Rock Climbing to Peak Fitness

There are literally thousands of ways to lose weight, maintain fitness and get in great shape. It seems almost everybody is looking for the exercise regimen that best fits their lifestyle. Jogging, walking and biking are all popular ways to get some exercise. Many people like to hit the gym and spend a few hours working different muscle groups and toning their whole bodies. Really, when it comes to exercise and fitness, to each his (or her) own. One great way to shed some pounds and to get in a work out for the whole body is to do some … Continue reading →

Put the Gloves On

Interested in trying something different? A good home workout routine you might decide to engage in is boxing. While boxing may not be a first choice as a form of exercise for a fitness program – it can be a lot of fun. Yes, pugilism is about fighting, but boxing isn’t necessarily about hammering on another person until they cannot stand up. It doesn’t mean blacking an eye or hurting anyone else. Instead, it’s about building up a fitness regimen that is different and if it holds your interest can improve your personal fitness levels. What Do You Need? So … Continue reading →

Carbohydrate Loading – What is it?

Have you ever heard the term carbohydrate loading and wondered what it was? No, for those of you who may have been snickering, it is not an anti-Atkins product that is being shipped to the grocery store near you. Athletes, in order to maximize and increase their body’s glycogen reserves, practice carbohydrate loading. They do this in order to extend their endurance or staying power. For example, the runner who does ten miles is going to want to practice carbohydrate loading before he gets started. Otherwise, like a car that gets down to the fumes in the gas tank – … Continue reading →

Muscle Cramps – The Best Way to Avoid Them

One of the worst obstacles to working out is the hard cramp that seizes up your calf when you are walking or that spasm you feel in your upper arm when you are working on bicep curls. Your muscles cramp when they are worked past their energy levels. Obviously, muscles need energy to function at their peak performance. So how do you provide your muscles with enough energy? For many athletes, that answer is found in sports drinks like Gatorade. These drinks provide plenty of carbohydrates, but you also want to make sure they provide plenty of protein as well. … Continue reading →

Softball

Softball is the game where the rules are very similar to baseball but the ball being used is larger, not as hard, and usually played by girls, women, and older adults. Though many of professional, high school, and college league players can throw a softball close to 80 miles per hour (ouch!), why don’t many women continue with their sport of softball? Maybe if there were larger leagues formed for fast pitch softball, many players will continue with the sport. When you were younger playing softball, it didn’t feel like real fitness. The pitcher pitches the ball, the batter may … Continue reading →

Swimming

Swimming is one of the best of aerobic exercises. It burns a great many calories and is much easier on the joints than many other strenuous activities. You will find that when you begin swimming, your will use muscles that you normally do not. You may that your body is sore all over. But don’t worry: This is a good thing! It means that your muscles will grow bigger and stronger and you will burn more calories, leading to weight loss. To burn the most calories and to get into the best shape, the efficiency of your swimming stroke is … Continue reading →

Baseball

Baseball is a game that requires much speed, strength and agility, so it is a good choice for staying in good condition. But more importantly, it is a fun group game to play and is known as America’s pastime. The game of baseball runs deep in American culture. Americans started to play baseball using local rules in the early 1800s. It grew to great popularity as early as the 1860s. It was long thought that Abner Doubleday of Civil War fame came up with the game of baseball, but this was disproved in the mid-20th century. It was Alexander Joy … Continue reading →

Basketball

Basketball is another good option for people who are trying to stay in shape and lose weight. The game of basketball requires a great deal of sprinting short distances and a good deal of jogging. Bouncing the ball while running or standing I place also burns calories. Jumping for the ball happens often in basketball and is good for building the legs. Shooting the ball and jumping for rebounds also help you to burn calories. Basketball helps to build your aerobic fitness, flexibility, strength and power, speed, lower body fat, and increase your agility. Basketball is another sport that is … Continue reading →

Hockey

Most people probably do not consider hockey as a way to keep in shape and lose weight. However, it has been documented that during a typical match, NHL players can lose five or even as much as eight pounds! It is true that much of this weight can be water, so the players need to make sure they drink enough fluids during the game. However, many players lose much more than water weight during the course of a season. Many players will lose weight during the course of the season. Some players have gone from 180 pounds to 165 pounds … Continue reading →

Soccer

Playing soccer for fitness is fun for people of all ages. Being part of a team is rewarding. There are many exciting positions to play when playing soccer. Midfield, striker, and goalie are all important positions. The midfield person spends most of the time on the field controlling the direction of the soccer ball. The striker gets the ball and tries to get it into the goal. This position requires a lost of stopping and starting motions with the ball. The goalie guards the goal which is also a stop and start type of position. Any of these positions are … Continue reading →