A very common question, especially when people are starting a new fitness regime or getting back into working out, is what sort of exercise to perform first: weights or cardio.
The truth is, it depends on what your fitness goals are. Cardio and weight training don’t have to be performed on the same day, but if you’re doubling up, think about what you’re trying to achieve and how much weight you plan on lifting. Continue reading “The great debate: weights or cardio first?”
If you’re training for a triathlon, you may not have thought your elliptical machine would be a prime option. However, Lance Watson, a four-time Olympic Games coach for several triathletes, provided some stellar tips for using your elliptical to get your body into tip-top triathlon shape. Continue reading “Elliptical training tips from an Olympics coach”
Injuries can be a real pain when you’re a fitness enthusiast. Lower body injuries can be especially challenging if you’re a runner or a cyclist. It’s always wise to take precautions against becoming injured, but sometimes they are unavoidable.
Achilles tendonitis is a frustrating injury that occurs when the Achilles tendon becomes inflamed from overuse or excessive strain. The Achilles tendon joins the heel bone to the calf muscles and is located at the back of the leg. It’s the body’s largest tendon and can endure a lot, but is still susceptible to injury when pushed too hard from too many miles logged on the home treadmill like the PS100 Treadmill or stationary bikes like the ES9.0 Upright Bike. Continue reading “Overcoming Achilles tendonitis”
At Gym Source, we’ve built our business on helping people select the right equipment for wide variety of fitness goals. Our customers rely onus for guidance and sound advice. And we’ve been noticing a trend lately in our showrooms – when it comes to selecting a treadmill for our clients, we find ourselves coming back to the TRUE ES900 treadmill again and again. Continue reading “Gym Source Staff Pick: The TRUE ES900 Treadmill”
Many runners will hit what is not-so-fondly referred to as “the wall” during a long run. But what if the wall isn’t appearing on a single run, but across your running regiment in general? What if you are at a point where you are having trouble making gains, seemingly regardless of how hard you train? This is called a plateau, and it occurs in any form of exercise. Essentially, your body reaches a level at which progress stalls. This can be caused by physical or mental barriers, but is most commonly some combination of the two. Continue reading “Breaking through plateaus”
Many competitive runners have a lot of trouble falling asleep the night before a big race. It’s usually a combination of stress, anxiety and nerves, but whatever the cause it can prevent many people from sleeping well if at all. The running adage is that a good night’s sleep two nights before the race is much more important, but is there any truth to this? A new study says it just might be correct. Continue reading “No sleep before race day? New study says no problem”
Dietary fiber is recommended for anyone, but it can be especially instrumental for those looking to stay healthy or lose weight, according to the Mayo Clinic. While it is most known for the benefits it offers to your digestive system, fiber offers myriad other advantages to your body, including possible protection from heart disease and diabetes. Combined with exercise, like regularly running on your home treadmill, you could achieve your target weight with help from this key nutritional element. Continue reading “Adding more fiber to your diet”
The summer makes everything hotter, and most people don’t want to fire up the grill or stove after a tough workout in the sun. So what is an avid runner to do when hunger strikes? Try these no-cook recipes to keep the temperature down, eat healthy, and get your body the nutrition it needs to properly recover. Continue reading “No-cook summer foods for the avid runner”
Cross-training is a concept that many runners don’t properly familiarize themselves with. A great deal of runners might even believe that the only way to improve their running is to just keep running. But in truth, over-training in any form, running included, can put you at risk for injury. Daily running without rest can often restrict your body from proper recovery, which may ultimately hinder your performance.
No runner should try and fully substitute cross-training for their running, but adding different workouts as a complement to your running regiment can be important to making gains. Even other forms of cardio will qualify as cross-training – things like swimming, biking and rowing can all be hugely beneficial. Here are the very basics of cross-training, and how you can take advantage.  Continue reading “Cross-training 101”