Exercise Regularly and Manage Your Stress. Fitness 4 Home Superstore

Stress is usually thought of as a psychologically concern, but it can affect your physically as well. Think about it. When you feel a lot of stress, does your body seem weak and sluggish? Do you feel like you can perform to your fullest potential?

We have all experienced aches and pains due to stress whether we know it or not. Your body can react to stress in many ways including:

· High blood pressure

· Lack of concentration

· Irregular breathing

· Cardiovascular strain

These are all serious issues that stress causes so it’s important to learn how to manage stress so you can maintain optimal health.

Everyone can benefit from exercise, especially if you’re trying to manage stress. It doesn’t matter if you’re out of shape, have little time or a physical disability. Exercising 20-30 minutes for 3-4 days every week will help you combat the effects that stress has on you physically. Since physical exercise requires you to concentrate, it will take your mind off of the problems that are causing you stress.

Along with helping to relieve stress, exercise also has a number of other positive benefits related to your physical and psychological well-being:

• Exercise improves blood flow to your brain. This brings in oxygen that may be needed when you are thinking intensely.
• Intense thinking causes neurons in your brain to function more intensely. As they do this, they can build up and cause “fuzzy” thinking. By exercising, you speed the flow of blood through your brain, removing the build-up and fighting off the “fuzzy” thinking.
• Exercise can cause the release of endorphins into your blood stream, giving you a feeling of happiness which can positively affect your overall sense of well-being.

In fact, a 2004 study by Georgia Tech found that the body naturally produces a chemical called endocannabinoid anandamide. This chemical helps your body deal with prolonged stress and pain from exercise. So what does this mean for you? It means that when you have a stressful day, a good workout can actually help you relax and quiet your mind… and help you get in shape!



Labels: fitness 4 home superstore, healthy lifestyle, healthy living, strength training, fitness equipment, exercise equipment

Diet – Pita w/ Green Olive Tapenade

Olives are concentrated monounsaturated fats and provide a great source for vitamin E. In addition, olives contain a variety of beneficial active phytonutrient compounds which have significant anti-inflammatory properties. This recipe features an olive tapenade – a healthy snack with many benefits!

Ingredients:

1 tsp. extra-virgin olive oil
½ C. dry white wine
1 shallot, finely chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
2 Roma tomatoes, peeled, seeded, and finely chopped
¾ C. pitted green olives, rinsed, drained and roughly chopped
Grated zest of 1 lemon
2 T. fresh Italian parsley, finely chopped
1 tsp. fresh oregano, finely chopped
½ tsp. red pepper flakes
3 whole-wheat pitas, 6” in diameter, each cut into 8 wedges

In a small frying pan, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the shallot and sauté about 3 minutes or until softened. Add the tomatoes, garlic, oregano and the red pepper flakes. Sauté about 2 minutes until the tomatoes are tender. Add the wine and slowly bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to low and simmer, stirring often, until the liquid has evaporated, about 6 minutes. The mixture will be thick. Remove from the heat, spoon the mixture into a small bowl and let cool completely.

When the mixture has cooled to room temperature, add the olives and lemon zest. Stir to combine. Spoon 2 teaspoons of the tapenade onto each pita wedge, sprinkle evenly with the parsley and serve immediately.

Serving Size: 4 pita wedges, Fat: 4g, Calories: 113

Labels: fitness 4 home superstore, healthy diet, healthy eating, healthy food, low calorie, low fat, low-fat

Fitness Equipment – Product Spotlight: The Cybex 350a Home Trainer

Thinking of purchasing new home fitness equipment but not quite sure what you’re looking for? Check out a great sale item in Fitness 4 Home Superstore's exercise equipment lineup – The Cybex 350a Home Trainer.

Ultimate Versatility
By varying resistances and inclines, the Arc Trainer is a true cross-trainer, providing an unmatched number of workout combinations. Combining elements of a climber, hiker and skier movements allows users to focus on their own specific needs, targeting different areas in various ways to build muscle, burn calories, or both.

The unique pattern of motion ensures that the direction of force is forward of the hip and behind the knee for equal leverage and balanced contribution in producing motion. This balance of force leads to optimal loading between hip and knee, minimizing joint stress, and maximizing the work done by the muscles.

Get a health-club quality workout in the privacy of your home!
If you want a health-club quality workout without leaving the privacy of your home, the Cybex 350A Home Arc Trainer is the perfect solution for you. Its unique stair-stepper and elliptical features make this versatile trainer an exemplary addition to your home gym.

Product Highlights
• Compact footprint and design for home use
• 11 levels of incline
• 20 levels of resistance
• 10 levels of programming including quick start, manual, interval, three fitness programs, three hill programs, random and calorie burning
• Graphic display shows profile, distance, calories, METs, watts, strides/minute, heart rate, time, incline and resistance leve
• 2 water bottle holders
• Combines the movements of climbers, hikers and skiers for workout versatility
• 300 lb. Weight Capacity

Want to know more? Stop by one of our three Arizona Fitness 4 Home Superstore locations today!

Labels: fitness 4 home superstore, fitness equipment, home fitness equipment, exercise equipment, home exercise equipment, elliptical

Your Home Guide to Strength Training from Fitness 4 Home Superstore

Strength training workouts have something for everyone. You don’t need an expensive gym membership or a ton of time to perform highly effective strength training exercises. You can do everything in the comfort of your own home and get the results you’re looking for with just a little bit of effort.

A proper strength training workout can benefit your in 4 ways: increased strength, endurance, weight loss and metabolism. Let’s look at each of these benefits separately and find out what you can do at home to address one.

1. Strength Training for Strength. An increase in strength basically occurs when you body is routinely exposed to an activity that requires you to utilize an area of muscle for performance. In many cases, your own body weight is enough to provide the resistance necessary to perform the activity that will increase your strength. However, the vast majority of people cannot effectively control their own body weight when performing difference movements. To begin strength training exercises, start with pushups, squats or pull-ups (die hard weightlifters should try these exercises with one arm or one leg to maximize the challenge). Once you’re comfortable with those exercises, start utilizing your home exercise equipment like dumbbells, barbells, ab coaster or your multi-functional home gym.

2. Strength Training for Endurance. Performing a high repetition strength training workout is a great way to improve muscular endurance. Simple exercises like air squats, wall push-ups or doing curls with a low-weight dumbbell can become extremely challenging when higher reps are incorporated. Just remember – don’t sacrifice quality for quantity!

3. Strength Training for Weight Loss. Weight loss is one of the most popular reasons people turn to fitness programs. Strength training is a great addition to any fitness program. It will create an environment for your body that makes it want to get rid of unwanted fat. Strength training will quickly add lean muscle needed for strength improvement that will raise your metabolic rate even when you’re not working out! The best exercises to incorporate for increased weight loss in a strength training workout are calisthenics that will raise your heart and respiratory rates and burn calories.

4. Strength Training for Your Metabolism. Metabolic conditioning is commonly referred to as “cardio” exercise. This can include jumping jacks, mountain climbers, treadmill exercise, riding a stationary bike or using an elliptical. All of these exercises will improve your strength and muscular endurance as well as your cardio-respiratory endurance.

When you begin to plan your home strength training workouts, remember that there are other variables that can affect how fast you’ll see results. Be sure to eat properly, get the right amount of rest, exercise frequently and change up your workout intensity. Keep all of this in mind and there is nothing that can keep you from improving your strength, conditioning and fitness!



Labels: fitness 4 home superstore, healthy lifestyle, healthy living, strength training, fitness equipment, exercise equipment

Fitness Equipment – Product Spotlight: The True PS100R Recumbent Bike

Thinking of purchasing new home fitness equipment but not quite sure what you’re looking for? Check out what could be the best addition to you home exercise equipment lineup – The True PS100R Recumbent Bike from Fitness 4 Home Superstore.

A recumbent exercise bike that performs like an upright bike will give you a challenging yet comfortable exercise bike workout. The TRUE PS100R Recumbent exercise bike is designed to the highest standards, providing unmatched performance and innovation.

The PS100R is self generated and features pre-programmed workouts for weight loss, CV workouts, hill intervals and random – each with 16 levels of resistance. The easy-to-use LED control panel is 8x16 and shows time, work level, distance, watts, RPM, calories, METs and heart rate.

The True PS100R Recumbent Bike is ergonomically designed to provide you with enhanced lumbar support. The seat back adjusts from 45 to 75 degrees and has 24 seat position options in 5/8” increments.

Want to know more? Stop by one of our three Arizona Fitness 4 Home Superstore locations today!

Labels: fitness 4 home superstore, fitness equipment, home fitness equipment, exercise equipment, home exercise equipment, exercise bike

Diet – Grilled Portobello Mushrooms w/ Ginger Marinade

Because of their large size and firm texture, Portobello mushrooms are often a great substitute for steak. Whether you decide to stuff them or grill them, they have a satisfying taste and texture with virtually no sodium and no fat. This recipe features grilled portobellos marinaded in a tangy ginger sauce.

Ingredients:

4 large Portobello mushrooms

½ C. Pineapple juice

¼ C. Balsamic vinegar

1 T. Fresh basil, chopped

2 T. Fresh ginger, peeled and chopped

Clean mushrooms with a damp cloth or brush to remove dirt or soil. Remove their stems and place them in a shallow, glass dish with the “gill” side up.

Prepare the marinade in a small bowl by whisking together the pineapple juice, vinegar and fresh ginger. Drizzle the marinade over the mushrooms. Cover the glass dish and let the mushrooms marinate in the refrigerator for 1 hour, turning them over once. Keep the marinade – you’ll need it later!

Grill or broil the mushrooms on medium heat. Make sure the cooking rack is 4 to 6 inches from the heat source. Turn them often and cook until tender, about 5 minutes on each side. Baste them with the marinade to keep them from drying out.

Garnish with the fresh basil and serve immediately!

Serving Size: 1 mushroom, Fat: 0g, Calories: 69

Labels: fitness 4 home superstore, healthy diet, healthy eating, healthy food, low calorie, low fat, low-fat