Army vs. Navy Seal vs. You

How often do you exercise? How intense is your routine? Do you only exercise to stay healthy or look fit? If the amount and intensity of your exercise routine meant life or death would you feel confident that it is efficient enough? This is a chance for you to compare your routine to soldiers in the Army and Navy Seals.

The Army has a very intense schedule that is more of an addition to your normal routine. It is easier and safer to switch days between cardio and strength training. On cardio days, the soldiers are expected to run two miles as fast as possible, swim 100 meters without stopping, ride a bike for 20 minutes at top speed, complete three minutes of jumping jacks, and jump rope for five more minutes non-stop. On strength training days, they are to finish at least three sets of push-ups and chin-ups at max repetitions, three sets of squats at max repetitions, complete as many push-ups and chin-ups as possible in 30 minutes, and complete their original weight lifting routine.

The Army exercise routine may sound extreme, but it is a walk in the park

compared to the Navy Seals' workout. This routine requires that you complete level one and level two to build your body up to this point physically. This is the final week of the level two workout. On Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday, the soldiers must run a total of 27 miles split between days. Monday, Wednesday, and Friday have additional exercises. These exercises include 20 sets of 20 push-ups, 25 sit-ups, 15 dips, and at least five sets of 12 pull-ups. Also, they must complete 75 minutes of continuous swimming four to five days per week. If your interested in trying one of these exercises please follow the links below. Please keep in mind that the men and women who use these routines have built-up to a certain physical point before attempting to complete them.

Army Routine

Navy Seal Routine

Shoe Tech Article

This is an article named Shoe Tech. It is a brief review of six popular shoes in today's sports market. The shoes are from brands such as Adidas, Nike, and Lakai. The article covers six sports in which the athlete is dependent on his/her shoes for better performance. Please enjoy! Feel free to post your opinions on the design and content.

Hair Loss Related to Healthy Activity

How long will your hair last? The answer lies in your genetics, but what if there was a way for you to prevent hair loss simply by staying healthy? Our bodies don't distribute nutrients evenly. In fact, our hair and nails receive the last of the remaining nutrients from our diet. This means that if we aren't eating healthy and getting the right amount of activity and exercise, then our hair isn't getting the essential nutrients it needs to stay healthy. This can make it fall out faster than it normally would based on genetics.

On the other hand, aerobic exercise has been shown to result in greater amounts of hair loss because of the decrease in testosterone levels. Weight training, which increases testosterone levels, has been shown to decrease hair loss. Want to read the entire article? Click here

Real Life Weight Loss Goals

This is an interview with Gina Stephenson about her exercise routine and weight loss in the past 8 months. She explains her schedule and some of the events she has participated in during the last couple months. As always I encourage you to post your own opinions or life stories relating to the topic. For more info on the Louisville Triple Crown click here. Thanks for watching!

Are You Overtraining?

How do you know if your overtraining your body? Exercise keeps you healthy and fit but too much can tear your body down. This will give you an opposite effect and ruin the results of your routine. If you are repeating the same exercise every day or in numerous repetitions during your workout, you are over-working your muscles. Also, adequate rest is a main factor in muscle growth and repair. How do you know if your overtraining? Here are some symptoms:
Insomnia
Achiness or pain in the muscles and/or joints
Fatigue
Headaches
Elevated morning pulse
Sudden inability to complete workouts
Feeling unmotivated and lacking energy
Increased susceptibility to colds, sore throats and other illnesses
Loss in appetite
Decrease in performance

For more info click here

My audio boo

Do You Use Muscles?

Myoplex is a brand of protein replacement shakes and bars for bodybuilding. It is used to supply the body with the necessary amount of protein that may not come in average daily meals. Myoplex is quite possibly the most popular replacement supplement on the market. It is said to have superior taste to competing supplements, while offering a large variety of flavors like vanilla, strawberry, tropical and even a chocolate lover's pack.

This supplement is proven to supply ample amount of protein to the body for exercise. It is affordable at just under $5.00 or $90.00 for the bulk pack. Although, it has the some disadvantages. Myoplex has such a great amount of protein that it can only be used once a day or the user will have a large excess of protein in their system. It is not a dietary supplement, meaning it is not intended for weight loss. Also, it is a synthetic blend supplement so if your looking for organic and natural this is the wrong supplement for you. Interested in purchasing Myoplex? Click here

Motivation

Its getting warmer outside so it's time to get outside and be active. Get some friends together and play your favorite sport or run around your neighborhood sidewalk. Find a park to explore on your bike. If you live near forests or mountains, take a hiking trip to discover nature. Whatever you do with your day, be sure to get outside and enjoy the planet you live on.

Sports Drinks or Water?

Do drinks like Gatorade or Powerade really support your body better during exercise than water? The answer depends on how long and how hard you are exercising. According to Heidi Skolnik, health advisor to the New York Giants and Knicks, sports drinks actually contain more essential nutrients for the body than water. "Water provides no sodium, which helps the body hold onto water and helps fluid get to the right places in the body, like muscles and blood.", say Skolnik in her article. Drinks like Gatorade have the necessary amount of sodium and carbohydrates to keep fluid circulating to the muscles. Andrea Chemus, co-author to Skolnik's upcoming book, says to look for 13-19 grams of carbs and 80-110 mg of sodium while staying away from added caffeine. Want to read more? Click here

Exercise Calms Anxiety

In a recent study from the University of Georgia, exercise has been show to relieve feelings of worry, apprehension, and nervousness. Regular exercise drops anxiety disorders up to 20 percent. A shorter exercise program (3- 12 weeks) was shown to reduce symptoms more effectively than long-term programs. Want to read more? Click here

Most Effective Ab Exercise

According to About.com, the bicycle crunch is the most effective abdominal exercise without using any added weight. Here are the steps to perform the bicycle crunch:

1. Lie face up on the floor and lace your fingers behind your head.
2. Bring the knees in towards the chest and lift the shoulder blades off the ground without pulling on the neck.
3. Straighten the left leg out while simultaneously turning the upper body to the right, bringing the left elbow towards the right knee.
4. Switch sides, bringing the right elbow towards the left knee.
5. Continue alternating sides in a 'pedaling' motion for 12-16 reps.

Try it out! Post up what your opinion is or another abdominal exercise you prefer.

SNOW DAY! Go Sledding!

Since today is a snow day on Western's campus, I thought i would post about going sledding. Its actually good aerobic activity considering the walk back up the hill. I'm headed up to Hospital Hill in a couple hours so join me or find a hill close to you. Get outside and enjoy the snow!

Greetings!

This blog has been created to discuss physical health and exercise. Feel free to express your views and personal experiences. I will be researching and posting new exercises and technologies. I would appreciate any input you have on the subjects posted.