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Runners who are racing toward a goal might take a little advice from the tortoise rather than the hare. A recent study showed that crash training prior to a race doesn’t provide any improvement, and may actually decrease performance if overdone.

Push-ups are regarded as one of the best body-weight training exercises out there. These challenging moves build upper body strength in the arms, chest, and shoulders and require strength in the abdominals, back and legs to perform properly. They can also offer a boost in self-esteem as accomplishing them takes whole-body fitness and it’s an empowering move.

In the dietary and nutritional world, going Gluten-free could be considered the new black in terms of popularity. But before anyone undertakes the challenge of removing gluten from their diet, there are a few things to understand about what gluten is and how it functions in the body.

Adapting a healthy, low-fat diet can often leave a person craving flavor to increase satisfaction with meals. Fortunately, there are numerous ways to add flavor and spice to a dish without increasing its caloric by drastic amounts.

Nutritional supplements are meant to do as their name implies – supplement missing pieces of a person’s nutritional intake to enhance health or physical performance. But one must exercise caution when choosing supplements as a recent study from the Norwegian School of Sports Sciences has found that some supplements can actually impede physical development rather than promote it.

The Olympics give us glances at professional athletes from the world over, allowing them to display their talents on global stage. But after the games are over, there are a few months that follow where these elite athletes take some time off. But time off for a professional athlete doesn’t look like time off does to the rest of the world. So how do athletes stay fit during the off-season from their usual sport?

It happens to the most diligent of eaters every now and again – a weekend of indulgence. Maybe it was a birthday party, or work event, but Monday has come and the scale is calling and guilt is sinking in deep. However, one needn’t jump to harsh self-criticism after a simple weekend away from a traditional diet. A study released by Cornell University has suggested that weekend bloat or a sense of overindulgence can actually be a normal part of the weight loss cycle, and can play an important role in long-term weight management.

One of the most important components of an Olympians training program is adherence to a well-balanced, nutritionally sound diet. It fuels both performance and recovery during grueling training sessions, and gives them an edge during competitions.

Everyone has days where a workout is the last thing on their mind, or on their to-do list. It could be cold outside, or a person could be feeling a little under the weather, or it’s just simply been a long day at work and rest may be more beneficial. While missing more than two days of a routine when working to build a habit can be disastrous, one way to motivate oneself on these days is referred to by Nerd Fitness blogger Steve as “The Braveheart Technique.” Considering the movie, Steve describes the scene in which William Wallace and his makeshift army are dressed for battle on a field, waiting to hear on the outcome from negotiations with their English enemies. Rather than wait less than desirable terms that are sure to come, Wallace “picks a fight” and the battle commences.

Running on a treadmill lacks the variety and challenge that is present when running outdoors, but treadmill settings can be modified to reflect and mimic outdoor challenges. One only needs to know the right settings and tips to make indoor running a challenge, and blogger Casey Kerrigan has suggestions for those who need to take to the treadmill to keep their fitness levels up this winter.