Fit Tips
How Do Fitness Level and Body Weight Status Predict the Risk of Developing Type 2 Diabetes in Women?
Over the past 40 years, there has been a sharp increase in the worldwide prevalence of type 2 diabetes in women. While some of the increase is likely due to the increased prevalence of obesity in recent decades, an additional important risk factor for type 2 diabetes is physical inactivity.
Does Your Ability To Do Pushups Predict Cardiovascular Risk?
Nowadays, just about everyone who is health conscious knows that cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death in the U.S. for both men and women. Examples of CVD events are heart attack, stroke, sudden cardiac arrest, and heart failure.
10,000 steps a day: does one goal fit all?
Wearable devices such as smartphones measure a number of variables including the number of steps taken per day. Over the past several years, it has been ingrained in our culture that the goal for people whose primary activity consists of walking is 10,000 steps per day.
Can Functional Movement Screening Predict Injury Risk in Older Adults?
If you’ve had a physical fitness assessment in the past, you probably underwent tests of cardiorespiratory endurance, body composition, and muscular strength. However, a different type of physical assessment, the Functional Movement Screen (FMS), is gaining popularity as a way to identify movement limitations and risk of injury.
Self-PNF Stretching: Better Than Static Stretching?
Proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation or PNF is a form of static stretching that involves both a static stretch followed by an isometric contraction of the muscle that is being stretched.
Help! What Exercise Should I Do First?
"Whew, I made it here. Now with all of these choices, what should I do first?" It almost sounds like you could be at Disneyland or Six Flags but I am actually talking about the thoughts that often go through my head when I walk in the gym to do resistance training. Do you ever feel this way too? By going to the gym, you are on track to meeting the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans which recommend performing at least 2 days of resistance training per week consisting of 8-10 exercises using 8-12 repetitions. Now you just need to decide with which exercise to start.
Correcting the excess forward lean during the squat
A common movement pattern deviation observed during the squat is the excessive torso lean. This misalignment in form is often the result of weak back extensors (erector spinae) and hips. Learn more...
Fuel use during exercise: myths and misconceptions
In order for the human body to function, it needs to be continuously supplied with fuel for energy. Most of this energy comes from the breakdown of carbohydrates and fats within the cells. There are several common myths and misconceptions regarding the use of these two fuels relative to exercise and energy. Let’s address some of these myths...
Is your weekend sabotaging your weight loss efforts?
Do you find yourself exercising on a consistent basis and working really hard to watch the calories you are eating but aren’t losing the weight you think you should? Well look to your weekend habits and you may have the answer. Many people do really “great” (their words) during the week but then find themselves overindulging on the weekends. Could this really be enough to sabotage your weight loss efforts?
The Perfect Push-up: Is It Really Better?
Every year there are a number of new fitness products and ideas introduced. Many of them claim they will elicit significantly improved results versus conventional strength training methods and equipment.
Do you need water or a sports drink during physical activity?
The human body is approximately 60% water by weight. Water is the nutrient that is most often neglected by those who are highly physically active. Research has shown time and time again that as little as a 2% loss of body weight through sweating can have a significant effect on athletic performance.
The 1975 Elite Runners Study: How Are Elite Distance Runners Different From the Rest of Us?
Following the 1968 best-selling publication of “Aerobics” by Dr. Kenneth Cooper, the number of runners and joggers increased exponentially through the 1970s. Frank Shorter’s gold and silver medals in the 1972 and 1976 Olympic marathons, respectively, and Jim Fixx’s best-seller, “The Complete Book of Running,” helped fuel this trend as running became a mainstream fitness activity.
