Exercise
Question: Which exercise machine burns the most
calories: Stationary bike, stair climber, cross-country skis, or rower?
Answer: The number of calories burned with any
exercise depends on a number of factors:
- Length of time exercising: The longer you exercise, the more
calories you will burn.
- Heart rate: Higher heart rates during exercise generally indicate
that the body is working harder and that more calories are being burned.
Remember to stay within the target heart rate for your age, though.
- Muscle groups involved: Using more large muscles allows the body to
do more work, which burns more calories. For instance, working both the
arms and legs can burn more calories than just using the legs.
Based on these simple rules, the
stair climber, cross country ski, or rower are likely to burn the most
calories. Using the stationary bike with an equal target heart rate would also
burn a lot of calories. Keep in mind that you are more likely to continue your
exercise program if you choose exercises that you enjoy. Sometimes
cross-training with different machines can add a nice variety to your workouts.
If you really look forward to your workouts, you will probably do them more
frequently. This is probably the most important factor in determining how many
calories you use for exercise.
Question: I'm a 47-year old male who's coming off
a low back injury (from racquetball) and I want to get back in shape. How would
you define "being in shape"?
Answer: There is no one definition of being
"in shape." It depends on your specific fitness goals. All kinds of
conditioning will improve your sense of well-being and your overall health, but
each kind has its special benefits.
Cardiovascular conditioning is
probably the best type of exercise to improve overall health and longevity. It
works the heart and lungs as well as certain muscle groups, and it increases
stamina and athletic performance. Running, swimming, and bike riding are good
examples of cardiovascular conditioning. Ideally, depending on your age and health
conditions, you should shoot for a heart rate that is 40-85% of your maximum
rate.
Strength conditioning mostly
works on muscle size and power, and if done appropriately, it can also shape
the body, enhance athletic performance, help prevent injuries, and contribute
to overall health. Weight training is the most common example of strength
training.
Flexibility is the most
frequently overlooked part of conditioning and is very important in helping to
prevent injuries.
Question: Does exercise help detoxifying our body?
Answer: When we exercise, we detoxify as we sweat through our
skin and exhale from our lungs. Some good exercises include jogging or daily
brisk walks, yoga stretches, and jumping on a minitrampoline, which exercises
every cell in the body. Exercise slows down the aging process because it
stimulates detoxification.
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