By Denise K. Wood, Ed.D.

Setting fitness training goals is a first step toward giving direction to your exercise program. Goals project a path that leads to the level of health and fitness you envision. Clear measures of your expected outcomes crystallize your progress along the way.

Many can readily express their primary goal as, “to get fit”. But what exactly will being fit look like, and how will you know when you have arrived?

There are many ways to demonstrate that your fitness level is improving. Subjectively, you may seem more vibrant, shapely, and toned. But you also need concrete ways of measuring improvements.

Correctly developed goals promote adherence to your fitness program. Witnessing visible progress inspires even greater effort toward achieving goals.

Ideal fitness goals are:

1. Stated in specific performance outcomes: The key is to select a few goals with clearly defined outcomes that exemplify the fitness qualities you hope to develop. Examples are: (a) wear size 12 jeans, (b) walk 5 miles without stopping, (c) bench press 200 pounds, or (d) reduce proportion of body fat weight to 25%.

2. Directly measurable: Each of these outcomes can be assessed early in training and evaluated throughout your program. They provide objective indicators of your improvement. There will be no question as to whether or not you have accomplished them.

3. Targeted for specific short-term and long-term completion dates: Set a date when you expect to achieve your long-term goals. Then establish short-term goals that you at specific dates along a time line (e.g., monthly, every 6 weeks). Short-term goals are mile markers-check points of your progress toward your long-term goals.

4. Realistic and achievable: Given your starting point or current condition, could you potentially achieve these fitness goals within the projected time line?

Goals should be challenging, but not overly aggressive or virtually impossible to reach. If you mistakenly set your goals too high or too low, adjust the targeted values and/or dates accordingly.

Examples of good goal statements are:
*Fit into size 14 jeans by April 1 and size 12 jeans by June 1.
*Walk 2 miles without resting by February 15, 4 miles by April 1, and 5 miles by June 1.
*Bench press 75 lbs. 5 times by April 15 and 100 lbs. one time by June 1.
*Achieve 30% body fat weight by March 1, and 25% by June 1.

Be patient as you navigate the path you set forth. Even if it takes longer than anticipated to achieve your fitness goals, celebrate your milestones and keep going!

Dr. Denise K. Wood is an educator and sport and fitness training consultant from Knoxville, TN. She is the creator of http://www.womens-weight-training-programs.com

Dr. Wood is an inspirational motivator with an extensive toolbox of training techniques based in science and delivered to accelerate the learning curve. She has trained a wide range of clients from beginners with special needs to Olympians. Her mission: Teach sound principles, inspire life-changing actions.

Dr. Wood is a former track and field champion with extensive international experience. She was mentored by world-class Olympic lifters and a former Soviet coach. As a graduate assistant at the University of Tennessee during the peak years of her athletic career, she coached many elite athletes in the field events and strength training. She has held many national positions in Olympic Development and with USA Track and Field.

As a career educator, Dr. Wood has been recognized for her work as an outstanding professor in the exercise sciences and research/statistics. Her experience with clients in physical therapy, allied health fields, and corporate fitness has further broadened her knowledge of human performance.

Dr. Wood earned her B.A. from Montclair State University in Health and Physical Education with teacher licensure, and both her M.S. and Ed.D. in Exercise Science from The University of Tennessee. Her areas of concentration were Motor Learning, Social and Psychological Aspects of Sport, and Research Design and Statistical Analysis. Dissertation topic: The Effect of Two Free Weight Training Programs on Selected Closed Motor Skills. She is a professional member of the American College of Sports Medicine, the National Strength and Conditioning Association, the North American Society for the Psychology of Sport and Physical Activity, and the American Society for Training and Development.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Denise_K._Wood,_Ed.D.

Technorati Tags: fitness, exercise, fitness goals, goal setting, fitness training goals

It is a post of 8 photos of exercise equipment from 100 yrs ago.

How neat are these contraptions? Some of them actually look kind of scary…LOL…

Check them out here: Fitness hundred years ago

***

I hope you enjoyed this Exercise Equipment post on Your Fitness Minute! Until next time…

Be Fit,

Kimberly Edwards

P.S. For those of you who prefer less scary, more state-of-the-art exercise equipment, check out the Total Gym:

Total Gym Elite Total Gym Elite

Technorati Tags: exercise equipment, history, fitness, bizarre, antique exercise equipment, fitness equipment, neat, exercise

***

By Susan Hill

Golf fitness has never been considered as important to one’s enjoyment and success in the sport as it is today. The erroneous concepts and opinions of old (golf is not a physical game… golfers don’t need to worry about fitness or nutrition…) are dying away in favor of the realization that fitness is paramount to performing well and golfers simply play better when they’re in better shape.

Today’s golf experts realize that it is much more than Twain’s “good walk, spoiled” assessment of the sport. Nearly every pro playing golf today works with a personal golf fitness trainer. Many of them are stationed in areas of the country where they can have easy and quick access. Many trainers make themselves available on a more consistent basis by traveling the tour with their players.

Go to any well known golf school and you’ll find a fitness component factored into the daily regime. Long gone are lavish meals, late night snacks and over indulgence at restaurants on tour. Today’s players are making healthier choices in their meals – especially prior to playing.

Fitness for Golf is the new golf standard for tour playing professionals. Be sure to fitness and a regular golf exercise program as one of the weapons in your arsenal of competitive play.

Susan Hill is a nationally recognized fitness trainer, CHEK golf biomechanic and sports nutrition specialist. For more information on golf specific nutrition, exercises or stretches, visit http://www.fitnessforgolf.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?Fitness-For-Golf-Is-The-New-Gold-Standard&id=50778

***

I hope you enjoyed today’s installment of Your Fitness Minute! Until next time…

Be Fit,

Kimberly Edwards

P.S. If you want to learn more about Golf to help improve your fitness, Check out this great book for only $6.82:

Simply GolfRegardless of your level, Simply Golf has something in it for you! Let Steve Bann, one of the world’s best known golf coaches, help you to reach your golfing potential. In his approach, Bann takes into account individual difference including body type, age and athletic ability. Simply Golf focuses on the enjoyment of the game. If you are interested in learning about golf, developing your technique, or simply hearing golf tips from the coach of the greats, then this kit is for you. The kit contains a 64-page full-color book with step-by-step instructions for achieving your full potential in golf, exploring golfing technique, strategy, physical ability and mental skills. The DVD is a hands on step-by-step demonstration of the techniques included in the book, featuring exclusive footage with one of Australia’s best known golf coaches.

Technorati Tags: fitness for golf, golf, fitness, fitness minute, golf for fitness, golf nutrition, golf exercises, golf strength, fitness in golf, learn to play golf,

If you feel that losing weight on your own is not enough, you can turn to a weight loss fitness center. A weight loss fitness center is a place where you can keep fit and maintain perfect health even when you are trying to lose weight.

The place has experts and professionals that can provide you with guidance and support as you are losing weight so it won’t seem so difficult for you anymore.

For a healthier and fitter you

Weight gain and obesity is becoming an increasing concern for most people. Furthermore, a lot of people are already giving importance to their health and well-being so they can live longer and healthier. After all, your health can become the biggest investment you could ever make.

A weight loss fitness center can help you achieve your goals for maintaining good health and keeping fit.

What they can do

The weight loss fitness center provides effective programs for weight loss. They can also provide you with ideas and support so you can achieve your weight loss and fitness goals. Everywhere you look in commercialized areas, you can find one in any corner imaginable. But with so many of them around, how do you choose the best one for you?

How to find the right one

The most important aspect of being a part of a weight loss fitness center is to find the right one that is suitable for your weight loss and personal needs. With that in mind, there are factors to consider when looking for one.

The location

Among the many factors that you may want to take into consideration is the location of the weight loss fitness center. This is important because want to avoid the hassle of having to pay for expensive gas or traveling for long distances just to get to the center. Try to find a fitness center that is close to your home or office so getting there can be more convenient for you.

Money matters

Money is always a concern when it comes to joining a weight loss fitness center. There are those that have high membership fees, while others will require you to pay for miscellaneous or additional fees so you can gain complete access to all the services and equipment.

The membership fee

Membership fees cannot be avoided but remember that they do not have to be very expensive. Try to find a fitness center with a membership fee that can cover everything that you will need from their services and equipment. Do not pay for those that you are not going to use anymore so you can save money. Membership fees are usually paid monthly, but it is going to depend highly on the weight loss center’s regulations.

What’s your budget?

If you are sticking to a budget, the membership fee can create an impression on the weight loss fitness center that you want to become a member of. Even if you want to find one that you can easily afford, never make the decision that is based on how much it would cost you. Take time to do a little research on the weight loss center of your choice to see if their services are worth the fees that come with them.

Do your research

It is easy to find reviews and information about the fitness center that you want to become a member of. You can visit them and ask for brochures or pamphlets that you can take home so you can take time to read about them. You can also go online and research about them. Take some time to get to know the weight loss center through your research before signing up to become their member.

What do you need?

There are weight loss centers that have gyms and exercise halls where classes are held, which you are free to use if you are a member. However, make sure that you are only paying for the services and facilities that you are going to use. Check if they have packages or deals that you can avail.

Some tips

Before joining, remember not to trust any of their claims easily. Do not join simply because they are promising easy and quick weight loss solutions. Remember that losing weight the healthy way should be gradual. Any fitness center claiming to give you a quick fix in weight loss tends to be lying or completely unreliable.

Talk to your doctor

Although weight loss centers have their own fitness professionals that can assess your health, it is still best to consult with your own doctor to determine the right kind of exercise regimen that can fit your health.

Phillip England is a weight loss expert and Author of the popular report “The Ultimate Weight Loss Secret”. To receive your free information on the secret that doctors, and health companies either don’t know, or don’t want you to know, please see http://www.theultimateweightlosssecret.com/secret

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Phillip_England

Technorati Tags: fitness, best weight loss fitness center, fitness center

She is going to go over the P.A.S.T training system. Click play below…

Hope you like the video.

To Your Immediate and Lasting Fitness and Health,

Kenney Jr.
Co-Director

FYI:Using treadmills is a much better option than voting for adipex. Using drugs
like xenical or other phentermine preparations of crystal may lead one to serious consequences. The most common one is, of course, sagging breasts, which later has to be taken care of by breast augmentation surgery.

Technorati Tags: fitness, core training, core strength, Shannon Fable

Yet, in our increasingly sedentary world, where almost every essential task can be performed online, from the driver’s seat, or with a phone call, exercising and being physically fit can be tough case to sell.

In reality, everyone should exercise, yet survey shows that only 30% of the United States adult population gets the recommended thirty minutes of daily physical activity, and 25% are not active at all.

Inactivity is thought to be one of the key reasons for the surge of type 2 diabetes in America, because inactivity and obesity promote insulin resistance and other factors that trigger other kinds of diseases.

The good news is that it is never too late to get moving, and exercise is one of the easiest ways to start controlling the onset of any kinds of diseases. For people who are already candidates for some serious diseases like diabetes and heart failure, exercise and physical fitness can improve the condition of some parts of the body like insulin sensitivity, lower the risk of heart disease, and promote weight loss.

In 2003, the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism had published an issue regarding the result of their study and found out that lack of exercise and physical fitness were the key factors behind obesity and other serious diseases like diabetes.

Hence, it is extremely important for a person to stay healthy and be physically fit in order to avoid such illnesses.

Getting Started

The first order of business with any exercise plan, especially if you are a “dyed-in-the-wool” couch potato, is to consult with your health care provider.

If you have cardiac factors, your doctor may want to perform a stress test to establish a safe level of exercise for you.

Certain complications of some diseases will also dictate what type of exercise program you can take on. Activities like weightlifting, jogging, or high-impact aerobics can possibly pose a risk for people with diabetic retinopathy due to the risk for further blood vessel damage and possible “retinal detachment.”

Health experts also contend that patients with sever peripheral neuropathy or PN should avoid foot-intensive weight-bearing exercises such as long-distance walking, jogging, or step aerobics and opt instead for low-impact activities like swimming, biking, and rowing.

If you have conditions that make exercise and physical fitness a challenge, your provider may refer you to an exercise physiologist who can design a fitness program for your specific needs.

If you are already active in sports or work out regularly, it will still benefit you to discuss your regular routine with your doctor.

The bottom line is that physical fitness and exercise should not have to be a rigid activity and should not come off strong. Your exercise routine can be as simple as a brisk nightly neighborhood walk, walking the dog, or simply taking the stairs instead of the elevator. The important thing is that you keep on moving. Every little bit really helps a lot.

In the end, you will realize that the many things that good food can bring you are equally the same as what physical fitness can do for you.

To Your Immediate and Lasting Fitness!

Kenney Jr.
Blog-n-Butter
Director

Technorati Tags: fitness, physical fitness, fitness tips, how to get physically fit

Instead of disappointing your children, why not say, “yes” after all? You will be surprised by the amount of energy you will have after that 30-minute activity.

Did you know that by exercising at a moderate pace for only 30 minutes, you would feel a lot better, mentally? It has been proven that this improves the appetite and sharpens your style in problem solving. Not only that. You will also feel that it is easier to sleep at night if you do moderate exercises even for only 30 minutes every day.

What are the benefits of regular exercise? It promotes self-discipline and has a positive impact how you perceive life. Exercise helps in lifting your spirits and getting you out of any depression. For first timers, it can be done for 15 minutes for 2 to 3 days a week. You can increase the time you spend once your body gets tuned up for it.

DON’T you ever force your body! If you get hurt, then stop. You can take a break from exercising for a few days and then you can start again but you need to start from day 1.

Here are some moderate exercises you can do and enjoy:

1. Do the Walking. Make use of your surroundings. You can walk your dog, with your partner or child. Encourage your family to do the walking exercise daily and you will find yourself burning calories while enjoying the surroundings and getting enough sunlight that is also good for your body.

2. Discover the wonders of Yoga. Yoga is one effective exercise that energizes not only your body but also your soul. You may want to learn even the basic yoga positions that are not too complicated but proven effective. A five-minute yoga exercise can perk you up and recharge your body with the energy you lost for the whole day. You relax and at the same time you stretch!

3. Engage yourself into sports. Play basketball, football, baseball, tennis or badminton. Many doctors have recommended sports as an effective way to stay fit and healthy. Sports can also be done in moderation. Do not take it seriously. Shooting basketball with a friend is one moderate exercise that is also considered a sport.

4. Join exercise programs at work. If you still do not have exercises programs at work, then why not start it? You can talk to your boss about it and start with your colleagues. You do not only lose calories but it is also one good way to bond with them. This can be done 30 minutes, 3 times a week.

5. Exercise while doing household chores. Gardening, raking leaves, lawn mowing, doing the laundry, vacuuming and car washing are effective moderate exercises at home. Make use of these chores to sweat and burn calories. Instead of using machines and gadgets to perform these chores, why not do it with your hands and lose some fats?

Making exercises as part of your daily routines will surprise you of how much calories you will lose. Doing these moderate exercises of the same amount every day can burn 150 calories up to 1,000 calories a day!

To Your Immediate and Lasting Fitness Success!

Kenney Jr.
Blog-n-Butter
Director

Technorati Tags: fitness, how to exercise to get fit, how much exercise to get fit, family fitness, start fitness plan, fitness plan

Remember the days as a child when you used to whirl those small toy hoops around your waist?
Well, hooping is back and it isn’t just for kids anymore. The new hi - tech hoops are larger and weighted which allows the hoop to move and maneuver around an adult body with ease.

This new movement art is known as ‘hooping’ or ‘hoop dancing’, and it’s the latest fitness trend in LA and a perfect warm up activities all kinds of group fitness classes.

Why not try getting a hoop from a Toys R US and have a practice, hula hooping will warm up your core, abs, back and you can try spinning the hoop around your arms and legs for a full body warm up and pulse raiser. There are loads of people selling hoops on ebay: Fitness hoops need to be 38 – 42” and be slightly weighted to help them stay up around the body.

Two types of hooping

There is circus-style, which involves multiple hoops and tricks. Then there is “hoop-dance,” which has tricks too, but the focus is on the dancing and exercising for fitness and fun. What I experience when I hoop is an alternative dimension, a place of no thought, high vibration frequencies and limitless potential.”

Hula aerobics is being rolled out across the UK via the Virgin Active Chains and is attracting all ages and abilities into a new fun workout.

Rachel Holmes is a UK based Fitness Presenter. She owns choreographytogo.com which has over 200 downloadable online choreography videos and business ideas. Sign up today for your free newsletter containing business ideas, class trends and freestyle news.

Contact Rachel@Choreographytogo.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rachel_Holmes

To Your Immediate and Lasting Success,

Kenney Jr.
Director

Technorati Tags: fitness hula hoop, fitness, workout, aerobics, hula aerobics, fitness workout