strength building

Lifting Light vs Heavy Weight | Is one better than the other?

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Lifting Light vs Heavy Weight: Is one better than the other? Choosing a weight to work out with isn’t black or white – here’s what you should know.

When it comes to working out, there’s a lot of information out there about if you should or not — and it can get pretty confusing, fast. Some people opt for heavyweights when they want to achieve more visible muscles or “bulk” up, and some people are afraid to lift heavy weights for that exact reason.

Unfortunately, many women still believe the myth that lifting heavy weights will give them bulky muscles, so they choose light or no weights that promises “long, lean muscles” instead.

But is any of this information even true? (not really). Choosing the right weight for you to lift is all about how you’re working out, not the number on the dumbbells.

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What is Circuit Training? | What Can it Do for You?

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Circuit Training is the total-body workout to do when you don’t have a lot of time. You don’t need a lot of time to squeeze in a decent sweat session. High-intensity interval (HIIT) workouts that last for as little as 10 minutes are more effective than steady-state exercise that lasts an hour.

One popular way to incorporate HIIT into your routine is through circuit training. Many trainers love circuit training because it allows you to challenge different muscle groups and mix cardio with strength in a short amount of time.

Keep reading to learn more about what exactly circuit training is, what it can do for you, and how to design the perfect circuit training workout.

Read moreWhat is Circuit Training? | What Can it Do for You?

NordicTrack T 8.5 S Treadmill | 50 Preset Workouts

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The NordicTrack T 8.5 S Treadmill is a machine made to last. The sturdy 3.5 CHP DurX Commercial Plus motor delivers smooth and consistent power. While maybe not the most exciting option for some, the motor is an important feature to consider when it comes to the durability and longevity of a treadmill.

You can choose to walk, jog, or run on the comfortable 20” x 60” deck with speeds up to 12 mph with an incline range of 12%. The OneTouch controls make it quick and straightforward to change incline and speed. With runner’s flex adjustment, you can switch the suspension from a cushioning feel to a more road-like feel for whatever is best for your comfort.

The T 8.5 S has a 10 inch HD touchscreen, which you can also choose to cast onto a flat-screen TV via a smart device. The console display tracks all the important workout metrics, including time, distance, calories, pulse, speed, and incline. The T 8.5 S has built-in Bluetooth Audio capabilities and Aux outlet so that you can listen to your music via the dual 2” digitally amplified speakers.

Because the T 8.5 S Treadmill is iFit enabled (one-year free iFit membership included), you can automatically synchronize incline and speed with on-demand workouts, which streams to the LCD. The T 8.5 S comes with 50 onboard workout apps created by certified professional trainers —but remember you have iFit in addition to this giving access to a library of over 10,000 classes.

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Bowflex Xceed Home Gym – Perform 65 Exercises!

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The Bowflex Xceed is a compact home gym that comes designed to provide you with a full complement of exercises to work every part of your body. It gives you a total of 65 exercises. This puts the Xceed at the mid-point level when it comes to the Bowflex range.

The Xceed provides you with a maximum resistance of 210 pounds maximum resistance by way of the unique Bowflex power rod system. The system is upgradeable to 310 and 410 pounds. However, the resistance provided by the power rod system is not quite the same as using free weights.

The sixty-five exercises that you can do on this machine include all of the standard moves that you’d expect to see in a commercial gym, including squats, bench press (vertical), and deadlift. The cable system provides you with a high and low cable attachment so that you can work your muscles from a range of different angles.

The Bowflex Xceed provides you with a full complement of workout options in a compact space and utilizing a proven, safe, and reliable resistance system. It is a very stylish, well-constructed machine that is robust yet flexible. Of all the Bowflex home gyms, this is my #1 recommendation.

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The Tabata Workout – Is it a Fitness Miracle?

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The Tabata Workout is known as the closest thing we have to a fitness miracle. The Tabata workout is a favorite of researchers and fitness pros alike for its unparalleled fat-torching abilities and simplicity. To do a “Tabata,” simply pick an exercise and set a timer for 20 seconds on and 10 seconds rest.

Do the exercise as hard as you possibly can for 20 seconds and then rest for 10, repeating 8-20 times total. Don’t be fooled: These moves may seem simple, but they’re not! If you’re not seeing stars by the end, you’re not pushing hard enough. You can use the Tabata protocol with almost any exercise. Here, I share some fat-burning exercises to get you started:

Read moreThe Tabata Workout – Is it a Fitness Miracle?