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That tiredness might be all in your head. Here’s how to work past a mental block if your muscles still have some energy. What makes your muscles want to give up when you’re trying to hold a plank, go the distance on a long run, or do speed drills? Well, research shows that they may not actually be tapped out — but instead are getting mixed messages from your brain. In other words, when you’re putting in the workout time to train your muscles, it’s your mind you may actually need to condition to get past that moment when you want to quit. That’s right: Mental fatigue can seriously affect your workout. Here’s exactly what’s going on, and how to prevent your brain from getting in the way of your gains. What’s Happening When Mental Fatigue Inhibits Your Workout When you work out, your muscles and your brain are in direct communication. With every step or rep, your muscles are sending signals to the brain, telling it what they need in order to keep going — namely, oxygen and other fuel — and reporting their level of fatigue. The brain then responds, adjusting muscle contraction demands accordingly, says […]
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The breathing techniqies and the postures play a major role in yoga and therefore, if you mess up with that, you might eventually not gain much after performing yoga. Likewise there are other things that one needs to keep in mind before starting their yoga journey. Yoga is known to be one of the best forms of exercise as it has the ability to cater to different needs of the body. One can start practicing yoga at any given point of time during their life and they can still reap benefits from it. You can also choose to perform what type of asanas really work for you. Moreover, it also has the ability to cure certain health problems. However, like most forms of exercise, one needs to be mindful while performing the asanas. The breathing techniqies and the postures play a major role in yoga and therefore, if you mess up with that, you might eventually not gain much after performing yoga. Likewise there are other things that one needs to keep in mind before starting their yoga journey. Here are a few tips that you should keep in mind. Always use a yoga mat: A yoga mat helps you to […]
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Fitness goals can be incredibly motivating, but without well-planned and realistic objectives, you may end up frustrated by a lack of expected results. “Goal setting is a simple yet very powerful sport psychology tool,” says Joseph Galasso, Psy.D., a sports psychologist at Baker Street Behavioral Health in New Jersey. “Goal setting helps you improve motivation and commitment, stay focused on what to accomplish and track your performance,” he adds. Read on to learn how to set realistic fitness goals, along with expert tips for designing your own goal-supporting plan and putting it in motion. Setting Realistic Fitness Goals: Criteria to Consider When setting fitness goals, we often accidentally muddy our paths by being too eager or too ambitious in our goal setting, according to Dr. Galasso. Taking a calm, confident approach to goal setting is best when setting individual goals. “Really think about what you want to achieve and the resources that you’re able to dedicate to your workouts, your diet and your recovery [between exercise sessions],” says Dr. Galasso. For instance, the biggest obstacle that prevents most people from creating healthy habits is not the desire to be healthier, but the “time” to do so, according to Galasso. […]
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Feeling jumpy, cranky or paranoid? It will probably be a poor night’s sleep. The importance of sleep goes much further than simply getting rid of those dark circles under the eyes and improving one’s mood. A healthy lifestyle is a life where you get adequate and quality sleep. It benefits the heart, helps to control weight, and improves the balance of the mind and much more besides. There was a time when we actually underestimated the power of a good night’s rest. In 1980s Britain, then Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher once claimed she got by on just four hours’ worth of sleep every night. It was the decade of the yuppie and the hard-working young professional who eschewed “sleep is just for wimps.” It was not, of course. Incidentally, Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher spent her last decade suffering from an extreme form of dementia. However, you may not have been aware that your mind is very much active during the time you are asleep. It is during this stage of our daily life that it purges and processes things like our memory. A poor night’s sleep means the brain does not get the opportunity to purge and process, so memory, […]
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With spring still nearly a month away, the continued wintry weather and shorter days with less sunlight could be taking a toll on your motivation to get out and exercise. Understandably, you may be inclined to skip the gym in favor of staying cozy inside. But don’t let the winter blues keep you from moving your body! By getting creative, you can get the exercise you need at home not only to boost your physical health but also to increase the feel-good brain chemicals serotonin, dopamine and noradrenaline to help you beat those doldrums. There are lots of ways you can work out in the comfort of your home quickly and simply — without expensive gym equipment. With a little ingenuity, broom handles, backpacks and other everyday household items can serve as useful tools during your workout. If you have access to stairs, there are numerous exercises you can do using just two stairs. Even a paper plate can be used for exercise. That’s right, just a single paper plate can provide all the means necessary for a surprisingly challenging total-body workout that strengthens your core and improves your balance. It may sound far-fetched, so I’ve outlined the exercises below […]
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Everyone has dreams and the wonderful thing is, you can have anything you want if you have the right attitude and take the right steps. Reach Your Dreams with these 7 valuable life hacks and have fun doing it! 1. Be Confident and Positive This is the backbone for all the other tips to reach your dreams. The more positive you are, the more you are open to opportunities and success. Law of Attraction states that whatever you put out comes back to you — so as you see the best in things and as you think highly of yourself, you begin to attract the people and situations into your life that will lead you to what you want. Think about it: when you are feeling down and frustrated, you probably aren’t very clear, focused or connected. You may be looking at the ground worrying, instead of making eye contact and striking up a wonderful conversation that might just change your life. Happy, successful people surround themselves with other happy people. So be confident, be positive and appreciate the little things as well as the big. 2. Focus Forward & Visualize Your Dream It can be all too […]
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Selecting a mind and body treatment can be difficult, and that’s the reason you need to do some research before making a choice. This helps you in identifying the practice which is best for you. You have to ask yourself the following questions: Why do you need therapy? Do you wish to learn how to handle your stress, or you need to decrease the risk of getting a disease? Are you looking for ways to cope with the physical symptoms? Do you want to treat a particular disease? Or do you want to improve your general wellbeing? In case you already have a specific goal, consult your service provider to know which therapies he can recommend and then research on it for more information. What is appealing? Do you like painting, dancing, singing or exercising? Choose a therapy you will enjoy so that you can increase the chances of reaping and sustaining the benefits of the practice. What is logistically realistic? How much time can you spare to devote yourself to the practice? Are there some financial constraints? Do you know of an instructor in your community who can help you begin? Your commitment to the practice might evolve over […]
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Be it our job, a long traffic, or a bad day at work, there are some things that always bring the worst in us. We aren’t able to concentrate; those around us are not happy with us, and other problems are the ones which you invite when you do not have a focused mind. It’s really easy to have a calm and focused mind so you accomplish anything you want at a better pace and with a better state of mind. So without any more pleasantries, here is what you should do to have a more focused and clearer mind: 1. Walk in the Park: Even the most daunting tasks can seem like a walk in the park if you actually do it. Whenever you are exposed to nature, you are inviting the positive vibe to come to you, the fresh air, and just some strange force that makes you feel better and more focused at work. Those who don’t believe us have probably never been to a park, relaxed, and felt the difference. 2. Talk with Your Loved Ones: There were plenty of reasons why you chose a person to have a relationship with, and one of those reasons […]
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Getting out of bed in the morning is probably the toughest part of the day, especially if it’s a weekday and you know you’re going to be spending the rest of the day working. To help you out with just that, here are 4 effective yoga poses to try in your bed itself, which will help you feel a bit more energetic and ready to face the day. The Puppy Dog Pose This yoga pose is really simple to do- get down on all your fours and place the palms of your hands flat on the floor directly below your shoulder. Now as you inhale, exert pressure on your toes and lift your body upwards, forming a sort of mountain with your butt region as the peak- make sure your palms are still flat on the floor, and the heels of your feet do not touch the ground. Now get back to the original position, exhale, and repeat. The Back Stretch This is one of the best yoga poses that can get you invigorated in just a few minutes! Sit cross legged on the bed and keep your back erect. Place your left hand on your right knee, take a […]
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Getting the blues from time to time is normal, but it doesn’t make coping with depression any easier. As part of Anxiety and Depression Awareness Week, we take a look at 10 natural ways that may help you beat the blues without help from a doctor or medication. 1. Go easy on refined sugar and carbs Eating refined sugar/carbohydrates makes blood sugars go up and down quickly which can cause low blood sugar, which in turn can cause symptoms like depression, anxiety and fatigue. 2. Eat more fish, nuts and seeds To ensure that your nerves and neurotransmitters stay healthy, increase consumption of omega-3 oils found in salmon, cod, sardines, walnuts, pumpkin seed and flax. 3. Eat more veggies or take vitamins Vegetables or supplements with vitamins B6, B12, folic acid, iron and trace minerals help to process important neurotransmitters in the body. 4. Herbal supplements Herbs such as St. John’s Wort are known for their positive impact on serotonin levels in the brain. 5. Stay away from alcohol and caffeine Alcohol is a depressant. Caffeine is a stimulant, but has been linked to depression, especially when combined with sugar. Susan Chapman, registered dietitian at Piedmont […]
