Exercise Machines-Aerobic Exercise-Calf Raise

I have really big calves, any ideas how to reduce the size of them?

Aerobic Exercise
Aerobic exercise burns calories and reduces fat stores throughout the body, including on the calves. Aim to get 30 minutes of aerobic exercise each day. Running, brisk walking, jumping jacks, jumping on the trampoline, stair-stepper machines and cycling are all good choices for aerobic exercise.
Calf raises focus on strengthening the gastrocnemius and soleus muscles. To perform a standing calf raise, stand on a solid object, such as a step or block of wood. The balls of your feet should be stable on the object, and your heels should hang over the edge. Slowly, raise yourself up on your tiptoes by tightening the muscles in your calves. Hold for a count of three or four. Slowly lower yourself as far as possible, while keeping the balls of your feet stable on the object. Repeat for three to four sets of 15 to 20 repetitions. To increase the intensity of the calf raise without a machine, perform a single-leg calf raise by placing one foot on the calf of the other leg and balancing while doing the exercise. At the gym, exercise machines provide alternatives for this exercise.
To stretch the calves, stand two to three feet from the wall. Extend your arms to lean against the wall. Take a step toward the wall with one foot, leaving the other leg behind you. Be sure your front leg remains bent slightly. Without locking the back knee, lean toward the wall until you feel a stretch in the calf of the straight leg. Hold for a count of six and relax. Repeat on the other side. Do several repetitions on each leg on a regular basis. read more..

Evolution Of Humans-Aerobic Exercise-Healthday News

Evolution May Explain 'Runner's High,' Study Says

WEDNESDAY, May 9 (Healthday News) -- The pleasurable feeling known as "runner's high" that's triggered by aerobic exercise may have played a role in the evolution of humans' ability to run long distances, a new study suggests. read more..

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Abdominal Muscles-Aerobic Exercise

Exercise at home without any equipment

Walking – You can just as easily get an effective walking workout at home, If you have a flight of stairs, go up and down them a few times. This will help to tone up your legs, while getting some low impact aerobic exercise as well.
Jumping Jacks – Great cardio exercises, and good for warming up, too.
Pushups – These are probably not the most favorite exercise of many people. Do them on your knees, instead of keeping your legs straight. Or, do them standing up against a wall. You will be building up arm strength and working out muscles in your chest area.
Leg Lifts – Great for building up strength and muscles in your legs.
Crunches – The best exercise for building up and strengthening abdominal muscles.
Jogging In Place – Jogging is a great exercise for your heart. You can jog in place at home while watching TV or listening to music.
Squats – Best exercises for your legs and butt.
Light Weight Lifting – Use whatever you can find in your house. You can use milk jugs, laundry detergent bottles or even water jugs.
Dancing – Wonderful exercise and great for whole body. read more..

Aerobic Exercise-Cardio Workout-Calorie Burner-Calorie Count

Exercise during your period

Even experts against a hardcore workout on your period have to agree that a walk gets you moving without injury or danger. So, put on some sneakers and sunblock, and hit the road. Walking by itself isn’t a huge calorie burner, but you will feel good about the fact that you exercised. Don’t stress the exact calorie count.
If you’re feeling up for a jog, go for it. The endorphins you release during an intesnse cardio workout can help you beat the period ickies that you may be feeling. Hydrate well before, after and during your run, if possible; some researchers say you dehydrate more easily on your period. Whether that’s true or not, err on the side of safety and keep drinking.Yoga
Yoga is very customizable; many poses have options to match your skill level. Inversions aren’t recommended during your period, although this has no definitive medical basis. Still, having the option to relax in the goddess position if you’re not up for a headstand is nice.Aerobics
Sometimes, when you’re on your period, you just want to go a little crazy. Aerobic exercise is the perfect way to let loose. Plus, aerobics classes are typically held in a low-pressure environment where the focus is on fun.Dancing
Shaking it up on the dance floor isn’t exercise in the traditional sense, but it will rev your heart rate and burn some calories. This is a great option because it doesn’t feel like exercise — and when you’re on your period, you might need a little motivation to get gussied up and feel great about who you are. Stepping out into an evening of dancing and fun will certainly give you that extra oomph and make you feel fabulous.Planking
When it’s that time of the month, all you want to do is stay home and watch Lifetime movies. Make the most of your TV time by holding a plank position during the commercials:
    Get down on the floor.
    Put your arms and elbows under your chest.
    Raise your body using just your forearms and toes, and hold.
This is an intense all-over workout. Start by holding your plank during every other commercial and work up to holding through an entire commercial break.Working out from home
Pop in an exercise DVD. You don’t need to dress in fancy workout gear, and quitting early won’t be embarrassing if you’re just doing it in your living room.
Don’t use your period as an excuse to forget your fitness routine - but do listen to your body if you need a break from it. read more..

Aerobic Exercise-Healthday News-Health Tip

Health Tip: Don't Forget Aerobic Exercise

(Healthday News) -- There are plenty of easy ways to work aerobic exercise into your day without visiting the gym. read more..

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Cardiovascular Exercise-Aerobic Exercise-Healthday News-Lung Health

Health Tip: Why You Need Aerobic Exercise

(Healthday News) -- Aerobic exercise, also called cardiovascular exercise, helps improve your heart and lung health. Examples include walking, running, swimming, biking and hiking. read more..

source:http://yhoo.it/GNC0p5

Both Too Little and Too Much Sleep Bad for the Heart: Study

SUNDAY, March 25 (Healthday News) -- When it comes to what's best for their hearts, people walk a fine line between getting too much and too little sleep, a new study suggests. read more..

source:http://yhoo.it/GNC1ZS

Exercise Equipment-Special Equipment-Aerobic Exercise-Fitness Products-Aerobic Workout

Low-cost ways to shape up

Take advantage of everyday opportunities
You don’t necessarily need special equipment for an aerobic workout. With a little foresight, activities you may take for granted can become part of your fitness routine.
Step it up. Take a brisk walk every day, whether it’s a path through your neighborhood or laps in a local mall. Take the stairs instead of the elevator or make a full workout of climbing the stairs. Sneak in extra steps whenever you can by parking farther away from your destination.
Make a workout of household chores. Mow the lawn, weed the garden, rake the leaves or shovel the snow. Even indoor activities such as vacuuming and scrubbing count as a workout if you increase your heart rate.Join in the fun. If you have children, don’t just watch them play. Join them for a game of tag or kickball. Walk them to the park. Dance. Take a family bike ride. Go to a community pool. Even if you don’t swim, you can enjoy time in the water or walk in the shallow end.
Consider modest investments
If you’re looking for fitness bargains, these inexpensive fitness products may be a good bet:
Dumbbells. Dumbbells are small, hand-held weights that you can use to strengthen your upper body. They’re available in many sizes.
Resistance tubing. These stretchy tubes offer weight-like resistance when you pull on them. Use the tubes to build strength in your arms and other muscles. Choose from varying degrees of resistance, depending on your fitness level.Jump-ropes. Skipping rope can be a great cardiovascular workout.Fitness ball. A fitness ball looks like a large beach ball. You can do many core exercises, including abdominal crunches, with a fitness ball. You can also use a fitness ball to improve your flexibility and balance.Exercise videos, DVDs or podcasts. Create the feel of a health club aerobics class in your own living room — or choose a program that’ll help you improve your strength and flexibility. Pick a program that matches your current fitness level and is endorsed by a certified fitness instructor.Improvise
If you’d rather not spend a penny on exercise equipment, use ordinary household items for various upper and lower body exercises:
Canned goods. Many canned goods can serve double duty as hand weights.Milk or water jugs. Fill empty milk or water jugs with water or sand and secure the tops with duct tape. To adjust the weights as your fitness level changes, simply add more water or sand. If you wonder how much weight you’re lifting, weigh the jug on your household scale.Step stools. A low, sturdy step stool can become exercise equipment if you use it for step training — an aerobic exercise resembling stair climbing.
Be a savvy shopper
If you’re interested in a specific exercise class or piece of equipment, shop around.
Check out your local recreation department. Many recreation departments offer discounted fitness classes to local residents. If you live near a high school or college with a fitness center, ask if the facility is available to community members.Buy used equipment. Some sporting goods stores specialize in used equipment — or you can check out listings for exercise equipment in the local newspaper. You may also find great deals on used exercise equipment online. Just make sure the cost of shipping won’t put the item out of your budget.Share costs with a friend. Trade exercise videos or DVDs with a friend so that neither of you gets bored doing the same workout over and over again. Find a personal trainer who’ll let you share the cost of a session with a friend or two.Know what to avoid. Some fitness products aren’t worth buying, no matter how low the price. For example, don’t buy herbal supplements or other products that claim fitness benefits overnight or promise to melt away pounds without diet and exercise.
Remember, getting in shape doesn’t need to be expensive. Don’t get caught up in memberships or purchases you can’t afford. Instead, c read more..

Canadian Researchers-Blood Sugar Control-Aerobic Exercise-Type 1 Diabetes

Diabetics should lift weights before cardio: study

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - People with diabetes may have better blood sugar control during workouts if they lift weights before doing cardio exercise, according to a new study by Canadian researchers. It's important to define the best way for people with type 1 diabetes to exercise so that blood sugar doesn't drop too low, yet they can still reap all the benefits of aerobic exercise, Dr. Ronald Sigal, an endocrinologist at the University of Calgary in Canada and lead author of the study told Reuters Health. ... read more..

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The University Of Iowa-Resistance Training-Aerobic Exercise-Research Team

A research team from the University of Iowa recently evaluated more than 100 stu...

A research team from the University of Iowa recently evaluated more than 100 studies and found that resistance training and aerobic exercise both give your brain a boost—but in different ways. Learn more: http://ow.ly/9hbeQTone Your Body, Sharpen Your Mindow.lyAfter just six months of exercise, brain scans show that gray and white matter in the prefrontal and temporal lobes of the brain actually grow read more..

The Journal Neuroscience-Aerobic Exercise-Hunger Hormones-Skinny Jeans-Brain Health

A new study, published in the journal Neuroscience found that moderately intense...

A new study, published in the journal Neuroscience found that moderately intense aerobic exercise provides the biggest benefits for brain health in addition to reducing anxiety...Read more: http://ow.ly/88eWNSmarty Pants? Skinny Jeans…ow.lyWant to boost your brainpower and minimize anxiety? It may be as simple as…hopping on the treadmill. read more..

Your hunger hormones are always playing tug-of-war, telling you when to eat and...

Your hunger hormones are always playing tug-of-war, telling you when to eat and when to back away from the fridge...learn how to balance them (and other hormones) out: http://ow.ly/88WNaHow Hormones Affect Your Bodyow.lyLearn how exercise, sleep, and even snuggling can keep your hormones balanced read more..