Hints and Tips

Rambling

Feb 22nd

Posted by Funkster in Hints and Tips

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If you’re new to exercise or want to increase your fitness in an easy way by getting fresh air and walking with friends then rambling may be the sport for you. Rambling is very similar to hiking, although poles are usually used with hiking for the steep hills. Rambling is perfect for people of all ages and is walking on country paths. Working out in fresh air vs. the gym has many benefits.

  • Combats Depression – Fresh air clears the mind and helps those who suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), and it also helps sufferers of depression. Natural daylight also provides the skin with Vitamin D, which is wonderful for boosting the nervous system and banishing negative thoughts. Vitamin D also helps the body to absorb calcium, so it helps joint health and prevents age related diseases like osteoarthritis and brittle bone disease.
  • Regular rambling will increase fitness –  The heart will grow larger and the resting heart rate will be a lot slower  (a good sign of fitness).
  • Weight loss – Rambling will increase the metabolism if performed regularly. As we grow older, the body naturally needs less calories and muscle tissue breaks down therefore reducing the body’s basal metabolic rate. A good way to increase the metabolic rate over the long term is to participate in weight bearing exercises, such as rambling. The changes may be slight but you will definitely feel better in yourself.
  • Protect your joints – It is important when you undertake any form of exercise to protect the leg joints so make sure that you buy a good pair of walking boots that have a good grip but are also light so that you can carry on with the sport for hours.

A few things to consider with rambling is the countryside codes.  Some areas may be private so be well aware.

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Lose Weight with Boxing Training

Feb 10th

Posted by Funkster in Hints and Tips

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Aint’ it strange that you can never really notice weight loss in yourself until someone else spots it. A couple of weeks ago a person I hadn’t seen in years told me I had lost weight. The same day, a girl at the gym asked me if I had lost weight. Of course, I have been doing my usual weight training and skipping workouts and much less spinning. It’s so strange. Then I weighed myself at weekend and found that I had put half a stone on.

So perhaps I’ve added a lot of muscle tissue, which obviously weighs more than fat, although I have a fairly athletic build, but I don’t think I have added seven pounds of muscle. That is way too much.

Anyhow, I need something quick to get me fit and I’m now attending boxing training twice a week, body pump once a week and body combat once a week. That’s enough for me. I’m already aching after my gym session last night and boxing training tonight.

If you’re serious about conditioning your body, I would highly recommend boxing training. The hour and a half session started off with skipping. I used a weighted rope, which makes it a little harder but tones the shoulders nicely. Then there were sprints on the spot, high jumps, press-ups, burpees, star jumps, and sit-ups. Then it was out into the nippy air for a mile and half job followed by tiring two minute heavy bag punches non-stop. Sit ups and press-ups followed, then knees up throwing shots at the bag thirty seconds, heavy blows for half a minute, and alternate punches for a final thirty seconds. Two sets of these were performed.

Finally the last twenty minutes contained some seriously hard body weight training, some of which I coudn’t do (throw your body off the floor press-ups) but at least I tried but almost splatted my nose on the carpet. More tough sit-ups followed and then it was a stretch and warm down.

I am not sure what attracts me to hard training such as this but I know that the pain is worth it in fitness and the positive changes it gives to the body. Even my punching power has gained in strength and I am able to keep my guard up. I have big respect for boxers. I struggled throwing punches for just two minutes, let alone twelve rounds of three minutes.

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Muscle vs. Fat

Feb 6th

Posted by Funkster in Diet and Nutrition

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What is important to remember when you are undertaking any exercise or weight loss programme is that if you perform weight training, you WILL put on weight. If you’re obsessed with weighing yourself, this isn’t going to help you one bit and can lead you off the right path onto the wrong.

Instead, get rid of the scales and let your clothes tell the truth. I always know when I’ve lost weight because my clothes are loose. The scales always show me at the same weight or more but I do a lot of weight training.

The reason I state this is because muscle does weigh more than fat, so obviously if you are doing regular weight training the muscle gain will show up on the scale. This can make some people panic but remember muscle is your best friend and will help to burn off the fat over the long term. It may not be overnight but you will certainly look leaner if you keep up weight training.

Another myth that most people worry about with weight training is that they will bulk up to look like Arnie. Even if you start with light weights and perform 20-30 reps, you will start to build muscle. To burn serious fat, try to increase the weights every week. The more weight you can squat or press, the more leaner your muscles will become. Avoid pyramid training which use heavy weights and you’ll be fine. I would highly recommend Body Pump. It is tough but work on building your mental strength to perform weight training.

Even today I weighed myself and I usually never do. Twelve stone. I am lean but I perform a boxing training, body pump, spinning, and skipping over the week so my metabolism is high. Another great thing you must know about weight training is that it will burn still be burning off fat for up to 48 hours afterward. Cardio may burn it for up to 2-3 hours afterward so how cool would it be to burn fat through the night.

Remember to eat lots of protein to fuel the additional muscle.

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Tone The Breasts

Feb 1st

Posted by Funkster in Hints and Tips

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I hate bras and underwear and avoid them at all times.  Because I hate bras so much I have my own little discipline programme that I undertake every day – 20-30 pressups. This has always kept my breasts toned and full, even when I do the pen test.

Pressups are wonderful and tone the surrounding breasts tissue wonderfully. I first started getting into pressups when I started attending boxing training  in 2003. Performed regularly, pressups will help to make your breasts appear fuller. Breasts do not contain muscle so you must strengthen its surrounding tissue. Please do not waste your money on expensive breast toning creams. Why do people think that these work anyway? They are ridiculously expensive, probably contains some seaweed or firming extract, and will not work over the long term. The best way to tone the breasts is through exercise.

I would highly recommend pressups. Obviously, the more challenging the pressups the better the workout. As well as toning the chest area, pressups will also tone the triceps, back, and abdomen. Pressups are wonderful and so verstatile. Beginners can perform effective pressups on their knees.

Other much easier exercises to tone the chest are is to press the hands together in a prayer position and clench the chest area or try the bench press. This is a wonderful exercise for both men and women. The pen test is a test to find out if your breasts are toned or saggy. Simply hold one arm over your head, place the pen under the breast. If it drops, your breasts are pert. If it stays, your breasts are starting to sag slightly. I would highly recommend toning the breasts with pressups. They are free and can be performed anywhere, even against the wall while you are waiting for the kettle to boil.

I have not worn a bra for years and years. I really do loathe them for some reason. My breasts have remained the same because I like to put in the effort through exercise.

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