Tag: Workout

(Reuters) - Modern cardio machines come with so many bells and whistles that it's routine to watch a favorite movie, scale a virtual mountain, or share gossip with Facebook friends while getting fit at the gym.

But what do you push to maximize your workout?

Josh Lyon, of the chain of national gyms 24 Hour Fitness, advises his new clients to focus on the fundamentals.

"Learn the arithmetic before tackling the calculus," he said. "For the treadmill, it is generally incline and speed. For the elliptical, it is generally ramp and resistance."

Build muscle and core strength. No barbell required.

We've got nothing against barbells, but dumbbells offer a lot more versatility. You don't need much space, and you can find them anywherefrom the dinkiest hotel fitness center to your uncle's garage. We've put together the ultimate dumbbell-only routineone you can do with just a few pairs of weights.

Why It Works
Using dumbbells allows you to train one side of your body at a time, which is great for curing any strength imbalances you've developed. And because each limb moves independently, your core has to brace harder to prevent you from tipping to one side. Hello, six-pack!

Most guys in the gymeven the regularslook about the same year after year. Maybe you do too, and that sucks. You don't go through life trying to stay where you are, so why are you still lifting the same weights as last year? Probably because you don't have a plan for progress. We do.

The MF Yearlong Workout is a 12-month plan of sequential workouts that culminates with your achieving your biggest, strongest, leanest, most athletic body ever. With each issue of Men's Fitness in 2010, we will add a new workout. One year from now, you'll be a whole new man. And those other guys? Don't worry, they won't have changed a bit.

The best fitness tool may be your beagle's leash, say Northwestern University docs. Dogs are great partners because they "never say no, never talk you into not exercising and never sabotage you," says researcher Robert F. Kushner, MD. While people provide helpful input (cheerleading), we also bring negative influences (we're inconsistent). A pooch shows persistence by fussing until you walk, and he sees it as fun, not a chore. Plus, you feel parental pride when you walk your dog.

Guys with lean frames, like Kevin Garnett, need only these three moves to gain muscle

Hard-gainers, skinny bastards, or (to use the technical term) ectomorphs tend to think their inability to gain muscle is because they're not training hard enough. They're actually training too hard and not eating enough. Hit it hard with three moves that work the whole body, and then get to the kitchen table to chow down.

Fitness isn't just a plan you embark on, along with a diet, to lose weight. It's a lifelong love of movement that will help you maintain good health and the physique you want. Weve compiled some workout routines and ideas to help you along your way.

These recommendations will help you evolve your workout routine and activity plan. The theme is picking something you love doing, and nurturing your feelings every step of the way.

After you read through these workout options, consider journaling to explore your fitness habits, desires, and goals.

Working out can be intimidating. mensfitness.com solved that problem with a beginners workout.

Perform the workout three days a week for four weeks, resting at least one day between each session. On the weight exercises, choose a load that allows you to complete a few more reps than the prescribed number (you may need to adjust this load between sets as you discover your strength levels). For instance, if an exercise calls for 12 reps, choose a load that you estimate you can perform 15 reps with before having to stop (but complete only 12).