Swim For Good Health

Summer is time to get outside and ride a bike, play ball, go on a hike, but what do you do on those extremely hot days? If you enjoy the outdoors for your regular fitness activities as I do, those hot summer days can put a damper on your quest for fun and good health. Doing too much out in the hot sun is also very dangerous. Extreme heat can cause dehydration, bring on a heat stroke or even become fatal. Going for a swim is a great alternative.

Swimming has many benefits that contribute to your overall good health. The heart and lungs can benefit from a bout of swimming and it can be a good cardio workout. It can serve as a cross-training element to your regular workouts. If you are a runner in training, swimming is a good activity that gets your heart rate up and takes some of the impact stress off your body.You can also nurse a knee or ankle injury back to health as you enjoy water fun and activity without putting undo strain on the injury.

Regular swimming builds endurance, muscle strength and cardio-vascular fitness. Before a land workout, you can use the pool for a warm-up session. Swimming with increasing effort to gradually elevate your heart rate and stimulate your muscle activity is easily accomplished in the water. After a land workout, swimming a few laps can help you cool down, move blood through your muscles to help them recover, and help you relax.

Shower immediately after swimming. Otherwise the chlorine from the pool water will dry out your skin and cause it to crack, which will make you more susceptible to infection. After a day in the pool, a nice shower or warm bath will make you feel super clean and refreshed and prepare you for a comfortable night sleep.

Quit Smoking With Exercise

Who wants to quit smoking? I do I do! If it were only that easy. Smoking is something that many people enjoy doing. It's relaxing and soothing and takes the edge off of stressful situations. The truth is, it's an addiction. Once we're hooked, our bodies constantly crave it. We need it. It's appealing to us. How can we quit when we need and want it so badly?

You have tried everything to quit smoking. You've gone cold turkey. You've undergone hypnosis. You've tried chewing gum. You even tried acupuncture, but to no avail. Don't give up just yet. The best help so far may be found at your local gym, your local park or even in your own backyard.

What if smoking lost its' appeal? If the attractiveness were lost, maybe we could quit. It has been reported by researchers from the University of Exeter (A public research university located in England) that a bout of exercise for 10 to 15 minutes can reduce the desire to smoke. They found that getting out and exercising can be an extremely effective tool in reducing someone’s desire to smoke as it seems to minimize smoking’s attractiveness and appeal after exercise. For some reason, exercise stimulates a greater production of a chemical in the brain called endorphins, which helps us to feel happy and content.

Have you considered Electronic Cigarettes?

In the meantime, as difficult as exercise may be, as little as 10 to 15 minutes of moderate intensity activity can really help reduce cravings. Try it for yourself and see if it works for you. Who knows, you may learn to love to exercise so much that it becomes the beginning of a new and healthier you. What have you got to lose but a nasty habit.

Fitness For Busy People

Being health conscious in everything we do can go a long way in our personal strive for a healthy body. There are many ways that we can promote good health and fitness throughout our everyday busy schedules. Our days consist of numerous duties and responsibilities. We have children to care for and chores at home that need to be done. Full time jobs with a lot of hours and overtime doesn't leave much time, if any, for exercise regimens or going to the gym. At our jobs we can incorporate smart exercise fundamentals as we work.

As laborers, being smart on how you perform your various physical activities can give you some of the benefits of working out at home or at the gym. It will take a little time and creativity to mix a workable fitness program into your daily activities but the reward is a healthier body, more energy, and a better self esteem.

Before you get to work, make some simple changes that increase activity like avoiding the elevator and taking the stairs. Ride a bike to work if you can. Park at the far end of the lot and walk a little more(as long as it is safe to do so). If your job is not too far, you can walk or jog to work.

When working at a desk, try to get up and move around to keep the heart pumping. Take a walk on your lunch break. Get away from the desk for a while. Throw in some stretches two or three times a day while at your desk. The point is to get as much exercise as you can without having to schedule a separate time for it.

If you have a more physical job, you can add some strength training to your exercise plan when lifting items at work. Remember to always lift with your knees to protect your back and prevent injury. One thing I do at work is load the 16 pound bags of ice. I drop the bags to break up the ice and I do squats as I lift each bag of ice and place it in the display case.  I get a nice workout when I do this and I can feel it in my legs and arms.

Have You Considered The Total Gym?

Total Gym 3000

Achieving good health comes easy for me when I use the Total Gym. The Total Gym is used by triathletes, Olympians, pro baseball players and pro basketball players. They use it because it works and they get results.

The Total Gym 3000  has given me great results and in the last three months I've lost about 25 pounds and have more energy. Everything Chuck Norris and Christie Brinkley have said about the Total Gym is true. Yes you can get a total body workout by using the Total Gym. The Total Gym saves me lots of time and I can get a great body work out in about 20 to 30 minutes a day. I like the Total Gym because I can get a good workout without straining my back and it’s a space-saver too. You can easily fold it up and place it under a bed or put it in a closet. If you want to be trim and fit, you can do it on the Total Gym. If you like Pilates workouts, you can do them on the Total Gym. If you want a body builders shape or muscular buffed shape you can do it all on the Total Gym.

I have had my Total Gym for about 12 years and it has always been fun to use. My Total Gym 3000 is very well built. It can handle weight up to 300 pounds and it still works like new.  The Total Gym takes no time to get use to, and once you learn the routines, it is very easy. I love working out on the Total Gym more than any other type of work out I have ever done. My wife loves to use the Total Gym to keep her body tone. I work out on the  Total Gym 3000 every other day. For the shape I have people think I put much more time into my work outs then I really do. I do many different exercises- arm pullovers, seated row, squats and butterflies- that target upper, middle and lower muscles groups. While you do the arm pullovers or squats, you can throw in some crunches to work the abs.  And it can be fun! Make the best of your life...and have fun doing it.

See the Total Gym 3000

Diet And Exercise Tips

All of us want to be healthy and at the same time enjoy a fun and active lifestyle. But we need to approach it with some knowledge and preplanning. A recent report from the National Center for Health Statistics concludes that seven out of 10 adults don’t regularly exercise, and nearly four in 10 aren’t physically active. Lack of exercise can increase the risk of diabetes, heart disease, and stroke. About 300,000 people in the U.S. die each year from diseases related to inactivity.

Proper diet and exercise is essential for a healthy lifestyle. There needs to be a well planned program to follow and determination to adopt smart habits.  The basic steps to gradual weight loss and good health include developing healthy eating habits and increasing daily physical activity.

Self-Help Guidelines For Healthy Activity

Consult your doctor before adopting an exercise regimen, especially if you are at risk for chronic health problems such as heart disease, diabetes, or obesity. Start out slowly and build up activity gradually over a period of months. This will help avoid soreness and injury. Try to accumulate 30 minutes or more of moderate cardiovascular activity each day. You can do all 30 minutes together or through several short sessions. Some examples of cardiovascular activity are running, swimming, bicycling and jumping rope. You can utilize indoor exercise equipment such as treadmills or exercise bikes.

Add strength development exercises at least twice per week.You can do 6 to 12 repetitions of weight resistance exercises and increase the resistance as it becomes easier for strength development. Incorporate physical activity into your day. Walk to the office or store, take the stairs instead of the elevator, walk or jog at lunch time. Make leisure time active. Ride a bike, participate in an exercise class, join in a sports activity. Select activities you enjoy, find satisfying, and give you a feeling of accomplishment. Try “active commuting.” Cycle, walk or in-line skate to work or to the store. For those who are already regularly moderately active, increase the duration and intensity for additional benefits.

Schwinn Elliptical Trainer Reviews

Why you should choose an elliptical trainer? 

Schwinn 420 Elliptical Trainer (2012) Model

Have you noticed how many elliptical trainers are at your local health club? Elliptical machines are growing in popularity and are gaining on treadmills in overall sales. Ellipticals offer the benefit of a low-impact workout, while exercising both your upper and lower body. They are particularly appealing to an aging baby boomer generation. Elliptical trainers can be forgiving to aging joints.

Low Impact Exercise with Elliptical Machines

Elliptical trainers reduce the stress and strain on your legs through an elliptical motion. Your feet never leave the pedals. It is like walking in midair. In addition, there is no reverse action. The shape of the elliptical movement mimics the natural path of the ankle, knee and hip joints during walking, jogging or running. In comparison, when you walk or run, every step causes a jolt to your body. It is suggested that runners impact up to 2.5 times their body weight. This affects not only the joints in your legs, but also your lower back.

Foot Pedals: To further reduce the strain to your joints, many elliptical trainers are equipped with articulating foot pedals — pedals that conform to your stride. Not only do your feet never leave the pedal, but also the pedal adjusts to the angle of the elliptical stride.

Weight-Bearing Exercise: In comparison to a fitness machine like a stationary bicycle, an elliptical trainer provides a weight-bearing exercise. Weight-bearing exercises are important to inhibit the onset of osteoporosis.

Jogging For Baby And Me

So, you are the outdoors type who likes to get out and get physical. You are use to bike riding, running, jogging, joining in on sports and many other fun activities that keep you on the go. Being active is what keeps you healthy and happy and also keeps your body in shape.

Now you have moved on to another chapter in your life. You have had the joy of a new little one. Between the doctor visits and all the preparations required for a new baby you haven't been getting out like you use to. Maybe you have put on a few extra pounds or gotten flabby in some areas. You want to get back in shape but, well, the baby. What can I do?

Solution: Take the baby with you! It's easy with a Schwinn jogging stroller...

Schwinn Jogging Stroller

There are two main types of jogging strollers:

Fixed-wheel Joggers:

 Fixed-Wheel
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Fixed-wheel jogging strollers are the traditional form of jogging stroller. The larger wheels mean a smoother ride for your child and the fixed front wheel tracks in a straight line with minimal input from you. That way you can focus on your running stride. Great for going through grass, over curbs and sidewalks and various types of terrain.

Swivel-wheel Joggers: 

Swival-Wheel
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Swivel-wheel jogging strollers are great for tight places and lots of turns. This jogger is especially useful for urban environments or high population densities where maneuverability is a key. It's also a good 'one size fits all' stroller if you are running and walking, plus traveling or shopping.

Some of these strollers let you lock the front wheel in place for traditional jogger function and swiveling for great maneuverability when you need it.

Questions to ask before buying

Q: Will I run or walk exclusively with this item?

A: If yes, a fixed-wheel jogger would fit your needs because it has larger, more terrain-appropriate wheels, will make running easier for you, and more comfortable for your child.

Q: How do I know if my child is ready to ride in a jogger or bike trailer?

A: Children should be able to support the weight of their head. We recommend that a child be at least 6 months old before putting him or her in any of our strollers. Trailers are not for use with children under the age of 12 months.

Q: What is the height and weight limit for my baby?

A: Height limit for all of our strollers is 38 inches tall. Recommended weight limit is 50 lbs or less.

Schwinn has been a leader in quality and design for generations.

 Schwinn Double Trailer/Stroller
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If you prefer cycling, try this convenient double bicycle baby trailer which easily converts to a stroller for walking or jogging. Recommended for children from 12 months old up to 50 pounds. It is loaded with nice features such as a rain and bug shield, roomy storage, 20" wheels and a sturdy aluminum frame. This Schwinn masterpiece has a 5 year warranty. For a less expensive single trailer without the stroller option click here.

Lose 20 Pounds In 28 Days

The latest Schwinn news… InSTEP was making baby strollers for Schwinn, then they both were sold to Pacific Cycle. Pacific Cycles tries to make the Schwinn line just a little more elite than the regular Instep product, so you'll notice that the Schwinn design is superior just by a small notch. These Jogging Strollers however, are very similar to other InSTEP models.

These Schwinn jogging strollers are perfect for moms and dads who want to keep trim and fit. Or maybe you are preparing for a triathlon. Either way, staying healthy is the greatest gift you can give to your child. So if you're into jogging and fitness, get your jogging gear together, pick up that "God-given" bundle of joy and get out there!

If you prefer cycling, try this convenient bicycle baby trailer which easily converts to a stroller for walking or jogging. Recommended for children from 12 months old up to 50 pounds. It is loaded with nice features such as a rain and bug shield, roomy storage, 20″ wheels and a sturdy aluminum frame. This Schwinn masterpiece has a 5 year warrant

Schwinn Treadmill Review

Schwinn 860 Treadmill

Your goal when engaging in physical activity is to burn down calories and keep yourself physically fit and healthy. Compared to just 500 calories per hour on the exercise bike, the average medium-intensity treadmill workout burned 700 calories per hour. Dr. Hoffman said that one reason for this difference is the amount of muscle mass that is used in both exercises. Apparently, when you walk or run on a treadmill, you use more muscles than you do on a bike, stationary or otherwise.

The greatest benefit of treadmill exercise is burning calories. However, it is not the only reason why you should consider this type of workout. For people with certain health conditions, engaging in vigorous physical activity can be detrimental to their lives and their health. People such as those with osteoporosis, hypertension, and back pains are recommended to do no more than walking when they exercise so as not to overexert themselves. The treadmill, therefore, provides them with an exciting alternative to just plain walking outside.