Vitality Central - Exercise

It's Not Just About Dieting....

Mon, 02 Jan 2006 18:38:54 -0600

by: Jan Nicholas

You may not like what I’m about to say, but dieting alone will not help you to lose weight. You have to give your body the exercise it needs. As I mentioned earlier, a couple of centuries ago, people were involved in a lot of manual labor.

This gave their bodies all the exercise that was needed. But due to the changed life styles, most of us do not have to engage in strenuous work. Most of us sit in front of computers all day long or engage in other sedentary works.

4 Golden Rules of Natural Dieting

Mon, 02 Jan 2006 17:17:13 -0600

by: DietingTipsTricks.com

Natural dieting is the easiest and best form of dieting. It doesn't involve buying expensive pills or diet shakes, instead, it saves you money. There are four basic rules for natural dieting.

1. No soda - No excuses here. Soda is bad for you, period. Lots of sugar and calories, and nothing beneficial. Stop drinking soda immediatly, no buts. Drink water instead. Water is what your body craves and what it needs. It will make you healthier and feel better, and is a lot less expensive.

Supplements, Diet and Exercise for Healthy Aging

Thu, 15 Dec 2005 18:11:49 -0600

by: Karen Walker

Recently a television health expert was discussing the topic, “How to stay young looking” for the post-50 set. It was pretty much the standard ‘take good care of your skin, eat right and exercise’ list until the last item. He stated, “Take your drugs every day. One of the best ways to look younger is to stay healthy”. Wait a minute! When did the use of prescription drugs become a mainstay of a healthy lifestyle in this country?

7 Ways to Boost Your Energy

Wed, 30 Nov 2005 17:03:02 -0600

by Katherine A. Martin

Everyone would like to feel more energetic during the day. You naturally go through periods of higher activity which contrasts with times of relaxation. The problem occurs when more energy and concentration is required than we can give. Or when we try to sleep and can’t. Follow these invaluable tips to a new you!

1) Stay on a regular sleep schedule. You can’t stay up late during the week-end and suddenly on Monday morning wake up refreshed. If you do enjoy later nights on Friday and Saturday vow to get to bed early on Sunday to wake up rested.

Water and Exercise: Stay Hydrated!

Wed, 30 Nov 2005 16:58:58 -0600

by Ray Kelly

Our bodies are made up of over 75% water. We all know that without water, there is no life. In fact we can only live 3 days without it. However, water has been replaced in most diets by soft drinks and other sugar sweetened refreshments. However, water is a healthier and more necessary drink that leads to better health and longetivity.

Your personal need for water can vary due to exercise, temperature and weight. Studies have shown that over 2/3’s of adults do not get enough water on a daily basis. By simply drinking water regularly you can replenish your body and keep it well-hydrated and functioning at maximum efficiency.

Dance Dance Revolution (DDR) as a Fun Exercise Program

Wed, 30 Nov 2005 16:43:06 -0600

by Derick Yung

One of the main reasons people quit an exercise program is a lack of motivation and goal setting. You may start an exercise program in hopes of losing weight and becoming more fit. However, as you continue exercising, you may feel that you're putting in so much effort but gaining so little. You become unmotivated because it's just too much work.

With Dance Dance Revolution (DDR), kids, teens, and adults can find a way to stay motivated, exercise, and have more fun. Dance Dance Revolution is a music game available on both console and arcade. You can choose from a variety of energetic dance songs. As the song plays, you have to step on a specific pattern of arrows in response to the song's beat.

Like most games, learning Dance Dance Revolution takes practice. There is a range of tempos, song genres, and step difficulties, so there is something for everyone. Beginners can start with easy slow-paced songs. To get better, simply practice and become familiar with the songs. As you progress you can gradually choose faster songs and more difficult step patterns. With enough practice and persistence you'll gain stamina, become better at foot-eye coordination, and have a better sense of rhythm.

Since the game grades you on how well you've played each song, it is easy to set goals and stay motivated. For example, if you achieved a 'C' rating on a song, you can set a goal to get a 'B' rating in a certain timeframe. If you failed a song, you can set a goal to pass that song in a certain number of tries. Also, with a partner, you can both play the same song and participate in some friendly competition. This competition adds a great deal of fun. Furthermore, it helps you strive to improve and keep playing so you can beat your dance partner.

To play Dance Dance Revolution, check out local arcades and see if any of them has a Dance Dance Revolution arcade machine. If they don't, or you don't want to travel to an arcade, you can get a Dance Dance Revolution game for a console like Playstation, Playstation 2, or XBox. Of course, you could play with a regular controller but then you wouldn't be exercising (unless you consider finger manipulation exercising). To experience the game the right way, you'll need a dance pad.

There are three main types of dance pads: soft thin pads, ignition pads, and metal pads. Soft thin pads are flexible, made of plastic, and wear out quickly. They tend to slip around a lot. I have to constantly realign my soft thin pad while playing harder songs. If you simply want to test out DDR, soft thin pads are great. Ignition pads are soft pads which have a foam insert. The foam insert provides weight, durability, and comfort. It feels different from the arcade but is easy to adapt to. Like the soft thin pads, ignition pads will wear out. The best pads for expert players are the metal pads. They have been designed to give more of that arcade feel. They have greater durability and accuracy.

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Staying Hydrated

Sun, 27 Nov 2005 08:59:29 -0600

by VC Staffers

Did you know that staying hydrated is perhaps one of the best things you can do for yourself? Nearly 60 - 70 % of your body weight is water and a very small loss of water results in a large reduction of our efficiency. In fact it has been estimated that a 2% loss of water below the body’s optimum means a 15 -20% reduction in capability.

Heat Stress

Dehydration assumes greater danger when you are out exercising or working in the heat. As your body heats up, it sweats out water through the skin. This water evaporates to cool you down. If you are not careful, this water loss can assume alarming proportions. There have been innumerable cases of people collapsing in the heat while working out or working. Be aware of the risks and ensure you replace water adequately.