Chisel Your Stomach With Simple Bicycle Exercises

This abdominal exercise specifically targets two different parts of your core, which are your upper abdominals and your obliques. 

 Your upper abdominals are the most common abdominal muscles to be targeted with more exercise and are the easiest to strengthen and tone. 

 Your oblique abdominals are those muscles on the side of your waist area, or you might better recognize them as the “love handles.” Yes, this exercise will help you accomplish the destruction of those pesky love handles once and for all.

 The reason this is such a common abdominal exercise is because of the fact that this targets two separate abdominal groups at the same time.

 Bicycles are one of the most common abdominals exercise and it is very self-explanatory. Basically you do what the name implies, which is pretend to ride a bike while sitting down.

 First, you want to lie flat on the floor with your lower back pressed to the ground and your higher back off the ground. Put your hands beside your head and bring knees up to about 45- degree angle.

 You’ll know you’re in the right position when you feel a little tugging in your “six pack” area the moment you are in that position.

 Once in the position, start to slowly go through a bicycle pedal motion and picture yourself riding a bicycle. This exercise isn't  too complex because of the fact that you're basically pedaling a bicycle, but at the same time this work out blasts both your obliques and your upper abdominals.

 Touch your left elbow to your right knee, then your right elbow to your left knee and repeat this motion, keeping your higher back off the ground and keeping an even, relaxed breathing throughout the work out.

 If this exercise doesn’t seem to be pushing you to your limit then I have a variation for you to try out. It is pretty easy to do, and the only real difference is that you perform bicycles backwards. 

 Yes I said backwards. This can be pretty tough because the movement and timing can be pretty awkward at first, but once you get the concept down you’ll really tone your abdominals much faster.

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Health And Fitness Issues That Concern Americans The Most

Health and fitness are clearly central themes for every single one of us, if the number of available opinions on the subject is anything to go by. The deluge of new health and fitness articles published each month can be a little overwhelming. How is a person supposed to wade through all the information to find the nuggets he or she was looking for, without losing your mind in the process? We have done a little of the data crunching for you, to offer you our compact guide to articles on health and fitness.

Take a browse with the search engine of your choice to gain access to a wealth of newly-published information and you will see straight away that fitness is fun. Health issues less so, since they can be rather more cause for concern. Articles are written on a plethora of available topics, covering all possible aspects of health and fitness, always up-to-date. If you are interested in obtaining or publishing fitness articles for free, a number of sites can provide a wide variety of articles for publication. The proviso is that the material is not edited in any way, so any commercial content is not lost. The Virtual Fitness trainer, for example, has informative, up-to-date, upbeat and readable articles on any and all of the categories discussed, as does EzineArticles, the ever-ready resource on all known topics, where keen and well-informed authors express their heartfelt opinions and share their expertise.

Interestingly, the topic of most concern for the American public is clearly nutrition, with more than a third of available articles concerning this issue. This is hardly surprising in a country where a whopping 23% of the population is obese and 60% definable as overweight. Factors affecting weight loss and dietary supplements for those reducing in weight are naturally a priority and very much in evidence. Related to these are the many articles on exercise techniques. Indeed, whole websites are dedicated to this topic, because if you they act as remote a personal trainer, with a structured, tailor-made fitness program for each member who logs on. This is a prime source for fitness articles, although the wary will want to watch out for merchandising pure. Clearly some of the advice on apparel and products is not entirely impartial.

The nutritional disorder diabetes is another highly popular theme. This comes as no surprise, with 6% of Americans suffering from some form of diabetes. Sufferers in this field like to keep abreast of the latest in news and medical advances, because a small change in this field can make an enormous difference to quality of life. And if you can feel it in your bones, you are bound to find something for you which will make you feel more comfortable. Articles on arthritis, osteoporosis, back problems and ageing in general are available. There's something for everyone.

Before skin, hair and nail products, snoring and erectile dysfunction comes the whole gamut of mental health products and techniques. Whether you are into aroma therapy, relaxation, psychotherapy or meditation, you can keep abreast with a couple of clicks of your mouse. Health and fitness affects us all, so go ahead and enjoy yourself and take advantage of your ready access to a little of the latest on whatever takes your fancy. You may learn something which you didn't even realise you couldn't live without. And you can take that to dinner tonight.

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Fitness And Nutrition

In the age which we live there is an unprecedented focus on getting and staying healthy. As more and more research points to the effect of fitness and nutrition on our overall health, the findings become more difficult to ignore. There is no doubt that the food that we eat and the physical activity that we perform significantly impact our weight and our body's overall health and longevity.

When you look at fitness and nutrition and the consequences of ignoring their importance, it is not difficult to see how large a role they play in our health. First and foremost, it is important to understand how powerfully diet can affect us. Natural, whole foods - such as fresh vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and lean proteins - give our bodies the vitamins that it needs to function effectively. We have energy when we eat right. And when we have energy we burn fat. Eating properly allows us to maintain a healthy weight and keep undue stress off of our hearts; it also allows us to keep our blood pressure and cholesterol levels in the healthy range. Most importantly, good nutrition keeps our bodies stocked with antioxidants that fight off a range of illnesses including cancer.

But nutrition does go it alone; fitness and nutrition go hand in hand for achieving good health. When we keep our bodies active through a consistent exercise program, we are adding to our body's ability to metabolize food and keep weight down. Further, good fitness means strong and limber muscles and a strong cardiovascular system. Exercise also lowers blood pressure and reduces stress levels.

Learning how to pair fitness and nutrition for optimum health means a commitment to a particular lifestyle. It is essential that you revamp your diet to eliminate fatty, high-sodium, and processed food and replace it with fresh, natural - and even organic - choices. But remember, fitness and nutrition work best as a team. Implement a consistent regime of physical activity into your daily schedule including cardiovascular work, stretching, weight training, and even yoga or Pilates.

When you truly understand the importance of fitness and nutrition in your life, you will understand how crucial these lifestyle changes are in order to live a long and healthy life.

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Why Women Need To Exercise ?

Women know they need exercise, but who has the time? Balancing a career, a family and everything in between often causes women’s personal needs to take a back seat to other concerns. There are numerous reasons why women need to include exercise into their daily routines. Of course, there is the obvious benefit of shaping a slimmer body but did you know that exercise for women has also been proven to alleviate depression, help prevent colon cancer and boost your immune system?

In addition, regular exercise for women helps prevent osteoporosis by strengthening their bones. Many women find that exercise relieves the symptoms of premenstrual tension (PMT), painful periods as well as pre- and post-menopausal symptoms.

Women who are physically fit before and during pregnancy often have less severe back and  labor pan and experience easier deliveries than women who are unfit. Further, fit mothers-to-be are less apt to become overweight and regain their pre-pregnancy figures much more quickly after giving birth.

In addition to improving their appearance and overall health, many women say that exercise helps to boost their self-confidence in all aspects of their lives. Mary McElroy, professor of kinesiology at Kansan State University  says, "Exercising gives women a sense of accomplishment, which is related to self-esteem. It can have a powerful effect on self-image. I would take the benefits of exercise beyond health. Exercise is an important component of one's quality of life."

In recent years, there has been a boom in the variety of workouts for women as well as an increased availability of exercise and physical recreational options, including  online fitness programs--primarily because more and more women are taking a serious interest in keeping themselves fit and strong. Studies have shown that a combination of cardio and strength and flexibility training including walking, running, climbing stairs, kickboxing, yoga, cycling at a moderate pace and other recreational pursuits help women to stay healthier, happier and more productive as compared to their sedentary counterparts.
Note: Always consult with a professional health care advisor before beginning any physical fitness program.

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Drop Quick Weight

When dropping weight it can be much easier said then done. Below are just some of the tips I've come across in the last couple of months that have actually made an effect on my body. I use to be 420 pounds now I'm at 385, and dropping. Hopefully my insight into my life can help everyone out there even just a little bit. 

• When first starting on the idea, don't just go and join a gym, take things slowly, and start by sitting down with a pen and notepad and actually list the things you eat on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis (makes you pretty sick when you take a look at the finished product). 
• After you've written, depending on if you want to progress slowly, by walking, drinking more water and less sugar (which turns into fat if not burned off), or join a gym and start hitting the weights (with supervised trainers, please) it to totally up to you. 
• The pounds you lose at first will be all water weight, but there is a trick to keeping those pounds from coming back. Just like smoking, when you start altering your eating habits, your body feels the effects right away. Keeping those new habits within your life constantly means that your body along with your focus and mental toughness will begin to build higher and higher.
• Changing up your exercise routine, will help you get adjusted with different muscles in your body and help you from plateauing over time. This way you body knows to keep on burning that fat because the new exercises will be kind of like another "wake up" call for you. 

When toning, always have a high number of repartitions, and a low number of sets within your workout, it keeps you going for longer and less occurrence of injury. 

Warning: Always keep some water or something along the lines of hydration right by your side, it is dangerous for you mind and body to get over heated and may cause you to pass out if continued. 

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Fitness Plan For Women

A slim and trim and well toned body is a delight not only to flaunt, but also to behold. Today, women all over the world aim at the zero size and hourglass waistlines. However, the fast paced lifestyles we lead and the demands made on our time, at work and at home, make it impossible to stay in shape and perfect physical and mental health without dedication and guidance.


The best tips for workout routines applicable to women include the following:

Develop a plan
Chalk out your daily chores and free time on hand and only then design a fitness regime to work out. This will ensure that your workout routine will be managed within the free time on hand and the quality of the regime will not be hampered due to any disturbances.
Consult your doctor

It is very important to consult the family doctor and confirm your fitness level to take on the regime intended. It will do you good to periodically check your blood pressure and pulse rate. You should ideally adopt a fitness routine only after consulting your doctor and trainer and considering all the options, pros and cons involved.

Stay motivated

If company helps to motivate you, exercise at the local gym. Remember that the body loses mobility and flexibility with every break in the regime. Identify a space, time and routine that will keep sedentary habits at bay and enable you to exercise regularly.

Remember to adopt warm up and cool down exercises

It helps to develop the routine, complete with warm up exercises prior to the main work out and cool down exercises post regime. Gentle flexing before and after helps a lot and keeps strain and injury away. The warm up exercises enable the body to gradually adapt to the postures required during the regime, while the cool down exercises help to relax the body after the regime, neck, shoulders and every body part involved in the work out. 

There are many online and offline resources that help you to put great exercise regimes together and offer guidelines 24 hours a day. Also there are certain simple exercises that you can adopt and practice even as you handle your daily chores, like:

1. Standing with your feet apart and knees slightly bent and bending your torso to the right and left for a great stretch
2. Lying on your back and bending your knees and raising your legs to cross your ankles to tone stomach muscles with the controlled movement and breath 
3. Going down on and straightening one leg out at a time 
4. Striding forward one leg at a time, keeping your back straight and bending both knees till each one, in turn, nearly touches the floor 
5. Holding a chair and in turn, turning your legs out slightly and then raising one at a time as high as you can
6. Lying on your back and raising your knees and lower legs so that they are parallel to the ground 
7. Sitting on a stool and resting your forearms over your thighs as you lean forward and pick up a dumb bell weight with one hand at a time

The workout routines are many and it is important to first identify the kind or level of toning you desire before taking on an exercise regime. It is just as important to compliment the fitness regime with a well balance diet. You should also consider simple toning exercises for all round fitness and tone muscles that lose strength and appeal with age. These exercises also help you address problems such as sagging skin and droopy posture. 
Remember there are many experts who make themselves physically available or guide you online or offline, either free or for a reasonable fee.

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Health and Fitness Tips For Men

Many men today are living life on the fast track. Most of the internet searches are for fast or easy weight loss. While most of the information is geared towards women, men are also interested and in need of health and fitness tips.

Men have the advantage where they can lose weight much easier than women. There are many different health and fitness programs out there for men. Yoga and Pilates are not just for women anymore. There are exercise videos that focus on Yoga and Pilates for Men. There are different types of home exercise equipment that are low cost and easy to use. You just need to have the motivation to follow through with your plans for a healthier life.

Heart Disease, Diabetes, prostate cancer, and other health issues are a rising concern for men. These reasons can and should be a good source of motivation for men today. Men can follow these health and fitness tips to lose weight and get healthy and fit.

Starting out the day with a healthy breakfast helps to kick start metabolism and keeps blood sugar levels even. It also gives a person more energy. When a man eats breakfast, he is less likely to eat larger portions of unhealthy food later in the day. Eating plenty of fiber rich foods is important to fill up and feel satisfied between meals. Try to eat whole grains – whole wheat bread, potatoes, and brown rice, instead of white bread, white rice, and pastas – that are simple starches and turn right into sugar. The whole grains take longer to digest and can assist with maintaining lean muscle tissue.

Men are able to eat larger portions of protein than women. They should still concentrate on eating lean proteins such as chicken, turkey, and fish on a daily basis instead of red meat. They should also make sure to eat plenty of fruits and vegetables.

Men can also benefit from portion control and watching their portion sizes. Eating smaller meals more frequently throughout the day as opposed to eating the three traditional square meals a day really does help to keep the metabolism running smoothly and helps to build lean muscle tissue.

The best way to lose weight is with a combination of cardio, strength training and a healthy diet. But, the cornerstone of most weight loss programs is cardio. Exercising on a daily basis is a good way to get in shape and boost metabolism. Many men are concerned about building muscle and may only concentrate on strength training. Cardio is necessary in any fitness program because:

1) It helps you burn more calories in one sitting. Getting your heart rate up means your blood is pumping, you’re breathing hard, you’re sweating and burning calories.

2) With many cardio exercises, you can burn 100 to 500 calories depending on how hard you work, how long you exercise and how much you weigh.

3) Burning calories with exercise means you don’t have to cut as many calories from your diet.

4) You can do cardio exercise most days of the week without worrying about injury or over training.

Nutritional supplements can be used in conjunction with eating healthy foods and exercise to build lean muscle. There are many supplements out there designed especially for men and their unique health and fitness needs. They are not meant to be a shortcut to weight change, and taking too much of any one supplement can pose serious health risks. The good news is that average person is unlikely to take so much of a nutrient that they run into trouble. But it’s always wise to check in with a doctor before you start using a supplement regularly. And that’s definitely true if you’re using any supplement in high doses or for prolonged periods of time.

It is very important that you keep yourself hydrated during any strenuous activity. Sports drinks like Gatorade, PowerAde, and All Sport can give you a needed energy boost during your activity. They are designed to rapidly replace fluids and to increase the sugar (glucose) circulating in your blood. Energy Drinks can help boost your energy, but many use sugar and caffeine as their active ingredients used as stimulants. In fact, excessive use of energy drinks can cause symptoms such as upset stomach, leg weakness, heart palpitations, being jittery, nervousness, and more. Drink these energy drinks on an empty stomach and the effects can be magnified. Never underestimate the power of drinking water and making sure to get at least 6-8 glasses a day.

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