Diary 1: Using the Wii Fit!

Wired.com's Chris Kohler played Wii Fit every day for the past week. Here's a journal of his experiences with Nintendo's upcoming exercise software.

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As always, comment below on your workout, ESPECIALLY if you use a Wii!!!

Today's Run

I discovered a great site for mapping out your run or walk or bike ride called www.mapmyrun.com.  It's pretty good, though some of the inputs are annoying.  

Be sure and log your workout in the comments!

Wicked Wednesday: Feeding "the Beast" (a.k.a. Your Workout)

What to eat before and after your workouts to boost your energy, lose inches and build muscle.

If you workout in the mornings, remember NOT TO SKIP breakfast. Your metabolism needs a jump start - which can be accomplished with as little as 1/2 a banana and OJ. Eat a small snack of 25 grams/100 calories before your AM exercise and then follow up with a good breakfast.

Check out the TODAY Show website for more tips on what to eat for those mid- and late-day workouts, as well as throughout the day!

Wicked Wednesday: Fact from Fairytale

Did you know that the "No Pain No Gain" approach towards exercise is a bunch of hooey?

Yep. Turns out that's not the only fitness myth we've been told over the years. Celebrity fitness trainer Harley Pasternak debunks six of these myths:

Myth: No pain, no gain
Harvey explains: "While resistance training can be intense, and some level of discomfort may occur, pain is not required for a successful workout. It’s also important to note that pain can be a warning sign of an exhausted muscle or torn ligament."

Myth: Stretching before a workout will reduce the risk of injury.
A 2002 article in the British Medical Journal noted a lack of supportive evidence concerning stretching as an effective preventative for muscle soreness or injury. Despite this, many sports medicine specialists still support and encourage flexibility training - such as that found in yoga and martial arts. The American College of Sports Medicine recommends people follow a basic stretching program two to three days a week.

Myth: The best time to work out is early in the morning.
In truth, it doesn't really matter when you exercise - JUST DO IT.

Myth: If you’re not going to exercise intensely and frequently, exercise is a waste of time.
"...the human body burns fat most efficiently at our target heart rate (which is 80 percent of maximum heart rate). Even 25 minutes 5 times a week can get you major results and change your entire status of health....[however] the body must be regularly challenged for further change and adaptation."

Myth: Exercising the same body part every day is the best way to increase strength.
You need to change up your routine to keep your muscles working and evolving.

"Example: Many people think they need to exercise just their lower abs to reduce a potbelly. Actually, while ab exercises define muscle, cardio exercises burn fat. A cardio workout on an elliptical machine will do more to tighten the waistline than a round of crunches."

Myth: Running is the best way to get in shape.
"...there is no “best” way to get fit...if you burn more calories than you consume, you will lose weight."

Myth: Heavy weights make big muscles and small weights make lean muscles.
"If you’re using free weights, there are many different variables — sets, reps, tempo, intensity, rest, exercise selection, duration and frequency — that can all be adjusted to achieve optimal results without looking too muscular. Choosing various core stabilization exercises, including stability ball push-ups or single-leg squats, will burn more calories, have a smaller likelihood of increasing muscle mass and be much more likely to lead to a lean and toned physique."

Don't forget to tell us about your fitness routine in the comments section!

Chugging along

I've been extremely busy, but I haven't stopped working out.  How about you?

Tell us about it in the comments.

Back on track literally...

New years resolution, here I come

Mobile post sent by rcow using Utterz.  Replies.  mp3

It's February! Let's keep going

Well, I know for a fact I lost some weight and a little around my mid-section with the help of my friends here at TwitterPTChallenge, but it wasn't enough.

I'm an Air Force Reservist and we're required to maintain the same physical fitness standards as our Active Duty counterparts.  The standards are measured by taping your waist, running a 1.5 mile run, crunches, and push-ups.  Well, I was 1 inch over where I need to be for my waist.  Big deal, right?  Well it meant I had to run my 1.5 mile run in 12:30 vs 15:30 minutes.  That is HUGE difference.  I simply could not physically run that fast!

Even if I had passed the test, I would want to continue this effort.  I'm pretty confident I can shed one more inch in the next 8 weeks.  So, let's get back to work and go beyond making this a New Year's resolution. 

 

I do need some help with this though - drop me an e-mail at dan dot mosqueda at gmail dot com if you want to participate as an author on this site.

Leave your workout results in the comment section.