Over the weekend, I took a class led by Cara Castronuova, the champion boxer and former Biggest Loser trainer (the workout was part of a weekend event courtesy of Puma). While she led the class, she offered us all a bit of advice: sometimes, it's good to compete with your workout buddy. Cara knows what it's like to be competitive — after all, her job is to throw punches — but trying to Read more

Since I have trouble yanking myself out of bed for an early morning workout, and after work I'm on mom duty, the lunchtime workout has become my fitness savior. Nothing beats the midday pick-me-up from a nooner sweat session, but timing is everything. After months of careful consideration and testing, I have found the best outfits, for both the office and gym, to cut down on locker room time to Read more

By the end of my workout, usually all I can think about is what I'll be eating as soon as I leave the gym. While I can't wait to give my body a rest, I also love adding one last push to my workouts before calling it quits. Making myself increase my intensity, when I know I'll be sitting pretty in just a few minutes, motivates me to end on a high note. Like HIIT, or high-intensity interval Read more

Trainers are incredibly helpful in teaching better form and correct alignment, but no matter how astute a trainer is, he or she may miss a few things. To help protect your body from injury or strain, keep these questions in mind during your training session. Even though it's a trainer's job to keep you safe, it's still important to develop a keen eye for any bad habits that could present Read more

If you work or go to school full time, getting your sweat on in the wee hours of the morn is probably the only time you can fit it in. Kudos to you for resisting the urge to hit the snooze button and skip out. Make setting your alarm and pulling yourself out of bed worth all the effort and avoid these morning exercise mistakes. Not eating: It's super early, but you need to eat in order to fuel Read more

Exercising with a buddy definitely has its perks, but when it comes to most of my workouts, I prefer to exercise alone. Here are some reasons it's sometimes better to sweat it out solo. You can work out whenever you want and when it best fits your schedule. Plus you never have to deal with someone being late. You can skip the chitchat and focus on your breath and inner thoughts. It's a great Read more

OnSugar blogger Coach Lark Says encourages his pregnant clients to exercise while pregnant — safely, of course. He shares a few tips on how to exercise when pregnant below. Here are some of the best reasons to exercise when you are pregnant, which I have gathered from a variety of sources. Better psychological wellbeing Reduced incidence of gestational diabetes Decreased incidence of Read more

Elliptical trainers are a gym favorite. Not only is this cardio machine joint friendly, it's incredibly versatile — you can go forward and backward, work your arms and legs, or focus on your core while getting your heart rate up. Here are some tips to help you squeeze the most out of your minutes on the machine. If your focus is cardio: Keep your eye on your strides per minute. SPM is the Read more

Going for an outdoor run or bike ride when it's 40 degrees outside might not seem like your idea of a good time. The treadmill offers warmth, but exercising outdoors breaks up the monotony of the gym, increases calorie burn, and can also help performance increase. Follow these cold-weather tips for exercising outdoors, and you'll find that Winter workouts aren't as daunting as you think. What Read more