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While in no way is this article claiming to be THE “top ten reasons to exercise” I believe that these top ten are very important and have in their own rights earned honorable mention in this top ten list.

Let’s get started:

#10 Form and Posture

Through physical fitness your body will become stronger and more balanced. By equally focusing on muscle groups your posture will erect and your form for each exercise will become optimal.

As with anything, when you repeat an exercise, you will begin to have better form until you perform each move optimally and therefore will achieve optimal results.

#9 Responsiveness / Reflex

By performing certain speed exercises that focus on your fast twitch muscles (The muscles that perform quick movement) you will begin to experience increased reflex and responsiveness.

A big part of fitness is not in the muscle but in the communication between brain and motor units. As your body learns how to optimally communicate with each motor unit you will benefit with a faster ability to use the muscle.

#8 Knowledge

Why would I include knowledge in my “top ten reasons to exercise”?

Well, as you begin to do more workouts, learn new forms, and achieve new levels of fitness your knowledge of health and the body will expand.

It is inevitable that in time, you will learn more exercise positions, how to maximize form, how to eat appropriately, and many other aspects of fitness.

Knowledge comes with great determination. The more you focus on your exercise the more you will learn about it and your body. Knowledge is a powerful tool as it will help you understand what you can and cannot do.

Plus, with increased knowledge of exercise you will be able to create your own workout schedules allowing you to mix it up and add new life into a “boring” workout routine.

#7 Character

As you become more fit you will grow more confident in yourself. You will look better and over-all you will feel better.

Endurance and power exercises will force you to push to the limits and a little further. Through reaching new limits and transcending old goals you will become a stronger and wiser individual.

Your character will become more defined just as your body becomes more defined.

#6 Concentration

As I mentioned with character, the same is true for concentration.

Through endurance exercises you will have to push your body to limits beyond what you body wants to complete. You will have to keep a concentration that will allow you to push beyond limits.

Through time you will easily enter into this concentration and reach new goals when your body is only telling you to quit. Your mind is a very powerful tool, without it exercise would be pointless.

#5 Flexibility

At number 5 of my top ten reasons to exercise I wanted to include flexibility. Being at a half way point I want to focus on a benefit that some may find silly or pointless.

But being flexible is very, very, important.

It is best to achieve an equilibrium of strength, balance, and coordination. Nothing will challenge your mind and flexibility more than Yoga. Some think yoga is silly and a woman’s workout but I beg to differ. For any I have confronted that mock Yoga I asked the simple question, “Have you done it before?”, they all reply, “No”.

Interesting I think that those who mock something are unwilling to actually try it. Intimidated perhaps?

#4 Endurance

Pushing your limits through exercise will help you build stronger endurance; whether you are running long distance, swimming, or lifting heavier weights.

Endurance is a huge benefit as it will allow you to do harder things, for longer.

Have you ever imagined yourself running a full marathon or triathlon? Those are 2 examples of incredible endurance events that participants must prepare for months in advance.

But, don’t ever think it’s not possible for you. Giving yourself a seemingly “impossible” goal will drive you to accomplish things that right now don’t seem possible. But in the future will seem impossible that you didn’t start sooner!

#3 Power

Number 3 of my top ten reasons to exercise is power. The ability to be explosive, lift heavy, and do things with force.

Exercise will allow you to become much stronger as you lift weights heavier than your normal daily activities would require. In doing so you build stronger more powerful muscles which allow you to do seemingly astonishing things.

#2 Strength

While I believe Power and Strength are nearly equal I do want to separate the two for one specific reason.

While power is the explosiveness of an action, strength is your ability to do the over-all action. While someone may have immense power they may not have the strength to lift a heavy boulder. While someone with less power may have the strength to will the boulder in the air.

#1 Health

The number one reason in my “top ten reasons to exercise” is health.

over-all, while each mentioned reason has it’s own perk, they all add up into one unit which is your health. Health can be classified as your body’s ability to fight off infections and injury, it’s ability to heal and respond, your body’s ability to function and maintain, and of course the ability to prevent damaged cells which leads to diseases such as cancer.

I am not saying that these top ten reasons to exercise are the cure for cancer. What I am saying is that by striving to maximize each area of exercise and health you will achieve an optimal level of health in your life which will help you combat negative outcomes.

Exercise today for a healthier tomorrow!

Jason is a fitness enthusiast and also an independent fitness coach with years of personal experience in exercise programs. Find more articles like the top ten reasons to exercise by Jason and equip yourself with the knowledge of better health and fitness.

Jason Croxford aka Betterbody90
Entrepreneur - Fitness Coach - Student of Life
Website: http://www.betterbody90.com
Skype: JasonCroxford

Jogging is a very popular exercise. Not only is it a fun way to get outside and enjoy some fresh air but it also offers some excellent health benefits. In this article I will be discussing four of these health benefits in greater detail.

1) IT INCREASES YOUR HDL (HIGH DENSITY LIPOPROTEIN) CHOLESTEROL:- HDL cholesterol ensures that excess cholesterol is removed from your blood vessels. This prevents blockages and reduces your risk of heart disease. Regular jogging increases your HDL levels and can therefore help regulate your body’s cholesterol levels and lower your chances of having a heart attack.

2) IT SUPPORTS STRONGER BONES:- Jogging is a weight bearing exercise which places stress on your skeleton. This stimulates an increase in bone mineral density which leads to stronger, thicker bones. Increased bone mineral density lowers your chances of developing osteoporosis (brittle, porous bones) and means your bones are less likely to bend, break and fracture.

3) IT CAN PREVENT DIABETES:- Cardiovascular exercises such as jogging are a great way to prevent the onset of diabetes (a condition where your blood glucose levels become extremely high). Inactivity and obesity are two of the biggest risk factors for diabetes. Jogging provides you with regular physical activity and is also a great way to keep your weight under control, offsetting both these risk factors. Furthermore, regular jogging can improve your body’s sensitivity to insulin (a hormone that allows your cells to take glucose from the blood) which helps stabilise blood glucose levels and prevents them from reaching extremely high levels.

4) IT LOWERS YOUR BODY FAT LEVELS:- One mile of jogging burns approximately 150 calories. However, jogging does not just burn calories whilst you are exercising. Research suggests that in the 48 hours following cardiovascular exercise your body can burn up to 15% more calories. Therefore, regular jogging can help you burn more calories both whilst exercising and whilst resting. Provided your diet does not change this increased calorie burn will lead to lower body fat levels.

Jogging is a highly beneficial exercise. Not only does it improve your cardiovascular fitness but it also supports good overall health. So next time you find yourself relaxing in the garden on a sunny day with a spare hour or two why not give jogging a try? You will still be able to experience the nice weather but you will also enjoy all the benefits listed in this article.

Tom Parker owns and operates a number of useful fitness resources and websites. You can learn more about the health benefits of jogging and get a free Fitness Tip by visiting his websites.

Jogging is an excellent cardiovascular exercise. However, there is much more to jogging than just cardiovascular health benefits. It allows you to get some fresh air, be alone with your thoughts and more. In this article I am going to expand on this topic and discuss three compelling reasons for doing more jogging.

1) IT GIVES YOU SOME VITAMIN D:- Most people get very little exposure to natural sunlight. They commute to work by car, they spend most of the day in the office, they perhaps go and do some exercise in the gym and then they go home for the evening. If you are one of these people then getting outside and doing some jogging can give you a healthy dose of natural sunlight. This stimulates the production of vitamin D which can help your body absorb calcium and phosphorous. Both these minerals support strong bones and teeth and prevent the development of osteoporosis.

2) IT GIVES YOU SOME ALONE TIME:- There are many distractions during the day that prevent you from having some alone time. When you wake up first thing in the morning you are focussed on getting ready for work. Then when you get to work you concentrate on the tasks that are presented to you. If you go to the gym or an evening class after work then you are surrounded by other people. When you finally arrive home in the evening there are further distractions such as the Internet, TV and family, friends or flatmates. However, if you go jogging you can escape from all this and get some alone time. You can use this alone time to collect your thoughts, reflect on the day that has passed and de-stress.

3) YOU CAN FOCUS ON YOUR MUSIC:- You probably hear music everyday. You might listen to it on the radio as you drive to work. Perhaps it plays in the background whilst you work out at the gym. However, most of the time it is nothing more than background noise. On the other hand when you go jogging music can be your main focus. There is nothing else to distract you from the songs and you can fully engage in the music which makes it a much more enjoyable experience.

As you can see jogging has many more benefits than just improving your cardiovascular health. So next time you have some free time and the weather is nice outside why not go for a jog? It will make a change to your usual gym routine and also allow you to enjoy the benefits discussed above.

Tom Parker owns and operates a number of useful fitness resources and websites. You learn more about the benefits of jogging and get a free Fitness Tip by visiting his websites.

The importance of physical fitness in the life of anyone trying to seek better health and over-all well being is not just as easy as working out three days a week. Life itself is nothing but constant checks and balances and so to should be your health and fitness.

What I mean is this, life is a series of waves, it may seem things have a constant but this is only an illusion. For life to maintain it’s “constant” it must achieve a balance of these waves which can be called an equilibrium or when things seem to be complacent.

The importance of physical fitness in your life and in your health is just as important as the constant balance of life itself. But to achieve this balance in health you must understand three major components. It is in this article that you will discover these components and why they are so important in achieving balance in your health and physical fitness.

#1 The Mindset:

The mindset will be one of the most important aspects, no, THE most important aspect of your physical fitness. If you don’t have the mindset, the drive, the perseverance, and the ability to channel your focus then you will fail before you even get started.

Mindset is made up of your goals and your convictions. Are you of the mindset to do what it takes?will you push through the pain? Will you do it again tomorrow or give up today?

Before you can begin to understand the importance of physical fitness you must first look deep within yourself. You must pledge to your inner self that this is what you truly want. Go beyond the simple thoughts and dialog within your outer self, adhere to your goal and know, no matter what those thoughts say, you know deep within yourself to continue pushing forward.

#2 What You Eat:

The importance of physical fitness is also just another form of balance in your over-all health. Working out and using your body will be just one step in creating harmony within your body.

To achieve that equilibrium of health you must also look at your eating habits. Now I hate to call healthy eating a “diet”. The very word “Diet” to me signifies a temporary outcome or a short term goal. This word can also be looked at subconsciously as a negative in your life.

I don’t want you to “diet” or restrict yourself. What you do need to do is understand the food you eat. Eat for the reasons of health and longevity, not only for pleasure or avoidance of pain.

When you understand the food you eat you will never have to diet again. You can still eat the foods you desire on occasion but with portion control and in balance. Eat fresh fruits and vegetables more often then ice cream and candy. Drink water more often then soda and alcohol.

Eventually you will find that you don’t have to diet, that you can enjoy these “bad” foods, but soon you will realize you don’t even need them in your life. By taking the balanced and portion approach rather than short term restriction you can reach your long term goals.

When you deprive or punish yourself you give reasons to break down when your emotional load is overwhelming. When you give in you may give up. this is not because you are weak but because you are human.

In a balanced approach you realize that you are not being bad by enjoying something tasty. But instead you can take the moment to really enjoy the sense of taste and the pleasures it provides. But after wards you will drink your water and tomorrow you will enjoy your fruits and vegetables.

Strive for balance not restriction.

#3 Physical Fitness:

So by now you can see that the “importance of physical fitness” cannot be looked at as a one trick pony. It is only part of a collaborative approach of over-all health and fitness.

But lets take a look at physical fitness itself. Why is it important?

Well, I am sure you have heard this saying before, “Use it or lose it”. The same idea goes with your body. Sure it won’t happen over night, but in long term, if you don’t use muscles they will break down and be used for alternative energy.

If you don’t stimulate your body if will never feel the need to be strong and ready for physical actions. If you don’t give your body a reason to do a particular action it simply won’t do it!

Think of it as doing your chores. Sure sometimes they seem pointless even though it will take a whopping 15 minutes to vacuum. But think about it, if you don’t vacuum the dust will build up and the room will begin to look old.

In time, because this room is not taken care of it will become cluttered and un-used. Bugs may move in and take over just as viruses, bacteria, and cell deformations may take over an unused body.

So think about it, if you just took that 15 minutes to “vacuum”, the room would stay more vibrant and fresh a lot longer. Sure everything is bound to break down in time as that is the life and the laws of physics that we live by.

However, up keeping something will keep it new, longer. Taking care of the room will give reason for it to be used and kept up.

Just in the same way through physical fitness that your body has a reason to renew your skeletal structure, to build muscle, to burn fat, and to keep your body running optimal.

By now the importance of physical fitness should be very apparent. Don’t neglect the very possession you have always had and will always have regardless of what life may bring.

Your body is after-all your temple and your vehicle to interact and enjoy all that life has to offer. Whether that may be the taste of foreign cuisine, the sound of laughter from your friends, the feeling of touch when you embrace your children, or that sense of “feeling good” when everything is as it should be.

Your next move it to learn even more about the importance of physical fitness and how you can include fitness into your life while never leaving your home.

Jason Croxford aka Betterbody90
Entrepreneur - Fitness Coach - Student of Life
Website: http://www.betterbody90.com
Skype: JasonCroxford

Jogging is a great way to improve your fitness. Not only does it allow you to get some fresh air and have some alone time but it also has countless health benefits. In this article I am going to be discussing four of these benefits in greater detail.

1) INCREASED CARDIOVASCULAR FITNESS:- One of the main benefits of regular jogging is increased cardiovascular fitness. Cardiovascular fitness refers to how efficient your body is at using oxygen. Your cardiovascular fitness can improve in two ways. First, your heart, lungs, blood vessels and lymph vessels can get better at delivering oxygen to the muscles that require it. Secondly, your muscles can get better at utilising the oxygen that is delivered to them. Increased cardiovascular fitness has a number of health benefits which include greater endurance and lower blood pressure.

2) LOWER BLOOD PRESSURE:- High blood pressure damages the blood vessels in your body which restricts the flow of blood to and from your vital organs. This can lead to major organ damage and also increases your risk of heart disease. High levels of fitness have been linked with reduced blood pressure. Therefore, regular jogging can lower your blood pressure and minimise the risks associated with this disease.

3) GREATER ENDURANCE:- As discussed above, regular jogging improves your cardiovascular fitness which makes your body more efficient at utilising oxygen. Oxygen allows your body to release the energy from the foods you eat. So the greater your fitness becomes, the more energy you can generate during exercise. This improves your overall endurance and allows you to jog faster and longer.

4) CANCER PREVENTION:- There are countless studies that suggest cardiovascular exercises such as jogging can help prevent cancer. A number of suggestions have been put forward as to why this is. One suggestion is that regular exercise strengthens your immune system and improves your body’s ability to fight cancerous growths. Another theory is that exercise increases the rate at which your body excretes waste products and so these harmful materials are in your body for shorter periods of time.

As you can see there are plenty of reasons to start making jogging part of your lifestyle. So next time the weather is nice why not skip the gym, grab your trainers and hit the road? You will still get a good workout and will also be able to enjoy the fantastic benefits listed in this article.

Tom Parker owns and operates a number of useful fitness resources and websites. You learn more about the benefits of jogging and get a Free Fitness Tip by visiting his websites.

Cardiovascular exercise. These very words can stir up a great deal of different emotions. Some people love cardio, as it usually called. Some people hate it. Perhaps it is in the way that we look at it. It is most often thought of related to weight loss, which, in itself stirs up many emotions. Cardio provides many benefits to our bodies to help us stay healthy.

Just what is cardio? Cardiovascular exercise, or cardio training, is performing any activity that involves the use of the large muscle groups of the body in a regular and uninterrupted manor. It elevates your heart rate between 60% and 85% of the fastest heart rate that you can get. Some activities that are examples of cardio training are: walking, running, biking, rollerblading or any other aerobic exercise.

WEIGHT LOSS

I want you to think of cardio as having many benefits to your overall health-not just for weight loss, although weight loss is a very important benefit. When you are performing cardio training, you are moving your body. When you are moving your body, you are burning off calories in the form of energy. Some forms of cardio will burn more calories than others and some will depend on the amount of time that you do them. If you walk 30 minutes at a brisk pace, you will burn more calories than walking 30 minutes at a slower pace.

HEART HEALTH

Improving the health of your heart is a major benefit of cardio training. Your heart is a muscle and it needs to be worked to stay strong. Have you ever wondered why you feel winded after walking up a flight of stairs? It is because you have not been working your heart muscle. When you perform a cardio activity for 30 minutes five times per week, you are helping your heart muscle get stronger. When that muscle is strong, it is able to pump blood throughout your body. Climbing that flight of stairs will no longer leave you winded and breathless.

REDUCED RISK OF DISEASES AND ILLNESSES

Cardio has been shown to help reduce the risk of heart disease. Obviously, if you are exercising your heart muscle, it will only make it stronger! Cardio training also provides relief from anxiety and depression. Have you ever heard of the “runner’s high”? When you do cardio, your body releases hormones that make you feel good, thus helping you reduce the amount of stress in your body.

A BETTER YOU

Cardio helps you develop a “better you”. By this I mean you will have more confidence in how you look and feel. You will have more energy to perform your everyday tasks and tackle that big “to do” list. If you use more energy during the day, your body will sleep better at night, so that you will feel more rested in the morning and ready to begin your day.

When you feel better, those around you will notice, and it will be contagious. You will be setting a good example for your family and co-workers to follow. Who knows what will catch on?

Now that you know the benefits of cardio, why not get started? The sooner that you do, the better you will feel!

Are you sick and tired of trying every fad diet under the sun only to find they don’t work? Are you tired of being lied to about the latest weight loss diets? Learn what really works by going to http://weight–loss–diets.com

Walking. It is something you learned to do around the time you were one year old! You have been doing it your whole life! There is no easier way to get from the kitchen to the living room than walking.

You get my point. Have you ever thought about doing more of it to help your body reap health benefits?

Now is the time to get started!

Why choose walking when you can do other forms of exercise? First of all, walking is a low-impact activity. This means that it is easy on your joints and does not cause a lot of pain. Walking is also free! You do not need to join a gym to walk. You can walk outdoors in nice weather and inside at a local mall in inclement weather. It can be done alone, or with friends! And, you already know how to do it, it does not require any practice! See how easy it is to do?

Walking is a great way to take care of your body.

Often times, our own health is put on the back burner as we are busy taking care of our jobs, our families and other commitments. The benefits of walking are amazing. Walking helps:
* Lower your blood pressure
* Manage your weight
* Improve your mood and alleviate depression
* Reduce/manage type 2 diabetes
* Strengthen your heart

How much walking do you need to do to reap these health benefits? Thirty minutes a day, five or more days a week will do it! What if you are not able to walk that far? Begin with a ten minute walk. Walk 5 minutes one way, and turn around and walk the other 5 minutes back. When you are able, increase your time by 3-5 minute intervals. You can repeat this three times a day to get your 30 minutes of walking in.

In order to begin a walking program, you need to purchase a good pair of walking shoes. Make sure that they are comfortable. Wear comfortable clothes when you walk. Clothes that are loose-fitting are a good choice. Make sure to dress for the weather. If it is cool, you will want to dress in layers so that you can take off your sweatshirt when you warm up. If you are walking in the early morning or late evening, be sure to wear bright colors or a vest with reflective tape to ensure your safety.

Walking is very easy to fit into your life. You simply have to think about it and make conscious choices to change your habits. Trade your riding lawn mower in for a push mower. When at work, walk after you eat your lunch instead of driving to a restaurant. Walk up to the mailbox to send your letter. Walk over to your neighbor’s house to chat instead of using the phone. I think that you understand my point.

What easier form of exercise is there to improve your overall health? None! So, as soon as you finish reading this, why not grab your walking shoes and go for a walk?

Are you sick and tired of trying every fad diet under the sun only to find they don’t work? Are you tired of being lied to about the latest weight loss diets? Learn what really works by going to http://weight–loss–diets.com

Jobs, family, kids, meals, laundry. The list goes on and on. There is no doubt-you are a very busy person! Usually, the last item on our “to do” list is our health, and it should really be the first item on our list! Without good health, you will be unable to take care of the remaining items on your list. I am going to give you a list of 5 important details for you to follow, to ensure your success at beginning an exercise program.

1. Make the choice to exercise. Making a commitment to change your lifestyle is the very first place to begin. Choose to make your health the number one priority in your life! When you do, you will be amazed at how much more energy you have to accomplish your other goals. It is time for you to change your internal mindset and tell yourself, “I CAN do it!” You not only, can, but will do it once you are able to think this way. It is fun to develop new habits and learn about health topics.

2. Check with your doctor. It is essential that you have a physical with your doctor before beginning an exercise program. You want to make sure that you are in good enough physical condition before pursuing this, so that you do not have any health complications. Your doctor can also help you decide what activities are or are not be appropriate for you, based on your current health. You will want to know about any restrictions ahead of time so that you can begin your new exercise program without any delays or risk of injury.

3. Support. It is imperative that you surround yourself with people who will provide support. Do not be afraid to ask role models questions on how they got started and what their exercise program entails. Most people are happy to help someone start out-it makes them feel good, too! You never know where they began, perhaps they were once in your shoes! Personal trainers are also a good source of information and can be found at health clubs. Some will even come to your home and do private consulting. Finding someone to exercise with will also provide you with support. It not only makes the activities that you choose more fun and motivating, but it also holds you accountable to show up for your workout.

4. Set fitness goals. There is no right or wrong way to exercise. The important thing is to find activities that you like to do and to do them! Recognize opportunities that life provides: go for a walk, ride a bike, join a sports club or train for a marathon. Perhaps you would rather set a goal of losing 5 pounds, begin strength training, or to do cardiovascular activities 3 times per week for 30 minutes each time. Whatever works for you! Be flexible. If something does not work, or you do not enjoy it, don’t give up-simply try a new activity! This is where your support group will really be there for you! Monitor your progress as you go along so that you can set new fitness goals.

5. Have fun! Right now you are probably thinking, “How am I going to have fun?” Any activity that is fun is one that you are going to do over and over, right? It is the same with exercising. Listen to your favorite music, or oldies that you loved as you go for your walk. Go for a run early in the morning and listen to the birds, or ride your bike in the evening and enjoy the view of the sunset. Choose a location to workout with beautiful things to look at. Have that someone special join you!

You can do this! You will be so proud of yourself for taking the initiative to make your health your number one priority. After all, aren’t you worth it?

Are you sick and tired of trying every fad diet under the sun only to find they don’t work? Are you tired of being lied to about the latest weight loss diets? Learn what really works by going to http://weight–loss–diets.com

Cardio exercises that you love and will perform consistenly, produce the best, most efficient calorie burn. The key is to choose a variety of cardio exercises that you enjoy doing in order to keep your workout fresh and exciting. This training approach, Interval Cardio Training is simply a way of rotating from one exercise to another in pre-set time intervals.

Example: you could exercise on the elliptical trainer for 15 min., then jump on a bicycle for another 15 min. and end with sprinting on the treadmill for at least another 15 min. Interval training is a great way to bust through plateaus and continue your fitness progress.

There are 2 main approaches when it comes to cardio training styles - Slow & Steady Cardio and High Intensity Cardio. For the most efficient cardio program and resulting calorie burn, try a combination for at least 6 weeks and make sure to monitor your progress with weekly photos of yourself and by having your body fat % assessed to see if you are truly attacking your particular fat zones.

The two main cardio training styles breakdown like this:

Slow & Steady Cardio (Steady State)

– Long duration (45 minutes - 60 minutes)
– Low intensity cardio
– Burns fat and no carbohydrate burn
– Less impact on joints

1. Rock Climbing - Yep, it’s a cardio exercise and it also build arm and leg strength and power. Rock Climbing burns up to 380 calories in 30 minutes.

2. Cross-Country Skiing - Whether you are on a machine or outdoors on snow, this is an incredible cardio exercise because it involves both upper and lower body. A average size person can burn about 330 calories in 30 minutes.

3. Running - Running is an amazing cardio exercise because all you need is a pair of good running shoes and a impact resistant surface (think grass not concrete). Running burns serious amounts of calories. You can easily burn 300 calories in 30 minutes.

4. Elliptical Trainer - One of the best machine cardio exercises to build endurance. Low-impact and burns about 300 calories in 30 minutes.

5. Rowing - Pulls double-duty as an amazing cardio exercise as well as giving your arms an incredible strength workout. Most folks can burn about 300 calories in 30 minutes.

6. Walking - Swift walking is a much less strenuous form of cardio exercise. Walking burns up to 180 calories in 30 minutes. Walking intensity can be progressed with sprinting or adding hills to increase calories burned.

7. Aerobics (Step) - At favorite cardio exercises preferred by women. Mainly targets the lower body - legs, hips and glutes. Burns approx. 400 calories in 30 minutes.

8. Bicycling - Stationary bicycling indoors or outdoors are great cardio choices. Depending on resistance and speed, bicycling can burn 250 to 500 calories in 30 minutes.

9. Swimming - Swimming is an excellent cardio exercise as it is a full body activity. Swimming is great for cross-training for other cardio activities. The breast stroke burns approx. 400 calories in 30 minutes.

10. Racquetball and Tennis - The side-to-side sprinting makes racquetball and tennis excellent cardio activities. An average person can burn over 400 calories in 30 minutes.

High Intensity Cardio (Interval Training)

– Short durations (15 minutes - 30 minutes)
– High intensity (interval training)
– Burns huge amounts of calories & revs up your metabolism
– Explosive movements (sprinting, etc)

For athletic people who love High Intensity Interval Training (H.I.I.T training), below is a list of the top 4 cardio exercise that provide absolutely huge calorie burning results!

1. Sprinting - Sprinting not only burns HUGE amounts of calories, it also keeps your metabolism supercharged for days after. Sprinting, when combined with running and jogging can bring awesome results

2. Jumping Rope - One of the simplest and most effective exercises you can do. In just 15 to 20 minutes, jumping rope will give you an unequalled total body workout. Jumping rope is great for cardiovascular endurance and strengthens the performance of any sport such as soccer, basketball, skiing, volleyball, football, etc.. This amazingly simple exercise is also great for improving lateral movement, hand-eye coordination as well as speed and agility.

3. Spinning - Spinning is a high-intensity workout set to music and simulates a challenging bike ride, complete with hills, valleys and varying intensity and speeds.

4. Fitness Boot Camp - Fitness boot camp is the best of all interval training methods and burns gargantuan amounts of calories. Sprinting, agiity exercises, plyometric training (explosive exercises), strength training and resistance training (weights) combine to challenge your body in so many ways that homeostasis (getting used to an exercise program and becoming less efficient) does not have a chance to set in. In a 60 minute boot camp session an average persona can burn 400-500 fat calories. Unbelievable!

Michael Arnone is the Tiger Fitness Ambassador for Tiger Fitness Los Angeles, the premier personal training company, fitness boot camp and fat loss experts in Los Angeles and Santa Monica. www.TigerFitnessLA.comwww.TigerFitBootCamp.com

Aerobic centers, yoga classes and gyms seem to have sprung up in every corner of the modern world. Have people really become that health conscious, or is this a passing fad? People lived pretty healthy lives before all the new health conscious ads started being displayed on TV and other media outlets.

Only recently it was body builders, wrestlers and athletes who used to frequent gyms. But now any and everybody who is an adult have purchased memberships to gyms. Going to the gym has become routine; it’s like taking a trip to the hair dresser. How many people are actually benefiting from these trips to the gym is debatable. What one does see is that obesity has grown, whereas the average life span has not increased.

Imagine getting up in the morning, having breakfast and then rushing off to work and working all day. Stopping in the evening at the gym doing some exercises and then driving back home. Eating dinner and going to sleep. Sounds routine doesn’t it? Well it is and this trip twice, thrice or daily to the gym is not going to work wonders on the body. If you want to get your body in shape and build muscles you have to follow a regime. This means a balanced diet and exercise. This is the point most people are missing. If you think that going to the gym after working and snacking all day can help, you’re wrong.

Any exercise to build body muscles and to tone them must be done at the correct time. Morning hours before breakfast are the best. The fat stored in the body is converted to energy and then to muscle. The body shape gets better and the muscles grow stronger. That’s why jogging, walking, cycling or exercising in the morning helps.

If you hit the gym on a full stomach the body just burns off the fat being produced in the digestive system. It going to take much longer for the body to get in shape, so if you want to seriously put your body in shape, talk to an instructor - and not necessarily one at the gym. They get paid for you to come in and use the equipment, not to get you in shape and then carry on the routine from home.

But, if you are really serious about remaining healthy and fit, then obtain proper advice. Your doctor, colleagues or other family members can help. There are gyms where the instructors do take serious interest in getting people to shape up. So, finding the right gym is also important. If you are serious about your health then take it seriously. Don’t just join a gym because your spouse has cajoled you into it. You need to eat healthily, think healthily and strictly follow a routine - only then will you benefit.

If you are going to a gym because it’s the ‘in’ thing, or ‘the thing to do’, then don’t. It’s not going to help, and you will just be wasting your time and money. If you are in your thirties and expect to suddenly grow beautiful big muscles by joining a gym, you are paddling up the wrong stream.

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