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Strength Training IS Important for Weight Loss
Losing weight (and keeping it off) is more complicated than the calories you eat being less than the calories you burn. Without strength training while dieting you risk losing lean muscle mass which is really important to keep your metabolism going. Your muscles need energy to work, so the more muscle mass you have the more calories you burn over the course of a day.
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The Pill vs. Building Muscle
If you're looking to build lean muscle mass, taking oral contraceptives might be interfering with all your hard work. A recent study from Texas A&M University, involving 73 generally healthy women between 18 and 31, found that women not taking birth control pills gained 60 percent more muscle mass than women on the pill during a 10-week time period.
All the women in the study participated in the same whole-body resistance exercise training program and worked out three times a week under the supervision of exercise physiologists, but half were using oral contraceptives and the other half were not.
Which Type of Body Would You Rather Have?
I'm sure we are all striving to have healthy bodies, and to maintain a healthy weight for our height. I'm sure you also have a goal in mind for your body. You can be lean, and have toned muscles.
Celebs Like to Shake It
At first, the Power Plate seems like another gimmicky weight-loss product, but its website features endorsements from fit celebs like Madonna, Courteney Cox, and Hilary Swank. On top of that, it's used by over 60 college and pro sports teams, and the Police brought one with them on their reunion tour. That's some serious celeb street cred.
Ease Sore Muscles With a Tennis Ball
Getting a massage is not always an affordable option to relieve sore muscles. I use The Stick at home but when I'm on the go it's not something I can take with me. Because of its size, a tennis ball provides on the spot muscle relief wherever you are.
You Asked: How to Get Rid of My Ab Flab
Dear Fit,
I'm fairly thin, have muscular thighs from running 20 minutes a few times a week and toned arms from doing yoga, but my belly is pudgy. I heard crunches won't get rid of my gut, but what exercises will?
— Jiggly Middle
We all have areas of our body that hang on to fat, so to hear my suggestions about how to get rid of the extra around your midsection keep reading
Swimming For Weight Loss?
Swimming has gotten a bad rap as an exercise for weight loss. Unlike running, which curbs your appetite, swimming seems to increase it.
Studies comparing swimming with walking and cycling weight-loss programs found that swimmers gained five pounds on average, while the other two groups lost between 17 and 19 pounds.
You Asked: End of Summer Detox?
Dear Fit,
Over the Summer I've definitely been overindulging, chowing down at BBQs, eating tons of ice cream on hot days, and drinking more beer and cocktails in a weekend than I would in an entire month the rest of the year. I know it's not the healthiest, but hey, it's Summer and it only comes once a year. I haven't really gained weight, but I feel pretty disgusting.
You Asked: Increased Cardio but Gaining Weight
Dear Fit,
I've been increasing my cardio workouts to help me drop the seven pounds I gained after losing my job. Previously I was doing 30 minutes twice a week, but over the last three weeks, I've been doing 30 minutes five or six times a week. I alternate between running, biking, and hiking.
Running Tip: Raise the Incline
If you run like a bounding deer on a treadmill, but as soon as you hit the road outside, you feel more like a stumbling, out of breath snail, here's a tip for building your strength and stamina. When you're running on a treadmill, raise the incline. Even a slight increase will make a huge difference.
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