Archive for the ‘Wellness’ Category
Cardio Interval Training for Better Heart Health
The U.S. Public Health Service ongoing study of the lifelong effect of health within the population of the United States had recorded the chances of heart disease developing among the different categories of people.
Epidemiological research is the study of circumstances that is causing the health and illness of populations. The research are able to determine groups of people in the high risk zone even before they showed any signs or symptoms.
The study have identified a group with the highest risk as being a male, with the age of over 35, a cigarette smoker, having a history of high blood pressure, maintaining a high levels of some types of blood fats and having a family history of cardiovascular complications.
To add to that list, some researchers have included the uncontrollable, hard-driving and extremely anxious personality as another risk factor. The bigger the amount of severity, the higher the person’s total risk.
There are two fundamental categories for these warning signs. First are those that are not in the control of the individual such as sex, age and heredity. The second one are the ones that is controllable, avoidable or even can be eliminated.
It is among those within the second classification are what cardiologists term as “the triple threats”.
“The triple threats” category consist of cigarette smoking, high blood pressure and high cholesterol level in the blood.
Whenever a smoker puffs a pack of cigarettes per day, their risk of getting a heart attack is about twice that of a non-smoker. What is worse if you smoke, living with hypertension and consume food with enormous amount of fats without any exercise at all, the risk that you put yourself in is five times more than the normal people.
Now if this risk criteria are causing heart’s health to be in danger then what will improves its well-being and better the odds of being functioning long and well?
It is definitely obvious that giving up smoking and eating nutritious diet that is low in fats will help you. Nonetheless, the next best action that you can provide for your heart’s sake is to supply it with what it needs naturally and if you had guessed consistent exercise sessions or a complete cardio interval training then you are right.
What we know about the heart is that it consists of a group of muscles and it is no different to the muscles of the arms and legs.
These limb muscles are strengthened and improved with regular exercise and it will no doubt boost the health of the heart muscles too.
Many prominent statistical studies since the World War II have assessed the dependency between physical exercise and cardiovascular disorders.
There is a famous survey which compared over 30,000 drivers and conductors of a few bus companies. The drivers who are mostly in a sedentary sitting position had a very much higher rate of heart disorders than the conductors. The conductors had the chance to roam around the buses and climbed stairs to get to the top level of a double decker buses.
Another fine experiments involving dogs with coronary arteries that are surgically narrowed to mimic a human arteriosclerosis can clarify the why and how behind those statistics.
Compared with inactive dogs, those that are allowed to exercise had a healthier blood flow.
A new development between the connections of the imperfect and almost normal blood vessels seems to be stimulated by the workout. This mean dogs that are exercised had a healthier blood supply provided to the muscle tissue of the heart.
Looking at the human heart, it reacted exactly in the same fashion to transport blood to the part that was ruined by the heart attack.
The heart uses a new tiny blood vessels for a process called collateral circulation so that it can go about healing the damaged heart muscle.
These latest branches on the arterial tress are able to appear a long before a heart attack. If the new structure can take over efficiently the function of the narrowed vessels then heart attack can be avoided.
Gathering all of this facts, what action can we take to avoid such predicaments?
In constructing these subsidiary pathways, some studies have found that moderate workout a few times a week is more efficient for the task than an intensely vigorous workout done two times that frequency.
More supporting researches concluded that there are proven connection between exercise and a healthy heart based from the data that shows the group that do not exercise had almost 50% higher risk of heart attack than the other control group of people. The cause of a third of that danger, according to the study, is due to sedentary lifestyle alone.
Thus by getting involved in cardio interval workout, you can be sure to achieve positive development not only on aspects that concerns your cardiovascular system but also on the overall condition of you health too.
In a nutshell, merely committing into this type of exercise can lessen the threats of heart attacks, allows the heart to perform efficiently, increase metabolism, improves the lung capacity and decrease stress.
Have no doubt that cardio interval training is the sensible way of actualizing a healthy heart, mind and body.
Get 300% Better Fat Loss With Interval Training
Many new scientific studies have shown that interval training can burn three times as much fat as running at slow, consistent speeds. Try out this workout to rev-up your body’s natural fat burning abililty.
To start, measure your baseline endurance at high speeds. Head to a track or any other place that has a measured area where you can run. Sprint for 45 seconds and record your distance. Rest for 60 seconds and sprint again.
This program consists of interval wind sprints and strength training.
Warm up for 2 to 3 minutes, do the following exercises and then do the intervals.
Waiter’s Bow: Pinch the skin of your lower back. Push your hips back and bow forward as far as you can while squeezing an inch of skin. Contract your glutes and stand up. Repeat ten times.
Prisoner Squat: Stand with your hands behind your head. Sit back at the hips and bend your knees to sqaut down. Squeeze your glutes and push back up. Do 10 reps.
Lunge: Take a large step forward, when your front thigh is parallel to the floor, hold for two counts and return to standing. Alternate for ten reps on each leg.
Elbow-to-Instep Lunge: Step forward with your left leg and place your right hand on the floor. Press your left elbow down toward your left-instep. Repeat for 10 reps on each leg.
Romanian Deadlift: Stand on one foot. Keeping the arch in your spine, bend down and lower your hands. Press your heel into the floor to return to standing. Repeat for ten reps on each leg.
Intervals
To get started running intervals, try one sprint at 50% effort for 60 seconds, then rest for 60 seconds. Run one more sprint at 75% effort for 60 seconds and rest for 60 seconds. Then complete three more intervals at 100% effort for 60 seconds, with a 90 second rest in between. As you grow more fit, work up to six intervals.
By doing this workout on a regular basis, you can lose fat, tone up your muscles and improve your cardiovascular health.
Faster Weight Loss With High Intensity (Fast) Cardio
If one of your fitness goals is to burn fat you’re probably thinking you’ll need to put in lots of time doing long, slow cardio workouts. How tedious and time consuming. Fortunately, there’s a better way. It’s called HIIT (or H.I.I.T.) and it should be a key part of your fat loss plans.
So what is HIIT? HIIT is an acronym for High-Intensity Interval Training. HIIT isn’t another one of those long slow cardio programs. Instead, a HIIT workout involves several cycles of short, hard exercise, followed by short less intense recovery periods. Done right, HIIT workouts are killers, but they don’t take a long time and they’re highly effective at burning fat and building muscle.
HIIT-ing yourself like this causes your heart rate to continually vary, going back and forth from a low level to near your maximum rate. HIIT workouts are short, but intense. A basic HIIT workout consists of a warm-up period, followed by several cycles of varying-intensity exercise, ending with a cool down period. But fortunately, HIIT workouts can be short.
Research shows that a HIIT cardio program can burn up to 9 times the calories as an old-fashioned cardio workout. Shorter, more intense workouts that give far better results than longer, more boring ones.
Why does HIIT burn fat & build muscle better than regular cardio? The spikes in heart rate and energy consumption involved in HIIT cause your body to release massive amounts of growth hormone and other chemicals that trigger fat burning and muscle growth. The intense work you do during the session causes your metabolism to run at a higher rate for many hours after your workout. During this time, your body is rebuilding the tissues stressed by your workout, making them a little stronger and better able to handle the workload you are subjecting them to.
High-Intensity Interval Training not only works better, it fits better into a busy lifestyle. If you’re determined to build a great body, you’re going to have to dedicate a lot of time to strength training. I don’t know about you, but I don’t have the time to run long distances every day on top of strength training. HIIT is a solution to this problem.
HIIT can really make a difference in your fat loss results. But as with other aspects of your effort to burn fat & get fit, starting slowly is the best way to proceed. HIIT workouts are a particularly strong example of this general rule. I know from bitter experience that pushing HIIT too fast can leave you a quivering heap on the ground. Going too hard too fast is also a great way to lose your lunch.
HIIT is truly a more effective way to build muscle and burn fat on your way to awesome personal fitness. If you have any doubts, compare the physique of the typical marathon runner (long, slow distance) to the typical sprinter (short bursts of high-intensity effort). Which one has the kind of body you would want?
Beginning With Kettlebell Training
Kettlebells originated in Russia and were initially considered to be a program meant for weight lifters and others into body building. However, since their comeback recently in the USA, kettlebells are found in exercise regimes of many Hollywood celebrities and sportsmen. Kettlebell workouts have several benefits and thus people are turning to using kettlebell workouts in their droves !
Exercising with kettlebells require a small amount of equipment, just one pair of kettlebells can get you started with the most simple of kettlebell workouts. You also need space for kettlebell workouts as this is a free form of exercise requiring a lot of movement. It is entirely up to you to use the kettlebells in different and innovative ways to develop your own workout plan.
To start with kettlebell training, it is not necessary that one should put on hold his current training regime; in fact, kettlebell training can help you to bring back some change of pace and variety in your old and stale exercising schedule. Very effective kettlebell workouts can have cardiovascular and muscular benefits. The advantage that kettlebells have over dumbbells is that they add the cardio element of exercising into training, something which dumbbells lack. This multi faceted, all around approach of kettlebell workouts has made it the most popular exercise equipment of the century.
A warm up exercise is needed before any kind of session. As a beginner, one needs to focus more on the techniques and the basic skills required for doing the important exercises. It is advisable to start with light weight kettlebells first, untill you are able to handle them comfortably. Gradual progression from basic moves to more fluid workouts will show results and help you improve strength and flexibility.
Although there are many exercises one can execute in kettlebell workouts, one should take into account the specific body parts which each exercise targets before including it into your kettlebell workout regime. As a sports player, one can focus on a specific body part and so your training should revolve around it. Before planning kettlebell workouts, a balanced approach should be taken and one should work out on all areas rather than on one or two areas. Kettlebell exercises that cover all the major muscle groups can be included in a workout routine. Thus the press, pull, squat, core and lower body pull are main areas where one can start working on.
The kettlebell swing is one of the most basic of actions, the others being kettlebell cleans, kettlebell jerks and kettlebell snatch. The kettlebell snatch is a very unique exercise which works on each and every muscle of the body. High repetitive sets of snatches can be very exhaustive and great for calorie loss and fat burning.
It is considered to the best cardio exercise and it can burn up many calories quickly. While it is true that kettlebells can bring good cardio results in a very short span of time, it is by no means an easy way of training. Kettlebell workouts are considered to be the toughest of workouts and it can be planned for varying goals; namely strength training, fat and weight loss, muscle endurance and many more. Kettlebells present endless possibilities; but ultimately it is your goal, and skills which decide the best kettlebell workout plan for you.
About Weight Loss Supplements
Weight loss supplements may be indicated when the patient is too obese to effectively exercise but is not in a condition that warrants surgery to reduce food consumption. Excess weight may put so much pressure on the joints that normal activity is hampered and the individual is unable to lose weight. This cycle of being unable to move and consequent weight gain can be reduced with the use of weight loss supplements. In case you are suffering from any medical condition related to blood sugar or pressure, your doctor must be informed of medications that you are consuming. These medicines should preferably be used only for a short period till enough weight loss is achieved to allow physical movement. After that, the patient should opt for alternative methods to achieve the targeted weight.
Inhibitors
Weight loss supplements that work as lipase inhibitors act on food and move through the digestive tract at a fast rate. Some patients complain of a lack of fullness despite the quantities that they eat. This disorder can be controlled with the use of medicines like these. This can lead to increased bowel movements that are sometimes uncontrollable. An alternative has the capability to suppress the hormones that signal the feeling of hunger. You must avoid eating unless your body requires it to allow either of these options to work on your system binge eating can lead to distress events if you are using lipase inhibitors. You can run the risk of losing out on vital nutrients on a daily basis with the hormone suppressant. Ensure that you take the advice of a physician in diagnosing whether you need supplements and the food supplements you should take to remain healthy.
Side effects
Weight loss supplements come with side effects. Apart from diarrhoea and nutrition loss, some of them impact the memory of the user. Some medicines have been linked to heart attacks because of the unhealthy increase in energy expenditure that it creates and puts an unnatural strain on vital organs. Muscle cramping, constipation and difficulty in sleeping are some of the common side effects. Though the medication may not show adverse reactions in the short run, the stress on the system due to poor rest and impaired nourishment are likely to have long term effects. These will show up in the form of reduced immunity and longer recovery from minor ailments.
Diagnosis
Your physician will take a complete physical examination and check your vital signs before deciding on the suitable weight loss supplements that you can try. The physician will advise you on the right eating patterns to be followed and ask that you take regular checks of certain vital parameters to rule out the possibility of undesirable effects. Weight loss supplements are to be seen as medicines with chemical formulations that interfere with the body’s natural flow. Long term use is recommended only if you are under regular care of a physician. Though there are many over the counter formulations, do not try them without checking their safety and efficacy with an expert.
Russian Kettlebells: A Gym You Can Hold in One Hand!
Do you have a shoestring budget and are planning for a home gym? Then, cheap kettlebells are a good option to include in your training regime. There are many ways to get cheap kettlebells but one must not compromise too much on the quality otherwise it will hamper the workout experience and may cause injury.
Kettlebells, already popular in the fitness industry, are a very efficient exercising tool, which can give a full body workout. Kettlebells provide a versatile full body workout, which very few types of equipment can do. Not only do kettlebells improve strength but it has cardio benefits also. An intense kettlebell work out can leave you more exhausted than many sets of cardio exercises in a gym.
For those who are not aware, Kettlebells were developed in Russia and has been gaining popularity in America and even in the UK now.
You do not need to buy expensive equipments for your home gym as kettlebells are available at much lesser cost and they do not even occupy much space. They are easily moveable and can be carried anywhere which allows the users more flexibility. A pair of kettlebells is a must for a fitness enthusiast’s home gym as it has tremendous benefits. The price tag of kettlebells can be sometimes very high, which can be de-motivating for a fitness enthusiast but there are ways to get cheaper kettlebells.
One way to get cheap kettlebells is to buy second hand, used kettlebells at cheap rates at eBay. Since kettlebells are made of cast iron which is very strong and durable, it does not matter much, or rather does not change the outward appearance of kettlebell, even if it is a used one. As to why someone has decided to sell it, the reasons may be many. He may be wishing to move to a heavier set of kettlebells or he may not want to work out with kettlebells any more.
Many online stores too offer cheap kettlebells or reasonable priced ones but one should consider the shipping costs involved there. Many a times, the shipping and handling cost is as much as the kettlebell cost itself. Placing an order for a kettlebell online is also risky since you will not know its quality till it is delivered to you., so please use a respected merchant like Russian Kettlebells UK.
While getting a good bargain is good, care must be taken to check the quality of some cheap kettlebells. Many kettlebells have very rough, inferior casting or have a rough surface which eventually tear up your hands. There should be adequate distance between the handle and the
cannon ball, which allows for finger bones to pass through. A poorly made handle can injure a hand during workouts, which is the last thing you would want while swinging the kettlebell. The thickness of the handle should also be considered while buying kettlebells. Most importantly, check whether kettlebells are one- piece cast or if they have an iron ball fixed with a steel handle.
Cheap kettlebells normally have poor finish and construction. In order to lower the cost, many cheap kettlebells are painted on the surface rather than powder coated at the final stages of manufacturing. Genuine kettlebells are one piece cast iron constructed and are powder coated for the final baked on finish, which is long lasting.
Dr. D’adamo’s Newest Best Selling Diet
Genotype Diet: Using Your Genes To Lose Weight
From the moment we began enjoying snacks, treats and other foods to excess, we have wanted to lose weight. Usually, that meant cutting down on the calories we consumed or shunning the foods that we used to take delight in eating. Sometimes, it worked. Often, it didn’t. A new diet program claims it can explain why. Created by Dr. Peter J. D’Adamo, the Genotype Diet attempts to leverage the genes with which you were born in order to consume, absorb and metabolize more efficiently. Dr. D’Adamo insists that by adhering to the principles he teaches and working with your body, anybody can lose weight, get in shape and lead a healthy life.
How The Genotype Diet Works
Dr. D’Adamo claims that people can be categorized into six different genetic types (what he refers to as GenoTypes). Each genetic type is based upon how the genetic makeup of the people in that category reacts to various stimuli. Once people have been placed into their specific genetic categories, a customized diet and fitness plan is designed for them. This plan maximizes their bodies’ ability to achieve optimum health by catering to each person’s genetic code.
The foundation of the GenoType Diet is found in the study of epigenetics. Specifically, Dr. D’Adamo studied how a person’s genes and environment interact to produce results. While our genes are inherited from our ancestors, Dr. D’Adamo claims that people can be trained to modify them. Dieters can identify and “turn on” good genes while “turning off” bad ones.
What Are The 6 GenoTypes?
The Genotype Diet separates people into 6 different camps. GenoType 1 is called “The Hunter.” People in this category have an abundance of energy. Genotype 2 is called “The Gatherer,” including those who are typically full-bodied. Genotype 3 is called “The Teacher.” These people are strong and have plenty of stamina. GenoType 4, “The Explorer” references those who are muscular, but vulnerable to chemical imbalances. GenoType 5 is “The Warrior.” People in this category are tall and slender and often age slowly. Finally, GenoType 6, “The Nomad,” includes those who are especially vulnerable to altitude and pressure changes.
Each of the 6 GenoTypes receives a customized program tailored to that specific group’s genetic profile. In doing so, Dr. D’Adamo contends that he can help dieters learn to control how their bodies adapt and react to the environment. This can lead to weight loss, feeling healthier and even preventing diseases and aging.
Losing Weight Starting With Your Genes
The GenoType Diet identifies how our bodies can best use the foods that we consume. Dr. D’Adamo claims that people in each of his six genetic categories react in different ways. That is, a “Hunter” should eat certain foods that a “Gatherer” should avoid. This is true for the other groups, as well. By leveraging our bodies and controlling the genes that we have inherited from our ancestors, we can train our metabolisms and internal processes to lose weight, feel better and live healthier lives.
Russian Kettlebells
Move over dumbbells, barbells and mutli gyms as Russian kettlebells are fast becoming the rage worldwide, especially in America due to the numerous benefits it offers. Kettlebell training has given a new meaning to personal fitness and many celebrities and athletes have adopted this revolutionary exercising tool. Now even common people, like you and me, want to include Russian kettlebells in our workouts.
What has also worked in its favour is that kettlebell training des not require any expensive equipment and anyone can start doing it from home. Investing in a pair of kettlebells is all that is required. Kettlebells are very portable and this workout can also be carried out in open. Moreover, kettlebells can be fitted into your existing training schedule easily which provides some variation to your monotonous workout regime.
In Russia, Russian kettlebells have been used for ages. Kettlebell lifting or ‘Girevik’ in Russian, is a game which is played at national level. Russian kettlebells are one piece cast iron weight, shaped like a cannonball with a handle at the top. Authentic Russian kettlebells are made of solid, not hollow, cast iron which has rust and scratch resistant coating given to it. These weights are so durable that they can last a lifetime.
They differ from dumbbells in many ways. Kettlebells are flat bottomed and have all the weight centered in the iron ball while in a dumbbell the weight is distributed on two sides joint by a bar. While dumbbells work by isolating one muscle, kettlebells usually involve a number of muscles. Thus, Russian kettlebells are very effective for developing endurance, strength and flexibility, over a period of time.
Russian kettlebells are effective when used as a stand alone workout or when used in addition to an existing training program. Due to its shape, a kettlebell allows many different variations and exercises. It is a very versatile, total body work out tool as it allows one to switch over to different exercises very quickly. Thus, an intense workout can not only build strength, muscular endurance but can help lose weight too.
Russian kettlebells have many advantages over other traditional weights. One can perform a mix of exercises, the limit of which is endless. Due to its range of exercises, Russian kettlebell workouts use many muscles differently. Repeated kettlebell training makes your grip very strong and is especially helpful in sport activities like ball sports, racquet sports. While mostly weight training does not emphasize on body rhythm, advanced movements of a Russian kettlebell workout require lot of fluidity and agility.
The simplest of Russian kettlebell exercises is the swing. Kettlebell cleans, jerks, Turkish get ups, military press, front squats, snatch are some of the kettlebell exercises. Quick repetitive sets of Russian kettlebell exercises can help anyone burn calories and loose fat fast. A good kettlebell workout elevates metabolism and strengthens muscles.
As a beginner it is better to start with one, light weight kettlebell, 18 pounds for a woman and 36 pounds for a man. It is very important to learn the correct kettlebell techniques under proper guidance lest it can cause injuries. Here at Russian Kettlebells UK we offer kettlebell classes and kettlebell courses all taught by one of the UKs top Kettlebell Coaches Jamie Lloyd.
For top kettlebell tuition go to:-http://www.russiankettlebellsuk.com







