STRETCHING EXERCISES

10 Things You Should Know About Stretching

Before fitness training, one must give importance to doing warm-up or stretching exercises to prevent accidents or to enhance the output during the training. There are also a number of precautionary measures and tips to serve as guidelines when doing fitness exercises. Here are some of them.

1. To increase your flexibility and to avoid injuries, stretch before and after workout. Almost everyone knows that stretching before workout prevents injuries during the exercises, but only few people know that stretching after workout, when muscles are still warm, can increase flexibility.

2. Hold your stretching position for more than 60 seconds to increase flexibility. While holding your position for 20 seconds is enough for warm ups, holding each position for at least 60 seconds will develop the body's flexibility.

3. Do not go into a stretching position then immediately return to the relaxed position, and do it repeatedly. This is more appropriately termed as bouncing while in a position. When stretching, hold that position for several seconds, and then slowly relax. You may do this exercise repeatedly this way. Bouncing or forcing yourself into a position during stretching can strain or damage some joints or muscles.

4. Work slowly in increments instead of immediately proceeding to doing the hardest exercise or position.

5. Make sure that you have stretched or warmed up all muscle groups. For some people, even if they have strong bodies, they tend to neglect the neck when working out of stretching. Stretching the neck muscles can be as simple as placing the palm of one's hand against the front of the head and pushing it. Then, do the same to the sides and the back of the head.

6. Stretch regularly to continually increase your range of movements and your level of flexibility and strength.

7. Workout considering only your capabilities and not of others. Do not force yourself to do exercises that you are not yet capable of just because there are people who can do it. Increase your limits slowly. Listen to your body. There are days when your body may be too tired that you may have to consider reducing your range of motion.

8. Learn to rest. Rest in between sets and stations to make sure that the body has enough time to recover its energy. Also, it is advisable that you don't work the same muscle groups consecutively for two days. The muscles grow during the period when you rest and not when you are working out.

9. Do aerobic exercises to strengthen your heart. Aerobic exercises are those physical activities that much oxygen for fuel. This includes cardiovascular exercises such as skipping rope, running or swimming.

10. Music may help you when you want to train for longer periods or to increase your intensity. You can use mp3 players, CD players or lightweight am radio receivers for this. Just make sure that you brought your headset with you so you wouldn't disturb people who don't prefer music while exercising.

Apart from preventing injuries and increasing one's limit, it is also said that stretching exercises are good for a tired body and also for a stressed mind and spirit.

FITNESS WORKOUT ROUTINE

I am very "old school" when it comes to exercising, weight training and circuit training. In this modern age too much emphasis is places on style over substance when it comes to getting fit. People join trendy gyms, wear fashionable clothing, drink the latest sports drinks, and usually pay extortionate amounts in the hope to achieve short term goals. I prefer the old school approach, and by that I mean the simple, basic exercises that have been proven to increase strength and fitness. These are the exercises that used to be taught in School Physical Training classes, and are the core training in military schools, dance and martial arts schools today.

Circuit Training

I believe that circuit training is one of the best ways to gain all round fitness and strength. The most intensive circuit training I have ever done has been in large indoor halls, with "stations" where different exercises are done. There are usually no or few weights involved. Generally the 

exercises include:

* press ups

* sit ups

* star jumps

* squat thrusts

* squats

* step ups (onto a gym bench)

* jumping onto then over gym bench with both feet together

* burpies (sort of star jump followed immediately by a squat thrust - a killer !)

* skipping

* sprints up and down hall

* running backwards, side ways etc.

* dips (using gym bench to hold onto behind)

* passing a medicine ball between two people, either back to back or throwing

There are often many others that are incorporated to ensure that each class is varied, but these for the core of any circuit training class. Great for building overall strength and cardiovascular fitness and they exercise all the major muscle groups while keeping the heart rate high.

Weight Training

Basic compound weight training is what I consider to be the "old school" weight training. By this I mean the exercises that use several different muscle groups at once. The best compund exercises to do are:

* Bench Press

* Should Press / Military Press

* Bent Over Row

* Shoulder shrugs

* Pull ups

* Cleans and Clean and Presses

* Barbell curls

* Dips

* Lateral Pull downs

If you plan take up circuit training, you do not really need any equipment. For weight training it is advisable to invest in some decent equipment, or join a proper weights gym, for that old school experience.
If you need to look at a fitness workout routine search this blog for some workouts. 

J.P.Wade has been studying martial arts for over 15 years and runs the Motley Health and Fitness website and community,http://www.motleyhealth.com

Blast Fat With Bodyweight Circuits

More and more people want or need to burn fat and most will give up
after getting little or no results. The reason they don't get the results is
because they are not doing the right exercises that will burn fat and
build muscle all at the same time.
Most people go to the gym and when they get there they train using
cardio equipment ( treadmill, stationary bike, etc. ) then they move
on to weight training, and they spend up to 1 hour or more in the gym,
and after a month or so, they are not getting the results they want they
stop exercising all together.
The best way to exercise and get results is to stay home and to exercise
using a bodyweight circuit, with little or no rest at all for five to fifteen
minutes a day.
Most people think jogging will answer all their fat loss problems and the
fact is that even if you jog you still need to do some kind of strength
training to burn fat and this will take more time.
When you exercise using bodyweight circuits you will be working "cardio"
building muscle and burning fat at a very rapid pace.
These workout routines are the answer for building muscle, flexibility, and
fat burning they always have and always will, after all this is how military fitness gets men and women in shape and ready for battle in record time.
Just to show the benefits of a bodyweight circuit try this sample circuit:

10 pushups-


10 bodyweight squats-


10 jumping jacks-


10 situps

There is no rest in between exercises, move from one exercise to the other,
when you get to the bottom start over and go through the circuit again.

The circuit should be done as fast as possible for five to fifteen minutes.
Like I said these are great workout routines and can be done almost any where.

John Grube is an expert on the subject of bodyweight training. He also has 25+ years of training experience and is the author of The Wildman Training Program manual. For more info http://www.wildmantraining.com

8 Min Abs Workout, how to have six pack

FORCES FITNESS - xtreme fitness workout

The 10 Best Shoulder Building Exercises for Bodybuilding Beginners

For most guys, the biceps are the undisputed king of muscle! But what good is a king without a crown? If you want GUNS that get respect at the beach and on the street, you've got to crown them with cannon ball deltoid development! For big, muscular shoulders that'll produce personal pride and physical power, keep reading because I've got the 10 best beginning exercises for you right here.

1. Seated Front Military Press

Your shoulders consist mainly of 2 muscle groups, the trapezius and the deltoids. The trapezius or "traps" are the two large triangular shaped muscles that run across each shoulder from the back of your neck. Your deltoids or "delts" are the thick, triangular shaped muscles that cover your shoulder joints at the top of each arm. The deltoids consist of 3 sections known as the anterior, medial and posterior heads. For balanced deltoid development, you must train each section equally.

The front military press is a great starter exercise for building the anterior or front section of your delts. You can perform this exercise from a standing or seated position. For beginners, I recommend the seated position, preferably in a chair that has low back support to prevent arching or hyperextension of your spine. With proper technique, this basic military press will add thickness and power to the front of your shoulders. As you advance in your training, you should eventually graduate from this exercise to the dumbbell shoulder press.

2. Barbell Front Raises

This exercise is great for building shape and endurance in your anterior delts. Since barbell front raises put tremendous resistance on the front of your shoulders, you should not attempt to do this exercise with heavy weight. Moderate poundage with strict technique (i.e., no bouncing or jerking the weight with your body) is sufficient to add strength and shape to your anterior delts. For variety, you can also do this exercise with a straight bar attachment to a low cable apparatus.

Whether you use a barbell or low cable machine, you must stand with your arms straight as you raise the bar forward from the front of your thighs to a position parallel to the floor at about shoulder height. To put secondary resistance on your rear delts and traps, raise the bar slightly above shoulder height. It won't take long to feel the burn from this exercise, but the payoff in deltoid development is well worth it.

3. Seated Reverse Dumbbell Press

The reverse dumbbell press, aka the "Arnold Press" is another terrific shoulder builder for your anterior delts. When done properly, this exercise also puts concentrated resistance on the upper portion of your traps. You can do the reverse dumbbell press with both arms pressing the weights simultaneously or by alternating each arm. In either event, I suggest that you do this exercise in a seated position with good back support to avoid injury.

To do this exercise, hold 2 dumbbells at shoulder height with your palms facing you. Keep your back straight and don't bounce or jerk your body as you slowly press the dumbbells overhead. As you press the weight upward, rotate your wrists so that your hands face forward at the top of each lift. Return the dumbbells to the starting position as you lower them after each rep. If you've never done this exercise before, start with weight that you can easily balance and control and progress to heavier poundage when you've mastered your training technique. Take my word, the results will be awesome!

4. Dumbbell Front Raises

Like barbell front raises, the dumbbell version of this exercise puts extreme resistance on the front of your shoulders. In addition to building the anterior deltoids, front dumbbell raises put secondary but significant stress on the medial deltoid head. The mechanics of this exercise are basically the same as with barbell front raises. You must stand with your arms straight as you raise the dumbbells forward from the front of your thighs to a position parallel to the floor at about shoulder height. Again, due to the extreme level of training resistance that front raises produce, you should not attempt to do this exercise with heavy weight. Moderate poundage with strict form will give you great results.

5. Behind-The-Neck-Military Press

The "behind-the-neck" or rear military press is a solid mass builder for the medial deltoid or middle shoulder area. Like the front military press, you can perform this exercise from a standing or seated position. Again, I recommend that you do your military presses in a chair with lower back support to avoid arching or hyperextension of your spine. The seated position also helps to stabilize your torso so you won't jerk the weight upward and cheat on technique. As with all overhead lifting, go slow, master your training technique and the rear military press will add mass, power and symmetry to the middle portion of your shoulders.

6. Dumbbell Lateral Raises

Nothing beats dumbbell lateral raises for targeting the medial head of your delts. And this is another shoulder exercise that provides great results without using excessively heavy weight. With your arms at your sides, grasp a dumbbell in each hand. Slowly raise your arms outward and upward until the dumbbells reach shoulder height in a position that parallels the floor. Return to the starting position. To work the medial delts from every possible angle, vary your workouts by doing some sets with your hands at your sides, some sets with your hands slightly in front of your thighs, and some sets with your hands behind your hips. This exercise is great for adding the shoulder girth necessary to beef up your V taper.

7. Single Arm Cable Lateral Raises

This exercise is a good substitute for dumbbell lateral raises for variety or when dumbbells may not be available to you. Except for the fact that you alternately train each shoulder, the mechanics of this exercise are basically the same as with the dumbbell version. With your arm at your side, simply grasp a low cable handle and slowly raise your arm outward and upward until the handle reaches shoulder height in a position that parallels the floor. Return to the starting position. For maximum effectiveness, you should vary your workouts by starting some sets with your hand at your side, some sets with your hand in front of your thighs, and some sets with your hand behind your hips.

8. Seated Two-Armed Dumbbell Rows

Unless you focus on training your rear delts, it's easy to forget about them and end up with unbalanced shoulder development. This happened to me years ago when I was still more or less in my infancy when it came to serious bodybuilding. At the time I was living and training in Montreal at "Winston's Gym," a bodybuilding powerhouse then owned by Canadian bodybuilding great, Winston Roberts. So one day I asked Winston what I should do to build mass into my rear delts.

Without hesitation he told me to sit on the edge of a flat bench, grab a dumbbell in each hand, lean forward to about 45 degrees and pull the dumbbells toward my torso as though to touch my elbows behind my back. Wow, did this work! My rear delts responded almost immediately to this new workout, and the "Seated Two-Armed Dumbbell Row" was born! To make sure that you fully develop each section of your deltoids, you've got to include this rear delt builder in your shoulder workouts.

9. Bent-Over Lateral Raises

This exercise also isolates the posterior deltoid area for full, symmetrical shoulder development. Stand with your feet about shoulder width apart and your knees slightly bent. Bend forward at the waist but keep your back straight and your head facing forward. Grasp a dumbbell in each hand with your elbows bent slightly and raise your arms outward and upward until the weight reaches shoulder height. Return to the starting position. For variety or if dumbbells aren't available, you can also do this exercise with a low cable machine.

10. Upright Rows

Finally, one of my all time favorite shoulder shapers, the upright row builds the entire deltoid area and I love the secondary biceps pump I get whenever I do this exercise. Just grab a barbell with an overhand and slightly wider than shoulder width grip. If you're using a cambered or EZ Curl Bar, use the wide grip hand position. Raise your arms and pull the bar upward until it nearly touches your chin. To put more resistance on your traps, try pulling your elbows up a little beyond shoulder height as you complete each rep. Return to the starting position. I'm continually amazed at how seldom I see anyone doing this exercise. But you've got to do upright rows if you're serious about building big, muscular shoulders.

Well, that's it - my Top 10 list of shoulder-building exercises for beginning bodybuilders. Try them, have fun with them, and make sure that you use safe amounts of weight and proper training technique with every exercise.

Mark G. Winston, "The Master Gunslinger," is author of the ground-breaking training manual, "GO For Your GUNS - 7 Simple Secrets to AWESOME ARMS." He has also created GOforyourGUNS.com, a bodybuilding and fitness website dedicated entirely to helping you build big, muscular arms. Mark's forthcoming book will be jammed with workouts and training techniques to help you build the big, muscular arms that you deserve! To learn about the GO For Your GUNS bodybuilding system and get free arm training tips that really work, visithttp://www.GOforyourGUNS.com

FORCES FITNESS - CIRCUIT TRAINING WORKOUT FOR THE GYM