Archive for July, 2008
50 plus fitness
50 Plus and all to play for
The above title was a campaign by the Sports Council in the early 1980s. The campaign was designed to encourage people over the age of fifty to take part in specially organised activities in their local leisure centre.
This article tells the story of one obese 50 year old’s quest to lose weight and get fit, achieved with the assistance of Hoyles Fitness
High Intensity Interval Training
High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) is exactly what is says- short bursts of high intensity exercise, followed by periods of low intensity recovery work. It is a very effective way of improving cardiovascular capabilities. The method is an excellent way of making cardiovascular improvements without having to train for extended periods of time.
The method of training is perfectly suited to almost all team sports. Sports such as football, rugby and hockey are very stop-start in nature. The ball is never in play for a great length of time and as a result players tend to work in short sprints rather than at a long, slow jogging pace. For this reason it is by far the most effective way of training for these games, as it mimics the demands placed on the body perfectly. (more…)
Food for Fat Loss Tips
Lots of people worry too much about going ‘on a diet’. I hate that word- it implies months of eating lettuce and vegetables, drinking nothing but water and avoiding every treat known to man. It needn’t be like that. First of all establish want you want to achieve from your diet and exercise plan- a six pack or just a slight bit of fat loss?
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Compound and Isolation Exercises
Compound Exercises
Compound Exercises are big, multi-joint exercises such as Bench Presses, Squats and Deadlifts. The multi-joint aspect can be explained by describing the amount of movement through various joints and the nature of the lift. Our joints are manipulated by muscle tissue contracting, which pulls on tendons, ultimately forcing movement at the joint. The exercises that involve movement at multiple joints recruit large amounts of muscle tissue. (more…)
An Introduction to High Intensity Training
High Intensity Training (HIT) is a form of weight training with a scientifically-proven track record. Created by a man named Arthur Jones (the inventor of the Nautilus and MedX machines so widespread in health clubs today), the approach focuses on training the body as a single complete unit, rather than the traditional split routine favoured by many bodybuilders over the years. (more…)
Nine ways to get the body you want
Ask most guys in the gym what they are looking to achieve and you will more often than not hear ‘build muscle’ in reply! It’s as cliched as women wanting to lose weight and ‘tone up’!
The only problem with this goal is the way most people go about achieving it – the wrong way. Not enough effort, too little weight, rest periods too long. Then there is their life outside of the gym – not enough food, the wrong types of food, too much beer, not enough sleep. (more…)