No matter what anyone says, no one wants a “spare tire,” beer-belly, gut, paunch, potbelly or a “muffin top” above the waistband. Everyone wants a flat stomach. People want a “six-pack” or “washboard” abs. A flat stomach is easy on the eyes, but not so easy to accomplish. What muscles are in the six-pack? The […]
“What is the best machine for me?” “What is the best machine for this or that body part?” With the exception of a few specialized pieces of functional equipment, machines in your gym or home are designed to fit the mass population. So we go to exercise and are forced to contort ourselves into a […]
Many people are after a flat, sexy midsection but what most people don’t know is that resistance training or ab exercises alone, will not get rid of any surrounding belly fat. The only way that the abdominal muscles will begin to pop through the skin is if cardio activity is performed to get rid of […]
Legs, along with the core, are the foundation for functional strength. Muscles achieve proper function with exercises that simulate the body’s basic movement patterns: squat, bend, lunge, push, pull and twist. Big legs start with big hips. Perhaps the athletes with the most powerful hips are hockey players. Hockey players constantly work the gluteus maximus […]
If you want to build big muscles in your shoulders and upper back, you should know that the shoulder joint is a ball-and-socket joint, much like the hip. However, the shoulder is much more sensitive and at a greater risk of injury. Training with proper form, in a multi-directional environment, decreases this risk. Train smart […]
To develop a specific exercise program for any movement or sports skill requires some basic information. First, the individual needs to understand the mechanics of the movement along with the muscles most involved in that movement. Second, the individual needs to understand the type of muscle contractions needed for the skill. Last, the individual needs […]
The goal of most diet and exercise programs is to improve the look of the body. People are always looking for the magic exercise, pill or diet to achieve the “perfect” body. One of the recent trends is functional training. The idea behind functional strength training is that the body is integrated, with hundreds of […]
Your hamstring muscle is actually a group of three muscles running along the backside of your thigh. Strong hamstrings are very important for athletes. Training them properly can help you lengthen your stride, give you more power, improve your balance and stabilize your knees. So working your hamstrings will lower your risk of injuries. Function […]
If you anticipate wearing a swimsuit this summer, chances are you’ve already begun tailoring your workouts for weight loss and muscle toning. Maybe you’ve shed the winter weight from your midsection and are looking to show off the six-pack that’s been hiding underneath. But if, like many people, you’re not getting the results you want, […]