Air Squats - It's Not Always About Weight
air squats, squats, quick workouts
|
Squatting is one of the best exercises out there. Perhaps the king of the leg exercises, squats work your entire lower half - which results in building and toning your biggest mucles.
"How much can you squat" - Commonly heard in the gym. Have you ever heard someone ask "how many?"
How many wouldn't be a proper question if we were talking about weighted squats, where resistance is the almighty judge of performance. But have you ever tried Air Squats?
Air Squats are just like the barbell squats you're used to - minus the barbell and weight. These are based strictly on body weight, and they're highly underestimated. Utilizing air squats can help burn calories, tone your butt and legs, and confuse your muscles with high rep volume.
Benefits of Air Squats
1. You can do them anywhere and don't have to work up a sweat.
2. No equipment needed
3. Can be done while watching television
4. People of all fitness levels can benefit from air squats
5. Minimal injury risk
6. Ability to do higher reps than weighted squats
7. Absence of weight let's you develop good form
I recommend trying a few 50 rep sets of air squats in the morning before you head off to work, or class, or whatever you do. They take minimal time, effort, and if you're good you can avoid breaking a sweat. They still give you a good calories burn and are useful for toning up your legs.
Like my writing? Subscribe to my Fitness RSS feed.
|
|
|
on 5/5/2008
|
|
0 |
33.6
|
|
Personal Trainers that live in your iPod
ipod, workouts, fitconnect members
|
The world is getting more and more tech-heavy – and it’s finally merging into the fitness industry. Now you can have your personal trainer show you workouts straight from your iPod.
Here’s how it works:
Personal trainers can now sign up for sites that allow them to utilize a database of exercises and design recommended workouts. The exercises each come with small video clips of how to perform each exercise. So basically, you can take your iPod with you to the gym and use it as an exercise guide.
Benefits:
1. Cheaper then paying for an actual personal trainer
2. Saves time for personal trainers because they don’t have to be with you
3. Now personal trainers and clients can be thousands of miles apart
Cons:
1. You have to risk damaging your iPod at the gym
2. Could be annoying watching videos of exercises while you’re at the gym
All in all, it seems really cool. In fact, we’ve been offered by several companies to incorporate this system into FitConnect’s model – we decided to decline because every offer we received wanted us to charge FitConnect members a fee – which we are dead set against.
If you have an iPod and would be interested in purchasing some cheap, yet effective workouts (that last forever), I definitely recommend looking into FitnessHut’s workout routines.
I would not go off and just buy a routine from anyone. The only reason I recommend FitnessHut’s routines is because he has proven that he really knows his stuff. I’ve kept up on all of his Fitness Tips and blogs advising on how to cut fat and live healthy – the guy really knows what he’s talking about. Note: his real name is Mark Dilworth.
If you don’t have an iPod but would still like to learn how to burn fat, I recommend checking out Fitness Hut's Blog.
|
|
|
on 4/6/2008
|
|
0 |
18.1
|
|
Rib Cage Stretching when Doing Decline Flies?
chest, workouts, decline cable flies
|
Several days ago I was doing a solid chest workout and despite being in pretty good shape, I'm still sore several days later. My chest muscles aren't too bad but my sternum and ribs feel like they've been stretched. I'm wondering if your bones actually stretch a little or if there's something else causing the soreness.
I think the cause of this discomfort is from performing a heavier dumbbell chest press than I have before (maxing I suppose) and doing a 7 small (but heavy) sets of Decline Cable Flies.
By Decline Cable Flies, I'm referring to this video: http://fitclips.fitconnect.com/55
I did 7 sets of 110 lbs - after 5 sets of dumbbell chest press. Starting with 100lbs. and working my way down a little. I usually don't share my workouts or weight because it's a lose / lose situation. Any reader lifting more thinks you're a chump - any reader lifting less thinks you're bragging. But I figured I'd wing it considering it'll all be out in the open once we have workout tracking anyway (2 weeks).
But it's not typical that my sternum area is so sore. And I've heard that upper body exercises can actually widen your rib cage, so I'm wondering if anyone has some more info on what's going on here. Furthermore, I'm wondering if this is good or bad?
|
|
|
on 4/3/2008
|
|
0 |
9.7
|
|