Unique Fitness Concepts Blog Entries

Happy New Year

Wed, 4 Jan 2012 16:44:02 +0000

It’s the beginning of a New Year, and that means it’s time to turn over a new leaf and make that New Year’s Resolution. Maybe you want to try recycling more, or driving less, or learning a new skill, or maybe improving your health. If you are looking to start a new workout program here are a few helpful things to keep in mind. If your body is not used to extreme workouts, take it slowly and ease into it. Over time you can increase the intensity of each workout. The proper preparations are also required for a safe and effective workout; make sure each session begins with a warm up. While performing each exercise, correct technique should be used, as well, to maximize the results. End every workout with a cool down, to allow your body to return to its resting state. Make sure to drink water for the duration, too.

Remember, you do not have to do the same workout routine every time you exercise; changing it up keeps working out interesting. Get creative, and get started.

Good luck with your new year’s resolutions!

Stay Fit over the Holidays

Thu, 15 Dec 2011 20:23:50 +0000

One way to prevent gaining weight during the holiday season is to workout!

To make your workouts most efficient, and prevent putting on a few more pounds, exercise around meal time.

Working out before you eat gets your metabolism going before you even consume your feast. Exercising after a meal will keep your metabolism running, as well.

It is easy to over eat around this time. Try cutting back on some high calorie foods and adding more physical activity to you days, and hopefully you will feel the benefits.

Squats are the Best Exercise - Period

Mon, 31 Oct 2011 16:57:38 +0000

Squats are probably the most effective core, conditioning, and mass building exercise that exists. In addition to using your stabilizing muscles throughout the exercise you will also use your quads, glutes, hamstrings, and back muscles (among other muscles) as well. If you do the exercise properly with full effort every other bodybuilding exercise will appear much easier to perform as a result.

We also have a great product which helps take the barbell stress off of your upper back and redistribute the weight on your back so you can focus on the squat movement and technique rather that discomfort, numbness or shearing muscle trauma. We are running a special today which can save you 10% off of the already low price with coupon code: 10FACE.

Bench Press Tip

Tue, 11 Oct 2011 04:29:36 +0000

While performing the bench press have your feet solidly anchored on the ground on both sides of the bench. The power for this lift starts from your legs. Bring the weight down slowly until it lightly touches your chest. Then explode up to the starting position. Flex and arch your back slightly but always keep your glutes on the bench. Use different length grips and bring the bar down to different parts of your chest to work the entire pec area. For variation use dumbbells as well.

Importance of a Healthy Diet

Thu, 8 Sep 2011 16:57:40 +0000

It is if the utmost importance to follow healthy, well balanced diet. If you are trying to lose weight reduce your proportions appropriately and if you are eliminating certain foods from your diet be sure to replace them with vitamins and supplements.

Make the Most of Your Workout

Tue, 9 Aug 2011 18:33:45 +0000

Don’t just go through the motions; push yourself to make each lunge, each push-up, each sit-up, and each movement count.

Giving the extra effort will give you elevated results!

Focus; keep telling yourself to hold your abs in tight, stand up straight, and keep your muscles engaged.

Even when you get tired, tell yourself you can do it.

When you execute each movement to its fullest, you make the most of your work out.

Make Working Out More FUN and Social

Tue, 2 Aug 2011 18:02:13 +0000

Exercising with a friend or in a group can make working out more enjoyable and more productive.

See if you can take a class like Yoga, Cardio Kick Boxing, Zumba or Pilates. Classes are a great way to change up your workout routine.

Being in a group can help take your mind off the actually workout and allow you to focus on the tasks the instructor gives and following along with the instructor, as well. The class can also give you ideas of new ways to workout on your own, for example a different way to do lunges, or an interesting sit up that the instructor taught.

If you cannot take a class find a friend and go to the park, your back yard or a local park district or other gym.

Bring a medicine ball and you can do many types of partner sit-ups. Pass the ball back and forth when you sit up. If you do not have a medicine ball you can do leg throw-downs. One person lays on the ground with his legs in the straight up, the other stands and pushes his legs down while he resits, not letting his legs hit the ground before bring them back up.

You and a friend can also have mini contests. Who can do the most push ups, is a friendly and beneficial competition.

Bring a radio or MP3 player and dock to add music and even incorporate it into your workout. Ever time the chorus comes on do jumping jacks.

Be creative and motivate each other. Make the most of your last few weeks of summer and work out with a friend.

Squats Are Great for Mass Building and Conditioning

Tue, 21 Jun 2011 04:08:30 +0000

I've always considered squats the single best exercise you can perform. It is great for building mass not only for your legs, but for your entire body as well. The conditioning you receive from squats is outstanding. If performed properly as part of your leg workout you will need a day off just to recover before you resume your workouts.

Use a Mirror for an Honest Physical Assessment

Wed, 26 Jan 2011 21:06:24 +0000

The mirror is your most honest assessment tool for your fitness progress. Just be honest with yourself in the areas you see need for improvement. Taking photos of yourself periodically is also a great way to assess your progress over a period of time. You will clearly be able to see what is and is not working for you and make adjustments accordingly.

Intelligent and Consistent Training Are Keys to Success When You Age

Tue, 4 Jan 2011 15:51:52 +0000

Nobody likes the thought of your bodybuilding or fitness workout regiment going downhill due to age. Yet it can be avoided if you follow a few simple steps. The key is to train intelligently and consistently. I can't tell you how difficult it is to get in a groove again after a layoff when middle age is creeping up on you. Your muscles aren't quite as pliable and metabolism not as fast which makes getting in a groove again so much harder. So follow these tips and stay on target with your training goals at any age:

1) Warm up prior to training - I can't stress how important this is. Older muscles are less pliable, get injured faster, and don't heal as quickly as younger muscles. Take 15 minutes prior to each and every training session to thoroughly warm up. It is worth your time.

2) Work up to heavy weights - If you're more than 2X past twenty years old it is more important than ever for your body and muscles to adjust to the heavy working sets. Pyramid up to the heavier weights and your muscles will thank you with an injury free session.

3) Watch your diet - As you get older your metabolism slows down and you cannot process food as efficiently as in your younger years. The saying that you are what you eat is more important than ever as you age. Eat clean and reap the benefits in your workouts and your day to day living.

4) Prior to restarting or beginning an exercise program check with your doctor - As you get older there is greater probability of a hidden medical condition. Get a check up and clearance from your doctor. It will be well worth it.

5) Stay consistent with your workouts - A "more experienced" body loves regularity in routine. This is the case for exercise as well. Work out consistently and enjoy more peaks and less valleys in your physical well-being.

Heed these few words of advise and maximize the benefits of your workouts so you can live and feel well at any age.

Indoor Cardio Training Can Be Fun

Tue, 7 Dec 2010 12:48:57 +0000

Now that winter weather is setting in it is time to bring your cardio work indoors. Even though it is indoors there are still many options to keep your cardio work from getting stale. Treadmills, ellitpical trainers, stationary bikes and rowers are all excellent indoor cardio choices. The winter is long, do not use it as an excuse to curtail your cardio work. Stay fit and healthy and keep up with your daily cardio.

Build Muscle for Greater Fat Burning

Mon, 8 Nov 2010 16:20:06 +0000

Building muscle is a self-fulfilling fat burning prophecy. The more muscle you build the more your metabolism increases to feed and maintain the muscle. This increase in metabolism results in more fat being burned at rest and during exercise. So remember this when you are attempting to determine your best cardio/weight training mix. Weight training over the long haul can be as effectve as cardio for fat burning purposes.

Squat Stance Variations Target Different Muscles

Thu, 28 Oct 2010 04:54:54 +0000

Squats are a great compound exercise. Simple variations in your stance can target your quads, hamstrings and glutes differently for more eye pleasing and complete muscular development. For example, the further apart your legs are the more you will work your glutes and the outer thigh sweep. If you keep your stance narrow - shoulder or hip width - you will then work the tear drop quad muscle more.

Additionally, if you keep the bar higher on your back you will have more direct focus on the quads than if you keep the bar lower similar in style to a powerlifter's stance. In those instances the weight will be more evenly distributed to your quads, glues and hamstrings. These muscles I have mentioned all work together during the exercise and that is why it is called a compound exercise. Vary your squat stance from workout to workout for a more complete polished look. You may not be as comfortable all the time since you will not develop a lifting groove as quickly but the benefits will far outweigh any negatives resulting in greater all around leg mass and muscularity.

Unique Fitness Exercise Tip

Tue, 12 Oct 2010 16:13:26 +0000

Always keep constant tension on the muscle(s) you are working throughout the entire exercise. This will increase fatigue and enhance muscular growth. Flexing and stretching the exercised muscle(s) in between sets also contributes greatly to the muscle building effort.

Naturally Built Muscles are Made to Last

Sat, 2 Oct 2010 16:56:31 +0000

I've had over 30 years bodybuilding experience and there is one thing that I can say for certain: Build your muscles naturally and they will be built to last. I've seen so many bodybuilders and powerlifters make unnatural drug induced gains in power and size only to soon drop out of the game. Why? Because they don't last. As soon as they are cycled off their muscle enhancing drugs the gains that they so quickly made quickly diminish to pre-drug levels and in most cases even beyond. This is because when you obtain testosterone from an outside source the body ceases to produce it's own. Then when the drugs are stopped the body is left with a testosterone void. Often there are other problems as well because there are now more female hormones running through the body than male hormones. This often can produce some embarrassing unwanted feminine side effects. Additionally, there are also many long term negative side effects such as well such as cancer.

If you build your muscles naturally, the right way, without performance enhancing drugs, through hard exercise and proper nutrition it often takes longer to make gains in size and strength. But to me it is more than well worth it. Those gains you will see in the mirror are your own made from your hard work and proper nutrition. And when you have to endure a layoff you will not immediately shrink to pre-workout levels. Additionally, once you hit the weights again your peak form will return much quicker. You can enjoy a lifetime of bodybuilding, lessen the chance of injury and illness if it is done through natural means. To me it was a lifestyle I chose from the very first day I walked in the gym and I've never regretted it since.