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Barefoot Running: 5 Ways to Do It Right
Tweet Share on Facebook September 20, 2010 Comment (5)Barefoot running has been on everyone's radar since recent studies have shown it may help prevent running injuries. "Barefoot running allows the muscles and bone structure of the feet, ankle, and lower legs to work in a more natural way," explains Kyle Kepler, head coach of the University of Utah's Women's Cross Country and Track and Field programs. While running in sneakers usually causes your heel to strike the pavement first, barefoot running causes your mid- or fore-foot to land first, which Harvard researchers believe causes a less abrupt impact than landing heel first. A January study published in Nature found that heel-strikers have a higher risk of impact-related foot injuries like plantar fasciitis.
[3 Myths—and 1 Truth—About Running and Your Health]
If you'd like to try barefoot running or stripped-down barefoot-like shoes, you'll have to make a few adjustments to your normal workout routine to help you get used to running without the solid cushioning of a traditional running sneaker. Kepler recommends the following five tips.
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Online Personal Training: 6 Fitness and Nutrition Sites That Rock
Tweet Share on Facebook September 17, 2010 Comment (5)Ever consider using technology to enhance your workouts or weight loss endeavors? There are hundreds of websites and phone applications designed to help you track your eating habits, increase the effectiveness of your workout routines, and find healthy food choices on the go. Here's a look at six of the best:
1. DailyBurn. This free app, designed specifically for the iPhone, will help you track your eating habits, workouts, and body measurements on a daily basis. It has an extensive database with thousands of foods including nutritional data from many restaurants. It also includes a FoodScanner app that uses your phone's camera to read barcodes from different products. Simply scan the barcode and input the number of servings you consume to have the nutritional data immediately logged into the application.
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4 Cardio Workouts That Are Creative and Fun
Tweet Share on Facebook September 1, 2010 Comment (5)Thinking of heading back to indoor workouts as the weather cools? Instead of returning to your old step aerobics or spin class, shake it up a bit and try some of the newer workout offerings. The following are fun routines that burn calories and provide an aerobic workout to strengthen your heart. But they also have an added bonus: They increase your flexibility, balance, and core abdominal muscles—three elements that work together to maximize your physical fitness, according to Mayo Clinic researchers. Here are some classes or DVD's to consider:
