Lose Weight and Live Healthy

Many people know that aerobic exercise is good for them, but often wonder about the far-reaching health and fitness benefits of engaging in aerobic activity. Aerobic exercise not only conditions the heart and lungs, but also improves your fitness and overall health through a number of means. There are numerous types of aerobic exercises that can accommodate various interests and fitness levels, so everyone can find an aerobic activity that is right for them. More ways to improve heart health here !  How Aerobic Exercise Works The word aerobic means with oxygen and describes the process of using oxygen to generate energy for the muscles. An aerobic exercise is an exercise that is performed at a moderate intensity and keeps the heart rate elevated for an extended period of time, maximizing the amount of oxygen in your blood, according to the Mayo Clinic. The use of oxygen to burn fat produces adenosine triphosphate, which carries energy to the muscles and other cells. By en...

To lose weight you need to create a calorie deficit by eating fewer calories.  First, you need to know your basal metabolic rate (BMR), or the amount of calories you need for your body to perform normal functions like breathing and digesting food.   Use the BMR calculator to determine how many calories your body needs at rest.  This number will go up once you start to do physical activities, but this is a good starting point to determine how many calories you should be eating, and how many you need to cut to lose weight.  By eating fewer calories than your body needs for its basic functions, your body will be forced to burn fat as fuel to provide the energy to perform these functions.  This will help you lose weight. Once you have determined your target caloric intake, you are set to start adjusting the amount of calories you consume each day.  Using the calorie counter can help you keep track of the amount of calories you eat each day to ensure y...

Want to get the most out of your barbell? Barbells aren't just for bench presses, they can be used for full body workouts that challenge every muscle group in your body. Don't believe me, check out this Pro Fitness Guides for more tips on how to use barbells for a full body workout. Full Body Workout With Barbells By Brandi Junious via eHow ... Not all ab exercises need to be done lying on your back. You can use a barbell to work your midsection alone, or with other muscle groups. Do barbell roll outs to tone your stomach; Read more:  http://www.ehow.com/info_12323511_full-body-workout-barbells.html#ixzz2oy7CMrmq Get more pro tips from our Pro Fitness Guide Section ! Like this article? Tell us what you think in the comment section below! Related Articles: Resistance Bands and Strength Training How to Get Symmetrical Arms When Lifting Weights? Should I Do Squats? Lose Weight and Do More Pull Ups Exercise and Joint Health

Get a jump start on your New Year's resolution to achieve great health and fitness. Set a goal, make a plan, make it happen. With hard work and dedication, you WILL reach your fitness goals and become the best version of you! Watch this video to get exercise ideas and get motivated! Related Articles:  What is CrossFit? How Do You Do One More Set? Do You Want a Thigh Gap? New Year, New Motivation: Give Yourself More in 2014 Lose Weight and Do More Pull Ups

It's the holiday season, but you don't have to put on those dreaded holiday pounds.  Have some of your favorite pie and then hit the gym to take great fitness with you into the new year.  Get tips on machines you can use at the gym to keep that midsection toned and the extra weight off this winter with this Pro Fitness Guide!  What Machine is Used to Trim the Waist? By Brandi Junious via The Nest Woman You want to bust the bulge around your waist and wonder which of the many ab machines out there would get the job done quickly. Unfortunately, you can't trim that spare tire into  washboard abs without ... Read More   Get more pro tips from our Pro Fitness Guide section! Related Articles: Pro Fitness Guide: How Fast Can You Notice a Difference When Doing Ab Workouts? Pro Fitness Guide: Full Body Workout With Barbells Resistances Bands and Strength Training Pro Fitness Guide: Cardio to Help Burn Fat on Legs Pro Fitness Guide: Are Heavy Bag Wor...

My Favorite Day of the Week is Leg Day! Related Articles: How Much Protein Do I Need? How Many Calories Can I Burn During Exercise? Pro Fitness Guide: Cardio to Help Burn Fat on Legs Muscle Failure How Do You Do One More Set?

Losing weight can help you look sexy, but it can also reduce your risk of illnesses such as heart attack and stroke -- talk about a win-win. Gaining upper-body strength can help you knockout everyday tasks and make you more confident in your favorite tank tops. You can shed those extra pounds by cutting down calories with diet and exercise; and you can take on the straight bar by gradually increasing your upper-body strength. Lose Weight Step 1 Eat a healthy diet that focuses on plant-based foods and limits extra fats, carbohydrates and sugars like fried foods, pastries and sweets. Step 2 Create a calorie deficit by eliminating your intake of high calorie items with low nutritional value such as coffee during breakfast, soda at lunch or ice cream after dinner. Refrain from adding extra items to your meals like sour cream, dressings and mayo; 3,500 calories equals one pound of fat, so limiting empty calories like these can decrease your caloric intake and help you cut down your...

When working out, it is important to develop muscle tone evenly. If one arm has more definition than the other, your arms will be disproportionate and you won't want to show off your hard work. Also, having muscular symmetry helps prevent injuries, as one arm does not bare more weight or endure more strain during physical activities. Although hand dominance naturally makes one arm stronger than the other, you don't have to live with asymmetrical arms. By exercising so that both arms have to work just as hard, you can avoid injuries and looking lopsided in your tank tops, and you'll feel confident flaunting your bare arms. The Run Down... Step 1 Use dumbbells or a bilateral weight machine when doing arm exercises to make sure each arm is lifting the same amount of weight. Avoid using two-handed barbells, as this can allow one arm to carry more of the weight than the other and result in an unbalanced workout and asymmetrical arms. Step 2 Lift the ...

Squats are an ideal exercise as they tone the glutes, thighs, core and lower back. They can be done with or without weights to achieve more or less muscle definition. Doing squats can cause your butt and thighs to get more muscular, and adding aerobic exercise to your routine can ensure you stay lean while your tone. Squats aren't just an exercise for your glutes. Doing squats can also help tone your core, lower back and the muscles in your thighs including the hamstrings, quadriceps and abductors. You can do different variations of the squat to engage each of these muscle groups. Squats are also a functional exercise, mimicking many of the movements you make doing every day activities. Compound exercises like squats can add mass to your lower body, however, if you're looking to lose fat, you also need to engage in aerobic exercise. If you're looking to tone and get lean, incorporating cardio exercise into your weekly routine and a moderate amount of weight training wil...