Muscle cramps are defined as an involuntary contraction of a muscle. These can last anywhere from a few seconds, all the way up to several minutes. The exact mechanism of how cramping occurs is not fully understood, but there are several factors that are known to play a role in muscle cramps. The most common are dehydration, electrolyte imbalances, and mineral & nutrient deficiencies. Vigorous activity can also increase the likelihood of a muscle cramp when any of these factors are present, or if the body is not very well conditioned for the activity being performed. For athletes, … [Read more...]
Shared Habits Of Super Healthy People
Do you know someone who appears to be super-healthy, full of energy and overdosing on enthusiasm in every aspect of their life, while you sit at your desk trying not to fall asleep sipping on your eighth cup of coffee of the day? What’s their secret? Why do they hardly ever get sick, yet you seem to catch a cold every other month? And how is climbing ten flights of stairs a breeze for them, while you wheeze after two? Below you’ll discover exactly what habits help make these super healthy people so, well…healthy and you can then try to take these on board, because they really aren't that … [Read more...]
Getting Into Baseball: Essential Guide For 2015
Like most sports, baseball requires dedication, commitment, the right equipment and team mentality. The equipment in particular can deeply affect your performance, from purchasing the right trainers to that 149 gram ball, it can be the difference between winning and losing. No-one likes the taste of failure and when it comes to sport, that competitive nature becomes even more acute. It makes sense to prep yourself with the best bat, gloves and cleats money can buy. The right equipment can significantly improve your performance, not to mention your confidence, however first you need the … [Read more...]
How To Choose The Right Fitness Tracker For You
Fitness trackers have so much to offer, but with so many products on the market, how can you decide which you would get the most out of? We've looked through some of the top fitness trackers and compared their key features to help first-time buyers make the right choices. Heart Rate Monitors A huge number of fitness trackers measure heart-rate during exercise, but if you need to measure your resting heart rate throughout the day, you will need a heartrate monitor, or HRM. Some HRMs do nothing other than record your heart rate, and although older models frequently used an uncomfortable … [Read more...]
Cycling: The Benefits For Body & Mind
Hello Everyone. Today's article is a guest post from CAD Shelters. ----- A rising number of Brits are using bikes. It’s estimated that over three million of us cycle each month, and it’s not hard to see why. As well as being a cheap and eco-friendly means of getting around, cycling has major benefits for both the body and mind. It’s little wonder then that companies, schools and other organisations are increasingly turning to bike shelter specialists such as CAD Shelters to help ensure they have suitable cycling facilities in place. If you’re wondering whether you should ditch the car … [Read more...]
Why Losing Weight In 2015 Is Important For Healthy Joints
Is weight loss going to be one of your New Year’s resolutions for 2015? If so, we have one more reason to stick to it. Did you know there is a proven link between obesity and the development of Osteoarthritis? With the increase numbers of people in the UK having a BMI classifying them as overweight or obese, we’re seeing an increase in cases of Osteoarthritis (OA) being diagnosed in younger and younger people. Over 17 million cases of OA are predicted by 2030. It is caused by wear and tear on the joints such as the knees which bear the brunt of the extra weight we carry and causes knee pain … [Read more...]
Men’s Tights & Not A Cabaret In Sight
Hello Everyone. Today's article is a guest post from SKINS. ----- While tights have always been acceptable for the ladies, 10 years ago your local footy club mates would have laughed you off the field and told you to join your wife at yoga. Now your mates are asking you, where did you get them? How much? Compression? Does it work? The simple answer is my local sports shop and yeah they’re compression and they work! Before we get to the nitty gritty lets go back to 1996, when your dial up modem was so loud it scared your cat and when your mobile phone was so big it looked more like a … [Read more...]
5 Tips For Staying In Shape This Christmas Season
Hello Everyone. Today's article is a guest post from Fitbug. ----- As Christmas approaches, thoughts turn to free-flowing wine, Christmas pudding, turkey and a host of festive treats. But unless your thoughts also turn to your increased calorie intake, you could be spending January trying desperately to shed excess pounds in the gym. By implementing five relatively simple lifestyle choices throughout the festive season, you can manage your waistline without having to sacrifice your Christmas indulgences. 1. Include Alcohol In Your Calorie Counting It's important to remember that most … [Read more...]
Whey Protein Vs Casein Protein
Photo Credit: las - initially on Flickr Hello Everyone. Today's article is a guest post from Monster Supplements. ----- If you’re a professional bodybuilder or a fitness fanatic, you’re probably already familiar with the benefits of whey and casein protein. Two of the most common supplements used to boost fitness regimes, these dairy-based proteins are essential sources of amino acids, which help the body to build new muscle. However, while both possess similar properties, each protein has its own distinct advantages regarding long and short-term effects on body composition and … [Read more...]
Why You Should Make Changes To Your Exercise Routine
Hello Everyone. Today's article is a guest post from Fitness Mad. ----- Lots of people are guilty of getting into an exercise rut, maybe you do the same run three times a week, take spin class religiously or spend all your time in the gym pumping iron. Obviously these activities are good for you but mixing it up a bit can see great results with just some small changes, but how do you know when to change your workout? Here are the main reasons you should start making adaptations: What you’re doing has stopped working This is the best reason to change your workout. If what you’re … [Read more...]