All Exercise & fitness Articles

If getting into shape is on your New Year's resolution list, but you're not interested in navigating jam-packed gyms, the answer is simple: take your exercise regime out of the gym and into the great outdoors. "A common misconception is that you have to stop your outdoor exercise in cold winter weather," said Karin Richards, director of the Fitness and Health Management Program and Read more...

The federal government released a new set of exercise guidelines a couple of weeks ago, and the basic recommendation was straightforward: Thirty minutes a day, five days a week, at a moderate effort, for basic health. Double that and/or make it more intense for more significant health and fitness benefits. But what if you're over 65? Should you be doing the same things, or approach exercise a Read more...

A combination of moderate exercise and nutritional supplements could help older people maintain an active lifestyle, British researchers said. Researchers at Manchester Metropolitan University found that 60 healthy, independent-living adults age 65 and older, who took carbohydrate and protein supplements just before and just after low-resistance exercise could boost muscle performance and Read more...

Sept. 2, 2008 - Your body is your gym. That's the theory behind one of the simplest, cheapest and most effective fitness regimens around. It's an exercise routine that uses your own body weight for resistance and nothing more than the ground, the floor or perhaps a chair for support. No weights or machines necessary. No gym membership required. Your house, the backyard, a city park or a Read more...

Even though he's eased up, 73-year-old Chris Catoe has a running routine that could whip someone half his age. He's dropped back from running 55 miles a week to a mere 35. He runs every other day instead of every day. He's cut back on marathons, but still competes in a dozen or so half-marathons and 10K races a year, shoulder-to-shoulder with people who weren't even born when he started Read more...

Do you fartlek? Don't laugh, because if you do, you know it's a great tool for boosting your fitness level and performance. "It's an unfortunate name, because it is without a doubt the perfect thing for people at any level to do and the easiest way to introduce some variety into your running," said Dagny Scott Barrios, author of the "Runner's World Complete Book of Read more...

Aug. 24, 2008 -- When I first heard about Nordic pole walking a year or so ago, I couldn't help but think of Tony Little, the ponytailed personal trainer and peddler of the Gazelle. The Gazelle, if you're not an insomniac and addicted to late night TV, is an exercise gizmo that marries cross-country skiing with a strider. It may well be the greatest aerobic exercise since unchained pit Read more...

Aug. 25, 2008 - If that game of beach volleyball, tennis or pickup football left your muscles screaming, you're not alone: Sports injuries are now the second most common reason we head to the doctor, behind colds. Just one in 10 Americans exercises regularly. With more of us pressed for time, energy and motivation, a growing number are now "weekend warriors" -- those who are Read more...

MOST of us will reach for a sports drink after exercise, but new research suggests a glass of milk could do the job just as well. A study of male volunteers found that milk was better at limiting the effects of muscle damage from exercise than either water or sports drinks, most likely due to its levels of protein and carbohydrates. Dr Judith Bryans, director of The Dairy Council and Read more...

Running can slow the effects of aging and give older people a new lease of life, new research suggests. Elderly joggers remained fit and active for longer than non-runners and were half as likely to die prematurely, scientists found. They were also less likely to succumb to a range of age-related illnesses, including heart disease, cancer and neurological disorders. The study, Read more...

Regular running slows the effects of aging, according to a new study from Stanford University School of Medicine that has tracked 500 older runners for more than 20 years. Elderly runners have fewer disabilities, a longer span of active life and are half as likely as aging nonrunners to die early deaths, the research found. "The study has a very pro-exercise message," said James Read more...

Slow exercise -- not fast -- may be better for menopausal women, University of Salzburg researchers said. Study leader Dr. Alexandra Sanger investigated two particular methods of physical training. Hypertrophy resistance training is a traditional approach designed to induce muscle growth, while SuperSlow is a more recently devised system which involves much slower movement and fewer Read more...

By Jacquelyn Rudis Eat late, gain weight? This myth has been around for years, and although some people could swear that their late-night eating habits do make them gain weight, recent research has shown that your body doesn’t process food differently at different times of the day. The total amount of calories that you take in, and how much you exercise during the day, are what affect your Read more...

by Jacquelyn Rudis You know that exercise is important, but there is a lot of conflicting advice out there concerning the “right” way to work out. One question that often arises is, “Will I lose more weight if I go running on an empty stomach?” Although in theory you may burn more fat this way, total calorie burn is about the same as eating a light snack before you exercise. Also, Read more...

by Amy Scholten, MPH The snow has fallen, beckoning you to the slopes and hills, lakes, and ponds. Winter sports are a blast. But before you scoop up your gear and head out the door, make sure you arm yourself with some important safety tips. General guidelines Regardless of your sport of choice, some tips are universal. These include: If you have not been training, slowly ease back into Read more...

by Elizabeth Smoots, MD Will you be hale and hearty in your golden years or dependent on others? I think the answer greatly depends on how physically active you are. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, three-fourths of older Americans don’t get enough exercise to maintain good health. This presents a problem as the normal aging process slowly takes its toll. With Read more...

by Laurie LaRusso, MS, ELS Your kids are out on their own. Your home and life are yours again. Maybe you're even retired. It's time to enjoy the good life—travel, grandchildren, hobbies. But the good life can only be yours if your body is up to it. This is where exercise comes in. Fitness is simply a matter of "use it or lose it." By using your muscles (including your heart muscle), you make Read more...

by Elizabeth Smoots, MD More and more people are using sports supplements lately. Also called ergogenic aids, these products are purported to improve the production and use of energy during exercise or enhance recovery after a workout. The supplements are popular among those who wish to bolster their physical strength or endurance. Many of these athletes use supplements in a relatively safe Read more...

by Carrie Myers Smith For people who suffer from a chronic disease, exercise can decrease discomfort, improve daily functioning, and enhance overall quality of life. There are many choices in what type of activity you might choose. Overall, find something that you enjoy doing and a place that is comfortable for you to do it in. Although being physically active in general is good for anyone, Read more...

by Karen Asp Stress follows you everywhere, even into your workouts, and its voice is powerful. It reminds you how much stuff you have to do and how many things you've been putting off. It's the nemesis that drags your body down, making you feel sluggish, convincing you that your workout is hard. If only you could dump your stress. Take a break. But your plate's loaded. Time is precious. Read more...