May 15, 2024

Do your hands ache?

February 20, 2018 By Leave a Comment

Fit Body:

Hand and Finger Range of Motion

Do your hands ache? Do you work at a computer all day or perform small detailed work using your hands often? Performing hand and finger range of motion daily is important to increase circulation and decrease soreness and stiffness. Here’s how to begin:

Make a loose fist with each hand, and then release. Do 5-8 times.

Squeeze your fingers together (keeping your fingers straight), then separate 5-8 times.

Curl in your fingertips only, then straighten. Do 5-8 times.

 

*Consult your physician before performing exercise.

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Ease Low Back Soreness

February 15, 2018 By Leave a Comment

Fit Body:

Standing Low Back Stretch

Ease low back soreness that comes from sitting for too long. Take a break, stand up and do this low back stretch. Bend forward placing your hands on your knees. Keep your weight centered. Tuck your chin into your chest, inhale and round your back. Next, exhale, lift your head and arch your back. Perform 3-5 repetitions moving at your regular breathing rate.

 

*Consult your physician before performing stretch.

 

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Small Steps to a Healthy Lifestyle

February 13, 2018 By Leave a Comment

Fit Mind:

Take small steps to a healthy lifestyle

Small changes in health habits are more likely to be sustainable, lasting changes. Those who make large, sweeping, all-or-none lifestyle changes often burn out mentally or get injured physically from going from unhealthy to healthy in a day, or week. Make a few small changes at a time, every 2-3 weeks. Here are a few ideas to get you started:

1. Walk! Start walking more.

2. Drink one glass of water every morning.

3. Reduce your unhealthy snacks by one portion or piece per serving. Continue to reduce intake or portions by one every 2 weeks.

4. Take 3 deep breaths every time you get in your car.

5. When you go out to eat, skip dessert.

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Assist Your Hamstring Stretch

February 9, 2018 By Leave a Comment

Fit Body:

Assisted Hamstring Stretch

If the traditional lying down hamstring stretch is uncomfortable for you, use a towel to assist your stretch. Hamstring flexibility is important for function. That means we need a certain degree of flexibility at the hamstring to be able to sit down in neutral posture with correct lumbar spinal alignment. Instead of adding tension to your upper body to move into the correct stretch position, put your workout towel to good use as a stretching aid. Simply wrap a towel around the arch of your foot, then hold the towel with each hand on the side of your body. Having this extra leverage allows you to keep your elbows closer to the floor, decreasing the tension or stretch in your neck.

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Are You Up For a Double Ab Challenge?

February 6, 2018 By Leave a Comment

Fit Body:

Double Ab Challenge!

Double up on your ab challenge with this crunch-plus exercise. Begin lying on your back on the floor. Hold a stability ball between your ankles and knees. Next using both legs lift the ball up off the floor and stabilize your hips and legs. Then  perform a traditional abdominal crunch. Holding your legs still while performing a crunch adds an extra ab challenge.

 

*Consult your physician before performing exercise.

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Do You Warm Up?

January 31, 2018 By Leave a Comment

Fit Body:

Don’t ignore your warm up!

Warming up before your workout prepares all the systems of your body for movement.  You’ll be increasing circulation through range of motion, energizing your heart and lungs, actively stretching your muscles to reduce the risk of injury and getting your mind focused. Perform an 8-10 minute appropriate warm up consisting of moving your muscles consistently, at a low to moderate intensity level. Walking provides a great warm up for most activities. Or simply do your workout activity, like cycling, slower in the beginning. Gradually build up pace, speed and intensity to your main workout set over the 8-10 minutes. And if it’s cold outside, you may even need a longer warm up.

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Do You Need to Dial Up Your Fitness Effort?

January 25, 2018 By Leave a Comment

Fit Mind:

Effort= Results!

Put in the effort to your fitness, and you will be rewarded with results. Fitness takes consistency, commitment and dedication. Here’s how to get started:

 

1. Get up early.

2. Stay up late.

3. Pack your gym and work bags the night before.

4. Plan pre and post workout snacks ahead of time.

5. Ask for help.

6. Instead of lunch, go workout.

7. Set 30 day goals.

8.  Set mini goals for each workout.

9. Ride, run or walk to work.

10. Walk your errands, carry your bags and don’t sit down.

 

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Seated Row for Better Posture

January 18, 2018 By Leave a Comment

Fit Body:

Seated Row

The Seated Row is an effective exercise to strengthen your upper and middle back muscles. These are essential muscles for maintaining good posture while sitting, standing and lifting. Begin seated with your feet forward and flat. The seat  should be at a level where your hips are slightly higher than your knees, and your feet can rest on the floor comfortably. Next hold a handle in each hand. Pull your shoulders down and back, and your belly button in. Begin by pinching your shoulder blades together, then keeping your torso stable, pull both handles in toward your chest about 6-8 inches. Pause to break momentum, and then slowly return to your starting position with both arms straight.

 

*Consult your physician before performing exercise.

 

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Find a Fitness Mentor

January 16, 2018 By Leave a Comment

Fit Mind:

Find a Fitness Mentor

Having a mentor is helpful for all walks of life, and fitness is no different. Do you know someone who has a solid fitness routine, a compatible fitness philosophy and is someone you respect and admire? Ask him or her to be your fitness mentor. All this means is if you have questions, need support or encouragement, or are looking for a resource, you can ask him or her. Everyone was a beginner at some point, and most people are more than happy to offer a hand to others also on their fitness journey.

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Arms and Core!

January 11, 2018 By Leave a Comment

Fit Body:

Tricep Kickbacks

Strengthen your arms with this tricep exercise. This exercise also strengthens your upper back posture muscles, as well as your core because of working one side of your body at a time. Here’s how:

Begin kneeling with your right knee on a chair. Place your left foot flat on the floor. Hold a weight in your left hand. Place your right hand on the chair so your back is flat. Lift your left arm so it is parallel to your torso and the floor. Bend and extend your elbow. Do 10 reps. Repeat holding the weight in your right hand.

*Consult your physician before performing exercise.

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