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Informative Articles

Back Pain & Muscle Pain - Effective Nonprescription Pain Relief
Pain and Stress. They seem almost to go hand in hand - not only in their negative connotation, but also in their biological causes and triggers. Back pain and muscle pain is typically caused by inflammation in the proximity where the...

Exercising to Improve Your Sleep
Studies suggest that exercise helps to promote sleep for individuals with insomnia. Below are some of the benefits exercise provides : - Adrenaline is released, increasing the heart rate and metabolism, naturally fatiguing the body. - Brain...

Have You Bought Into These Arthritis Myths?
Myth 1: Exercise doesn't help arthritis, and in fact makes the condition worse. Fact: Proper exercise performed on a regular basis is an important part of arthritis treatment, according to the Arthritis Foundation. Twenty years ago, doctors...

Pregnancy Fitness After The Baby Is Born
What happened to that pre-pregnancy body you once had? After nine months of your body going through numerous changes, many of which you do not like or enjoy, your newborn is here and its time to lose the excess weight you have most likely gained....

Preventing Injuries
Contrary to popular wisdom, stretching is not the cure-all that we’ve been led to believe. Walking, riding on a stationery bike, or doing calisthenics is a better way to warm up than stretching. If you stretch before your muscles are warmed up, you...

Weight Loss vs. Fat Loss
In order to lose weight, your body must burn more calories than it takes in, but keep in mind that your body needs calories for energy and when you exercise; your body needs even more calories. Before I talk about energy, the first thing you must...

 
"Pay The Piper"

Let's face it, most people enjoy cardiovascular exercise as much
as a visit to the their oral surgeon - or - spending the weekend
with their in-laws. Most people's idea of the perfect
cardiovascular exercise program is walking from the bedroom to
the bathroom. If you want to decrease your body fat percentage,
get ripped, and have your waist, legs, and rear end look like a
million dollars, there is no substitution for cardio - but it
doesn't have to be boring and a major chore you hate.

Select cardiovascular exercises that you enjoy doing. If you
hate to run, it is going to be very hard for you to get up every
morning at 6:00 AM and run for 30 minutes. Choose an exercise
that you enjoy doing. Walking, crawling, jogging, running,
bicycling, stairmaster, nordic ski machine, cross trainer,
rowing, swimming, aerobics, trampoline, martial arts, dance,
basketball, soccer, fencing, gymnastics, sex, and mud wrestling
are just a few of the hundreds of exercises that will take your
heart rate and keep it in the fat burning zone for what ever time
is appropriate for your present condition. If you enjoy a
certain activity, you are more likely to do it on a routine
basis. Select exercises that are good for you.

Cardiovascular exercise provides you with a multitude of
benefits. It increases your metabolic rate which burns body fat,
increases blood flow to your brain and major organs, improves
digestion, reduces stress, increases alertness, and boosts your
immune system.

Research supports that getting your cardiovascular exercise out
of the way, first thing in the morning, on an empty stomach is
best for fat burning. Some sources state that you can burn up to
3 times as much fat per hour exercising on an empty stomach.
There are several medical conditions including hypoglycemia which
would be a contraindication from you doing any type of exercise
on an empty stomach. That is why it is imperative that you have
a comprehensive medical examination before starting any
cardiovascular exercise program.

I realize cardiovascular exercise can be boring, but there


are
several things that you can do to make it more enjoyable, and
also make it seem to go by faster. If you go to any up-scale
health club today, there is a television set in front of every
cardiovascular station. Television, radio, and educational audio
tape series all help keep your mind focused on something other
than the chore at hand.

Don't waste this valuable time staring in space. Learn Spanish,
French, or Japanese. Catch up on the latest marketing tips in
your field of expertise. Lose yourself in the latest audio
romance series by your favorite author. Learn how to be a
better mother, father, lover or Bridge player. Study trivia just
in case one day, you come face to face with Regis. Slap on a
Walkman and listen to whatever interests you. You will be amazed
how quickly your cardiovascular exercise will be over.
Sometimes, you will find yourself spending five, ten, even twenty
minutes more time exercising because you are caught up in what
you are listening to.

There have been many times I have been amazed that thirty minutes
have gone by because I have been pre-occupied with something
else, and not watching the seconds tick away on the treadmill or
stairmaster. Listen to something you really enjoy.

Regular cardiovascular exercise is not something that comes
natural to most people unless you are already a fanatic. When I
first started training, I hated doing cardio. It takes a little
time, but just like anything else, if you do it long enough, it
becomes part of your daily routine. Your day won't feel complete
unless you have done it. Kind of like a morning without orange
juice. Plus, cardiovascular exercise releases endorphins into
your system which will give you a natural high and make you feel
great. This kind of high doesn't cost you $1,000.00 a week, give
you nose bleeds, make you cough, or destroy your brain, liver or
lungs.


About the Author

Dr. Osgoodby was a finalist in the "EAS Body for Life" Contest.
Stop by his web page at bestbodyever.com to see his before
and after pictures and subscribe to his monthly newsletter.