You are only days away from the Baltimore Marathon. You have spent countless hours preparing for this long endurance event, and now that it is down to the wire, you find yourself asking, “What should I do now that I only have a few days before my marathon?” Here’s what you can do before the big day Saturday. Read the rest of this entry »

If you only have a limited amount of time to workout each day, your workouts can still produce effective results. It’s best to divide each day to focus on which muscle groups to work out, including both weight training and cardio.

These workouts are very difficult if you aren’t knowledgeable about exercise or weight-training equipment. I recommend that you consult with a trainer before trying these workouts to know your body’s limits so you can get results. Here’s a good weekly three-hour workout for you to try. (Note: Between each set, take 30 seconds to a minute to rest.) Read the rest of this entry »

The number of Chinese babies made sick by tainted milk continues to rise, almost seemingly by the hour.

The new tally is shocking. The AFP reports that as many as 53,000 Chinese babies have been taken to the hospital after drinking milk poisoned by melamine. That’s about the population of Bowie, Md. or Niagara Falls, N.Y.

One of the companies that has been forced to recall their products is Swiss food giant Nestle, who are also pretty big here in the United States. According to Inquirer.net, Nestle is claiming that its products are safe, even though melamine was found in their milk.

Meanwhile, the guy who was supposed to ensure the quality of China’s food supply has resigned. As Sky News reports, a number of countries have begun banning Chinese milk. (The United States had a ban in place even before the outbreak.)

You’ll remember that melamine was the same stuff that killed lots of cats and dogs in the United States last year. For a refresher, head over to the FDA’s website.

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Running is the most intense workout you can do to burn fat, lose weight and improve endurance. But like anything else, you must start slow and build your way up.

First, you’ll need to find someplace safe and convenient to run — a trail, your neighborhood or a treadmill is fine. Second, you’ll need comfortable running shoes, water, a stop watch and, if possible, a heart-rate monitor. Finally, new research shows you should run on your toes, not your entire foot because it’s easier on joints.

This is a 10-week program to help you run for at least 35-40 minutes, but depending on your fitness level, it may take longer. You’ll train three or four days a week. Read the rest of this entry »

From today’s b the paper…

One of the hottest workout trends today is CrossFit. CrossFit was developed for police academies and tactical operations teams, military special operations units, champion martial artists and professional athletes to improve strength, endurance and conditioning. CrossFit is designed for anybody regardless of physical condition and experience, but use judgment before you try it. Read the rest of this entry »

From today’s b the paper…

Here’s a popular question: Should I do cardio or lift weights first if I’m trying to tone my body?

Many people still believe that a primary goal should dictate what you hit first in a gym: If you want to lose weight, you do cardio first; if you want to build muscle, you do weights first.

But that attitude has shifted. Recent studies have shown that you burn more fat when weight training is done before cardio. Here’s why: Glucose is your body’s preferred source of fuel. Stored muscle glycogen (mainly carbohydrates) is used up during the weight training stage of your workout. After you burn through that, your body has no choice but to dip into your fat stores during cardio. And that’s what you want to target in your workouts. Read the rest of this entry »

From today’s b the paper…

Last week we worked out your core muscles, focusing on the anterior (front) core. Today, I will finish up with the post (rear) core muscles, which are the erector spinae (lower back) and glutes. These should build core strength and help prevent back pain. Read the rest of this entry »

From today’s b the paper…

There are a lot of myths out there when it comes to losing or gaining weight, working out and dieting. Some myths have a bit of truth to them, but if you are not sure about them, do some research or ask a professional. Here are a few of these myths and my professional opinions on them:
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Who knows for sure what’s safe to eat? I don’t. And, apparently, neither does the FDA.

If you’ve been avoiding tomatoes based on the FDA’s warning that they are the reason for the worst-ever salmonella outbreak in years, it’s been all for nothing. Oops!

The FDA has now lifted its ban on tomatoes, saying that they are not to blame for the salmonella scare which sickened nearly 1,200 people in 42 states. It’s one of the worst food-borne illnesses in U.S. history.

Though they’ve cleared tomatoes, they still haven’t figured out what’s making people sick.
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It’s long been known that a high-stress life leads to health problems, including heart attacks.

But, stress is also the silent killer lingering over the most dangerous parts of Baltimore.

The Baltimore Sun says for Baltimore’s poorest citizens, living in the most violent neighborhoods, the risk for heart attack and stroke are higher than normal. They attribute it to the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

We all probably agree that it is unfair. But, what’s the solution?

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