Compound moves are one of my favorite ways to really cut down on my exercise time while not cutting my body short on the cardio effects it needs to keep my metabolism humming and get my bodily functions working to their best ability.  Not only does doing these two-punch moves help me to elevate my heart rate into fat burning territory, but they also help me to work on my coordination.

Review : Ripped in 30 with Jillian Michaels

In a good way of course. Jillian Michaels has outdone herself with another DVD that’s a kick butt workout compressed into a half hour. Just what I love, because I hate sweating it out at the gym or in my basement with the precious little time I have in my day for too long. Sure, I want to look good – even great – but I just don’t always have that standard hour that everyone seems to think works so well when it comes to working out.

Recent studies have shown that eating a fatty diet can actually cause injury to your brain.  The injury to the brain from a highly fatty diet doesn’t just occur gradually over time.  According to these studies, the change takes place within 24 hours of eating a high fat diet.

These damaging alterations in the brain happens in humans and in rodents.  One area of the brain that suffers serious consequences with inflammation and injury is the hypothalamus.

Looking back on 2011, there were some interesting additions and revisions in the fitness workout world.  For building strength, a few standout workouts include Krav Maga and Rushfit.  Krav Maga classes are strength building self defense style workouts.

Krav Maga lasts about an hour and is a combination of punching and kicking that will definitely build stamina and strength.    Rushfit, byGeorges St-Pierre, is another strength building fitness workout that is a mixed martial arts style.  It is a well rounded workout that puts all of your muscle groups to the test for fitness.

One thing I’ve come to realize, which was actually a major paradigm shift for me, is that crunches are not the end all be all when it comes to flat abs and core strength. It wasn’t until I really pushed myself during one workout session on a Fit TV television show that I realized the power of the plank when it came to my abs.

My abdominal muscles had never been so sore before!  I only did what seemed like a minute of holding, then going down into a downward dog type of position for about twenty seconds, then going back into the plank position, but this time lower to the ground, so my elbows were flush with the ground rather than my hands holding me up in the plank position.

I’ve suffered back pain for the majority of my life, thanks to early back problems starting before I was twenty, to more back and neck pain thanks to two accidents where I got whiplash in my early twenties.  I’m sure that I’m predisposed to back pain anyway, and that is part of the reason that I’ve experienced so much back, shoulder and neck pain.

One factor remains constant though. I have always noticed  dramatic improvement in my back and neck pain when I am working out regularly.  Actually, studies have shown the low impact activity helps to decrease back pain.  This is because when you get up and move around, your muscles have less opportunity to get stiff and cramp up.

Hey guys!  We wanted to wish you a Happy New Year a little earlier, but well, you know – the holidays and all their craziness got in the way! Here we are now, wishing you a wonderful new year.

2011 certainly did fly by. I feel like I say that every year, but it’s true. Every year seems to go by faster and faster, with a ferocity that seems so intangible, yet palpable.

It is important that we really take the time to realize how lucky we are, no matter what our situation.  There are still so many people without jobs, without financial security, and we should be thankful for what we have if we still have a roof over our heads.