Fitness
A Good Workout is More Than the Right Equipment. It's All About Your Fitness Form.
Strength training veterans know that an effective workout requires good form, but how do you know if you’re maintaining your form, especially if most of your training is done at home? Thinking about form from head to toe by considering key alignment checkpoints will help keep you stable, injury free and working out effectively. So […]
Fitness
Measuring Up
Working out on your home elliptical or treadmill can’t be beat for the convenience it offers, but independent fitness routines can leave you wondering how much you’ve really gained. Remember the Presidential Fitness Challenge? This widely used test of physical fitness has been revamped for adults. Fitness assessments can provide a way for both experienced […]
Fitness
Fueling for Fitness
With the range of exercise equipment and activities available, making fitness a priority has never been easier or more enjoyable. Once you’ve committed to a regular training schedule, timing nutrition can make a huge difference in both your performance and the effectiveness of your workouts. Whether your day involves intervals on the elliptical or a […]
Fitness
Mind your Manners
The New Year always brings big crowds to health clubs and fitness studios. I get a lot of questions at this time of year about the proper etiquette for use of fitness facilities. Some guidelines should be obvious, such as turning off your cell phone before joining the yoga class. Others aren’t as clear. For […]
Fitness
Baby, It’s Cold Outside
Fitness equipment and treadmills are great for letting us stay fit in any weather, but it’s hard to beat an outdoor run both for the emotional lift and the physical challenge. There’s just something rewarding about heading out for a run when the snow is blowing. If you’re thinking of mixing some outdoor workouts in […]
Fitness
Healthy New Year!
We’ve all been on the wrong side of a New Year’s resolution. Faced with the guilt of too many holiday goodies or laziness induced by dark days, the turning of the calendar can be a powerful marker to turn over a new leaf. Taking the time to make your resolutions meaningful ensures that by the […]
Fitness
Play it cool
Winter’s short days, falling temperatures and a busy social calendar can upset even the most established fitness routine. If you’re struggling to show up for your workouts, it might be time to consider what makes a successful winter fitness program. A good winter program is more than just pulling out the treadmill or picking up […]
Fitness
Wanna Race?
When confronted with a fitness rut, it can be difficult to regain momentum. Choosing an event or a race can really focus your workouts and reenergize your efforts. With so many races available, it can be difficult to narrow it down. Here are few tips to help you choose the best fit for you. Training […]
Fitness
Using STRESS to Avoid Injury
Increasing the intensity of your exercise program or beginning a new activity may leave you wondering about how to avoid injury and excessive soreness. New exercisers may be unsure of when to work through soreness and when pain indicates injury. For performance gains, seasoned athletes may expose themselves to excessive wear and injury related to […]
Fitness
Horizon Success Story- Kari Smith
It’s no surprise that health & fitness continue to top the charts of people’s concerns in the U.S. While we at Horizon Fitness want to provide you the opportunity to achieve a higher quality of life we, as individuals, also consider our own personal fitness levels. Some employees join Horizon Fitness with an already active […]
Fitness
Strength Training 101
Beginning exercisers can be overwhelmed by the addition of strength training to their routine. The expected frequency and duration of the workouts may be unclear and learning to use new equipment can also be both expensive and intimidating. Most exercisers also struggle with wondering if they are performing the exercises correctly. In reality, by concentrating […]
Fitness
Rounding Out Your Workout
It’s a natural fit to start your workout routine with activities that feel approachable and familiar. Cardiovascular activities appeal to many new exercisers and can offer the benefits of weight loss and improved overall fitness. So why would you consider changing things? The biggest reason to round out your workouts is to make them more […]
Fitness
Just Getting Started
Are you just getting started on your exercise program? How do you know what is going to be effective? How much exercise is enough? How much is too much? These are some of the questions that new exercisers often ask. Frequency and Duration When starting an exercise program, you really need to just that…get started. […]
Fitness
It's All in the Goal
Have you really sat down and identified the goals of your exercise program? Whenever I meet with a new client for the first time, we talk extensively about their fitness goals. I’m guessing that you can probably relate to some of their desired outcomes – losing weight, toning up, or building muscle mass. Maybe you’ve […]
Fitness
Target Heart Rate Zone
Training by using your targeted heart rate (THR) is a method that is growing in popularity. It’s a dependable way to ensure that you’re working out at the right intensity to reach your goals. If you work out at a level below your THR, you’re not working hard enough to achieve lasting results. However, if […]
Fitness
Summer Sports Camp
Getting Started Here are a couple of programs that integrate the key movements and demands of your favorite sport. Complete each workout 2-3 times per week with at least one day between of rest between workouts. Warm up for 5-10 minutes. Workout 1: Tennis Strength Lunge Step forward onto right foot bending both knees, lifting […]
Fitness
Label Conscious
You have heard the phrase, “Think outside of the box.” When it comes to eating better, it is wise to take this advice literally. Think about the nutrition label that is on the side of each and every box and package in the grocery store. “For someone who is just starting to eat healthfully, reading […]
Fitness
Family function: Staying fit on vacation is easier than you think.
Summer is here. Long days and great weather make being active easy. Your fitness program is also paying off. After finding your rhythm, you feel stronger, more energetic and maybe even a few pounds lighter. Next challenge? Family vacation. With travel, new surroundings, and no equipment, how can you possibly stick with your fitness program? […]
Fitness
Going Organic
Whether you’re shopping for vegetables or cereal, it’s important to know what’s behind the “organic” label. Organic food has become big business. Overall sales in the U.S. are seeing double-digit annual growth. Even Wal-Mart and Costco are offering up organic fare. But for the consumergoing organic can carry a price. You’ll pay an average of […]
Fitness
Make Fitness Fun
Horizon Introduces New Treadmill and Elliptical Featuring Seamless iPod® Integration Talk to most people who exercise and they’ll tell you there’s nothing more invigorating than working out while listening to a favorite play list. This is now easier than ever with Horizon Fitness’ introduction of an in home treadmill and elliptical trainer with seamless iPod® […]
Wellness
Saturated Fat
The main dietary factor in high levels of cholesterol is high levels of saturated fats in the diet. But what, exactly, IS saturated fat? If saturated fat in the diet is an important predictor of cardiovascular disease (and it is!), what can be done to reduce it in the diet? Perhaps by answering the first […]