Jumpstart Physical Fitness
Jessica Loney from New York wrote in with this snip "The decision to carry out a physical fitness program cannot be taken lightly. It requires a lifelong commitment of time and effort. Exercise must become one of those things that you do without question, like bathing and brushing your teeth. Unless you are convinced of the benefits of fitness and the risks of unfitness, you will not succeed."
Better Reaction Times "Any & even the slightest improvements in this skill can have astonishing results on your game. Think about it for a moment… even if you could shoot, move, and jump like MJ you'd still be at his mercy if you didn't have his eyes. Meaning react unexpectedly, see defenders before they move, & beat the head fakes. Again this carries over to most every sport imaginable. " |
Body Fat vs. Body Weight "Standard scales can tell you a total weight, but can't determine the lean-to-fat ratio of that weight. By the old height-weight charts, an athlete can be "over-weight" and not "over-fat." A bodybuilder, for example, may be 8% body fat, yet at 250 pounds may be considered "over-weight" by a typical weight chart. In general, charts are not a good indication of a athlete's ideal body weight for general health or for athletic performance." |
Why Cardiovascular Endurance? Art Johnsen from Minneapolis writes with this snip "The reason your cardio performance can be improved is because the heart is a muscle, and like all other muscles in the body if you keep working it it will adapt to the workload given. This allows us to have direct control of how healthy one of the most important systems in our body is. But keep in mind there are other factors that effect heart health, such as cholesteral, and blood pressure. Eating right and exercising will ensure that your heart becomes, and remains, healthy throughout your life." |
Flex your Flexibility "While seated, extend your left leg in front of you. Bend your right leg, placing the bottom of your foot on the inside of the left knee. Place your right hand on top of your left hand. While keeping the lower back straightened, reach toward your left foot. Hold this for 10-30 seconds. During this stretch, keep the foot of the straight leg upright with the ankle and toes relaxed. Repeat for the right leg. " |
Doing Weight Training the Right Way "Getting started with strength training can be confusing--what exercises should you do? How many sets and reps? How much weight? The routine you choose will be based on your fitness goals as well as the equipment you have available and the time you have for workouts. " |
10 Weeks to Better Stamina "In your first week do some stretching exercises and then go for a jog for 2 minutes. Thereafter, walk for a few minutes. Wind up with some more stretching exercises, as you will have to continue this routine during your 10 week exercise schedule. Do the entire activity 5 times. For your second week, run for 3 minutes. Do the entire exercise 5 times, which of course, includes stretching, walking, and stretching again. Your third week..." |