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The best at-home fitness equipment in 2020 – CNET
Getty Images This story is part of New Year, New You, everything you need to develop healthy habits that will last all the way through 2020 and beyond.
Finding the best home exercise equipment to outfit your own personalhome gym can send you down a fitness rabbit hole -- particularly if you have plenty of room to consider basicallyevery machineon the market. But certain items are far more necessary than others, so it's helpful to get some guidance on what to buy if you're just getting started or only have a small space to dedicate to your gym equipment.
And, although shopping for such basic workout aids as weights, resistance bands and yoga mats may seem relatively simple, you shouldn't always order the first thing that you find. As too many of us have learned, it's surprisingly easy to end up with a low-quality piece of equipment that ends up impeding your workout, rather than enhancing it.
Luckily, with the help of online customer reviews, we've found the best home fitness essentials that everyone should have and rounded them up below.
This pair of dumbbells is adjustable in increments of two and a half pounds, from a minimum weight of five pounds to a max weight of 52.5 pounds. An inexpensive (but similarly durable) alternative to Bowflex's adjustable dumbbells, this set saves space and allows for quick and easy changes in weight throughout workout.
Reviewers noted the set's high quality, rust-free finish, as well as the fact that additional weights stay in place while lifting, without wobbling around or shifting in place.
The starter guide that comes with this handled set of resistance bands makes it friendly for beginners, while the wide range of resistance offered within the set makes it a great choice for more experienced users. The set comes with a door anchor and travel case, for those who want to take their workout on the road.
Reviewers were particularly happy with how versatile this set is, in that they could incorporate the bands into larger workouts or simply use them on their own. (They also make a great gift.)
For those who might balk at this mat's price, we'd like to highlight the reviewer who described it as the "Cadillac" of yoga mats -- grippy enough for fast-paced vinyasa flows and cushiony enough for floor-based stretching. That said, that aforementioned grippiness may have to come with some time and effort on your part.
Some reviewers noted that the mat can get slippery during hot yoga. Manduka's care instructions recommend a salt scrub to "break in" the surface of the mat, which can help.
Check out our other yoga mat recommendations.
Not only can this system attach to pretty much any door, but you can anchor it to rafters, trees, or outdoor posts, as well. No matter where you set it up, you can use it to practice and master TRX's seven "foundational moves" (pushing, pulling, lunging, hinging, squatting, planking, and rotating), all of which are meant to target core and full-body strength.
The system's accompanying exercise guide and online workouts help make it appealing to newcomers to TRX and seasoned practitioners alike. And, as CNET previously reported, this particular system is fitness-trainer approved.
This simple (read: non-vibrating, untextured) foam roller may seem a little basic, but that actually makes it perfect for a home gym setting. Praised by reviewers for its durability, this foam roller is firm enough to target soreness in the shoulders, legs, neck, and back.
Some reviewers specifically noted that this roller was perfectly suited for chest-opening exercises, since they could choose between three lengths (12, 18, or 36 inches) to fit their height.
Reviewers were big fans of the price point for this set of six kettlebells (comparable sets can run for $100 more). But, this set's best feature -- and why it's perfect for a home gym setting specifically -- is its vinyl coating. Unlike cast iron kettlebells, these are designed for softer landings, in terms of both noise and impact, and with the weights' longevity in mind, since the coating protects the weights from scratches and damage.
A notable "con" for this box is that it takes about 45 minutes to assemble out of the box -- but a corresponding "pro" is the fact that, once it's put together, adjusting its height to your needs is a quick and easy process. And speaking of this plyo box's adjustable features, it can be set to stand 16, 20, or 24 inches high, depending on whether you want to it for steps, squats, or jumps.
Whatever your exercise of choice may be, you can rely on the box to feel stable and solid underfoot -- one review described it as "trustworthy."
This adjustable, tangle-resistant rope from Qwesen proves that something as essential as a jump rope doesn't have to be boring. Its foam handles offer a comfortable grip while its steel wire rope provides enough momentum for a steady, smooth rhythm -- in turn, reviewers write that it's great for double- and triple-jumping. The rope comes coated with PVC for protection, ensuring long-term use.
This foldable bench is about as customizable as it gets, with six back positions, four seat positions and the option to lay completely flat. Reviewers praise the bench's ease of adjustment, the fact that it's foldable for storage and its sturdiness (its weight capacity stands at 500 pounds). Plus, the padded seat and foot holds make even longer workouts comfortable.
This doorway-mounted frame goes beyond the average pull-up bar to offer a whole bodyweight workout system, in which they can do dips, leg raises, rows, and push-up variations, in addition to pull-ups.
Many reviewers were drawn to this item for its versatility, and they write that it delivers: Not only does it feel sturdy and secure when in use, but it's easy to assemble or take apart depending on the exercises they wish to do.
The information contained in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as health or medical advice. Always consult a physician or other qualified health provider regarding any questions you may have about a medical condition or health objectives.
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The best at-home fitness equipment in 2020 - CNET
A Fresh Cup of Fitness and Open Gym Spearhead New Podcast Network – Morning Chalk Up
A Fresh Cup of Fitness and Open Gym Spearhead New Podcast Network | Morning Chalk Up
A few months ago, the Morning Chalk Up soft-launched a new podcast network and now we are ready to make it official. With two new episodes every week, we are helping improve your commute or fill your airwaves at any time.
Building on that success, we added a second series, this one helmed by Patrick Cummings, the producer and co-host of the Chasing Excellence podcastwith Ben Bergeron. Cummings was one of the founders of Again Faster equipment and after parting ways with the company in 2015, started a consulting firm called Functional Brandingto help CrossFit affiliates elevate their marketing.
Keep your eyes and ears open as these podcasts update weekly. And dont forget to give them reviews and ratings. How to listen:
A Fresh Cup of Fitness, Open Gym, podcasts
For a daily Digest of all things CrossFit. Community, Athletes, Tips, Recipes, Deals and more.
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A Fresh Cup of Fitness and Open Gym Spearhead New Podcast Network - Morning Chalk Up
Boss Mama Fitness helps mothers stay in shape – WLTX.com
IRMO, S.C. A group of mothers in Irmo are aiming to stay in shape to start the new year.
Since 2018, Boss Mama Fitness has given women in Irmo a chance to come together and celebrate the strength of their bodies.
Mack, Chandler
Every Monday, Wednesday, or Friday, Dozens of women in the town attend boot-camps that are designed for Pre/Postnatal Woman, core stability, and fighting off Baby Blues or Postpartum Depression.
"We focus on community and being together in our classes." Says Cara Branham, Owner of Boss Mama Fitness. "Becoming a mother is really just a rebirth of yourself and having a community to come to is really important so that's what we provide."
Boot Camp classes are free and open to any mother who wants to join.
"We focus a lot on body positivity , we celebrate our gains through our strength, through our kids, and our kids growth." Branham said.
The camp starts at 9:30 AM at either Irmo Community Park or Columbiana Mall.
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Boss Mama Fitness helps mothers stay in shape - WLTX.com
Gold’s Gym CEO breaks down why home fitness is ‘disrupting the industry’ – Yahoo Finance
New year, new me is a line plenty of Americans utter as the new year officially gets underway.
Exercising more and losing weight is topping the list of 2020 New Years resolutions, according to a recent survey by the online deals siteOffers.com.
While January 2nd historically sees a large influx of gym goers, mounting competition from at-home fitness options like Peloton (PTON) are adding newfound pressure to legacy fitness chains.
The home fitness industry is certainly disrupting the industry a little bit and making people more aware, Golds Gym CEO Adam Zeitsiff toldYahoo Finances YFi PMrecently. Golds has been in business since 1965, and currently has more than 400 locations in the United States.
Yet Zeitsiff argued that companies like Golds are maintaining a crucial advantage over their at-home fitness rivals, despite their convenience.
Its that sense of community, Zeitfsiff said. You can engage with people...and you can support them along the way.
Health care and fitness are the ultimate people businesses, Zeitfsiff added.
"So we look at January as: how do you get engaged? How do you work with the memberhow do you make sure they dont bite off more than they can chew no pun intended in January so they can achieve their goals in small, measurable results, he asked.
Athletic man doing interval training running on stairs in urban setting
But traditional gyms have more than just at-home fitness to contend with.
High-intensity interval training (HIIT) workout companies and classes have also becomeone of the most popularfitness trends in recent years.
However, Zeitsiff cautioned that HIIT workouts are leading to potentially unhealthy consequences.
Were seeing people get mental and physical fatigue and burn out, Zeitsiff explained. The more you push it with these high intensity workouts, the harder it is to recover and do well the next time you work out.
As a result, Zeitsiff is predicting another trend to gain traction in 2020.
Recovery and restorative fitness is really going to be big whether its yoga, or low intensity workouts, or things like the cost of therapy, he said.
Get out there and be strong for whatever works for you in life, Zeitsiff added. Thats something weve been good at for 50 years.
Nick Robertson is a senior producer at Yahoo Finance.
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Gold's Gym CEO breaks down why home fitness is 'disrupting the industry' - Yahoo Finance
20 easy fitness tips from Slimming World to improve your health in 2020 – Mirror Online
The festive season might have given you extra motivation to get back in to your daily routine this New Year, or maybe youre looking to kick-start January by getting more active with a healthier lifestyle.
If so, these simple fitness tips from Slimming Worlds experts will help you find easy ways to build activity into each day.
From fun-filled activities with the kids, to getting your groove on while you do the household chores, or just getting off the bus a stop early heres how you can make the most of all 2020 has to offer.
1 Start small
You dont have to run marathons, play team sports or even join a gym to get fitter and improve your health. If youre just getting started, simply aim to move more than you usually do.
That could mean getting off the bus a stop early, parking the car further away from work, or taking the stairs, not the lift.
Every step really does count and youll soon notice a change in how much you can do, and how much you enjoy doing it.
2 Snow business
Why let the kids have all the fun? Building a snowman and having a snowball fight are enjoyable ways to get active outdoors, but all that shovelling, throwing and dodging is actually good exercise. No snow? Make balls from pairs of socks and have a sock snowball fight instead.
3 Into the woods
A trip to the woods is always a hit with children especially if you find something for the nature table along the way.
Compete to see who can collect the best-looking fallen fir branches, pine cones and holly sprigs. Squatting down to pick them up gives thigh muscles a workout and you can take what you find home to make decorations for next Christmas, too!
4 Ad-break boost
As well as putting the kettle on, you might be surprised how much exercise you can fit into all those TV advert slots. Stay motivated by setting yourself a different challenge each time just how many lunges can you do before your show starts again?
5 Tis the season to shop
Choosing a cheaper edge-of town car park rather than a pricey town-centre one wont just help your budget. All those extra steps are fantastic for boosting your daily exercise, and walking with bags full of clothes youve bought in the New Year sales is even better exercise. Carrying any kind of weight creates resistance, so your muscles work harder.
6 Olympic games
When its cold and wet outside you can burn off energy indoors. Whether its a sprout-and-spoon race or an indoor hockey tournament using kitchen roll tubes and a sponge ball a winter family sports day will keep everyone entertained.
You could even make your own medals for the winners.
7 Out and about
Fresh air, lovely views, birds singing no wonder a study found that people who head outside for a stroll feel their mood lift in less than 15 minutes. And while any walk that makes you feel warmer and speeds up your heart rate brings benefits, walking uphill works the muscles even harder, so find some inclines.
8 Strike a pose
Yoga uses body weight, so it counts as one of your two recommended strength exercise sessions a week. Its also a good de-stressing activity, encouraging you to slow your breathing and release tension through gentle stretching. Try an online beginners tutorial or find a class and get through the winter feeling calm and a bit more in control.
9 Musical chores
Vigorous cleaning counts as exercise, and music has been shown to motivate us to get moving. So when youre getting the house spick and span during the spring clean, cranking up the music could help you increase the pace speeding up your heart rate and the housework.
10 Run for it!
Signing up for a winter fitness event is a great move-more motivation whatever the weather . Most are suitable for all fitness levels and running in fancy dress is completely optional.
11 City breaks
Cities are great places to rack up steps, whether exploring on your own or on a guided tour. Youll probably be so absorbed by the sights you wont notice how much ground youre covering. To help put your body into its prime walking position head up and shoulders back cast your eyes up to the tops of the buildings ahead of you.
12 Strut your stuff
Strictly Come Dancing may have finished but learning to dance could be just the start for you. A dance class is a great way to exercise and it also gets your feel-good endorphins flowing.
13 Swimming at a stroke
Swimming is a great way to stay cool and active it works your whole body and its easy on your joints, too. If you find just doing lengths a bit dull, look out for free apps to join virtual challenges to swim stretches of water, from Loch Ness to the Great Barrier Reef.
14 Volunteer
If you fancy being more active, getting some fresh air and doing good all at once, volunteering could be just the thing. Websites such as do-it.org list all sorts of opportunities across the UK.
15 Get the kids involved
If youre struggling to get back into your normal exercise routine, find child-friendly activities to motivate you and help you get back on track. Oil your bike chain and go on a family cycle, or play tag in the park. If youre at home, keep active in the garden skipping, hula hooping and ball games are all inexpensive ways to keep moving.
16 On your commute
Walking to work, whether its all the way or getting off the bus or train a few stops earlier, is a fantastic time saver youre combining your exercise with a journey you already do every day. And as well as creating a healthy routine, it might even result in you enjoying your job more.
17 Be a sport
There are lots of reasons to give a sport such as indoor tennis a go. This full-body workout improves coordination, helps your heart health when played regularly, and is a great way to socialise while getting in some exercise. For advice on getting started, or to find your nearest court, visit lta.org.uk/play.
18 Move to the beat
Exercising to music can make it more fun. Tap in to the power of your favourite tunes and it may even keep you going for longer!
If there are days where it can be tricky to fit in exercise, this is where one-song workouts come in. When you have a spare few minutes, just turn on the music and dance, or do a mix of toning moves such as squats, jumping jacks and sit-ups for as long as the track lasts youll find tons of inspiration online.
19 Walk more briskly
Brisk walking is a fantastic form of physical exercise and just 10 minutes a day provides a number of health benefits. Going for a walk as a family also helps as it is a great way to spend time together. No wonder so many families wrap up warm and head out together in their boots and wellies in the winter.
For tips on how to incorporate more walking into your daily life, as well as a free app that tracks exactly when you are walking briskly and reaping the benefits, search Active 10 online.
20 Share your success
Doing things in a group can be great fun, so buddy up!
Encourage friends and family members to feel as good as you do and build activity into their daily life too.
Rather than meeting friends for a coffee and cake, find an activity you all enjoy, or join a fitness class for a giggle and a workout. If you do it together, youre more likely to stick to it too.
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20 easy fitness tips from Slimming World to improve your health in 2020 - Mirror Online
Fitness: Is stretching a waste of time? – Montreal Gazette
Ryan Poehling leads stretching exercises at a Laval Rocket practice in October. Gymnasts, hockey players and swimmers all require different levels of flexibility.Dave Sidaway / Montreal Gazette
The last time I wrote a controversial column about stretching, I got a record number of readers questioning the rationale behind eliminating stretching before a workout. That was 20 years ago, when stretching was an integral part of almost all warmups. Nowadays, not only has stretching disappeared from most pre-workout routines, American exercise scientist James Nuzzo is recommending removing stretching as one of the foundational pillars of physical fitness.
Nuzzo doesnt believe stretching is irrelevant. He just wonders why trainers still prescribe stretching exercises for healthy individuals who want to improve their overall fitness, and why evaluating flexibility is still part of the curriculum of fitness tests delivered in schools and fitness clubs.
To be clear, the type of stretching in question is static stretching, which requires holding stretches for 10 to 30 seconds. Dynamic stretching, also called range of motion exercises, are movement-based and dont require any one position to be held for any length of time.
Static stretching does not clearly and consistently improve health and function, Nuzzo said in a recent online edition of Sports Medicine. Moreover, flexibility can be maintained or improved by exercise modalities that cause more robust health benefits than stretching (e.g. resistance training).
Stretching was once heralded as an important element in preventing sports injuries and post-exercise soreness, but many of its fitness and health benefits have been debunked. Current Canadian and American exercise guidelines make no mention of stretching in their recommendations for pursuing a healthy, active lifestyle. Yet assessing flexibility still remains part of most fitness testing protocols, and the American College of Sports Medicine still recommends stretching all major muscle groups two to three days a week, claiming flexibility training will help to improve balance and postural stability.
Flexibility testing is done using the sit-and-reach test, which entails sitting on the floor with both legs extended out in front of the body and reaching toward the toes. Flexibility is assessed based on how far the fingers can extend toward the toes. A single measure of flexibility, the sit-and-reach test evaluates range of motion in the hamstrings and lower back. Since flexibility differs from joint to joint, its possible to demonstrate a lack of mobility through the hips, hamstrings and lower back but still score in the upper percentiles for flexibility through the shoulders or ankles.
Nuzzo performed a scientific review to see if acing the sit-and-reach test has any health or functional benefits, including fewer injuries, reduced risk of falls among the elderly, a longer life, superior athletic performance, improved aerobic capacity, muscular strength or body composition or a better quality of life. It turns out that whether flexibility is great, good or mediocre, there is little impact on any of these measures of health and fitness.
In fact, when it comes to static stretching, there are plenty of reasons to be cautious. Stretching temporarily reduces the amount of power the muscles can deliver, thereby reducing overall gains in speed, strength and power. But Nuzzo says theres another good reason to forget about prescribing stretching as part of a general fitness program: its a waste of time.
Time previously dedicated to stretching can be reallocated to activities that cause more robust health benefits, including improved flexibility, said Nuzzo.
Strength training exercises that move a joint through its full range of motion can improve flexibility. In fact, studies have shown weight training has the potential to increase sit-and-reach scores by 10 to 25 per cent. Aerobic exercise boosted sit-and-reach scores by 10 to 17 per cent. While those scores are lower than the improvements in flexibility gained through static stretching (nine to 43 per cent), theyre in the ballpark.
Keep in mind that greater flexibility isnt always a goal worth pursuing. Joint hypermobility has been associated with joint pain and a greater risk of injury. A healthy joint is strong and flexible enough to perform sport-specific movements with efficiency and power. That means gymnasts, hockey players and swimmers all require different levels of flexibility. The same goes for a hockey goalie, kicker in football and martial arts aficionado. Each sport has its own requirements when it comes to what kind of stretching delivers the best possible performance with the lowest risk of injury.
So, should you stretch or not? The choice is yours. If your yoga class makes it easier for you to get in and out of a squat, bend over to pick something up off the floor or skate from end to end during your beer league hockey game, then stick with it. Or if your physiotherapist suggests improving flexibility or range of motion in order to improve movement patterns or fend off specific aches and pains, go for it. For everyone else who is otherwise healthy but feels guilty about avoiding stretching, consider this a hall pass.
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Fitness: Is stretching a waste of time? - Montreal Gazette
Six DC Fitness Influencers Share Their New Year’s Resolutions – Washingtonian
New Years resolutions are often health- and fitness-related. So what do the experts in those fields hope to accomplish in a new year? Below, six DC-area fitness professionals share their goals for 2020whether its running a race with their baby, studying nutrition, or lowering their cholesterol.
Im actually studying for a nutrition coach certification right now. I was just promoted to master instructor at SoulCycle, which is a huge deal. So Im focusing on what the next step is and how I can up my game. Nutrition is a big part of that.So many of us just work out without thinking about what it is thats fueling our bodies or whats making us feel good or bad. Im all about what makes us feel good. What works for one person doesnt always work for another. My goal is to work on my own nutrition and hopefully help some others along the way.
Im supercharged to take on some great fitness challenges in 2020. One of my resolutions is to run 35 miles each month alongside another F45 trainer. Another resolution is to focus on my work/life balance. Washingtonians are always chasing the side hustle and not leaving enough time to take care of ourselves, so getting in a daily sweat is one of my big goals for 2020. Id like to continue to introduce F45 to new audiences and spread the word through pop-up classes, like the one we did this fall at 12 Stories. Lastly, I want to try a new workout each monthsince there are so many different types of fitness options in DC, why not get outside that comfort zone?
I want to lower my cholesterol, run my first race while pushing my son in his jog stroller, and run the SeaWheeze half-marathon for the fourth time. (That wont be the stroller race!)
For 2020, my clients and I are going to focus on overcoming plateaus. I hear it all the time, especially in group fitness, that clients can become bored or are no longer seeing results. These are common feelings, so we have to continue to spice things up and find new personal challenges by finding different ways to make our fitness goals fun and productive such as:1) Invite friends: Youll be surprised how much a familiar face could push you during a workout. 2)Utilize technology more:If you have a Fitbit, Apple Watch, etc., use these devices to measure workouts. If you burned 200 calories on Monday, see if you can burn 250 when you work out the next time. For heart rate monitoring, try to limit the recovery time even if the rest of the class is recovering. Although you are in a group class, you still want to maximize your results.3)Monitor your resistance weight:Im guilty of taking the most convenient weight, although I could do more. Most HIIT (high-intensity interval training) workouts consist of compound movements with high reps, so you want to increase slowlymaybe 2.5-to-5 pounds per month. For more focused moves like a squat or chest press, I would say increase by 5-to-10 pounds per month.4)Work out with your favorite fitness trainer:Id be thrilled to find out someone wanted to know the next time I was taking class so they could join! Its a great way to get free advice and learn how to level up moves and workouts. Definitely a win-win.
My 2020 New Years resolution is to support those beyond myself and the typical group fitness experts. Group exercise has so much to offer those who invest emotionally: you become stronger both mentally and physically. So in 2020, Ill expand my services to a population who needs it the most: educators. In 2018, 26 percent of DC educators left the classroom. As a former teacher, I will help prevent further educator burnout through six-week programs, in-school sessions, and overall stress support at Sweat DC. All are invited to join!
Im turning 40 this year (January 5) and aiming to be the healthiest version of myself. I recently gained lottery entrance into the 2020 Cherry Blossom race, and I couldnt be more excited. I ran my very first Cherry Blossom race at the sweet age of 30, and 10 years later, Im planning to show myself and others how we can only get better with time (and wisdom). Although this will be my seventh race, Im planning to set a personal record this year.
Join the conversation!
Associate Editor
Mimi Montgomery joined Washingtonian in 2018. She previously was the editorial assistant at Walter Magazine in Raleigh, North Carolina, and her work has appeared in Outside Magazine, Washington City Paper, DCist, and PoPVille. Originally from North Carolina, she now lives in Adams Morgan.
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Six DC Fitness Influencers Share Their New Year's Resolutions - Washingtonian
Best Fitness Apps for 2020: Best Free Fitness Apps and Fitness Trackers – Men’s health UK
Your phone has put the global hive mind at your fingertips, so why squander your storage on face swaps and unused messenger services? These fitness apps are programmed to transform your health by the gigabyte. Your smartphone is about to get a whole lot smarter...
What Peloton did for your spin session, now Rowith can do for your dry-land rows. The app transforms your monotonous ergo training into inspiring full-body workouts, with audio-guided coaching and motivation from top Olympic rowers, such as James Cracknell and Steve Redgrave.
Choose from a deep pool of sessions that range from beginner to Boat Race hopeful, and follow training plans that adapt to your current level of fitness. All of your stats are logged, and you can challenge friends and strangers to make your time in the hot seat more competitive.
Every year in the UK, we bin roughly five million tonnes of perfectly edible food, placing a huge strain on the planet, not to mention your weekly grocery bill. Food-sharing app Olio reduces waste by linking people who overestimated their appetites (or bought a four-pack of avocados two days before their winter ski break) with those in search of extra ingredients. Simply snap a photo, set a safe location for collection and use the in-app ratings to filter trusted recipients.
Well assume that, by now, youre fairly clued up on the benefits of meditation and mindfulness. But scheduling effective timeouts between meal prep, school runs, conference calls and workouts isnt easy.
With more than 100 guided sessions for stress-busting, anxiety management and enhancing focus, Calm is your co-pilot to the land of chill, and it can also help you get to sleep. Specially selected bedtime tales narrated by the likes of Stephen Fry and Matthew McConaughey (really) will coax you into a higher state of unconsciousness.
Nutrifix calculates your daily macros and scans popular local eateries for meals that meet your requirements
Even for those who meal prep religiously on Sunday nights, the best-laid nutritional plans can fall apart when life gets busy. Whether youre a pescatarian keen to fit more nutrients into your diet, gluten-free and cutting weight, or a vegan trying to pack on muscle mass, Nutrifix hunts and gathers the information you need. It starts by calculating your daily macros and scanning popular local eateries for meals that meet your requirements. Then, all you have to do is order a delivery, or click and collect. Its a meal deal worth capitalising on.
Another pioneer in remote training for riders and runners alike, Zwift transforms tedious turbo rides and treadmill slogs into challenging, social sweat sessions. Pair any Bluetooth-enabled static bike or a runner with the app and power your avatar around the virtual roads of six immersive environments, including a futuristic New York. There are more than 1,000 structured workouts to choose from, plus around 300 group rides or races each day and you can even chat to strangers as you fly past them up the pixel mountains.
RunFriendly uncovers local gyms, hotels and other places you can use to wash after a workout
Given the chance, most of us would convert the dead time of our commute into a daily workout. But having nowhere to freshen up before your morning meeting can put you off smashing out a sweaty commute, or squeezing in a lap of the park during your lunch break.
RunFriendly is a bit like Airbnb for showers. It uncovers local gyms, hotels and other places you can use to wash off the sweat on a one-off basis. As a bonus, your colleagues will never have to see you in Lycra, either.
ClassPass allows you to book workouts in 20,000 venues around the world with a flexible monthly fee
Committing yourself to a single gym membership, fixed to just one club and location, feels well, a bit 2019. Make this the year you untether your fitness goals. ClassPass allows you to book workouts in 20,000 venues around the world. A flexible monthly fee unlocks gym access, passes to group fitness classes from CrossFit to cardio, and even recovery treatments such as cryotherapy. You can search easily by location and activity and, when you cant travel, you can stream classes.
Until we can upload information directly into our brains, we'll have to make do with reading. But with so many new books being hyped and limited time to look into them, many life-changing ideas will inevitably pass you by. Blinkists app abridges the gap. Its experts distil the main concepts of best-selling non-fiction books into bite-sized text and audio files, so you can get the elevator pitch for the latest in fields such as leadership, health and nutrition. Consider it a York Notes for self-improvement.
WFA contains four comprehensive, 12-week training programmes, each tailored to your chosen fitness goal
If youve made it your mission to get leaner, quicker, fitter and/or stronger this year but dont quite have your action plan nailed down, this app is for you. Co-created by athlete-adventurer Ross Edgley, along with the editors at Men's Health, it contains four comprehensive, 12-week training programmes, each tailored to your chosen fitness goal.
Video guides help you nail the moves with proper form, while easy-to-follow workouts teach you how to put them all together. Plus, its roughly half of the price of a personal training session. Transform your body into an instrument not an ornament.
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Best Fitness Apps for 2020: Best Free Fitness Apps and Fitness Trackers - Men's health UK
Do you really need to walk 10,000 steps a day? Experts say there’s a better goal – USA TODAY
Walking 10,000 steps a day isa goodbaseline to help you stay fit, but it isn't the one-size-fits-all goal you might think.
Fitness trackers such as Fitbit usethe number as a default goal, but fitness experts suggest tailoring a step goal to an individual. Researchers traced the origins of the 10,000-step practiceto a marketing gimmick from the 1960s and suggested some people don't greatly benefit from walking so much.
Harley Pasternak, a celebrity personal trainerwho works with Fitbit,sets the goal of at least 10,000 steps for his clients. He explained in an email to USA TODAYthat the step requirement, if it includes 30 minutesat a moderate intensity,satisfies guidelines for exercise set by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise a week.
I recommend to strive for 14,000 if youre trying to lose weight, he said.
Pasternak cautioned that the suggestionvaries based on lifestyle, and for some people, setting a lower goal would be ideal.
A Harvard study of nearly 17,000 women ages 66 to 78 found that those who walked 7,500 steps or more had the lowest mortality rate.
Even women who walked 4,400 steps had a lower mortality rate than those who were the least active and walked only about 2,000 steps. There were few, if any, additional benefits for the women who walked more than 7,500 steps.
I-Min Lee, a professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School and the lead researcher in thestudy, told USA TODAY the 10,000-steps-a-day recommendation was developed in the 1960s by early pedometer makers.
"It got started as a marketing tool for a Japanese company," Leesaid, referring to a Japanese pedometer released in 1965called the "10,000 steps meter." She said there haven't been any scientific studies backing up that number. Asked why it became standard, she explained simply,"It's an easy number to remember."
Lee suggestedwalking 2,000 more steps than you usually walk every day.
You'll meet health guidelines by walking 10,000 steps a day and it's not bad advice for younger people or those who have more experience with a fitness regimen. But Lee said that for older peopleand those who are less fit, the so-called magicnumber is demoralizing. She notedthat for people who are inactive,setting too high a standard may discourage them from exercising entirely.
"If you're inactiveand your goal is to become more active, then set a reasonable goal," she said.
The average American, according to Lee, gets 4,000 to 5,000 steps every day.
Although the Department of Health and Human Services lists a 150-minutes-a-week requirement, it makes it clear that any physical activity no matter how slight is better than none.
Follow Joshua Bote on Twitter: @joshua_bote
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Do you really need to walk 10,000 steps a day? Experts say there's a better goal - USA TODAY
Wabash Valley gym offers free workout to help people meet their fitness goals in the new year – WTHITV.com
BRAZIL, Ind. (WTHI) - We're wrapping up the first week of the new year, and maybe you're new year's resolution was spending more time in the gym.
That's why folks at a Wabash Valley gym are helping people meet their fitness goals.
Brother's Gym in Brazil opened for "Resolution Sunday."
It was a free workout session with staff members.
Current gym members and those looking to join were invited.
The goal was to help people find the best gym for them, and get them on the right track on their fitness journey.
"You truly feel like you're a part of the community, and you want to be a better community. Everybody that comes in here is trying to make themselves better, so if we can in turn help them get better, then we can help Brazil, Indiana become better, because we love being here," said Jeremey Peevler, Owner.
There were nearly 20 people at the workout session.
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Wabash Valley gym offers free workout to help people meet their fitness goals in the new year - WTHITV.com