Category: Exercise

Don’t have the money to join a gym or buy expensive exercise equipment? You’re in luck. There are cheap and even free ways to get an effective workout, and most of these you can do at home. The health benefits of exercise are too important to miss out on. So, the next time you think working out has to be expensive, here are five items you can use to get a cheap but effective workout.

1 Empty Gallon or Laundry

If you want to add weight training to your workout routine you can easily do this by adding water or sand to you empty gallon or laundry detergent bottle. Since most of us use laundry detergent, this by far is the cheapest way to add weights to your routine. 1 gallon of water weighs approximately 8 pounds. Therefore, don’t throw out your gallon bottle, save it and add water to it .

You can add sand or rocks to make it even heavier.

2. A Jump Rope

Jumping rope is one of the best total body workouts you can do with a single piece of equipment. Jumping rope quickly elevates your heart rate enough to get cardiovascular benefits, and you’ll build up greater stamina and endurance. Plus, a person of average weight burns around 10 calories per minute jumping rope at a moderate rate.

You can make a jump rope workout as easy or intense as you like based on how fast you jump. Start by jumping only 10 seconds and keep increasing the time until you can jump for a full minute. Then work on increasing the speed of your jumps for greater intensity. Jumping rope improves agility and coordination while you’re getting fitter and leaner.

3. Your Own Bodyweight

How about an equipment-free workout? You won’t have to spend a penny if you use your own body weight as resistance. Some of the best bodyweight exercises you can do almost anywhere are push-ups, bodyweight squats, wall squats, planks, abdominal crunches, and triceps dips. With these options, it’s possible to get a whole-body workout without leaving home. You can make the exercises harder by increasing the number of repetitions or holding planks or wall squats longer. For bodyweight push-ups, placing your hands closer together increases the intensity and also works your triceps harder.

4. A Stability Ball

A stability ball is an inflatable ball that hits about knee height for most people. You can use this super-sized ball to do a variety of exercises, including those that work your core. The most common way people use it is to do abdominal crunches with their back on the ball. The instability of the ball forces your entire core to work harder. You can also place your feet and lower legs face down on the ball and your hands on the floor and do push-ups. The unstable surface of the ball works your core harder than a standard push-up.

Another popular exercise with a stability ball is the stability ball raise. For this exercise, place the ball between your calves and raise your legs off the floor until they’re perpendicular to the ceiling. You’ll quickly feel the tension in your lower abs and will be one step closer to building ab strength and definition.

There are other exercises you can do with a stability ball and you’ll find descriptions of many more online. You can even use one as a seat when you work. Replacing your chair with a stability ball will engage your core more. Best of all, they’re not expensive.

5. A Park Bench

Surprisingly, you can get a decent workout at a park that has a bench. To get your heart rate up, jog or walk briskly around the park. Then stop at a park bench and pause long enough to do a few exercises, starting with the good, old push-up. Place both hands on the seat of the bench and stretch your legs behind you. Push your chest and upper body away from the bench and then back down. Feel the burn in your chest and arms.

Now jog around the park again, come back to the bench, and place your palms on the bench with your fingers facing toward you. Then use the bench to do a set of triceps dips. Both push-ups and triceps dips are effective upper body exercises that require no equipment.

6. Resistance Bands

A set of resistance bands offers a wealth of possibilities for working your entire body. You can do most of the exercises you do with dumbbells, a barbell, or kettlebells, and many more. Some resistance bands have special attachments you can hook to a door or handles you can grip on to for various exercises.

Resistance bands have some advantages over dumbbells and barbells since you can work your muscles in multiple planes of motion. When you use weights, you have to work in the direction of gravity, but resistance bands rely on the tension created by the bands rather than gravity. Plus, the tension remains high throughout the movement. In contrast, the tension drops off at the top of a movement when you use weights. So, you can get a superior workout with resistance bands at a low cost. Plus, you can take them with you if you travel.

The Bottom Line

Lack of money or a gym membership isn’t an excuse not to work out. These exercise props are affordable and effective. Now, it’s up to you to put them to use!

 

References:

• J Pediatr Endocrinol Metab. 2020 Jan 28;33(1):129-137. doi: 10.1515/jpem-2019-0327.
• MayoClinic.org. “Is body-weight training effective as a strength training exercise?”
• SAGE Open Med. 2019; 7: 2050312119831116.Published online 2019 Feb 19. doi: 10.1177/2050312119831116.

5 Advantages Resistance Bands Have Over Dumbbells and Barbells

If you work out at home, you may not have room for clunky sets of dumbbells or barbells. They take up room, they’re heavy, and they cost money. And what happens when you go on vacation? You can’t haul those heavy weights around with you. Yet you still need strength training to build strength and preserve muscle mass.

Is there a less expensive, space-saving, and still effective way to build strength? You bet there is! It might surprise you to learn that you can get an effective strength-training workout using only resistance bands. In fact, resistance bands offer some advantages over barbells and dumbbells. Let’s look at five advantages resistance bands have over dumbbells and barbells.

1.You Can Do More Exercises Using Resistance Bands

Working with resistance bands expands the number of exercises you can do to build strength. Barbells and dumbbells limit the number of exercises you can do since you have to work your muscles within a certain plane of motion. With weights, there’s a defined path you must follow, based on gravity, to get the benefits. That’s not true of resistance bands since their resistance comes from tension generated by the bands, not gravity. Therefore, you have more options when you train. Not only does this give you more flexibility but working muscles at different angles can boost muscle growth.

2. They Maintain Tension Throughout an Exercise

When you strength train with barbells and dumbbells, the tension on your muscles changes as you move through the exercise. For example, with a biceps curl, the tension drops off at the top of the movement where your hands are close to your chest. That doesn’t happen with resistance bands since tension within the band, not gravity, generates the resistance. Since the tension stays high throughout the exercise, it gives your muscles more stimulation for growth.

3. Resistance Bands Limit Momentum

When you do an exercise with a barbell or dumbbells, it’s easy to cheat. When the going gets tough, you can use momentum to “bounce” the weight up rather than force your muscles to do the work, thereby removing how much stimulation your muscle gets. That’s not true with resistance bands. To complete an exercise using bands, your muscles have to generate force throughout the full range-of-motion of the movement, so you activate more muscle fibers and, potentially, build more muscle. Working with resistance bands is natural protection against cheating.

4. They’re Excuse Proof

One problem with dumbbells and barbells is they aren’t portable. This means there’s a temptation when you travel or go on vacation not to exercise. Resistance bands are excuse proof because you can take them anywhere and use them even in a tiny hotel room. They’re light enough to drop in a travel bag and you’re ready to go! With resistance bands being so easy to work with, you’ll be more likely to work out.

5. Resistance Bands Are Easier on the Joints

Everyone should be concerned about joint health since our joints have to last a lifetime. Resistance bands are as effective, and sometimes more so for building strength than weights, but they place less stress on your joints. Therefore, resistance bands are an ideal way to build strength if you have any form of arthritis or injuries.

Despite being kinder to the joints, resistance bands can be as effective as weights for building muscle size. A study published in the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research asked a group of sedentary women to work with either weights or resistance bands for 10 weeks. When they looked at muscle gains, both groups enjoyed similar improvements in muscle endurance and muscle size and improved their body composition by losing body fat. The losses were similar between the two groups of women. Other research shows working with resistance bands can increase strength as much as weights.

The Bottom Line

Enjoy the strength-training benefits that resistance bands offer. Another perk: You don’t have to worry about dropping a barbell or dumbbell on your foot. If you drop a resistance band on a foot, you won’t even feel it.

 

References:

• Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research: September 2008 – Volume 22 – Issue 5 – pp 1441-1448.
• J Strength Cond Res. 2011 Feb;25(2):459-63. doi: 10.1519/JSC.0b013e3181c1f8b6.
• SAGE Open Med. 2019; 7: 2050312119831116.Published online 2019 Feb 19. doi: 10.1177/2050312119831116.
• J Strength Cond Res. 2008 Sep;22(5):1441-8. doi: 10.1519/JSC.0b013e31817ae67a.

 

How To Get Your Heart Rate Up Without Running

Running boosts your heart rate and improves cardiovascular health and endurance. However, the repetitive motion of running and the impact as your feet strike the ground can lead to overuse injuries. If you like running, do it in moderation. Plus, your body likes variety. Varying the type of movements you do to boost your heart can help you get into even better shape without the repetitive impact of running on your joints.

If you’re ready to add a little variety to your workouts, here are some cardio exercises that are better than running. Why better? Most of these exercises work your upper and lower body, so you have more than one muscle group working at the same time. That increases the calorie burn and makes your workouts more efficient.

Burpees

Burpees are an exercise that people love to hate, because they’re hard but effective. It only takes a few burpees to get your heart racing, and that means cardiovascular benefits. Start by doing only 5 and gradually work up to doing 10 burpees in a row.

If you need a refresher, here’s how to do a classic burpee:
• Stand with your feet hip-width apart and your arms loosely at your sides.
• Lower your buttocks toward the floor into a squat.
• Place your hands on the floor about shoulder-width apart.
• Jump your legs back behind you, while keeping them as straight as possible.
• Quickly jump your feet back to the starting position and stand back up.
• Keep repeating.

To make burpees harder, add a jump when you stand back up. The extra jump will boost your heart rate even more and increase the calorie burn.

Mountain Climbers

Mountain climbers are another heart-rate boosting exercise that increases stamina and boosts heart health. Plus, when you do mountain climbers, you work your lower body, core, and even your arms get in on the action since they support you while you do the exercise. Therefore, mountain climbers are a total body workout.

Need guidance on how to do one?
• Get into a push-up position with your hands on the floor and your legs stretched out behind you.
• Bring your right leg toward your chest and quickly return it to the starting position.
• As you bring the right leg back to the starting position, quickly bring your left leg toward your chest.
• Keep alternating bringing the leg you bring toward your chest as you switch your legs back and forth as if climbing a mountain.

Squat Jumps

The squat jump is a plyometric exercise, one that builds power and vertical jump height. It also boosts your heart rate enough to offer cardiovascular benefits.

Here’s a refresher on how to do one:
• Stand with your feet hip-width apart and your arms loosely by your sides.
• Lower your buttocks toward the floor into a squat and quickly jump into the air as you swing your arms toward the ceiling.
• Land lightly on your feet and repeat.
• Keep repeating.

Jumping Jacks

This exercise needs no introduction, since it’s an old-school exercise that gives your upper and lower body a workout. You likely already know how to do one, but you can make the movement easier or harder by slowing or speeding up the pace you do each jack.

What you might not know is jumping jacks do more than boost your heart rate. They also work the muscles in your core, the ones that help stabilize you and reduce your risk of back pain and injury. To get the most benefit from each jack, keep your body straight and don’t let your core sag. Also, don’t round your back or lock your knees when you do the exercise. Start slow and master the form before picking up the speed of your jacks.

Kick Boxing

One of the reasons people run is to improve heart health and aerobic capacity, a measure of aerobic fitness. However, research shows kickboxing does the same thing. In fact, a study found that 5 weeks of kickboxing improved aerobic capacity and aerobic power. The participants trained 3 days per week for an hour a day. Other perks include an increase in flexibility, speed, and agility. So, switch some of the time you spend running for kickboxing. It’s a workout that benefits your upper and lower body.

Build a Routine with These Exercises

How can you put these exercises to work to build cardiovascular fitness? You can either do each exercise for a certain number of seconds, for instance, 30 to 60 seconds, rest for 30 seconds and then proceed to the next, or you can do these exercises between strength-training exercises to keep your heart rate up.

The Bottom Line

Don’t get into a running rut and assume the only way you can get a cardio workout is to run. These five exercises have added benefits you won’t get from running and they work more muscle groups. So, skip the run and try these exercises instead.

References:

Muscles Ligaments Tendons J. 2014 Apr-Jun; 4(2): 106-113. Published online 2014 Jul 14.
HealthLine.com. “What Are the Benefits of Aerobic Exercise?”

If you’ve ever watched powerlifters training, you’ll see they lift heavy weights. In fact, the weights they train with are so heavy they can only do a few repetitions before their muscle fatigue and they have to stop. The method they’re using, heavy weight and low repetitions, works well for maximizing strength gains. That’s because lifting very heavy weights maximally recruits fast-twitch muscle fibers, the fibers best suited for generating force.

Bodybuilders, in contrast, use weights that are a bit lighter and do higher repetitions, usually in the 8 to 10 repetition range, before their muscles fatigue. Research suggests that moderate weight and higher volume is a better formula for muscle hypertrophy or building new muscle. When you build new muscle tissue, your muscles increase in size and look more defined.


Why the discrepancy?

Powerlifters and bodybuilders have different objectives. The former wants to maximize strength gains while bodybuilders focus more on aesthetics, like having good muscle definition. But what if you lift lighter weights, weights that are so light you can do 20 or more repetitions? Older research suggests that lighter weights increase muscle endurance, but can they build muscle size too?

What Study Shows about Muscle Hypertrophy and Lifting Lighter Weights

Researchers at McMaster University put lighter lifting to the test. They divided healthy, experienced weight trainers into two groups. The first group lifted heavy weights, equivalent to 90% of their one-rep max, the maximum amount of weight an individual can lift for one repetition.  One-rep max is a rough measure of a person’s strength. So, these guys were lifting heavy. The second group lifted weights that were 50% of their one-rep max. Because the first group worked with heavier weights, they were limited in the number of repetitions they could do and performed 8 to 12 repetitions. The second group was able to complete 20 to 25 repetitions before fatigue set in.

The exercises they did were compound exercises that worked multiple muscle groups and they did the exercises until their muscles reached failure, the point where they couldn’t complete another repetition using good form. After 12 weeks, researchers compared their muscle gains.

Were there differences in muscle development between the heavy and light lifters? To see, they checked markers of muscle protein synthesis in the blood and did a muscle biopsy to see how their muscles had changed. Despite the differences in the weight they used and the repetitions, both groups gained similar amounts of muscle.

Another study published in the Journal of Applied Physiology came to similar conclusions. In this study, two groups of men did leg exercises using a resistance equivalent to 80% of their one-rep max. Both did 3 sets of leg exercises but one trained to muscle fatigue while the second trained to muscle failure, where it was impossible to complete another repetition. A third group did 3 sets but used a resistance equivalent to 30% of their one-rep max, much lighter and trained to muscle fatigue. The results? All three groups enjoyed similar gains in muscle.

What This Means for Building Muscle?

You can build muscle size lifting weights as long as you lift until your muscles are thoroughly fatigued or close to muscle failure. It’s not a good idea to take every set to complete muscle failure, as this requires more recovery time and places too much stress on your muscles. So, if you don’t enjoy lifting heavy, you can still increase the size of your muscles using lighter weights. The key to success is working the muscles to fatigue. Your muscles should feel spent by the end of each set.

Although lighter lifting works for building muscle size, it’s not as effective for increasing muscle strength. Beyond the early stages of strength building, where you can make gains with lighter weights, you need heavy weights to maximize strength gains but the same isn’t true for muscle hypertrophy. In fact, higher volume and more repetitions, up to a point, is favorable for hypertrophy gains.

Regardless of how much you lift, you have to increase the challenge over time by increasing the resistance once a set becomes easy at the current weight. Another option is to increase the number of reps or do more sets. With this method, you increase total training volume, so your muscles have to work harder There are other ways to increase progressive overload too. Don’t let your training become stagnant.

The Bottom Line

You don’t have to lift heavy to increase muscle size but lifting lighter weights will limit your strength gains. The key to building muscle size with lighter weights is to fatigue your muscles. No cheating!

References:

Eurekalert.org. “Lighter Weight Just as Effective as Heavier Weights to Gain Muscle, Build Strength”

1. Neurophysiol. 90, 2919-2927 (2003).

Brett Contreras. The Glute Guy. “March Research Round-Up: the Muscle Fiber Types Edition”

 

 

 

 

 

Patience is a virtue for exercise training. Of course, you’d like to see results fast and celebrate those extra inches of body fat melting away. Or you might have a different goal, like the desire to see your biceps or tummy muscles pop. But it won’t happen overnight or without work.

It’s easy to get impatient when you don’t see results right away. It explains why so many folks get discouraged after starting an exercise program and give up before they can enjoy the health and fitness benefits that regular exercise offers.

How Long Does It Take to Get Results from Exercise?

You may not see it, but the results of working out show up the first time you launch into a sweat session. You may not see your waistline shrink or the number on the scale drop, but exercise has substantial benefits for mental and physical health that happen right away.

You may have heard of the “runner’s high,” the feelings of well-being people experience during and after a run. Scientists believe this phenomenon is brought on by the release of endorphins, natural chemicals that have a calming effect on the body and brain. Studies show endorphins bind to opiate receptors in the brain. When endorphins attach to these receptors, it reduces pain and you feel more tranquil. Exercise, particularly an aerobic workout, also triggers changes in other neurotransmitters such as serotonin that elevate mood.

With exercise, change begins sooner than you think. Even after your first workout, you feel a sense of accomplishment, making a workout a good mood elevator and self-esteem booster too. These benefits apply to both aerobic workouts and resistance training. So, you can say that exercise has perks that show up right away.

How Long Until You See Visible Results from Aerobic Exercise?

Even the visible benefits of exercise appear early. You look better after a workout. That’s because increased oxygen delivery to your skin and widening of blood vessels to release heat gives your skin a rosy glow. These are all good things, but what about changes in body weight, heart health, and the way your clothes fit?

How quickly you lose weight from aerobic exercise also depends on your diet. Some people compensate for working out by consuming more calories. In fact, if you don’t watch how you eat, an exercise program can even lead to weight gain. Most fitness instructors point out that weight loss is 80% nutrition and 20% exercise. You must get both sides of the equation right to lose weight.

Exercise can change the way your clothes fit even if you don’t lose weight. If you strength train and do aerobic exercise, you’ll build muscle and lose body fat. Your total body weight may not change because muscle weighs more than fat, but your body will be firmer and tighter so your clothing fits better.

Another reason people do aerobic exercise is to improve their cardiovascular fitness. Studies show you can see a change in your V02max (maximum oxygen consumption) in as little as a month if you’re consistent with your aerobic workouts. V02 max is the best measure of cardiovascular fitness and an increase means your heart and blood vessels have become better at pumping oxygen to tissues and muscle tissue can more efficiently use that oxygen to fuel exercise. However, you can make further gains if you keep training.

How Long It Takes to Get Results from Strength Training

If you strength train, you’ll develop strength before you see an increase in muscle size. You become stronger initially because your brain becomes more efficient at communicating with your muscles and your muscle contractions become more synchronized. Therefore, your muscles have an easier time lifting a heavy weight. It’s not uncommon to experience strength gains in the first few weeks after starting a strength -training routine and for strength gains to accelerate during the first six weeks of training. These gains aren’t due to gain in muscle size, but better communication between your brain and muscles. So, expect to feel stronger before you become bigger.

How about gains in muscle size? The boost in muscle size that comes from strength training is called muscle hypertrophy, and you usually won’t see an increase in muscle size for 6 weeks or longer. If you gradually increase the stimulus on your muscles by using progressive overload (lifting heavier and doing more volume), dedicated bodybuilders can build 2 to 3 pounds of muscle per month. How fast you gain muscle depends on your genetics, diet, training approach, and factors like how much you sleep and manage stress. It all matters.

The Bottom Line

Now you know why patience is important. You’ll get some fitness benefits right away, but to see a measurable difference in muscle size or a drop in body weight takes a little longer. The time to see change differs from individual to individual, so don’t compare your progress with someone else’s; compete only with yourself and you’ll get there.

 

 

References:

 

MedicineNet.com. “Endorphins: Natural Pain and Stress Fighters”

Healthline.com. “Exercise and brain chemistry”

Sci-Fit.net. “Scientific Recommendations for Strength and Hypertrophy Training from 150+ Studies (part 1 of 3)”

Lubbico A, Kravitz L. Muscle hypertrophy: New insights and training recommendations. IDEA Fitness Journal. 2011;2326.

Exercise Physiology: Theory and Application to Fitness and Performance. Powers and Howley. 2012.

 

Heart rate monitors are growing in popularity. No wonder! They provide feedback on how fast your heart is beating and you don’t have to stop and take your pulse to get that information. A quick glance at a heart rate monitor will give you the information you need. You can get feedback on your heart rate by wearing a monitor at several sites, including your wrist and arm, but your best bet is a heart rate monitor you place on your chest since they’re the most accurate.

Why would you want to wear a heart rate monitor? Let’s look at some of the benefits of monitoring your heart rate during exercise by wearing a monitor.

1. Feedback from a Heart Rate Monitor is a Good Gauge of Exercise Intensity

When you work out, it’s important to know how vigorously you’re exercising. Although you can use low-tech options for estimating exercise intensity like the talk test, it’s not as precise as knowing what your heart rate is.

A heart rate monitor gives you immediate feedback on how hard you’re working. If your goal is to train at a high intensity through high-intensity interval training, a heart rate monitor will ensure you’re achieving a high enough intensity to improve your anaerobic fitness level. Likewise, if your goal is to enhance your aerobic capabilities, it will make sure you’re in the aerobic training zone.

Wearing a heart rate monitor also gives you the ability to make intensity adjustments on the fly. At a glance, you can see whether your heart rate is dropping below your target zone and fire up the intensity to ensure you get benefits. Likewise, you can slow things down if you’re overdoing it.

2.It Can Help You Stay Motivated

The instant feedback a heart rate monitor provides is motivating. You see your heart rate in real-time and get the joy of knowing you’re training hard. Studies show that feedback like this is empowering and increases motivation and the willingness to stick with an exercise program. You can also use a heart rate monitor to check your resting heart rate over time and see how it changes. As you become fitter, your resting heart rate should drop.

3.A Heart Rate Monitor Helps You Track Whether You’re Pushing Too Hard

Exercise should place stress on your body but not to the point that your body can’t recover between sessions. Overreaching is a common problem among serious athletes but anyone who pushes themselves too hard without allowing adequate recovery can experience signs and symptoms of overreaching.

A heart rate monitor can help you determine whether your body isn’t recovering adequately from your training sessions. The best way to do this is to measure your recovery heart rate after exercise.

To check your recovery heart rate, write down your heart rate right after your exercise session ends based on what your heart rate monitor says. Wait one minute and then recheck it. Now, subtract the first heart rate from the second. If the number is 12 or less, you’re either in poor aerobic shape or you’re pushing your body too hard without allowing adequate recovery. The best way to use heart rate recovery is to check it at the end of every training session and write it down. If you notice your heart rate recovery slows, it’s a red flag that you could be overreaching.

Make sure you’re not dehydrated when you do this test. Dehydration can slow heart rate recovery. Also, a slow heart rate recovery is a marker for a higher risk of cardiac events, such as heart attacks. A quick heart rate recovery is a marker of a healthy heart.

4.A Heart Rate Monitor Can Help You Exercise Safer

If you check your heart rate and see it’s much higher than usual when you’re doing the same workout, it could be a sign that you’re dehydrated. Even mild dehydration can raise your heart rate and make exercise feel harder. If you’re diabetic, a rapid heart rate may be a sign that your blood sugar level is dropping and you’re becoming hypoglycemic. A heart rate monitor is also important if you take certain medications, like beta-blockers, that make it harder to achieve your target heart rate. Plus, if you have certain health conditions, your physician might recommend keeping the intensity of your workouts lower. A heart rate monitor helps you do that by providing feedback.

5.A Heart Rate Monitor is Multi-Functional

A heart rate monitor is helpful when you aren’t doing a structured workout. Wear one when you hike or take a leisure walk to see how hard you’re working. You can even strap it one while you’re doing housework. You may discover the tasks you do every day boosts your heart rate enough to offer cardiovascular benefits. It’s also useful when you play leisure sports such as tennis or volleyball to get feedback on how hard you’re working.

The Bottom Line

A heart rate monitor will help you optimize your workouts by providing continuous feedback on heart rate. Some offer added features and will track parameters such as calorie burn and allow you to upload your data to a spreadsheet on your computer. Some will even let you set your target heart rate and will beep when you fall above or below it. You may not need the more advanced features. If that’s the case, get a basic monitor that will give tell you your heart rate at a glance. There are other ways to monitor your heart rate but there’s none easier than wearing a monitor when you work out.

References:

Cardiovasc Diagn Ther. 2019 Aug; 9(4): 379-385. doi: 10.21037/cdt.2019.06.05.
Wearable Heart Rate Trackers: Which Works Best? Len Kravitz, PhD

6 Reasons You’re Exercising but Still Gaining Weight

People start to exercise for many reasons. Some want to improve their stamina and energy level. Others enjoy the disease preventive benefits that exercise offers. But one of the most common reasons people work out is to lose weight. However, it’s frustrating if you’re doing it for weight loss and you’re gaining weight instead! You might wonder what you’re doing wrong and how to correct it.

The reality is you may not be doing anything wrong. If you’re working your muscles against resistance, you could be gaining muscle rather than body fat. Muscle weighs more than fat and it’s pushing the needle on the scale up. Your body composition is improving but the scale doesn’t reflect it. That’s why measuring body fat percentage gives you more information than body weight.

However, it is possible that you are gaining body fat since you started exercising. Let’s look at some reasons why.

1. You Reward Yourself with Food

Using food as a reward and overeating after a workout is the most common reason people gain weight after starting an exercise program. Studies show people are notorious at overestimating the calories they burn during a workout. It’s true of men and women.

In one study, researchers asked men and women to estimate how many calories they burned during an hour-long workout. The subjects said they burned 400 calories but objective data showed they expended only 250 calories. If you adjust your eating habits around that optimistic estimate, you’ll more than compensate for the calories you burned off.

The truth is it takes a lot of exercise to burn off a chocolate chip cookie or a Frappuccino with whipped cream from Starbucks. Even worse, people often don’t count the calories they drink, such as sugary beverages they hydrate with during a workout. It all counts! Also, don’t use food as a reward for working out. Exercise because it makes you feel good, not to earn a brownie. Replace those after-workout snacks with more nutrient-dense fare. How about a container of plain yogurt with fruit?

Studies also suggest that more intense exercise stimulates appetite in some people but the research is conflicting. Some show intense exercise reduces the desire to eat afterward. Take note of how exercise affects your appetite after different workout intensities. Once you know, you can devise strategies for not consuming more calories than you burned off.

2. You’re Not Strength Training Enough

Don’t fall into the trap of only doing cardio exercise to lose weight. Cardio burns more calories while you’re doing it but strength training builds metabolically active muscle tissue that increases the amount of fat you burn even when you aren’t exercising. It’s an investment in a healthy metabolism. The effect of building muscle is modest but it all counts. Plus, strength training is less likely to boost your appetite than cardio. Switch some of your focus toward strengthening your muscles.

3. You Use Exercise as an Excuse Not to Change Your Eating Habits

Exercise and nutrition go together. Sometimes people think if they exercise they don’t have to address their eating habits. A little voice inside your head might tell you that if you’re burning more calories you don’t have to watch what you eat. But, as mentioned, you may overestimate the calories you expend during exercise and eat enough to gain weight. Plus, your body has different nutritional needs when you work out. Make sure you’re supplying your muscles with the macronutrients and micronutrients they need by eating a nutrient-rich diet. Skip the junk food. It won’t nourish your body and the sugar and empty calories will lead to weight gain.

4. You’re Sitting Between Workouts

All movement counts! After exhausting yourself with a workout, do you head for an easy chair for the rest of the day? Working out can’t make up for hours of uninterrupted sitting, not to mention sitting more than 6 hours per day increases all-cause mortality. Add more movement to your day by taking short walks and stretching breaks. Find opportunities to add more motion to your day – take the stairs, park further away, do housework with more vigor. A fitness tracker can help you track your movement when you aren’t exercising. Also, don’t exhaust yourself so much during a workout that you don’t feel like moving the rest of the day.

5. You’re Weighing Too Often

Bodyweight fluctuates on a daily basis and not all weight gain is body fat. You may experience water weight gain during certain times of the month or gain a few pounds due to constipation or eating a large, salty meal. In fact, it can take several days for your weight to return to baseline after eating overindulging at a buffet. Medications can contribute to weight gain too. Stop weighing so often and pay more attention to how your clothes are fitting and how you feel. Ultimately, that is the most important.

6. Your Workouts are Stressing You Out

One of the most common reasons people overeat and gain weight is emotional eating or stress eating. That can happen if you’re pushing yourself so hard during your workouts that it’s stressing you out. Exercising too long and too often can work against you by elevating the stress hormone cortisol. In turn, cortisol can contribute to muscle breakdown and an increased appetite. Switch some of those high-intensity exercise sessions with mind-body exercises like yoga and light stretching to help your body recover from the more strenuous sessions. It’s all about balance. Also, consider taking your workouts outdoors on a sunny day. Exercising in nature is a stress reliever and exercising in natural light will help optimize your biological clock for better weight control. You’ll also get a dose of vitamin D.

The Bottom Line

Now you have a better idea of why you’re exercising and gaining weight or not losing weight. But remember, even if you aren’t satisfied with your weight loss, you’re gaining health benefits and building more strength and stamina. That’s worthwhile too.

References:

Berthiaume MP, Lalande-Gauthier M, Chrone S, & Karelis AD. Energy expenditure during the group exercise course BodypumpTM in young healthy individuals. J Sports Med Phys Fitness. 2015 Jun; 55(6):563-8.

Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research: May 27, 2019 – Volume Publish Ahead of Print – Issue – doi: 10.1519/JSC.0000000000003192.

PLoS One. 2013; 8(11): e80000.

Published online 2013 Nov 13. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0080000.

Harvard Health Publishing. “Exercising to Relax”

 

 

12 Chest Workouts You Can Try At Home

By now you’ve probably realized you don’t need a gym to get the body you want. We’ve covered the shoulders , the biceps , and the triceps , and now it’s time to talk about the chest.

Targeting the muscles of the chest is important because it helps to improve breathing, arm strength, stability and posture and can even give women a natural breast lift, making boobs perkier by giving them more support.

If you have no time or access to the gym, you can utilize your body weight and household items to tone and strengthen the chest. Here are 12 different ways you can do it:

1. Decline Push-ups

A decline push-up is similar in concept to a regular push up, however, with this version, your chest and shoulders get more of a workout. You will need a chair, step, table, bench, or any elevated surface that is sturdy.

Step 1: Get into a kneeling position with your back facing your elevated surface.

Step 2: Place your palms on the floor and place one leg at a time onto the elevated surface. Extend your body once you arecomfortable. Your body should be completely straight. This is your starting position.

Step 3: Brace your glutes and core as you bend your arms at the elbows and lower your chest towards the ground.

Step 4: Pause for a second, then push your palms into the ground to straighten your arms to return to your starting position. This is one rep.

Modification: No decline (level surface).

2. Wide Press-up

The wide press-up is another version of the traditional push-up, however, with this version, your arms are wider apart to engage your chest muscles.

Step 1: Assume a plank position with your palms flat on the ground, arms and legs extended, and back straight.

Step 2: Widen the distance between your arms, a bit wider than shoulder’s width apart. It should be wide, but not too awkward.

Step 3: Bend your elbows slowly to lower your body to the floor, then straighten to return to your original position. This is one rep.

Modification: Bend your knees.

3. Diamond Push–up

Diamond push-ups include having your palms closer together for a more intense chest and triceps workout. It also engages the shoulders and back.

Step 1: Get on all fours with your palms flat beneath your chest and your hands forming a diamond or triangle (do this by touching your thumbs and index fingers).

Step 2: Kick your legs back and extend onto your tippy toes, forming a straight line from your legs to your head. This is your starting position.

Step 3: Bend your arms at the elbows to lower your chest to the floor. Your elbows should be tucked beside your sides.

Step 4: Straighten your elbows to return to your starting position. This is one rep.

Modification: Bend your knees.

4. Spiderman Press-up

The Spiderman press-up won’t make you as agile and strong as your friendly neighborhood spiderman, but consistent workouts will bring you close enough. This exercise engages both the upper and lower body and will help to tone your chest.

Step 1: Get into the plank position. Remember to keep your body straight, head neutral, and core engaged. Once there, widen the distance between your arms a little beyond shoulder’s width. This is your starting position.

Step 2: As you prepare to bend your elbows and lower your chest to the ground, lift your right knee up and out so that it meets your right elbow.

Step 3: Straighten your arms to return to the starting position. Repeat step 3 with your left knee and left elbow. This is one rep.

Modification: None.

5. Dive Bomber

The dive bomber is a great upper body workout, and don’t worry, no one’s going to get hurt! You will, however, feel the pressure in your chest, back, shoulders, arms, and abs.

Step 1: Get into a traditional plank position, but this time, push your hips back and outwards so that your body is positioned like an inverted V. You should be looking at your feet in the position. This is your starting position.

Step 2: Press forward into your arms and bend your arms at the elbows so that your chest is lowered to an inch above the ground.

Step 3: Hold this pose for a second then push your chest out and up, by straightening your arms. Hold, then reverse your “glide” by pushing your hips back to return to your start position. This is one rep.

Modification: Bend your knees at step 2.

6. Chest Dips

Chest dips are very similar to regular dips, but those focus primarily on the triceps and shoulders. Chest dips focus on the chests and the other muscles to a lesser extent.

For this exercise, you’ll need something as tall as your abdomen or chest, such as a counter, chairs, sturdy couch, parallel railings, etc. If using chairs, set their backs parallel to each other with enough space between.

Step 1: Stand between the chairs and railings, or in front of your counter or couch. Place each hand on a chair/railing, or both palms onto the flat on the counter/couch.

Step 2: Press your palms downwards to hoist yourself upwards and bend your knees.
Step 3: In a slow, controlled motion, bend your elbows to lower your body until they are at a 90-degree angle. Your shoulders should be below your elbows

Step 4: Slowly straighten your arms to hoist yourself back up. This is one rep.

Modification: Don’t dip too low. Stop when your shoulders are at your chest.

7. Sliding Chest Press Ups

To perform this exercise, you will need two face towels or rags and a tiled surface or slippery floor.

Step 1: Fold your towels into squares and lay flat on your stomach.

Step 2: Place each towel under your palms and position your arms shoulder’s width apart. Get into a plank position.

Step 3: Bend your right arm and extend your left arm by sliding it sideways. Return to the plank position and bend your left arm while extending your right arm. This is one rep.

Modification: Bend knees to make it easier.

8. Sliding Chest Fly

Keep your towels for this exercise. It’s similar but slightly advanced.

Step 1: Get into a plank position with your towels beneath your palms.

Step 2: Slide your arms outwards and lower your chest to the ground. Bend your elbows if necessary.

Step 3: Slide your arms inwards to lift your chest off the ground, back into the plank position.

Modification: None.

9. Pull-ups

If you have a pull-up bar at home, great, but once you can find a surface that you can grip on and pull your body upwards then you should be fine. A good example is a door frame, but you can also use a staircase railing.

Step 1: Grip your pull up bar (or substitute) at shoulder’s width apart.

Step 2: Bend your knees slightly and pull yourself up dragging your elbows downwards.

Step 3: When your chin is in line with the bar, lower your body by straightening your arms. This is one rep.

Modification: Bring your chest in line with the bar instead of your chin.

10. Towel Chest Press

Get your towel out for this exercise. It needs to be slightly longer than shoulder’s width.

Step 1: Lay flat on your back. Take each end of the towel into each hand and stretch it to shoulder’s width apart to create tension.

Step 2: Maintain this tension while raising your arms above your chest.

Step 3: Slowly bend your arms and lower the towel toward your chest. Raise your arms once more while maintaining tension in the towel. This is one rep.

Modification: None.

11. Towel Push and Pull

For this exercise, you’ll need to stand up with your towel.

Step 1: Hold each end of the towel with each of your hands and extend your arms in front of you.

Step 2: Pull on each end of the towel to create tension.

Step 3: Pull your right elbow behind your back and rotate your upper body till your left hand is in line with the center of your chest.

Step 4: Repeat this step by pulling your left elbow behind you while rotating your upper body until your right hand is in line with the center of your chest. This is one rep.

Modification: None

12. Planks

Planks are one of the most common bodyweight exercises and are great because they engage several muscles at the same time. Planks are also a great chest workout.

Step 1: Get on all fours, with your palms extended into the floor.

Step 2: Kick back your legs, and keep them two inches apart. Your legs should be extended to your tippy toes.

Step 3: Hold this position for 30-60 seconds.

Modification: Bend your knees.

Summary

Who knew there were so many ways to work out your chest at home? Well, we did and we’re more than happy to share them with you.

Consider adding the following to your next at-home workoutroutine to target your chest:

Yes, we know working out sucks, and you can’t be bothered most of the time, but if you want those results, you’ve got to put in the hard work!

Putting in hard work doesn’t mean going into an intimidating gym with buff men and Instagram models. You can do a full-body workout at home using nothing but your bodyweight, furniture, and the floor. You can also add resistant bands to your routine. They are cheap, portable and take up little space.

In this post, we’ll take a look at how you can work out your shoulders at home, to give a well-tones appearance that you deserve. Here are 12 different exercises that you can do today, without weights:

1. Push-ups

Pushups are a type of exercise that engages the entire body, primarily your upper body and your core. They are sometimes called “press-ups”:

Step 1: Get down on all fours with your arms straightened. They should be a little more than shoulder’s width apart.

Step 2: Extend your legs as far as they can do, onto your tippy toes. Your spine, head, and feet should now be in a straight line.

Step 3: Lower your chest to the floor by bending your elbows, but do not let your entire body plop onto the floor.

Step 4: Pause for a second then straighten your arms to return to your original position. This is one rep.

Modification: Keep your legs bent at the knees instead of straightening them

2. Inclined push-ups

Inclined push-ups are a more advanced version of traditional push ups that targets the chest and shoulders more. All you need is an inclined, sturdy surface such as a chair, step, bench, or table.

Step 1: Face the object you will use for an inclined push up then get into a knelt prayer position.

Step 2: Extend your arms and press into the object while stepping your feet back onto your tippy toes. This is your starting position.

Step 3: With your palms flat, arms a bit wider than shoulder’s width apart and body in a straight line, bend your arms at the elbows to lower your upper body

Step 4: Pause, then straighten your arms to bring you back to your starting position. This is one rep.

Modification: Use shorter incline.

3. Shoulder tap

Shoulder taps target the shoulders, chest, upper back, abs, and core. As it relates to your shoulders, shoulder taps increase strength and stability.

Step 1: Assume the plank position. Your arms should be extended into the floor and your legs extended through to your tippy toes. Your body should form a straight line from your head to your legs.

Step 2: Once you find your balance, lift one palm off the floor and cross it across your chest to touch the opposite shoulder. Lower this palm back to the floor and repeat with the next palm. This is one rep.

Modification: To make this exercise more difficult, use your palm to reach to the sky instead of tapping your shoulder.

4. Chair dips

Chairs dips are primarily an arm workout that targets the shoulders, triceps, and biceps. You will

need a sturdy chair . A dining room chair should work well.

Step 1: Sit on the chair with your palms flat behind you, feet flat on the floor at hip-width apart, and with your back straight.

Step 2: Scoot forward until your butt is no longer on the chair, and your palms are closer to the edge of the seat. Bend your knees slightly. This is your starting position.

Step 3: Bend your arms at the elbows to lower your buttocks to the floor.

Step 4: Push your palms into the chair to return to the starting position. This is one rep.

Modification: Do your dips on the floor without a chair.

5. Crab walk

Crab walks strengthen and tone the shoulders, back, arms, core, legs, and hamstrings. This may be a bit awkward at first, but after a few sets, you’ll get used to it. It also helps to promote stability and coordination.

Step 1: Sit on the floor with your arms flat on the ground behind you and your feet hip-distance apart. Your fingers should be hip facing.

Step 2: Bend your knees and lift your hips slightly off the floor. Engage your abs.

Step 3: Walk four steps forward by first moving your left hand and right foot, followed by your right arm and left foot. Then, walk four steps backward.

Modification: Do more forward and backward steps.

6. Diving dolphin

The diving dolphin or dolphin dive is an exercise that was designed to target the shoulders, arms, upper back, and core all at the same time.

Step 1: Get into a forearm plank position, with your forearms flat on the floor, body extended to your tippy toes, and back straight.

Step 2: Raise your hips to form an upside-down V with your body and hold this position for 5 seconds.

Step 3: Dive forward to bring your chest up and out and lower to return to the starting position.

Step 4: Keeping your abs tight and back straight, do a reverse dive to raise your hips once more. This is one rep.

Modification: After diving forward, hold this position.

7. Towel shoulder press

Grab a towel from your bathroom to complete the workout. It is similar to a shoulder press with weights, however, you’ll be using tension for this exercise.

Step 1: Stand upright with your legs hip-width apart.

Step 2: Grasp both ends of the towels with opposite hands and pull tightly to create tension.

Step 3: Maintain this tension while raising your extended arms above and behind your head. This is your starting position.

Step 4: Bend your arms at the elbows slowly and lower your arms close to the back of your neck.

Step 5: Extend your arms once more until you are at your starting position. This is one rep.

Modification: None.

8. Door frame shoulder press

This exercise only requires you to stand inside of a door frame.

Step 1: Stand in your door frame and raise your arms over your head to touch the top of the door frame.

Step 2: Use your hands to press into the door frame as hard as you can for 15-30 seconds and hold the tension.

Step 3: Release and pause for 10 seconds. This is one rep

Modification: Instead of pressing upwards, bend your arms in a 90-degree angle and press your forearms into each side of the door frame.

9. Shoulder circles

This is a simple exercise that helps to warm up the shoulder muscles through stretching. It also helps to keep them toned.

Step 1: Stand upright with your back straight and feet flat on the ground.

Step 2: Extend your arms outwards from your side until you form a “T” with your body.

Step 3: Rotate your arms in a clockwise motion to make small circles for 30-60 seconds. Repeat this in an anticlockwise motion.

Step 4: Repeat Step 3 using large circles.

Modification: None

10. Shoulder raise with towel

For this exercise, all you need is a towel. This towel should be long enough to extend to shoulder’s length apart.

Step 1: Use your hands to grip the opposite ends of the towel tightly at shoulder’s width apart. Your arms should be in line with your chest.

Step 2: Open your legs to width length apart and bend your knees slightly.

Step 3: Create tension in the towel by pulling it in opposite directions with your hands.

Step 4: Keeping your arms straight, lower them to your waist, then back to your chest. This is one rep.

Modification: None

11. Shoulder pike press

The pike press is an exercise that focused mainly on your shoulders, back, and triceps. It also helps to promote stability.

Step 1: Get your body into the modified push up position. This means your legs should be bent at the knees, instead of being extended to your tippy toes.

Step 2: Lift your knees and walk your legs as close to your hands as you can while maintaining an upside-down V pose.

Step 3: In this upside-down V pose, your back should be straight and your shoulder muscles flexed.

Step 4: Bend your elbows slowly to lower your head to the ground without touching it. Hold this pose for 5 seconds, then extend your arms. This is one rep.

Modification: Omit step 5. Hold the pose.

12. Forward bear crawl down stairs

For this exercise, you’ll only need some stairs.

Step 1: Go to the top of your stairs.

Step 2: Place your arms onto the first step and extend your legs behind you. Your butt should be slightly raised.

Step 3: Walk down the stairs using your hands. Place one hand at a time down the steps, and follow with one foot at a time.

Step 4: You can stop when you get to the bottom of the stairs, or choose to reverse bear crawl up the stairs. The steps are the same, however, you will need to go feet-first, so instead of walking down with a hand at a time, you’ll need to place your feet up the steps before your hands.

Summary

You don’t need weights to get strong, well-toned shoulder muscles. Here are some exercises that will help

• Push-ups• Inclined push-ups • Shoulder taps• Chair dips• Crab walks• Diving dolphin • Towel shoulder press• Door frame shoulder press• Shoulder circles• Shoulder raises with towels• Shoulder pike press• Forward bear crawls down stairs