aerobic-related stories
Stephanie Hobbs -- how'd she lose 44 lbs?
That's Fit Club, Fitness, Nutrition & Supplements
That's Fit Club is our feature devoted to you, the reader! We have all learned so much on our paths to becoming more fit, and now it's time to learn from and inspire each other! That's Fit Club members are constantly working to better themselves. Some are perfect; some are not. But all have health on the mind. Besides showing you off, we want to reward you for all of your hard work! Everlast and Everlast Woman are giving gorgeous workout T-shirts to each featured member! To join, please send Fitz your answers to these questions with a photo of yourself. Time for you to be the motivator!
Name: Stephanie Hobbs
Age: 25
Occupation: Technical Support
How often do you exercise? Five to six days a week.
What type of exercise do you do? Running, cycling, and high-intensity aerobic exercises with weights.
Read on to see how much weight Stephanie has lost, how much she has to go, and what keeps her going!
Sex drive - boost yours with these 4 healthy tips
- Exercise. Aerobic exercise gets your blood flowing, boosts your energy, and triggers endorphins. And when you incorporate exercise into your daily routine, you'll just feel better about yourself and confidence has everything to do with feeling sexy.
- Relax. A stressed-out mood isn't exactly made for the bedroom. In addition to your cardio workouts, try yoga or tai chi -- they offer mind-body benefits that can help you relax.
- Add a little novelty. And I don't mean novelty in the bedroom (although that's not a bad idea, either). Spend some quality time with your significant other doing something different -- go for a hike, play a game of tennis, or try your hand at a rock climbing wall. Any activities that have you working together will help increase your physical awareness of each other and will strengthen your relationship.
- Get your vitamins. Some supplements, such as Ginkgo biloba, have been linked with sex drive, but the science is sketchy at best. You're better off just sticking to a healthy diet including a wide variety of fruits and vegetables.
Tighten your "jubbily" bits
Fitness, Celebs & Entertainment
There are always hints in the media about this celebrity or that celebrity coming out with a fitness DVD. Melanie Brown, otherwise known as Mel B, has followed through. The Spice Girls' three-disc fitness DVD will be available February 3rd. Mel B, a former Dancing With the Stars contestant, said "For anyone with jubbily bits, I'm going to tighten you up, make you laugh and enjoy your workout no matter what level you are."
The discs, titled Totally Fit, cover a 28-day program with aerobic and resistance workouts. She also shares some nutrition tips and recipes.
For more news on celebrity fitness, check out AOL Health.
Throw away the cardio ... bring back the fun!
Remember when you were a kid? You likely spent your afternoons and weekends riding bikes with friends, building forts out in the backyard, and scurrying around the neighborhood on your skateboard. All you knew is you were having a great time. When, exactly, did those activities that used to be fun become a workout? When we cast our adult perspective on physical, outdoor activities we somehow turn them into aerobic activity, cardio, exercise, or other similarly boring words. Let's get back to our childhood roots and call it what it really is... fun!
Shape Magazine has a great article on many different ways you can have some fun, just like you did when you were a kid. Try biking, inline skating, jumping rope, shooting hoops, or going dancing. Soon enough, you'll figure out that the first syllable in workout is really inappropriate.
Training with heart rate in mind
I took Jacki's suggestion a few weeks back and started interval cardio training on the treadmill. One disclaimer, this is not her recommended workout, just a version this novice made up out of the blue since I couldn't exactly recall her post. My 5k treadmill workout goes something like this: after a fast walk warm-up, I jog at 5.6 mph for about five to eight minutes. Then I amp it up to 6.1 mph for two minutes, back down to 5.6 for two minutes, increase to 6.6 mph for two minutes, return to my 5.6 mph baseline, then a final two minute push at 7.1 mph. I return to 5.6 mph for several minutes to recover, then repeat the sequence. Admittedly, I typically feel like I'm going to toss my cookies after the 7.1 sprint, so I walk a couple minutes before heading back up to 5.6 mph.
It's at the 7.1 mph mark with legs a flyin' and lungs a heavin' that my heart feels as if it'll beat right out of my chest. It made me wonder, "What exactly is my heart rate at this painful cardiovascular apex?" Unfortunately, to find out I had to quickly slow down to a 4.0 mph walk or less and grab hold of the treadmill sensors (sensors don't work unless you're at a walking pace -- safety thing). Turns out I was at 176 beats per minute, over 90 percent of my estimated maximum heart rate (MHR) for this 40 year old.
Check out this informative article on increasing your fitness and performance by training with heart rate in mind. Understanding the five heart rate zones can better assist you in ramping up your fitness level steadily and strategically to build cardio endurance and strength, while preventing injury and fatigue. Here is a short recap on each of the five heart rate zones:
Ellen, Carmen Electra exercise in bed
Fitness, Celebs & Entertainment
What were Ellen and Carmen Electra doing in bed together on Tuesday's Ellen Degeneres Show? They were, well, exercising.With Carmen in her romantic, vixen-like bed and Ellen in her Hello Kitty-themed bed, the pair worked up a sweat while practicing routines from Electra's new DVD, Carmen Electra's Aerobic Striptease: Vegas Strip. The duo did a few leg lifts and some lunges from their side-by-side beds and if laughter counts as a workout, they surely got a good one.
Wanna see a video clip? Here it is.
Overweight but fit
I distinctly recall a rather heavy-set woman who used to teach aerobics at a gym I used to belong to. Even while her seemingly fitter students gasped for breath after the session, she seemed able to go another whole round.
This, according to Canadian researchers, is because it is very possible to be both fat and fit. A study on this matter, which was published in Archives of Internal Medicine, revealed that overweight men who exercised regularly had a reduced risk of heart disease. What's more, their engagement in regular fitness improved metabolic health, despite the fact that they carried excess weight.
It appears as though belly fat is the deciding factor. Most overweight, but physically active, people tended to have less abominal cavity fat than do heavy people that do not exercise at all. A large waist is directly related to an increased risk of diabetes and heart disease.
Fun activity: Drumming
So I'm not surprised at this article on Fitsugar that says that drumming-based fitness classes are popping up all over the place. Drums Alive is a class that incorporates aerobic exercises and drumming, providing a whole-body workout. The classes are happening at select locations of Gold's Gym and other fitness centers. There's also a DVD that you can get if you prefer to do your drumming at home.
Ever wonder what happens to your body during an extended fitness break?
Summer is rapidly coming to a close (at least where I live) and I'll bet there are a few of you out there who, like me, have taken a break from your regular workout routine. Pre-summer is a time of motivation and determination as far as exercise goes because everyone wants to look great on the beach, but once the holidays start the workouts tend to stop.
I think it's natural to take a break from time to time but until I read this, I had no idea what kind of affects time off from exercise have on the body. The article says that if you take 2 weeks off from your normal routine you can lose up to 12% of your muscle strength and 7% of aerobic endurance. Anyone who has taken the entire months of July and August off can expect to forfeit as much as 35% of muscle strength and 17% of aerobic endurance, while people who have really fallen off the workout wagon and taken 2 years off will have lost up to 50% of both muscle strength and aerobic endurance.
I am actually pretty shocked by just how fast sitting around on a lounge chair can reverse all of the hard work a person has done to get fit. If you've recently taken some time off of your regular workouts and need to get back into the game, check out the article in its entirety for tips on getting back into shape, as well as information on how long you can expect it to take.
Fitness myths debunked
I admit that I've been busted for assuming that just because someone is thin, they're more fit than another, heavier person. Of course, the truth is that a naturally skinny junk-food addict/perennial couch surfer is likely in way worse shape than someone with a bit of extra baggage who exercises regularly and makes a commitment to eat well.
8 other common myths about fitness are addressed and explained in this AOL Body piece. Based on the article, a lot of us are pretty misinformed about a bunch of work-out related issues. Other truths revealed include that you can't just use aerobic exercise as a way to lose weight. Building muscle is essential because the more muscle you have, the more calories you burn at any given time
The piece also talks about whether you really need to stretch before a workout, if you can skip the exercise and lose weight through diet alone and whether you can get rid of tummy fab with crunches. To find out the truth about these and a number of other common myths, take a look here.
Four exercises that are safe for pregnant women
Womens Health, Diet & Weight Loss, Fitness, Motivation
Exercising while you are pregnant has proven to help reduce fatigue, build endurance, and can help women have a shorter labor. This is particularly true if you use movement in labor by changing positions. Despite the differences in your body, exercise is still important. One of the things you need to determine before you jump right into an exercise program is how fit you are and if you have not previously been on any exercise routine. There are several exercises that you can do while pregnant, even if you were previously a couch potato or sedentary.Here are four exercises that are safe while pregnant.
Yoga combines exercise and relaxation.
Walking is a great workout for muscles and aerobic fitness.
Pilates emphasizes balance, strength, and flexibility.
Swimming helps relieve stress and strain on muscles and builds endurance.
How to feel your best as you age
Healthy Aging, Womens Health, Diet & Weight Loss, Fitness, Motivation, Nutrition & Supplements, Men's Health
One hundred years ago, only 3 million people in this country were aged 65 or older. Today, more than 36 million Americans are in this age group, and that number is expected to grow during the next 25 years to over 70 million as baby boomers age.Regular physical activity, keeping the mind busy, and a healthy diet are key to healthy aging and physical independence. Not only does it keep the body strong, but keeping the body moving protects and improves your emotional and cognitive health and people who mentally challenge themselves, and stay connected with loved ones are less likely to suffer from anxiety, depression, short-term memory loss, and illness in general. Maintaining a healthy diet keeps the body and mind sharper. Avoid high sodium, sugar, and high fat diets. Stay away from smoking or heavy alcohol use.
Regular walking and aerobic exercise is proven to help manage depression, anxiety, and stress and maintains balance, strength, and flexibility, which are key to preventing injuries and falls. Challenging your intellect on a daily basis by reading, learning a new musical instrument or language, doing crossword puzzles, or playing games of strategy or cards with others will keep the brain active and developing and less likely to lose its power and memory. Eating healthy will maintain your weight, as well as keep a handle on developing diabetic, heart, or colon problems.
Walking for fitness -- quality counts
There have been lots of studies promoting the benefits of walking and encouraging everybody to take more steps per day -- whether it's going for a daily aerobic hike or parking in the farthest spot from the grocery store. Well, a new study suggests that one method is better than the other -- and no surprise, it's the aerobic walking that wins out.
The University of Alberta in Edmonton, Canada has completed a study that compared a 10,000 steps program with a traditional aerobic workout involving a treadmill or stationary bike. When compared, the participants in the traditional aerobic group saw a 10% increase in aerobic fitness, while the 10,000 steps group only saw a 4% increase. The aerobic group also saw a 10% drop in their systolic blood pressure (the top number) while the walking group only saw a 4% drop.
So, strapping on your pedometer and walking your errands or going for a leisurely stroll is better than nothing -- if you're working your way up from "couch potato" status. But don't stop there! Once you're comfortable with that make an effort to put a little "umpf" in your steps and add some "huff and puff" to get real aerobic health benefits.

























