The Fast Growing Fitness World

In a world where work, work and more work seem to be the order of the day, staying fit has become imperative for one and all. The fitness world is growing at a very fast pace and as more and more people around the world are becoming health conscious,regularly going to gym, morning walks, proper diet plans are becoming a part and parcel of everyday life.

It is estimated that in countries like the United Kingdom, 70% of the adult population can be classified as physically inactive. Similarly about 60% of the US populations do not take part in the required level of physical activity. This combined with the increasing work load, stress levels, and the new food habits of the people often leads to health problems. Staying fit has therefore become an essential requirement in day to day life. Athletes, film stars, students and even working executives, almost everyone want to be slim and stay-in-shape. Staying fit has become a quintessential part of staying healthy and leading a comfortable life. It has also been found that regular exercise has great effect on mood and helps in reducing anxiety, stress and depression.

People from around the world have started to take interest in going to gyms, regular workouts, morning walks and trying out different ways of attaining mental fitness such as Yoga. Taking stairs instead of elevators, walking to short distances instead of driving and hiring a personal fitness trainer have become common practices. A proper health diet has become an essential requirement for one and all. Besides, personal hygiene and a clean environment play a major role in the fitness levels. So, people are fast starting to focus on these issues. Consumption of vitamin and mineral supplements has also increased with time. Apart from this other forms of exercise such as aerobics and unorthodox methods such as laughter therapy are also gaining popularity with time.

From a business point of view, the fitness world is expanding at a rate unlike any other industry today. New gyms and fitness centers are opening up almost every day. In developing countries like India and China, the fitness world is expected to grow on the graph annually by about 20 to 30% thus attracting investors from around the world. The fitness world is also helping in creating job opportunities, creating new possibility for entrepreneurship even promoting tourism. Foreigners are travelling to countries like India for learning Yoga.

https://www.google.com/webmasters/tools/submit-url?hl=fr&pli=1

Read more

The New World of the Health and Fitness Blog

Subscribing to a health and fitness blog can be one of the best things you can do to assist you in learning what is going on in the fitness world. There are many out there for you to choose from. Internet fitness is now more than simply people telling you to buy their programs. There is now how to videos, instructional forums, free fitness programs and much more out there for you to peruse on your quest for knowledge.

One of the best ways to get this Internet fitness information is to sign up for an rss feed from a health and fitness blog. Many of the better sites will allow you to sign up through the rss reader of your choice and see whats new on the site. You can check it when you please and the best part is you don't have to go clicking around to find it. You basically find a couple sites that you like and have them send their rss feeds to you. You get their health and fitness blog whenever and wherever you want.

Another great way to get the information sent directly to you is to sign up for a health and fitness newsletter. Signing up for a sites newsletter is usually a very simple thing, all they need is your name and e-mail address. Then every week or two they will send you an e-mail with what they think is some relevant information that you will enjoy.

In the past one of the biggest knocks on newsletters was many people were selling their list to spammers. You though you had signed up for a newsletter on fitness and all the sudden you get a bunch of e-mail on how to extend your manhood, or an e-mail telling you won 5 million euros. There have been some major changes in Internet law and much of this has stopped. I personally belong to about 8 or 9 newsletters and my spam folder doesn't get any e-mails. This is a big change from a couple years ago.

The Internet is a fantastic tool. These days there are some fantastic ways to get information directly sent to you via a health and fitness blog or newsletter. There is a new day in age coming up in the fitness world, one that I call the Internet fitness revitalization. The new information that is coming out is both relevant and correct, a lot different than the poor information that was scattered all over just a few short years ago.

https://www.google.com/webmasters/tools/submit-url?hl=fr&pli=1

Read more

World's Fittest Man - Spring Workouts - No More Hibernating! - Gut-Check Fitness

It's that wonderful time of year again when the flowers start blooming, the days are warmer and many of us look into the mirror wondering how to lose that winter layer and where to even begin. Have no fear my former hibernating friends I have some quick, easy and fun suggestions to help get you out the door and into fighting shape come summer time.

First, become your own Drill Sergeant. When I joined the Army I was 80lbs overweight and in terrible shape. My "friendly" Drill Instructor was not only able to help me lose that extra 80 but an additional 20 more pounds. How? Tough love! He used it on me, I use in on myself and now you're gonna use on yourself. This means accountability. No more oversleeping or skipping workouts for happy hour. You're going to make a plan to get into shape and stick with it. If you fail to plan you plan to fail. I tell my clients at Gut Check Fitness "Don't focus on the scales. Focus on getting healthy and fit and the weight loss will happen. Let weight loss be a by-product and incredible shape be your goal.

Second, keep it simple. What I mean is you don't have to go purchase some fancy exercise gizmo or join an expensive health club, use what's available. The oldest and most effective workout program in the world is the military Boot Camp style. You can make it as easy or hard as you want. Start out with basic calisthenics. My favorites are pull-ups or modified pull-ups, push-ups, sit-ups, dips, lunges and squats to begin with. Where you begin depends upon your fitness level. Beginners may start with 2-3 sets of 10-15 reps, more advanced can do 20-25 reps and for all my HOO-RAHS out there, I like to do a descending pyramid from 50-40-30-20-10. Is it tough, yes. Does it work, yes! I recommend doing your calisthenics circuit 2-3 days per week, like M-W-F for instance. Tip; to make this more challenging and obtain better results, add a pair of 10-20lb dumbbells to your routine or I like to use what's available, like rocks, bricks, logs, etc. It keeps it fun and definitely makes neighbors wonder what the heck you're up to.

Third, Change up your cardio. Weight lifting and calisthenics help build muscle and the cardio really helps ya get rid of the unwanted fat. Unfortunately most people are guilty of going out the door and doing the same old run or ride every day at the same old pace. Guess what? They see the same old results! You've gotta change it up and do what I call, "shock your body." A couple of my favorite additions to the workout program to really spice it up is to add hill or stair repeats and speed work. These two alone will definitely shock your freshly un-hibernated body. Go to your favorite hill or stairs then run or ride up them for 3 or 4 times or for about 15-45 minutes. Next workout, hit your local track or street for some speed work, either run distance or time, for example 400 m repeats or for 1-2 minutes. Again, depends on your fitness level and how hard you want to work.

I recommend some form of cardio most days of the week, generally at least four or five. Here's my schedule, Monday - off, Tuesday - hills/stairs, Wednesday - easy trail day, Thursday - speed workout, Friday - cross training, Saturday - Gut Check Fitness Workout & Sunday - mountain biking with my friends. Every couple weeks I change it up. You do the same. Change can definitely be good when it comes to getting more fit.

https://www.google.com/webmasters/tools/submit-url?hl=fr&pli=1

Read more

Pilates - Renaissance in the Fitness World

What is Pilates?

Pilates in simple terms, is a form of exercise that targets the core of the body, the abdomen back and hips while using the entire body. It builds strength without bulk, improves flexibility and agility and helps prevent injury. Developed from the rehabilitation technique later adopted by dancers and athletes is now embraced by millions. No matter your age or condition, it works for all.

About Joseph Pilate, founder of Pilates:

Joseph.H. Pilate was born in Monchengladbach, Germany in 1880. a sickly child, who suffered from asthma, rickets and rheumatic fever, he decided his entire life to becoming physically stronger. At the age of i4 after studying bodybuilding and gymnastics he was fit enough to pose for anatomical charts.

He was of belief that the modern life style, bad posture and inefficient breathing were the roots of poor health and so he devised a series of exercise, training techniques and engineered all the equipment, specifications and learning required to teach them properly. He designed his exercise program around principles that support this philosophy, including concentration, precision, and control breathing and flowing movements.

In 1960, he and his wife Clara found studio in New York City and they directly taught and supervised their students well into the 1960's. Pilates and his method were originally called "Contrology" refers to way his method encourages the use of the mind to control the muscles. Pilate practiced what he preached and lived a long healthy life.

He also wrote several books including "Return to life through Contrology", and "Your Health". They had many disciples who continued to teach variations of his method at the same time preserving the old.

Principles of Pilates method:

Concentration - focus on an area
Control - muscle control
Center - energy is exerted from your center
Fluidity - dynamic grace of motion
Precision - perfect movement not half hearted
Breath - proper breathing

Methods to use Pilates:

There are two ways to exercise in Pilates. Most people focus on the mat exercises, which require only a floor mat and training. These exercises are designed so that your body uses its own weight as resistance. The other method of Pilates uses a variety of machines to tone and strengthen the body again using the principle of resistance.

https://www.google.com/webmasters/tools/submit-url?hl=fr&pli=1

Read more

Tips For Basic Mens Fitness

I have been writing about different areas of mens fitness and fitness nutrition, but what about the basics of fitness. The core so to speak and why us men want to be fit. Fitness is for all ages. It doesn't matter how young or old you may be. It is never too late to start.

Men are the breadwinners of the family usually. If a man is fit, he has way more energy for his work and for his family life. You feel better, look better, and are happier. I feel every man should strive to achieve some level of fitness. You don't have to train like an Olympian, but overall fitness, to me, is a must. I am sure the ladies agree.

The first part of a fitness routine and the most basic is Flexibility. Stretches before and after a workout will keep you flexible and away from injury. The second aspect of mens fitness is a good cardio workout. Cardio gets the blood pumping, increases your lung capacity and their ability to distribute oxygen to your blood. This gives you almost unlimited resources of energy for anything that comes up in your daily life. The blood flow also keeps your brain oxygenated Which improves its overall capacity for handling anything that comes its way. The third is building muscle and strength training. Now these are definitely optional. Some men do not want to be "musclebound". There is nothing wrong with keeping the muscles toned and fit though.

By far, in my opinion, is the cardio workouts. Aerobics if that is all the time you have. By focusing on cardio more, it keeps the arteries and veins open, keeps cholesterol low, and keeps the heart fit and strong. The heart is just a muscle after all and needs it's workouts. Cardio will keep you young and full of energy. Stretching for flexibility and cardio is truly all you would need.

If you want to build muscle then, by all means, do it. If you are going to weight train, follow some simple rules. Know how to do your exercises properly, stretch properly before exercising, and possibly have a workout buddy/spotter for your lifting. Always be safe. To build muscle properly is where the proper nutrition comes in like I covered in a previous article. You need to get a well balanced diet, take vitamin and mineral supplements, get your fair share of protein(around 1 gram for every pound you weigh), drink plenty of water, and don't push yourself too hard or overtrain. The best foods to eat are raw foods(vegetables) in a wide variety, chicken, turkey, and fish. Red meat if it is lean and not fatty.

There you have it. Some basics of mens fitness workouts and nutrition. Some of these are obvious and others aren't. When we write about fitness, we tend to think everybody is already a semi expert and that isn't always the case.

Until next time...
Thanks For Reading
Scott

https://www.google.com/webmasters/tools/submit-url?hl=fr&pli=1

Read more

Fitness Guide for Men

Having a perfectly fit body is every man's desire. Not only because women are attracted, but it also keeps the person active, agile and stress free.

Exercise can be performed at any age to maintain fitness, whether by kids, middle aged men, or even by grandpas. Physical activities surely have multifarious benefits, from relieving stress, keeping the heart healthy and of course, acquire a quick and responsive body.

A proper exercise course, e.g. cardiovascular exercise with a proper diet can prove even better, when the body becomes more attractive with "six-pack" abs; a much desired look, especially by the new, emerging generation.

But such a body doesn't come for free. The man has to be dedicated, make efforts with exercises, and make dietary and lifestyle changes. The sooner the man makes strict "laws" for himself, the sooner he will lose fat leading to his desired body shape.

HOW TO LOSE FAT-FITNESS FOR MEN

We frequently see or read on media about athletes who turned obese later. Whether man or woman, obesity or being overweight, can pose many health problems for any person. From a poor look to physical health problems involving heart, promote diseases like diabetes, affect the thinking, lead to stress; and these things that we all fear of.

In order to lose fat and weight, the best methods are:

A. Dieting: It simply means, don't overeat. One of the most common ways of overeating is having a coffee shop or bar nearby, and your friends inviting you for a time pass. Another important factor is stress. Not only as indication from research and studies, a man also notices in himself that when he is overstressed or in pressure, he tends to overeat, often without control. This overeating causes more fat to get deposited in the body.

B. Proper Diet: Maintain a healthy diet, with lots of fruits and fresh vegetables. Juicing these veggies is also an excellent option. These fresh veggies contain all the vital nutrients, vitamins and vital minerals essentially required for proper fitness of men. Apart from these beneficial elements, such foods or juice also contain antioxidants remove the free radical buildup from body, and also remove the toxins.

C: Fibre rich diet: If your bowels are in good shape, and you want to retain it that way, include plenty of fibre-rich food in your diet. Fibre rich foods contain gluten that takes time to get digested, giving your stomach the feeling of fullness for a longer time, and hence not frequently feeling hungry. Fibre rich foods include wheat, bread, oats etc.

D: Breakfast Lunch and Dinner: Ideally your breakfast should be heavy, and contain most amount nutrients you need for the day, followed by lunch of lesser size, and finally a not heavy dinner, because after dinner, as we usually sleep, the body does not perform and physical activity. However, the brain remains constantly active, and of course, needs a lot of energy to work.

By following these simple steps upon the fitness for men, dieting, exercise and lose fat, the man can quickly attain the long desired fit body for himself.

https://www.google.com/webmasters/tools/submit-url?hl=fr&pli=1

Read more

Physical Fitness for The Average Man

Even if you aren't competing in the next Olympics or Ironman triathlon, you can still benefit from having solid physical fitness. Being in good shape lets you have more energy throughout the day, boosts your confidence, and allows you to complete physically challenging tasks.

ASPECTS OF FITNESS

Flexibility:

Flexibility is the range of movement of your joints. It is by far the most underrated and underdeveloped aspect of fitness among men. However, it is also one of the most important. Being flexible will increase your strength due to the increased blood flow, reduce your chance of injury, and give you increased range of motion. In order to become more flexible, you should perform both static and dynamic stretches daily. A static stretch is, as the name suggests, where you stretch in place. One example of a static stretch would be sitting down, straightening your legs out in front of you, and attempting to touch your toes. A dynamic stretch is where you stretch by constantly moving the given muscle area. One example of a dynamic stretch is where you stand on one leg, grab a pole (or something similar), and swing the other leg back and forth in a kicking motion.

Cardiovascular Endurance:
Cardiovascular endurance is the ability of your heart and lungs to supply your muscles with oxygen during physical activity. Most people think that cardiovascular endurance is achieved best through aerobic activities such as running. However, this is not the case. Although you do gain cardiovascular endurance through such activities such as running, the best way to achieve cardiovascular endurance is through strength training. This is due to the fact that the cardiovascular system supports the muscular system and not the other way around. The problem with running (other than being hard on your joints) is that it primarily improves the efficiency of your running technique. Are there instances when you should run as part of your training? Yes. If you are training for a running event such as a marathon, obviously most of your training will consist of running. However, for the average guy who just wants to be in great overall physical shape, running is not the way to go.

Don't believe me? Check out this case study:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8897392

The group who performed strength training actually improved their cardiovascular system more than the group who performed aerobic training. The best way to improve your cardiovascular endurance is through strength training.

Muscular Strength:

Muscular strength is your ability to exert force with your muscles. Muscular strength is developed through resistance training. Resistance training utilizes various types of resistance, including weights, resistance cables, machines, and your own bodyweight. Each type of resistance has its own set of strengths and weaknesses, so your best bet is to mix it up as much as you can. Also, by mixing up the types of resistance you use, you will prevent your body from plateauing, or becoming so accustomed to a certain exercise that it no longer benefits you.

Muscular Endurance:

Muscular endurance is your ability to sustain a certain amount of force with your muscles over a period of time. Improving your muscular endurance is very similar to improving your muscular strength; you use resistance training. The only difference is that you use less resistance but perform more repetitions of the exercise.

KEY ASPECTS TO GETTING IN GREAT SHAPE

Recovery:

The recovery period is the time you spend in between workout sessions. Depending on your schedule and the intensity of your workouts, this can be a day, two days, three days, or whatever works best for you. The recovery period is the time in which you get stronger; you do not get stronger when you work out. Therefore, it is essential that you give your muscles ample time to recover. If you work out again before your muscles have recovered, not only will you not be able to lift as much or for as long, but you also run the risk of overtraining. Overtraining leads to all sorts of problems, including reduced strength, chronic fatigue, and increased chance of injury.

Progression:

Never be satisfied where you are. Too many people do the same exercises with the same amount of resistance for months at a time. Although this is the easy path, you will not get in better shape. You need to make your workouts harder as time goes along. This can be done a number of ways, including performing more repetitions, using more resistance, and having less time in between sets. When the difficulty in your workouts increases, so does the level of your fitness.

Consistency:

You must be consistent if you want to get in great shape. This includes being consistent in how often you work out, the quality of your workouts, and the quality of your nutrition. With long-term consistency, you will get in great shape. Without long-term consistency, you will not keep the fitness gains that you make for very long.

2

Read more