New Year, New You

Dec 10, 2011 by admin

New Year, New YouAs soon as midnight strikes on New Year’s Eve many of us will be making resolutions, but come the end of January all good intentions will be lost. But this time it shouldn’t just be about making one resolution and trying to stick to it, now’s the time to make some big decisions and welcome in the New Year with a new you.

Here’s a few tips to help you do just that:

Change your career direction

Are you stuck in a rut in your current career? Are you struggling to find your dream job? What many of us overlook is the potential to turn your hobby into a career. If fitness and training is part of your daily life, consider making this your working life too. With many accredited personal trainer courses throughout the UK as soon as you enrol on a course you’ll be on the first step to your new career. So while the gyms and fitness centres fill with good intentions in the New Year, you can rest assured that the career of a lifetime is just within your grasp.

Get a hold on your finances

After Christmas and New Year we can often be left with a huge dent in our wallets. Added on top to some of the debt that many of us have, we can be sometimes fear the worst come the start of January. But there’s never a better time to get a hold on our finances and start to reduce some debt. Can you start to make a dent in your credit card bill? Are you able to cut out needless spending or can you do without those luxury items? If you stick to it, it’s a promise that will continue to repay itself throughout the year.

Learn something new

Whether you want to improve your computer skills, learn a new language or pick up an instrument, now’s the time to start. With various courses available both in your local community and online for all kinds of skills, this can be a great resolution to really stick to. You’ll find the new you in no time.

See some of the world

We all look forward to our time off work and all enjoy some rest and relaxation while on holiday. But a summer holiday doesn’t have to mean a package holiday to the sunshine destinations in Europe. Why not head to Thailand for some jungle trekking, go bungee jumping in New Zealand or dance the samba at the Rio carnival? Choose a destination early in the year and work towards it. It could be the trip of a lifetime.

Whatever changes you make, the new you is just around the corner.

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If the Shoe Fits: Choosing a Walking Shoe

Nov 3, 2011 by admin

Not everyone is so enthused about exercising that he has memberships to three gyms, has exercise equipment in the corner of his family room and has three-, five- and ten-mile running routes mapped with alternating terrain challenges. Most of us fall far below that level of commitment, and for those of us just starting an exercise program, walking is an excellent starting point that often becomes the foundation of a regular routine. However, even the most dedicated newbie can suffer injury and become discouraged quickly if he wears the wrong shoes while walking.

Picture someone in shorts and a t-shirt on a warm day. He has his towel, watch, sunglasses and wallet tucked safely away, and off he goes. By the time he reaches the first corner, he has a blister; his ankles are sore, and he’s sure his arches have fallen.

Who knew wearing high heels was bad for walking for exercise? The right—or wrong—shoe makes a difference!

When you are beginning a walking exercise regime, don’t buy the most expensive walking shoe you can afford. They should be a separate pair of shoes from your everyday pair, but you don’t have to clean out your bank account. Determine your budget and start looking about mid-range.

You want to look for certain construction elements, comfort and fit. Your first pair of walking shoes may not last very long: You might change your mind or determine you like it so well that you want an even better pair. But look for support first.

Walking ShoeWalking shoes have wide sole bases. Some models have soles as wide or wider than the actual shoe material that covers your foot. That wide base steadies and supports your stride, and it’s very important.

Next, look for cushioning in the sole. Walking doesn’t present as high of impact on your bones, joints and muscles, but there’s more than what’s experienced just sitting on the couch playing video games. Give yourself that bit of ease and comfort.

Make sure there is adequate arch support. Even if you don’t have fallen arches naturally, what support you can provide the bone structure in your foot can only benefit you—so long as it’s still comfortable enough when you’re walking. If there is inadequate arch support built into the shoe, purchase separate inserts that provide it.

Ensure you can fasten the shoes comfortably without pinching any part of your foot, yet not allow the foot to “swim” in the shoe at all. Allow the proper size toe box for your foot: Squeezing toes together just to look good while you walk is counterproductive to maintaining a walking exercise routine. If your foot, leg or back hurts when you walk, although you look good doing it, you won’t continue, and you loose all the physical and mental health benefits from this terrific cardio- and muscular exercise.

Make sure your walking shoe fits, and when the shoe fits, wear it often and well as you walk for exercise, fun and socialization!

Article by Holly Miller, who writes for Coupon Croc. Shop online for footwear and save when you use discount codes fromCouponCroc.co.uk.

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Walking As A Means Of Transportation: Healthy and Cost Effective

Sep 1, 2011 by guestcontributor

Every body knows the many benefits of walking already. Walking is a good help in preventing type 2 diabetes by reducing 58% risk for every 150 minutes walking. Walking also strengthen the heart of both male and female by walking two to three miles per day. Walking also promotes good cognitive function of your brain especially for women by just walking at least 1.5 hours per week. Walking also strengthen bones by increasing its density in just at least one mile per day. Walking also helps reduce the risk of depression by walking 3-5 times a week. Brisk walking for at least fifteen to two and a half hours per day reduces the risk of breast and colon cancer. Generally, walking is always a good way to stay fit and always improves physical function.

Walking by PensieroIf you think that you can not really find time to spend for walking, you can always choose walking as a means of transportation. When people go to places which are nearby or just like 3-5 blocks away, walking can be your means of transportation provided you would not be late with your appointment. Usually, big cities have what we call the sidewalks and pedestrians to provide walking space or areas for commuters or people who prefers walking outdoor rather than indoor like for example using a treadmill. In case your place does not have sidewalks or pedestrian, you should always walk facing the oncoming traffic for your safety since you will be able to see vehicle coming towards you. Generally, walking is one of the most convenient and the easiest way in promoting successful clean urban transport. In fact, big cities are already reinforcing and promoting this activity and are investing pedestrian malls, and foreshoreways such as ocean ways and riverwalks.

Walking as a means of transportation is always safe. Just think of the fact that you are not one of those people who crowd the streets causing traffic. In addition to that is the fact that you can no longer contribute to air pollution. And of course importantly, you always have an effortless and natural exercise for your own physical fitness and health!

“This is a guest article from Advance Me, America’s leading merchant cash advance provider.”

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Health Benefits of Walking

Aug 17, 2011 by guestcontributor

Walking is one form of exercise that is best health enthusiasts who can no longer jog or run. Although jogging and running are the more popular forms of exercise for busy individuals, walking alone has offers a variety of health benefits that anyone can enjoy. Don’t ever think that walking is a lazy man’s exercise and you can’t benefit anything from it. In reality, walking basically offers more or less the same benefits as jogging and running. Walking though is the preferred choice because it is natural and doesn’t need any preparations. Here are some health benefits that health enthusiasts can achieve when they are walking.

Walking Exercise

Walking develops the leg muscles. Mountain climbers or hikers often exercise by several miles of walking in preparation for a major climb. They do this so that by the time when the climb proper arrives, their muscles have been prepared for the strenuous activity. Second, it keeps cardiovascular diseases away. Studies have shown that health enthusiasts that walk for at least thirty minutes are less prone to heart attacks and cardiovascular diseases. Blood test in Knoxville show that cholesterol level in those who walk everyday is less compared to those who rarely walk. It is therefore a must for corporate individuals.

Third benefit of walking is to improve sleep. Sometimes people complain of irregular sleeping pattern. This has become a problem for them because their sleeping pattern has already affected their work as well as their relationships with other people. Another study showed that after walking for at least thirty minutes, their sleeping patterns improved and one month later, sleep pattern has become normal. Walking after all is a simple yet effective way of exercise. So what are you waiting for? Grab your shoes now and go outside and enjoy all the benefits of walking.

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Injuries and Treatments in Race Walking

Jun 27, 2010 by admin

Though race walking is healthy game and people prefer it than simple running. Race walking is a big source of burning calories and reducing fats in your body. But you know, where there is a game, chances are there to get injuries. Similarly race walking is not free from injuries but treatment is also there to cure these injuries. So advantages of race walking are more than disadvantages.Injuries

Records show that ratio to get injuries by race walking players is less and these injuries are also not traumatic. Some common injuries which players suffer are as below.

Injuries:

Tendonitis of knees, Planter fasciitis or feet injury and shin splints are the most common race walking injuries. These all injuries related to muscles, which can be in either form like pulling of muscles, hardening of muscles, and low flexibility in muscles by keeping them long time straightened. As we know tendons are those fibrous materials which connect muscles with bones. Tendonitis of knees in race walking occur due to decreasing flexibility of knees as race walkers have to move forward by contracting muscles. With the time being the muscles lose stretch ability and become tightened. This tightened muscle pulls at the origin point and also in insertion point. One more disadvantage of tight muscle is that friction increases in joints and bursa is irritated. Bursa is a fluid-filled sac in joints.

Treatments:

Normally common treatment in case of injury or pain is rest and aspirin, but these are not treatment of injuries. These precautions just kill the symptoms for some time not cause. For tight muscles isolation of muscles is necessary. To release strain on tendons is stretching of muscles. Another treatment to avoid hardening of muscles is to stretch them gently after exercise. However, if you are suffering from muscle hardness, then digging a scar in tissue is the only treatment which can cure your injury.

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Training For a Race

Jun 7, 2010 by admin

Both beginners and experienced race walkers have a complaint that there is no proper training guidance for them. As if they ask 100 coaches for training strategies, they receive 100 different answers. Therefore, there is so much confusion about exact training schedule and strategies. They do not know what to do for getting training of race walking.

One thing should be in your mind that before getting training, you should decide your goal. This means you should do training forRace Walkingrace walking with the clear aim of winning the upcoming race. You may think that what this is. Everyone who wants to learn a game gets training with the aim of winning. That’s true, but I add this thing because you should well aware about upcoming event that that what kind of strategies should be adapt to win this time and what were the short comings of loser in previous race. Now here are some tips regarding training for race walking.

  1. Warm up and Cool down: First warm up with 5-10 minutes of easy walking, after those 5-10 minutes of stretching arms and legs, finally 5 minutes of cool down with easy walking.
  2. Head and Posture: Adjust the head and eye level by looking straight and relax your neck and jaw.
  3. Arms movement: Arms should remain at 85-90 degree at the elbows always. Arm’s movement should be loosely and vigorously as well and pivoting from the shoulders.
  4. Body Posture: You should keep the body position straight and in relaxing position means walk tall and straight.
  5. Feet movement: The most important thing in race walking is your feet position. Your front foot must in contact with the ground before your rear foot loose the contact from ground.
  6. Legs and Stride: There should be no bend in advancing leg means knee of this leg should be straight.

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