Search Weight Loss Topics:

Page 82«..1020..81828384..90100..»

Home » Fitness » Page 82

Lexy Savvides/CNET

The $200 (179, AU$300) Garmin Venu Sq has almost every fitness- and health-tracking feature you could want in a smartwatch for less than competitors like the Apple Watch ($399 at Apple) and Fitbit Versa 3. It has a bright LCD touchscreen, built-in GPS, SpO2 (blood oxygen) tracking and up to six days of battery life, which makes it a compelling buy, especially if you want a watch that's compatible with both Android and iOS.

It's not the most premium-looking smartwatch out there and it misses out on features like a voice assistant and altimeter, but it makes up for it in health and fitness features that elevate it from the rest.

Like the name suggests, the Venu Sq has a square watch face with rounded edges, unlike the original Garmin Venu and almost every other Garmin sports watch with circular designs. Its 1.3-inch color LCD display feels a bit cramped compared to other Garmin watches, but it's clear and easy to read even in bright sunlight and you can keep the screen set to always-on. Having used the larger Garmin Venu for a while, the smaller size of the Venu Sq took a bit of getting used to, especially during workouts when I couldn't see as many stats at a glance and had to scroll to find the right metric like heart rate, which was all the way on the last page.

Subscribe to CNET's Mobile newsletter for the latest phone news and reviews.

The overall build quality is sturdy enough thanks to an aluminum bezel, although the plastic case and buttons make it feel like a cheaper watch than it actually is, especially compared to something like the Apple Watch SE ($289 at Amazon), Galaxy Watch Active 2 ($200 at Amazon) or Fitbit Versa 3 for example, which all have metal finishes and OLED displays. The Venu Sq has two side buttons: one to start/stop activities and the other to navigate back and forth between menus. Once I figured out which did what, it took me a few days to get completely comfortable using them to navigate the interface.

My biggest complaint with the Venu Sq's design is the vibration motor, which is not particularly strong. Half the time it was the buzzing noise, not the vibration itself, that clued me in on a notification.

Garmin's biggest strength is in health and fitness tracking, with the Venu Sq squarely hitting the mark. It has an SpO2 sensor to identify blood oxygen levels, either as a spot check or automatically throughout the day and night, similar to the $399 Apple Watch Series 6. Although setting it to monitor constantly will reduce battery life a lot faster. It's also hard to find the SpO2 option in the menus and I found that adding it as a widget in the settings is the best way to get it to pop up on your wrist.

Unfortunately I didn't have a pulse oximeter to compare the readings from the Venu Sq to determine accuracy. Either way, it's important to note that the Venu Sq has not been approved to be used as a medical device and should not be used for diagnostic purposes. Always consult with a physician or other qualified health provider about any health-related issues you may have about a medical condition or health objectives.

Though the Venu Sq doesn't have an ECG, or electrocardiogram, like the Apple Watch Series 6 and Galaxy Watch 3 ($299 at Amazon), it does give you the option to receive high and low heart rate notifications that will let you know if your heart rate spikes above or falls below what it considers to be a healthy threshold.

The Venu Sq also uses heart rate variability to determine your stress levels, but doesn't really offer much guidance on how to decrease your stress. I found Garmin's Body Battery meter, which takes into account heart rate variability readings, activity levels and sleep, a more accurate representation of how my body was working that day and helped me decide what kind of workout to do and how hard to push myself. It works better than the Stress Management Score in the Fitbit Sense ($329 at Walmart) that is a bit more difficult to interpret for me.

Garmin also offers breathing rate and estimated VO2 max, the maximum amount of oxygen your body can use during exercise, which can be used to gauge and improve athletic performance. The higher the number, the more fit you are.

Sleep tracking is also great on the Venu Sq and clearly identifies your sleep stages of REM, deep and light sleep. You'll also be able to see breathing rate and SpO2 levels in the morning. The downside is that the Garmin Connect app doesn't give you any tips on improving your sleep quality. Menstrual cycle tracking is also available on the Venu Sq and like other Garmin watches, it offers pregnancy tracking to log symptoms and monitor baby movement.

The Venu Sq has a range of workouts preloaded onto the watch, including cardio, strength, Pilates and yoga, so you can follow along with a preset routine on your wrist. There aren't any visual cues on the screen though, just text cues, so if you're doing yoga for example, you'll need to know what "standing forward bend pose" or "low lunge pose" means to get the most out of the routine. You can also build your own workout, such as a circuit of weights, a Pilates routine or a run, within the Garmin Connect app and sync them to the watch. There are also over 50 additional Garmin-created workouts you can load.

On top of these preloaded routines, the Venu Sq can track more than 20 different workout types, from the usual running and walking variants to golf and pool swimming. There's also a personal running coach you can use to help you train for a race or to hit a set goal. It doesn't give you personalized feedback on your form or audio cues like the Galaxy Watches ($208 at Amazon), for example, instead it's more a guide for when you should warm up or how long you should run for, displayed on your wrist.

The Venu Sq has built-in GPS, meaning you don't have to rely on your phone for distance tracking when you're outside. Just be warned that it does take at least 30 seconds to lock on to a GPS signal when you are outside (regardless of whether you have your phone with you or not), which seems like an eternity if you're an impatient runner like me who just wants to get on with it. Once it finally locked though, it tracked my route accurately.

The downside is that there is no gyroscope or altimeter on the Venu Sq, so if you need accurate elevation data you'll likely want to look elsewhere. The Garmin Connect app does a good job of clearly showing you all the details after your workout, but it doesn't dive any deeper into metrics than what similarly priced rivals like the Apple Watch SE or Fitbit Versa 3 offer.

Like other Garmin watches, the Venu Sq has Garmin Live Track which lets you share your location with a safety contact when you are doing an outdoor workout. It does however require a cellular connection, so you will need your phone with you to use this feature.

You can customize the options on this screen to show only your favorite workout types to track.

While the Venu Sq is geared towards fitness and health tracking, that doesn't necessarily mean you'll miss out on smartwatch features. Like almost every other watch, the Venu Sq displays notifications from your phone and pings your phone to locate it if you lose it within Bluetooth range. You'll be able to see call notifications come through regardless of which phone you have the watch paired with, but only Android users will be able to decline calls and respond to text messages from the watch with prewritten responses. There is no speaker or mic onboard so you can't use voice-to-text responses.

The Venu Sq runs Garmin's own operating system (Garmin OS) which is not as seamless as that of Apple or Samsung's smartwatches, but I found it to be stable and more responsive than the Fitbit OS. It's faster to sync updates and doesn't experience any lag in selecting menu options or opening apps.

The biggest pain point for me when using the Venu Sq paired with an iPhone ($599 at Apple) has been notifications. The Garmin Connect app on iOS doesn't let you filter out what notifications come through on your wrist and simply mirrors whatever notifications you have set up on your phone. It might not be a deal breaker for many, but I like to push only the most important notifications such as calls and text messages to my wrist, rather than everything that my phone shows. Android users get more control over which notifications come through.

If you want onboard music storage, you'll need to opt for the music edition of the Venu Sq that costs $50 more, which is the version I tested in this review. The Venu Sq Music lets you store music for offline listening from apps like Spotify (with a Premium subscription) or songs you already own. It's also the watch to get for faster data transfers as it has Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, whereas the regular Venu Sq only uses Bluetooth.

Garmin has plenty of watch faces to choose from, including third-party options to help personalize the look, plus a fairly wide selection of apps through the Connect IQ Store (a separate app you need to download on your phone). You can also make contactless payments with Garmin Pay on all versions of the watch. The main Garmin Connect app is where you see all your stats and change settings on the watch, while the Connect IQ Store is for adding apps and watch faces.

The Venu Sq, however, lacks a voice assistant, a feature that by now has become standard for most of its similarly priced competitors. This might not be a deal-breaker for you, but it means you miss out hands-free voice control, which I like.

The Venu Sq has great battery life and you can get up to six days worth of use before you'll need to charge it up, though that number may start to whittle down if you're using it for a lot of GPS workouts, listening to music or continuously tracking your blood oxygen levels. Garmin quotes up to eight hours of battery when playing back music, 14 hours if you are using it in GPS mode, or up to six hours with GPS and music playback.

If you're willing to sacrifice a few smart features for better health and fitness tracking, the Garmin Venu Sq is a solid choice that works with Android or iOS. That said, I do wish that Garmin wouldn't charge the extra $50 for the music version, as it does alter the value proposition quite a bit, particularly if you are an iPhone user who might also be considering the Apple Watch SE which, at that point doesn't cost you that much more.

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.

See more here:
Garmin Venu Sq review: A solid fitness tracker without the frills - CNET

The U.S. Army Physical Fitness Test has become a popular challenge for YouTubers, especially the swole variety who train hard but don't necessarily keep functional fitness front of mind. In a new video, bodybuilders and fitness influencers Austin Dunham, Jorge Rosado and Ash Fitness take on the test with no prior training.

The PFT starts with 2 minutes of pushups: a minimum score required to pass this round is 40 reps, while 75 reps is considered a perfect score. Austin goes first, and is able to smash out 75 reps in just 56 seconds, setting a high bar for Jorge and Ash. "That made me dizzy," he says.

Jorge is next, and hits 75 reps in 55 seconds before dropping to the ground. "I can't move my arms," he says. "My arms are noodles!" Ash is up last, and while he does around 85 reps, Austin notes that some of them don't count due to form, so it takes him 1 minute 7 seconds to achieve 75 reps. So far, all three of them are nailing the test and qualifying for basic training.

Next up it's 2 minutes of situps: for these guys and their age group, a minimum of 53 reps is required, while a perfect score would be 80. Austin explains that for each rep to count, your shoulder blades have to touch the ground at the bottom of the movement, and your hands have to stay behind your head.

Ash maxes out with 54 reps in 1 minute 18 seconds. "That sucked," says Austin. "I can't do it... That was way harder than what I was expecting."

Jorge only manages 42 reps (a failing score) before collapsing back, while Ash achieves the best score with 58 reps, holding a steady tempo for the full 2 minutes. "When it comes to challenges like this it's all about pace," says Austin.

This content is imported from YouTube. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.

The third and final round of the test is a 2-mile run. "I haven't run 2 miles in probably 3 years," says Austin, while Jorge admits that he has never run 2 mileswhich explains why he peaces out after 2 laps of the track, leaving Austin and Ash to finish with passing times of 14 minutes and 13:30 respectively.

Although Austin's victory is hard-won.

"I'm not sure if I'm going to do any more military videos," she says. "I threw up. I swear I was going to pass out and quit."

This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io

See the original post here:
These Bodybuilders Attempted the U.S. Army Fitness Test Without Training - menshealth.com

By Liz CookRegistered Dietitian, Canyon Health and Wellness Clinic

The holidays are a time of giving, and while many of us want to share holiday treats with friends, family and co-workers, the last thing we want to do is give anyone COVID-19.

This begs the question: Is it really safe to share holiday treats this year?

According to the CDC, Currently, there is no evidence to suggest that handling food or consuming food is associated with COVID-19.

The risk of getting COVID-19 from food is considered very low. The risk of infections from food packaging is also considered very low, and no cases of infection have been documented from food packages.

However, it is recommended to take standard precautions when preparing food for others and following basic food safety procedures. It is important to wash and sanitize your hands regularly, and avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth while cooking.

Washing and sanitizing your kitchen, including countertops, appliances, bowls, pots, pans and any utensils you are using, is also important.

When it comes to basic food safety practices, placing any items that need to be refrigerated or frozen into the refrigerator or freezer within two hours is also key. Additionally, avoid holding foods in the danger zone of temperatures, which is between 41 degrees and 140 degrees Fahrenheit, helps stop the growth of potentially harmful bacteria in food.

Cooking food to appropriate temperatures also ensures any germs that may be in the food are killed and will not make you sick. To see a full list of appropriate cooking temperatures, check out the CDC Food Safety guidelines.

So how can we make sharing holidays treats even safer?

Contactless delivery is a great way to ensure safety. If you are taking food to a friend or family member, doing so without being face to face with them is best. If you can, drop it on their porch and call to let them know it is there.

This prevents the person-to-person passing of germs, which we know is the main way COVID-19 spreads. Making sure to let them know its there also allows them to place if in the refrigerator or freezer within the safe, two-hour window.

If you are bringing food for a group of people, it may be beneficial to individually wrap the items into single-serve portions to avoid multiple people eating from the same container in the same area without masks on.

Again, while the virus is not spread in the food, we know COVID-19 spreads person to person, so avoiding gatherings where masks will be removed to eat is the safest option.

Additionally, while there is no evidence that the virus can be spread in food or on food packaging, it is always to be better safe than sorry. So if you are feeling sick, avoid cooking for others.

Finally, remember that nutrition is self-care. Taking care of yourself should always be a priority, but it becomes even more important during stressful times. Nutrition can also give your immune system a boost, which is always a plus during flu-season, but even more important this year.

If youre interested in how you can eat to boost your immune system, check out this article from earlier this year. Happy holidays enjoy your treats safely this year!

Go here to read the rest:
Fitness Facts: Is sharing holiday treats safe this year? - GCU Today

Out of all the IFBB Pro League divisions, the Fitness division is the most unique, dynamic, and entertaining. In addition to the standard posing round, where competitors complete quarter-turns to be judged on their physiques, there is a dance routine round that is also scored. The athlete that has the best score after both rounds is the winner. By far, Fitness is the most dynamic and physically challenge of all the other divisions.

The athletes competing in this years Fitness Olympia the full Olympia is taking place on Dec. 17-20, 2020 in Orlando, FL represent the divisions past, present, and future. Part of that past included eight-time champion, Adela Garcia. Unfortunately, she had to withdraw due to suffering an injury. Nonetheless, the athletes that are in the lineup will still make this one of the most anticipated Fitness Olympias to date. Here are five athletes to keep an eye on over the course of the competition.

Jones enters this years contest as the two-time defending champion, and if she wins this year, she would be the fourth Fitness athlete ever to three-peat. She has overcome neck injuries in her past to win competitions, and all indications are that she is healthy and ready this year. Her focus has been on bringing a better physique than she did last year. If she does, and her routine is as impressive as expected, she will likely leave with the title.

Grishina is ending a three-year retirement by returning to the Olympia stage. As a past champion (four times over), she has earned lifetime qualification to any Fitness event, including the Olympia. So she hasnt had to focus on other preps like some of her fellow competitors. Grishina still looks to be in incredible shape, but she was most famous for her dance routines. She will have to put on a memorable performance to beat Jones, but if anyone can do it, its Grishina.

Truscott is the 2020 Fitness International Champion, which means shes a top contender for the Olympia. She has been working with coach John Meadows on improving her physique. Her shoulder development is second to none, and her performances impress the crowd due to some of her moves difficulty. She needs to be on all cylinders to take the title, but it isnt impossible.

Khadr wasnt in the Olympia last year. She did place second to Truscott at the Fitness International, and she won in Tampa as well. At one time, Khadr was the youngest pro in the world, having attained that status at 17 years old so the pressure is nothing new to her. Aside from her abs, her costumes stand out in any lineup she competes in. Dont be surprised if she is one of the final few athletes standing.

Baker was fourth at the Olympia last year, a jump in six placings over her standing in 2018. It wouldnt be a surprise to see her in the mix again this year, but she needs to present improved hamstrings and make the most out of her dancing experience if she wants to move higher in the standings this year.

Featured Image (left to right): @itsarielkhadr and @oksanagrishina on Instagram

Excerpt from:
5 Athletes to Watch at the 2020 Fitness Olympia - BarBend

A new year on the horizon also means fresh health and wellness goals. Theres just something about a January 1st that makes the perfect time to reset and restore our motivation and identify what we want to get out of our fitness journey.

And while the COVID-19 pandemic changed how we engage in these activities, it most certainly has not stopped the demand for fitness training and wanting to continue to stay active amidst the crazy times (remember when all of those kettlebells were sold out earlier this year?). As many of us begin to rethink our approach to dropping those pesky quarantine pounds, the team at ClassPass recently conducted a 2021 wellness index study to see whats on your mind, and here are some of the fitness trends they spotted for the upcoming year.

More Lunch Time Workouts

COVID-19 restrictions have encouraged gyms and trainers to expand their online presence to encourage more people to be able to train no matter where they are or what the time is. Before when many were a slave to their desks at noon, now find the need to step away and get active as a midday break. In fact, for the first time ever, 12pm is the most popular time to work out during the week with lunchtime workouts having seen a 67% increase in popularity. Even as people have returned to studios, the 12pm weekday time slot for in-person classes is more popular now than it was before lockdowns.

Class Locations No Longer Matter

Remember that one time you went to LA and loved that class you dropped in on? Or how youve always wanted to join your bestie for a class but they lived halfway across the country? Now, with virtual training, distance and travel has no bounds. With digital options, you are no longer limited to your geographical location, so its the perfect chance to take a dance class with a friend across the country or revisit a studio you loved on vacation. More than half of members are chiming in regularly for classes taught from other cities.

Outdoor Workouts Are Growing In Demand

This honestly comes as no surprise seeing as many gyms were shut down across the country for nearly half the year. Ultimately, this caused fitness enthusiasts to get creative in their approaches to workouts especially those who were sick of Zoom or IG Live workouts. To help support this trend, ClassPass has added a search for Outdoors classes to support this trend and the number of outdoor class options has increased by 400% in 2020.

Corporate Wellness Is No Longer An Option But A Necessity

If your job is not thinking about your wellness, it may not be the right fit for you, sis. And in the new year, well see companies transitioning to more wellness focused benefits and engagements. Four in 5 professionals say fitness activities have been crucial to establishing a new work-from-home routine. Ninety-six percent of professionals say they feel more motivated and less stressed after exercising, with 89% of professionals saying they feel more productive during the workday after exercising.

People Want To Return To Group Fitness

Just because virtual fitness is in, doesnt mean that in person training is out. Ninety-two percent of professionals hope to return to fitness studios and gyms in 2021, with 40% planning to return exclusively to in-studio workouts when they feel safe to do so. In fact, attending their first indoor class since the start of the pandemic, 89% of ClassPass users said they would go back as or more frequently to future classes.

View post:
Lunch Workout Anyone? Expect To See These Fitness Trends In 2021 - Essence

The workout lovers in your life likely havent been to a gym in months. Why not gift them some fitness inspo this holiday season that will help liven up their at-home routine? We turned to the employees at Whoop, the high-tech fitness tracker that gives you data on your rest, recovery, and sleep time, to get some guidance on the best workout-related gifts they love to give or receive. These are their best ideas.

HydroFlask 20 oz Wide Mouth $38I love my Hydro Flask water bottle: It keeps water cold for so longincluding during an 8-hour hike in the New Mexico desert. And because its stainless steel, its very easy to clean. Ive had mine for 5 years and its still good as new. Emily Capodilupo, Vice President, Data Science and Research

Bowflex Max Trainer M6 $1,700I love my Bowflex Max Trainer 6. Its BLE capable, so it links to my Whoop app, allowing me to record my workouts. Since COVID started, having an at-home mini-gym has been invaluable. JP Underwood, Operations Manager

Nike Zoom Pegasus Turbo 2 $180The Pegasus Turbo 2 is my favorite running shoe, especially for hard days. The foam is springy and easily absorbs impact while zooming around a track or down a road. Josh Svoboda,Graphic Designer

Gamma Ray Blue Light Blocking Glasses $18We spend lots of time on screens such as cell phones, computers, and TVs these days. Blocking the blue light can help with improving sleep-wake cycles. Behnoosh Tavakoli, Director of Signal Processing

REI Co-op Flash 18 Pack $40The perfect pack to take skiing, day-hiking, adventuring. Super light with pockets, and holds a water reservoir! Tanya Boulanova, Senior Agent, Software Specialist

Headspace $13 a monthI love Headspace because it provides a guided lesson plan to learn how to meditate effectively. This enables me to better adhere to more consistent sleep and wake times. Mark Greene, VP of Software

Bose SoundSport wireless headphones $130I cant run without my Bose Sport headphonesthey stay in place so much better than other ones Ive tried, and they have great battery life and great sound quality. Emily Capodilupo, Vice President, Data Science and Research

Reebok Legacy Lifter Mens Weightlifting Shoes $200Nothing beats a good pair of lifting shoes. If youre someone who squats or competes in Olympic lifting, youll want a pair. The Reebok Legacy Lifters are high quality, provide great stability, and look great. Brian Martins, Tech Lead Engineering

Letsfit Resistance Loop Exercise Bands $8These resistance loop bands are affordable and perfect for at-home workouts and stretching. Each band has a different resistance strength level and can be used for barre, pilates, HIIT, and stretching. They really upped my at-home workout game during quarantine! Jaclyn Calovine, Senior Training & Development Specialist

Hyperice Hypervolt Plus Bluetooth $400After harder workouts, I can feel the difference the next morning. My Hyperice makes it just a little bit easier to push myself on that next training ride. Mark Greene, VP of Software

The One CBD Oil $150BEAM is a Boston-based company committed to producing the best possible CBD products for a wellness-minded community. I put one dropper of THE ONE in my coffee every morning and feel more balanced and more capable to take on my day and perform well in my workouts. Jaclyn Calovine, Senior Training & Development Specialist

Dohm White Noise Machine $45The Dohm is essential to blocking out minor noise to help me fall asleep faster and stay sleeping longer. The sound is very natural, unlike many other white noise machines, and I Iove that you can customize the sound variations! Ursula Nickerson, Senior Art Director

Fast Companymay receive revenue for some links to products on our site.

Read the original here:
Whoop employees share the best gift ideas for fitness and exercise fan - Fast Company

By Joe Fisher, WRAL multimedia journalist

Raleigh, N.C. Frustration is growing in the local fitness community over a large coronavirus cluster at a north Raleigh gym, with competitors saying the gym didn't do enough to protect its members.

At least 40 infections have been linked to Find a Way Fitness, at 3607 Falls River Ave.

Owners Kevin and Tasha Gidrey initially planned to close the gym from Nov. 21 through this Saturday, but they said Wednesday that the gym would remain closed through the end of the year.

The Gidreys, who are among those infected, said they don't know the source of the outbreak, but they said a gym member who got a positive result on a recent precautionary test alerted them to it.

Some Find a Way Fitness members said very few people wore masks while working out. Videos posted on social media show people running past each other in the gym without masks and less than 6 feet of separation.

"It was reckless, it was irresponsible, and it was something we are trying to avoid throughout the fitness industry," Doug Warf, president of O2 Fitness, said Thursday. My advice would be to tighten up.

Its very disappointing because we know how hard weve worked," agreed Johnny Groff, area director for Life Time Fitness.

Groff said the seven Life Time Fitness locations he manages in Raleigh and Charlotte, have had only 25 coronavirus cases among 468,000 check-ins since gyms were allowed to reopen in October.

Across 21 O2 Fitness locations, there have been seven infections out of more than 390,000 check-ins, Warf said.

In the places that operate responsibly, there is no spread," he said.

Warf said he's worried that Find A Way Fitness is harming an industry fighting to stay open as coronavirus cases surge across North Carolina.

"I hate to say this because we dont like to throw stones inside the fitness community, but youre mad at the owners," he said. "At some point in time, it falls on the person who is running the location to enforce rules or to set rules.

The Gidreys said they implemented extensive cleaning measures, and they plan to increase distancing and reduce class sizes further when they reopen in January.

We would never do anything to harm them, harm our livelihood, harm the community in general. We hate this has happened," Tasha Gidrey said.

Warf and Groff both said their facilities already offer group fitness workouts with additional distancing and noted that equipment is disinfected both before and after workouts. They said they hope the safety measures will allow them to remain open through the winter.

With everything we have in place, it is a safe environment," Groff said.

Continued here:
Fitness execs hope Raleigh gym with coronavirus cluster doesn't lead to another industry shutdown - WRAL.com

Children complete the first mile of a marathon during the McAllen Kids Marathon McAllen at Veterans Memorial Stadium on Sept. 10, 2016, in McAllen. (Joel Martinez | jmartinez@themonitor.com)

For three years straight, the city of McAllen has won the Its Time Texas Community Challenge and the community is not ready to give up.

Mayor Jim Darling confirmed the city will continue their ninth annual participation of the Its Time Texas Community Challenge, a challenge presented by H-E-B and organized by the Austin-based nonprofit of the same name, aimed at reducing preventable diseases including high blood pressure, diabetes, and obesity.

Were a three time defending champs, so were not gonna give it up very easily, Darling said.

During the 2020 Community Challenge, the organization reported 33,194 participants racked up a total of nearly 50 million points for their communities. As a result, 95% of participants felt confident that they would continue to progress towards their goal to be more active, according to a release.

For McAllen, the city has a lengthy record of appearing in high rankings in surveys of metro areas with high obesity rates.

In 2012, the McAllen-Edinburg-Mission metropolitan statistical area ranked first in the list of Most Obese Metropolitan Areas in the U.S. by the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index. Then, in 2017, McAllen dropped down to the fourth fattest city in America by wallethub.com

Prior to the emergency lockdown for COVID-19, on March 4, WalletHub released another similar survey on the most overweight and obese cities in the U.S., ranking the McAllen-Edinburg-Mission metro area first in fattest cities, according to the report.

Despite these survey results, McAllen has been very aggressive in combating diabetes and obesity theyve been undefeated for three years in the Its Time Texas challenge.

Last year, the city hosted a free, outdoor walking event in participation for the community challenge to help encourage McAllen employees and residents to move and exercise during the day for better health and peace of mind.

Additionally, the city of McAllen and the school district has also partnered with The Monitor in holding annual events to encourage healthier living such as the McAllen Kids Marathon and the Scott Crane Memorial Run.

Even with the pandemic, the city isnt looking to back down from the challenge. In fact, Darling mentioned theyve already sent out in their December newsletter instructions on how to register for the challenge.

Physical fitness is a great, great preventer, more now than ever with COVID-19, Darling said. Hopefully people get the message and well be able to turn out and do the same thing.

Due to the pandemic, the community challenge encourages participating in a virtual workout or taking a socially-distanced walk out, for example, in addition to other healthy choices such as drinking water and taking the stairs instead of the elevator.

Similar to the nonprofits suggestions, Darling said theyll have to hold smaller events here people could space out.

I know at the park, we can keep people physically separated, so we could do yoga classes pretty easily, Darling said in regard to how the city plans to participate in the challenge safely during the pandemic. The runs are a little bit harder to do, you can keep people spread, but you gotta start in groups, so thats a little bit harder.

The Its Time Texas Community Challenge runs Jan. 4 through Feb. 28, 2021, though early registration is now open and available in English and Spanish. The statewide competition encourages communities to come together for an eight-week competition to build and transform health, according to the nonprofits release.

The challenge is free and open to everyone: individuals, families, mayors, school districts, employers and businesses.

All of these choices and events award points for the participants communities and weekly chances to win prizes, which can then be tracked in the nonprofits new Community Challenge app. According to the Its Time Texas, the only way to log points is through the free, bilingual mobile app, available for iPhone and Android.

Well be okay, Darling said. Lets just figure out where we are with COVID and how to do it.

To register for the Its Time Texas Community Challenge, visit http://www.ittcommunitychallenge.com or @itstimetx on Instagram.

Original post:
McAllen to participate in annual fitness challenge - Monitor

Gifting smart health/fitness devices can be really thoughtful and helpful but sometimes it can be tricky to figure out which one to pick. Below weve got a roundup of great options for everyone from those just getting started to super fit family or friends.

The first three smart health/fitness devices I wanted to highlight below range from a few smart scale options, blood pressure monitor, to a pocket-sized metabolic analyzer all of which work with iPhone and Apple Health.

If youre considering gifting a wearable, well finish up by covering some tips to help you decide whether a smartwatch or more basic and affordable fitness band is a better fit (as well as how something like Apple Watch compares with Garmin/Suunto and even Googles Wear OS).

Ive been using a Withings Smart Scale for going on seven years and its been really reliable and useful. The reason I recommend going for Withings over other options is its a company with a solid track record, a good iOS app with Apple Health integration, and durable/good looking build quality. Withings currently has three models for pretty much any budget and need.

For those just getting started on a health and fitness journey, the Body Withings Smart Scale is a great choice. It offers weight and BMI, automatic syncing with the iOS app, and automatically recognizes up to 8 users. It usually goes for around $60.

If the person youre looking to buy for is further along in their fitness journey or would enjoy more data, the Withings Body+ Smart Scale adds body composition measurements. That includes fat, muscle, and bone mass, as well as water percentage. Body+ goes for around $99.

If you want to go for the top of the line option, the Withings Body Cardio offers all of the features of Body+ like full body composition and adds in heart rate monitoring. It usually sells for around $150.

You can check out the full Withings Smart Scale lineup here.

I have an old version of Withings Blood Pressure Monitor that still works great and the current model is even more impressive. Youre getting a wireless experience, rechargeable battery that lasts for up to 6 months, its FDA cleared as medically accurate and you can easily send results to your doctor.

Since it works with the Withings Health Mate app like the smart scale above, you get Apple Health integration and can see all your other data in one place.

The Withings Blood Pressure Monitor retails for $99.

This will be a neat option for someone in your life that already has most of the smart health/fitness devices on the market. While those really into fitness may be the most likely to appreciate a metabolic analyzer, Lumen is a really useful tool that anyone can use to achieve goals like losing weight, building muscle, or maintaining weight.

I did a full review of Lumen earlier this year and think its a really innovative device that offers super actionable data. What youre getting is a pocket-sized metabolic analyzer that can tell you if youre burning fat or carbs based on your breath. From there, the Lumen app gives meal planning/macro recommendations to meet your specific weight loss or fitness goals.

Another big aspect of Lumen is measuring and building metabolic flexibility. And research shows there are a wide variety of health benefits beyond just changing your body composition. They include better sleep, stronger immune system, more consistent blood sugar levels, improved workout performance, and more.

If youre looking for a gift for someone who enjoys the quantified self, this is a killer gift.

Lumen is normally priced at $349 but is going for $279 during the holidays.

If youre thinking of picking up a smartwatch or fitness band for someone for the holidays, there are lots of choices, so here are some TL;DR tips to narrow down what to look at for each type:

Be sure to check out my colleague Chances comparison here for more on the differences between Apple Watch models:

If youre looking for a gift for an endurance athlete or someone who values dedicated GPS, a Suunto or Garmin smartwatch may be the best fit.

If the person youre gifting is an Android user, it will probably be best to go for Wear OS (or a band-style fitness tracker).

Check out our sister site 9to5Googles round ups of best Wear OS smartwatches:

These are a good option if youre looking for something more affordable and basic in overall functionality.

Hopefully, youve now got some great ideas on what youd like to gift the person (or people) who could use a smart health/fitness device.

If youre interested in diving more into Apple Watch and health/fitness, be sure to check out 9to5Macs Watch Time podcast.

FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.

Check out 9to5Mac on YouTube for more Apple news:

Read this article:
Gift Guide: Smart health/fitness devices for beginners and fanatics - 9to5Mac

51shares

share

pin

sms

send

email

By Averee Dovsek |December 2, 2020 1:00 pm

Planks and pars go pretty well together. Having a strong core is critical for having an effective golf swing.

A strong core can correlate to better ball striking and accuracy. Practicing planks will build strength to swing freely and powerfully through the duration of your swing without losing balance or injuring yourself.

In the 10th episode of Fitness with Averee, Averee Dovsek demonstrates how to do a proper plank. This exercise is great for stability in the hips and strength in the gluteus medius.

Combine what you learn through Fitness with Averee withSteve Scotts instruction seriesand you will be a different golfer on and off the course.

Watch the ninth episode of Fitness with Averee above andcheck here for previous episodes.

Fitness with Averee, Golf Fitness, planking, Video, videos, Videos

Latest

6hr

December 8, 2020 7:14 pm By: Beth Ann Nichols

HOUSTON Danielle Kang likes to warm up hitting her wedges to head covers spaced out on the range. Its tough to do that this week, ()

7hr

December 8, 2020 6:03 pm By: Beth Ann Nichols

HOUSTON Nelly Korda did something stupid (her word) on the 13th hole of the first round at Aronimink Golf Club. She tried to ()

11hr

December 8, 2020 2:40 pm By: Golfweek Staff Writer

Welcome to episode 71 of Forward Press, a weekly podcastfrom your friends atGolfweek. In this edition of Forward Press, ()

12hr

December 8, 2020 1:41 pm By: Julie Williams

The final major of 2020 has arrived: the U.S. Womens Open. In a year when every one of these things feels like a gift, the U.S. Golf ()

13hr

December 8, 2020 12:30 pm By: Naples Daily News

Last weeks Mayakoba Golf Classic marked the final full-field PGA Tour event of 2020, but now its time to have a little fun. This ()

14hr

December 8, 2020 11:48 am By: Adam Woodard

As if being (arguably) the greatest basketball player of all time wasnt cool enough, Michael Jordan had to go and one-up the rest of us ()

15hr

December 8, 2020 10:00 am By: Julie Williams

Last weeks Mayakoba Golf Classic marked the final full-field PGA Tour event of 2020, but now its time to have a little fun. This weeks QBE ()

15hr

December 8, 2020 9:58 am By: David Dusek

Gear: Cobra RadSpeed, RadSpeed XB, RadSpeed XD drivers Price: $449 with Fujikura Motore X F1, ()

15hr

December 8, 2020 9:57 am By: David Dusek

Gear: Cobra RadSpeed irons Price: $899 with KBS Tour 90 steel shafts and Lamkin Crossline ()

Read the rest here:
Fitness with Averee: Planks and pars go hand in hand - usatoday.com

Page 82«..1020..81828384..90100..»

Home » Fitness » Page 82