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Fight the Festive Flab the Fun Way – Pole Fitness

February 1, 2012

: Image via Wikipedia

If you told your friends that you were going to take up pole dancing ten years ago they may have reacted as though you’d told them you were going to become a lap dancer or take up a new job in the sex trade. To many people, pole dancing was certainly not the kind of thing any respectable girls should be involved with.

Fortunately times have changed and pole dancing has shed a lot of its old associations and is recognised by many as a sport and a really fun way to stay in shape. Pole dancing now has international championships and competitions as well as regulations and its celebrities, just like any other sport, even if you can don your glad rags to take part.

Pole dancing can be traced back to the twelfth century, where it began as a fertility dance performed around a wooden pole, although the dancing was far removed from the styles and technique you will see today. Modern pole dancing moves are more akin to 1950s burlesque performances. Pole dancing owes a lot to Fawnia Mondey who did a lot to legitimise it as a form of dance though her dance lessons and DVDs which allowed people to learn pole dancing in the privacy of their own homes and made it more mainstream.

You’ll often here pole dancing referred to as pole fitness or pole sport as dancers like to emphasise the strength, flexibility and skill that is needed to deliver a breath-taking performance. While pole dancing is easy to get started in some of the moves are highly complex and can take months of practice to get right. A quick search on YouTube and you will come across some jaw-dropping routines, which make you think more of acrobatic circus performances than sleazy clubs. Watching a dancer support her whole body in a horizontal position just using her hands or feet shows the gymnastic skill and strength needed to perform some of these advanced tricks.

Why Choose Pole Fitness?

Pole fitness is really taking off as a way of keeping fit. As well as being fun it can help to improve your core muscles as well as your flexibility. You will develop strength in your hands and legs, and then when you progress to more complex moves you will works areas that most sports won’t reach such as your underarms or hips!

If at first you don’t succeed.

While some moves are easy to get the first time, others can take a lot of patience to master. To begin with you should expect a few bruises from gripping the pole tightly and most likely falling off a few times as some moves will take a lot of practice to get right. You should you use a pole mat to cushion your falls and know your limits so you never push yourself too hard. A lot of people find that once they have gotten over the initial hurdles and put a routine together that they are hooked. They find that their body improves and they develop more strength better posture and that they generally feel a lot sexier than before they started dancing.

It’s easier than you might think to take the plunge with pole dancing schools popping up all over the place and many gyms offering classes. You don’t even need to leave your own home if you don’t want to. YouTube has lots of pole dancing tutorials and there are a wide range of DVD lessons to choose from. There are a lot of choices for dance poles too. You can get permanent poles for your home, but most people choose one the portable pole models on the market. This means that the pole does not need to be a permanent feature in the living room (or wherever you choose to put it). If you are apprehensive about taking a class at a school or gym, then you may find one of the many pole dancing experience days more suitable, they also make great days out for the girls if you are shy to have a go alone.

I hope that this intro to pole fitness has tempted you to give it a try. I’m Caitin and I’ve been pole dancing for 3 years. It took me a few lessons to really get into the swing of things but then I was hooked. When I’m not dancing I write for http://www.poledancingpoles.info. As well as keeping up to date with the latest gossip on our blog you can also compare prices of a wide range of pole dancing poles. You can also find me on twitter at @poledancepoles

Tighten Your Core with Break Dance (fryingpansports.com)
Take the Zzzz’s out of your Workout with Zumba (dietcleanse.org)

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20 Habits That Make You Fat

February 1, 2012

By Steve

In today’s society there are many ways to develop poor health choices. The following are 20 habits that can increase fat content.

Low-fat foods

Low-fat foods substitute fat with simple carbohydrates which act as a type of fat fuel. Not only does a high carbohydrate diet fuel increased fat development, but carbohydrates digest quickly and can cause rebound hunger.

Not Seeking Help

Many people fail multiple times at dieting, but continue to try without guidance. Seeking nutritional counselling can better inform you and help in creating a healthier lifestyle.

Poor Sleep Habits

Sleeping too much or too little can cause increased fat retention. Too little sleep causes increased sugar consumption and too much sleep can cause fat to be stored. Six to eight hours is optimal.

Free Food

Complimentary food at restaurants such as bread sticks or chips contain minimal nutrition value, but come at a price. Some bread sticks contain 150 calories and can quickly increase the total calories of the meal.

Drinking Pop

Both regular and diet soda can increase fat. Regular contains high carbohydrate values, and diet pop contains artificial sugars that can increase appetite.

Skipping Meals

Taking a meal off can slow down metabolism and increased fat produced. Five small meals per day can increase metabolism throughout the day.

Eating Quickly

Eating too fast doesn’t allow the body to understand it is consuming calories. Taking more time to eat allows the body to catch up and feel full after much less food consumption.

Too Much TV

Studies have shown that reducing TV time can increased calories burned. Multitasking while watching also helps burn calories.

Value Meals

These may be cheaper, but they contain more calories and may be more food than you want.

Looking At Buffets

When eating at a buffet style restaurant try to face away from the food. This creates a decreased need to consume more food.

Plate Size

When given the option, choosing a smaller plate can save on calories. Larger plates have more food and calories.

Serving Dishes

When serving a family style meal, avoid placing the serving dishes on the table. Place them away from the table to limit the access to more food.

White Bread

Choosing white bread over wheat bread creates higher carbohydrate consumption. These extra carbohydrates cause rebound hunger and a sugar rush.

Big Bites

Taking big bites of food has shown to increase calorie consumption. Smaller bites help the body feel fuller and can decrease calorie consumption.

Not Getting Enough Water

Water is not only fuel for the body, but it also can make you feel full faster. People who drink water before a meal consume fewer calories.

Overweight Friends

People who surround themselves with overweight people tend to be overweight themselves. This is from increased calories consumed when hanging out, as well as decreased accountability towards weight loss.

Late Night Eating

When sleeping a good amount the body can burn fat. If the stomach is busy processing recently eaten food, however, the fat burning process is put on hold.

Not Using A Scale

When people are monitoring weight with a scale they are more likely to be focused on their goals. Being aware of what works and what doesn’t for weight loss is a good step to continue losing weight.

Fruity Drinks

Fruit drinks from the store or a restaurant usually contain high amounts of syrups and sugars. This equates to a larger waistline.

Emotional Eating

When emotions are running high, don’t head for food. Not only does this create unnecessary calorie consumption, but it also increases the likelihood of more emotional eating.

Visit the Bonsai Tree Gardener blog for more information on how you can get started in growing your own bonsai trees with the right bonsai tree care and bonsai tree tools.

Food Myths That Can Make You Fat (cleansebody.org)
Diet And Exercise To Lose More Weight (dietcleanse.org)

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The Health Benefits of Lemons

January 10, 2012

By Steve

Lemons have been used for many centuries as part of everyday life. The usage of lemons is varied, from being part of a home remedy cure, to being added to a range of different meals to add flavor; there are endless possibilities to their usefulness. In recent years, there has been more emphasis on the health benefits of lemons, and how they can be used as part of a well-balanced diet to keep your body in perfect working order.

Whether you make your own homemade lemonade, squeeze a bit of lemon into hot water, add lemons to your food or drink, or even produce your own lemon juice, the health benefits will remain the same. Here are a few of the reasons why people enjoy lemons on a regular basis.

Indigestion

Many people swear by using lemons as a way to treat and prevent indigestion occurring after meals. A good way to do this is by drinking a warm cup of water with some lemon juice added in, right after you have finished your meal. This provides better digestion and helps your food go down well.

Acne

Another of the health benefits of lemons is its ability to help improve the quality of your skin. This is very good news for people with acne, as by drinking lemon juice every day you would be giving yourself a great chance of getting rid of any blemishes and impurities of the skin.

Bowels

Many people swear by lemons as an excellent remedy for relieving constipation and good general bowel health. It is said that by drinking lemon juice or adding lemon to drinks, actually helps in eliminating unwanted waste and toxins from this part of the body.

Home remedies

Lemons have long been known for their excellent and highly effective antibacterial attributes, which makes them a very popular ingredient in countless home remedies. If you are suffering from a sore throat, then an effective home remedy you can try is honey and lemon tea.

Lemons can also be used as part of a homemade mouthwash solution, with other ingredients such as salt and water. Again, this can be highly effective if you have a sore throat, by spending some time gargling the mouthwash before spitting it out.

It can also be used for toothaches, especially if you haven’t had any luck with normal over the counter painkillers. Swish a little bit around the affected area for around 60 seconds, a few times a day.

Mood enhancement

Another of the health benefits of lemons is increased mood throughout the day. Try drinking some lemon juice at the start of your day for a period of time, and see if you start to feel any mood enhancement. Lemon juice doesn’t take long to prepare, and if it can get you feeling more mentally alert and less stressed, then it is time well invested!

Chapped lips

If your lips struggle during the winter and often becomes dry and chapped, then a good alternative to regular lip balm is lemon juice mixed with olive oil. Apply to your lips a few times a day and you will start to notice results in no time at all.

Give it a try

The health benefits of lemons are clear to see. Whether you are adding it to meals, drinks, making your own lemonade or lemon juice, or preparing a homemade remedy, lemons are an essential part of life for many people, and it will continue that way for years to come.

If you are suffering from skin complaints, bowel problems, indigestion, or a sore throat, why not give lemons a try? You might be glad you did.

Guest article provided courtesy of Claire, owner of eFoodProcessorReviews.com – an excellent consumer resource for food processor reviews. We also provide the most important info that you need to know about the Braun multiquick 3 k650.

The Benefits Of The Lemon Juice Diet (detoxcleansing.org)
3 New Year Resolutions For Your Digestive System (weightlossdietforum.com)

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Wheels for Weight Loss: Bikes, Skateboards and Rollerblades

November 10, 2011

By Steve

Weight loss should not be a chore. In fact, as personal trainers will tell you, exercise activities should be fun. And your healthy lifestyle should not end the second you leave a fitness camp. You can and should continue to incorporate the fitness activities you learned at camp into your work and daily life.

Consider, for instance, the morning and evening commute to the office or your weekend trips to the mall. Driving a car or taking a cab, train or a bus leaves most of your muscles idle from one car seat to the next. They also require you to spend gas money or to pay fares. Your carbon footprint does not get reduced either.

Short trips within the city can be more fun, more fit, more economical and more environmentally friendly by biking, skateboarding or rollerblading. The price of these rides is very minimal compared to the price of a car. They also do not require constant refills of gas or electricity. Remember to check the quality of your equipment before buying, though. Test how they handle your weight as they will be carrying you every day.

These three ways of getting around town are good cardio workouts. The speed and adrenaline that your legs and arms create gets your blood pumping and increases your heart rate to healthy levels.

To add to this, these holistic exercises require your body to work for balance and to resist gravity. This strengthens your bones.

In terms of sweating off the fat, an hour on a bike, skateboard or rollerblades will make you burn almost 300 calories. And this is at a light pace on smooth terrain without the tricks. Imagine how many calories you can burn off as you go faster at 12 miles per hour on terrains like unpaved roads. (You can use an odometer to measure your speed and distance. Imagine the muscle strength you will develop as you try tricks like pirouettes.

In as short as a week, you will notice that you can do activities longer without feeling short of breath. In a month, your hips, thighs and buttocks will become more toned. The fact that you have to keep your head up and your eyes forward while you bike, skateboard or rollerblade will also force your body into a straight posture. Such a posture while working out will tone your back and torso. You can also add arm and wrist movements to even out the strain, especially when on rollerblades or a skateboard.

Remember to practice safety also. Wear a helmet and knee pads. Wear comfortable clothes and shoes that let you move and stretch. (You can carry your work clothes in a backpack.) Wear gloves to protect your hands from friction when you bike. Know the traffic laws in your city and keep yourself in bike lanes, white lines or sidewalks. Bring a bottle of water. Warm up by riding at a light pace for the first 10 minutes, and you’re off.

FitFarms are fitness / fat camps based in the UK and the Middle East. The UK Weight Loss Camp have been awarded No. 1 by Virgin.

Weight Loss Tips- Do it Now (weightlossdietforum.com)

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Float like a Butterfly, Sting like a Pro

November 1, 2011

By Steve

Boxing has continued to be one of the biggest and most popular sports in the world, drawing in millions of spectators from all around the world. Sumerian carvings from as early as the third millennium (BC) have depicted bare – knuckled brawlers fighting it out in front of a crowd of spectators, showing that the premise of boxing appeals to a deep seeded primal urge to physically compete with others. It’s fair to say we have come a long way since bare knuckle Sumerian fist fights, those who prefer to drunkenly punch it out in the street will inevitably find themselves looking for criminal defence solicitors, but the sport of boxing is very much alive and more popular than ever! With boxing classes and gyms becoming more and more popular in recent years, many are flooding to the classes to learn fitness techniques, self-defence and discipline; others go to test their physical aptitude and pursue a career in professional boxing.

Those who seek to take boxing seriously and compete professionally will have to endure countless hours of exercise and training, and may still never quite make it to the level they were hoping for. So, with a few helpful hints and tips, you can learn how to improve your performance in the ring and have the edge on your competitor.

In the Ring, In the Zone

It is said that boxing is 70% mental and 30% physical; waking up every day to run and train takes commitment and dedication. Train yourself to be strong minded and after a few weeks your workout regime will become a part of your life. Becoming strong willed is not something that can happen overnight, you must have confidence in your physical condition and capability to compete in the ring. Taking confidence into the ring with you can help put you on the offensive, instead of spending an entire bout on your back foot.

Punch Counts and Combinations

When working on your boxing technique, be sure to work on your combination punches. Never get into the habit of throwing one or two punches; the more combinations you use the better chance you have of landing a punch and scoring points. spa as often as possible and perfect your fighting technique, alternate between a heavy spa to push your body’s physical limitations, and a light spa used as a learning tool to fine tune your movements and combination punches.

Reach Your Physical Peak

The most obvious advantage you can have over your opponent is a physical advantage. Make sure you incorporate a variety of workouts into your regime to work on your strength, agility and conditioning. Use the heavy bags and speed bags, these help to improve the power of your punches and the speed at which you can throw them. Jump ropes are one of the best and cheapest exercise methods available, it helps to improve flexibility, agility, speed and increase your exhaustion thresh hold.

So there we are, some simple rules that (if followed religiously) can help you to dramatically improve your physical and mental condition and ultimately, your in-ring performance.

This article was written on behalf of Gray & Co by Daniel Travis – Brown. Follow him on twitter @DanTravisBrown

5 Essential Items of MMA Clothing (brutusreport.blogspot.com)
NIH Tips to Help You Get More Exercise (dietcleanse.org)

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Exercise Variety Is The Key To Being Super Fit

October 11, 2011

By Steve

Exercise is the way that we get fit, improve our stamina and develop a healthy looking body, however when we look at sports stars they often look ‘super fit’ mainly because of the intense workout routines they undergo during their training regimes but also due to the variety they have in their regimes.

Most sports require you to have a decent level of physical fitness and stamina to be able to play them effectively such as football, boxing, tennis etc. One of the most common ways to get your cardio and stamina levels up is to engage in long distance running, though this is often viewed as a dull and repetitive task for many people which is why many simply people do not do it.

Getting ‘super fit’ does not have to be about long runs and can actually be very fun; but only if you let it. Most sports stars use many different training methods and incorporate a wide variety of stamina building techniques in their training regimes because different muscle groups are used in different sports.

Using this knowledge and approach is the key to getting super fit in an enjoyable way. For this to work well for you there needs to be a commitment on your part to try new things and you also will need engage in sports that you never thought you would. (See Below)

Sports Training Is Key

A great way to get fit is to start a sport that needs a good amount of cardio fitness to do it such as boxing or football. By doing a sport like this you will straight away improve your fitness and also improve muscles strength in muscles you have not used in years. To take your fitness to the next level you should have 3 sports you play each week, as the more sports you play the more muscles you utilise as each sport uses different muscle groups. Playing multiple sports is a superb alternative to going to the gym which many people find quite mundane and repetitive.

Example:

Nearly every town in the UK has football clubs that people can join, where they train once a week and play a match on a Sunday. This is perfect chance to get out socialising while also improving your stamina, speed, agility and also general football skills.

As football only takes up a short amount of time you can also join a local boxing club, karate club or some sort of martial arts club. The reason this is such a good idea is because it teaches you skills that many people have always wanted to learn such as self defence skills, furthermore these types of combat sports do amazing things for your confidence, flexibility, stamina and strength.

The third sport should be something you enjoy doing which can be anything such as tennis, squash, badminton, 5 a-side football, golf etc. The idea here is to do something you have a passion for so that you are at least doing one sport within you comfort zone each week. If you don’t have another sport in mind then get down the gym and do a class such as swimming, yoga or a spinner’s class which will again help you socialise and also improve muscles you don’t normally use.

Remember the more variety you have in your workout regime each week, the more you can get out of your body by using new muscle groups and also improving your own skills set.

Jonathan works on behlaf of Soccerbox who specialise in retailing football kits and football shirt ranges such as manchester united kits, Arsenal kits, Chelsea kits and many other quality football shirts and football merchandise.

The Importance of Nutrition Before and After Workout (weightlossdietforum.com)
Sports Carnival Ecstasy – September 29, 2011 (brutusreport.blogspot.com)

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Blog Archives

Fight the Festive Flab the Fun Way – Pole Fitness

Why Choose Pole Fitness?

If at first you don’t succeed.

Related Posts:

20 Habits That Make You Fat

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The Health Benefits of Lemons

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Wheels for Weight Loss: Bikes, Skateboards and Rollerblades

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Float like a Butterfly, Sting like a Pro

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Exercise Variety Is The Key To Being Super Fit

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Fight the Festive Flab the Fun Way – Pole Fitness

Why Choose Pole Fitness?

If at first you don’t succeed.

Related articles

Related Posts:

20 Habits That Make You Fat

Related articles

Related Posts:

The Health Benefits of Lemons

Related articles

Related Posts:

Wheels for Weight Loss: Bikes, Skateboards and Rollerblades

Related articles

Related Posts:

Float like a Butterfly, Sting like a Pro

Related articles

Related Posts:

Exercise Variety Is The Key To Being Super Fit

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Related Posts:

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