Overcoming Boredom

The biggest obstacle to a home exercise routine is sticking with it. You don’t have to drive to a gym, so your home fitness equipment is more convenient. The problem is that other distractions are just as convenient at home. The key is to make your routine fun. You want to look forward to your daily workout. You have to be realistic. Playing with the heart rate monitor or watching the calorie counter go up will only be fun the first couple of times you exercise.

Treadmill vs. Boredom

On a treadmill, you walk. Walking isn’t that fun. You can walk at different speeds, but that isn’t really much more fun. If you get a treadmill that offers an incline, that keeps it a bit more interesting. Walking uphill isn’t exactly fun, but it’s different. It presents a challenge.

You can’t really read on a treadmill because you are bouncing up and down. You can’t keep your eyes on the same sentence, and you usually end up with a headache. Basically, the only thing fun to do on a treadmill is watch television or movies. If you are really into TV or movies and are able to put your treadmill in front of a television, you can probably keep your treadmill workout from becoming too boring. Problems consist of commercials, the noise coming from the machine, and again, the bouncing.

Exercise Bikes vs. Boredom

Exercise bikes are unique in that many of them come programmed with various biking routines. You simulate different courses that require you to sprint, pedal uphill, and perform at different levels within one workout without having to keep pressing buttons and changing everything. You can even select random programs so you don’t know what’s coming, which really keeps you on your toes. Some exercise bikes can even be plugged into televisions and video games to let you interactively pedal through visual courses.

On upright exercise bikes, you run into some of the same problems as treadmills as far as reading is concerned. Recumbent bikes, however, allow your hands to be free to hold a book or magazine, video game controller, or phone. Multi-tasking during an exercise bike workout keeps it from becoming boring and allows your workout to more easily fit into a busy schedule.

Defeating boredom to successfully keep up a long-term exercise routine is much easier with an exercise bike than a treadmill.

The Calorie Factor

In a study conducted by Nordic Track, young, healthy people used various exercise machines and did cardio workouts. Although they felt they used the same intensity on all machines, they burned the most calories on treadmills and ski machines.

On average, most people burn about 750 calories per hour on a treadmill. The same people are likely to burn about 550 calories per hour on an exercise bike. So it’s a no-brainer, right? You should get a treadmill because they burn more calories.

Well, not exactly. You can’t get so caught up in which machine burns the most calories. You have to take a lot of other factors into consideration. How likely are you to sustain a treadmill routine as opposed to an exercise bike routine?

Because exercise bikes are usually more fun than treadmills, you are much more likely to stick with it long-term. This means that even though you can burn more calories on a treadmill, you are also more likely to stop using it altogether.

You might also find it difficult to use it long enough per workout session to get the full benefits. Most people find it easier to workout for 20 minutes on an exercise bike than 20 minutes on a treadmill. You have to think about that. If you are likely to only do 10 minutes on a treadmill but can easily do 20 minutes on an exercise bike, you will burn more calories per session on an exercise bike.

So just going strictly by the numbers, treadmills burn more calories. If you easily get bored or have tried and failed to stick with exercise routines in the past, you might want to consider burning less calories per hour in favor of a sustainable long-term exercise bike regimen.

Your Safety

The biggest difference between exercise bikes and treadmills is overall safety to your body.

The first case of safety is the most basic. You can fall off of a treadmill. It’s very difficult, however, to fall off of an exercise bike. In fact, you would probably have to try to fall when riding an exercise bike. While you might be thinking you’d have to be pretty clumsy to fall while walking, it happens more than you’d think. People get involved with watching television or the beat of music. One wrong step and you can seriously injure yourself. It’s also possible to spill water or sweat on the treadmill track, causing a safety hazard you might not notice until after you’ve slipped.

Another safety hazard is injury from the activity itself. A treadmill puts quite a bit of stress on your joints, especially your knees and ankles. Even if you invest in a treadmill with some degree of shock absorption, when you eventually get to a jogging or running point, you can put severe orthopedic stress on your body, even up to three times your body weight. People with existing conditions such as arthritis will find a treadmill painful at times due to this stress. Otherwise healthy individuals can sustain injury and possible long-term damage over time.

Exercise bikes put much less stress on your joints. A properly positioned exercise bike supports your weight and still allows you to receive the benefits of a higher impact cardio workout. Upright bikes can sometimes stress your back in the way you have to bend to reach the handlebars. Recumbent exercise bikes, however, can actually improve existing back pain by forcing proper posture and giving support as you exercise. On any exercise bike properly used, your knees and ankles are not stressed as they are on a treadmill.

The less you stress joints, the less likely you are to sustain an injury during your workout. You are also less likely to be sore afterwards. Most importantly, a non-workout injury doesn’t always have to halt your exercise routine on an exercise bike. If you hurt your back or neck, you will find the support of a recumbent exercise bike will keep you from having to stop your exercise regimen altogether. Let’s face it – if you have to stop, you are less likely to start again.

An Exercise Bike is Better for Your Health than a Treadmill

As you can see, both pieces of home fitness equipment have advantages. While the treadmill continues to be the most popular piece of home gym equipment, most people are more likely to faithfully use an exercise bike. This means you’re more likely to have to dust a treadmill until it gets the garage sale sticker.

Michael Walker is a freelance author providing useful information about exercise bikes, recumbent exercise bike and www.all-in-exercise-bikes.com/10001-home-fitness-equipment.htm“>home fitness equipment. His numerous articles offer comprehensive tips and solutions for the fitness enthusiast.

This elliptical trainer which is produced by Reebok has a price estimate of around $699. Compared to similar price machines like that clips 4000 elliptical trainer the Reebok 525 trainer is in the league of its own.

Reebok also stands behind its warranty which on this product is 90 days.

One of the main benefits is this elliptical trainers produced by a trusted company in Reebok. Some special features include IFit technology, patented elliptical motion and a magnificent power incline.

The IFit technology allows you to download custom workouts in dozens of other interactive programs on both CD or VHS.

The power incline feature allows you to adjust workout intensity from 10 to 30 percent and allows you to closely monitor your workout at almost club quality.

If buying a new Reebok elliptical 525 trainer is out of your price range of good option is getting it on the eBay. EBay allows you to find a perfectly good elliptical trainer and often you’re paying less than half the price.

One thing to consider if you are not purchasing locally buying off the Internet can have hefty shipping prices for something that way so much.

It also means that nagging injuries, especially around your joints take longer to heal. The latest studies show that up to 60 percent of the general population with bad backs and knees have tight hamstrings and hips and the main cause of this is a lack of flexibility.

Active-Isolated Stretching (AI)

Olympians have been employing Active-Isolated Stretching (AI) now for about 10 years, but it has only recently been brought to the public’s attention.

I have used this technique on my clients for quite a while now with great success, while adding renewed life and spring to tired out muscles. AI stretching prevents injury, as conventional stretching can cause real harm such as muscle pulls and tears.

AI stretching does what stretching is supposed to do; it transports oxygen to sore muscles and quickly removes toxins so recovery is faster. It also works as a deep massage technique because it activates muscle fibres during the actual stretch.

How to Stretch

Before stretching, dress in loose clothing and try and acquire a five-foot length of rope and tie a loop in the end. The purpose of this is to loop the end of rope around the exercising appendage to squeeze the last couple of inches of stretch from the exercise.

Find a comfortable place to stretch either on your bed, a carpeted floor or on a mat. Isolate the muscle or group you want to stretch then contract the muscle opposite. This causes the isolated muscle or group to relax straight away and when it does it is ready to stretch. Gently and quickly stretch the isolated muscle until it can’t be stretched any further; now give yourself a gentle pull with your hands or rope. Go as far as you can and then hold the stretch for no more than 2 seconds then release, do this for a total of 5 repetitions on the isolated muscle or group.

The reason for just a 2-second stretch is because when a muscle realizes that it is being forced into a stretch it contracts to protect itself from being overstretched. If you can beat this contraction you’ll be well on the way to a greater Range of Motion.

Remember to hold for no more than 2 seconds, release, return to the normal position and repeat for the five repetitions. Try not to have any hesitations between stretches and make it as fluid as possible. Try to stretch every day if possible, remember to: Work one target muscle at a time. Contract the muscle that is opposite the targeted muscle, which will relax in preparation of its stretch. Stretch it gently and quickly. Release it before it realizes that it has been stretched and goes into its protective contraction.

Below are two exercises that can be done straight away even while you are at work to stretch that tension and stress from of your body.

Lie down on the floor with your buttocks against a wall and your legs straight up the wall. Slowly flex your toes towards your knees, hold for two seconds and repeat five times. This will loosen up your lower back and stretch your hamstrings and hips giving instant relief for tired backs.

This exercise can be done while at the office anytime you start to feel that stress and tension building up.

Sitting in a chair and putting one leg out straight, flex your toes towards your knee, now lean towards that foot, stretching your hands towards it and letting your head and shoulders follow, hold for two seconds and repeat five times. This will create a stretch right across your lower back and neck.

A flexible body is:

More efficient More easily trained for strength and endurance Enjoys more range of motion Stays balanced more easily and is less prone to injury Recovers from workouts more quickly, and feels better.

Your goal? To start utilizing these exercises every day and say goodbye to your stress and tension.

Yoga on the Ball: This has been around for awhile, but it still can add some excitement to a Yoga class. Whether you use it in a workshop, or to break up a class, the stability ball can put some life into a class.

However, not everyone will like it, especially those students who have difficulty just sitting on one of these balls. Make sure anyone who is unsteady is made aware of the hazards. It is best for some to practice near a wall, or in the corner, for stability. In this case, the wall is a secondary prop. Suzanne Deason has some interesting information on using the “Balance Ball” as a prop, in DVD format

Family Yoga: This is a great concept for most families, but it is worth noting that this type of class can attract some parents who desire to be in control of every aspect of their child’s life. This type of parent will be easily noticed from the start, when he or she corrects their son’s or daughter’s every move.

Therefore, it is best to establish who will do the cueing, assisting, and correcting. One unchecked parent can ruin the entire class. Kids acting like kids are understandable, but when parents act like kids, it is time to put your diplomatic skills to the test. That’s why it would be wise to have guidelines in place.

Partner Yoga for Singles: My wife, Marie, and I taught classes like these, and they do “break the ice.” Helping and assisting someone breaks down all the barriers. This class works better as an occasional workshop.

Laughter Yoga: The first I heard of this was when a friend of mine attended a Laughter Yoga class in Ireland. Some of the Chair Yoga classes I teach have a little humor injected into them. With all the stress people get these days, this is a stress management method that will allow Yoga students to be less serious about everyday situations.

Pet Yoga: This is a nice idea, but this is for friendly and “house trained” pets, only, unless you teach the class outside. Dog Yoga has been referred to as “Doga.” This is a great workshop concept, as long as there are no hostile pets present.

Chair Yoga: Most of these classes are held at senior centers, assisted living complexes, nursing homes, and physical rehabilitation facilities. It will be hard to establish a following at most Yoga studios, as this group is less mobile and transportation is a big issue.

© Copyright 2005 – Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

If you’re suffering from diminished eyesight in any capacity, there’s a whole parcel of feelings that go along with the possibilities of eventual loss of sight versus the risks of undergoing the treatments that are necessary to correct the problem.

When considering the delicate nature of the eye, many people make the decision to put off corrective treatment until the situation becomes dire – or is no longer able to be treated effectively.

Laser eye surgery – now quite common as a form of treatment for eye disorders – is one of the first options that many folks look toward when they’ve made the decision to pursue treatment and reclaim their ability to see clearly.

Weigh your options

While there are pros and cons involved in such a treatment plan, it’s worthy of a thorough investigation before making such a weighty decision. There are a number of things that should be looked into, and you should feel comfortable with the information that you uncover before attempting to take such a leap.

Here then, are a few safety and risk factors that are involved in laser eye surgery that you may find helpful in your quest for information.

Which type of treatment is right for you?

There are two main types of laser eye surgery procedures that are currently available: Lasik and CustomCornea.

The difference between the two is that CustomCornea utilizes newer technologies to accomplish what Lasik surgery can provide and, in either case, there are safety risks that may be involved. These may include serious complications which may result in decreased or lost vision, and there are those who would not be considered as candidates for such a treatment.

Included among those are:

individuals who are pregnant or nursing

under the age of 21

suffering from Herpes Simplex

currently taking medication that may interfere with the body’s ability to heal

suffering from severe allergies or diseases

or have a corneal infection or scarring.

Also listed among those who are not considered for laser eye surgery are those who have had previous eye surgery, those who have inflammation of the eye or eyelids accompanied by crusting of the eyelashes, suffer from unstable refractive problems, currently take medication that causes them to suffer ocular side effects, those with Keratonconus, glaucoma or high blood pressure in the eye region, corneal injury, and those who are taking sumatriptan for migraine relief.

Some of the risks

Among the more specific risks that are associated with laser eye surgery are:

lost vision

reduced low-light vision

under-treatment

over-treatment

increased need for reading glasses and severe dry-eye syndrome.

It’s best to discuss these risks with your physician before committing yourself to having this procedure performed, since there will be no way to reclaim diminished or lost sight when it comes about as the result of laser eye surgery.

One other consideration that you’ll have to pay careful attention to is the reputation and success rate of the doctor who will be performing the surgery. He or she should be licensed in the area of laser eye surgery and care, and be able to offer an impressive success rate.

If possible, check with other people who may have undergone this procedure with that particular doctor before making that final decision, in order to get their impression of both the treatment and the doctor, as well as an accounting of their experiences after opting to have laser eye surgery.

Cons

It Could be a Waste – You may be surprised that many
people buy treadmills and never use them. There are actually a
number of treadmills that are overpriced clothes hangers. Can
you believe it? Before you invest all that money make certain
that the treadmill will get used, unless you want to impress
people when they come over with your unused home gym.

It Takes up Space – We’re not talking George Forman
Grills. A treadmill is big and heavy. A top of the line
treadmill weighs 345 lbs. Plan ahead for the space that it will
occupy. And the biggest question is, will Santa be able to get
it down the chimney.

It’s Not Cheap – If you plan to buy more then a toy
treadmill, you need to spend a few bucks for a model that will
withstand constant use. For example, a decent walking treadmill
goes for approximately $1,000. If you plan to use it for running
don’t spend less then $1,400. Think about it this way, a flat
screen television won’t probably contribute to living longer.

Pros

Convenience – You don’t have to make the trip to the
health club, you can exercise right in your home. We are all
pressed for time, the more convenient it is to exercise, the
more often you’ll burn some calories. Plus you don’t have to
spend money on the latest fitness fashions. No one will see you
at home.

The Guilt Affect – You just spent all this money on a new
treadmill, if you don’t use it you’ll feel guilty. And since you
can’t hide a treadmill under your bed, it is a constant reminder
that you need to get off your butt and get that heart
pumping.

Weather is Not a Factor – For those who prefer to run or
walk outside, the weather does not always cooperate. Treadmills
allow you to get your workout all year long. You don’t have to
deal with snow, ice, cold and darkness and the hazards related.
Weather no longer becomes an excuse.

You Personally Benefit from the Gift – If you give a
treadmill as a gift to your significant other you benefit in two
ways. First, your spouse will get in shape, and not only improve
his/her physique, but will also be healthier. Second, if you are
particularly good your partner may let you use it.

The majority of Americans are overweight, and an increasing
number are surpassing the obesity level. We have a health crisis
and a treadmill for the home is one solution that can burn off
those excess calories. A few less Big Macs is the other.

There are a number of great gifts to give for the holidays, but
none surpass giving the gift of health. This is the type of gift
that can increase your energy and motivation, and improve your
appearance and your attitude. And it can be used by the whole
family, including your kids. If used, it really is “the gift
that keeps on giving.”

Your body will adjust to the body building workout program that you choose slowly; in time you will see marked changes to your physique. This does not always happen overnight but it will certainly happen if you follow your body building workout plan to the letter.

A good body building workout program will make it clear to you from day one that everything is going to happen for you in stages. It should also clearly define each of these stages for you so that you always know what to expect from your bodybuilding workout. You do not want to go into any plan without a clear sense of each stage.

You will also want to choose a very in depth body building workout program, one that can be customized for your own use. This means that you will be able to choose when and how to increase your load. This will need to be done throughout your bodybuilding workout program and knowing when is important.

You’ll also want to know when your body needs to take a break from your bodybuilding workout program. Your body must have periods of recovery if you want to continue to build good solid muscle. Unfortunately some body building programs do not take this into consideration and people suffer for it in the long run. If you have a body building workout that has no time for muscle recovery then you may do serious if not permanent damage to your body.

Failure to accurately assess risk keeps people locked in all kinds of unhealthy situations including poor eating and exercise habits (lifestyle), relationships and jobs. Sometimes people are just afraid to step out and make a change. They see “risk” in making a change when the REAL risk comes from NOT making a change. From my perspective, living with the stress, unhappiness and frustration of indecision and poor health is the greatest risk of all, and one that is definitely not worth taking!

Accessing “risk” is nothing more than collecting information, weighing the alternatives and then making appropriate decisions based on the information.

Some risks to our health are more “real” than others. For example, it is common knowledge that obesity is associated with a wide variety of health problems. On the other hand, there are some health risks that are so remote we rarely think about them. On a practical level, eating highly processed foods and avoiding a daily dose of fresh fruits and vegetables is rarely considered serious. But, as too many have already discovered, the long range consequences of this practice are real and devastating.

Failure to accurately assess risk limits us in many ways. We imagine the “risk” of talking with our children about drugs, dating or sex and we put off having the “talk,” even though the risks of NOT talking are infinitely greater. Fear of flying and public speaking are two more “risks” affecting millions of people. But practically speaking, these fears are unfounded. People ride in cars every day, even though cars are far more dangerous than commercial aircraft! It’s a failure to accurately assess risk, and it limits our health, prosperity and pleasure in life.

The goods news is that failure to accurately access risk is reversible! The effects of those decisions to eat inappropriately or NOT to exercise are, as the common expression goes, “do-overs.” We can effect positive change in our lives by following a few simple steps to accurately access risk:

1. Accurately define your present situation and access your health “risks”. Are you eating a healthy diet? Are you getting enough exercise and good quality sleep? What are the consequences if you DON’T change? Weigh the benefits of healthier living vs the potential risks such as increased cost, inconvenience or discomfort.

2. What do you stand to gain if you change your present circumstances? Assess the “up-side” potential. Too often we look only at the “downside” risk and forget the benefits. What good things might happen if you take the risk and win?

3. Limit the “down-side” if you happen to make a wrong decision. Don’t continue down a path if it does not produce results. This is especially important when following weight loss programs. If the pounds are not coming off or if the weight loss is only temporary, find a new program! You not only want to lose weight, but want to sustain the weight loss for as long as possible. Take steps to ensure this will happen. Clear, concise, realistic objectives will definitely help.

4. Reduce your risk by being smart! Understand the situation and seek the advice of experts in the field of health and nutrition. This includes finding and forming partnerships to receive support and get good advice.

5. Have a fall-back position. If the decision you make fails to produce the desired results, be prepared to take a long, hard look at the circumstances and be prepared to change what you are doing.

Everything in life involves some element of risk. Driving your car, meeting someone new, crossing the street…but we do them every day. Winners in life are willing to accept the risk and continue on their way! Get involved, be smart about how you play the game, come prepared for a few failures along the way, but don’t quite. You will reap the benefits for your effort and live a happier and healthier life. I like to remember the words of the great Winston Churchill when

Natural weight loss and exercise is the only path to permananent fitness and wellness. Learn more, visit our website http://www.livingtobeyounger.com

Any quality that enhances our daily productivity is welcome, but with a calm mind and rested body, do we find the most precious resources, that is, through our sleep. Sleep provides us with an infinite number of possibilities. Possibilities, which are most efficiently cultivated, while having deep restful dreams in a peaceful bed. And mattresses made from memory foam are ideal in this respect.

Ever since the invention of the first electroencephalogram, the machine that registers brain waves, back in the first part of the 20th century, scientists have known that sleep is not just an unproductive time in which we are forced to stop working. Wonderful things occur at night while we sleep.

During an average night of sleep of eight hours, our bodies move in and out of consciousness through cycles, determined by brain wave activity. If these cycles are disrupted by stressing muscles in certain points, the sleeper, could actually wake up without fulfilling the full sleep cycle. This means time and relaxation, are needed to achieve the proper depths of a good nights rest.

Suppose an average sleeper, gets eight hours of sleep, on a good mattress. Then she or he, would plunge into the realm of sleep for about 90min. then slowly come back out, and on return to the waking world, would have about 10 min. of dreams, almost wake up, roll over, and plunge back into another 90min. cycle. If the conditions are good, such as in using the proper kind of bed, the second sleep cycle will have something like 20-30min. of dreams, followed by 45-60min. in the third cycle. The longer we sleep, the more dreams we have.

Maybe, not everyone remembers what they dream, all the time, everyday, but that doesn’t matter, as much as the fact that dreaming is, in and of itself the place where we let our worry and stress of the day to day go free, preparing, for the day to come. If we don’t value our sleep enough, we carry all that stress and anxiety from the day before, into our morning, and consecutively throughout the day, until we finally sleep again, to give our dreams another chance at freeing themselves.

In a stressful modern day to day, race for time and money like ours, it’s a wonder why we don’t value our sleep more. Sleep requires relaxation, and that means sleeping a good night’s sleep. Pressure on muscles must be evenly distributed throughout the body in a way that keeps our bodies fully relaxed.

That means keeping the joints well accommodated. Memory foam does this in a very natural and relaxing way. When the body heat hits the mattress, it allows the foam to conform to the body reducing all that tension on the pressure points. No pressure points, no stress, no stress, means getting that good night’s sleep that we need so badly to be more productive and happy individuals. Mattresses made from memory foam keep the load properly supported, so that no one point is favored over any other. Relaxation is the road to a good nights sleep. And memory foam can help the sleeper achieve the ideal nights rest. While getting tensionless, deep and well relaxed sleep, the individual can produce more and feel great doing it.

There are tanning bed lotions that are in cream form. There are tanning bed lotions that are gels or oils. You can find tanning bed lotions that function as accelerators. Tanning bed lotions are named to sound like wonderful desserts or sexy adventures. Do these tanning bed lotions work better than the ones that you can buy at WalMart?

I have tried a variety of tanning bed lotions and can not see much difference between the very expensive ones and the tanning bed lotions that are less costly.

First I bought one of the pricey tanning bed lotions from my tanning salon. It worked just fine and lasted about 2 months. Most of the tanning bed lotions at the salon are at least $20 a bottle.

Then I used the little containers offered for $2 a shot. I tried five different “shots” and they all seemed to work about the same. Using these tanning bed lotions did not seem to make my skin softer. Using these tanning bed lotions did not make my tan last longer and slathering myself with these expensive tanning bed lotions did not seem to accelerate my tan.

Then I went to WalMart and bought one of the tanning bed lotions they carry. The tanning bed lotions they had available were under $10.00. I found they worked as well and lasted as long.

Others may have better luck with the higher priced tanning bed lotions but I was very satisfied with the less expensive brands.