Beauty Guide

“When I’m lifting free weights, I tend to go pretty fast on the downward motion when I’m supposed to be using more control,” says Beth Pekol, who works in banking in Chicago.

“I lean on the StairMaster when I’m on it,” says Shaun Stewart, a new bride who lives in Memphis. “I know I don’t have good form, but when I feel the pressure on my knees, I just feel like I’m still doing something if I’m at least staying on the machine.”

“I know I’m cheating myself when I double the amount of work I have to do in a short amount of time,” says Eugenia Griffin, an esthetician who lives near Indianapolis. “I’ll say I’m going to work out 30 minutes, but I’ll try to fit a lot into 15 minutes.”

“‘Cheating’ is a tough word,” says Richard Cotton, chief exercise physiologist for MyExercisePlan.com. “People get tired and they don’t realize they’re making mistakes, especially when you’re leaning into the stepper to support your weight.

“It’s just a matter of realizing what you’re doing,” Cotton says. “Sometimes it’s a higher priority to keep up with the person you’re working out next to because you’re looking at how many lights they have lit up and you’re in a competition, so you lean a bit.”

But, Cotton says, these women are like thousands of us who mean well in devising our workout plans but fall short when it’s time to deliver: “You’re increasing your risk for injury because exercising becomes uncomfortable,”

Cotton says of common mistakes people make when working out. “There are people who can tolerate discomfort just fine; they even look forward to it. But others, they think ‘I don’t like this. I hate this…’ so when it’s time to go to the gym, they suddenly find themselves with an excuse not to do it.”

If you truly want to get the benefits of exercise, such as maintaining a healthy weight, having a good sex life and staving off conditions such as heart disease, diabetes and osteoporosis, especially as you grow older, then you just have to stop cheating, er, making mistakes.

Following is a list of 10 common exercise mistakes:

1. Failing to stretch enough.

Make sure you stretch right after doing an aerobic activity to prevent risk of injury.

2. Lifting too much weight.

Never lift more than your muscles can handle. Gradually increase resistance to boost muscle strength.

3. Not warming up before an activity.

Muscles need time to get ready for the demands of aerobic activity. Start slowly then gradually boost intensity. “It’s like your car runs more effectively after it’s warmed up,” Cotton says. “[Likewise], your muscles aren’t prepared for the activity and it’s not as effective. Your aerobic energy system works better at higher temperatures.”

4. Not cooling down after a workout.

Take a minute to lower your heart rate and stretch. You’ll gain more flexibility for your next activity.

5. Exercising too intensely.

Griffin admits this is her problem: “I get impatient. I figure if I work really hard, really fast, it’s a good workout. I know I have to slow down.” ACE says you’ll get a more effective workout if you try to sustain moderate activity for longer periods than exercising intensely for only a few minutes.

6. Not drinking enough water.

Pekol learned about staying well hydrated two years ago when she developed a health problem exacerbated by not drinking enough water: “I always have water on hand throughout the day.”

But the rest of us? Many exercisers wait until thirst hits to drink water, and by that time, you’re on your way to dehydration. And when you’re outside, Cotton says, you leave yourself vulnerable to heat stroke. Keep a water bottle close by all the time.

“Your body works more effectively when it’s properly hydrated,” Cotton says.

7. Leaning on the equipment.

People like Stewart, who ‘fesses up to some heavy leaning while using a variety of fitness machines, only hurt themselves by misusing the equipment this way.

ACE says it can eventually wear on your wrists and back. Instead, lower your intensity to a point where you can maintain good posture. Rest your hands on the rails for balance.

8. Not exercising intensely enough.

Several times a week for about 20 to 30 minutes, work up a light sweat and get your heart rate up to your training zone.

9. Jerking while you lift weights.

What you’re doing is using the momentum to lift, not your muscles, Cotton says. This leads to strain and injury, leaving your back muscles vulnerable. Pekol is working on controlling this: “I try to be more conscious of my movements. There’s a mirror in my health club that I look in, and my instructor is helpful in pointing out when I’m going too fast. I think it’s working. I definitely see better muscle tone. Now if I can just keep my promise to work out as much as I say I will…”

10. Eating/drinking energy and sports bars during short workouts.

Remember: High-energy is code for high-calorie. If you’re not working out for two or more hours a day, you don’t need ‘em.

Richard Moore is the Founder an President of
Everything Health and Beauty! For Men and Women

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Are you fighting the uphill battle of weight loss? Stuck with not
knowing who or what to listen to anymore? One person tells you one thing, the next tells you do the exact opposite.


Who should you believe?


There are so many weight loss diets and plans out there that it’s
growing increasingly harder to decide what actually works and what isn’t even worth wasting your time on.


You’ve gotta know that all of these “miracle” weight loss diets and plans are not what they claim to be, simply because if they all did exactly what they promised to, there wouldn’t be a single obese or overweight person left on earth!


The reason so many useless weight loss diets and plans are still
around is because most of the useless ones promise “INSTANT Weight Loss!”


Now, tell me who is going to pass up at least trying something like that?


Us humans can be mighty lazy at times and wanting everything to be instantaneous is one of our chief bad habits.


We want our meals prepared instantly at restaurants, we demand web pages to load instantly or we’ll just close them, and we also
desperately want instant weight loss.


You suspect in the back of your mind of course, that this is
impossible, but still you can’t help being sucked in by those oh so tempting promises of instant gratification.


“Maybe this one will be different.” You tell yourself “It has to
be.”


But the honest, and yes painful, truth is that weight loss is
never instantaneous. You can’t just pop some magic
pill, go to sleep, and wake up 50 pounds slimmer.


YOUR BODY DOESN’T WORK THAT WAY!


Once your body has stored a certain amount of fat, it’s going to want to hold on to it (for dear life it sometimes seems).


What you need to do is force your body to be more willing to burn up that fat, by revving up your metabolism.


You also need to make sure you’re doing all the right things to
accomplish this revving up. There are too many ways to rev your
metabolism for me to go into them all here, but I’ll give you a short list of some TRULY KEY things you can do to rev your metabolism until it’s roaring along like the ocean surf.


1. Do NOT Skip Meals.


Never, never, never skip a meal if you truly want to rev up your metabolism. If your body thinks you are starving it will actually slow your metabolism down (causing you to burn fat much slower) in an attempt to “keep you alive.”


Maybe you don’t always have time for meals. Okay, I understand that. Just grab something easy, but nutritious and filling in place of a meal (nuts, fresh fruits & veggies can be quick fixes when you’re on the go).


2. Live A Spicier Life


Eating spicy foods can dramatically speed up your metabolism. Try making a jalapeno salsa that you can use on sandwiches or salads. Chopped jalapenos also make a great addition to almost any meat, egg or vegetable dish.


3. Enjoy The Air And Your Favorite Game


Breathing deeply while exercising is also very important for
giving your metabolism that extra little “push” it needs. You should do some form of exercise every day, for at least 20 minutes that will cause you to breathe deeply, get your heart racing, and make you break a sweat.


This doesn’t have to be painful, do something you already love. Play your favorite “game” or sport. Go biking, skating, swimming, etc. The possibilities are really endless.


Exercise doesn’t need to be boring, what it needs to be is something you truly love doing and will be sure to find the time for at least 5 days out of every week. Something you’ll actually look forward to.


Do yourself a favor, get your metabolism raring so that you can stop worrying about your weight and start enjoying life.

Beth Scott is a veteran of the weight loss war (one of the victors) and has overcome all the same weight loss battles you are now facing. If you’re serious about winning your weight loss war Beth highly reccomends you visit Weight Loss Revealed.

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If you’d rather have teeth pulled than hop on an exercise bike, you’re not alone.

Finding the motivation to squeeze your bottom into a pair of Lycra shorts is just too much to bear after a exhausting day at the office. So what’s a weight conscious person to do?

You want to get more active, but you want it to be fun too. What’s so unreasonable about that? Nothing. What’s more, there are plenty of ways to feel the burn that means you don’t have to go within a mile of that nasty, mean old gym instructor.

And while you may not get an aerobic workout with most of these activities, you can see how they will add up to affect your overall activity levels and help you tone up - as you have a bit of fun too!

Activity Boost Level: Mild

Kiss Me

Pucker up with a loved one and your heart will start racing. Put a bit of oomph into it and you’ll not only get flushed, you’ll be working it that part harder too.

Laugh It Off

Laughing is thought to improve your immune system and skin condition. Rent a good comedy or get together with a friend who really gets you giggling to feel the immediate benefits.

Make Love

Boost your activity levels by making whoopee. And, if you feel in a frisky mood, a particularly vigorous session can give you a really good aerobic workout.

Scream for Your Team

The last time you screamed for your local sports team you’ll have felt your blood pumping. If you watched last year’s Stanley Cup Final, even better!

The Write Stuff

An hour spent furiously scribbling can really give you an energy boost, especially if you’re concentrating hard.

Activity Boost Level: Moderate

Sing Hallelujah

Believe it or not, a rousing sing song can give you a decent workout - just make sure you belt it out at full volume.

Have a Tinkle

If you’re musically minded, playing the piano is good for toning those muscles - choose something energetic like rag-time or a dramatic classical piece to really feel the benefits.

Do a Delia

Have a dinner party for six people or more. All that furious cooking chopping and grating will really give you a rush! Have a look at our recipe section for inspiration.

Get Under the Hood

If you’re handy with a screwdriver, mending your car gives your day a bit of extra activity - especially if making heavy repairs.

Milk a Cow

Milking by hand can really get your heart pumping. Slight snag - first find your cow.

Activity Boost Level: High

Do It Yourself

Both woodwork and plumbing will give you a decent activity boost - now there’s a handy way to lose weight and check things of your “to do” list too!

Child’s Play

Young kids never seem to sit still. Take a leaf out of their book and go play; it’s not just great for family bonding, you’ll also feel the burn after a bit! Try a half hour game of energetic soccer or some backyard gymnastics.

Disco Diva

Put on your sparkly skirt and head for the dance floor - a good half hour boogie will tone your whole body.

Move House

If the prospect of changing homes is getting you down, be cheered by the fact that shifting and carrying furniture is quite a strenuous workout. So get packing!

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