Thursday, December 27, 2007

Physical exercise - Dieting

Physical exercise is an important complement to dieting in securing weight loss. Aerobic exercise is also an important part of maintaining normal good health, especially the muscular strength of the heart. To be useful, aerobic exercise requires maintaining a target heart rate of above 50 percent of one's resting heart rate for 30 minutes, at least 3 times a week. The ability of a few hours a week of exercise to contribute to weight loss can be slightly overrated. A man of normal fitness will be tired after 500 meters of climbing, so he needs to exercise every day for 140 days to reach his target. However, exercise (both aerobic and anaerobic) would increase the Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR) for some time after the workout. This ensures more calorific loss than otherwise estimated. There are also some easy ways for people to exercise, such as walking rather than driving, climbing stairs instead of taking elevators, doing more housework with fewer power tools, or parking their cars farther and walking to school or the office.

Monday, December 17, 2007

Jogging Tips

If you want to jog, you need to know how to do it and when. I brought to you some tips for you, so test them!
1.Begin the program by walking with segments of jogging. Two minutes of walking followed by one minute of running is a good starting place. Slowly reduce the amount of walking until you can jog continuously for 20 minutes.
2.Find a good running shoes that is good for you. Look for good cushioning, plenty of toe room and a snug fit at the heel.
3.Make sure you warm-up properly to evade injuries and follow exercise with a cool down
Good luck!


Tuesday, November 20, 2007

Macrobiotics vs. vegetarianism

Macrobiotics vs. vegetarianism - what is the different?
A macrobiotic diet includes many of the same foods as vegan diets, but in macrobiotics certain animal foods are suggested. The two diet styles share enough similarities that a vegan version of macrobiotics is not uncommon. Macrobiotics is based on traditional ways of eating. While there are no completely vegan cultures that are long-lived, the longest-lived cultures around the world consume between 70% and 99% whole plant foods. The American Dietetic Association approves of carefully-planned vegan diets. In the words of the Association, Well-planned vegan and other types of vegetarian diets are appropriate for all stages of the life cycle, including during pregnancy, lactation, infancy, childhood, and adolescence. It is the position of the American Dietetic Association and Dietitians of Canada that appropriately planned vegetarian diets are healthful, nutritionally adequate, and provide health benefits in the prevention and treatment of certain diseases.

Thursday, November 15, 2007

Fitness - study of life

fitness is a central concept in evolutionary theory. It describes the capability of an individual of certain genotype to reproduce, and usually is equal to the proportion of the individual's genes in all the genes of the next generation. If differences in individual genotypes affect fitness, then the frequencies of the genotypes will change over generations; the genotypes with higher fitness become more common. This process is called natural selection.
As fitness measures the quantity of the copies of the genes of an individual in the next generation, it doesn't really matter how the genes arrive in the next generation. That is, for an individual it is equally "beneficial" to reproduce itself, or to help relatives with similar genes to reproduce, as long as similar amount of copies of individual's genes get passed on to the next generation. Selection which promotes this kind of helper behaviour is called kin selection.
Fitness is another wau to keep our lifes good as usual.

Saturday, November 3, 2007

How to switch to a Macrobiotic diet

A person considering adopting the Macrobiotic diet system, should spend some time researching the philosophy as well as the specific foods and cooking techniques used.
How anyone can choose to transition into a full macrobiotic way of eating and being?
The best way to transition to a macrobiotic diet, is to first employ a wholefoods diet for several months before going into the more restrictive macrobiotic way of eating and being. A wholefoods diet requires erradicating all heavily processed and refined foods such as granulated sugar, refined flour, and most canned or pre-prepared foods. The next step is that one would begin erradicating all dairy products and red meat, while utilizing only whole grains. Finally, particularly during these transition periods, it is important to be very aware of what is going on in your body and your body's response to the foods you intake.
Also, it is recommended that one researches the diet and either consults a macrobiotic counselor or makes a gradual transition to the macrobiotic way of eating. A well-trained macrobiotic counselor will orient the person not only toward the correct foods and methods of eating, but will also guide the person to a more aware state of being.

Thursday, October 18, 2007

Pilates - exercise equipment

Around 1914, Joseph Pilates was a performer and a boxer living in England and, at the outbreak of WWI, was placed under forced internment along with other German nationals in Lancaster, England. There he taught fellow camp members the concepts and exercises developed over 20 years of self-study and apprenticeship in yoga, Zen, and ancient Greek and Roman physical regimens. It was at this time that he began devising the system of original exercises known today as "matwork", or exercises done on the floor. He called this regimen "Contrology." A few years later, he was transferred to another camp, where he became a nurse to the many internees struck with wartime disease and physical injury. Here, he began devising equipment to rehabilitate his "patients," taking springs from the beds and rigging them to create spring resistance and "movement" for the bedridden.

In a way, Pilates equipment today is not much different than that of yesteryear. Spring tension, straps to hold feet or hands, supports for back, neck and shoulder are as important now as they were then. Because of the remarkable nature of the equipment to both challenge and support the body as it learns to move more efficiently, the inimitably designed pieces truly act as a complement to the challenging "matwork" exercises. The Pilates exercise are not hard to complete.

Saturday, October 13, 2007

Philosophy - Macrobiotic diet

Followers of the macrobiotic approach believe that food and food quality powerfully affects health, well being, and happiness. The macrobiotic approach suggests choosing food that is less processed and more natural, and employing more traditional methods of cooking for family, friends, and oneself. One goal of the macrobiotic philosophy and practice is to become sensitive to the true effects of foods on health and well being. In this way, one goes beyond rules and regulations concerning diet to choosing foods that sustains one's health. In this way, dietary guidelines help one to develop sensitivity and an intuitive sense for what sustains one's health and well-being in diet as well as relationships and activities.




Macrobiotics emphasizes locally grown whole grain cereals, pulses (legumes), vegetables, seaweed, fermented soy products and fruit, combined into meals according to the principle of balance. Dietary recommendations include whole grains, such as brown rice, and other whole grain products, such as buckwheat pasta; A variety of cooked and raw vegetables; beans and bean products, such as tofu, tempeh and miso; sea vegetables; mild natural seasonings; fish; nuts and seeds; mild (non-stimulating) beverages, such as bancha twig tea; and fruit.
Certain types of vegetable-fruits, such as tomatoes, peppers and eggplant, are not recommended and are either avoided altogether or used very sparingly.

Wednesday, October 10, 2007

Macrobiotic diet

Macrobiotics ( the translation is long life ) is a dietary regimen that involves eating grains as a staple food supplemented with other local foodstuffs such as vegetables and beans. Although in macrobiotics people may opt to use Japanese ingredients (Japan being the cradle of contemporary Macrobiotics), according to the general guidelines people should use the ingredients that are found locally, and avoid the use of sugar and other highly processed or refined foods. Macrobiotics also addresses the manner of eating by recommending against overeating and requiring that food be chewed thoroughly before swallowing.

The composition of Macrobiotic diets:
Macrobiotics is an approach to life rather than a diet. General Guidelines for the diet are:
Whole grains, especially brown rice: 30-50%
Vegetables: 25-50%
Beans and Bean Products: 10-20 %
Miso soup: daily
Seaweed: small amounts daily
The remainder is composed of fish and seafood, seeds and nuts, seed and nut butters, seasonings, sweeteners, fruits, and beverages. Other naturally raised animal products may be included if needed during dietary transition or according to individual needs.

Tuesday, October 2, 2007

Fitness competition

Fitness competition is a class of physique events for women bearing a close resemblance to female bodybuilding, but with significantly less emphasis on muscle size. These competitions are frequently held as part of the same event as bodybuilding contests.
Fitness and figure are two distinct forms of competition. However, the physique guidelines are similar, and many women cross over from one to the other.
Fitness competition consists of a swimsuit round and a routine round. In the swimsuit round, the competitors wear two-piece swimsuits with high heels, and present their physiques with a series of quarter or half turns. Physique guidelines for fitness typically indicate a preference for a small amount of muscularity with separation, but no visible striations or excessive leanness.
The swimsuit must cover at least fifty percent of the glutes; no thongs or G-strings are allowed. The routine round requires a performance including aerobics, dance, or gymnastics.
The two most prestigious professional fitness contests are the Fitness Olympia and the Fitness International. Fitness competition is a very good way to practice. It's more interesting and fun.


Monday, October 1, 2007

The Muscle

The muscle is contractile tissue of the body and is derived from the mesodermal layer of embryonic germ cells. It is classified as skeletal, cardiac, or smooth muscle, and its function is to produce force and cause motion, either locomotion or movement within internal organs.Much of muscle contraction occurs without conscious thought and is necessary for survival, like the contraction of the heart, or peristalsis (which pushes food through the digestive system).
Voluntary muscle contraction is used to move the body, and can be finely controlled, like movements of the eye, or gross movements like the quadriceps muscle of the thigh.

There are two broad types of voluntary muscle fibers, slow twitch and fast twitch. Slow twitch fibers contract for long periods of time but with little force while fast twitch fibers contract quickly and powerfully but fatigue very rapidly. The muscles are one of the most needed part of the body.

Monday, September 24, 2007

Make your choice.

Actually a diet is the preferred food that we eat or drink, the things that we like or that are good for us. But however every time when we begin to talk about diets, we tend to be talking about "special" diets. And we are absolutely right because it’s extremely important to pick up a proper diet that will take into account the age and psychological peculiarities. So, magazines, newspapers, television and internet help us very much on this way. Searching through the internet we can find out a lot of very useful information now. There are great number services with a wide choice of different diets, Diet Pill reviews, meal plans, calorie tracker, fitness demos, recipes and much more that could help you to say bye to your belly fat.

Remember the cardinal rules any diet. The diet must suppress appetite, help to regulate blood sugar levels, stimulate metabolism, suppress stress hormones, to increase energy levels. Don’t miss Phentramin reviews that may help you to make really right choice. Be healthy and beautiful!

Sunday, September 23, 2007

Specific fitness

Specific or task-oriented fitness is a person's ability to perform in a specific activity with a reasonable efficiency, for example, sports or military service. Specific training prepares athletes to perform well in their sports.

Examples are:
**100m sprint - in a sprint the athlete must be trained to work anaerobically throughout the race.
**Marathon - in this case the athlete must be trained to work aerobically and their endurance must be built-up to a maximum.

Fire fighters and police officers must undergo regular Fitness testing to determine if they are capable of the physically demanding tasks required for the job before they are employed. Students in elementary and high school also undergo regular fitness testing. In some countries, students can earn fitness badges, such as the physical fitness badge which is earned in the United States.

Tuesday, September 18, 2007

Pilates history

Pilates was formed by Joseph Pilates during the First World War with the proposition to improve the rehabilitation program for the many returning veterans. Joseph Pilates believed that mental and physical health are essential to one another. He recommended a few, precise movements emphasizing control and form to aid injured soldiers in regaining their health by strengthening, stretching,and stabilizing key muscles. Pilates created "The Pilates Principles" to condition the entire body: proper alignment, centering, concentration, control, precision, breathing, and flowing movement.
Pilates sessions help increase strength and flexibility, lengthen the body, and align the spine. The method does not build muscle mass. The fields of fitness and rehabilitation often encourage Pilates for its focus on the muscles of the abdomen and lower back.
People that dealing with Pilates are a lot more cheerful and energetic.

Sunday, September 2, 2007

Fitness Walking

Fitness Walking
The greatest number of walkers walk just to walk, suggests Mark Fenton, editor-at-large for Walking magazine. "They like being outdoors," he says. "They like getting some exercise and improving their health. At the other end of the scale are racewalkers, those hip-swinging, elbow-pumping, glory-seeking individuals who have as a goal a place on the Olympic team, or at least a medal at their local walking race.

Fenton believes, however, that an additional class of walkers exists between these two extremes. These are the individuals who seek not merely health benefits but also physical fitness. They dress like athletes, not like someone out for a stroll. They walk tall, eyes forward. They take quick steps. They push off on their toes. Whether or not they swing their hips, many bend their arms and look (somewhat) like racewalkers. They probably don't compete, but walking to them is a way of life, a discipline to be pursued with some vigor--and enjoyment.

Fitness Walking is one of the most useful kind of Fitness.

Saturday, August 25, 2007

The Bow Pose - yoga

The Bow Pose also called Dhanurasana.
This pose is so called because it looks like an archer's bow, the torso and legs representing the body of the bow, and the arms the string. (don-your-AHS-anna) dhanu = bow.

Step by Step

1.Lie on your belly with your hands alongside your torso, palms up. (You can lie on a folded blanket to pad the front of your torso and legs.) Exhale and bend your knees, bringing your heels as close as you can to your buttocks. Reach back with your hands and take hold of your ankles (but not the tops of the feet). Make sure your knees aren't wider than the width of your hips, and keep your knees hip width for the duration of the pose.

2.Inhale and strongly lift your heels away from your buttocks and, at the same time, lift your thighs away from the floor. This will have the effect of pulling your upper torso and head off the floor. Burrow the tailbone down toward the floor, and keep your back muscles soft. As you continue lifting the heels and thighs higher, press your shoulder blades firmly against your back to open your heart. Draw the tops of the shoulders away from your ears. Gaze forward.

3.With the belly pressed against the floor, breathing will be difficult. Breathe more into the back of your torso, and be sure not to stop breathing.

4.Stay in this pose anywhere from 20 to 30 seconds. Release as you exhale, and lie quietly for a few breaths. You can repeat the pose once or twice more.


Sunday, August 5, 2007

Types of dieting

There are some kinds of diets:
1.Weight-loss diets restrict the intake of specific foods, or food in general, to reduce body weight. What works to reduce body weight for one person will not necessarily work
for another, due to metabolic differences and lifestyle factors. Also, for a variety ofnter>

2.Many professional athletes impose weight-gain diets on themselves. American football players may try to "bulk up" through weight-gain diets in order to gain an advantage on the field with a higher mass.




Many people in the acting industry may choose to lose or gain weight depending on the role they're given.

Thursday, July 26, 2007

Healthy diets - why?

Having a healthy diet is one of the most important things you can do to help your overall health. Along with physical activity, your diet is the key factor that affects your weight.
Having a healthy weight for your height is important.
Being overweight or obese increases your risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, high
blood pressure, stroke, breathing problems, arthritis, gallbladder disease, sleep apnea (breathing problems while sleeping), osteoarthritis, and some cancers.

You can find out if you're overweight or obese by figuring out your body mass index (BMI). Women with a BMI of 25 to 29.9 are considered overweight, whereas women with a BMI of 30 or more are considered obese. All adults (aged 18 years or older) who have a BMI of 25 or more are considered at risk for premature death and disability from being overweight or obese.

Tuesday, July 24, 2007

Body mass index - BMI

Body mass index (BMI) is a statistical measure of the weight of a person scaled according to height. It was invented between 1830 and 1850 by the Belgian polymath Adolphe Quetelet during the course of developing "social physics".

Body mass index is defined as the individual's body weight divided by the square of their height. The formulas universally used in medicine produce a unit of measure of kg/m2. Body mass index may be accurately calculated using the formula below.


BMI can also be determined using a BMI chart, which displays BMI as a function of weight (horizontal axis) and height using contour lines for different values of BMI or colors for different BMI categories.

Tuesday, July 17, 2007

Nutritional overview - Healthy diets

Generally, a healthy diet will include:

*Sufficient calories to maintain a person's metabolic and activity needs, but not so excessive as to result in fat storage greater than roughly 12% of body mass;
*Sufficient quantities of fat, including monounsaturated fat, polyunsaturated fat and saturated fat, with a balance of omega-6 and long-chain omega-3 lipids;
*Avoidance of saturated fat.
*Avoidance of trans fat.
*Sufficient essential amino acids ("complete protein") to provide cellular replenishment and transport proteins;
*Essential micronutrients such as vitamins and certain minerals.
*Avoiding directly poisonous (e.g. heavy metals) and carcinogenic substances;
*Avoiding foods contaminated by human pathogens (e.g. e. coli, tapeworm eggs);
*Avoiding chronic high doses of certain foods that are benign or beneficial in small or occasional doses, such as
*foods or substances with directly toxic properties at high chronic doses (e.g. ethyl alcohol);
*foods that may interfere at high doses with other body processes;
*foods that may burden or exhaust normal functions (e.g. refined carbohydrates without adequate dietary fibre).

those diets are very healthy and if you`ll choose to follow them, you`ll be very pleased.

Sunday, July 15, 2007

Healthy diets

Keeping in existence a healthy diet is the practice of making choices about what to eat with the intent of improving or maintaining good health. Usually this involves consuming necessary nutrients by eating the appropriate amounts from all of the food groups.



Since human nutrition is complex a healthy diet may vary widely subject to an individual's genetic makeup, environment, and health. For around 20% of the planet's population, lack of food and malnutrition are the main impediments to healthy eating.

Tuesday, July 10, 2007

Jogging

Jogging is a form of trotting or running at a slow or leisurely pace. The main intention is to increase fitness with less stress than actually running, instead of competition.

The definition of jogging as compared with running is not standard. Dr. George Sheehan, a running expert, is quoted to have said "the difference between a jogger and a runner is an entry blank". Others are usually more specific, defining jogging as running slower than 6mph (10 minute per mile pace).
A jogger is also a derogatory term for a competitive runner who lacks speed, endurance, form, etc.

Jogging is a "high-impact" exercise that places strain on the body, notably the joints of the knee. This is actually one of the fundamental benefits of the exercise, as the impact drives growth processes in the areas of the body stressed by that impact.
Some people drop jogging in order to take up "lower-impact" exercises such as stair climbing, swimming, cycling or walking.


Jogging is often used by serious runners as a means of active recovery during interval training. The runner who may just have completed a fast 400 metre repetition at a sub-5-minute mile pace, may drop to an 8-minute mile pace for a recovery lap. The jog might be carried out in much poorer, looser form whose purpose is to "shake out" the body and maintain circulation to eliminate from the muscles metabolic waste products produced during the bout of hard work.
Like other types of aerobic exercise, jogging is an excellent means of improving cardiovascular health, bone density and physical fitness.

Jogging is more helpful than some other ways of Fitness.

Wednesday, June 27, 2007

Aerobic

Aerobics is a form of exercise, typically performed to music, often in a group setting with a leader, although it can be practiced solo and without musical accompaniment. Aerobics comprises stretching, strength training, and aerobic exercise components in order to improve all elements of fitness.



Within each 'unit' (units being flexibility, strength training and aerobic workout), practitioners go through variable routines comprising a number of different exercises. Proponents of aerobics cite staving off boredom and working out the whole body as two of the advantages of aerobics over other types of exercise. The reputedly higher safety factor inherent in a fitness routine led and overseen by a trained professional is another.

Sunday, June 24, 2007

Yoga as Fitness

Yoga is a group of ancient spiritual practices originating in India. As a general term in Hinduism, Gavin Flood,
the OCHS (Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies) Academic Director, defines it as referring to "technologies or disciplines of asceticism and meditation which are thought to lead to spiritual experience and profound understanding or insight into the nature of existence."

Outside India, Yoga has become primarily associated with the practice of asanas (postures) of Hatha Yoga (see Yoga as exercise), although it has influenced the entire dharmic religions family and other spiritual practices throughout the world.

Yoga is most ancient kind of Fitness.

Monday, June 11, 2007

Sports Fitness Wiki

There are so many sports out there that lead to excellent physical fitness that it's hard to keep track at times. Everything from baseball to football to rock climbing can result in improved fitness. There's so much to learn that it's hard to keep track of at times. That's why I was excited to come across this sports wiki at Livingwithstyle.com

The sports wiki is a means to collaboratively create articles on any sports or sports related topic you might be interested in. This way, we can all add what wisdom we have so that the whole benefits. It's a very smart idea and will no doubt lead to improved fitness for those who take the time to read the articles.

Benefits of Yoga

When it comes to fitness, few practices are more beneficial on the physical, mental, and spiritual plane than Yoga. I was perusing the forum at Yogatopia.org, a site dedicated to Yoga, the other day when I came across a great article on the benefits of Yoga. I now understand why its popularity is rising around the world. Besides that Yoga DVD review do me a good turn on the way too.

As mentioned earlier, Yoga has fitness benefits not only physically, but mentally and spiritually also. That's something we always need to keep in my when developing a fitness routine. There is much more to fitness than just a hard body. True fitness means a strong body, mind, and soul. And Yoga strengthens all three.

Thursday, May 31, 2007

About the Pilates Method
New to Pilates? You′re not alone! Pilates is one of the fastest growing forms of exercise in the world. In the U.S., Pilates participants have grown in number from 1.7 million in 2000 to 10.5 million in 2004 – more than 500% growth in just four years! And it continues to spread around the world. Why is the Pilates method experiencing such dramatic growth, and how can it benefit you, too?

Developed from the rehabilitation techniques of Joseph Pilates, Balanced Body Pilates is a safe, sensible exercise system using a floor mat or equipment, that will help you look and feel your very best. No matter what your age or condition, it will work for you. Pilates improves core strength, flexibility, agility and economy of motion. It can even help alleviate back pain and other chronic ailments.
Learn more in these pages about Pilates.

Tuesday, May 22, 2007

What is fitness

Physical fitness is used in two close meanings - general fitness and specific fitness (a task-oriented definition based on the ability to perform specific aspects of sports or occupations,
Specific or task-oriented fitness is a person's ability to perform in a specific activity with a reasonable efficiency, for example, sports or military service Specific training prepares athletes to perform well in their sports.

Saturday, April 28, 2007

Online Fitness 4 U

All kynd of fitness online