Month: February 2021

Aerobics Machines – 5 Ways to Fight Boredom

When the weather is nice aerobic exercise is easy. I bike, sometimes run, go for long walks, and generally enjoy the great outdoors. That combined with general outdoor activities helps keep me fit.

Come winter or inclement weather it’s much harder. Although I might enjoy a brief stint on a treadmill, stationary bicycle, or stair-master in the gym, I often get bored before I can finish a good workout.

Here are five techniques I use to help fight boredom and keep me exercising longer.

1) Reading – except very occasionally when my pace may be too fast, for example during brief sprints, reading helps pass the time. I do both light reading, perhaps magazines in the gym or trashy novels, as well as more serious business and self-improvement reading.

2) Listen to music – I’ll sometimes listen to some of my favorite songs on my iPod. I like mixing both fast and slow music, but not too slow as my pace tends to naturally speed up or slow down to the music!

3) Watch TV – I rarely watch TV at home as I’m too busy and it’s not my preferred form of relaxation, but I’ll occasionally watch TV in the gym. I carry a set of cheap headphones in my workout bag exactly for that purpose.

4) Listen to a podcast or book on tape. This is my absolute favorite! 

5) Talk to a friend. Exercising with friends always works well.

Just trudging away indoors on an aerobic machine can bore me easily. By using these tips I tend to get a longer and better workout and be healthier, and you probably can too. Try one of them next time you’re in the gym!…

Why Childhood Obesity is Increasing and What We Can Do About It

There is considerable hype in the press about the incidence of childhood obesity. As usual, stories abound with calls for government intervention and large scale social changes. But apart from the over the top hype, there are some basic facts that remain.

With the increase in the availability and lower cost of food, at the same time, convenience foods, fast food establishments and snacks in our stores everywhere have made it all the more likely that many will consume too many calories.

With the popularity of the computer and internet, children spend a greater percentage of time being sedentary than in the past. TV and talking on the phone, of course, have been popular for decades. But with the addition of the internet, hours of physical activity per week has declined for many children, and adults I might add.

The result is that children today are on average heavier than they were. They also tend to consume more foods high in complex sugars and fat, and less fiber, fruits and vegetables. The effect for some children is obesity.

Obesity is measured somewhat differently for children than for adults, as a result of their rapidly changing bodies and metabolic rates. Children often experience growth spurts that would skew any measurement that the Body Mass Index as used by adults. Instead of using the BMI alone as a starting point, BMI is combined with age and gender to create a more accurate picture.

Where an adult would be considered obese with a BMI of 30 or greater, the Center for Disease Control charts would designate a child as obese at the 95th percentile. The two are roughly equivalent, but it is necessary to look at the charts for a more careful breakdown.

Percentage of body fat is another important measurement and here again the numbers differ by sex. An obese boy would be identified as one whose body fat was 25% or more of total body weight. For girls the number is 32% of body fat as a percentage of total weight.

One major reason for the difference is simply that females naturally have a higher percentage of body fat. For adult males the number is roughly 15% for a healthy, fit individual. But for women the number is around 27%.

The way to reduce body fat and excess weight for obese children, and adults, involves a partnership of proper diet and regular exercise. This will usually involve some lifestyle changes. These are often easier to implement for younger children, and have the added advantage of establishing good habits that typically carry on into adulthood.

Start on the road to good health at a young age and it will be easier to maintain in later years. Our children look to us for guidance. From experience children from a very young age love nothing more than to participate in family activities and will follow your example, good or bad. Introduce a healthy diet and lifestyle sooner rather than later. Remember it is never too late to make changes and the great thing about children is that they are very adaptable.…

How to Lose Weight Fast With Diet and Exercise – 4 Essential Weight Loss Steps

People are always looking for the right way to set and reach their weight loss goals,did you know that using diet and exercise is key. The truth is that over half of the population is overweight, and with that extra weight comes the risk of developing fatal health problems. It’s best to start losing weight now, while you’re still ahead of the game because in all actuality, there is no right time to get fit. It should start with you right now in the present moment.

Located below are four easy ways to lose weight fast:

1. Find a Diet You Can Stick With – Don’t go out and simply dive headfirst into the first diet plan you come across. Be realistic about your weight loss goals. If you really want to know how to lose weight fast with diet and exercise, you’re going to have to look around. Ask yourself if the diet plan you are interested in is safe. Does it deliver all the nutrients that you need to survive? A good, solid, nutritious diet plan should be something that you can stick with for life, not just for the moment.

2. Get Moving – Do not plan to get started on an exercise regimen. If you procrastinate and state that you will “do it tomorrow”, then it will never happen. Get up out of your seat right now and go run a mile. The thing is that you’re probably really never going to feel like working out, you’re just going to have to get up and do it. Do something different every single day so that your workouts do not get boring. Try not to plan your workouts, but rather get up and do a different exercise everyday. As long as you are working out vigorously for at least 45 minutes per day, you should lose weight quickly.

3. Allow Yourself to Cheat – Anyone who has ever known how to lose weight fast with diet and exercise has cheated, and allowed themselves to do it. If you’re craving a bagel, piece of chocolate, or anything else that is loaded down with carbohydrates or high in calories, allow yourself to indulge. Make sure that this isn’t an every-other-hour occurrence because you do not want to defeat the purpose. When you let yourself cheat, it’s not as difficult to stay on track. It’s those individual’s who never allow themselves a slice of cake that fail miserably and end up weighing more than what they did to begin with.

4. Take Breaks – If you’re going to stay on track, then you cannot be so strict on yourself. It’s understandable that you want to lose weight, but you cannot push too hard. Your body needs to rest in order to heal and be prepared for the next round of exercises. Allow yourself to break for at least one or two days per week. The days that you break do not necessarily have to be side-by-side, but they do need to be present. When you rest, you’re able to pick up the pace even more and give it your all. More than anything else, taking breaks helps you to stick with your plan, which is ultimately what helps you to get the job done.

As you can see, knowing how to lose weight fast with diet and exercise is not difficult. It’s mostly about being realistic and sticking to your goals. If you mess up and overindulge one day, then who cares? There’s always the next six days to make up for it. You’re only human, and are not expected to run daily marathons or starve yourself. And besides, you’ll never get anywhere that way anyhow. What pays off is being persistent and actually enjoying your weight loss journey.…

What You Need to Take Care of a Horse

THE FOUR KEYS TO BASIC HORSE CARE

There are lots of things to consider for your horse. These are the necessary ones he will need to keep him happy and healthy.

1. Nutrition

a. Hay- A good quality of hay is necessary. Alfalfa or a grass hay such as Timothy or Coastal is good. Horses can eat between 15 to 25 lbs per day

b. Protein- All hay generally does not provide enough protein so a protein pellet is recommended. Pellets are generally from 12 to 16 % protein.

c. Water- Horses will drink 10 to 30 gallons of water per day depending on the climate. Make sure your horse has plenty to drink especially on those hot days

d. Vitamins/Minerals- Adding a good vitamin/mineral supplement to your horses feed will help him get his nutritional requirements.

2. Hoof Care

Horses hooves are very important to him. He will need to have shoes put on or even if he is Bare foot he will need to be trimmed on a regular basis. You will want to clean his feet out daily with a hoof pick to keep any rocks or other objects from getting lodged.

3. Shelter

Horses love somewhere to get out of the weather or to have shade in the summer. A nice stall or a shed row type structure will be suffice.

4. Exercise

Horses need exercise just like we do. Riding regularly will not only keep him fit but will help you stay fit too so get out there and have some fun and be safe.

Remember, treat your horse with Kindness and give Good Quality Care and in return you will get many years of enjoyment with him.…

How to Motivate Yourself to Exercise

We all know about the importance of exercise. We heard doctors, nutritionists, and fitness experts talk about it all the time on television. It is all over the press. But, when it is time to walk the walk, it just is not happening. Why? Because, it can be very difficult to keep yourself motivated to do a boring daily exercise regime. Some of us have a lot on the plates to deal with like kids, mortgage payment, etc. Nevertheless, we know we need to exercise to stay strong. So here are some tips that can keep you motivate for your daily exercise.

• Make exercise fun as much as possible. Let’s face it. If it is boring, nobody wants to do it. People who can exercise regularly have fun doing it. For instance, if there is a sport that you particularly like, play it.

• Don’t overdo it. Moderation is the key. Remember, it is not a rat race. You don’t need to compete with anybody. You exercise for yourself. If you have been inactive for a long time, start slowly.

• Listen to music when you exercise. When you listen to the music that you like, the brain releases chemical which keep you happy and entertain.

• Surround yourself with supportive people. Exercise is much easier when you have people with the same mindset to do it with. If your friends are inactive, join the gym. Obviously, people who join the gym want to get into healthier lifestyles.

Finally, if you drop out of your exercise regime for a little bit, do not feel so discourage. Get back on the bandwagon. Remember, you are doing this for yourself.…