The first two parts of "Fitness on the Cheap" offered some ideas for getting in shape without spending lots of money. Today's third and final installment features FREE online resources that can help you achieve your fitness goals.
The Internet is a veritable treasure trove of useful exercise information. Here are a few outstanding free websites for anybody who wants to get in better shape.
ExRx.net (Exercise Prescription on the Net) describes itself as "a free resource for the exercise professional, coach, or fitness enthusiast, featuring comprehensive exercise libraries, fitness assessment calculators, and reference articles."
This site has an enormous amount of useful exercise information. If you want to know which exercises affect which muscles, check out the expansive "Exercise & Muscle Directory." If you want to learn how muscles work, spend some time in the "Kinesiology" section. (You'll soon be able to impress your friends with fancy personal-trainer words like articulations, flexion, adduction and sternoclavicular.) And if you just need some good advice on how to develop an effective workout based on your specific goals, be sure to visit the "Weight Training" pages, where you'll find articles on everything from powerlifting programs and Olympic weightlifting to periodization training. ExRx.net is definitely a site to bookmark.
For unique, challenging and brutally effective workouts, check out crossfit.com. Developed by former high-school gymnast Greg Glassman, Crossfit has grown from humble beginnings in Santa Cruz, Ca, to become a worldwide fitness phenomena.
Crossfit is now the principal strength and conditioning program for many police academies, tactical operations teams and military special operations units.
Each day (except on "Rest Days"), Crossfit posts a WOD (Workout Of The Day). Some of these workouts are called "The Girls," and have names like Angie, Barbara, Fran and Grace. But don't let these innocent-sounding names fool you. These girls can kick your butt. If you've been considering spending your hard-earned money on P90-X or Insanity, try Crossfit first.
At first glance, Crossfit workouts might seem a little strange. For example, the aforementioned "Fran" consists of two exercises, thrusters and pull-ups, alternately performed in descending sets of 21 reps, 15 reps, and 9 reps. "Barbara" is 5 rounds of 20 pull-ups, 30 push-ups, 40 sit-ups and 50 squats. The goal of both workouts is to complete them as quickly as possible, always striving to beat your previous best time.
Crossfit workouts aren't for everybody. If you're not willing to work hard, go somewhere else. But if you're competitive and enjoy pushing yourself, you will get results.
(Before you attempt a Crossfit workout, learn to perform the exercises correctly and safely. The website has plenty of helpful instructions, videos and pictures. There's also a very detailed FAQ's page that will answer almost any Crossfit-related question you have.)
If you'd rather exercise without barbells, dumbbells, machines, etc., check out bodyweightculture.com
As the name implies, this site is all about bodyweight exercises. You've never seen so many variations of pushups, pull-ups and burpees. And there are plenty of instructional videos to help you perfect your technique. To use this site, you're required to sign-up for an account, which is completely free.
When you begin working out regularly and improving your diet, you'll need a place to record your phenomenal progress. That's where FitDay.com comes in. This free site allows you to open a free account where you can track your foods, calorie intake and exercise. This site has millions of satisfied users, so you know it's legit.
I hope these "Fitness on the Cheap" posts have provided a good starting point for anybody who's interested in a healthier lifestyle.
If you've decided that the do-it-yourself approach to fitness isn't your thing, consider working with a certified personal trainer. If you live in the Fresno or Madera area, call me at (559) 871-1658 or come visit me at Centerpoint Athletic Club.
Friday, September 10, 2010
FITNESS ON THE CHEAP: PART 3
The first two parts of "Fitness on the Cheap" offered some ideas for getting in shape without spending lots of money. Today's third and final installment features FREE online resources that can help you achieve your fitness goals.
The Internet is a veritable treasure trove of useful exercise information. Here are a few outstanding free websites for anybody who wants to get in better shape.
ExRx.net (Exercise Prescription on the Net) describes itself as "a free resource for the exercise professional, coach, or fitness enthusiast, featuring comprehensive exercise libraries, fitness assessment calculators, and reference articles."
This site has an enormous amount of useful exercise information. If you want to know which exercises affect which muscles, check out the expansive "Exercise & Muscle Directory." If you want to learn how muscles work, spend some time in the "Kinesiology" section. (You'll soon be able to impress your friends with fancy personal-trainer words like articulations, flexion, adduction and sternoclavicular.) And if you just need some good advice on how to develop an effective workout based on your specific goals, be sure to visit the "Weight Training" pages, where you'll find articles on everything from powerlifting programs and Olympic weightlifting to periodization training. ExRx.net is definitely a site to bookmark.
For unique, challenging and brutally effective workouts, check out crossfit.com. Developed by former high-school gymnast Greg Glassman, Crossfit has grown from humble beginnings in Santa Cruz, Ca, to become a worldwide fitness phenomena.
Crossfit is now the principal strength and conditioning program for many police academies, tactical operations teams and military special operations units.
Each day (except on "Rest Days"), Crossfit posts a WOD (Workout Of The Day). Some of these workouts are called "The Girls," and have names like Angie, Barbara, Fran and Grace. But don't let these innocent-sounding names fool you. These girls can kick your butt. If you've been considering spending your hard-earned money on P90-X or Insanity, try Crossfit first.
At first glance, Crossfit workouts might seem a little strange. For example, the aforementioned "Fran" consists of two exercises, thrusters and pull-ups, alternately performed in descending sets of 21 reps, 15 reps, and 9 reps. "Barbara" is 5 rounds of 20 pull-ups, 30 push-ups, 40 sit-ups and 50 squats. The goal of both workouts is to complete them as quickly as possible, always striving to beat your previous best time.
Crossfit workouts aren't for everybody. If you're not willing to work hard, go somewhere else. But if you're competitive and enjoy pushing yourself, you will get results.
(Before you attempt a Crossfit workout, learn to perform the exercises correctly and safely. The website has plenty of helpful instructions, videos and pictures. There's also a very detailed FAQ's page that will answer almost any Crossfit-related question you have.)
If you'd rather exercise without barbells, dumbbells, machines, etc., check out bodyweightculture.com
As the name implies, this site is all about bodyweight exercises. You've never seen so many variations of pushups, pull-ups and burpees. And there are plenty of instructional videos to help you perfect your technique. To use this site, you're required to sign-up for an account, which is completely free.
When you begin working out regularly and improving your diet, you'll need a place to record your phenomenal progress. That's where FitDay.com comes in. This free site allows you to open a free account where you can track your foods, calorie intake and exercise. This site has millions of satisfied users, so you know it's legit.
I hope these "Fitness on the Cheap" posts have provided a good starting point for anybody who's interested in a healthier lifestyle.
If you've decided that the do-it-yourself approach to fitness isn't your thing, consider working with a certified personal trainer. If you live in the Fresno or Madera area, call me at (559) 871-1658 or come visit me at Centerpoint Athletic Club.
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