Followers

Saturday, August 26, 2006

Let's talk...............Ha! Ok, I will do the talking. All you have to do is think. How many places can you go and actually be yourself? Are you a "Conformer"? Are you the type who falls into the trap of being someone you are not in order to please someone else? Are you addicted to approval? Amazingly, most of us conform and copy the behavior and customs of the world. But, where is our SELF? Where is the person the Lord made? Why not let God "Transform" you into a new person......the person He wants you to be. Why? I will tell you why.............it is Hard! It takes surrender! But once you surrender, you will know what God's will is for you. How awesome is that? No more being someone you are not! Wow, what a thought. Fortunately, it can be easy. The quick fix is follow the impulses of your heart................if something feels good to you, pursue it! Go get em'! Walk in faith, pray for wisdom, move forward with undying perseverence!

Monday, August 14, 2006

Did you know that running on a flat treadmill may actually harm your knees? Treadmills simulate running by pulling a moving belt across an immobile surface, which doesn’t replicate a perfectly level ground. This motion actually translates into running slightly downhill. As you probably know, running downhill is harder on your knees and shins than running uphill. An easy solution to this problem is to increase the incline setting on your treadmill to just a 1% incline. This small increase in the incline levels out the surface below you as you run, taking the pressure off of your knees and refocusing the workload to your glutes and hamstrings. If your knees have been bothering you because of the treadmill, experiment with the 1% incline for a few days before you decide whether the change is helping you or not.

Friday, August 11, 2006

DOMS, or delayed-onset muscle soreness, is a response to exercise in beginners or exercisers who change up their normal routine. This is common because your body is not used to the new movements you are performing. Contrary to popular belief, the delayed soreness you feel days after a particularly strenuous workout is not due to lactic acid buildup, but rather micro-tears in the muscle fibers. These microscopic muscle fiber tears are a normal response to exercise especially for beginners, and actually help the muscle adapt to the stress, making it stronger and giving it more endurance than before.

There are ways to avoid some of the intense pain of muscle soreness: Perform a longer warm-up; progress gradually as far as frequency and intensity are concerned, rather than demanding too much of your body too fast; use lighter weights when lifting; cool down completely after a workout; and don’t forget to stretch after your workout.

If you are currently experiencing DOMS, do some low-impact aerobic exercise, like walking or swimming, to work through the pain faster. You can use NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) like ibuprofen or aspirin to reduce inflammation and pain. A professional massage might also help to work out your aches and pains.

If muscle soreness lasts longer than a week after exercising, check with your doctor to make sure you don’t have a more serious injury