Infolific » Fitness and Exercise

When is the Best Time to Exercise?

Peter Alexandrou — Tue, 11 Dec 2012 08:44:28 +0000

Exercising isn't easy so it's natural that we all want to maximize the amount of calories we burn and while also being able to maximize the effort we put into our workouts. Is the best time in the morning, noon, after work, or before bedtime? Is it before or after [...]

Barefoot Running: Does Running Without Shoes Make Sense?

Peter Alexandrou — Sat, 03 Nov 2012 07:34:21 +0000

Over the years running shoe makers have convinced us that without their expensive footwear, with arch support, ankle support, and plenty of cushioning, we would destroy our knees from running. Of course, through out this discussion these companies have become very rich. Whether you believe them or not is up [...]

Competitive Swimming

Ted Goodwyn — Sun, 28 Oct 2012 06:27:34 +0000

In competitive swimming there are 4 official strokes. These are front crawl or front stroke (often called freestyle or just free), backstroke, breaststroke, and butterfly (or just fly). Races can include any of these strokes, from as little a distance as 25 meters (m), to hundreds of meters. In addition, [...]

15 Exercise Myths That Just Won't Go Away

Ted Goodwyn — Thu, 25 Oct 2012 05:24:40 +0000

Since the time we learned that exercise has health benefits, the fitness industry has been plagued by myths. Some of them had good intentions behind them, while others are down right dangerous. Lifting Weights Will Make You Bulky This myth is very common especially with women. But it simply is [...]

Reasons Why Most People Don't Exercise

Ted Goodwyn — Tue, 25 Sep 2012 10:06:54 +0000

The list of benefits that come with regular physical activity is huge, and seems to grow on a daily basis. Just some examples, exercise has been shown to; lower bad cholesterol and raise good cholesterol. lower blood pressure. improve lung and heart capacity. lower body fat levels. increase muscle mass. [...]

Organizing a Swimming Workout

Ted Goodwyn — Fri, 21 Sep 2012 19:12:35 +0000

Before you start to plan a workout you need to know what it is you want to achieve that day. For example: Which stroke will be the focus. Will there be any specific aspects of that stroke to work on. Will the emphasis be on sprints or endurance. Will there [...]

Altitude Training

Ted Goodwyn — Fri, 07 Sep 2012 04:36:05 +0000

Altitude training refers to a situation where athletes are competing at higher altitude than what they are accustomed to. Even an elevation as little as 7500 feet can lead to a 5% deterioration in performance. The reason for this is because there is a decrease in the amount of oxygen [...]

Swimming Freestyle

Ted Goodwyn — Tue, 04 Sep 2012 20:43:36 +0000

This is probably the most popular stroke. It is the one use the most for improving or maintaining fitness, and it is the one that is learn first by most swimmers. For most swimmers free style is their fastest stroke. Although freestyle is done on the front, if done correctly, [...]

Cardiovascular Endurance

Ted Goodwyn — Mon, 03 Sep 2012 14:10:04 +0000

Cardiovascular Endurance is the ability of the heart, blood vessels, and lungs to supply oxygen to working muscles. To improve your cardio fitness you need to move, and move a lot. The more you move, and the faster you move, the greater the improvement will be on your cardiovascular system. [...]

Equipment-Free Exercises

Ted Goodwyn — Sat, 25 Aug 2012 01:11:42 +0000

In this article I will give some ideas as to how you can workout specific muscle groups with little or no equipment. To feel the same 'burn' as when using heavy weights you will need to do more repetitions. Keep in mind that muscles only shorten. So, any time a [...]

Swimming Drills

Ted Goodwyn — Thu, 16 Aug 2012 20:13:30 +0000

A swimming drill means taking a small section of the full stroke and practicing it many times over. Sometimes the drill is slightly altered from how the full stroke is performed. Drills have multiple purposes. They can be used: to teach a new swimmer small parts of the stroke, then [...]

Muscular Endurance

Ted Goodwyn — Sat, 11 Aug 2012 23:03:14 +0000

Muscular endurance, sometimes called muscular respiration, is the ability for a muscle to repeat a specific movement repeatedly. This is dependent on the body's ability to supply the muscle with oxygen, so it is obviously dependent on cardiovascular fitness. However it also depends on the muscle's ability to utilize the [...]

Walking to Lose Weight

Ted Goodwyn — Mon, 30 Jul 2012 21:11:35 +0000

Want to get lose weight? Start walking. Walking is something we can do from when we're a few months old until our hips give out from old age. It is the most fundamental mode of transportation. Walking can be done all year around if you dress properly, it requires very [...]

Endurance Activities

Ted Goodwyn — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 12:56:00 +0000

There are many types of activities to improve your fitness. The ones listed here are by no means a complete list. These are just the ones I'm interested in. Remember, anything that gets you breathing harder and gets your heart pumping is exercise. Cycling is becoming a more and more [...]

So You Want to Run a Marathon?

Peter Alexandrou — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 08:15:08 +0000

The story goes that in 490 BC Pheidippides, a Greek messenger, ran from the battlefield of Marathon to Athens to announce that the Persians had been defeated. While this alone is amazing, he also apparently ran the entire distance without stopping and once he made his announcement to the assembly [...]

Maximizing the Benefits from Your Workouts

Peter Alexandrou — Sat, 14 Jul 2012 11:19:19 +0000

So you go for walks to the grocery store or maybe you walk around the block during your lunch hour. Of course it burns a few calories, and you get some fresh air, but are these activities really enough to have any significant physiological impact? Let us look at what [...]

National Lifeguard Service Course Requirements

Ted Goodwyn — Fri, 13 Jul 2012 02:19:30 +0000

The National Lifeguard Service course is the final course one needs to become a qualified lifeguard. The course is 40 hours in length and is usually held over 2 full weekends. The prerequisites are that you are 16 years of age, have your Bronze Cross, Standard First Aid, and level [...]

Power Training

Ted Goodwyn — Thu, 12 Jul 2012 02:03:44 +0000

Power is similar to strength, however speed is now also a consideration. Power comes in handy in sports where a quick force is required for a limited time, but usually more than just one repetition. for example, sprinters require a lot of power. They need the strength to move them, [...]

How to Become a Life Guard

Ted Goodwyn — Thu, 07 Jun 2012 16:26:28 +0000

Life guarding is a professional occupation that involves training of individuals to become trained in water rescues. In order to become a life guard there are several courses one has to take, which train and test individuals on their swimming skills, knowledge on first aid, and the ability to perform [...]

Energy Systems of the Human Body

Ted Goodwyn — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 12:38:00 +0000

There are several energy systems in the human body that produce energy for working muscles. If you are an athlete, or are training athletes, knowing about these systems, how they work, and how to develop them is vital for success. By energy systems we are referring to how the body [...]

Funny Workout Pictures

Ted Goodwyn — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 00:07:56 +0000

Some humor for those of you who like (or at least often think about) working out.

Breaststroke (Swimming)

Ted Goodwyn — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 07:46:38 +0000

Breast stroke is done on the front. There is no side to side movement, and both sides of the body need to be symmetrical. Failure to remain symmetrical could result in disqualification during a meet. The fully straightened arms start directly in front of the head with the face in [...]

Strength Training

Ted Goodwyn — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 17:36:10 +0000

Strength is defined as how much force a muscle can exert against a given resistance. For example, how much weight one can bench press in a single attempt. Everything we do requires some level of strength. However, everyday general activity will not do much to increase strength, since our muscles [...]

5 Exercise Mistakes That Can Ruin Your Workout

Peter Alexandrou — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 19:56:04 +0000

There is very little doubt that exercise is one of the best things you can do for your health. It helps with many things including: improving circulation; strengthening your heart, lungs, muscles and bones; and making you feel better emotionally. However, there are some traps that you can easily fall [...]

Warming Up and Cooling Down

Peter Alexandrou — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 06:18:05 +0000

Despite all the experts telling us that we should warm-up and stretch before a workout, there is no scientific evidence that this helps in any way. For example, no one has ever proven that a warm-up helps prevent injury, or helps prevent sore muscles. All these years it has just [...]

Joining a Gym

Ted Goodwyn — Sat, 18 Jun 2011 00:54:14 +0000

Have you ever thought of joining a gym? Maybe you already did. Did you go? If you're like most people you probably got excited after New Year's, ran to the nearest gym on January 2nd, paid lots of money, and went religously for the first 3 or 4 weeks. Then, [...]

Gaining Instead of Losing Weight When Exercising

Ted Goodwyn — Fri, 29 Apr 2011 20:33:35 +0000

Maybe you've heard of this happening to someone else, or maybe it has happened to you. You finally decide to start exercising. And after a couple of weeks the only thing you accomplish is to gain weight! Unless this was your intention, you would likely be extremely disappointed to the [...]

Home Fitness Machines

Ted Goodwyn — Sun, 24 Apr 2011 15:09:16 +0000

So you wanna buy a home machine? First, ask yourself why. Maybe you saw it on TV, maybe you think you'll use it, whatever the reason think hard cause most machines end up under the bed (if they fold) or end up as clothes hangers My personal thought is that [...]

Sport Enhancing Drugs

Ted Goodwyn — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 09:39:17 +0000

The use of sport enhancing substances has been around for a very long time. Many athletes may feel pressured into using them simply because sports have become so competitive, often involving large amount of money, so they feel they need every possible edge over other athletes. These substances can include [...]

Sore Muscles: Injury, Lactic Acid, Adaptation

Ted Goodwyn — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 05:39:08 +0000

Muscle soreness can be caused by several factors. We will consider three of these factors in this article. Injury: Soreness can occur because of an injury. When a muscle tears it is called a sprain. It occurs when a excessive force is placed on a muscle, more than it can [...]

Flexibility

Ted Goodwyn — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 06:56:54 +0000

Flexibility is defined as the range of motion (ROM) for specific limb/joint. Most of us don't consider flexibility anything special, but, poor flexibility can lead to stiffness, sore joints, poor alignment, and in some cases chronic injuries. Improving, or maintaining, flexibility is easy. Simple spend a few minutes a couple [...]

Sports Injuries Pictures

Ted Goodwyn — Sun, 22 Aug 2010 08:23:27 +0000

Sometimes I'm glad that I work in an office. Don't know what I mean, just take a look at these pictures and you'll understand... WARNING: The first two pictures are "safe" and maybe even comical. Once you start scrolling, you may not be too happy with what you see if [...]

Swimming the Backstroke

Ted Goodwyn — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 17:14:16 +0000

Backstroke, although it is implied that it's on the back, is actually on the side. The swimmer should be rotating from one side to the other. This makes it easier for the pulling arm to 'grab' water, makes it less stressful on the shoulder joints, and decreases water resistance. However, [...]

Cardiovascular Fitness

Ted Goodwyn — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 15:14:47 +0000

How well your body is able to bring oxygen into the blood through the lungs and its ability to use that oxygen as efficiently as possible within the muscles is referred to cardiovascular fitness. Regular exercise is the key to improving this system. As you might imagine, heart disease is [...]

Do Athletes Need Extra Protein?

Ted Goodwyn — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 03:03:23 +0000

Any serious body builder would swear by protein supplements. They don't go anywhere without their protein shakes or their protein bars. But one needs to ask, is this necessary? Does it really help or is it just another marketing scam that has made a few entrepreneurs a lot of money. [...]

Choosing a Swim Club

Ted Goodwyn — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 01:48:36 +0000

Swimming is one of those sports that almost anyone can do. Playing in the water comes naturally, and with a bit of skill can go a long way in many many years of exercise and enjoyment. SWIMMING CLUBS FOR ADULTS If you are an adult there are many masters clubs [...]

Bodybuilding Tips and Techniques

Ted Goodwyn — Thu, 27 May 2010 10:30:25 +0000

Almost any kind of exercise will increase muscle mass. But, some types are more effective than others. Weight lifting is the most effective way of achieving this. On this page I will discuss a few ways to make weight lifting more effective for weight gain. Putting on muscle is not [...]

Swimming Starts

Ted Goodwyn — Thu, 13 May 2010 05:17:06 +0000

Proper starts are vital to a good race. Many races are won or lost based on the start. Many coaches and swimmers neglect to devote enough time to developing efficient starts. There are 2 types of starting block starts, the Grab and the Track. They are used for freestyle, breaststroke, [...]

Butterfly Stroke (Swimming)

Ted Goodwyn — Sat, 08 May 2010 03:09:11 +0000

For most this is the most difficult stroke to learn. However, it is the most impressive. Just like breast stroke it is also symmetrical. The kick is a dolphin kick. The arms begin straight in front fully straight. They begin to pull slightly outwards similar to breast stroke. When the [...]

Cardio Training or Weight Training

Ted Goodwyn — Sun, 28 Mar 2010 20:53:17 +0000

For many years now it was been well understood that it's either one or the other. Meaning, if you place your emphasis on cardio work muscular development (or strength) will actually regress. And, if you place your emphasis on muscular strength development, your cardio improvements will regress. This is not [...]

Triathlons: It's Race Day, Be Prepared

Ted Goodwyn — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 19:05:38 +0000

A triathlon is a multi-skill sport involving swimming, cycling, then running. Obviously it is harder than any of the 3 events done independently and to succeed in a triathlon you need to be able to compete in all 3 events. The distances can vary from what's called a spring triathlon [...]

Aerobic Exercise Conditioning

Ted Goodwyn — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 06:17:14 +0000

Aerobic exercise is any activity that requires extra oxygen and leads to improved cardiovascular function. Examples include brisk walking, jogging, stair climbing, swimming, and cycling. Such exercise forms the foundation for any well rounded fitness program. Numerous studies have documented the value of aerobic conditioning: People who exercise vigorously on [...]

Measuring Fitness

Ted Goodwyn — Mon, 11 May 2009 09:43:13 +0000

Measuring your cardiovascular fitness is best done using your heart rate. There are two important factors to consider, the resting heart rate, and how quickly it returns to that resting heart rate after physical activity. Lower the resting heart rate is an indication that the heart can pump as much [...]