Fitness Tips
It was years before I was able to make exercise a consistent part of my life, and I know how hard it can be to find the motivation to work out. That's why I am sharing all my tips and experiences in the hopes it will help you find our own fitness mindset!
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Why Do I Shake When I Workout?
I’m sure you’ve experienced it before – that dreaded moment during a workout when your muscles begin to tremble and shake uncontrollably. It’s like an earthquake in your body! But why does this happen? The most common reason for this is simple and harmless: when we work out, our bodies use stored glucose and ATP (energy) to make the muscle fibers move and stretch. But as energy reserves dwindle and fatigue sets in, more muscle fibers are recruited to take over for their exhausted counterparts. Your muscle fibers oscillate between a relaxed and contracted state, resulting in quivering muscles. You probably find that shaky muscles occur mostly in large muscle…
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Fitbod Review 2023 – Can This Fitness App Really Help You Build Muscle at Home?
Toward the end of 2021, I was trying to build more muscle mass but was faced with something of a conundrum. For one, I had no desire to join an expensive gym membership and deal with the hassle of driving there every day. But I also couldn’t (and still can’t) do any high-impact, high-intensity exercises because they give me horrible migraines that last for days afterward. That’s why I was so excited when I discovered the Fitbod app – it’s a muscle-building app that you can use without forking out hundreds of dollars a month for a membership or doing high-intensity exercises. After researching the Fitbod app and reading rave…
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The Advantages and Disadvantages of Fitness Trackers
Pretty much everyone seems to be rocking a fitness tracker these days, from marathon runners and gym rats to power walkers and sports enthusiasts. Heck, I wear two of them. But beyond the hype and trendiness, how effective are fitness trackers when it comes to actually improving our health and fitness? Do they really make you more active and change your life for the better? Or are they a ploy by the fitness industry to clean out your wallet? Worse, could fitness trackers actually be harmful? As someone who’s faithfully worn fitness trackers for the past six years now, I thought it was high time to find out the truth.…
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75 Soft Challenge: 75 Hard’s More Reasonable, Less Injury-Inducing Alternative
A few months ago, I came across a hardcore daily routine on TikTok called the 75 Hard Challenge. Reading through the rules, I immediately thought, “no freaking way!” And I’m not the kind of woman who runs from a fitness challenge. (Trust me, I’ve finished Jillian Michaels’s 90-day Body Revolution program!) But the reality is that working out every day for 1.5 isn’t just potentially dangerous; it’s not even a great fitness strategy. So it was a hard pass for me until I recently came across a new trend detailing a more sane, soft version: The 75 Soft Challenge. If you’re looking to fast-track your fitness journey without overdoing it,…
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Do Home Workout Apps Work? The Truth About Mobile Fitness Programs
In the last decade (especially these last few pandemic-ridden years), there has been an explosion of home fitness apps as more and more people are looking to ditch the gym and get fit from the comfort of their homes. But do they provide a good workout? Are they worth the time and money? Do home workout apps work? The simple answer is that yes, home fitness apps can be extremely effective for fitness and weight loss. They offer a convenient and affordable way to get in shape, with reputable apps including professional training advice and routines. However, the truth is that it’s a lot more complicated than that. After all, statistics show that…
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7 Simple But Effective Weight Loss Habits That Have Nothing to Do with Exercise or Diets
The recipe for weight loss is nearly as old as time: Cut out the junk food, hit the gym five times a week, and those pounds will start melting off in no time, right? Not quite. While diet and exercise are undeniably critical factors in weight loss, our bodies are complex machines, with dozens of factors determining how efficiently we process food and how many calories we expend each day. Everything from environmental factors, genetics, microbiome, and hormones play a role in your body’s metabolism. And while that may sound overwhelming, it’s actually good news because it means that there are a lot of little things you can tweak in…
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9 Signs You Are Gaining Muscle – Even if You Can’t See it Yet
Experts say that you can gain up to 1–2 lbs of muscle per month, but I wouldn’t have believed it when I first started lifting weights. It was so tough to tell if I was making any progress or not, and I wasn’t sure if the tiny changes I did notice were real or just my imagination. It certainly wasn’t obvious by looking in the mirror, and the bathroom scale left me feeling equally confused. I was starting to wonder if my workouts weren’t effective. Such doubt in your regime can be demotivating and even derail your progress. Thankfully, I stuck with it — and I’ve learned there are ways you can…
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Exercise Mat vs Yoga Mat: What’s the Difference and Which One Do You Need?
I’m a bit embarrassed to admit this, but I thought that “yoga mat” and “exercise mat” were synonymous for the longest time. I had a yoga mat that I used for everything, and it was only last year when I realized that there is a whole world of exercise mats out there that are specifically for home workouts. I know I can’t be the only one who didn’t realize this, so today, we’re going to take a look at the exercise mat vs yoga mat. Why? Because it’s important! After all, a proper mat protects your joints and floors, helps you maintain proper alignment, and helps you feel stable during…
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8 Healthy Ways to Boost Energy Levels Naturally
You hear your alarm going off for the third time this morning, but you can’t muster the energy to get out of bed. When you finally do get up, you find yourself shuffling through your day in a daze, struggling to keep your eyes open. And no amount of coffee (or even Red Bull) seems to help. If this sounds like a regular day for you, you’re not alone. Fatigue is a troublingly common problem, impacting approximately 15% of women and 10% of men. It can be caused by a number of factors, and it’s important to see your family doctor if you have unexplained fatigue. That said, lifestyle could…
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How to Reduce the Effects of Sitting All Day – Whether You’re at Home or at Work
Not all that long ago, I was wrapping up a busy workday at home where I had more or less been glued to the screen for eight hours. When I stood up, I felt a sharp pain in my mid-back. Although it caught me by surprise, it shouldn’t have; I’d been sitting all day and my back was paying the price. My experience isn’t unique; sedentary lifestyles are the norm in North America. Unfortunately, the risks of sitting extend beyond the odd kink in your back. Humans were designed to get more activity in life, and sedentary behavior is not doing our health any favors. It left me wondering how…