Seeing a jogger on your early morning commute to work is quite common. Early birds often get up with the sun and start their day with a nice run to get their muscles going for the long day ahead. However, is this the best approach to getting your morning exercise?
When you run, each step you take puts a huge amount of pressure on your joints--specifically the hips, knees, and ankles. Over time, this can really take a toll. The weight from bouncing up and down when walking causes faster wear on the structures and cartilage between the joints.
Perhaps a better way to obtain your morning workout is walking. Brisk walking is much, much easier on the joints and actually tightens and tones your muscles more than running or jogging. Fast walking can be also be safer, in addition, than running because you will be able to slow down faster than if you were racing down the sidewalk and something (or someone) ran in front of you!
But then, running does have its benefits. Running will generally cause your heart to work harder, providing a better cardio workout. However, is this worth it at the expense of your joints?
If you enjoyed this article and would like to learn more about fitness, health, and muscle building visit this site!
Friday, September 14, 2007
Aerobic Exercise is Necessary for Building Muscle
Just as the title says, aerobic exercise is necessary for building muscle. If you want to build muscle properly and completely, you must practice a number of different aerobic exercises alongside your anaerobic (weightlifting) ones. Aerobic exercises strengthen the heart and tone the muscles.
Some examples of aerobic exercises include swimming, jogging, and bike riding. These are all heart-intense activities and are great for your body, and at the same time fun to do. Swimming is favorite of mine, and is appreciated on a hot summer day when other exercises aren't a good idea.
A balance of aerobic exercise and anaerobic exercise will help keep your body in tip top shape for building muscle and toning your body. It is important to alternate your exercise activities, for example doing weightlifting one day, then the next day going for a jog.
You do not want to overtire your muscles by exercising the same ones two days in a row. When you exhaust your muscles from weightlifting, they need to go through a recovery so that they can be returned to their original state, plus built up as a result of being used. If you do not allow them this recovery time, it will be hard on your muscles, even injure them.
And, as always, you want to provide your body with nutrients whenever you exercise. Taking a protein bar or granola bar while you go out for a run will be a big help. Drinking sufficient amounts of water is also necessary to keep the body hydrated, as you absolutely will sweat and lose water fast. You can't build muscle if you're dehydrated!
If you enjoyed this article and would like to learn more about fitness and muscle building, see this site!
Some examples of aerobic exercises include swimming, jogging, and bike riding. These are all heart-intense activities and are great for your body, and at the same time fun to do. Swimming is favorite of mine, and is appreciated on a hot summer day when other exercises aren't a good idea.
A balance of aerobic exercise and anaerobic exercise will help keep your body in tip top shape for building muscle and toning your body. It is important to alternate your exercise activities, for example doing weightlifting one day, then the next day going for a jog.
You do not want to overtire your muscles by exercising the same ones two days in a row. When you exhaust your muscles from weightlifting, they need to go through a recovery so that they can be returned to their original state, plus built up as a result of being used. If you do not allow them this recovery time, it will be hard on your muscles, even injure them.
And, as always, you want to provide your body with nutrients whenever you exercise. Taking a protein bar or granola bar while you go out for a run will be a big help. Drinking sufficient amounts of water is also necessary to keep the body hydrated, as you absolutely will sweat and lose water fast. You can't build muscle if you're dehydrated!
If you enjoyed this article and would like to learn more about fitness and muscle building, see this site!
Thursday, September 13, 2007
Raw Eggs, Are They Good or Bad?
If you know any bodybuilders, you may have noticed them drinking raw egg white. A cousin of mine is heavily into bodybuilding and competing, and he consumes over a dozen eggs per day. He almost always has a gallon jug of egg whites with him to drink out of. Is this a good or a bad idea?
I personally think it is a very unwise thing to do. To me, the chance of getting severely sick from salmonella or some other foodborne illness is just too great. And, it is not the greatest thing for your body. Even though there is no egg yolk, it still isn't a wise thing to do, and there are other alternatives to drinking raw eggs.
In an earlier post I mentioned drinking whey protein. This is a much safer alternative to egg white when trying to build muscle. You don't have to worry about foodborne illness, and it is easier on your body. Not to mention that it tastes better than a glob of slimy egg white sliding down your throat!
Also, you can get a healthy amount of protein from nuts. This is a favorite way of mine to get my share of protein from nuts such as almonds, walnuts, and pecans, which especially have high amounts of protein that will help build and strengthen muscle. One thing I like to do is get the low-salted or no-salted mixed nuts in the can, or a healthy trail mix. I thoroughly enjoy trail mix with raisins and other dried fruit mixed with nuts. That way, you can get your servings of protein plus a healthy dose of vitamins, antioxidants, and other great things found naturally in fruit!
For more health, fitness, and muscle building tips visit this site!
I personally think it is a very unwise thing to do. To me, the chance of getting severely sick from salmonella or some other foodborne illness is just too great. And, it is not the greatest thing for your body. Even though there is no egg yolk, it still isn't a wise thing to do, and there are other alternatives to drinking raw eggs.
In an earlier post I mentioned drinking whey protein. This is a much safer alternative to egg white when trying to build muscle. You don't have to worry about foodborne illness, and it is easier on your body. Not to mention that it tastes better than a glob of slimy egg white sliding down your throat!
Also, you can get a healthy amount of protein from nuts. This is a favorite way of mine to get my share of protein from nuts such as almonds, walnuts, and pecans, which especially have high amounts of protein that will help build and strengthen muscle. One thing I like to do is get the low-salted or no-salted mixed nuts in the can, or a healthy trail mix. I thoroughly enjoy trail mix with raisins and other dried fruit mixed with nuts. That way, you can get your servings of protein plus a healthy dose of vitamins, antioxidants, and other great things found naturally in fruit!
For more health, fitness, and muscle building tips visit this site!
Whey Protein -- A Great Protein Source
You may or may not have heard of whey protein. Whey protein is a product that is made from dairy. It is the same protein that is in milk and yogurt. What companies have done is extract this protein from dairy products, concentrate it, an made it into a form that can be put into foods in your daily diet.
Whey protein can be drunk right before or right after a workout to provide your muscles with the nutrients they need to build and develop. Whey protein is absorbed by the body very quick, it only takes a short amount of time, minutes even, for the body to absorb it while in the stomach.
This means that it is not beneficial, it is even worthless, to drink it a long amount of time before or after your workout, because it will just pass through the body. If you body doesn't need it, then it will simply pass through without any benefit to you.
When drinking whey protein, it is popular to mix it with milk. It tastes like a milkshake (especially if you buy chocolate flavor) and is quite tolerable. Some people also mix it with water, although I personally think that has a bad taste. Others recommend mixing it with yogurt.
Of course, you can always experiment until you find something to mix it in that you like!
For more fitness and muscle building information, check out this great site!
Whey protein can be drunk right before or right after a workout to provide your muscles with the nutrients they need to build and develop. Whey protein is absorbed by the body very quick, it only takes a short amount of time, minutes even, for the body to absorb it while in the stomach.
This means that it is not beneficial, it is even worthless, to drink it a long amount of time before or after your workout, because it will just pass through the body. If you body doesn't need it, then it will simply pass through without any benefit to you.
When drinking whey protein, it is popular to mix it with milk. It tastes like a milkshake (especially if you buy chocolate flavor) and is quite tolerable. Some people also mix it with water, although I personally think that has a bad taste. Others recommend mixing it with yogurt.
Of course, you can always experiment until you find something to mix it in that you like!
For more fitness and muscle building information, check out this great site!
Weightlifting the Correct Way
Weightlifting is a necessary aspect of building muscle mass. When beginning weightlifting you absolutely MUST begin at a pace suited to your current body condition. For example, if you aren't used to exercise, you should begin with a weight that you can comfortably handle. That means that on your first visit to the gym you shouldn't try the 300 pound squats. You WILL seriously hurt yourself if you do this.
Also, before you even attempt lifting any weights, you should properly stretch your muscles so that they will be at their maximum potential and they will be much less likely to be injured. Cold muscles are like a cold rubber band, they do not stretch when they are cold, and if you pull them too hard they will snap. However, if they are warmed up properly, they will be able to work harder without injury.
To avoid injuring yourself, you should stretch the muscles and warm them up. To do this, simply stretch, and hold this position for about five seconds, and then release. Standing, and reaching for the ceiling as hard as you can, then touching your toes (the floor if you can) without bending your knees will properly stretch your chest, back, arms, and calf muscles so that you will be able to work them. There are other exercises such as squats and stretching your arms in multiple directions that will condition you for your workout.
Once you are properly warmed up, you can begin your workout. Also, with this, you must start out warm then work your way up. You will want to start with a small weight, then move upward until you get to a challenging one. This also will save your muscles from damage and will get the maximum potential out of them.
For more information about muscle building and an awesome muscle mass gaining product, see this site!
Also, before you even attempt lifting any weights, you should properly stretch your muscles so that they will be at their maximum potential and they will be much less likely to be injured. Cold muscles are like a cold rubber band, they do not stretch when they are cold, and if you pull them too hard they will snap. However, if they are warmed up properly, they will be able to work harder without injury.
To avoid injuring yourself, you should stretch the muscles and warm them up. To do this, simply stretch, and hold this position for about five seconds, and then release. Standing, and reaching for the ceiling as hard as you can, then touching your toes (the floor if you can) without bending your knees will properly stretch your chest, back, arms, and calf muscles so that you will be able to work them. There are other exercises such as squats and stretching your arms in multiple directions that will condition you for your workout.
Once you are properly warmed up, you can begin your workout. Also, with this, you must start out warm then work your way up. You will want to start with a small weight, then move upward until you get to a challenging one. This also will save your muscles from damage and will get the maximum potential out of them.
For more information about muscle building and an awesome muscle mass gaining product, see this site!
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