Mar 31

8 Shoulder Warm-Up Exercises To Kick-Start Your Upper-Body Sessions

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Skimping on your shoulder warm-up can cost you a painful injury. Find out how to warm up your shoulders and why Let’s be honest, warming up your shoulders is not the most exciting part of your workout routine. Swinging your arms draws more attention in the gym than hopping on the treadmill to raise your heart rate, which might explain why many of us skip this crucial step. However, making time for a dedicated shoulder warm-up can dramatically improve your exercise performance. It’s also one of the best ways to protect your shoulders from injury.   Do you need to warm up your shoulders? Yes, but don’t just take our word for it. “The shoulder is a complex structure. For stability, it relies heavily on the surrounding muscles and tendons. This dynamic stability allows for its wide range of motion, but it makes it more susceptible to injuries such as dislocations, strains and impingements,” says Florence Penny, a physiotherapist and the founder of Flow Physio London. Warm-up exercises make the shoulder joint more resilient to the demands of physical exercise by increasing the temperature and pliability of surrounding muscles and tendons. They’re particularly important for injury prevention in heavy weightlifting, […]
Mar 28

7 Best Daily Leg Exercises for Women After 50

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Firm up your lower body with these expert-recommended movements. As women age, it’s essential to maintain a consistent exercise routine that includes regular leg workouts. Strong legs provide better balance and stability and help with everyday tasks such as walking, climbing stairs, and even standing up from being seated, according to the National Institute on Aging. To help women stay fit and strong, we’ve teamed up with Rose McNulty, CPT, NASM-certified personal trainer and nutrition coach with Garage Gym Reviews. With her years of experience in the fitness industry, Rose knows what works and shares the seven best daily leg exercises for women after 50. The below movements target multiple muscle groups in the legs, including the glutes, quads, hamstrings, and calves, to increase lower-body strength. Incorporating these exercises into your daily routine can help prevent injuries, improve mobility, and increase overall strength and endurance. So if you’re ready to start sculpting toned legs, keep reading for the seven best daily leg exercises for women after 50.   1. Squats “The humble squat plays a crucial role in daily life, just as it does in an excellent lower-body workout, so this movement is important to train consistently,” says McNulty. To […]
Mar 24

8 Exercises Fitness Pros Want You to Include in Every Workout

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These versatile strength-building movements are recommended by fitness pros and can work for people at every fitness level.   Navigating the world of fitness can be overwhelming when you’re unsure what to include in your workout routine. It can be particularly challenging if you’re at the beginning of your fitness journey and don’t already have a set of favorite exercises. With countless exercises available, how do you figure out where to begin? We consulted professional personal trainers to find the most effective exercises for various kinds of fitness goals. These exercises will help you boost your strength and endurance and support your mental health and they can be easily adjusted to accommodate your current fitness level.   1. Deadlifts The deadlift is a compound exercise that has you lifting heavy weight off the floor by bending at the hips and standing back up. There are plenty of variations to choose from, whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned weightlifter. Some variations include the kettlebell deadlift, Romanian deadlift, conventional deadlift, stiff-legged deadlift, sumo deadlift and trap bar (or hex bar) deadlift. “The deadlift is a great exercise because it helps strengthen the core, back, shoulders, arm muscles, as well as your […]
Mar 20

The Best Exercises to Build Massive Calf Muscles

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If you want size and strength in your calves, you need these exercises. THE KEY TO building a strong, symmetrical physique comes down to focusing on body parts most people neglect. One spot typically overlooked (and improperly trained) than others: the calf muscles. If you want to build a strong lower body—and even if you want to boost your athleticism and resilience—it’s time to get reacquainted with calf training. But there are misconceptions about training your calf muscles. You’ll need more focused movements than heavy back squats to make a difference, but you also won’t make much progress doing endless rounds of bodyweight calf raises. Like other muscle groups, you won’t get very far without challenging yourself with a load. Training your calf muscles—which are comprised of the gastrocnemius (the muscle that flexes the knee and foot) and the soleus (attaches the knee and heel and responsible for standing and walking)—isn’t just for show. Calf training can be important for improving ankle mobility to help develop more lower-body fluidity and explosiveness, which will payoff for running, jumping—everything you need to do during sports. And best of all, you can squeeze calf training into your routine more often than other muscle […]
Mar 19

5 best muscle building workouts for men

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Get pumped-up muscles with these workouts   Ever wondered why some people achieve impressive muscle growth while others struggle despite hours in the gym? The secret often lies in their workout routine. Building muscle requires dedication, consistency, and a well-defined workout routine. For effective muscle building, some exercises stand out more than others. Incorporating these into your routine can dramatically enhance your gains. Here are 5 of the best muscle-building workouts for men that you can easily incorporate into your workout routine to see a boost in muscle-building.   1. Squats​ Squats are often referred to as the king of all exercises, and for good reason. This compound movement targets multiple muscle groups, primarily focusing on the quadriceps, hamstrings, and glutes. Engaging multiple muscle groups, squats not only help in building muscle mass but also improve overall strength and stability. The balance and coordination needed for squats improve core strength and posture, making it a fundamental exercise for anyone serious about building muscle.   2. Deadlifts​ Deadlifts are another powerhouse exercise essential for muscle building. This movement engages the entire posterior chain, including the hamstrings, glutes, lower back, traps, and even the forearms. The deadlift is unparalleled in its ability […]
Mar 15

This 7-Minute Workout Sculpts Defined Arms With Heavy Weights

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It only takes 5 moves to see real results. Having strong, toned arms is a total flex—and not just because you can literally flex them. That strength is also imperative for making everyday movements easier, and gains are just within reach (get it?) with the Women’s Health+ 7-Minute Arm Workout. This fast and efficient exercise program emphasizes lifting heavy dumbbells, which is both a win for muscle endurance and hypertrophy, which refers to the increase in size of your muscles. “A stronger upper body will improve your push-up form, help you lift objects overhead, or pull in the garbage bins,” says Kristina Earnest, CPT, a cycling and strength coach and founder of Kristina Earnest On Demand, an online fitness platform, who created this program. And, of course, you’ll gain more muscle definition along the way. Here’s how the program works: You’ll use heavy dumbbells or kettlebells to perform 5 upper-body strength training moves. For each exercise, you’ll work for 30 seconds, then rest for 15 seconds before moving onto the next move, completing the entire circuit twice. Earnest recommends adding this workout to your routine twice a week for maximum benefits, but not on back to back days—that way, you […]
Mar 13

Follow These Personal Trainer-Approved Tips for the Ultimate Post-Workout Recovery

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A personal trainer recommends these recovery strategies to keep your body and mind in peak condition.   As someone who has treated working out as part of my daily routine, I’ve come to find out that recovery is just as important as the workout itself. No matter the workout you do, whether its strength training, high-intensity interval workouts or getting some miles in on the treadmill, how you recover can impact your performance, prevent future injuries and support overall well-being. To break down the best recovery practices, I spoke with Louis Chandler, a certified personal trainer and head trainer at Alo Wellness Club. He shares expert insights on how to properly fuel your body and avoid common recovery mistakes.   Why prioritizing recovery matters Effective recovery isn’t just about feeling less soreness or muscle pain. It’s about helping your body adapt, grow and perform at its best, says Chandler. Neglecting recovery can lead to overtraining, decreased performance and even injury. Post-workout recovery helps rebuild muscle, restore energy levels and reduce inflammation. Good post-workout practices can include: Proper nutrition and hydration to replenish glycogen (the main storage form of glucose in the human body) and support muscle repair Rest and sleep […]
Mar 12

8 Myths About Doing Cardio for Weight Loss — and What to Do Instead

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If you’re on a weight loss journey, you’re probably wondering if cardio burns fat. These common misconceptions might be the reason you’re discouraged or not seeing results, but the truth will set you free. Here, experts bust widespread myths about doing cardio for weight loss, and offer alternative suggestions for how to exercise to lose weight.   1. Myth: Focus Only On Cardio for Weight Loss First things first: does cardio burn fat and, thus, aid in weight loss? Yes — but it’s not the only activity that can help you see results. Enter: strength training. All cardio and no strength training isn’t just boring, but it’s also inefficient. “Strength training builds lean muscle mass, which both increases your metabolism and decreases fat,” says Elizabeth Burwell, a NASM-certified personal trainer and co-owner of High Performance Gym. “So the more muscle you build, the more calories you burn on a day-to-day basis,” she continues. Some strength training workouts can even double as cardio: A recent study by the American Council on Exercise found that kettlebell exercises can burn up to 20 calories a minute — the equivalent of running at a six-minute mile pace! Maximize weight-loss benefits by incorporating up to […]
Mar 11

Breathe for a Better Workout

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Tips to help you through favorite exercises   “Breathe!” Personal trainers and their peers like to remind you of this, as if you don’t know how. You’ve been inhaling and exhaling all your life. But during a workout, you might not be getting it right. Whether you’re running, walking or doing squats, learn the best techniques to get the smoothest performance out of your activity.   First: Why not breathing is bad “We tend to hold our breath as a way to stabilize the torso and create pressure around the abs,” says Galina Denzel, coauthor of Eat Well, Move Well, Live Well: 52 Ways to Feel Better in a Week. If the exercise gets intense, we hold our breath as a way to get extra strength out of the core, “so it then becomes a crutch.” That’s not good. We need regular oxygen to feed our muscles. This is why we breathe heavily and consistently while running and walking, she says. By cutting off the oxygen to our bodies, we risk hernias, muscle cramping and dizziness, which can lead to a fall. For a safe and effective workout, try these techniques.   When you’re running Be a “belly breather,” says […]
Mar 08

Workout For Seniors: Follow The Road To Fitness In Your 70s With These Tips

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In this article, we discuss some tips you can follow when working out if you are in your 70s.   Engaging in regular physical activity in your 70s is essential for maintaining independence, vitality, and a high quality of life. Exercise strengthens muscles and bones, reducing the risk of fractures and falls. It supports heart health, lowers blood pressure, and helps manage chronic conditions like diabetes and arthritis. Additionally, working out improves flexibility and mobility, enabling better performance in daily activities. Beyond physical benefits, exercise boosts mood, sharpens mental clarity, and reduces the risk of cognitive decline. Staying active enhances sleep quality, increases energy levels, and fosters a sense of achievement, contributing to overall well-being. Read on as we discuss some tips you can follow when working out if you are in your 70s.   9 Fitness tips for people in their 70s   This ensures safety and helps create a personalised exercise plan, minimising the risk of injury or exacerbating existing health conditions. Schedule a check-up with your doctor to discuss your fitness goals and health conditions. Request guidance on exercises that suit your medical history, especially if you have heart issues, joint pain, or osteoporosis. Engage in activities […]
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