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Should you beef up your strength training program? – Harvard Health

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Should you beef up your strength training program? – Harvard Health

The recommendation to do strength training twice a week doesn’t mean that you have to pump a lot of iron and become a body builder. Doing body-weight exercises or using small dumbbells or resistance bands does a nice job of keeping muscles strong. But recent evidence suggests that lifting heavier loads might have longer-lasting benefits. The study, published online June 18, 2024, by BMJ Open Sport and Exercise Medicine, involved almost 400 physically active people (average age 71) who were randomly assigned to one of three groups. People in the first group spent a year doing three weekly sessions of heavy machine-based weight lifting; those in the second group did strength training three times a week with resistance bands and body-weight exercises; the others were told to simply keep up their usual activity. After the initial year, participants chose how active to be, and their muscle strength was measured periodically. Four years after the study began, the exercisers who did heavy weight lifting still had strong leg muscles, while people in the other two groups had lost leg strength. The study indicates that intensive strength training is beneficial, even in older age. If you’d like to increase the amount of weight you lift, do it gradually, and consider working with a personal trainer for guidance.


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Fitness

Fitness Coach Shares 10-Minute Workout Plan for Busy Days

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Fitness Coach Shares 10-Minute Workout Plan for Busy Days

Working out daily can bring countless benefits to your health. But let’s face it, there are some busy days in between which often don’t leave you with the time to hit the gym. To solve this problem, fitness coach Luke Coutinho has shared his easy and simple fitness routine for people who struggle to find the time to go to the gym. The regimen yields results and can be performed at home without using any additional equipment. In a post shared on Instagram, Luke mentioned doing three sets each of squats, pushups, planks, lunges and pull-ups. He also added mountain climbers to be performed between each set. “Simplicity is the new luxury and something is better than nothing,” Luke concluded.

He even suggested an alternative to pull-ups, mentioning that if you can’t do pull-ups, then you can start with dead hangs, where you simply hang from a pull-up bar. Other than this, Luke Coutinho also said that if you don’t have time for a full workout, you can still stay active by walking and completing your daily steps target. 

Luke stated that on days you can’t do a workout, it’s important to eat mindfully to maintain a balance in your lifestyle.

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In his previous Instagram post, the fitness coach advised practising a simple yet effective breathing technique to “instantly calm your mind, reduce stress and lift your mood.” Whether you are feeling low or anxious or just need a mood lifter,  Luke Coutinho added that the 4-7-8 breathing technique can help. It is “one of the most powerful and effective exercises to instantly calm your mind.” 

This technique will help you get your stress and anxiety levels under control.

Disclaimer: This content including advice provides generic information only. It is in no way a substitute for a qualified medical opinion. Always consult a specialist or your own doctor for more information. NDTV does not claim responsibility for this information.

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95 year old fitness instructor leads twice weekly exercise classes

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95 year old fitness instructor leads twice weekly exercise classes

From arm stretches to gentle pilates, a group of pensioners in Croatia are keeping active well into their later years. At the heart of it all is fitness trainer 95-year-old Djurdja Vukovic — still leading the way, and showing no signs of slowing down.

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'Number 1' gym exercise that burns the most calories may surprise you

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'Number 1' gym exercise that burns the most calories may surprise you

Exercise is essential for many reasons, but particularly when it comes to burning calories.

Burning more calories than you consume leads to weight loss(Image: Getty)

The top calorie-burning exercise has been revealed. Engaging in physical activities that burn calories is essential for weight management, heart health, and overall wellness. They promote weight loss by creating a calorie deficit, reduce the risk of chronic diseases, and enhance physical and mental health.

The United States has an estimated 64.19 million gym memberships, the most of any country. California has the most health and fitness gyms in the U.S. with 5,123, while Wyoming has the least health and fitness gyms in the U.S. with 81, according to Gymdesk.

Whether you’re a gym newbie or a seasoned pro, figuring out the most effective workouts can be challenging. To help, weight loss experts at ZAVA have unveiled the exercises that burn the most calories, reports Surrey Live.

Exercises that burn the most calories

Rank

Exercise

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Calories (Kcal) burned per 10 min (Male)

Calories (Kcal) burned per 10 min (Female)

1

Running curved treadmill, 7.0 to 7.9 mph

184

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155

=2

Skipping

168

142

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=2

Rowing – stationary

168

142

=2

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Shuttle running

168

142

=2

High-intensity interval exercises (HIIT)

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168

142

3

Bicycling – stationary

165

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139

=4

Ski ergometer

161

135

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=4

Slide board exercise

161

135

5

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Kettlebell swings

150

126

6

Therapeutic exercise ball, Fitball exercise

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145

122

=7

Stair climber

142

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120

=7

Boxing, simulated boxing round, exercise

142

120

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=8

Elliptical trainer

138

116

=8

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Jumping rope – Digi-Jump Machine

138

116

=8

Impulse Training System

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138

116

9

Pound

130

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109

10

Aerobic dance

122

103

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The fitness gurus at ZAVA have crunched the numbers and found that running on a curved treadmill at 7-7.9mph is the top calorie-burning exercise, torching 184 calories for men and 155 for women in just 10 minutes. This speed hits the ‘sweet spot’, as slowing down to 4-4.9mph can decrease the calorie burn by an average of 77.

It might come as a surprise, but curved treadmills outperform flat treadmills in terms of benefits. The key lies in their self-powered design, which simulates a more natural running experience, boosts calorie burn, and more effectively engages muscles like glutes, hamstrings, and calves while being gentler on the joints.

Sharing the second spot with a burn rate of 168 calories for men and 142 for women in 10 minutes are skipping, shuttle running, high-intensity interval training (HIIT), and rowing on a machine. Jump rope workouts are a fantastic way to incinerate calories with minimal gear, and you can easily do them at home with just a rope – 168 calories gone in 10 minutes for men and 142 for women.

A dynamic scene of a man running on a treadmill inside a modern gym
Running on a curved treadmill burns more calories than running on a flat treadmill

With this adaptable exercise, you can get your heart racing, build muscle and strength, boost endurance, and even improve balance and coordination. Jumping rope is a fantastic workout for all ages and has been proven to enhance bone density. A 2015 study involving women aged 25-50 found that those who jumped rope twice daily saw significant improvements in hip bone density after just eight weeks.

Rowing is another calorie-burning powerhouse, torching 168 calories in 10 minutes for men and 142 for women. This full-body workout enhances heart health, endurance, muscle strength, and can even correct posture.

High-intensity interval training (HIIT) burns an equivalent amount of calories. This regimen involves short bursts of intense exercise and can be performed solo or in classes, featuring moves like burpees, mountain climbers, and squat jumps.

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Woman skipping with rope
Skipping came in second place

Research shows that HIIT workouts elevate your metabolic rate post-exercise. They also increase your VO2 max – the maximum volume of oxygen your body can utilize during exercise, which is a reliable measure of aerobic capacity.

Shuttle runs are equally effective, burning 168 calories in 10 minutes for men and 142 for women. Popular among athletes and fitness enthusiasts, shuttle runs enhance acceleration, deceleration, speed, and aerobic health. The 20m shuttle run, also known as the beep test, is often used to assess physical fitness for demanding jobs, serving as an indicator of VO2 max.

While yoga and Pilates are fan favorites, they’re not the top calorie burners. In 10 minutes, men burn 35 and 43 calories, respectively, and women shed 30 and 36. Despite their lower calorie-burning stats, these workouts are cherished for their ability to enhance core strength, flexibility, and mental well-being.

Remember, what works for one may not work for another. If you have any fitness-related queries, don’t hesitate to consult your doctor.

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