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Are Elastic Bands Better Than Free Weights?
Read More: Are Elastic Bands Better Than Free Weights?By Michael J. Rudolph, Ph.D. Elastic bands provide a unique form of resistance that puts considerable stress on muscle tissue, causing considerable gains in muscle mass and strength that is comparable to free weights. Iโm always looking for unique ways to enhance my training and change it up a little bit. Well, surprisingly I came…
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Stretching Before a Workout: Bad Idea?
Read More: Stretching Before a Workout: Bad Idea?Q: Iโve always stretched at the beginning of my workout, but a friend told me that it wasnโt good to do so. I thought that stretching before a workout helped to prevent injuries. What should I do? A. While itโs true that poor flexibility is associated with an increased risk of injury, there is no…
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Better Muscle Tone With Burnout Sets
Read More: Better Muscle Tone With Burnout SetsQ: Is it beneficial to do burnout sets at the end of a workout? A friend told me that they help to build muscle. A: If your goal is to increase muscular development then yes, performing a light โburnoutโ set at the end of a heavy training session may well have benefit. Research shows that…
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The ABCs of Lifting: Always Be in Control
Read More: The ABCs of Lifting: Always Be in ControlQ: How fast should I perform my repetitions? One trainer said it didnโt matter as long as I was using good form, while another told me I should be doing them very slowly. A: While both responses have some merit, neither answer is really correct. It is certainly essential to perform your reps with proper…
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Blast More Fat With Outdoor Workout
Read More: Blast More Fat With Outdoor WorkoutBy Fredricka Hammill, Ph.D. June and August are great months for getting fit and taking up new activities. If youโre already fit, use the season to cut more fat and boost your fitness level to new heights. Summer is a great time to start a cardio program or turn up the intensity a notch if…
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How Long Should You Rest Between Sets?
Read More: How Long Should You Rest Between Sets?The time you take between sets (called a rest interval) should be based on your fitness goals. Like all aspects of fitness, you need to take a scientific approach if you want to maximize results. Hereโs an overview of rest interval basics: If you want to maximize fat loss, minimal rest should be taken between…
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Get Toned Without the Bulk
Read More: Get Toned Without the BulkMany women spend hours every week lifting weights and working out, but some project radically different images. Fit, lean celebrities exude beauty and sexuality and represent role models to legions of women around the world. Some athletes like shot-putters, on the other hand, convey the image of bulked-up, stodgy behemoths. Unfortunately, many women avoid weight…
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Super Slow Training: Is It Effective?
Read More: Super Slow Training: Is It Effective?Q: Is super slow training effective? I saw an interview online with a trainer who claimed it was the best way to lift weights. A: Iโve been asked the same question a lot recently. Super slow seems to be an โexercise du jourโ that has attracted a fair number of disciples. Unfortunately, as with most…
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Should You Stretch Before Training?
Read More: Should You Stretch Before Training?By Steven J. Fleck, Ph.D. Q: Iโve heard that you shouldnโt stretch right before a weight-training session because this will decrease your maximal strength and power. Iโve noticed, however, that the majority of the studies looking at the effects of stretching right before a training session have studied people with little or no stretching experience.…
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3X Ms. Olympia Andrea Shaw: Exclusive Interview
Read More: 3X Ms. Olympia Andrea Shaw: Exclusive Interview3X MS. OLYMPIA ANDREA SHAW is the special guest on โThe Ronline Reportโ as MD Online Editor Ron Harris sits down with the reigning Ms. Olympia and Rising Phoenix champion. Andrea โ who combines fitness and femininity in a strong and sexy package โ talks about how she began in Womenโs Bodybuilding, being a representative…
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10 Tips for Staying Motivated and on Track
Read More: 10 Tips for Staying Motivated and on TrackMotivation is usually at an all-time high at the beginning of the year. New Yearโs resolutions are set and after all of the holiday parties โ and excess eating and drinking โ everyone is ready to make some positive lifestyle changes. For most, the first month is great! You work out consistently, stick to a…
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Are Behind-the-Neck Lat Pulldowns Dangerous?
Read More: Are Behind-the-Neck Lat Pulldowns Dangerous?Q: Is there any harm to performing behind-the-neck lat pulldowns? A trainer in my gym told me they can be dangerous. A: The trainer was correct. As a general rule, you should avoid any exercise that requires pulling or pushing a weight behind the neck. The problem with these moves is that they place the…
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Shaping a Better Butt
Read More: Shaping a Better ButtWithout a doubt, the glutes are the most coveted body part for women who are seeking improved shape and aesthetics. It is often said that bikini competitions are won from the rear, but having nice glutes will actually make you look better in jeans, dresses or nothing at all. That said, there is great controversy…
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Kettlebells vs. Free Weights: Which Is Better?
Read More: Kettlebells vs. Free Weights: Which Is Better?Training with a kettlebell, a large iron ball connected to a handle, may seem like a relatively new way to exercise โ but there is nothing new about kettlebells. 19thย century strongmen such as Arthur Saxon, Eugene Sandow and Ivan Poddubny used kettlebell to build lean, powerful, lightning-fast physiques that allowed them to perform incredible feats…
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Developing Successful Children With Training
Read More: Developing Successful Children With TrainingWeight training empowers people. The act of working to improve your health and appearance also has a dramatic effect on your mind. By Marc Lobliner, CMO Tigerfitness.com ย I received a direct message from a Dad asking how to train his child. My answer is always the same; find a qualified youth trainer, learn the…
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Lose 25 Pounds of Fat by July 4th
Read More: Lose 25 Pounds of Fat by July 4thI live the fitness lifestyle year-round, 360 days per year, seven days of every week, and 24 hours of every day. I understand that not everyone does that. But, if there are seasons to regroup and apply great nutrition and fitness guidelines, spring is one of them. People are generally more active at this time…
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Personalizing Your Cardio With Renee Jewett
Read More: Personalizing Your Cardio With Renee JewettThe type of goal you have can dictate what kind of cardio you should be doing. In fact, there are a lot of different kinds of cardio. Which one should you be using? Renee Jewett teaches how to personalize your cardio to better achieve your goals asย Animal presents โPersonalizing Your Cardio with Renee Jewett.โ #fitnessrxwomen…
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6 Tips to Make Time for Exercise
Read More: 6 Tips to Make Time for ExerciseโI donโt have time.โ This has to be the number one excuse people give for not exercising. Itโs easy to get caught up in day-to-day activities like work, school, picking up the kids or running errands, all of which can cause your workout to fall by the wayside. Days turn into weeks, weeks turn into…
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Better Heart Health With Yoga
Read More: Better Heart Health With YogaBy Carol Ann Weber Although heart disease is sometimes thought of as a manโs disease, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), almost as many women as men die each year of heart disease in the United States. Despite an increase in awareness over the past decades, only about half (56%) of…
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โWellness Watchโ With IFBB Wellness Pro Carly Thornton
Read More: โWellness Watchโ With IFBB Wellness Pro Carly ThorntonWelcome to a new episode of โWellness Watch,โ where Lauren Lotter talks to IFBB Wellness pro Carly Thornton. Carly is a multifaceted competitor and online coach who has transitioned to many different roles, a real butterfly in the physique and fitness industry. She is also the owner of Gluteywear, which designs premium fitness wear that…
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Winter Workout
Read More: Winter WorkoutShoveling snow isnโt much fun, but itโs always surprising just how sore different areas of the body are after shoveling following a big snowfall. As we enter into the depths of winter, our bodies naturally seek a hibernation state. Many face the thought of exercise with an avoidance mindset, unmotivated and rolled up under a…
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Avoid Overtraining: Whatโs the Best Exercise Program?
Read More: Avoid Overtraining: Whatโs the Best Exercise Program?To avoid the effects of overtraining, your exercise program must allow for adequate recovery. Donโt succumb to the misguided theory that if a little bit is good, more must be better. ย Q: Iโm currently training on a split routine. Since Iโm working different muscle groups each time I train, can I work out every…
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Wellness Watch: 2022 Arnold Classic With Dr. Sunny Andrews
Read More: Wellness Watch: 2022 Arnold Classic With Dr. Sunny AndrewsWelcome to Wellness Watch, a new video series with Lauren Lotter highlighting the best in the Pro League Wellness division. We are starting with the sensational Dr. Sunny Andrews, who is qualified for the 2022 Olympia and the 2022 Arnold and with just less than seven weeks to go, we are excited to see which…
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Shapely Legs With Calf Raises: Does Foot Position Matter?
Read More: Shapely Legs With Calf Raises: Does Foot Position Matter?Q: Is there any benefit to turning your toes in and out while performing calf raises? A: For all practical purposes, no. While some people mistakenly believe that changing their toeโs position allows them to work different areas of the calf muscle, unfortunately this is not the case. Hereโs why: In order to effectively alter…
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Look Great Naked Q&A
Read More: Look Great Naked Q&AQ: Is it important to keep my heart rate in the fat-burning zone when I do cardio? I want to lose 10 pounds for my wedding and would like the quickest way to get rid of the extra fat. A: If you want to maximize fat loss, there is little utility in training in your…
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Lauralie Chapados: Bikini Champ Talks Training, Diet
Read More: Lauralie Chapados: Bikini Champ Talks Training, DietโItโs a beautiful, never-ending journey of self-improvement and self-discovery. Embrace the process and enjoy it.โ By Kevin Levrone Lauralie Chapados is one of the fastest-rising stars in the IFBB Pro League Bikini division. At only 25 years old, this statuesque beauty already has six pro wins and has been runner-up at the Bikini Olympia. IFBB…
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10 Tips to Boost the Burn!
Read More: 10 Tips to Boost the Burn!Shift yourself into fat-blasting overdrive with these 10 surefire tips toย boost the burn! 1. Active Warm-up:ย Jumpstart your cardio with an active warm-up of fast-paced exercise. Rope jumping is an express train to the cardio red zone! Add a short bout with a jump ropeย beforeย your cardio session to maximize your calorie burn and melt away the…
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2 Exercises for Flat Abs
Read More: 2 Exercises for Flat AbsBy Shoshana Pritzker โStep up your routine with a few new ab exercises. They are worth the pain of doing them,โ notes Ava Cowan, a fitness professional who has competed in the most prestigious Figure events worldwide, ranking top 3 in the world and becoming a social media phenomenon with 1 million followers at her…
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How to Transform Your Body
Read More: How to Transform Your BodyWith the right exercise and nutritional program, you can significantly improve your physique and do so quickly. Q: Whatโs the fastest way to get into shape? A: Your question is perhaps the one Iโm most frequently asked to answer. While the specifics of creating a detailed routine to tone up fast is beyond the scope…
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Toned and Shapely Leg Workout
Read More: Toned and Shapely Leg WorkoutToned hamstring muscles provide shapeliness to the rear thighs, something that will be more visible this summer when you hit the beach or incorporate shorts into your wardrobe. However, many women โ even those who work out regularly โ donโt devote as much effort to their hamstrings as they do to their quadriceps โ and…
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Best for Fat Loss: HIIT or Endurance Training?
Read More: Best for Fat Loss: HIIT or Endurance Training?A series of short, intense cardio intervals provide similar fitness results as long efforts do, but in much less time. It happens to just about everyone. They hop on the treadmill, elliptical or stairclimber, ready for an invigorating cardio workout but before the machine even gets warmed up, the would-be calorie cruncher is faced with…
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Get Toned, Sculpted Abs and Obliques
Read More: Get Toned, Sculpted Abs and ObliquesBy Ritch and Mia Finnegan Every day we see gimmick exercise equipment, routines and videos advertised as the easy way to get your own โsix-pack.โ To any true fitness professional, this deceptive advertising is irresponsible and unprofessional. The advertising always seems to talk about getting six-pack abs without mentioning the facts: In order to construct…
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Lower Back Pain: Any Relief?
Read More: Lower Back Pain: Any Relief?Why is a back injury so potentially devastating? It can be summed up in a single word: PAIN! This pain usually begins as a sharp, intense twinge in your lower back and if youโre lucky, it will be only momentary, then immediately disappear without any residual effects. If youโre unlucky, the pain will be sharp,…
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Lower Body Blast: Workout to Burn Fat, Tone Hips and Thighs
Read More: Lower Body Blast: Workout to Burn Fat, Tone Hips and ThighsBy Mia and Ritch Finnegan Are you one of the many women who are not satisfied with the way your hips and thighs look? If you answered yes, youโre not alone! Youโve tried yo-yo dieting, starving, cellophane wraps and thigh creams, but to no avail. Why? Because independently they donโt work! To burn fat from…
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Which Burns More Calories? Running on a Treadmill or Outdoors?
Read More: Which Burns More Calories? Running on a Treadmill or Outdoors?By Rick Morris Technology is a wonderful thing. It helps us complete many of our tasks with greater ease and efficiency. Modern technology has had an impact on nearly every phase of our lives, including fitness and exercise. It wasnโt that long ago that if you wanted to get in a running workout, you had…
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Spin to Burn More Fat and Calories
Read More: Spin to Burn More Fat and CaloriesThere are people who love spin, and there are people who despise spin; there is nobody in between. There are rumors and misconceptions about spinning, also known as indoor cycling, like, โItโll make my legs big,โ or โItโs only for the outdoor rider.โ Letโs put a new โspinโ on the subject. Weโd like to give…
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Ultimate Strength Training, Fat Loss Workout
Read More: Ultimate Strength Training, Fat Loss WorkoutAlthough any type of physical activity can have positive health benefits, the benefits of steady-state cardio from a fat-loss (without muscle loss) perspective are often misunderstood and overstated. Especially because some research has shown cardio to be the optimal mode of exercise โ over resistance training โ for reducing body fat in a timely fashion.1…
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Best for Fat Loss: Walking or Running?
Read More: Best for Fat Loss: Walking or Running?By Rick Morris A line has been drawn in the sand. Weโre squaring off โ choosing up sides. A major battle is ongoing. Well โฆ maybe not. But thereโs a debate going on in the world of cardio. For years, exercise enthusiasts have believed walking and running burned the same number of calories per mile.…
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Get Firm and Shapely Thighs With Sissy Squats
Read More: Get Firm and Shapely Thighs With Sissy SquatsItโs relatively easy to ignore the thighs by simply covering them up. After all, with summer long gone and food flowing more abundantly in some cases during the pandemic, no one wants to think about the extra softness that creeps into the thighs. Itโs fine to relax a bit during this time of year, but…
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Stretching Helps Women Build Muscle
Read More: Stretching Helps Women Build MuscleWhy should we stretch? The easy answer is that we should stretch to prevent injury. Staying limber throughout the day will help avoid pulling your back out lifting a box or destroying your shoulder while pressing something overhead. Am I writing this because I feel like a dinosaur that just had a newborn on Christmas?…
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Shape and Sculpt Your Chest With Incline Dumbbell Flyes
Read More: Shape and Sculpt Your Chest With Incline Dumbbell FlyesFirst impressions are not always correct, but they do provide lasting images of initial encounters with new acquaintances. Conveying your confidence during a first meeting, a casual conversation, a job interview or a date, is at least partly rooted in your self-perception and pride in your overall appearance. Sure, no one’s perfect (be sure those…
