Cardio for Fun

We already know how great aerobic activities are for your heart, body and mind. After all, regular cardio exercise has been shown to reduce body fat, decrease total cholesterol, boost mood, lower resting heart rate, and improve heart and lung function but how can we add to traditional cardio fitness to keep your workouts interesting.Try something fun, something that you wouldn’t really think is a cardio workout. Get your trainer involved too. They will keep your cardio routines fresh so you don’t start dreading it. You may not realize that a lot of the activities you may do around the house, or do with your kids are great cardio workouts.

There are hundreds of cardio options out there. The trick is picking a few that you like and then doing them at an intensity that is high enough to count as cardiovascular exercise. To be considered a cardiovascular workout, you need to meet two principles. 1) Intensity has to be high enough to elevate your heart rate into an aerobic zone which is 55% to 85% of your maximum heart rate. 2) For any activity to count as cardio, it has to last at least 10 minutes per session. And for best results, you need to do at least 3 days of cardio (with no more than 2 days off between sessions) per week.

There are fun activities that we did as kids and may do now while playing with our kids. Try some out to get your heart rate pumping and those lungs working.

  • Walking the dog
  • Playing Dodge Ball
  • Tag
  • Hula Hooping
  • Obstacle Courses
  • Jump Rope
  • Water games
  • Skipping
  • Hop Scotch
  • Jumping Jacks
  • Trampoline Jumping

There are many other forms of cardio activities that you can add to your regular fitness routine including classes or group training so speak with your trainer to discuss what’s available.

Have fun finding some new favourite cardio exercises. There are so many choices now, there’s no excuse to get bored or dread cardio ever again.

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Exercise Addict

Remember the old adage, too much of anything in life can be a bad thing? Even something as simple as drinking water can be dangerous if you consume excessive levels. Exercise is a really important part of a healthy lifestyle – but make sure you build a healthy addiction to exercise. Exercising regularly is a major component in leading a healthy lifestyle. To get into the habit of exercising on a regular basis, you may need to set aside time in your schedule to visit the gym and find a type of exercise you can genuinely enjoy. At other times, you may have difficulty becoming addicted to exercising if you feel as if you aren’t reaching your goals in terms of fitness or weight loss. This is where a personal trainer can really keep you motivated and keep your enthusiasm and interest in your workout while changing things up and staying on track of your goals. Take a positive approach to exercise and making specific changes to your lifestyle, you can become addicted to exercising and improve your health in the process.

Here are some tips to become a Healthy Exercise Addict.

  1. Select a type of exercise best aligned with your interests.
  2. Recruit a friend or family member to exercise with you.
  3. Set aside time in your day for exercise.
  4. Exercise at your pace.
  5. Set fitness and training goals.
  6. Keep yourself entertained while you exercise.
  7. Reward yourself (clothing, jewelry, shoes).

Recovery time is an important aspect of physical training and without it you are likely to eventually experience physical symptoms, such as muscle or joint damage, prolonged fatigue, and be more prone to infections. Again, working with a trainer will make sure you aren’t over doing it and prevent you from doing more damage than good.

Don’t let exercise start to take over your life. Have it be an important part of your week, but ensure that you take some recovery time and don’t forget about spending time with those that are important in your life. Liking what you do, will make you want to continue to do it. Make exercise your healthy addiction.

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No More Bridezilla

Planning your wedding can be stressful. Trying to balance your vision of the wedding with those of your family and the groom’s family can bring out the worst bridezillas. A bride has a lot to do, think about and plan for this momentous occasion. Here are a couple of tips to help keep the stress down during wedding planning. Make sure you start off with communicating with your soon to be husband so you are both on the same page. This will help with keeping stress to a minimum right off the bat.

Work on a budget. This is one of the most important days of your life and you want it to be perfect. There are ways to get what you want for your wedding but pay less. Make a reasonable budget for your wedding and stick to it. This is a great way to plan your wedding. It allows you to know exactly what you can spend on each aspect of your wedding. You will then have no regrets that you impulsively splurged on one item and made yourself short in another area. Check out websites for help with budget worksheets.

It is a huge time and stress saver to book your locations way in advance. The earlier you can book a place, the more chance you have of getting the date you want. Some popular locations will book up several years in advance. This is even more true if you plan your wedding for popular times like June and July. As soon as you have picked your date, book your church and reception hall.

One of the most important choices you will make for your wedding day will be booking a photographer. Photos will be the memories of your special day. Ensure that you choose a photographer that knows how to capture those candid moments. When you meet with your photographer, it is very important that you are clear about your expectations so that you will end up with the perfect photos of your event.

When it comes to wedding planning, it may seem as though everyone has an opinion on how things should be done. you may feel pressured to do something you don’t want to. Do not succumb to this pressure. It’s your day. you and the groom are the ones getting married and you have every right to stick to your guns. Feel free to ask someone to back off (politely). Thank them for the wedding suggestion and let them know that you’re going another route with the planning.

Remain organized. Try to stick to a schedule and get things done early so you aren’t leaving everything to the last minute and building your stress up even more. Delegate some tasks to the bridal party or parents. Things that don’t have to be done by the bride can be given to others to finish. You’ll be able to feel a little more relaxed if you have some help.

If you can, hire a wedding planner. A good wedding planner can really cut down on the level of stress. The coordinator will see to the photography, flowers, transportation, catering, wedding dress and videography so you don’t have to. As long are you are up front and let them know exactly how you envision your day, they can help you achieve your perfect day and let you feel more relaxed so you can enjoy the occasion.

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Gardening

With the start of the nice weather, we’re eager to get out in the garden and get our planting done. After a long winter cooped up inside we get excited to spend time outside in our gardens. But, without the proper techniques and getting your body ready for the work, many injuries and strains can happen. Gardening uses muscles that we don’t often use and after a season or so of them resting, getting right back into it without a proper warm up and stretching can cause strains or muscle soreness.

Getting active and working out several weeks prior to the start of gardening season, is the best way to eliminate the chance of injury. It is also important to begin stretching your back, legs, arms and even your hands and feet to prevent soreness. Simple stretches such as lying flat on the floor, bringing your knees up to your chest and holding them there with your arms. Hold for a minute, then relax and repeat. Also try standing up straight then slowly bending at the waist to touch your toes. Before each gardening session, you should get your body warmed up with 10 to 15 minutes of brisk walking or other activities that get your blood flowing.

Lifting and digging in the garden also needs to be done properly so you avoid injury. When lifting, keep your back straight, bend from your knees and use your legs not your back to lift. Bend your knees as you dig. Use your largest muscle, your legs, and make sure you alternate between a right-handed and left-handed stance.

To save some of the heavy lifting or save you from over working the back, choose the right tools that can help you in the garden. Wheelbarrows, weed pullers, garden claws, longer handled shovels and spades, and rakes. Using the proper tools will help you keep a straighter back and eliminate working in a hunched over position. Try to keep your time working in the garden to 30 minute sessions with rest periods so to not over do it on your muscles.

Working in your garden is also a great way to get in your daily exercise and staying fit. You can add resistance to your gardening moves in the form of light weights. Raking, weeding, digging and pruning are great forms of exercise while you are out in the garden. Even mowing the lawn is a great form of exercise as you are pushing the lawn mower (weighted object) and walking. Digging is a great way to use the major muscle groups in your core and legs. Even sitting and weeding includes stretching and bending which will improve flexibility.

Every good workout, a garden workout included, should finish with a cool down session and stretching. Be garden smart. Stretch, warm up, and use the right tools to get the work done in your garden so you can enjoy the fruits of your labor injury free.

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Summer Fun

The school year is quickly coming to a close. Now comes the problem of what to do to keep your kids busy and happy. Summer time is a time of excitement for kids and you want to do everything possible to avoid hearing “mom, dad, I’m bored”. Finding enough summer activities for your kids can often be a never ending task. No matter how old your children are, you want to find events and programs that will keep your children engaged and active. Use the many, many resources in your community.

Take the time to discuss ideas for summer activities with the whole family. List out the top activities for each family member then try to map out the next 8 weeks. If time off work is available, plan a longer family vacation during the summer. Try to take a week cottage stay, visiting family further away or a beach vacation for a week. If time off work is not available, sign the kids up for overnight camps or a week long day camp in something that is exciting for them.<br.

Community guides will list several activities that are put on by the city, town or community centre close to you. Day events such as garden parties, day class, community celebrations and festivals can be a great way to spend a summer day. Usually they are free or require a small donation. Take advantage of these great events to fill up your summer calendar.

Enjoy some of these day out ideas:

  • Trip to the Zoo
  • Visit the Museum
  • Picnic and Day at the Park
  • Day at the Movie Theatre
  • Beach Day/Water Park
  • Play dates with Friends
  • Activities at the Library
  • Bike Ride
  • Miniature Golf
  • Bowling Alley
  • Hike
  • Fishing

You don’t need to leave your home or backyard to enjoy a summer day. Plan some fun activities to do right at home. Treasure hunt, water balloon fight, puzzles, dresses up, and creative art projects can all be done on a day that will be spent at home. Some fun activities that will keep the kids and you busy all day long.

Mark out your activities on the calendar and watch how quickly it will fill up. Whatever activities you choose, spend the summer doing things that will bring your family close together. Memories are made from time spent with friends and family and doing fun activities. Try and spend a lot of the time outside while the weather is nice.

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Candida

What is Candida?
Candida is a form of yeast that exists naturally in everyone. It is normally harmless and is simply present in the body but Candida is also the most common cause of fungal infections. Many species of Candida are harmless, however when mucosal barriers are disrupted or the immune system is compromised they can invade and cause disease. The introduction of antibiotics, although good, can cause the good bacteria that keeps Candida cells at bay, to die and let Candida take over. Candida are pretty much a norm in low numbers on healthy adult skin and is part of the normal flora of the mucous membranes of the respiratory, gastrointestinal, and female genital tracts. It is when there is overgrowth that problems arise.

The following are several causes of increased Candida cells:

  1. Antibiotics. Antibiotics are a common cause of Candida. Antibiotics destroy both harmful bacteria and good bacteria. When antibiotics destroy friendly bacteria it gives the Candida a chance to begin to multiply. If you’re taking more than 1 course of antibiotics you will often have a Candida or yeast infection.
  2. Birth Control Pills or Device. Oral birth control pills are mostly the hormone estrogen. Supplemental estrogen in the synthetic form has been found to promote the growth of yeast.
  3. Excessive Stress and Elevated Cortisol. Stress causes the release of a certain hormone called cortisol. Cortisol can depress the immune system and also raise blood sugar. The elevated blood sugar can feed the yeast cells allowing them to grow quickly.
  4. Tap Water Consumption. Common tap water is high in chlorine which has been found to destroy friendly intestinal bacteria allowing candida to grow.
  5. Constipation. Constipation can be caused by candida and can also lead to candida.
  6. Drugs and Alcohol. Excess alcohol can directly destroy bacteria and allow yeast to grow. Drugs can also cause yeast overgrowth particularly if they disturb the digestive system.
  7. Hypothyroid. Low thyroid is very common in cases of candida.
  8. Immune Deficiency. Any condition that results in a weakened immune system can bring about candida.
  9. Hormonal Imbalance. An imbalance between estrogen and progesterone can be a causative factor in yeast overgrowth.
  10. Excessive Bowel Cleansing. Colonic irrigation and bowel cleansing too frequently can eliminate all the friendly bacteria and allow candida to grow.
  11. Diabetes.
  12. Toxic Metal Connection. Toxic metals such as Mercury, Copper and Arsenic are usually present in the candida patient. These metals disable the exact part of the immune system that seeks to control candida.

Candida has been linked to a number of symptoms such as allergies, IBS, migraines, depression, arthritis, PMT and many other illnesses and chronic conditions. You can remove the excess candida in your body just by modifying your diet. Talk to your trainer or dietitian to make sure the diet is right for you before getting started. If following a Candida Diet, you should avoid grains (including bread and pasta), beans, potatoes, dairy and sugar and eat proteins ( red meat, chicken and fish), eggs, fruits, vegetables (especially root vegetables and leafy greens), nut (no peanuts or cashews) and berries. A Candida diet is typically higher in nutrient density than what we are most likely used to.

Now that you are more aware of what Candida is, what can cause it, you can with the help of your trainer and dietician choose a healthier diet.

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Fan Stress

Are you a die-hard fan of a professional team? Does your face get all red when you’re watching do-or-die moments of your team in the finals? Are you a ball of nerves as the clock ticks down the last seconds of the game and your team is close to the win? It is important to know that sometimes fans of sports teams experience more stress than the players on the team.

People become so committed to and supportive of their favorite team, they can experience stress from watching the games. Especially when it comes to playoffs or championships, the do-or-die moments in games will send heart rates of fans through the roof.

No matter the level of the sport, fans get extremely emotionally connected to the team they are supporting. What happens is there is a sympathetic surge that occurs in the fans. The body’s reaction to stress is controlled by the sympathetic nervous system and this system is kicked into high gear during games. Heart rates and blood pressure will go up causing the increase in the demand of oxygen on the heart and an actual decrease in the oxygen that is being delivered.

Here are some ways to cope during or after the game:

  1. Stay positive and keep positive thoughts
  2. Exercise has been proven to be a great stress reliever.
  3. Listen to music.
  4. Reminisce on happy moments in your life.
  5. Use a stress ball to help work out some of your stress and gain some hand strength in the process.
  6. Meditate. Use breathing practices to calm you and find your inner peace.
  7. Vent. Communicate your frustrations with a friend with similar interests. Get it out to help you feel better.
  8. Laughter is the best medicine. Watch a comedy show or spend time with a fun friend.
    Some sports teams are even marketing on fan stress by developing stress relieving balls, dolls or toys with team logos on them, such as NBA Basketball Fan Stress-Relieving Dammit Dolls in team logos and colours.

    It’s important to remember that although you are strongly connected with the team, you are not on the team and cannot influence the results of the game. It’s hard to believe while you’re watching the game but it really isn’t a life or death moment so it’s best to put things into perspective. Enjoy the excitement and drama of the game but try not to get too wrapped up in the result. Sports are for our entertainment and shouldn’t be causing more stress in our lives.

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Good Morning

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. I’m sure you’ve heard that before. But it is true. In order to get the day off right, you need to kick start your body with energy. Studies have suggested that breakfast is perhaps the single most important meal of the day as everything else that follows builds on it. You’ve just gone approximately 8 hours without a meal. Breakfast provides the body with the energy to get going in the mornings. With the right ingredients, breakfast can help you achieve your health needs for the day. Yet, it is always the meal that is overlooked and ignored due to the morning rush to get out the door and to work or school.

Having a balanced breakfast that consists of 500 calories is a must. This will ensure that your body is satisfied enough to start your day and replenish what is lost during sleep. It should also include sufficient protein to nourish and build your muscles. Carbohydrates must also be enough to provide you energy to get you to lunch.

Having a cereal as part of your breakfast is a beneficial choice. The cereals available today are a lot healthier than those years ago. They contain added whole grains, calcium and vitamin D. They are intentionally made to have reduced sugar as well as lower amounts of calories. Electing to eat a good cereal in the morning allows you to consume less fat, less cholesterol and more fiber. As a result, improving your nutrient content in your body.

A high protein breakfast is also important for giving you energy and helping with weight loss. Extra protein at breakfast will help you feel fuller, longer preventing mindless snacking before lunch. This is because high protein foods take you longer to digest. The stomach empties more slowly and you will feel fuller longer and get hungrier later. Eating protein at breakfast will also reduce food cravings.

Here are some good breakfast ideas for a rushed morning:

  • Peanut butter and a banana
  • Almond butter and an apple
  • Low sugar protein bar
  • Protein smoothie with fruit and yogurt
  • Hardboiled egg and an orange
  • Greek yogurt, no sugar added
  • Turkey bacon and a pear

Breakfast can be seen to be related to your mood for the day. In studies, it was shown that breakfast eaters were more sociable, more alert, happier, better memory and cognitive function when comparison to those who remain hungry in the mornings. Studies of children who ate breakfast daily showed that these kids performed better at school, had better grades and had less tardiness and absenteeism from school.

If you begin your day with a nourishing and satisfying breakfast, you will be less likely to eat between meals and, in particular, to be drawn to high calorie, high sugar foods for energy. Breakfast is not only for those aiming to lose weight, it is vital for good health in general. In fact, eating breakfast is critical in preventing heart disease, avoiding obesity, and staving off diabetes.

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Calorie Cutter

Cutting your calorie intake daily will help you lose the extra weight you may be carrying around. In order to lose weight, you need to burn more calories in a day through your activities than you consumed that day. If you’ve tried to accomplish this, you know it can be difficult. Dramatic changes to your diet may seem unreasonable, undoable and unfathomable. Simple every day choices, that really don’t change the menu too much can seem almost effortless but can make a big enough difference. Cutting 50 calories a day can equal a ½ a pound a month. Or try 100 calories a day to lose a full pound each month. That may not seem like much, but when you add exercise to that, it can make a huge difference in weight loss.

Here are 10 simple ways to cut calories:

  1. Invest in some good quality cooking utensils to help reduce the amount of fat needed in cooking. Try heavy non-stick frying pans and heavy baking tray.
  2. Throw away any high fat items and replace them with healthier low calorie options.
  3. Use cooking oil spray instead of pouring oil in the pan when frying or browning foods.
  4. Skip the butter. Use low calorie peanut butter or jam on toast or a light mayonnaise on your sandwiches instead.
  5. Grill, steam, bake or poach. Eliminate the frying as much as possible.
  6. Add natural seasonings to your foods. Try herbs, spices, citrus juices, vinegar and low calories sauces like Worcester and Soy.
  7. Make sure you have plenty of variety in your diet so that you don’t become bored and give into unhealthy cravings.
  8. Don’t shop when you’re hungry. If you feel hungry when you shop, you are more likely to give into temptation and buy something that is high in fat and calories to satisfy your immediate cravings.
  9. Eat smaller portions of high-fat foods (meats, cheeses) and larger portions of vegetables, salad, fruit and very low-fat protein foods (yogurt, skim milk).
  10. Stop drinking soda and juice. Choose water instead. Water is a great to help you feel full longer and helps curb your cravings.

Remember that slow and steady is the way to lose weight and keep it off. Using these simple calorie cutting ideas does not require you to drastically change your lifestyle. With healthy substitutions and cutting out a few things from our diet, we can make some big changes on our waist line. Talk to your dietician or personal trainer, they can get you on the right track as well and offer some other helpful suggestions. Get cutting!

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Burn Baby, Burn

Weight lifting is one of the most popular exercise forms. Weight lifting was earlier taken up by body builders. However, today anyone looking to lose fat and build up a toned and structured body should add it to their workout. Weight lifting is a great way to burn lots of calories.

Adding weight lifting to your regular exercise routine will help you burn some serious calories. If you are looking for a leaner, more muscular physique, you need to lift weights. Strength training is a fantastic way to burn calories. This type of training uses more muscles at any given time than other forms of training. When you use more muscles it requires your body to use up more energy. Although cardio burns calories throughout the exercise, building muscle through weight lifting burns fat during the exercise, and long after the exercise has been completed.

Muscles burn about 10 times the calories per pound than fat does. Weight lifting increases your metabolic rate and burns calories effectively. It also helps to check the calorie count even when the muscles go through the repair process when you are not working out. If you want to lose over all body fat then weight lifting programs are the best options. Weight lifting speeds up the process of calorie loss.

In addition, weight training is essential for keeping the weight off once you have reached your goal weight. Many research studies have shown that the participants who lost weight through a combination of exercise and caloric restriction were better able to keep weight off over the long term versus those that only undertook caloric restriction.

When you start to workout with weights, never workout any more than 4 days per week. Your body is put through a tremendous amount of stress when you are lifting weights. Anything more than this could be opening yourself up to muscle fatigue, muscle strains and injuries. You get the most of your gains on your rest day. If you are new to weight training, be sure not to focus so much on the scale. Muscle weighs more than fat, so as you are gaining muscle and losing fat, the scale may not tell the whole story.

Unfortunately, as we age we lose muscle and gain fat. We lose about 20% of our muscle mass after 30 years of age. The only way to retain our muscle mass is with weight lifting. When you increase your muscle mass you burn more calories. Your metabolic rate will remain elevated longer and you will burn more calories with less effort. Weight lifting will help you lose weight faster.

Meet with a personal trainer to get you on the right program of weight training for you to reach your workout and weight loss goals. A trainer will teach you the proper exercises and form so that you don’t injure yourself during your workout.

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