back to basics fitness
Growing up in rural New Zealand, keeping fit was a necessity. Our workout plan included chopping and clearing the wood when lightning struck a tree, or lifting hundreds of hay bales onto the neighbours truck. My father figured that if we had enough energy to go for a run, we had enough energy to round up the sheep or milk the goat.Needless to say, there was no bathroom scale in my house and no-one in my family had to worry about what we weighed.
Urban living has the kind of convenience that can make a person lazy. And although there are a lot more fashions forcing us to think about what size we are (and what size portions we are stuffing into our mouths) living in the city has it’s perks. No longer can we blame skipped workouts on stormy weather – fitness facilities are as mainstream as Starbucks, popping up on every street corner. Funky graphic design and music entices you through the door, like the aroma of coffee and allure of joining the hip people drinking it. You enter the environment of thin people wrapped in […]
fitness tips for seniors – exercising safely and effectively into your golden years
Lots of people over a ‘certain age’ have the misconception that they are unable to build muscle like a younger person. The myth stemmed from scientists who conducted studies several decades ago on test subjects that were not pushed to the best of their ability. With low expectations from the guys in white coats, test subjects were pushed at minimal intensity, some as low as 20 to 30 percent of what we now know they are capable of lifting. In more recent years, Tufts University researchers exercised test subjects at 80 percent of their one repetition maximum (the most they could lift once) because, says Irwin H. Rosenberg M.D. “we recognize that to build strength appreciably a person must work out at that level.”
It’s really exciting to be living in an era where we can redefine the limitations that society once placed on us. There are amazing role models who continue to raise the bar of athletic achievement at all ages! The challenge with people of the older generation is more often trying to overcome the social customs and out-dated attitudes about health and fitness. For example, many believe […]
outdoor activities and snowboarding benefits
What better way to get into the spirit of winter than trying some of the sports!
Snowboarding burns around 600 calories per hour (based on a 180 pound person). If you’re a beginner pushing yourself up off the snow every time you fall, you will burn more.If you haven’t exercised for a while, first thing you need to do is get medical clearance. Tell your doctor that you plan on going snowboarding, and get a basic check up. Mountain sports can be strenuous, especially if you‘re a beginner!
Visualize Before heading up the hill, find your head space. See yourself getting better and better before you even hit the snow. Visualization can help you conquer your athletic endeavors, as you have already been successful in your mind before you actually put it into action. Progression is key – stop every five turns if you have to. Toughen yourself up emotionally; psychological preparation and mental conditioning is not just for elite athletes. Keep snowboard magazines in the car, save an exhilarating snowboard image to your desktop and think snow!
Get Strong If you have a few weeks before the big day, strengthen up with […]
