During the solitary confinement of the world, many people are experiencing all sorts of effects from the COVID-19 pandemic. Even for those who have been lucky enough to evade the virus thus far, the impacts of living in a global pandemic extend beyond just viral. One of the biggest concerns for many people who are riding out the virus locked in their homes is weight gain. For many who are now working remotely, not having to change out of pajamas or a reason to leave the house has a significant impact on their daily routines. Common side effects, including boredom and laziness, tend to have a direct impact on increased weight gain. Here are 5 basic tips to avoid packing on extra pounds during the lockdown. [Read more]

Let’s face it. Being stuck inside with no place to go makes being a couch potato the most natural thing in the world. Especially with winter looming and the plush of a throw blanket singing warm cozy lullabies, getting up and active can feel like a massive drag. Still, sitting around like a lump does nothing for those pretzel-induced love handles hiding under those pajamas. Doing a mere 30 minutes of yoga a day can significantly change many unhealthy habits into lifestyle-altering routines in a short period. [Read more]

Many people start exercising with good intentions but end up abandoning their fitness programs before they get anywhere near their fitness goals. The reason is that they have unrealistic expectations of how much they can and should accomplish. They look only to the short term, expecting instant results, and so throw away their long term possibilities. While it would be nice to drop inches off your waist in just a few days like weight loss ads and fitness influencers claim, getting fit is actually a slow and steady process that requires you to set realistic goals and display patience and commitment. [Read more]

Many people want to get physically fit, but not so many people have a good idea of what physical fitness actually means. As a consequence, their workouts do not tend to have what is needed to achieve true physical fitness. Read on to learn more about what physical fitness is, and how to structure your exercises to achieve it. [Read more]

Nearly as important as the workouts you do, is how you fuel them.  The right nutrition for before, during, and after your workouts can help to optimize your training goals, whether you aim to improve body composition, athleticism, and overall health. Nutrition, however, is an oversaturated and overwhelming topic.  The information below will help you to establish a good nutrition foundation with which you can create a simple and easy to follow workout-nutrition plan. Keep in mind that the macronutrients included below are only a guideline – you should adjust according to your own calorie needs.  [Read more]

Yoga produces results that mirror the effort you put into practicing it. Yoga can be an easy way to stretch if that’s all you want from it. It can also serve as a tool for improving your mental and physical health, or even as a tool for spiritual development, if you want to take it farther. Yoga establishes a more positive balance between your mind and your body, helping it to function better. This new balance can take awhile to establish, but once it has been established, you are on your way to a healthier, happier life. [Read more]

Weight loss follows the simple principle of “Calories in, calories out”, meaning that as long as you burn more calories than you ingest, you will lose weight. Bodies already burn calories just by breathing and moving about daily, but to speed up the weight loss process, people need to exercise. Most people associate burning calories and exercise with strenuous activities, which are turn-offs. If you too consider exercise a burden, perhaps this article can change your mind. Here are five ways to burn calories, without even thinking about doing it.  [Read more]

Lung capacity typically starts to decrease as you approach your late twenties, leading to reduced lung function that gradually worsens as you age. Chronic lung conditions, such as COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), can further reduce lung function, making it more difficult to breathe. Taking steps to increase your lung capacity helps to improve breathing and protect your lungs. [Read more]

In the fitness world, high-intensity interval training has experienced a surge in popularity in recent years. High-intensity interval training — or HIIT for short — is a style of workout in which brief periods of intense effort are punctuated by short rests. As it turns out, HIIT offers some powerful advantages over other styles of exercise. Here are the five big benefits of high-intensity interval training. [Read more]

One of the most important aspects of exercise is consistency. It’s more important that you exercise multiple times per week than what type of exercise you do. And the best way to stay consistent is to have a workout buddy that can keep you accountable to showing up week after week. A workout buddy can also push you to work out harder, introduce you to new exercises, and make working out more enjoyable thanks to the social aspect of exercising with a friend. Here are five tips to help you find a workout buddy. [Read more]