Are you ready to start resistance training for the first time? Perhaps you’ve done it before, but it’s been a while. If you haven’t been practicing it regularly, then you’re ready. It’s time to begin experiencing the benefits that these strength workouts have to offer you.
(more…)Having a heart rate monitor on your smartwatch or fitness tracker can be very handy, but it’s only really beneficial if you’re using it properly. Unfortunately, all too many of us are checking it too frequently, rendering the results were seeing less and less useful. Get to know if you’re using this gadget feature to your best advantage or if you’re only holding yourself back.
(more…)Lately, blood flow restriction has started making itself into headlines of fitness magazine articles. It’s being mentioned increasingly on social media. The promise is that using this technique which is supposedly popular among physical trainers will help to improve result.
That said, are trainers really using this technique? Among those who are, do they truly see benefits from blood flow restriction? Are those benefits worth the effort of the technique?
Blood flow restriction is a technique is called an innovative new way to get the very most out of a workout. Many believe that it will be the next big fitness trend, not just a fad making waves over social media.
The concept behind blood flow restriction is far from new. It has been going in and out of popularity for a very long time. That said, trainers in small studios are now starting to recommend it for their own workouts. This is particularly popular in the United States, where it is touted as a technique to build muscle faster and with an improved recovery time.
Blood flow restriction is also known as occlusion training. It is a technique that uses types of wraps or cuffs around an individual’s limbs – arms and/or legs – during exercise. The idea is to safely reduce venous blood flow from a muscle being worked. At the same time, arterial blood flow is allowed to continue. This technique is typically used during a low-intensity resistance training workout.
By doing this, blood is not as able to escape the muscle. Moreover, the cellular swelling and metabolic stress rise sharply. As a result of these changes, muscle hypertrophy, growth hormone and muscle strength are all said to improve.
As of yet, there hasn’t been a great deal of study on blood flow restriction techniques in fitness workouts. As a result, there is only anecdotal evidence to suggest that this technique is effective and that it has the potential to be safe. Therefore, many doctors are not recommending that individuals attempt to use this technique as the risks may not justify the types of benefits – if any – that may occur as a result of using it.
Still, this isn’t stopping many trainers from recommending blood flow restriction to their own clients. If you are considering its use or if your trainer has recommended it to you, it’s a good idea to speak with a health care provider first.
This holiday season, a great fat burning workout to boost your metabolism can make all the difference. After all, if we’re already going to be fighting hard to stop ourselves from overindulging (too often), then keeping up the right workouts will be more important than usual.
That said, not all workouts are created equally. While most will boost your metabolism in one way or another, you need your holiday workouts to work especially hard on your behalf. Pay attention to your current fitness level and the amount of time you have available. Then, be sure to use them to your best possible advantage.
(more…)The fitness lifestyle industry is positively booming. People are spending a small fortune on devices and gadgets, big and small. They’re paying for videos, memberships and subscriptions to help them to achieve a more efficient, more active way of living.
According to the International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association (IHRSA), the health and fitness lifestyle industry in the United States is currently worth an estimated $30 billion. It has undergone a healthy growth rate of 3 to 4 percent per year for at least the last decade without any indication of slowing. In fact, many believe it is speeding up. What does that mean? Americans are becoming more interested in trying to improve their fitness levels.