Our ever increasingly indoor lifestyles are not just affecting our health-related behaviors, but also our physiological sensitivity to chronic pain, musculoskeletal injury risks, and muscle tissue structure. While an entire generation of people evolved into the "Information Age," so to did a generation of chronic back pain sufferers. As the nation began to stay sitting down the pain and general injury rate went up. Human biology has a tendency to eliminate, or … [Read more...]
30 Day Plank Challenge – Level One
30 Day Plank Challenge from Today's Fitness Trainer The Plank is one of the most "sacred" of core exercises. The minute you say the word "plank", a look of fear comes across anyone who is being told to do it. This is because this exercise is challenging for EVERYONE who does it ... every single time (regardless of whether you're a fitness "newbie" or seasoned gym rat)! It's total body work that is concentrated in a short amount of time and makes you feel acco … [Read more...]
The Truth About Sleep and Productivity
In today’s busy world we’re all striving to get more done in less time. Productivity at work (and at home) is the ultimate goal ... but at a significant cost when it comes to our recovery and sleep. With only 24 hours in a day (and 28 hours of tasks on the "to do list"), how can we get the most out of each waking hour, and still get real enjoyment out of our lives? Sleep and productivity go hand in hand. To many, it would seem that sleeping less would give us more t … [Read more...]
Finding FREE Fitness Groups
As much as fitness clubs and the Sports and Fitness Industry Association (formerly the SGMA) would like you to think otherwise ... fitness is FREE (because getting fit requires nothing more than just "two feet and a heartbeat"). You don't need a gym membership to get physically fit or get results (i.e., lose weight, get stronger, build muscle, etc.). You don't even need to purchase any fancy equipment to make positive changes to your physical shape or your long term … [Read more...]
The Art of Napping … for Better Workouts
Are you getting enough sleep each night? If not, you might want to consider napping for a few minutes to improve your effectiveness and productivity during the day (especially if you are planning on working out)! Although experts recommend seven to nine hours of sleep per night, only 59 percent are actually sleeping for that long. That means two out of every five people may not be functioning at their best and may need a nap from time to time. That also means that … [Read more...]
Confessions of a Fitness Club Member
It's confession time! Have you ever found yourself doing things at the gym that feel a little bit "naughty" ... and wondered if you are the only one? You do things at a fitness club that you don't do anywhere else ... and act in ways that are uncharacteristic of what happens at work or in your own home. NOT TO WORRY! You're not the only one. In fact, you're most likely guilty of some (if not all) of the following fitness club "worst practices": Planning your c … [Read more...]
The Power of Visualization
I often ask people how many hours a week they train their body. Although I get a variety of responses, the answer is usually a number between 1 and 5 hours. I then ask, “How often do you train your mind?”, and get either a blank stare or a, “Huh?”. At this point I’m going to assume you’re familiar with the powerful effects of visualization (also known as mental imagery), which is “an experience that occurs in the absence of the appropriate external stimuli”. For ex … [Read more...]
Choosing the Right Equipment for Stability Ball Exercises
Whatever you decide to call it - "Swiss ball", "physioball", "exercise ball", "fitness ball" or "yoga ball" - the stability ball has proven itself to be a valuable fitness tool in anyone's workout arsenal. After being introduced into the rehabilitation world back in the 1960s stability balls started showing up on fitness clubs more frequently in the 1990s. When it was first introduced it was viewed as another "ThighMaster" or fad exercise device but it has withstood … [Read more...]
The Waiting Game – Losing 20 Pounds or More
With the beginning of a new year, many of us take the courageous leap back on the weigh scale to face the reality of ... our actual weight. If the number staring back at us is much higher than we had hoped, it may lead us to a frenzy of thoughts surrounding losing 20 pounds or more in the next 12 months. Although the number may seem daunting at first thought, small changes in diet and exercise (every single day) can lead to very REAL success! Time is the Enemy - W … [Read more...]
Absolute Best Butt Exercises
Absolute Best Butt Exercises from TodaysFitnessTrainer Glutes, Buttocks. Booty. Bottom. Derriere. Bum. Backside. No matter what you like to call it ... there seems to be a universal intrigue with the butt (and butt exercises). Whether you like looking at a nicely shaped butt or you would like your butt looked at ... the backside of the body is a focus for anyone who goes to the gym. The idea of a perfect butt is what motivates us to get to the gym and spend hours o … [Read more...]