Articles
Below are links to fitness articles written by Gayle Pinn. Click on the links to read the full article on the site where it was published.
Burn 100 Calories a Day…
With all of the holiday festivities come ample opportunities to overindulge, load up on extra calories, and pack on a few extra pounds, leaving many of us feeling more like jolly old Saint Nick than fit and trim.
Is it any wonder why “getting in shape” and “losing weight” are perpetually among the top three New Year’s resolutions? This holiday season, get a jump start and burn at least an extra 100 calories per day using these small strategies to offset your post-holiday regret.…
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To Maximize Your Workout, Avoid These 10 Common Mistakes
Following a consistent exercise program is a key to overall health and fitness. However, common mistakes can lead to exercise burnout, frustration and even injury. Whether you are a beginner or advanced in your training, it is imperative to use a little common sense and incorporate some structure to your fitness routine.…
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Take a Hike!
One thing I love about fall weather is the opportunity to spend more time outdoors. While I walk my dog outside in any element—heat, rain, snow and ice—it sure is a lot more pleasant when the temperature is comfortable. Perhaps one of the best ways to enjoy the fall weather and scenery is to hit some trails and take a hike.…
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THE HEAT IS ON!
It’s a simple equation: The higher the mercury climbs, the less time we want to spend outdoors exercising. Here’s a 30-minute calorie-busting routine for a more refreshing workout during these simmering summer days.…
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Exercise on the Beach
Now that the summer is here you may be wrestling with your schedule to find some time to spend at the beach. If it’s a toss-up between working out and beach time then of course I’d like for you to pick exercise over lounging. But the reality is that most people are going to choose to lounge at the beach."…
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PLYOMETRICS: Add Variety To Your Workouts With These Explosive Exercises
Plyometric exercises are not new in the fitness industry, but they are becoming mainstream among amateur exercisers and athletes alike. They were initially developed in Eastern Europe for Olympic competitors. The words “plyo” and “metrics” are Latin for "measurable increases."…
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Strength Training Basics
Beginning a strength-training program can be a daunting task. With so much information out there, no wonder people get confused. The following basic principles will help you start a strength-training program and enjoy all the body benefits that strength training has to offer…
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Exercises for the Low Back
Back pain can have many underlying reasons, but often no specific cause. Much of our long-term low back problems can be avoided or even eliminated with proper stretches and exercises to strengthen and improve the flexibility of the low back, core muscles, hips and hamstrings.…
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Weighing In On What To Eat
In my line of work it seems that everyone I talk to is on (or has been on) some kind of diet—Atkins, South Beach, Zone, Grapefruit, Cabbage Soup. In researching this article I even stumbled upon a “tapeworm diet”—proof that people will go to any lengths just to lose a few pounds…
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Kiss Love Handles Goodbye
Love handles—that annoying flab found just above the hips—really have nothing to do with love, but everything to do with diet and exercise.
There is a common misconception that spot-reduction exercises—focusing on a specific muscle group, such as the abs—will burn fat in that location.…
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Bone UP On Strength Training
Put some weight into your exercise program to preserve your bone density.
The term osteoporosis means “porous bones.” It’s a condition in which bones have lost minerals (especially calcium), making them weaker, more brittle and susceptible to fractures. Osteoporosis can affect men and women, although post-menopausal women are at a greater risk due to a decline in estrogen production, as estrogen enables the bones to absorb calcium.…
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Rev-up Your Metabolism!
Every time you take a bite of food or a sip of your favorite drink, your body works hard to process the nutrients you've consumed. Long after the dishes are cleared and the food is digested, the nutrients you've taken
in become the fuel that your body needs to function. Your body derives energy from food through a process called metabolism.…
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POWER Up Your Game
Some play tennis competitively, others for recreation. Either way, it’s a sport enjoyed by people of all ages and fitness levels. Becoming an above-average player requires certain physical attributes, such as upper-body and core strength for making the shots and lower-body strength for reaching them quickly. When you watch a game of professional tennis…
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Beach Bums
Beach-bound this summer? If so, is your bum really bathing-suit ready?
If you’re not happy with the shape or tone of your bottom, then you are not alone. Most people think theirs is either too big, too small, too saggy, too jiggly—but (no pun intended), there are exercises that’ll help tone and reshape your rear.…
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Toning Shoes
Toning shoes seem to be the latest fitness craze, and they come with a tempting promise from manufacturers—walk in them and you’ll get in shape. But can it truly be that easy?…
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GET FIT AT WORK!
"I don’t have time to exercise because I’m stuck at the office all day."
This is an excuse I hear regularly. But working a desk job doesn’t mean you can’t be physically fit. By incorporating exercise into your workday, you can stay fit and boost your energy level.…
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Putting the 'Resolve' in Your Fitness Resolutions
What’s the most common New Year’s resolution? Start an exercise program. Unless you have the motivation to start now, procrastination will soon set in and your well-intended resolution becomes a thing of the past—at least until this time next year.…
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Merry Fitness! Make exercise part of your holiday tradition
Along with every holiday season comes the usual assortment of challenges: finding the right Christmas tree, scrambling to find the perfect gifts, navigating your way through busy airports and preparing holiday meals and goodies for guests. All of the festive hubbub can disrupt our normal routines, and our fitness regimen is often a casualty. This year, make fitness part of the holiday experience with these easy tips.…
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Ski Season: Getting fit for the annual adventure
If you’re like most Virginians, skiing is a once-a-year adventure. That means you are filled with excitement and enthusiasm when you leave for the slopes, and dragging along with sore muscles or a sprained something when you return. It doesn’t have to be that way. If you don’t have a regular exercise routine, start one now. I recommend you begin one a minimum of eight weeks before your outing. Focus on increasing endurance, flexibility and strength.…
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Overtraining: How Much Exercise is Too Much?
Many people will admit to not getting enough exercise. If you fall into this category, stop reading and go work out! (Just kidding.) Exercise, without a doubt, is the best thing we can do to maintain a healthy and strong body, but can you do too much? Absolutely. Too much exercise, or overtraining, is becoming increasingly common in today’s fitness-crazed society.…
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