ReleaseWire Connect

When beginning an exercise program, it’s important to understand the difference between muscle stiffness and muscle soreness. Stiffness is inevitable; that general achy feeling after a good hard workout is referred to as stiffness, but actual excessive soreness – the kind that lasts for days and causes extreme pain or avoidance of activities – is the body’s way of telling a person they’ve gone too far.

As the year comes to a close, many begin to think about goals for the coming year and how they can accomplish certain tasks. Weight loss or engaging in a healthier lifestyle is often one of these goals, but many find they fall off the wagon or have a hard time getting started with the goals they set, and thus end up abandoning them all together. In this case, it’s time to try a new way of thinking and try a smarter approach to goal setting.

Once a person has achieved their goal weight, it’s time for celebration, but the road to long-term weight loss requires daily commitment to several factors that can seem overwhelming. But with a little balance and know-how, achieving and maintaining weight-loss is an achievable goal for everyone wishing to do so.

Numerous studies have been released in the past few years regarding the physical fitness of our youthful population, particularly as the rate of obesity has risen. Because of this, researchers have narrowed their focus and come up with a list of the most important priorities for research into the benefits of physical activity in the younger population.

Numerous studies have been released regarding how healthy habits can reduce everything from obesity rates, to health issues, and cognitive decline. To narrow down the focus, a 35 year study from the United Kingdom has identified five behaviors that can be changed to reduce the risk of cognitive decline, and many of these can improve other illnesses while making one mentally sharper and more focused as well.

If parents are looking for another reason to reduce stress levels, they can look not only at the benefits it has on their health, but on the health of their children as well. A new study from St Michael’s Hospital has found that parents under intense stress have children with higher BMI levels than those who take measure to reduce overall stress.

With winter approaching, many struggle to find exercise practices that still allow them to get outside, despite the cold. Diet is important this time of year with holiday gatherings and treats, but just as important is physical activity. If a person prefers outdoor physical exercise to membership in a gym, here are some activities to try to keep up exercise habits despite the snow and cold.

Physical activity is important for several reasons – health, mental wellbeing, aesthetics, among just a few. And while these are important motivators, those who have been exercising for years offer one piece of advice to beginners regarding motivation:

Accountability has often been said to be a motivator in encouraging a person to either exercise or stick to a diet plan. But this suggestion may be more based in fact than we think according to a new study in diabetes patients that was recently published in the Journal of General Internal medicine.

If routine workouts featuring cardio and strength training have made a body feel stronger and more fit, but the physique or weight loss goals have hit a plateau, it may be time to add in more stretching to a workout regimen. Not specifically static stretches, where one sits and holds the pose for 15-30 seconds, but dynamic stretching exercises before and after a workout to increase muscle flexibility, tone, and overall strength throughout the body.