Nov 02

Legs Too Tired? Injured? Here Are 7 Ways to Do Upper-Body Cardio

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Stay on top of your fitness when you have to stay off your feet. These are the words every runner dreads: “Stay off your feet to heal from an injury.” Besides missing out on your go-to source of endorphins and stress relief, your break from running could result in a loss of cardio fitness and strength. This is exactly when a runner might ask: Can I do cardio without my legs? The short answer is yes, and the long answer is, having a go-to cardio workout that doesn’t rely on your legs is not only helpful cross-training, but will help you remain fit and healthy if you ever have to give your legs a rest. Research shows that after about 12 days of inactivity, athletes are likely experience a dip in their endurance ability. This decline is likely due to a combination of factors, and every runner is different, but Todd Buckingham, Ph.D., exercise physiologist at PTSportsPRO in Grand Rapids, Michigan, tells Runner’s World that most people will see their VO2 max fall between 4 and 8 percent after about a week of no training. By two months, you may be looking at a 20 precent drop, and mitochondria (the […]
Nov 01

How to stick to your health goals — but still enjoy your weekend

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These habits will help you have some fun while maintaining the progress you’ve made during the week. When you’re on a roll health-wise, the weekends can be your toughest challenge. It’s easy to say “yes” to going out to eat with friends (and then overeating or drinking too much) or skipping a workout to attend an event or social gathering. However, there are ways to fight back against these pressures and continue to make progress when it comes to your health — without sacrificing your social life. It’s all about your mindset. As a weight-loss coach, I spend a lot of time working with my clients on changing their mindset about healthy living so that it’s more attainable and less of a burden, especially on the weekends, which are supposed to be “fun” and “relaxing.” To do this, we create habits that fit into the weekend mentality. Forcing yourself to stick to the same workout routine you follow during the week or prohibiting yourself from enjoying a glass of wine or ice cream cone will only result in feeling deprived. I’ve created a list of ways to stay on track — and not sabotage your progress on the weekends — […]
Oct 31

5 Yoga Poses To Awaken Your Body And Mind

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Yoga is one of the most powerful ways to ensure holistic wellness in life. While International Yoga Day is around the corner, we have handpicked a few yoga poses that you can practise in the morning to start your day on the right note. We spoke to Anchal Rout, a Delhi NCR-based Yoga and Reiki healing expert. Anchal Rout said, “Practising yoga in the morning can help create a positive mood, arrange your energy, and focus your thoughts.”   Simple Morning Yoga Poses Here are five yoga poses recommended to kickstart your day, brought to you by our yoga expert:   Mountain Pose (Tadasana) This is one of the most effective poses as it aids in strengthening and aligning the spine, preparing the practitioner for other poses. To get this position right, you have to join both legs, hands are to be placed near the body, and weight is to be distributed in equal measure. Breathe in deeply, bring your arms above your head, and extend them towards the ceiling like you’re attempting to grab for the sky. This position relieves tension and gives you a centre, a feeling of balance and stability.   Cat-Cow Pose (Marjaryasana-Bitilasana) This gentle flow […]
Oct 30

14 Exercises for Seniors to Improve Strength and Balance

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In North America, falls are one of the leading causes of injury and death for senior citizens. However, you don’t have to fall prey to slips and falls. By exercising, you can improve your balance and your strength, so you can stand tall and feel more confident when walking.   How to Improve Your Balance as You Age Read on to learn how to improve your balance as you age and what exercises help improve balance.   Exercise 1: Single Limb Stance It’s best to start off with a simple balance exercise for seniors. Here’s how you do this one: stand behind a steady, solid chair (not one with wheels), and hold on to the back of it. Lift up your right foot and balance on your left foot. Hold that position for as long as you can, then switch feet. The goal should be to stand on one foot without holding onto the chair and hold that pose for up to a minute.   Exercise 2: Walking Heel to Toe You might read this and wonder, “How is walking an exercise to improve balance?” This exercise makes your legs stronger, which enables you to walk without falling. Put your right […]
Oct 29

How to Stay Fit and Balanced During the Holiday Season

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Here are some expert tips from Chuze Fitness’ senior fitness director on staying active and healthy during the holidays As the holiday season quickly approaches, so does the stress, holiday parties and high-calorie desserts. Even the most dedicated fitness and wellness fans can find it challenging to stay on track this time of year, but Dana Gilbert, senior director of fitness at Chuze Fitness, has valuable tips to keep the holidays healthy and active. Remaining motivated to work out during such a busy time of the year is no small feat, but Gilbert says that carving out time for fitness pays off in several ways for clients and members. “The options for workouts are endless and will support your well-being with increased energy, improved mood, better sleep and decreased stress,” she says. “Not every workout must be hours long, sweat-producing and muscle-fatiguing, but being intentional about staying active is!” Devoting time to creating a “movement and mindset menu” can also help those who feel overwhelmed this time of year, Gilbert says. She suggests the following “menu”:   Appetizer – Get your body moving for a 10-20 minute duration Enjoy a brisk walk outside, dress accordingly, and take a friend. Do […]
Oct 28

How Does Exercise Affect Cortisol Levels?

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Stress isn’t just in your brain—it’s in your body, too.   The word “stress” just brings up bad vibes, right? So, it makes sense that cortisol—aka the “stress hormone” — would have a bad reputation. Exercise can even have an impact on the hormone, so it’s important to learn the best exercise to reduce cortisol. It’s good to also note that, “cortisol is not, in itself, bad—it’s just a hormone,” says Mike Molloy, Ph.D., founder of M2 Performance Nutrition, who’s studied microbiology and immunology. “But the dosage and amounts of cortisol in the body need to be right.” You may be wondering if your favorite workout, like running, increases cortisol. It is true that one of the things that can throw (or keep) your cortisol levels off is exercise—especially when the rest of your life is stressed out. But that doesn’t mean you should swear off sweating in the name of being stressed. Scroll down for all the details on cortisol, its relationship to exercise, and what you need to know about keeping yours in check.   What Is Cortisol? Cortisol may be nicknamed the “stress hormone,” but this steroid hormone does way more than that. In fact, “cortisol is […]
Oct 27

5 Quick tips: Choosing healthy protein foods

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1. Upgrade the protein on your plate. The Healthy Eating Plate encourages you to eat protein-rich foods like beans, nuts, tofu, fish, chicken, or eggs in place of less-healthy options like red and processed meats. For example, try a turkey or black bean burger instead of a traditional beef burger. Or slice up a fresh-roasted chicken breast or salmon for your sandwich instead of using processed high-sodium lunch meat.   2. Don’t stress too much about protein quantity. Most reasonable diets provide plenty of protein for healthy people. Eating a variety of healthy protein-rich foods—for example an egg with breakfast, some turkey or beans on your salad for lunch, and a piece of salmon or tofu with a whole grain side dish for dinner—will ensure that you get all the protein and protein building-blocks (amino acids) you need. Choose higher-protein foods instead of bulking up with pricey protein shakes or powders, since some of these are loaded with sugar or other additives.   3. Try a meatless Monday—or more. Diets high in plant-based proteins and fats can provide health benefits, so try mixing some vegetarian proteins into your meals. Going meatless can be good for your wallet as well as […]
Oct 26

A Pilates instructor shares a five-move abs workout designed to improve posture and lower-back strength

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Do this quick five-move Pilates abs workout instead of your usual core session   If you’ve ever done endless crunches in search of stronger six-pack muscles, you may have been missing a trick: Pilates abs workouts. This low-impact, accessible exercise is ideal for beginners, but still challenges your core muscles. Grab a yoga mat (and a small Pilates ball if you have one) and do this five-move routine from Louise Buttler, the founder of online Pilates platform Live Brave. “Pilates is centered around having a strong core,” says Buttler. “It’s a form of exercise that targets all the abs muscles—obliques, transversus abdominis and rectus abdominis—which improves posture, lower-back strength and helps reduce the risk of injury.” Do the following routine two to three times, depending on your fitness level.   How to do Louise Buttler’s Pilates abs workout 1. (Supported) Russian Twists Reps: 10 on each side Sit on your mat with your knees bent and your feet flat on the floor, in line with your sit bones. Keep your spine straight and lean backward so your back forms a 45° angle with the floor. Buttler says you’ll know you’ve found the right position if you feel your abs “quiver”. […]
Oct 25

Exercise can boost your memory and thinking skills

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Exercise benefits health in so many ways. It preserves muscle strength; keeps your heart strong; maintains a healthy body weight; and staves off chronic diseases such as diabetes. But exercise has brain benefits too. Many studies have suggested that the parts of the brain that control thinking and memory are larger in volume in people who exercise than in people who don’t. One finding is that engaging in a program of regular exercise of moderate intensity over six months or a year is associated with an increase in the volume of selected brain regions. Exercise can also boost memory and thinking indirectly by improving mood and sleep, and by reducing stress and anxiety. Problems in these areas frequently cause or contribute to cognitive impairment.   Which exercise is the best for the brain? Is one exercise better than another in terms of brain health? We don’t know the answer to this question, because almost all of the research so far has looked at one form of exercise: walking. “But it’s likely that other forms of aerobic exercise that get your heart pumping might yield similar benefits,” explains Dr. Scott McGinnis, assistant professor of neurology at Harvard Medical School. A study […]
Oct 24

Heart health essentials: Age-specific tests and tips to keep your heart strong

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Starting with preventive care in your 20’s and continuing on schedule throughout checkups and heart-healthy habits will clearly reduce CVD risk later in life.   Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) remain the world’s leading cause of death. Despite all the noise around creating campaigns to reduce early deaths from CVD globally, it has been an uphill battle, characterised by a major stride on the road to global non-communicable disease mortality through ischemic heart disease. In this article, we focussed on promoting heart health across the lifespan, with early preventive measures at the right time through testing and heart-healthy habits. Here are the essential tips to keep your heart healthy along with important tests for consideration at each stage of life:   Heart Health in the Age of 20s and 30s When we spoke to  Dr Harsh Mahajan, Founder & Chief Radiologist, of Mahajan Imaging and Labs, he said that there are so many years before heart disease may appear to be popping up; this is when you should lay down the foundation for lifetime cardiovascular health. Heart disease can creep up silently-hypertension, high cholesterol, and the countless bad lifestyle choices that will bring serious conditions into the picture sometime later.   Early […]
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