined with a healthy diet, helps to stimulate the metabolism which can lead to weight loss. Try to get at least 30 minutes every day, if possible. You don’t have to get the full 30 minutes at one time. Spread your exercise throughout the day in 10 minute intervals. Selenium may also help women who suffer from thyroid problems. Foods that contain selenium include tuna, onions, tomatoes, broccoli, whole wheat and bran. Brazil nuts are also rich in selenium. Spinach, apricots, asparagus, olive oil, avocado, sunflower seeds, whole grain cereals, bananas, oily fish and carrots also contain sufficient selenium.  Include these foods in your diet and follow your doctor’s advice.

For more information about selenium and hypothyroidism, see:

Filed under diet, health, thyroid, weight gain, weight loss, women's health

Plyometrics

04/13/2012 Leave a comment

Photo Credit: Joe Mabel CC-BY-SA-3.0

Plyometrics is exercise by jumping explosively. It was originally designed to help improve the jumping performance of Olympic athletes. This form of exercise can increase your muscle strength. According to the American Council on Exercise, plyometric training can improve leg strength, muscle power, balance, agility and improve bone health. Plyometric exercises include hopping and jumping, which targets the quadriceps to improve vertical jump power and joint strength.

Low-intensity plyometric exercises are best for beginners or people who do not exercise regularly. Hopping on one leg and then alternating or jumping up to and then down from a platform, like a step-aerobics platform, are good beginning exercises. Intermediate to advanced exercises include leaping over obstacles and jumping up and down from platforms as much as 42 inches high. 

You should not begin a program of plyometric exercise on your own. A professional fitness trainer and personal coach can help you develop a program to help you reach your goals and avoid injury. If you want to add some plyometric exercises to your regular weekly routine, see a doctor for a physical and then find a qualified fitness trainer.

Filed under exercise, fitness, plyometric

Lose Weight Without Dieting

04/12/2012 Leave a comment

Photo Credit: Evan Swigart CC-BY-2.0
One of the most difficult things about dieting is feeling deprived. Starvation diets don’t work. In fact, they have the opposite effect because deprivation causes the metabolism to slow down so that your body stores more food as fat instead of burning it for energy. Fad diets can be dangerous because you may not get all the nutrients you need from the food you are permitted to eat while on the diet. The best way to lose weight without depriving yourself, or endangering your health, is to eat smaller portions, avoid sugars and fats and exercise. Some minor changes in your lifestyle and in your eating habits can make all the difference in weight loss.
Eat home-cooked meals at least 5 to 6 days each week. Some restaurants provide calorie and fat content information for menu items, but most do not. Use fresh vegetables if possible, but frozen vegetables are just as nutritious. Those with a busy lifestyle can cook on weekends to prepare meals for the upcoming week. Frozen dinners often contain large amounts of sodium, sugars, fats and preservatives. Even frozen diet meals may contain too much salt. Cook your own meals from fresh ingredients to avoid hidden calories in your meals. Slow down and eat more slowly. Savor your food instead of gobbling it down in a hurry. When you eat fast, your brain and stomach do not have time to communicate with each other, which can lead to overeating.
Serve more vegetables with each of your meals. If you normally eat one vegetable side dish at dinner, add a second vegetable. The high fiber content of most vegetables will fill you up faster without adding calories. Avoid adding cream or cheese sauces, which adds fat and calories to your food. Cook with herbs and seasonings instead of sauces. 
Switch your white bread and rolls for high fiber, calorie busting whole grains instead. The next time you reach for a soda, pour yourself a glass of water or tea. Replacing one soda with a glass of water each day can help you avoid about 10 teaspoons of sugar every day. Add lemon, fresh strawberries or lime juice to your water for flavor. 

Filed under diet, fitness, food, health

Stronger, Trimmer Inner Thighs

04/11/2012 Leave a comment

Photo Credit: Exey Panteleev CC-BY-2.0
Short pants and skirts weather is here! Are you unhappy with the appearance of your inner thighs and want to trim and tone your muscles? It’s difficult to “spot train,” but you can “target” muscle groups with specific exercises. Do each of the following exercises for 20 to 30 repetitions each day to help trim and strengthen your inner thighs. 
Normal squats strengthen the upper thighs, calves, hamstrings, back and abdominal muscles. Take a wide stance when performing squats to strengthen and tone your inner thighs, too. Stand with your feet a couple of inches wider than your shoulder width. Point your toes outward. Keep your spine straight from the top of your head to your tailbone and slowly lower your body to a “sitting” position. Hold the position for 2 seconds and then push with your legs back to a standing position. Place your hands comfortably on your hips or hold on to a sturdy chair for balance, if necessary. Try to do this exercise without holding a chair for maximum effectiveness. Increase the effectiveness of squats by placing a ball between your legs. Hold the ball between your legs above your knees and squeeze it as your lower your body into the squat. 
Inner thigh pushes will really tighten up your inner thighs! Lie on the floor on your right side and support your upper body with  your right elbow and forearm on the floor. Stretch your right leg out straight. Bend your left knee and place your left foot on the floor in front of your right knee. Raise your right leg upward toward the ceiling. Lift until your feel your inner thigh begin to tighten and hold the position for 2 to 3 seconds, and then lower your leg to within 1 inch of the floor. Repeat with the other leg. 

Filed under fitness, health, muscles, thighs, trim

Summer Vacation Workouts

04/10/2012 2 Comments

Photo Credit: Mavila2  CC-BY-SA-3.0

Summer is almost here! The family vacation is an American tradition, but you don’t have to take a vacation from fitness to have fun and relax. Take advantage of your vacation to add some variety to your workouts. Whether you are going to a luxury hotel, in a cabin by the lake, hang out at the beach or go camping in the mountains, you can stay fit and energetic during your vacation while having fun. 

Many people enjoy the quiet, serene surroundings of a cabin by a lake. America offers plenty of idyllic vacation spots on lakes. You know that swimming is a great way to get a good whole body cardiovascular workout, but you’re on vacation to relax, right? Take a relaxing dip in the lake to cool off from the summer heat and get a good workout, too. Walk out in the lake until the water is under your chin and your toes touching the bottom of the lake. Tread water for 5 to 8 minutes and then walk back to waist-deep water to rest for 2 minutes. Repeat this exercise 2 times ever day of your vacation. Canoeing and rowing are excellent  ways to work out your upper body, arms, chest and back. 
For those staying in a hotel while visiting an historic town or taking the kids to a popular amusement park, you don’t have to neglect fitness. Hotels usually have pools and fitness rooms complete with exercise machines and weights. After breakfast, head down to the hotel exercise facility and workout on a treadmill, stationary bicycle or elliptical for 20 minutes and then cool off with a few laps of the pool for 10 minutes. You will feel energized and ready to take on your daily vacation agenda. 

Camping and hiking are popular family vacation activities. Mountain hiking and camping offer numerous opportunities to exercise and stay in shape on vacation. Getting to your campsite will be a great workout, but don’t just sit in the shade once you set up camp. Exercise by exploring for 15 minutes in the morning and 15 minutes in the evening. Don’t walk alone, carry your cell phone in case of emergency and a GPS device to help you find your way back to your campsite. 

If you are vacationing at the beach, you will get a good workout just walking in the sand. The sand provides resistance that you can’t get walking on solid ground or on an exercise machine. You will definitely feel the positive effects in your shins, ankles, feet and calves. Wear a wide-brim hat, sunblock and sandals because the sand can become very hot during the day. Walk for 15 minutes in the morning and 15 minutes in the afternoon to stay fit,  while enjoying the ocean breeze and the scenery. Enjoy a game of beach volleyball and toss a Frisbee with your kids to have fun while exercising.

Filed under aerobic exercise, exercise, fitness, holidays

Fitness for Older Beginners

04/09/2012 Leave a comment

Photo Credit: Shustov  CC-BY-SA-3.0
It’s never too late to start a fitness program of regular exercise and a healthy diet. Older adults can benefit from beginning a fitness program at any age, even if you have been inactive for years. Walking, bicycling and swimming are good, low-impact exercises for older adults. Those who suffer from arthritis will benefit from low-impact exercise to help manage pain and keep the joints from becoming stiff. Low-impact exercises also help stimulate the metabolism, which helps with the regulation of blood sugar and cholesterol. Endorphins produced in the brain are natural mood elevators that also reduce pain. Consult with your doctor before beginning any exercise or fitness program, especially if you have been sedentary for years. In addition to walking, bicycling and swimming, exercises that are easy on the joints and help to maintain flexibility and mobility include rowing and elliptical machines and treadmills. If a gym membership is not in your budget or schedule, there are home exercise machines available at major retailers or fitness stores. Sometimes gyms sell used equipment at tremendous savings over a new machine. 

Begin your exercise program slowly and work your way up to at least 30 minutes each day. Try walking for 5 minutes every day for one week. The next week add 5 minutes for a 10 minute walk. Soon you will be walking for 30 minutes without feeling too tired. Once you can walk for 30 minutes, try speeding up your pace to a brisk walk for the same amount of time. Brisk walking is a great way to get your  heart pumping and your lungs working at maximum capacity. Walking is one of the best ways to get a good cardiovascular workout with minimum risk of injury. 
As people age they begin to lose muscle mass and their bones may lose density, becoming soft or brittle. Strength training, along with a healthy diet that includes plenty of vitamins and calcium, can help to prevent bone loss and maintain muscle tissue. Start with a 1 or 2 pound dumbbell weights when beginning strength training. Firm up your arms and keep your joints flexible by performing 5 biceps and 5 triceps exercises every other day. It’s important to let your muscles rest between strength training exercises so that they can heal and rest. When you can do 10 curls (5 biceps and 5 triceps) without feeling tired, increase the number of repetitions. As you grow stronger, add more weight (1 pound at a time). You may experience some muscle soreness, but this is normal. A mild over-the-counter pain reliever can help. Always check with your doctor before taking any over-the-counter medication, especially if you are taking prescription medications. 

Filed under exercise, fitness, health, older adults

Relieve Lower Back Pain With Exercise

04/08/2012 Leave a comment

Photo Credit: Loveobx23 CC-BY-SA-3.0

Low back pain may result from overuse of the muscles and ligaments. Injuries to the muscles and ligaments also causes low back pain. You can get some relief from mild to moderate low back pain with stretching exercises. See a doctor to rule out serious injury, like a compression fracture or injured disk, before trying exercise to relieve low back pain. After your doctor has given you the go-ahead, try some of these exercises to help with low back pain:
Hip wagging is an exercise that will help to gently stretch out your sore muscles and ligaments in the lower back. Get on the floor on your hands and knees. Keep your spine straight from the top of your head to your tail bone. Look at the floor and spread your fingers slightly. Align your hands under your shoulders for stability. Place your knees slightly apart, about 4 to 6 inches. Slowly move only your hips to the left as far as you can without experiencing pain. Bring your hips back to the center and then slowly move your hips to the right. Repeat this exercise 10 to 15 times. 
Hip extensions can follow the hip wagging exercise since you are already in the “all fours” position. Bring your right knee under your body toward your head as far as you can. Do not bring your chin toward your knee but continue looking at the floor. Next, stretch your right leg straight out behind your body. Keep your spine and your leg in a straight line parallel to the floor. Hold the stretch for about 5 seconds and repeat the exercise 10 to 15 times. Repeat this exercise with the left leg. 
Sit up straight on a sturdy dining-style chair that does not have armrests. Straighten your spin by dropping your shoulders down and back about 1 to 2 inches. Look straight ahead and rest your hands comfortably on your knees. Slowly curl your body forward beginning with your neck, then your upper back and finally with your lower back. Reach forward with your hands as you bend until your palms are touching the floor in front of your feet. Hold this stretch for about 5 seconds. Slowly roll your body back upright beginning at your lower back, upward to your middle back, your shoulders and then your neck. Try to perform this exercise in a smooth rolling motion. Repeat 10 times. 
Stretching your back muscles from side to side can help improve flexibility and reduce low back pain. Stand up straight and relax your arms at your sides. Place your feet about hip-width apart. Bend your upper body toward the right from the shoulder, down your side to your hip. Hold the stretch for 5 seconds and the slowly return to the start position. Pause for 2 seconds and then bend toward the left. Repeat this exercise 10 times on each side. 

For more information about low back pain and exercises, see:

Filed under exercise, exercise ball, lower back, muscles, pain, spine

Eat for Energy

04/07/2012 Leave a comment

Photo Credit: Kander PD

Would you be surprised if someone told you to eat to lose weight? Your metabolism is the process by which your body converts the food you eat into energy. Your metabolic rate is the rate at which your body turns food into fuel. The metabolic rate is different for each person and generally slows down as you age. This is why some people get what is called “middle age spread” around the abdomen or hips. When the metabolic rate slows, but caloric intake does not decrease, you can gain weight. Depriving yourself of food is not the answer to maintaining a healthy weight. Your body needs food for energy and will slow your metabolic rate in response to a lack of energy. Starvation diets are not only dangerous, but counter-productive since the body responds to deprivation by slowing down metabolism. To maintain a healthy weight or to lose weight, keep your metabolic rate at peak efficiency by eating more often. 
When you eat food, your body responds by releasing hormones and enzymes that convert food to energy that can be used by your cells. If you wait too long between meals, the metabolism slows down. Skipping breakfast or lunch and then eating a large evening meal may cause your body to store more food as fat in order to compensate for the lack of food earlier in the day. Your body stores up fat for energy use. The problem is the body is storing more fat than you are using for energy. In order to avoid this cycle of starvation and weight gain and keep your metabolism functioning at peak efficiency, eat several small, high-fiber meals everyday. 
Eat a healthy, high-fiber breakfast, followed by a mid-morning snack. Fresh fruits, vegetables, yogurt and whole grain crackers are ideal choices. Don’t forget to eat lunch, and then enjoy a late-afternoon snack. Dinner should include foods from all the food groups. At least 1/2 of your plate should be filled with vegetables, fruits and grains. Drink plenty of water throughout the day to help your body digest food and remain hydrated. Green tea may also help to increase your metabolism because it contains an antioxidant called epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), which may help boost your body’s fuel burning power. 

Filed under diet, fitness, food, metabolism, weight loss

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