Until you get a heart rate monitor, you measure your effort by time or distance. With a heart rate monitor, however, you can now get a better indication of effort. And it comes from the heart. Literally. Your heart will tell you how hard you are exercising, how fit you are, and how you are recovering. Knowing these things will make you training more effective.

A heart rate monitor consists of a watch unit worn on the wrist and a chest transmitter strap. The watch can be worn as a regular sports watch, and when not connected to the transmitter strap, will still give you time of day, alarms, stopwatch functions, etc. The chest transmitter senses your heartbeat and constantly transmits that information to the watch.

There are some units that don't use a chest strap. These normally measure the pulse when the user places two fingers on each of two buttons on the watch face. Pulse is a decent measurement, but does not give you the same level of continual information a chest strap will.

One of the first things you need to know when using a heart rate monitor is what your maximum heart rate is. The standard formula used is to subtract your age from 220. You can then calculate at what percentage of maximum you should be exercising at.

When doing cardiovascular training, research says exercising at 60-70% of your maximum heart rate will be best for fat loss and to build endurance, while exercising in the 70-80% of maximum range will increase your fitness.

There are a number of features available in modern heart rate monitors. Some are more useful than others. Of course, a constant measurement of heart rate is vital. It is helpful to be able to set zone alarms or otherwise be able to see where you are compared to your maximum heart rate. Some will do all the calculations for you, telling you when to ease up or to pour it on, depending on your workout for that day. Others will just show a heart rate number, and you will need to know what the upper and lower limits are for your workout.

It pays to shop around for the features you need, and not buy a lot of things you don't need. Too many extra features may confuse you and discourage you from using your heart rate monitor regularly. That's bad. It's better to get something simple that you can commit to using regularly. Still, if you can handle it, there are some sweet features available.

Whatever heart rate monitor you choose, use it regularly. It will provide you so with much detailed information about your training; you'll wonder what you ever did without it, and you'll never want to be without one again.

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Some of the more usual causes are likely to be undertaking physical activity in which the body is not used to, such as strenuous gardening or lifting of overly heavy objects.

This over-exertion can result in a slipped disk (or a herniated disk). This is a result of twisting, generally while lifting. A slipped disk sounds worse than it probably is. It is merely the occurrence of your spinal bone bulging slightly, and touching on some nerves. Some basic exercises can help to relieve the pain and rectify the slipped disk issue.

Tip 1: Lie on Your Back.

Now this may sound simple (and it is!) but it is also highly effective. Lie flat on the floor, with some pillows placed under your head and knees for support. This takes the strain away from your lower back. An alternative is to place a pillow on a chair seat, and rest your feet on the chair, with your back on the floor.

It is recommended to stay in this position for around 5-25 minutes each session.

This is a great way of resting the back and relieving the pressure off your lower back. You should perform this exercise for no more than 1 to 2 days in a row, getting up and walking around every hour.

Tip 2: Use Heating Pads and/or Ice Packs

Heated pads will help to relieve muscle spasm. Use these for 20-30 mins at a time. Ice packs are also a suitable alternative.

Tip 3: Medicines to Reduce Swelling

Some medications that assist in reducing swelling are Aspirin and Entrophen. Panadol is also helpful in controlling minor pain while you rest your lower back and recuperate.

Tip 4: Massage for Muscle Relief

Massaging the lower back can help to reduce any inflammation and swelling. And as the muscles relax, circulation is increased and pain often lessens.

If these tips are combined, together with much needed bed rest, your back pain should be gone and your back should be returned to its old self.

At this point you may consider practicing some back strengthening exercises, to prevent any future re-occurrence of lower back pain. We will discuss some prevention tips in future articles.

Important note: If the lower back pain is persistent for 2-3 weeks, you should consult your family doctor. There is no substitute for professional medical advice.

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If you already exercise and find you're approaching your daily workout with excessive fatigue and lack of motivation, see your doctor and have your iron level checked. Your doctor can do a blood test called a ferreting level which measures your body's stores of iron. Aerobic exercise can cause slow depletion of iron levels with iron being lost through sweating and through leakage of small amounts into the gut with sustained movements. Plus, it's not uncommon for women of child bearing age to be iron deficient. If you're iron deficient, iron supplementation may make all the difference in your energy levels and your attitude towards exercise. Too tired to exercise: Exercise when you awaken in the morning

If you feel tired and less motivated to exercise in the evening, try setting your alarm thirty minutes early and get your exercise session out of the way before the day starts. An early morning exercise session can help to energize and motivate you for the rest of the day. Plus, you can look forward to an evening of relaxation knowing you've accomplished your goal. This can be a simple solution to the problem of being too tired to work out.

Too tired to exercise: Do it anyway

Sometimes the best cure for fatigue is a vigorous exercise session. Have you ever noticed how you can walk into the health club exhausted but after thirty minutes of motion you feel energized and invigorated? There's nothing like exercise to get your blood flowing and zap fatigue. If it's difficult for you to get motivated to make that trip to the club, promise yourself a small reward after you finish your session if you follow through. Just make sure it's not a jelly donut!

Too tired to exercise: Lighten up your workout

On nights that you're too tired to work out, follow a lighter, less rigorous routine. To motivate yourself to take the first step, tell yourself you'll only exercise for ten minutes. After ten minutes have elapsed chances are you'll feel so invigorated that you'll want to keep going.

Too tired to exercise: Change your exercise format

If you feel fatigued with a lack of motivation towards exercise on a particular evening, change your workout entirely and substitute something fun. Instead of walking thirty minutes on the treadmill at the club, take your dog for a brisk walk or do thirty minutes of stretches while you watch your favorite T.V. show. You can get back on schedule the next time you exercise and the variety will be good for you both physically and mentally.

Give these tips a try and soon you'll no longer need the old excuse of being too tired to work out. Plus, you'll look and feel like a new person

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If you have been weight/resistance training, you will understand how great it is to see your body change so dramatically and how easy it would be to increase training intensity and frequency too quickly. Of course, rationally we all know this is a mistake. But, the desire for an even better shape and "feel good" chemicals (endorphins) can cause us to do just a bit too much…. And ouch.

I had this experience when I started training with weights 15 years ago. I had been teaching aerobics classes for 8 years when I started. Well, naturally the weights changed my body a lot and I LIKED the changes! Then one day, I decided to do the same workout twice in one day. I mean, after all, if one is good, two is better right? Wrong! The result was tendonitis in my shoulder which took forever to heal.

Now, often I spend a fair bit of time explaining to clients how more is not necessarily better. The key is to workout SMART! Ok, what does this mean?

First: rest is very important. Muscles need rest between workouts. Working the same muscles in the same way too often results in injury and a reduction in performance. When a muscle is overtired, the load is taken into the joint. Joints are not designed for load they are designed for movement. Tendonitis and joint pain are pretty common indicators of overtraining.

Second: varied workouts. This is why we fitness instructors recommend doing different sports or fitness activities. But for "die hard" weight lifters, variation can be accomplished in a variety of ways. One common way is to work different muscle groups in different days. Another method is to change the way in which a particular exercise is performed so as to train the muscles differently. An example of this would be to change the speed of the lift from workout to workout, like very slow one day, the faster the next time the muscle group is worked.

There's lots of ways to vary your workouts. Check out some books on weight training or talk to a Fitness Trainer if you need some ideas. You will not only help prevent injury, but you will see changes in your strength and muscle development.

Keep your workouts SMART!

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Running or walking outside, however, may not always be a natural choice. If you're not enthusiastic about running or walking in winter weather or summer humidity, or if you live somewhere where there are few sidewalks or where there's a lot of traffic, you may want to invest in a state-of-the-art treadmill.

A treadmill can make it easier to achieve fitness goals and the latest treadmills offer many fun, motivating features that let you track progress.

Not all treadmills are created equal and a badly designed treadmill may ultimately do more harm than good.

It's important not to settle because a bad short-term choice could have serious long-lasting health consequences.

Since exercise should be a life-long habit, you want a treadmill that will protect potentially fragile joints.

When you exercise on concrete sidewalks, for example, the impact shock is "bounced" back to your knees and hips, because concrete is a rigid material.

This can also be true of rigid, heavy steel treadmills.

When choosing a treadmill, look for one with active shock management features like those featured on PaceMaster treadmills. The tri-flex system uses three components to protect joints:

• A custom-designed deck flexes with every foot strike.

• Elastomer cushions further absorb the impact shock.

• Aluminum frames provide strength but also flex more than steel.

As a result, your joints can stay healthier for longer.

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In fact, there are people who find time to manage and endorse the advantages of physical fitness just so they can prove to the world what a physically fit person can look like.

It is for this reason that most people contend that fitness models are one of the healthiest and most appealing people in the world. They embody the perfect concept of a physically fit person. Fitness models are, indeed, the epitome of health, life, vigor, and real beauty.

In reality, virtually everyone who has the capability to move can exercise to some degree; and everyone who is capable of projecting the benefits of exercise and physical fitness can be a fitness model.

Therefore, if you think that you have what it takes to be a fitness model, here are some tips on how to be come one.

1. Deviate from the common notion of everybody that fitness is just a matter of the body figure.

The problem with the society today is that people tend to admire and look up to females who are thin and sexy and to males have brawny, muscular biceps, triceps, and wonderful abs.

The upshot is that people tend to exert so much effort in exercise not because they want to be healthy and fit but because they want to like the fitness models that they usually see in TV, posters, and magazines.

To be a fitness model, you should start working your way to a healthier you and not just a sexier, physically attractive person that you want to be.

After all, being a fitness model does not necessarily mean you have to have a "fashion-model" body size.

2. Believe in the saying, "You are what you eat."

If you want to be a fitness model, you have to believe on the fact that our body shows what kinds of food we eat. Your body will also depict the kind of physical activities that you have in life.

Hence, if you do not conform to this belief, chances are, you will find it hard to be a fitness model, and to inform the people what it is like to be physically fit.

3. Live a healthy lifestyle

Genes play big roles in a person's health. But these do not certainly influence what you will eat at breakfast, lunch, or dinner, and the kind of activity that you will engage in.

Hence, if your lifestyle will not be healthy, chances are, you can never be a fitness model.

4. Have a "positive self image"

In order to be a fitness model, you have to incorporate positive body image in your life. This means that you should love your body in spite of what is happening in the environment or the occurrences in your life.

You should never wish for a body that you know it is not yours. Do not burden yourself into thinking that life could have been better if you only have thinner thighs or beautiful abs.

Through positive self-image, you are able to gain respect for yourself, which in turn generates other s to respect you and admire you.

The key point here is that, being a fitness model is not all about vanity and physical attributes alone. What matters most is the beauty of being physically fit and healthy that radiates from your body as it exudes the glow of health.

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2. Exercising on a rebounder strengthens every cell in your body, not just a few of them. At the top of each bounce, your body experiences a brief moment of weightlessness. At the bottom of each bounce, your body experiences two to four times the normal gravitational pull. The forces of acceleration and deceleration stress every cell, which causes them to strengthen. Therefore, your skin, organs and muscles you are not even aware of are being strengthened by the bouncing action of exercising on a mini trampoline.

3. Bouncing on a rebounder will also make your bones stronger. Astronauts that were in a state of weightlessness for several weeks at a time, lost both muscle strength and bone density. Without the pull of gravity, muscles wither and atrophy and bones become weaker and less dense. NASA found that by exercising on mini trampolines upon returning to earth, the astronauts could safely and quickly rebuild the muscle strength and bone density they had lost. Being inactive or sedentary by sitting or laying most of the day will have the same effect on our bodies that weightlessness does. Rebounding is highly recommended for osteoporosis.

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Let's start with cardio. You need to do a cardio exercise you enjoy, 30-45 minutes, 3 or 4 times a week. Running, walking, biking, you pick. Strength training should be performed 2 or 3 times a week. Remember having more muscle mass means you burn more calories during the day. And last but not least, watch what you eat! The stomach is one of the first places bodyfat is stored. So when extra calories are consumed, a "spare tire" appears. Dieting off the fat is absolutely necessary if you want to reveal the muscles of your midsection.

One way to get the most out of your ab exercises is a better form. Follow these few tips during your work-outs. Keep your hands folded across your chest or rest them at your ears. This will ensure your abs do all the work during the exercise. Many people want to put their hands behind their head-don't- this will only put pressure on your cervical vertebrae. Instead of raising your shoulders towards the ceiling, think about bringing your ribs and pelvis together. You will get a more intense crunch if you concentrate on using only those muscles.

The key behind great abs is your DIET! If you do not lose the fat that covers your muscles you will never be able to show off your six pack. Great Abs is 90% what you eat and 10% exercise. So start burning fat calories and you'll see your tight abs in no time!

Visit my webiste www.fitnessinhometraining.com to learn more about getting GREAT ABS!

Gina is an ISSA certified personal trainer. She works with her clients in their own homes and offers online fitness training. She writes a weekly fitness article for her local newspaper. Her passion is fitness and helping others reach their fitness goals. She participates in dualthons and 5K races all the way to marathons.

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Inquiring minds want to know, so how exactly will daily exercise impact your health and well-being? Regular physical activity positively affects not only your body but also your mind. That's right: Exercise simultaneously improves your physical, your emotional and your psychological health. In fact, it's a triple-threat combatant against the physical and mental disorders Americans most often face: heart disease, diabetes, stroke, stress, anxiety and depression, just to name a few.

When industry experts stand in staunch agreement, you know it's time to focus your attention on their advice and take their concurring counsel to heart. To that end, consider daily exercise's benefits as purported by three of the leading medical sources: the American Heart Association, the Surgeon General's Report on Exercise and Fitness Management magazine.

The American Heart Association (AHA) lists a reduction in the risk of heart disease at the top of its daily physical activity benefit list. Exercise improves circulation throughout the body and lowers cholesterol, thereby decreasing the likelihood of a heart attack or stroke. The AHA also touts exercise's ability to counteract the health problems plaguing today's young people: obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and poor lifestyle habits. In so doing, it prevents the conditions that lead to heart attacks and strokes later in life.

The U.S. Surgeon General, while echoing the AHA's claims, narrows down physical activity's benefits into specific categories. Overall, he maintains that exercise reduces one's risk of dying prematurely, but explicitly mentions a reduction in heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, colon cancer, depression and anxiety and obesity among its lifesaving advantages. According to the U.S. Surgeon General, healthier bones muscles and joints as well as improved psychological well-being are some of the other benefits regular exercisers enjoy.

In an article entitled ¡The Psychological Benefits of Your Exercise Program,¡ Fitness Management magazine further details physical activity's favorable effects on emotional and mental health. In particular, the article cites the following psychological advantages of exercise: 1) It reduces feelings of anxiety, worry, self-doubt and uncertainty about the future; 2) It lower stress levels and the accompanying physical complaints, such as headaches and muscle tension; 3) It energizes, thereby enhancing one's mood; 4) It improves sleep quality; and 5) It improves one's self-image and – confidence by keeping weight down and elevating mood.

So, while an apple a day is still sound advice, it seems exercising every day is the new and improved ticket to keeping the doctor away.

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Do you need it? The equipment should suit your interests and needs. The activities that you will do with that equipment should be challenging and something to enjoy on. Buying equipment is never a guarantee that you will use it especially if it is something new that makes it harder to use. Make sure that you already know the equipment and that it is something that you already tried in a fitness club. Start from buying small equipments that are aligned to your interests.

Can you afford it? Don't be fooled with the thought that you will be forced to use something because you spent too much money for it. Expensive equipments are never an assurance that you will use them or that they are effective for you. Always consider how much are you willing to pay for certain equipment. Also ask yourself iif it is worth it. Always check on the quality before you buy equipment. The price may be too low but consider that the quality can also be low. Or it may be expensive but then the quality is not that good. You can try choosing on cheaper alternatives but not sacrificing the quality of the equipment.

You may also want to check out for some used equipments. Most of the time, this is where you find a better deal. You can even find equipments that do not seem to have been used at a very low rate. Or you can find the equipment 3 months old but the price is almost half the original.

Do you have enough space for it? This is often what buyers forget to consider. Try to consider first where to place a treadmill before buying it. Before you buy something, make sure you know where you will place it. Your place may not accommodate the equipment. Plan ahead and make sure that the equipment can be placed in your home without causing any hassle.

Is it safe for you? If you have existing conditions, be sure to check with your doctor to make sure that the equipment will be safe for you. Some equipment may be painful to use and might cause harm to your body. So make sure to try it first be fore you buy it.

It also suggested that you first consider if a gym near you already has that equipment. You can save money by just registering to that gym and use that equipment compared the price you will spend if you will buy that product.

Buying fitness equipments should be bought with consideration. Do not buy by impulse. Always ask the opinion of a professional gym instructor before you buy something.

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