I was out driving around with my wife and we were talking about something I find very disturbing.
When we were kids, we were always outside playing.
Always!
If it was football season, we played football; baseball season, we played baseball; basketball season, we played basketball.
Our neighborhood had a team and we would play rival neighborhoods. If for some reason everyone wasn't around, we could walk around and find a pickup game.
Take a look now. Hard to find a pickup game. We have neighbors with kids - I didn't even realize they had kids because I never seen them outside playing. Kids are tied up now with computers, video games and more. Parents encourage them to watch t.v. so they know where they are. I have a friend at work who plays with his 4 year old cousin everytime he sees him. He said he always wants to play but his parents always want him to sit down and watch t.v.
I have a 2 year old grandson. For the first year and a half he and his mother lived with us. I played with him every night. Every night! Even as a baby. Started playing ball with him at 6 months old (maybe younger). Now he loves ball and is very active. The teachers told my daughter he is the only one who can throw a ball straight without an arc and is the only one who can catch the ball.
Sure, he watches t.v. . . . In between playing. We rough house all the time. My wife and I get him one weeknight a week and keep him for 1 or 2 nights on the weekend and he is always on the go. He says "C'mon Bob" (he calls me Bob most of the time. lol) and off we go. We play so much he and I are best buddies and he is always wanting to come over and do things.
I encourage you to play with your kids and get them out playing as well. It's disturbing that so many kids nowadays are overweight. Kids need to get back outdoors and start running around. You owe it to them to do your best to get them active.
Tuesday, October 25, 2005
Saturday, October 08, 2005
Cross Training
I was asked by a subscriber if, because I was really sold on fitness ball exercising, I was recommending that and nothing else.
No way dude! I've always advocated cross training.
Listen, there are lots of good exercises of all kinds and you owe it to yourself to try a variety. You don't want your routine to get stale. Keeping it interesting is one of the keys to continuing to exercise all your life.
Definitely I think the fitness ball is great and allows a wide range of exercises. But you still need an aerobic exercise. Or you may want to do some pilates (by the way, you can do them on the ball). Jump rope? Great exercise.
Dumbbell training of interest to you? Or how about hitting the heavy bag?
The point is adding variety keeps it interesting but also hits your muscles in a variety of ways and that's good for overall fitness.
My recommendation is to be certain you are getting the proper aerobic exercise weekly and to work the body's core muscles, along with a strength training routine. I've decided running 3 - 4 times a week and doing my strength training on a fitness ball, which also works my core muscles, is the best route for me to take right now as I can get more accomplished in less time.
But I do vary from time to time to keep the body guessing and do have the advantage of having exercised for years and know what works best for me. You need to work towards that and trying different ways of exercising is advantageous!
No way dude! I've always advocated cross training.
Listen, there are lots of good exercises of all kinds and you owe it to yourself to try a variety. You don't want your routine to get stale. Keeping it interesting is one of the keys to continuing to exercise all your life.
Definitely I think the fitness ball is great and allows a wide range of exercises. But you still need an aerobic exercise. Or you may want to do some pilates (by the way, you can do them on the ball). Jump rope? Great exercise.
Dumbbell training of interest to you? Or how about hitting the heavy bag?
The point is adding variety keeps it interesting but also hits your muscles in a variety of ways and that's good for overall fitness.
My recommendation is to be certain you are getting the proper aerobic exercise weekly and to work the body's core muscles, along with a strength training routine. I've decided running 3 - 4 times a week and doing my strength training on a fitness ball, which also works my core muscles, is the best route for me to take right now as I can get more accomplished in less time.
But I do vary from time to time to keep the body guessing and do have the advantage of having exercised for years and know what works best for me. You need to work towards that and trying different ways of exercising is advantageous!
Thursday, September 29, 2005
Swiss Ball Exercises + Running = Total Fitness!
A good fitness program consists of a combination of aerobics and strength training. One excellent way to add both to your routine is running for aerobics and swiss ball exercises for strength.
Really. Running is definitely one of the best aerobic activities you can do if you are physically able to. Run for 30 minutes or more 4 times a week and you will lose weight and become very fit but . . .
You need to add some strength training to your routine. Firm up the muscles and strengthen the body. And muscle burns fat.
The swiss ball, also called the stability ball, allows you to not only develop
strength, but to develop the all important core muscles of your body. Here's just one of the many different exercises you will find in my swiss ball exercise package found at my website . . . TudeFitness.com
Prone Pull Ins on Ball
Start Position: Roll out on the ball so that your shins are on the ball and you are supported by your hands in a table top position.
Pull the ball using your feet towards your chest. While doing this bend your elbows in a pushup fashion.
Return to starting position.
Try it and see if you don't feel it in your upper body and also in the abdominal area.
The swiss ball will allow you to get more out of your exercise and get a better, more complete workout in less time.
Really. Running is definitely one of the best aerobic activities you can do if you are physically able to. Run for 30 minutes or more 4 times a week and you will lose weight and become very fit but . . .
You need to add some strength training to your routine. Firm up the muscles and strengthen the body. And muscle burns fat.
The swiss ball, also called the stability ball, allows you to not only develop
strength, but to develop the all important core muscles of your body. Here's just one of the many different exercises you will find in my swiss ball exercise package found at my website . . . TudeFitness.com
Prone Pull Ins on Ball
Start Position: Roll out on the ball so that your shins are on the ball and you are supported by your hands in a table top position.
Pull the ball using your feet towards your chest. While doing this bend your elbows in a pushup fashion.
Return to starting position.
Try it and see if you don't feel it in your upper body and also in the abdominal area.
The swiss ball will allow you to get more out of your exercise and get a better, more complete workout in less time.
Wednesday, September 21, 2005
Running During Your Vacation
I decided to write this while on vacation. My wife and I are visiting her family in California. She is on kidney dialysis 3 times a week so we had to set up her appointments while here and I decided that would be the time to get my exercise in.
It's easy to forget to exercise when you go on vacation and it's understandable. But if you are going to be gone for a week or two, that's a lot of time to not exercise.
Whether you walk or run for your aerobic portion, it's really a treat to do so when you're visiting a new location. Different routes; different views.
I enjoy seeing the mountains in the background while here - something we don't have in Ohio. In fact, today I just did a hill that is at almost a 45 degree incline and is probably about 1/2 mile long. What a great view at the top - once I gave myself a small breather to recover. :-)
Took another run in the country. Took different routes each time for a different view.
Even when we went to Niagara Falls for a 3-day stay, I got up while my wife and daughter slept in the morning and went for one of my most enjoyable runs ever! Came back as they were waking up - showered and went to breakfast.
Try it the next time you vacation anywhere. All you need is your running shoes!
It's easy to forget to exercise when you go on vacation and it's understandable. But if you are going to be gone for a week or two, that's a lot of time to not exercise.
Whether you walk or run for your aerobic portion, it's really a treat to do so when you're visiting a new location. Different routes; different views.
I enjoy seeing the mountains in the background while here - something we don't have in Ohio. In fact, today I just did a hill that is at almost a 45 degree incline and is probably about 1/2 mile long. What a great view at the top - once I gave myself a small breather to recover. :-)
Took another run in the country. Took different routes each time for a different view.
Even when we went to Niagara Falls for a 3-day stay, I got up while my wife and daughter slept in the morning and went for one of my most enjoyable runs ever! Came back as they were waking up - showered and went to breakfast.
Try it the next time you vacation anywhere. All you need is your running shoes!
Wednesday, September 14, 2005
Want To Know if a Swiss Ball Will Work For You?
Swiss ball exercises will work for you and here's a way to prove it.
Go to a sporting goods store or a friend's house where you can try the swiss ball. You should have a friend with you as a spotter since this will be the first time you try the ball . . . . . don't want you to fall off.
Now get into the crunch position. You will lay back on the ball with your lower back touching the ball. Feet are flat on the floor and your legs are pretty much parallel to the floor.
Slowly do a crunch. Feel the difference?!
You are hitting more of the muscles at one time in your core region and when you do 10 of these slowly, I think you are going to immediately want to add swiss ball exercises to your workout routine.
The next day try to hold your stomach in and you will feel where your muscles in the abs definitely got a good workout.
Go to a sporting goods store or a friend's house where you can try the swiss ball. You should have a friend with you as a spotter since this will be the first time you try the ball . . . . . don't want you to fall off.
Now get into the crunch position. You will lay back on the ball with your lower back touching the ball. Feet are flat on the floor and your legs are pretty much parallel to the floor.
Slowly do a crunch. Feel the difference?!
You are hitting more of the muscles at one time in your core region and when you do 10 of these slowly, I think you are going to immediately want to add swiss ball exercises to your workout routine.
The next day try to hold your stomach in and you will feel where your muscles in the abs definitely got a good workout.
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