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One of the best ways that people can move toward better overall fitness is by making use of the services of the elliptical machine. The equipment is excellent at training and conditioning people into better states of athletic capability.

The treadmill is an elegantly simple design that puts control of the situation into the hands of the user. The person using the equipment is in complete control of the process, and can determine the speed of the moving parts and the length of the workout session.

Such autonomy places a lot of responsibility on the user as they progress, and whether or not they succeed or fail is entirely up to them. However, the simplicity and directness of the workout sessions can greatly aid the person in what they are doing.
All that is required of the person who is engaged in the activity is that they run. The second that they engage in this exercise, they immediately begin to receive positive physical benefits from the experience.
Running is a good example of aerobic exercise, which is very good for those wanting to expand the overall range of athletic ability that they possess. The aerobic aspect of the exercise lies with the fact that the user will get a good physical benefit from their exertions before they feel pain or fatigue.
Once they begin running they do two things that will improve the overall state of their body. The first of these things is that they will use their legs in a very athletic way, using their strength to maintain the running motion.
All of the weight of the person will rest on one leg at a time, then they will shift their weight o the other leg and spring off of it. All of these movements are quite involved and physical, and may work out the muscle groups in ways that the participant is not necessarily used to.
Strength is quickly built in the legs, because the muscles need to grow and improve in their abilities in order to maintain regular running sessions. The effect of this action is much more apparent at the outset than the other change that occurs within the body.
When using the treadmill, the person engages in exercise that causes them to begin to breathe heavily in the effort to stave off fatigue. The cardiovascular system then becomes engaged and active, and the heart and lungs both begin to pump harder in response to the stimuli that they are being subjected to.
As the lungs and heart start pumping harder, they become strengthened and improved over time. Every time that someone using the treadmill has a successful exercise session, they gain a small layer of strength and ability that is related to the effectiveness of these organs.
While one of these layers is insignificant by itself, the effect gained is a long term one. These layers of ability also stack over time, creating an ability set that is much greater than the overall sum of its parts.
Once the heart and lungs have become stronger, they become more efficient at what they are doing. Therefore, someone who regularly uses a treadmill will be able to last much longer after they have built up their cardiovascular system.
This process builds up the overall stamina and endurance that the user can bring to bear during a fitness session. This also will expand their overall range of athletic capability as it pertains to other physical activities.
Moving toward better fitness on a treadmill is a process that requires and investment of time and effort. Making sure to be regular with the exercise sessions will help ensure that they physical benefits that are gained last for a long time.
Maintenance is a key part of the overall health plan that is executed when on the treadmill or any other equipment option. The equipment will continue to provide an excellent range of physical benefits for as long as the user can make returns and progressions over time.
Moving toward fitness on a treadmill is an achievable process for anyone. The way that the equipment is designed to provide a directive and aerobic workout ensures that the user receives a full range of physical benefits.

Terry Daniels is an accomplished expert in health and fitness. He recommends the besttreadmill you can find in the market.

Contact Info:
Terry Daniels
TerryDaniels09@gmail.com

http://www.proform.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Category_-1_14201_16002_29509_Y

  The middle years of life have a bad reputation. Who hasnt heard the horror stories? Mid-life is supposedly when gravity and hormones take control of your face, your figure, and your frame of mind, leaving you cantankerous, wrinkled, and bulging in all the wrong places. But it doesnt have to be that way.
    Jean Dawson was a 40-year-old housewife and mother when her life changed…for the better. She was right on the edge of losing her sons to adulthood, a time of floundering for many mothers as they seek for a new sense of purpose. Jean recalls how she persuaded herself to make the most rewarding change of her lifegetting fit at 40.

    ”Our oldest son ran track, and we used to go to all the track meets. I dont remember this boys name, but he was very thin . . . he had to run two miles around that track!” Jean laughs and adds, “I looked at that thin boy and thought, My goodness, thats an awfully long way for a little boy like that to run! Well, if he can do it, I think I can!”
    Jean, now 72, and her husband George, 78, started running and they didnt stop for 31 years! More than 250 trophies, plaques, medallions and other prizes are displayed in their home, proclaiming that Jean did reach her two-mile goal. . . and much more. She– like most women– viewed mid-life as a challenge, only she met it head-on.
    ”If at the age of 40 you decide you want to do something, then that will make you feel better about yourself,” says Jean. “We started running around the track. We werent as strong as we thought we were, because it took me about four stops to get around the quarter-mile track . . . and part of it, I walked! It was about a month before I got all the way around the track without stopping. Each time we went down there, we tried to increase our mileage. It wasnt anytime until we were up to three miles.”
    Even when life got tough, Jean pressed on. She was determined to stay fit. “It got to be monotonous running on the track, so we started running on the sidewalk. One time, I stubbed my toe on a crack and fell. I got a huge knot on my forehead and a horrible bruise on the side of my face. Then another time, I fell and broke my left wrist.”
    While such injuries would hobble the efforts of many women, Jean rarely does anything halfway. Nothing was going to deter the Dawsons from their 3 to 5-mile daily run, for long. They had become dedicated to the idea of staying in shape and growing older gracefully. Competition was the next step. They began to enter races in Indiana, Ohio, and even as far away as Texas.
    ”The longest race we have ever signed up for has been 6.2 miles, which is the 10-kilometer race. I cant ever remember being beaten by anyone my own age,” Jean says, smiling engagingly. She has often raced against women 10-15 years younger than herself. . . and won, even at 70 years old.
    ”Some people tell me thats who they tried to beatme, that white-haired woman.” How has she accomplished such amazing feats? “Its the way you take care of yourself,” says Jean. “Ive never smoked nor drunk alcohol. There have been a lot of races where I prayed the whole time for strength. It really works!”
    Every time George or Jean would win a race at a nearby university, they would be given a red brick, inlaid with a metal plate announcing their finishing place. They accumulated so many bricks that Jean made a brick walk behind their house. There were still 20 bricks left over, so she turned them into frilly, eye-catching doorstops and gave them away as Christmas gifts.
    Dozens of beautiful trophies are shelved in the Dawsons hallway. Walking quickly past them, Jean picks up a black marble trophy from its own special shelf. “This is my favorite,” she says, caressing it lovingly. “My son designed it for a race we ran in down in Texas.”
    Staying fit has other rewards, as well.
    ”I was in my late fifties in one race we ran.” Jean laughs, self-consciously. “They gave special prizes for different things. I was the lady with the prettiest legs, at age 50-something! All these young girls were there . . . and I won it! I won it!” Today, Jean still appears as a trim 54″ lady and looks at least ten years younger than her actual age.
    Eating right is another aspect of the Dawsons fitness program. Jean and George do not eat big meals, and they usually limit their meat choices to chicken or turkey. “Some people look at runners and think, They must eat like a horse! But it was just the opposite for us. Exercise just kind of curbs our appetite.”
    Clearly, there are many benefits to getting into shape in mid-life. However, Jean says the best part about being fit is that “youre able to enjoy each other in the later years when you really need each other.” After 51 years, George and Jeans marriage has stayed fit. They attribute their long and healthy marriage to their faith in God. “He works out your problems if you turn them over to Him.” Jean says that when they disagree on something, they dont make a fuss. They simply discuss their different viewpoints. “It works out if you want it to.”
    For women who are seeking a positive change in their physical fitness, Jean offers specific advice. “Running is not for everybody. Pick the exercise that fits you and start out. Nobodys ready for something altogether different. If youre overweight and you want to run, lose a little bit of weight first because its harder on your joints, carrying extra pounds around. If you think you have to run to LOSE weight, then watch your diet and start slowly. Dont think youre going to run five miles the first day, because you wont.”
    For women who struggle with weight problems, Jean encourages a change of  habit. “Instead of reaching for food, reach for something to do.” She recommends starting a new hobby. Her own hobbies include making cowboy kids and teddy bears (she estimates that shes made 200 bears to date), wallpapering, refinishing furniture, feather-painting cabinets, acting as a church trustee, and volunteering at a local nursing home. She has even made repairs on numerous World War II plane exteriors, as a volunteer in the Confederate Air Force! It seems that nothing is too big of a challenge to Jean.
    ”Im a pretty busy lady,” Jean admits with satisfaction. “I try to keep my mind and hands occupied at all times. I try not to waste one moment. You dont know when its going to be your last.”
    At the age of 40, Jean Dawson refused to allow mid-life changes to control her future. She simply determined to make some changes on her own. At the age of 72, she again faces change. Due to a knee problem, George has had to make a choice between running and keeping his alignment shop open. Not surprisingly, he has decided to keep his business open “for another 20 years.” Still as determined as ever, Jean and George walk 3 to 5 miles each day. They plan to remain active participants in life for the rest of their days.
    The gentle smile appears again as Jean quietly gives the glory where it is due. “Of all the trophies and things we have won together, I give God the thanks because we had the health and the energy and His strength to do it.”
Sharyl Calhoun is a teacher and freelance writer, offering Total Health & Wellness tips and information for all ages at www.fastandnaturalweightlossprogram.com.

It is said that yoga becomes a way of life of a person, the way it benefits one. Yoga is a set of exercises that are carried out in the early morning time which greatly benefits the inner self as well as the outer self of the body.

Yoga should always be carried out under professional guidance or it may turn ugly as it may lead to many drastic effects. There are many teachers of yoga all around the world in addition to that, books and CDs are available in the market that teaches yoga. While doing yoga there are many things that should be kept in mind. There are many exercises in yoga that help one to eradicate disease in a body, every exercise in yoga has a specific posture in which it is carried, so it should always be done under a guidance of a teacher.

Yoga works on the principle of respiration and doing yoga in the presence of fresh air is the most important thing. For the best results of yoga it should be done regularly in early mornings otherwise yoga can be done in the evening time as well. Before doing yoga one should have an empty stomach and bladder. In addition to this one should do yoga after cleaning face, mouth and brushing of teeth. It may be tough but for yoga it is highly recommended that one does the exercises after taking bath which give much fruitful results.

All the yoga exercises are to be done with a lot of patience and should be performed in a rhythm; sudden jerks may not be useful or may affect the body parts involved. One should not be wearing any kind of accessories while doing yoga especially spectacles, and wearing of tight clothes should also be avoided. Yoga should be done in an open place or a closed room which is well ventilated for the proper ventilation of air. Many exercises in yoga require tough body posture but if one feels stiffness in the body after performing an exercise should tell the same to the instructor as either the exercise doesn’t suit the body or is being carried out in an improper manner.

Most of the exercises require the eyes to be closed but for new comers it is recommended to perform the exercises with eyes open in order to see the instructor performing the same exercise. Every exercise in yoga should be coupled well with mechanical and proper respiration. So the nostrils should be properly cleaned before doing yoga to do it effectively.

Yoga can be done by a person falling under any age group but there are few exercises that cannot be done by children falling in the age group of 12 to 16 years as the body grows in that age group and doing few exercises may deteriorate the posture of the body or may affect the growth of the body. So yoga should be performed properly and systematically under professional guidance to get all the benefits of yoga.

For more information about joining a gym, visit the Fitness First website.

Its not like I found myself suddenly getting older, or as if it happened overnight. I still like a good workout, and find riding my bike one of the most relaxing things I can do. But when it comes to making changes, such as losing weight or increasing muscle mass, it is getting harder to do as I get older.

By Gods grace, many of the changes in getting older are great. My children have grown up to become my friends. And my wife handles most of the worrying and fretting (although I do a small amount for myself so I can get the occasional dirty look and can feel proud when it all works out).
Another good change is that all the hair that was determined to leave has already gone, leaving me that same good look every day in the mirror. Besides, if I really want a new look I could always use the curling iron on some of those unbelievably long eyebrows!
However, the greatest change of all is that I have grandchildren. This is when we realized we had to make changes if we were going to spend quality time with our grandchildren and not be exhausted.
Two years ago, my wife and I were riding 150 miles a week15 miles a day to work, a 30-mile ride on the weekend, and a 10-mile ride several times a week just for fun! Living in Indiana, you can only ride bikes about 8 months a year, at best. So our winter hibernation began. After a long winter layoff, I found myself out of shape, 20 pounds overweight and unmotivated.
The next year was on again, off again…never really getting a well-sustained routine all season. We knew we had to find a way to keep ourselves motivatednot just to get in shape, but to stay in shape.
One big problem is that Im not a person who likes to be on a diet. In fact, I like to eat. Ive found out that Im a stress eater, which makes losing weight even harder. So my first step was to find a way to be accountable to myself and to othersespecially my wife.
Second was to find a good diet, which for me (for the most part) turned out to be just watching what I eat and cutting back. When my wife and I went out to eat we began to order only one meal and split it. At first, any meal would do. But as our metabolism speeded up, only a larger meal would satisfy. The waiters and waitresses were very understanding, and treated us well (we still tip as generously as before). Ive also learned that if I eat only when I am hungry, all food is good-even fruits and vegetables.
Third was to find a good workout that I liked, which was rather easy because I dont just like riding bikes, I really love it! Last, we wanted to find a place to get all of this under one roof.
One thing life has taught me is…if you want to get a job done, you have to have the right tools. We already had the bikes and exercise equipment. Then we found a way to beat the heat, rain, and cold weather. We took our bikes inside and put them on our new indoor stationary cycling units (like the Olympic bicyclists train with), which allow us to ride in front of the TV. The cost of two units were less than 1/4 the cost of a good treadmill or exercise bike.
Then, my son showed us one of the best tools I have ever had…a CD called Workoutware. I had come to the point in my life where I wanted to make a permanent change. What I did with my life mattered…what I ate, how often I worked out, and how my body was responding to the workout, my heart rate, body measurements, and percentage of body fat were all things I had to look at, if I wanted to have any energy to play with my grandchildren. That’s exactly what the CD offered–a closer inspection of me and my habits.
After one day of keeping close track of my diet, I knew there had to be changes. Snacks were killing me. Keeping track of body and weight measurements was a humiliating starting point. But thats exactly what it was…a starting point toward a healthier life. So I began to record everything.
Time is always a big problem in our lives, and keeping track of my diet took time. But once I established a pattern or routine, I could quickly sit down and record information once a week. When typing in the information less often, I found it too easy to slip back into old, bad habits. Accountability is everything, and the more people you are accountable to, the easier it is for everyone to stick with it. The group accountability also puts some fun into it.
At my age, I now take a number of vitamins, amino acids, and things to ease a variety of ailments. At the cost of these medicine man elixirs, I am tight enough (moneywise) to want to know if they really help. The software program allows me to keep track of my supplements and includes a place for me to take notes.
I had some problems with my knees and elbows…actually, I was getting stiff joints all over, so I started taking sam-E. My wife said she noticed I had a better temperament and was much more pleasant to be around (Sam-E improves both mood and joints!). At a buck a day, I could have bought her flowers, got the same response, and in real short time been money ahead. But my joints improved so fast that I felt better in less than a month.
I also need to keep track of body stats and workouts. If Im going to discipline myself, I want to know its workinglike seeing the positive effects of taking my sam-E. So I want to have a record of how many inches it is around my belly. If I lose an inch, there, I know my workout is working. If I dont lose in a reasonable amount of time, I know I need to adjust my workout. Likewise, if Im trying to gain muscle, I want to watch the inches around my arms and legs increase.
It is also important to track my heart rate and watch it ease down as the workouts improves my fitness. Ive seen my bike riding grow in distance, as the elapsed time grows shorter. The amount of weight I can lift gets heavier. Its all there in my record keepinggains and losses look pretty impressive when I hit the button that changes them into graphs!
I am at the point in life where I have no desire to be a superstar. I do, however, want to grow old with dignity, and I want to love my wife, children, and grandchildren in a meaningful way. I want more than the emotion of love. I want to be able to throw a ball to my grandsonnot just watch. I want to help my kids with their house projects to ride, walk and even run with my wife. I want to be able to bow the knees if my family needs my prayers.
Love is a verb, and I want the actions in my life to prove itin your life, too. I write this to share some of the things that have helped me…my bike, my stationary bike unit for riding indoors, my “curling iron” (an in-house joke for my curl bar), and my Workoutware software, which is as important as any piece of exercise equipment I have.
May God bless your workout and keep you safe and fit!
—William Calhoun, www.poshbungalow.com
For ideas on Family Fitness or to learn more about the WORKOUTWARE Personal Training Workstation CD, please visit the Home Fitness page of www.poshbungalow.com!

Lose Weight Fast with the Great 8 Fitness and Health Tips

Well I thought that we would talk about common sense proven tips that will ensure that along with a solid fitness program, will help support your fitness and health goals for life.

Eating Tip 1

Eat Slow- If you read about the French Paradox, which discusses why the French eat alot of fatty foods, but are a leaner society than that of the United States. They take their meals very seriously and it is one of the most important times of the day. You will get multiple benefits from this tip. Eating Slow will help your body absorb the food at the right level allowing you to fill up much quicker as it will not provide a tendency for you to OVEREAT!!!

The other awesome benefit is that you can spend more time with your family so that you can share the important things in life with each other!!!

Eating Tip 2

Eat 5-6 times per day. Do not allow your blood sugar levels to drop, in between meals. By eating more often and eating the right types of foods that are on the low end of the glycemic index, you can keep your blood sugar levels more even throughout the day, and ensure that you are not getting those midafternoon yawns and also help keep the excess weight off. Remember that when you spike your blood sugar by eating simple sugars and refined carbohydrates, this will potentially cause your body to store fat!!!

Eating Tip 3

Eat Your Breakfast… I was bad at this many years ago, but I learned to fuel up early in the day. Eating a good solid breakfast to start your day, helps supply you with the fuel you need to get started, especially if you are incorporating a early morning fitness program in to your day. You need the fuel to get your engine going in the morning. Do not starve your body early, because you may have the tendency to binge eat later, because your body gets into the craving mode. Feed your body early!!

Eating Tip 4
Slow down as the sun goes down. What do I mean by this? Well just as important as it is to eat a great breakfast to start the day, it is also as equally important to reduce your food consumption as the day goes on. So plan to eat a good solid breakfast, a good lunch, and reduce your meal portions at dinner time. Remember as you get closer to bedtime your body starts to wind down and you will not have the same opportunity at night to burn those consumed meal calories as you did earlier in the day.
So eat more early and back down as you reach sun down.

Eating Tip 5

Give yourself 3 hours!!! Yes 3 hours before going to bed. Do not consume anymore calories. As I mentioned before, your body starts to slow down as the day goes on and gets ready for sleep. You do not want to consume alot of calories right before you go to bed, because you will end of potentially storing those calories as FAT!!!

Your body sometimes give you a false sense of being hungry as you bedtime nears. You get those 9pm cravings… And alot of people end up hitting the Refrigerator and overconsuming right before bed time…

Not good for managing your weight and body fat %. If you just can’t resist the munchies, then what I do is eat a few high good fat nuts. Like unsalted Almonds skin-on (good for fiber) or a couple spoonfuls of no sugar added all natural peanut butter. Eating a good quality fat food will satisfy your craving and will keep you from binging on something with lots of bad carbohydrates or simple sugars, like ice cream, cake or cookies.

Eating Tip 6

Stay focused on eating green in every meal. Always incorporate a good high quality low glycemic index dark green vegetable with each meal. I suggest things like spinach or romaine lettuce in your lunch time salads. Eating broccoli, asparagus, or steamed spinach as your vegetable at dinner time. All of these dark green vegetables supply your body with great vitamins and nutrients as well as being great sources of fiber and are naturally low on the glycemic index scale and will keep your blood sugar levels from spiking after eating. So think Dark green at meal time and challenge yourself to keep it as part of each and every eating event.

Eating Tip 7

Blend your foods.. Blending your foods means making sure that if you are eating a food item that does contain carbohydrates, ,make sure that you incorporate a good low fat protein along with it. Eating a low carb tortilla wrap that the first ingredient is whole wheat flour that is unrefined and adding lean chicken breast as part of your filling in the wrap, maybe with some thinly shredded romaine lettuce and other veggies.

Eating Tip 8

Use splenda as your sweetener of choice, when looking for a simple sugar replacement. I have tried many sugar subs over the years an no other product has the taste of sugar like splenda does. Not equal and surely not sweet and low. Splenda is outstanding for sprinkling on low glycemic fresh fruit like blueberries, raspberries and strawberries, and I also use it to sweeten my drink of choice. Caffeine Free Green Tea that I infuse with cinnamon stick and whole cloves. What a refreshing cold beverage that keeps the caffeine out of your diet, provides you a great antioxidant and does not spike your blood sugar levels by using the no calorie sweetner in splenda.

So I hope you enjoy my GREAT 8!!!

These eating tips will help keep you on the right track, when it comes to living a healthy lifestyle.. All of these tips are the tools that I live by every day….

Stay tuned next month for more healthy eating tips @ Body Perfect Fit!!!

Life Fitness Treadmill – Your In-House Fitness Trainer Available 247

Life Fitness Treadmills form part of a five-star range that is used in five-star resorts, on luxury cruise ships, and in major corporate headquarters all over the world. Imagine having this quality fitness product available to you in the comfort of your own home! With a Life Fitness Treadmill, top-class performance and motivation is at your beck and call all day, every day.

The Life Fitness Treadmill range for home use, starts at the basic T30 model. The next level includes three Premier models. At the top of the range, the two Elite Home Version models, based on the popular Health Club Model, offer a luxurious treadmill experience.The magic of an Elite Life Fitness Treadmill is that the machine is so inviting, that all the run of the mill exercise-dodging excuses just seem to peter out… You will find that you just hve to get on this treadmill!This is particularly true with the T9e Elite with E3 LCD Entertainment System. The GoSystem One-Touch Quick Start will have you hit your stride, before you even get a chance to change your mind.In the T9e Elite Life Fitness Treadmill, the powerful, robust 4 HP MagnaDrive Motor System comes with an equally enduring lifetime warranty. The quietness of the continuous-duty motor belies its potency, and the system adjusts power automatically according to your weight.The usual Life Fitness Treadmill joint protection system is in place in the form of FlexDeck Shock Absorption. A welcome bonus is the adjustability of the cushioning. Every member of the household will be able to run on a surface that is exactly to his or her liking.Lifepulse digital contact heart rate monitoring and Polar wireless heart rate monitoring are important motivating factors, while putting yourself to the test with the interactive heart rate workouts. These programs include a cardio, fat burn, hill, interval, and extreme workout.If endurance building is your aim, the Distance Goal program of the Life Fitness Treadmill will be your best choice. Unwanted pounds put on a disappearing act, when you engage the help of the Calories Goal program. In all, 16 pre-programmed workouts, and 13 custom workouts are available to assist you in reaching your training targets. The endless variety offers all the motivation you need.If you are looking for a training partner for life, look no further than the Life Fitness Treadmill.For more information read Killer Ab Workout Routine – Take Your Abs From Flabby To Six Pack Savvy at Best-Gym-Equipment.com.Rika Susan of Article-Alert.com researches, writes, and publishes full-time on the Web. Copyright of this article: 2006 Rika Susan. This article may be reprinted if the resource box and hyperlinks are left intact.

Kids Fitness – Critical Facts You Should Be Aware Of

As parents, it’s scary to hear words like obesity, diabetes and high blood pressure describing our children. Unfortunately, these are realities that we have to contend with in this day and age. A lot of factors are to be blamed for this very unhealthy state of affairs for our young ones. A diet rich in refined sugars and greasy fast food is the first culprit. Donuts, chocolates, bacon, hotdogs, cheeseburgers, French fries have become their usual food staples. Fruits, vegetables and whole grains? Well, they’re simply not delicious and have to take a backseat.Then there’s the business with computers. Back in pre-computer era, kids used to actually find glee in climbing up and down trees and jungle bars. They used to beg mom and dad to allow them to play ball with their friends. Now, the Internet has invaded their waking hours. And while we parents find comfort in the fact that we don’t have to comb the neighborhood at night just to look for them, we know that the long hours our kids spend surfing the Internet playing Farmville or some other game isn’t healthy for them. Now, it is actually our turn to ask them to come out and play!Finally, the busy demands placed on us by our careers have basically left our kids to fend for themselves. Without the guidance of a mature adult for most of their waking hours, it’s easy to see why our kids resort to eating fast food and surfing the Internet for hours on end.If we want to keep our kids fit, the initiative must come from us. We have to start ‘em young. It entails a bit more effort and preparation on our part, but the rewards of raising healthier and more proactive kids will be worth it in the end. For starters, you can begin by stocking the refrigerator with the healthy stuff: fruits, vegetables, eggs, dairy and lean meat. Avoid putting soda or processed juices in your ref. Likewise, refrain from buying cakes, donuts, cookies or ice cream that your children can easily grab whenever they feel hungry. Over time, they’ll acquire the taste for fruits and vegetables and would prefer water instead of soda. Have yogurt in place of ice cream.It’s also to their advantage if you wake up a bit earlier than usual and cook breakfast for them. This is vital since you don’t want them to skip on this most important meal of the day. They’ll lack the energy for school and will compensate by buying sugar-laden fare in the cafeteria. Also, make sure that you prepare healthy school lunches or snacks for them.Where fitness is concerned, keep it fun and simple: Play with them! It is natural for toddlers and the younger ones to play with you. But older children might be a bit more hesitant. Make it a family tradition to get together on certain days of the week and just play Frisbee or badminton in the park or a local gym. Hiking, cycling or bowling can also be done together as a family. This way, they’ll develop the habit of staying fit through play or sports. For your children who are so inclined, you can encourage them to join leagues or school sports groups. But for others who aren’t interested, you family times may just be enough to give them the exercise they need to stay fit.As parents, it is our responsibility to keep our kids in shape. Start ‘em young!

If you have been involved in the bodybuilding or weightlifting world, gone to the local sports store or gym, picked up a fitness, sports or sports nutrition magazine you have undoubtedly heard or seen the name Weider. Joe Weider and his brother Ben have become famous promoting not only bodybuilding and health and nutrition but also a line of Weider fitness equipment for home use. In addition Joe worked with bodybuilders to prepare for competitions, and one of the first that he coached was Arnold Schwarzenegger. They met in 1969 when Arnold traveled to America to compete in the IFBB Mr. Universe competition. Arnold Schwarzenegger agreed to follow Joe Weiders training, exercise and diet system while recording his progress in their magazine. The rest, as you know, is history.

In the beginning

Joe Weider was born in Montreal, Quebec in 1922. He grew up in a rough neighborhood where walking home from school was a dangerous activity for a thin young boy. Joe and his brother Ben started to look for ways to build up strength and increase their body size to be able to defend themselves against the neighborhood bullies. They turned to fitness magazines of the time and tried several of the programs to no avail.

One day they happened to be in a scrap yard and noticed some old axles and wheels that they quickly converted into barbells. Joe and Ben Weider decided to start using these weights to train to increase their strength. Joe soon noticed that he did begin to feel physically stronger when working out with the homemade barbells. His arms and legs became larger and more powerful and along with them, his self-confidence.

Weider Publishing Industry

Joe Weider believed that there were others out there like him who wanted to feel good about their bodies and were willing to work to get there. In 1939 the age of seventeen he took his last seven dollars and started a small magazine called “Your Physique”. This twelve-page publication discussed weightlifting, bodybuilding and nutritional issues and sold for two dollars for a yearly subscription. It became a hit with fitness enthusiasts and weightlifters alike and was soon sold across Canada. The magazine, and the Weider brothers, never looked back.

In 1968 “Your Physique” was renamed “Muscle Builder” magazine. It again changed names in 1982 to the current “Muscle and Fitness”. In addition to this magazine the Weider publishing empire includes several magazines and other periodicals. These include:

Flex
Shape
Mens Fitness
Living Fit
Prime Health and Fitness
Fit Pregnancy
Cooks
Senior Golfer

The Periodical and Book Association in 1983, as tribute to his work in the area of fitness publications, named Joe Weider Publisher of the Year.

Weider Achievements

In 1945 Ben and Joe Weider began a mail order fitness equipment business called Weider Sports Equipment Limited and Weider Health and Fitness in both Canada and the United States. They quickly found that there was genuine interest in weightlifting and bodybuilding although many people did not yet see it as a sport. Joe and Ben Weider began to establish reputable competitions for body builders and other fitness conscious people to compete. They used a panel of judges to decide not only strength but also overall muscle development and conformation. The Weiders continued on with this tradition fostering the following competitions and organizations:

1946 Started the International Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness (IBFF). Currently there are 176 member countries.
1946 Organized the first Mr. Canada
1949 Ben Weider travels to Europe to promote bodybuilding
1965 Organized the first Mr. Olympia contest
1980 Facilitated the first Ms. Olympia contest

The Weiders are some of the first fitness trainers and event promoters to work with females and minorities in competitions. They truly did and still do encourage all people to incorporate fitness and weightlifting as part of an overall approach to a healthy lifestyle.

Weider Exercise Equipment

One of the cornerstones in the Weider empire is their development and promotion of professional quality training equipment for the home. Weider currently makes home training and fitness equipment designed for any type of weight training. The Weider equipment line features the Platinum series that provides over 75 different exercises all in one machine. The Max and the Advantage series are excellent machines that can be used to complete the workout available on more than 60 different club-quality machines.

Weider also makes a series of specialized equipment for the home fitness enthusiast. The Weider Crossbow is designed to allow a maximum range of motion as well as providing maximum levels of resistance. Additional bows can be added to increase resistance and to increase your workout level. The Weidner Crossbar is a great machine for giving a complete body workout. Enthusiasts of either the Weider Crossbow or Crossbar like the range of motion and the multiple gym type exercises that can be achieved on one machine in the comfort of your own home.

In addition to the complete workout machines mentioned above Weider has a product line for many other types of fitness. The Weider fitness equipment includes:

Weight benches
Jump ropes
Bands
Mats
Sit-up bars
Free weights
Strength training machines
Boxing gyms
Weight stations

Weider fitness equipment is rated consistently as some of the best home fitness equipment on the market. The Weider Crossbow and Crossbar are comparable to a Bowflex system and are less costly. Most users report that the Weider products have a greater range of motion and are easier to assemble, an important point to consider when purchasing a home gym.

Joe and Ben Weider did not just stop at promoting the sport and producing equipment, they also worked towards having bodybuilding recognized as a sport. They finally accomplished that in 1998 when the International Olympic Committee officially recognized the IBFF, fifty-two years after it was founded.

The Weider Principles

One of the focal points of the Weider training system is to help people understand the link between athletics and nutrition. As early as the 1930s Joe Weider was warning of the dangers of smoking and consuming alcohol. The Weider principles were developed to provide “education of the whole person: body, mind and spirit” and to provide a set of training and lifestyle guidelines that were research based and tested. Joe Weider is not only an entrepreneur; he is also an active body builder and fitness enthusiast. He truly does practice the principles that he is credited with developing. Joe himself does not claim to have invented the principles; rather that he honed them into the standards they are now. His greatest accomplishment with the Weider Principles was to bring the research of nutrition in to the realm of bodybuilding and provide scientifically proven guidelines to help others achieve their fitness goals.

There are three large overlaying Weider principles that are then split down even further into sub principles. The three categories, with a very brief example of the subcategories of each are:

Principles to help plan your training cycle.
Double or triple split training principle breaking your workout into two or three shorter but more intense training sessions per day.
Principles to help arrange the exercises in each workout.
Descending sets principle start with the heaviest weights use lighter weights each sets as the muscles tire. This is also called “stripping”.
Principles to help perform each exercise.
Quality training principle gradually reducing the rest time between sets while maintaining or increasing the number of reps per set.

Each of the three categories of principles contains between three and thirteen principles designed to provide the best training strategies possible.

Weider Nutrition

Weider produces an extensive line of nutritional supplements for athletes. These supplements focus on healthy nutrition and balancing carbohydrates and protein for optimum performance and development. Weider nutrition focuses on supplementing the body with vitamins, nutritional supplements and herbal products designed to maximize lean muscle mass and increase strength and performance. Weider Nutrition also markets protein shakes and a herbal green tea supplement that are extremely beneficial to decreasing body fat and helping the body maximize the effectiveness of exercise to lose weight.

Further Accomplishments

Joe Weider continues to work tirelessly to promote healthy nutrition and fitness. He has received awards from many different groups and agencies.

In 1992 he received the Dwight D. Eisenhower Fitness Award form the United States Sports Academy
1991 the Boy Scouts of America presented him a Distinguished Citizen Award naming Joe Weider as the “Father of Fitness”.
1995 the Governor of California, Pete Wilson, presented Joe Weider with the Lifetime Achievement aware for the Governors Council on Physical Fitness and Sports.

Joe Weider has always been and will continue to be a moving force and a strong influence in bodybuilding and sports nutrition. He continues to promote the sport of bodybuilding and to incorporate the principles that he is credited with developing. The Weider name is in the forefront of both the home fitness equipment and sports nutrition markets with new innovations and training equipment help amateur and professional bodybuilders and athletes to achieve their best.

About the Author

John Phung is a certified personal trainer and writer for http://www.homegymsonline.info, your online resource for home exercise equipment, “As Seen On TV” exercise equipment, and more.

Jack LaLanne Dead-Fittest Man LaLanne Not Invincible Fitness Guru 96 Dies From Respiratory Failure

Jack LaLanne has died aged 96.  He may well have been the fittest of the fittest, however and sadly, not invincible.  The fitness guru Jack Lalanne is dead, he passed away on Sunday 23rd January 2011 at is home in Morro Bay San Luis Obispo County.
His family confirmed that The Godfather of Fitness died of respiratory failure due to pneumonia that doctors were treating him for.

His nephew Thomas LaLanne holding back the tears said, "It's kind of a shock," "I didn't think Jack was ever going to die. He would tell people, 'I can't die. It'll ruin my image.' "
LaLanne’s career began in the thirties (1936 in an Oakland gym.) This was a time when fitness was not as much pumped like it is today, and many were shocked to see men lift weights and women do exercise. His belief and dedication to fitness  had him host the longest-running fitness show on television.
He owned two fitness clubs, wrote exercise books, made workout videos, gave lectures and promoted a juice machine.
Jack Lalanne once said "Other people work at dying, I work at living!”
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and star of The Terminator, said it was Mr. LaLanne who made people aware of the importance of exercise, and showed both man and woman they could reach any goal they set themselves. The body builder (Schwarzenegger) famed for his size before that of becoming a Governor further commented, he "inspired millions of people worldwide and helped create the modern fitness craze with his living example, that staying active and eating right is truly the fountain of youth."
It’s in the blood so they say and it wasn’t until at an appropriate age and the right guidance from the main man himself, his grand-nephew, Chris LaLanne of Castro Valley, opened LaLanne Fitness in San Francisco.
Mr. LaLanne was born in San Franciscoon Sept. 26, 1914, to French immigrants. His growing up had him have to overcome some difficulties before he became the man he was today, and who died yesterday. His behavioral problems were so serious that it had family members worry for his safety, and that of others. He attacked his brother, tried to commit suicide and and labelled an arsonist after attempting to burn down his own home. People learm from teir mistakes and Jack was on of them.
The more popular he become the more people got to know him – and his past was forgotten, and LaLanne moved on. He was respected and admired for what he did. His fans turned out in the droves to support him when he tackled unbelievable feats that would leave them with their mouth agape.
At 40 years of age, he towed a 2,000-pound cabin cruiser as he swam the Golden Gate Channel. When he was 42, he did a record 1,033 pushups in 23 minutes. And twenty years later (60) Jack swam from Alcatrazto Fisherman's Wharf – while handcuffed, shackled and towing a boat.
Late in life, Mr. LaLanne remained fit and righteous for his cause.
Jack Lalanne who died aged 96 leaves behind his wife, Elaine; a daughter, Yvonne LaLanne; a son, Jon LaLanne, and a stepson, Dan Doyle.
R.I.P Jack LaLanne
 Is depression part of your life right now and you don’t want it to be

It seems pretty hard to be fit over 40, doesn’t it?
Well, I could tell you about people like Kelly Nelson and Morjoie Newlin, two female bodybuilders. They’re not your typical bodybuilders. Kelly Nelson first began training with weights in the early 1980′s at age 53 and was still competing in the 21st century in her late 70′s…in a bikini…and lookin’ good if I may say so! Morjorie Newlin was in HER 70′s before a 50 pound bag of cat litter convinced her that if she didn’t do something, old age was going to be a difficult time. That’s when she began a fitness training program that included weightlifting. Morjorie Newlin was participating in bodybuilding competitions, and winning, in her 80′s! Same comment…in a bikini and lookin’ good.

Now, obviously, these are special ladies who put in a lot of extra effort to accomplish some specific goals, but it does make a point. Life…and fitness…does not have to end at 40. Both of these ladies STARTED their fitness careers after age 40. Kelly Nelson was 53 and Morjorie Newlin was 72. Years later, both were still active in their chosen fitness areas and still enjoying life as well as, or better than, many in their 30′s or 40′s.
Fitness over 40? Heck, all around the globe, people in their 80′s are skiing, hiking, canoeing, biking. Some, not so adventurous, are lifting weights or sweatin’ along with Richard Simmons. Some are black belts in Karate, and some quietly and calmly practice yoga or tai-chi.
As easy as this sounds, fitness over 40 requires regular performance of the proper exercises. Just as in our 30′s or 40′s, sitting in the easy chair, clicking the remote, doing 16 ounce curls with a Miller Lite just doesn’t cut it. However, it is not necessary to pack up and head for the gym and try to keep up with the hardbody cuties, either. It IS necessary to pick an exercise program or physical activity, combine that with some healthy eating habits…AND STICK TO IT!
Even over 40, the benefits normally associated with a regular, moderate exercise program will kick in, but for seniors, some benefits are of special importance.
People over 40 tend to break bones, usually from falling.
As we age, bones weaken, as do muscles. We lose some of our proprioception, the perception of stimuli relating to a person’s own position, posture, equilibrium, or internal condition. Our ability to react quickly to a loss of balance, whatever the source, or to avoid an obstacle or actual peril becomes diminished.
Exercise helps bones stay strong and exercises such as weightlifting and other resistance training help your body maintain balance and stability. Weight bearing and resistance exercises assist the body in maintaining proprioception by improving the connections and conditions of the muscles and their anchoring in bone. This training also triggers the reconditioning of the signaling system from body to brain which allows the brain to realize the danger and transmit the appropriate signals to muscles which can react to correct the situation. Weightlifting and resistance exercises can help give your muscles the strength and agility to respond to those signals if you are tripped, off balance, or in other peril requiring quick reaction.
People over 40 begin to lose their zest for living and experience more health crises.
Part of this is due to normal changes that take place as we grow older. Our bodies get thicker and lose the gracefulness of youth. Things seem to become heavier and harder to move, and we begin to feel aches and pains that often accompany aging. Some of those aches and pains may be due to arthritis, and other ills may also attack us as we seem to become prey to every passing cold or other social ailment, and also see some deadlier or more debilitating conditions crop up in our age group, if not in ourselves.
Regular exercise comes to the rescue here as well. It can help with weight loss, or it can help with weight management once we get to our appropriate weight. Regular, moderate exercise can keep joints supple, in many cases even joints under attack by arthritis. I know about this as I have been afflicted with fairly severe osteoarthritis for several years and manage to keep myself active and the condition somewhat under control by my own exercise activities. Exercise also strengthens the immune system, which helps us avoid or fight off the normal bacterial and viral infections which seem to come our way and which often seem to wreak havoc on the older population.
Even better; regular, moderate exercise seems to be somewhat effective in helping ward off such common companions of aging as high blood pressure, type II diabetes, and even some forms of cancer.
What exercise program is beneficial for fitness over 40?
In the first analysis, almost any physical activity which gets your heart rate up, makes you breathe more deeply than normal, and which challenges muscles beyond their normal range of activity is going to be on the list. There are people in their 80′s hiking mountain trails, water skiing, playing softball, weightlifting (as pointed out earlier), or even cheerleading. It is NOT necessary to take out a membership in a local gym, hire a personal trainer, or invest in a lot of exercise equipment and apparel…unless that helps get you motivated. Anything from walking, to swimming, to yoga, to weightlifting will generally fill the bill. There are, however, some simple points to think about.
1. Get your doctor’s approval first. “Nuff said?
2. Pick an activity, or even a group of activities, which you will enjoy doing. Don’t be afraid to try something new…take some classes in yoga, tai chi, or even karate. Maybe you will feel better in a certain amount of solitude and just want to pick up a set of weights and exercise in the privacy of your home. Perhaps the idea of biking around the neighborhood or even around other parts of the country appeals to you. If this is a new set of decisions, realize that you may try a few things at first that just don’t pan out for one reason or another. Keep experimenting until you find what is right for you. You are STILL exercising, right?
3. Put some variation into your exercise.
Any exercise cannot itself provide the three basic types of exercise needed. We need exercises which will stretch muscles and joints, exercises which strengthen muscle, and exercises which improve our cardiovascular fitness. This is not really hard to do, however, and should not take a lot of time out of your life, particularly when you consider how much it will put back into your life. As one example, you could do a simple weight or resistance training for strength two or three times a week, some sort of low-impact aerobics or walking for cardio on other days, and do some simple stretching exercises every day. None of these workout periods needs to be more than about 30 minutes, although a little more time and effort may produce better benefits, particularly once you have trained up to a level where your body is comfortable meeting the demands you place on it.
You are more likely to stay on a physical fitness regimen if you enjoy it. However, things do tend to get stale over time. It doesn’t hurt to vary your approach from time to time in either the manner in which you do certain exercises, or by varying the exercises themselves. While not exact equals, for example, swimming, biking, and walking can be somewhat interchangeable as part of your fitness routine. In some cases, simply varying the environment, i.e. taking a walk in the park or botanical gardens as opposed your neighborhood may be all the variation you need to feel like you have put a little zing into your day-to-day workout existence.
4. Start off easy. At any age, a common reason for failure to stay on ANY exercise program is that people tend to try to do too much at first and try to progress too fast. Whatever you choose, your body needs time to adjust to the new demands being made on it, and results will never come overnight.
5. Don’t stop. Probably the most important aspect of any exercise program, or any other self-improvement program, is the commitment to what you know you should be doing day after day. A haphazard approach to your exercise program is detrimental at any stage in your life. After 40, however, making sure you get your regular dose of anti-aging exercise is incredibly important.
6. Eat healthy. I try to avoid the use of the word “diet”, and often substitute the term “healthy eating” instead. Diets don’t work and can even work against you. They are difficult to stay on and take a major portion of fun out of life instead of making life better. Healthy eating choices will do the trick if you make them a regular part of your life.
While fitness over 40 can demand some of your time and attention that you might not want to surrender to it, the rewards in overall health, fitness, and enjoyment of life will far outweigh any investment you put into it.
About the Author
Donovan Baldwin is a freelance writer residing in Copperas Cove, Texas, and a University of West Florida alumnus. He is a member of Mensa and is retired from the U. S. Army after 21 years of service. In his career, he has held many managerial and supervisory positions. However, his main pleasures have long been writing, nature, health, and fitness. In the last few years, he has been able to combine these pleasures by writing poetry and articles on subjects such as health, fitness, weight lifting, yoga, weight loss, the environment, global warming, happiness, self improvement, and life. You can find a collection of his articles on health, fitness, diet, and weight loss at http://nodiet4me.com/  and a review of Jon Benson and Tom Venuto’s ebook “Fit Over 40″ at http://nodiet4me.com/review/fit_over_40.html.
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