Fitness
What To Do The Night Before A 5K Race
Q: I have my first race coming up. Do you have any tips on what to do the night before a 5K race? -MacKenzie That’s exciting! You are wise to ask this question ahead of time as it pays to be organized and ready to go before the race nerves start to kick in. Here […]
Wellness
Spring Workout Roundup
The changing of seasons can mean different things to different people depending on what part of the country you call home, but it’s a good chance for everyone to pause and refocus their energy on the fitness goals that are important to them. This can mean learning to run, improving a 5K race time, motivating loved ones, or simply […]
Fitness
Meet Ken Grall
Take a moment to meet one of our Horizon Fitness experts, Ken Grall! Ken is a Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) through the National Strength & Conditioning Association, as well as a Youth Fitness Specialist (YFS) through the International Youth Conditioning Association. He has trained and coached in the fitness and sports performance fields since […]
Fitness
Meet Joli Guenther
Take a moment to meet one of our Horizon Fitness expert bloggers, Joli Guenther! Joli is a certified personal trainer, yoga instructor and clinical social worker practicing in and around Madison, Wisconsin. She especially loves working with clients on holistic health issues, work-life balance, and fitness for joy and function in daily life. When not […]
Fitness
Selecting the Yoga Practice That's Right for You
With so many styles and benefits of yoga available, sorting out the yin from the yang and the power from restorative can be pretty daunting. Looking for a little guidance on finding the right fit for your first class? Here’s an overview of some of the benefits of yoga as well as the styles that will emphasize […]
Fitness
The Best of Ask an Expert
The Horizon Fitness experts have answered a lot of great questions over the years, ranging from how to clean smelly workout clothes to incorporating more strength into fitness routines. They’ve helped new moms wanting to return to fitness after giving birth, to advanced runners looking to improve their half marathon time. Do you have a […]
Fitness
Meet Coach Jenny Hadfield
Take a moment to meet one of our Horizon Fitness expert bloggers, Coach Jenny Hadfield! Coach Jenny is a published author (her books include Marathoning for Mortals, Running for Mortals, and Training for Mortals), a coach, public speaker and endurance athlete. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Exercise Physiology, a Master’s Degree in Exercise Science […]
Fitness
Understanding Heart Rate
After running shoes and a source to play music, a heart rate monitor is usually the first piece of equipment runners add to their workouts. If you aren’t using one now, you’ve most likely at least played with them in the past, calculating whether you’re working too hard or not hard enough, estimating your total […]
Fitness
Reaching a Fitness Plateau
We’ve all been there. Whether we’re trying to lose weight, add muscle, or even develop a new skill, we hit that point in our progress where everything seems to stall. Do any of these sound familiar? “I’ve been losing a little bit of weight each week for months, and yet I’ve been stuck the past […]
Fitness
Technology to Inspire Your Workout Routines
Stuck in a workout rut? Don’t panic. Everyone has been at one time or another. If you are wondering where to start, why not let technology give you a hand? Try a few of these tips to give your workout routines a new life: Recruit a Buddy. Whether you meet up in person or use an […]
Wellness
Ask an Expert: Fitness for New Moms
Question: As a new mom, there are days I can barely get a shower, let alone eat right and exercise. Do you have any tricks to help me lose the baby weight, while still caring for my newborn? — Julia Congratulations on your new family member! While it may seem like the baby weight takes forever to […]
Fitness
Ask an Expert: Staying Motivated
At the beginning of every year I hit the ground running, only to struggle with my workouts a few weeks later. Do you have any tips on staying motivated through the winter? -Meghan Congratulations on your strong start for the year! To keep your fitness efforts strong this winter (and continue rolling throughout the year) there […]
Nutrition
Post-Workout Nutrition
Eating the right foods at the right time is equal parts science, art and experimentation. But it’s something you can master with just a little guidance. For example, pre-workout nutrition should leave you feeling energized and nourished, without worrying about your digestion. While post-workout nutrition should help you with recovery, gaining strength, and better performance. […]
Fitness
Ask an Expert: Music While Running
Question: I like listening to music while running. Will this put me at a disadvantage during a race if they do not allow headphones? -Stacey You’re not alone, Stacey. There are a host of runners that love to listen to music while running to their favorite mix, so much so that there are even running music apps for […]
Fitness
Strength Training at Home
As a beginner, getting started on strength training can be overwhelming, especially if you’d like to do it without joining a gym. The good news is strength training at home doesn’t need to take a lot of time or equipment, and can be easily added to your current cardio workouts. Bodyweight strength training uses your own […]
Fitness
Ask an Expert: Running Pace
Question: The whole idea of “running pace” is foreign to me–I’m a new runner! However, I read a lot about it in magazines and hear about it at local races from my friends. Can you help me better understand what it is so I can apply it to my running when I’m ready? — Michele […]
Nutrition
Common Nutrition Myths
In today’s age of television infomercials, the internet and social media, people can easily get confused when it comes to health and fitness, causing common nutrition myths to circulate. Everywhere you turn, so called “experts” are telling you to work out this way or eat that way. And as long as people continually search for that […]
Fitness
Selecting a Resolution That Will Stick
Question: I just invested in my first piece of home fitness equipment and really want to make a healthy start for the new year. Do you have any advice on setting a New Year’s resolution that will actually stick? First of all, congratulations on committing to a healthy new lifestyle–no matter the time of year! Whether […]
Wellness
Ask an Expert: Best Way to Wash Workout Clothes
Help! I recently rewarded myself with some new workout gear for sticking to my training plan and they’re already getting stinky! Do you have any advice on the best way to wash workout clothes to keep them smelling fresh? -Lindsay Rewarding yourself with some new gear is a great idea! And keeping them smelling fresh? […]
Fitness
Ask an Expert: Planking Basics
I’ve been hearing a lot about the benefits of planking lately, but it intimidates me. Can you share some tips on how to ease my way into the exercise and different variations to get started? –Nicole Challenging most of the major muscle groups and requiring no equipment, planking is one exercise that can benefit nearly any […]
Fitness
Ask an expert: Barefoot running
Is the barefoot running trend over–or are there real benefits to minimalist running? – Kevin It’s been an interesting few decades in the running shoe industry. We started with a lower heel-to-toe drop (the difference between the height of the heel versus the toe in a shoe) in the 1970s where you could pretty much […]
Fitness
Ask an expert: Incorporating exercise into a busy schedule
Q: I always seem to find an excuse not to exercise. What are some easy exercises I can do to incorporate fitness into my busy schedule? — Sherry Great question – and one that almost everyone can relate to. The big thing to remember is that scrimping on time doesn’t mean sacrificing quality in your workouts. […]
Fitness
Ask an expert: When should I strength train?
I know I should incorporate more strength training into my exercise routine. Is it better to do it before or after my cardio activity? -Stacey You’re right, it is important to include strength training into your regular exercise routine. It will aid in balancing the strength and mobility in your muscles and joints, improve metabolism by […]
Nutrition
How To Treat Exercise-Related Hypoglycemia
Manage blood sugar drops and sugar cravings by getting your exercise-related hypoglycemia under control. Follow these 3 steps so you can enjoy exercising again.
Fitness
Elliptical vs Treadmill
Walk into almost any gym or specialty fitness retailer and you will be confronted with row after row of treadmills and ellipticals. Although these machines are both classified as “cardiovascular equipment,” both have individual qualities that will suit some exercisers better than others. There’s a lot to consider when you’re faced with an “elliptical vs treadmill” scenario. […]
Fitness
Ask an expert: How often should I replace my running shoes?
I’m a relatively new runner (I only run about 10 miles per week). How often should I be changing out my running shoes? -Jared Welcome to the wonderful world of running! Ten miles per week is a great running regimen and at that rate, the average running shoe will last about 40-50 weeks or close […]