Someone commented the other day on how I seem to have a lot of nervous energy. I realized that I have always been one to move A LOT! When I'm in the car, my knee is bouncing up and down, when I was in school I was constantly tapping my fingers or a pencil, and when I'm at the computer or standing around my foot is tapping on a regular basis, even as I'm sitting on top of my foot, it is still moving.
I have always known that by my having this nervous energy, I was burning extra calories but never knew how much. So, it all seemed kind of funny to me today as I was reading an old Women's Running Magazine that it discusses the NEAT factor (non-exercise activity thermogenesis)and how to improve it. And guess what, one study found that people who fidget expend 352 additional calories per day (that's about the same as a 3-4 mile run). So want to learn ways to increase your NEAT factor?
-Set a timer every 45 minutes at work to get up and move or do a set of squats
-Park farther away from the entrance and take the stairs
-sit on a balance ball instead of a chair to activate your core muscles
-stand up and walk around every time you're on the phone.
It's time to get moving!
Showing posts with label mommy fitness in ft myers and naples. Show all posts
Showing posts with label mommy fitness in ft myers and naples. Show all posts
Mother Love Fitness Challenge
The Mother Love Fitness Challenge is a 3 month challenge which begins January 31st and goes until the end of April. It is an opportunity for all mom's to challenge themselves in strength, flexibility/balance, and cardio; while working together as a TEAM to be the best in the Nation. Our Local Baby Boot Camp mom's will also be receiving weekly nutrition tips to stick to and earn extra points while becoming healthier and living a cleaner lifestyle. All throughout the challenge there will be opportunities to win local and national prizes while losing inches and gaining strength and friendships. Please contact me at courtney.williams@babybootcamp.com to join the challenge!
Why Resistance bands?
Sparkpeople.com had a great article on-line regarding why we should use resistance bands. Thought this was great information especially since we use them all the time in our classes.
Everyone from beginners to conditioned athletes can benefit by adding resistance tubes/bands to their strength-training programs. Resistance bands can add challenge and variety to any workout program, and they come in a convenient (and affordable) little package.
The training possibilities of resistance bands are endless. They allow you to move more freely and achieve a greater range of motion (as opposed to a machine which controls where you start and stop). This allows you to create resistance from all directions--the side, overhead, below, etc. You can also adjust your angle of movement (by moving the fixed point higher or lower), and combine several exercises seamlessly. Bands also allow you to mimic movements that you do in real life. If you want to improve your golf or tennis swing, you can perform that exact motion against resistance--no machine can do that.
Bands can also be used alone (standing on a tube and doing a bicep curl, for example), or in combination with other elements that add even more challenge to your workout: stability balls, steps, BOSU balls, and wall mounts.
Resistance bands also differ in their degree of difficulty (signaled by various colors). The most stretchable bands have lighter resistance than the harder-to-stretch ones that offer heavier resistance. This, along with body position, allows you to customize the level of resistance to fit your strength level. You control the tension by shortening or lengthening the band. For example, when standing on a band to perform a bicep curl, add resistance by stepping closer to the handle, or make it lighter by stepping away from it.
When lifting weights, gravity plays a big part. You get more resistance during one part of the movement (lifting against gravity), but then gravity makes lowering the weight easier. When using bands, however, the resistance is constant, so you have to work harder.
Exercise Extra: For such a versatile, long-lasting piece of equipment, resistance bands are a bargain! Most come with an illustrated guide of exercises, and they average $10-25 each.
Everyone from beginners to conditioned athletes can benefit by adding resistance tubes/bands to their strength-training programs. Resistance bands can add challenge and variety to any workout program, and they come in a convenient (and affordable) little package.
The training possibilities of resistance bands are endless. They allow you to move more freely and achieve a greater range of motion (as opposed to a machine which controls where you start and stop). This allows you to create resistance from all directions--the side, overhead, below, etc. You can also adjust your angle of movement (by moving the fixed point higher or lower), and combine several exercises seamlessly. Bands also allow you to mimic movements that you do in real life. If you want to improve your golf or tennis swing, you can perform that exact motion against resistance--no machine can do that.
Bands can also be used alone (standing on a tube and doing a bicep curl, for example), or in combination with other elements that add even more challenge to your workout: stability balls, steps, BOSU balls, and wall mounts.
Resistance bands also differ in their degree of difficulty (signaled by various colors). The most stretchable bands have lighter resistance than the harder-to-stretch ones that offer heavier resistance. This, along with body position, allows you to customize the level of resistance to fit your strength level. You control the tension by shortening or lengthening the band. For example, when standing on a band to perform a bicep curl, add resistance by stepping closer to the handle, or make it lighter by stepping away from it.
When lifting weights, gravity plays a big part. You get more resistance during one part of the movement (lifting against gravity), but then gravity makes lowering the weight easier. When using bands, however, the resistance is constant, so you have to work harder.
Exercise Extra: For such a versatile, long-lasting piece of equipment, resistance bands are a bargain! Most come with an illustrated guide of exercises, and they average $10-25 each.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
