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Sean McCawley, Fit for Life in Napa Valley: Planning effective exercise

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Sean McCawley, Fit for Life in Napa Valley: Planning effective exercise

The journeys all through on a regular basis life impose trials on our our bodies and minds. The whole lot from sitting an excessive amount of, making telephone calls or being hunched over a keyboard to the exact opposite of performing knuckle-dragging bodily labor required for landscaping, portray homes, or framing doorways in a house. If the physique doesn’t constantly get well from strenuous bouts of the bodily necessities of life, joints and muscle groups will damage.

The excellent news is that the physique is supplied with a therapeutic mechanism to mitigate ache and dysfunction. The phenomenon train brings to joints, muscle groups, and chemical features of the physique is a panacea for bodily ache. Merely sprinkle just a little train on the elements of the physique that damage and “voila,” your torn rotator cuff, bulging lumbar disc, and arthritic fingers are cured.

It’s additionally important to have a rigorous relationship with the reality in regards to the put on and tear concerned with the physique. Solely half of the above assertion is true, the half the place the physique produces therapeutic properties by way of train. Nevertheless, the magic capsule of eliminating ache from our lives isn’t that straightforward to find.

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Train requires time, dedication and technique to get probably the most out of including health as a part of well being to our lives. Components comparable to lack of compliance, redundant routines and damaging workout routines play roles in producing efficient train routines.

Intimidation or feeling awkward when coming into an area gymnasium can shortly stop somebody from creating an adherent train routine when utilizing group gyms as a useful resource to train.

Moreover, the physique received’t adapt to grow to be stronger if we grow to be complacent in our train routine and carry out the identical actions again and again. Moreover, “grinding by way of the ache” and forgoing train altogether received’t work both. Ache and bodily dysfunction doesn’t merely go away. A physique that heals is piloted by an individual who devotes meticulous consideration to element by constantly nurturing the physique and avoiding dangerous components that break down the physique’s organs.

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To get probably the most out of an train routine, a “laying of plans” is a doubtlessly efficient technique to domesticate therapeutic properties. To create a worthwhile plan, establishing no less than a four-week format helps develop a way of route in a health journey.

First, decide workout routines that may be carried out competently. Nobody needs to be performing single-leg inverted pigeon stretches in a yoga class when performing 10 repetitions of body weight squats are a problem.

Subsequent, assign what number of units and repetitions are a secure and efficient dose for the workout routines you wish to obtain.

Lastly, ensure these workout routines are partaking and satisfying. Exercising isn’t efficient in the event that they make you drag your toes whereas doing them or have nightmares about performing planks the day earlier than you propose a visit to the gymnasium. The probability of an train routine persevering with previous a number of weeks is little to none if it drones on and turns into boring. It’s important to be choosy when selecting workout routines in your routine. The best train on this planet can shortly grow to be out of date if the routine turns into mundane or causes extra injury than when starting this system.

Rising productive stress on connective tissue all through an train routine is vital in conditioning the physique towards optimum power and longevity. For instance, when performing resistance workout routines comparable to squats, plank, or push-ups, growing the workload every week for 3 weeks imposes gradual stress on the bones, ligaments, tendons, and muscle groups. This may be very productive when the coaching load quantity is barely elevated every week. Coaching load quantity could be outlined because the growing quantity of repetition, resistance, or period of a selected train.

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With this improve within the problem for a three-week cycle, it’s a good suggestion to have an unloading week. This can be a week through which performing the identical workout routines, however with resistance equal to or lower than the primary week, will act as a destressing interval for the physique. After finishing this four-week cycle, the physique, as a rule, feels stronger. Moreover, after practising the identical routine for 4 weeks, the physique will possible develop mastery and competency towards these particular workout routines. This enables one to attempt one other 4 weeks of latest and barely tougher actions.

Quite a lot of workout routines is useful to the event of sturdy connective tissue. Yoga, Pilates, group health lessons and arranged, well-planned resistance coaching create vital diversifications to the physique. To get probably the most out of health routines, let’s bear in mind to trace our progress to keep away from overuse accidents and develop power in our connective tissue to final for the long run.

Because of actionable recommendation from Kaiser Permanente’s Wholesome Stability program, you could be making progress along with your New 12 months’s resolutions.



Activating the core all through the day and stopping widespread accidents is a key ingredient to assist our on a regular basis performance.

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Sean McCawley, Fit for Life: When 'things don't heal as fast'

Is it higher to dwell on pains and issues or sit up for “the subsequent logical step” to reaching well being and pleasure?

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Sean McCawley, Fit for Life: Take a walk up a Napa hill

Simply 5 minutes of inclined strolling as soon as per week can enhance muscular power, lower joint ache, and add one other enjoyable and fascinating journey to a weekly strolling routine.

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Sean McCawley, Fit for Life in Napa Valley: Exercises to keep your balance

Sean McCawley shares workout routines to strengthen steadiness and assist keep away from harmful falls. 

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Sean McCawley, Fit for Life in Napa Valley: Managing treat-to-healthy food ratios

Even health gurus like Sean McCawley get the urge to bask in less-than-healthy treats. Here’s what he does. 

Sean McCawley, Fit for Life in Napa Valley: Out of breath on the stairs

A go to to Washington D.C., reveals a metropolis filled with stairs. 

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Sean McCawley, Fit for Life: Being healthy pays off

Everybody will get sick but when we embody common train and  leisure bodily exercise into our lives, we don’t must be sick for very lengthy. That’s why it pays off to be wholesome.

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Sean McCawley, Fit for Life in Napa Valley: Don't discount the 'slow drip' of simple exercise every day

Lacking per week of train at your native gymnasium is just not the tip of the world. Having the “gradual drip” dose of straightforward and efficient workout routines each day promotes substantial outcomes too.

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Sean McCawley, Fit for Life in Napa Valley: Getting in shape for adventure

Earlier than you embark on an journey, it is a good suggestion to put together yout physique a number of months upfront to handle the stresses of journey.

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Sean McCawley, Fit for Life in Napa Valley: The isometric alternative for exercise

Isometric workout routines could also be an alternate for individuals pressed to search out the time to get to the gymnasium. 

Sean McCawley, Fit for Life: Oh no, I missed my workouts

What occurs whenever you miss your exercises for per week? It isn’t all unhealthy information. 

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Sean McCawley, Fit for Life in Napa Valley: Posture matters

When tech blunts bodily exercise, we are able to nonetheless keep away from underuse accidents by way of environment friendly and efficient types of train, columnist Sean McCawley writes.

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Sean McCawley, Fit For Life: A nod to knee health

Napa health knowledgeable Sean McCawley discusses the significance of maintaining your knees sturdy and wholesome.

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Sean McCawley, Fit for Life: Look at the menu ahead of time

Preparation is a  device for fulfillment. To mitigate the unhealthy results of consuming out an excessive amount of, we are able to take a look at the menus of our favourite eating places forward of time to make wholesome selections for our dietary success.

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Sean McCawley, Fit for Life: Food as fuel

Weight reduction and weight acquire are fixed balancing acts. The place can we begin on a path to productively managing our weight? 

Sean McCawley, Fit for Life: Just one more

Discovering a technique to squeak in an additional wholesome behavior considerably impacts our on a regular basis well being and happiness.

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Sean McCawley, Fit for Life: Get a grip on falling

A fall could cause one thing as minor as a scraped knee or as catastrophic as a damaged bone. One technique to reduce damage is to have sturdy fingers and arms. 

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Sean McCawley, Fit for Life: Muscles and a balanced diet make a successful team

Sustaining a wholesome physique whereas often indulging in less-than-healthy meals and snacks comes all the way down to a query of steadiness. 

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Sean McCawley, Fit for Life: Exercises to avoid sciatica

Discomfort is an understatement for extreme circumstances of sciatica, however figuring out its widespread causes is an efficient first step towards a plan of motion to forestall it.

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Sean McCawley, Fit for Life: Sciatica: a real pain in the derrière

Health knowledgeable Sean McCawley introduces the lumbopelvic hip advanced and explains why we’d wish to study what precisely it’s. 


Sean McCawley, Fit for Life: Balancing your exercise journey

It’s not breaking information that staying lively retains us wholesome nevertheless it’s vital to attempt for a balanced health routine that may preserve you going and keep away from accidents. 

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Sean McCawley, Fit for Life: Pull up a chair and exercise

Sitting is not unhealthy for you; sitting for too lengthy with out transferring is. Napa health knowledgeable Sean McCawley provides workout routines to do to counteract stiffness and stress from inactivity. 

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Sean McCawley, Fit for Life in Napa Valley: Building a foundation for weight loss

If dropping additional fats and maintaining it off is your objective, it’s vital to know that first it’s a must to set up a basis of maintaining a healthy diet and adhering to train for no less than three months.

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Sean McCawley, Fit for Life: SAID and the challenges of travel

SAID means “Particular Adaptation to an Imposed Demand” and this consists of lengthy hours sitting in an airplane or automobile. What are you able to do to assist your physique out after you get off the aircraft or out of your automobile? 

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Sean McCawley, Fit for Life: A completely different pace

Health coach Sean McCawley skilled challenges to his wholesome Napa life-style on his 10-day journey to Portugal. 

Sean McCawley, Fit for Life: Simple exercises for a huge impact

Discovering time to train is difficult but when you’ll find time to carry out one or two workout routines very first thing within the morning, this could can accomplish easy and efficient workout routines. 

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Sean McCawley, Fit for Life: Food choices for a champion

On the run as much as a championship match, the meals you select will make a distinction. 

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Sean McCawley, Fit for Life: Chip bowl salads for dinner

What’s for dinner? Earlier than you flip to Door Sprint, health professional Sean McCawley has a suggestion. 

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Sean McCawley, Fit for Life: Watching your fitness grow

When striving to fulfill health targets, attempt maintaining in thoughts a rising a plant — each a plant and your physique thrive in a nurturing, supportive setting.

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Sean McCawley, Fit for Life: Waking up and exercising, Part 2

Exercising very first thing within the morning could sound like a problem, however the advantages far outweigh the ache of getting off the bed a couple of minutes earlier.

Sean McCawley, Fit for Life: Waking up and exercising, Part 1

Rise and shine — or relaxation in mattress? Sean McCawley supplies causes for getting your self up within the morning. 

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Sean McCawley, Fit for Life: Just don't hurt your back, Part 2

We don’t notice how important decrease again well being is till an unintended damage debilitates us, however workout routines might help keep away from this calamity. 

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Sean McCawley, Fit for Life: Just don't hurt your back, Part 1

An extended-plane journey, turning your head the mistaken manner, even sleeping in an odd place, can tweak your again simply sufficient to derail bodily actions. Step one in avoiding these accidents, is studying the anatomy of your backbone. 

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Sean McCawley, Fit for Life: Try a digital detox

We will fall into an unhealthy rut of spending an excessive amount of time on our telephones. Take a while for your self by stepping away out of your cellphone to expertise the presents the world provides us which might be proper in entrance of us.

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Sean McCawley, Fit for Life: Optimal exercises for busy lives

If you cannot make it to the gymnasium six occasions per week, you possibly can nonetheless obtain optimum health by selecting compound workout routines.


Sean McCawley, Fit for Life: Do I need a protein supplement?

A number of standard questions health coach Sean McCawley is requested are: “What number of energy ought to I eat?”, “Are carbs unhealthy?”, “Ought to I be paleo?” and “What kind of protein complement ought to I take?”

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Sean McCawley, Fit for Life: How to drink enough water

Staying hydrated is vital to total well being, longevity and performance, writes health coach Sean McCawley. So how do you drink sufficient water every day? He has a plan for you.  

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Sean McCawley, Fit for Life: Fear of fitness

If stepping right into a gymnasium is as intimidating to you as a stroll in Jurassic Park, Sean McCawley has concept that will help you overcome your nervousness and provides your self a present of train. 

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Sean McCawley, Fit for Life: Resistance training to strengthen bones

An train program of resistance coaching can considerably improve your physique’s skill to construct power in your bones.

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Sean McCawley, Fit for Life: Exercise the muscles you don't use daily

From building employee to desk employee, all of us have muscle groups we do not use in a typical day. Your can supercharge your health by including workout routines that focus on these areas of the physique.

Sean McCawley, Fit for Life: Your relationship with exercise

In case you wrestle adhering to an train program, pick a number of key phrases of how train makes you’re feeling like what you’re doing has worth. 

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Sean McCawley, Fit for Life: Reasons for pushups

Health knowledgeable Sean McCawley explores why and tips on how to do pushups.

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Sean McCawley, Fit for Life: A 90-day game plan for weight loss

She wished to lose 10 kilos earlier than a trip on the seashores of Portugal. Health coach Sean McCawley helped her give you a plan. 

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Sean McCawley, Fit for Life: A road trip down the spine

Our backbone is akin to a freeway within the human physique. By partaking in bodily exercise that retains the spinal muscle groups lively, we carry out correct upkeep on our most important freeway of nerves, simply as of Cal Trans staff cares for these roads. 

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Sean McCawley, Fit for Life: Staving off illness

Our willpower and perseverance to make a trek to an area gymnasium, take a yoga class or take part in outside bodily exercise are equally, if no more highly effective, than any drugs that retains us away from the physician’s workplace.


Sean McCawley, Fit for Life: What holds you back from your goals?

Crunchy, salty, and candy treats can present consolation, pleasure and salvation from difficult occasions. We will’t simply extract them from our lives on quick discover however listed below are tricks to nonetheless take pleasure in them with moderation, accountability and management.

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Sean McCawley, Fit for Life: Can you drink enough water in 2022?

One of many best methods to enhance your well being in 2022 is to make certain you’re consuming sufficient water. 

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Sean McCawley, Fit for Life: Reach your goals for 2022

A plan to take pleasure in 2022 and attain our targets begins with Two nice locations to start out constructing a very good basis of guaranteeing we attain our targets in 2022 is to eat the fitting meals and cling to a train routine.

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Sean McCawley, Fit for Life: Wound up so tight

Napa Valley health guru Sean McCawley has recommendations for what to do when your life-style has you wound up tight as a violin string. 

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Sean McCawley, Fit for Life: A guide to food and finals

Finals week — or any week throughout faculty — is probably not the prime time for fascinated by wholesome meals decisions, however Sean McCawley provides some easy-to- make alternate options to 1 extra bowl of on the spot ramen.  


Sean McCawley, Fit for Life: Processed or the real deal?

Dietary recommendation at this time could be complicated and sometimes contradictory. 

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Sean McCawley, Fit for Life: The Garden of Fitness

Napa health guru Sean McCawley outlines tips on how to use your gardening duties for a health routine worthy of a gym-workout. 

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Sean McCawley, Fit for Life: Exercise to manage stress

Stress has a profound results on our well-being, however exercising even a couple of times per week can even have a profound impression on stress. 

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Sean McCawley, Fit for Life in Napa: Nutrition and fitness

Carbohydrates, proteins, and fats are the large three which might be predominantly targeted on the again of vitamin labels when counting energy. 

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Sean McCawley, Fit for Life in Napa: Keep picking things up

In case you see a rogue sweet wrapper left over from trick-or-treaters, bend over and decide it up. Practising mindfulness of choosing up objects from the bottom helps mitigate the debilitating results of again ache whereas bending over as we progress by way of life.


Sean McCawley, Fit for Life in Napa Valley: Stop light exercises

We spend a lot of our time sitting, together with driving to work to prepare to take a seat some extra. Napa health coach Sean McCawley suggests workout routines you are able to do in your automobile to counteract the toll that extended sitting takes on the physique.  

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Sean McCawley, Fit for Life in Napa Valley: From the ground up

Napa Valley health professional Sean McCawley shares ideas in regards to the significance of constant to get down and soiled — or no less than being certain to incorporate a number of bends each day —  as we age. 

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Sean McCawley, Fit for Life in Napa Valley: Keeping our grip as we age

It’s a trouble to regain the power of our arms if unmaintained over time. Sean McCawley has recommendations to maintain yours sturdy. 

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Sean McCawley, Fit for Life: Making time to exercise

Constraints of hours in our demanding schedule is an everlasting balancing act. Don’t the let the thought of “I don’t have sufficient time” maintain you again from a lot wanted train.

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Sean McCawley, Fit for Life: Becoming a recreational athlete

If we don’t have a bodily lively career and spend 40-plus hours a  week at a desk, now we have to search out new methods to remain as bodily match as our hard-working ancestors. Turning into a leisure athlete is considered one of them. 


Sean McCawley, Fit for Life in Napa Valley: Tight hips mean a tight back

Specializing in the well-being of your hip flexor muscle groups is a good resolution to alleviate widespread decrease again signs through which our society struggles with each day. 

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Sean McCawley, Fit for Life in Napa Valley: Keeping your 'floating bone' in shape

You by no means know the way a lot you employ your scapula — aka, your shoulder blade — till it is not working nicely. 

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Sean McCawley, Fit for Life: Preparing for an event

Having a objective to work in direction of can enhance striving for well being and health targets. Sean McCawley shares one success stor. 

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Sean McCawley, Fit for Life: There's always time for exercise

Do you’re feeling you simply do not have time to train? Napa health guru Sean McCawley has recommendations for getting round this impediment to health.  

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Sean McCawley, Fit for Life: How does stretching make you feel?

In case your routines make it easier to really feel higher all through your day, preserve them going. Certain, scientific information is all the time going to profit us nevertheless it’s the traditions we apply that make us really feel good that scientific information doesn’t essentially help.


Sean McCawley, Fit for LIfe: Taking something out to feel better

A private coaching consumer confirmed up sporting new garments, hairdo, new sun shades — and a brand new confidence. What was his secret? A number of life-style modifications. 

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Sean McCawley, Fit for Life: An electronics-free dinner time

Health guru Sean McCawley urges individuals to show off the electronics and luxuriate in conversations dinner with their households.

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Sean McCawley, Fit for Life: An alphabet for balance

Stability could be outlined as the flexibility to right imbalances. Sean McCawley has an train to assist this. 

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Sean McCawley, Fit for Life: Why do I have poor balance?

Not many people have the talent and expertise of the champion Olympic gymnast Simone Bile, however there are methods to enhance our steadiness. 

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Sean McCawley, Fit for Life: Strong knees need strong hips

There’s nothing extra irritating than having to stroll at snail pace due to nagging knee ache, however one technique to preserve your knees wholesome is to be sure you do hip-strengthening actions. 


Sean McCawley: More help with sciatica

We will’t thrive in life when being held up by painful signs comparable to sciatica. Choose workout routines which might be easy, efficient, and straightforward to copy on weekly foundation to assist us reside ache free, joyful, and powerful lives.

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Sean McCawley, Fit for Life: Mitigating sciatica via fitness, Part 1

What causes the debilitating situation sciatica and may a very good train routine assist mitigate it? 

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Sean McCawley, Fit for Life: Big, hairy, audacious goals

Every kind of feelings can hinder health plans. Sean McCawley has concepts for transferring forward to perform even the largest “furry audacious targets.”

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Sean McCawley: Training for travel

On the brink of journey once more? Ensure that to plan forward for journeys with a balanced train prescription to make sure your physique is powerful and injury-free to take pleasure in these life-changing experiences.

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Sean McCawley, Fit for Life: Fitness and pregnancy

The challenges of being pregnant are many, however understanding that the physique can nonetheless profit from a structured health routine all through being pregnant helps the physique journey by way of the psychological, bodily and emotional undertow.


Sean McCawley, Fit for Life: Why we gain — and how we can lose — weight

Weight administration is difficult. As we age, our metabolism decreases. Nevertheless, the development of our age and the slowing of our metabolism is often not the first perpetrator with regards to gaining extra weight.

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Sean McCawley, Fit for Life: Maintaining the all-important joints

Ball-and-socket, hinge and saddle — these are only a few names of the joints chargeable for the frilly actions of our our bodies. They’re masterfully engineered, nonetheless, they’re in danger if they’re left unattended.

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Sean McCawley, the founder and proprietor of Napa Tenacious Health in Napa,  welcomes questions and feedback. Attain him at 707-287-2727, napatenacious@gmail.com, or go to the web site napatenaciousfitness.com.

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Fitness

Fitness: Is mindfulness the key to a more enjoyable workout?

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Fitness: Is mindfulness the key to a more enjoyable workout?

If exercise pushes you so far outside your comfort zone that physical activity is associated with pain more than pleasure, there’s little motivation to get off the couch.

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There’s no shortage of rumination about why more than half of Canadians don’t meet the recommended 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity per week. Lack of time is a common excuse, but there are plenty of busy people who exercise regularly. Access is another often-stated barrier, though most Canadians can safely exercise outdoors or in the privacy of their own home should other fitness facilities not be within an easy commute.

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What’s often ignored is the role enjoyment plays in exercise adherence. For those who revel in a tough workout, the idea some people hate to sweat may seem strange. But if exercise pushes you so far outside your comfort zone that physical activity is associated with pain more than pleasure, there’s little motivation to get off the couch.

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Once exercise becomes coupled with discomfort, getting reluctant exercisers to find pleasure and enjoyment in physical activity is an uphill battle. To help improve its appeal, researchers have been looking at the effectiveness of something called “extrinsic strategies” to promote better exercise adherence.  Defined as “environmental manipulations of the exercise experience that fall outside of the FITT principles,” extrinsic strategies are more about the mental, rather than physical aspects of exercise. In short, the focus is less about the frequency, intensity, time and type of exercise, and more about the role feelings play in the adoption of a regular workout routine.

To be clear, we’re not talking about taking the effort out of exercise. Extrinsic strategies work on altering the perception of effort. Even more granular, it’s important to alter how effort is perceived during, not after, a workout. There’s a marked difference in how people feel once they wipe the sweat off their brow compared to when they’re grinding it out just hoping to finish. And while some people use the feeling of accomplishment that comes after a tough workout to motivate their return to the gym, others can’t get past the memory of how uncomfortable it felt in the moment.

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One of the extrinsic strategies to improving the exercise experience is focusing on external stimuli instead of how the body feels. Music is a popular distraction, which is why so many exercisers listen to their favourite playlists. Another option is exercising outdoors where nature works its magic at diverting exercisers from the internal sensations of effort. Exercising with a friend or within a group also helps. But contrary to using external distractions to dampen the effort of exercise, is the novel idea of leaning into how your body feels during a tough workout.

Mindfulness is defined as paying attention to what’s happening in the moment while also being open to how the body responds physically and mentally to the current experience. In other words, instead of trying to disassociate from the feelings of effort, mindfulness aims to accept and acknowledge the exertion it takes to complete a workout.  

The idea that mindfulness is effective at improving exercise adherence is gaining traction, with initial studies suggesting it has merit, but mostly when exercising at lower intensities. Learning to accept and become comfortable with the feelings associated with physical exertion could be a crucial first step in finding pleasure in exercise.

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A recent study published in the Journal of Sports Sciences recently tested the effectiveness of mindfulness in enhancing the exercise experience. The goal of the research team was to see if mindfulness “could prove a useful pleasure enhancing strategy during exercise.”

A test sample of 34 recreationally active men and women were divided into two groups. One group was equipped with a recording taken from Headspace, a popular meditation and mindfulness app, that focused exercisers on tuning into their body and its movement. The control group was without any mindfulness tools.

Both sets of exercisers were asked to follow a 1.5-mile loop through a local park at a self-selected intensity they could sustain for 20-25 minutes. Heart rate was continually monitored, and study subjects were asked to check in with how they felt at two points during the walk (at 0.5 and one mile).

Results indicated listening to a mindfulness recording led to a more pleasurable exercise experience than walking the loop without. That positive response to exercise continued after the workout finished, another sign the mindfulness guided walk produced the kind of enjoyment that could encourage exercisers to walk more often.

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Learning to appreciate the feelings associated with effort is an interesting strategy to introduce, especially to new exercisers who often negatively perceive the physical sensations that occur during a workout. With more practice accepting, instead of tuning out, those feelings, a greater number of novice exercisers could become more tolerant of the effort required to improve overall fitness. It’s also an interesting approach for seasoned exercisers who generally rely on disassociating from the intense feelings of a hard workout.

Acknowledging, accepting and appreciating the effort of being physically active are tools every exerciser can lean into when the going gets tough. More importantly, it could be part an improved strategy to get more Canadians enjoying the 150 minutes a week they spend working up a sweat.

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‘WH’ Editors Put These Fitness Gifts On Their Wishlist

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‘WH’ Editors Put These Fitness Gifts On Their Wishlist

For The Runner Who Loves Music

SHOKZ OpenRun Headphones

OpenRun Headphones

Sweat-proof, waterproof, and featherweight, these wireless headphones for working out are a runner’s dream. “These allow me to hear oncoming traffic, people, and other outside noise with their wrap-around, open-ear design while delivering feel-good jams,” says Nicolette Accardi, WH’s fitness commerce editor, who loves using ‘em on her runs.

For The Friend Who’s Always At Barre

Gaiam Yoga Barre Socks

Black Friday/Cyber Monday Sale

Yoga Barre Socks

If your friend lives at barre class, snag them a few pairs of these non-slip barre socks. Machine-washable and grippy, these socks come in a variety of cute colors, including mulberry and sky blue. Isabel McMahon, WH’s assistant social media editor, loves that they have crisscross straps to help keep her feet steady during her yoga and Pilates classes. “I wouldn’t mind finding a few more in my stocking this year!”

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For The Traveling Fitness Lover

TheraBody TheraGun Mini

TheraGun Mini

With its compact size, ergonomic grip, and 150 minutes of charge time, the Theragun Mini is the ideal gift for that person who’s always traveling around the world to run marathons (or just makes really good use of the hotel gym).

Accardi loves hers, keeping it handy in her gym bag for on-the-go muscle relief. “It works wonders at alleviating my muscle soreness during tough training cycles,” she says.

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For The Friend Who Needs A New Gym Bag

BALEINE Gym Bag

Black Friday/Cyber Monday Sale

Gym Bag

Soft, machine-washable, and waterproof, your gym-going pal will love this bag. It’s a bestseller among WH readers. From toting it to dance class to carrying all their pickleball essentials, they’ll appreciate its separate compartment to store things like shoes and wet swimsuits, as well as its additional storage pockets for all their other workout accessories. Plus, they’ll look super stylish wearing it in this gorgeous bubblegum pink color.

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For The Fitness Lover Always On The Go

Tower 28 SOS Daily Rescue Facial Spray

SOS Daily Rescue Facial Spray

Is your friend constantly squeezing in workouts between WFH meetings, or maybe doesn’t always have enough time to shower post-sweat? Gift them this facial toner to keep their skin issues at bay and prevent breakouts. Fitness editor Talene Appleton always keeps a bottle in her gym bag so she can spray it on her face and chest after every workout.

For The Friend Who Doesn’t Like To Wear Fitness Watches

Oura Ring Gen 3

Black Friday/Cyber Monday Sale

Ring Gen 3

The Oura ring isn’t just a buzzy wellness product—WH editors love this smart ring to help them monitor their sleep, activity, stress, heart rate, and more. Better yet, it’s lightweight, comfortable to wear, water-resistant, and has a stylish design that’ll seamlessly blend in with your friend’s aesthetic. It also boasts a great battery life—WH’s executive health and fitness director Jacqueline Andriakos says hers generally lasts a whole week.

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For The Friend Who Lives In Leggings

Lululemon Align Pant

Align Pant

It’s no secret that WH editors are obsessed with these Lululemon leggings. They’re awesome for any sort of workout—HIIT, yoga, boxing, you name it—with their buttery-soft fabric, weightless fit, and high-rise waistband. Your friend will adore these leggings so much, they’ll even wear them on their recovery days relaxing at home or running errands around town. Better yet, they come in an assortment of colors, including espresso, teal, and raspberry.

For The Fashion-Forward Fitness Girly

Vuori Halo Slim Flare

Halo Slim Flare

Flared leggings are so in right now, says assistant fashion editor Rose Lauture. “They elevate every look, are super flattering, and versatile.” Style and comfort combine in this pair from Vuori, making them the perfect fit for every activity—from lounging at home to grabbing breakfast with your girls. “Not only do flared leggings make great yoga pants, but you can also wear them out and about paired with a boot or a sneaker,” Lauture adds.

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For The Friend Who Loves The Outdoors

Homesick Scented Gone Hiking Candle

Scented Gone Hiking Candle

Your loved one is sure to appreciate this WH-favorite candle that’s specifically designed to smell like hiking (yup, that’s a thing), with refreshing top notes of pine, cassis, and fresh waters. They’ll appreciate being able to experience (kinda) the great outdoors while they’re stuck inside working this winter.

For The Yogi

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Manduka The Pro Yoga Mat

The Pro Yoga Mat

Dubbed the best overall thick yoga mat by WH, this mat is a game-changer for your yogi friend with bad knees or wrists. Featuring ultra-dense cushioning and a supportive grip, it provides comfort and stability for even the toughest poses.

Available in a wide range of colors, you can pick out your friend’s favorite hue. “I never slide when busting challenging moves and also love it for mat pilates workouts,” says Accardi. Plus, with a lifetime warranty, your friend is all set for countless yoga seshes to come.

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For The Fitness Lover Who Works From Home

Merach Walking Pad

Black Friday/Cyber Monday Sale

Walking Pad

Got a pal who’s always trying to hit their step goal? Gift them this walking pad (aka an under-desk treadmill) so they can strut their stuff while crunching numbers or typing away on their computer. “I love using it while working at my desk—it easily rolls right underneath!” says Accardi. It’s the perfect present to help them stay active throughout the day without interrupting their workflow.

For The Woman Who Wants To Get Into Strength-Training

Women’s Health The Woman’s Guide To Strength Training: Dumbbells

The Woman's Guide To Strength Training: Dumbbells

This new Women’s Health guide, designed by trainer Nellie Barnett, CPT, is packed with 12 weeks of dumbbell-only strength-training routines that can be done in just 30 minutes. It’s the perfect gift for any woman looking to improve muscle mass or just experience the benefits of regular movement.

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For Cold-Weather Workout Warriors

Smartwool Merino 150 Wool Top

Merino 150 Wool Top

A WH reader-favorite, the merino wool material on this long-sleeve base layer shirt makes it both moisture-wicking and odor-resistant. The fitted silhouette is uber-flattering while offering unrestricted movement in the arms and chest. They’ll love sporting this cozy shirt on the slopes (or just at home) all day. A bonus? It comes in several cute colors, like fuchsia and rose.

For The Avid Runner

On Cloudmonster

Cloudmonster

Experts say regular runners are supposed to replace their running shoes every four to six months. Gift your friend who’s overdue for a replacement a brand new pair from cult-favorite brand On. Extra cushiony, bouncy, and airy, this running shoe is built for long-lasting comfort and performance. Accardi felt unstoppable wearing them during her half marathon, appreciating their breathability, secure fit, and durability.

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For The Tech-Savvy Exerciser

Apple Watch Series 10

Black Friday/Cyber Monday Sale

Watch Series 10

If they’ve been eyeing the newest Apple Watch, there’s no better time than the holidays to splurge and treat them to one—because they deserve it! WH readers love using this waterproof smartwatch for optimizing workouts, monitoring sleep, tracking their heart rates, and so much more. Your fittech-loving friend will never want to take it off.

For The Friend Who Wants To Level Up Their Hot Girl Walk

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Bala Bangles

Bangles

These wrist weights from Bala went viral on TikTok for their sleek design and ability to elevate any workout. Whether your friend is walking or doing pilates, these stylish wrist weights will add light resistance to tone arms and enhance muscle endurance. Flexible and comfortable, they make a thoughtful gift for anyone looking to level up their fitness routine. An added pro: They come in several cute colors, like blush and sage.

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For The Friend Who Loves To Track Their Training

Cossac Fitness Log Book & Workout Planner

Fitness Log Book & Workout Planner

Practical gifts are always appreciated. Designed by experts to help exercisers track progress and stay motivated, this WH reader-topselling workout journal will become your friend’s ultimate gym companion. It offers structured pages to log exercises, sets, reps, goals, and even diet preferences and nutrition. Compact and sleek, they can easily toss it in their gym bag and even travel with it to keep themselves accountable.

For The Friend Who Loves A Multipurpose Fitness Gift

Trigger Point Therapy Grid Foam Roller

Black Friday/Cyber Monday Sale

Therapy Grid Foam Roller

Accardi has tried her fair share of foam rollers over the years but always returns to this one. Known for its firm yet flexible design, this roller targets deep tissue to help relieve soreness and improve flexibility. Plus, with free online instructional videos, your friend can learn the best techniques for effective muscle recovery. Whether they’re prepping for a race or recovering after a tough workout, this foam roller is a must-have.

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For The Acupuncture Enthusiast

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ProsourceFit Acupressure Mat and Pillow Set

Acupressure Mat and Pillow Set

WH readers and editors say that this cult-favorite acupressure mat is great for soothing stiff muscles, relaxation, and general pain relief. If the person in your life is into all things recovery, there’s no doubt they’ll love testing this tool out. While it’s TBD if the physical benefits aren’t just a placebo effect, studies have found that taking the time to use one and relax can lead to a reduction in stress levels.

For The Fitness Lover Who Adores A Matching Set

Beyond Yoga Spacedye Slim Racerback Cropped Tank

Spacedye Slim Racerback Cropped Tank

Matching sets are *so* in. Buttery soft, comfortable, and ultra-flattering, your friend will love unwrapping this matching set from Beyond Yoga. The pieces are sold separately so be sure to grab the matching leggings. Perfect for yoga class, cardio workouts (hello, built-in bra!), or even just strolling around, McMahon loves that this set comes in a wide range of colors, too—like ruby red, mocha, and deep moss—so you’re sure to find one your friend will love.

Headshot of Jasmine Gomez

Jasmine Gomez is the Commerce Editor at Women’s Health, where she cover the best product recommendations across beauty, health, lifestyle, fitness, and more. When she’s not shopping for a living, she enjoys karaoke and dining out more than she cares to admit. Follow her @JazzeGomez.  

Lettermark

Mark Stock is a food, drink, and outdoors writer from Portland, Oregon. He spent years making, selling, and sipping Pinot Noir in the Dundee Hills before a full return to his journalistic roots in 2016. In addition to Men’s Health, he writes for SevenFifty Daily, Sip Northwest, The Somm Journal, The Drake, Willamette Week, Travel Oregon, and more.  

 
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Fitness

This type of exercise suppresses hunger in women more than men, study proves

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This type of exercise suppresses hunger in women more than men, study proves

Find yourself with a bigger appetite on rest days than after logging your hardest workout of the week? Same. It usually takes me an hour or two to feel hunger after an intense session, and while there are plenty of existing studies that have attributed this to a decrease in the hunger hormone grehlin and an increase in the hormone peptide YY, which helps you feel fuller for longer, new research suggests women are more susceptible to this response than men.

Granted, the study was conducted on only a small sample of participants (eight males and six females), but this is the first review to have included women at all, and the findings were notable.

The method was pretty straightforward: participants were asked to fast overnight, before completing bouts of cycling at varying levels of intensity the next morning. These were then followed up with blood tests (to measure amounts of lactate) and self-reports to analyse appetite levels.

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Science shows that high-intensity exercise suppresses appetite more in women than men

Results showed that the females had higher levels of total ghrelin (the hormone that makes you feel hunger) at baseline compared to the males, while they also had ‘significantly reduced levels’ of acylated (AG) ghrelin after intense exercise compared to males. Ghrelin levels were, in fact, much lower in both males and females after intense exercise compared to moderate exercise, meaning that all participants felt ‘less hungry’ after high-intensity exercise compared to after moderate exercise, but this was even more significant for women.

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‘We found that moderate intensity exercise either did not change ghrelin levels or led to a net increase,’ the study noted. The authors added that exercise above your lactate threshold may be necessary to elicit a suppression in grehlin. Lactate threshold is the point at which lactate builds up in your bloodstream faster than your body can remove it – it occurs during high-intensity exercise.

Why is this useful to know? The author of the study, Kara Anderson, PhD, says: ‘Our research suggests that high-intensity exercise may be important for appetite suppression, which can be particularly useful as part of a weight loss programme. Exercise should be thought of as a “drug”, where the “dose” should be customised based on an individual’s personal goals.’


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Lettermark

Bridie is Fitness Director at Women’s Health UK. She spends her days sweating over new workouts, fitness launches and the best home gym kit so you have all that you need to get fit done. Her work has been published in Stylist, Glamour, Cosmopolitan and more. She’s also a part-time yoga teacher with a habit of nodding off mid savasana (not when she’s teaching, promise).

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