If you are trying to burn fat and build muscle, you may be considering adding protein shakes to your diet.  Before you start chugging shakes, however, it is important for you to understand more about the different types of protein shakes so you can determine which is the best one for you.

Choosing the Right Protein

You may be surprised to learn that there are actually many different types of proteins available on the market.  Although it is difficult to say which type is truly the most effective and beneficial, whey protein is the most popular option.  This is because it is a very complete protein that contains both nonessential and essential amino acids. 

Regardless of the type of shake you choose to drink, you need to make certain you do not overdo it.  Although drinking an abundance of protein shakes should not cause health issues for otherwise healthy individuals, it could add too many calories to your diet if you drink an excessive amount of shakes.  In addition, if you suffer from kidney or liver disease, drinking too many protein shakes can overwork these organs.

Deciding When to Drink Your Shake

There are many different schedules you may choose to follow when it comes to drinking your protein shake.  Many people prefer to drink their shakes right before they begin working out or right before they go to bed.  But, others prefer drinking their shakes after their workout in order to help the muscles repair themselves.  Nonetheless, you may choose to drink your protein shake as a snack during the day or as a meal replacement.  Therefore, you should consider your lifestyle, diet and workout plan when deciding when you will drink your shake.

If you are trying to reach a higher level of fitness or if you are attempting to lose weight, it is important for you to pay just as much attention to your muscle mass as you do your cardio.  Yet, many people who are attempting to lose weight fail to pay attention to weight training and can actually lose muscle mass from their workout.  Therefore, it is essential for you to consider your muscles when planning a diet and exercise plan for losing weight.

The Importance of Muscle Mass

When trying to lose weight, maintaining or increasing your muscle mass will actually help you with the weight loss process.  This is because the body uses more energy to maintain muscle, which means you will burn more calories while at rest if you have a greater muscle mass.  Maintaining muscle mass will also help to improve your stability and overall physical performance, which will reduce your chances of becoming injured when working out.

How to Maintain Your Muscle Mass

In order to be certain you are not depleting your muscle mass, you may want to consider limiting your cardio workouts to just three times per week.  Otherwise, you may burn too many calories and your body will need to burn energy from your muscles in order to provide your body with the energy it needs.  It is also a good idea to avoid performing cardio training and strength training on the same day.  By alternating between cardio training and weight training, you can keep your body In good shape while maintaining your metabolism levels and burning more fat.

Are you in the market for a new pair of running shoes?  If so, there are several things you need to keep in mind when trying to decide upon the shoes that are right for you.  Here’s a look at a few of the things you need to keep in mind.

The Cushioning of the Shoe

The cushioning of the shoe is important because this is the part of the shoe that absorbs the shock as you run.  Every time your foot hits the ground, it sends a shock through your body and your joints.  Therefore, in order to minimize the impact of your run, be certain your shoe has plenty of cushion.

The Shoe’s Tread

Just as a tire needs to have a good tread, so does your running shoe.  At the same time, you need to pay careful attention to the thickness of the tread.  If you are planning to run on trails, for example, you will need a different tread than you will need if running on the road.  In addition, you should pay attention to where you tend to wear your tread the most when running.  Do you tend to wear the tread more at the forefoot or the heal?  Whichever it is, choose a shoe with a thicker tread in the area where you experience the most wear.

The Flexibility of the Shoe

Having a very stiff shoe can make running quite uncomfortable.  Therefore, you should look for a shoe with a greater amount of flexibility.  Remember, your shoe needs to flex with each of your strides.  While a little stiffness can be good, too much can be painful.

Remember, the bottom line is to find a shoe that is comfortable and that provides you with plenty of proper support, so take the time to try on many different shoes so you can find the ones that are best for you!

Are you looking for a way to get more out of your workout?  If you are ready to take your workout to the next level or to simply make your workout more efficient and effective, you might want to consider adding interval training as part of your routine. 

Interval training, which involve combining various cardio and strength training exercises into the same routine, will provide you with a variety of benefits.  Here’s a look at a few of the benefits you will enjoy.

Burn More Fat

Engaging in interval training can actually help you burn more fat than a regular cardio or strength training routine.  This is because your body will continue to burn fat even after your workout is complete.  In addition, because interval training helps increase your muscle mass in a way that straight cardio cannot, your metabolism will also get a boost from interval training.  Remember – your body burns more calories to maintain muscle than it does to maintain fat.  Therefore, building up your lean muscle mass will help you burn more calories even while you are at rest.

Save Time

If you are having difficulty finding time for your workout routine, interval training can help you achieve an effective workout while also saving yourself some time.  In fact, you can get a great interval workout in just 30 to 45 minutes.

Keep Costs Down

With the help of a good cardio machine, such as an elliptical trainer or a treadmill, you can get a good interval workout without spending a great deal of money.  In fact, you can work on the strength portion of your interval training with nothing more than your own body weight or a couple of dumbbells.

Stave Off Boredom

Many people also find interval training to be more enjoyable than a straight cardio routine because the exercises are varied.  If you only spend a few minute at a time on a particular exercise, it helps make time go by more quickly and allows you to have a more enjoyable workout.

If you are trying to lose weight, you may be tempted to skip a meal here or there.  In fact, many people who are dieting choose to skip breakfast in an effort to reduce the number of calories they eat.  While it may seem logical that skipping meals will help you drop the pounds by reducing your caloric intake, skipping meals is an unhealthy way to treat the body and can lead to malnutrition.  In addition, it can actually make it more difficult for you to lose weight.  (more…)

Are you trying to burn away some of your excess body fat?  If you are like most people, one of the main reasons you are working out is to try to slim down your body and melt away the excess weight.  If this is your goal, there are many things you should keep in mind in order to get the most out of your workout routine. (more…)

Are you looking for a high-quality elliptical trainer that can easily fit your budget?  When it comes to finding the best all-around buy, the Lifecore 985vg received “best buy” honors from a national consumer reporting agency – and for good reason!

With a price tag of less than $1,000 when you purchase it from AtHomeFitness.net, the Lifecore 985vg is both economical and effective.  In fact, this machine combines all of the best qualities of the LC980 and the LC980 in order to offer you the best possible workout without carrying a hefty price tag.

With the Lifecore 985vg, you receive a number of attractive features.  For example, the machine comes with 12 preset programs to help you vary your workout routine.  Not only does this help to stave off boredom, it also guarantees that you hit a variety of different muscles and get the best workout possible from your weekly routine. 

The Lifecore 985vg also features 4 polar compatible heart rate control programs, which makes it possible for you to individualize the programs to best meet the needs of individual users.  To further assist in this area, the Lifecore 985vg elliptical trainer can also store information for up to 9 different users.  Along with individualized user information, the machine also displays the current time, date and temperature as well.

Another perk to the Lifecore 985vg elliptical trainer is the fact that it weighs only 123 pounds and has oversized transportation wheels, which means it can be easily rolled to wherever it needs to be placed.  In addition, it is smaller than most other ellipticals on the market, which means it can more easily be fit into your home gym.  Despite its smaller size, the machine is a good option for people of all sizes. 

The bottom line is clear:  if you are looking for an affordable elliptical machine that is easy to move and provides you with a variety of workout options, the Lifecore 985vg is the elliptical trainer for you!

Now that you are working out with your own at-home exercise equipment, you may be looking for some pointers on how you can improve your diet.  Whether you are trying to lose weight, maintain your weight or add muscle, a combination of good exercise and eating habits will help you achieve your goal.  It is important to remember that you are trying to make a lifestyle change rather than going “on a diet.”  Therefore, you need to design a plan that you truly think you can stick to for the rest of your life. (more…)

Did you know that there is a right way and a wrong way to use the handrails on your treadmill?  Many people rely upon their handrails too much, which results in a less efficient and effective workout. Therefore, it is important for you to know when and when not to use the handrails in order to get the best workout possible.

Getting Stabilized with the Handrails

The handrails on your treadmill are really there for two purposes:  to help you get on and off and to help you if you accidentally trip while walking, running or jogging.  With the help of handrails, it may be easier for you to step on and off of your treadmill.  Some people also find it beneficial to hang onto them as they first get moving because they help them ease into their routine and find their balance.  Of course, handrails are also beneficial if you trip, as it gives you something to quickly grab onto in order to regain balance.  Other than these two basic reasons, however, most people should let go of the handrails while working out on a treadmill.

Reasons to Let Go

There are many reasons why you should let go of the handrails while working out on a treadmill.  First, hanging onto the handrails prevents you from getting into a natural grove, which means you cannot achieve the proper stride.  Hanging onto the handrails also prevents you from using proper posture, which can actually lead to back pain.  Furthermore, having poor posture actually makes it more difficult for you to achieve the balance you are looking for when working out on a treadmill.  Finally, when you hang onto the handrails, you are no longer working your core muscles while you workout.

So, if you are just getting started with a treadmill, resist the temptation to hang on, as it is a difficult habit to break.  If you have been working out on a treadmill for quite some time and you find yourself hanging onto the handrails, on the other hand, work on letting go – not only will your workout be more effective, you will feel better too!

If you are interested in the Lemon Revmaster, you may also be interested in the man behind the machine:  Greg LeMond. 

Greg LeMond is one of the most highly renowned athletes in the cycling world.  In 1986, he was the first American to win the coveted Tour de France. Unfortunately, he was seriously injured shortly after his victory when his brother-in-law accidentally shot him while they were hunting.  As a result, more than 40 shotgun pellets entered in his body, with many of them lodging into his back, legs, liver, small intestine, diaphragm and heart lining.  Because so many of the pellets were lodged into dangerous locations, surgeons had no choice but to leave more than 30 of them in his body.

Despite his nearly-fatal injuries, LeMond worked hard to overcome his physical problems.  His dedication and determination paid off, as he came back to the Tour de France and won it again in 1989.  As a result of his win and the fact that he won by the smallest margin ever in the competition – a mere 8 seconds – he was named “Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year.”

LeMond went on to win the competition once more in 1990 before he retired from the sport of competitive cycling.  Before retiring, however, LeMond managed to be named the World Bicycle Road Racing Champion three times, to be named the ABC Wide World of Sports Athlete of the Year two times, to be listed as one of the 40 most influential people in sports by Sports Illustrated and to receive the Pernod Trophy, which is awarded to the best cyclist in the world.  He is also a member of the Cycling Hall of Fame.

Thanks to his passion for the sport and his desire to help others stay healthy, he founded LeMond Fitness and currently services as the Chairman of the Board – so, you can be certain you are getting only the highest-quality product when you purchase your equipment from LeMond.