Sample Fitness Article: Six Common Sense Tips to Aerobics Fitness

 

Six Common Sense Tips to Aerobics Fitness

KEYWORDS: aerobics fitness, flexibility, muscle strength, strength training

What does fitness mean to you? Better yet, what is your fitness style? Some people like minimal stress workouts where they move all the parts of their body -- better known as aerobics. Others prefer strength training and weight lifting for better endurance. We have also heard of those who do yoga, because it keeps them flexible. 

All of these fitness workouts are great if you follow a routine and stick to it with discipline. It is also important that you create a goal or a deadline for your achievement. A good example is when you're planning to go on a skiing trip. Two or three months ahead, you need to keep in shape in order to have fun skiing. There are various ways you can train your muscles to be more flexible and stronger. Doing aerobics before skiing also strengthens your heart and enables your body to breathe in more oxygen where there is less in the higher elevation. 

1. Warm up. If you're working out in the morning, you're likely to get cramps if you do not at least warm up by stretching, breathing, and flexing your muscles. You may also cause injury to your muscles if you push too hard too soon. Those who exercise in the afternoon or evening find that doing errands during the day is a great way to warm up. 

2. Drink plenty of water. Drink before you do aerobics, weight lifting, or yoga. Drink in between and after you exercise. This keeps you hydrated and replenishes your body. Note that water is always the best way to get hydrated, even though many sports enthusiasts prefer energy drinks. 

3. Inhale and exhale efficiently. The purpose of cardiovascular exercises is, above all, to strengthen your heart and respiratory system. Working out enables your blood to circulate better and thus burn more calories. To help this process, you have to breathe in oxygen efficiently. 

4. Longer, more intense. Regularly increasing the number of routine repetitions in aerobics or the load of weights you're lifting helps you attain your goal of strength training and flexibility. If you regularly work out, your body adapts to the intensity and frequency of your routine. In time, you are putting less effort in the same task. It becomes boring and unchallenging. When you feel you are ready for longer and more intense exercises, you should listen to your body and up the ante. 

5. Comfortable intensity, comfortable frequency. As I have mentioned above, it is recommended that you increase your workout if you feel you are ready for it. Otherwise, you should exercise at comfortable intensity and frequency. Do not force your body to exert more than it could. The obvious consequence is injury, even a permanent one. If you're building muscle strength and flexibility with aerobics and other types of routines, you should let your body rest one day before you run to the gym on the next. 

6. Vary routine. Integrate strength training and aerobics. Many bodybuilders believe strength training and aerobics don't mix. In fact, integrating these two workouts help you lose weight faster. The more and different muscles in your body you train, the better. 

Whatever your routine is, sometimes it only takes common sense to achieve your fitness goal. Write them down and take account of your progress. It is possible to achieve flexibility and muscle strength through aerobics and cardiovascular activities. Your passion to succeed is the only key. 

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Sample Health Article: OPTIFAST

 

Diet Overview: OPTIFAST

KEYWORDS: OPTIFAST, optifast diet program, optifast weight loss program

If you're trying to lose weight, it pays to be realistic. You have to decide whether you should try a radical diet program and an exercise routine that will match it, or simply work it out with natural methods of consuming less calories and being more active. But many women do not have this capability nor the genes in their bodies to burn off the fat. Others live a sedentary lifestyle that has caused their obesity in the first place. This is where the OPTIFAST weight loss program comes in. 

The OPTIFAST diet program promises to deliver weight loss results by following a four-step procedure: evaluation, counseling and management, liquid diet followed by self-prepared meals, and weight maintenance. 

The diet consists of OPTIFAST products, in addition to any meal that is less than 100 calories you can eat with it daily. OPTIFAST products come in all sorts and sizes. Other than the ready to drink shakes, they also offer powder drinks, soups, and nutrition bars. 

So how do people succeed in losing weight under an OPTIFAST diet? First, we must clarify that not everyone who commits to an OPTIFAST weight loss program truly loses weight. It's always a matter of discipline, remembering the counseling sessions, and having supportive people around to help you get through the program. If you wish to undergo the OPTIFAST weight loss program, you have to understand that it takes a lot of work. This means that while you are on the diet program, you have to avoid the temptation of calorie-rich foods which other friends and family try to offer you. It also means you need to take the recommended amount of OPTIFAST shakes (soups, etc) in one day, plus any healthy food that will not add pounds on the scale. OPTIFAST diet really works for a lot of obese people. But as mentioned, how you respond to the diet program will dictate the success of your weight loss. 

Before committing yourself to the OPTIFAST diet program, you have to consult with a good doctor and have yourself evaluated if you are a good candidate for the program. Remember that there are situations when you don't have to resort to meal-replacement shakes for 18 weeks if you can have a better option. It's true that it is going to be almost a totally liquid diet. In some cases, people don't succeed in this program because they do not like the idea of taking shakes instead of regular food. OPTIFAST, however, gradually provides a transition from shakes to solid food and finally to regular meals after halfway through the program. 

The decision to lose weight always depends on you. If you are comfortable with the idea of temporary switching to low calorie nutritional shakes and giving up on sugar, carbs, fats, and other high-calorie foods with the hope of finally shedding off the pounds, then give the OPTIFAST weight loss program a try. There are always pros and cons. It is wise to learn as much as you can about this program before trying it. Above all, enlist the support of your family and friends to help you shape the true healthy body that you always dreamed of having. 

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