Divine SueShine Health and Fitness

Who said playing video games has to be a sedentary activity? I’m both an avid gamer and an athlete. One of the ways I stay in shape is by using Wii fit games. Right now I’m pretty obsessed with the Wii Fit Rhythm Boxing.

After you finish so many Wii workouts you unlock Rhythm Boxing. There are three activity levels in Rhythm Boxing: beginner (3 minutes), intermediate (6 minutes), and expert (10 minutes). The key to scoring points is to time and place your punches just right. The intensity and results are just like those that you would get from a class at an over-priced gym.

Tags: home exercise equipment, Wii Workouts

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There’s no two ways around it: dieting is no fun. Eating less and exercising more may be important to your health, but it doesn’t mean you’re going to like the process. A lot of dieters dread weighing themselves on the bathroom scale. Others obsessively weigh themselves. Here are a few tips on when you should weigh yourself.

For starters, you should take your start weight before you begin your diet. When you know how much you way, you can better set realistic weight loss goals for yourself. Next, you’ll want to weigh yourself once a week, no more, no less.  Preferably you will weigh yourself on the same day each week. Step on the bathroom scale in the morning before you eat breakfast because this is the point in the day when you are lightest. Record your weight week to week so you can see your success over time and not get discouraged by a hiccup here or there.

Tags: Scale, tags: home fitness equipment

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It’s a sad fact that millions of Americans live with chronic pain. In many cases this pain emanates from one place: the back. Back pain has become one of the most popular complaints among people from all walks of life. Whether it’s a car accident, a work accident or you just woke up one day and your back hurt, back pain can be a debilitating and demoralizing dilemma for just about anyone. And finding the necessary relief can sometimes seem impossible, making this common malady seem incurable.

Luckily, though, that’s not the case. Though you may need to make some lifestyle changes, chances are your back pain can be managed at comfortable levels. Back pain relief doesn’t always come in pill form, though many pain relieving medications may work wonders. A healthier diet, better sleep habits and less strenuous physical activity can all serve to provide the much needed relief you’ve been looking for. If you suffer from persistent back pain don’t give up. There are strategies you can employ to overcome it.

Tags: living with pain, Pain Relief

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People are obsessed with fad diets and new ways to workout without ever having to break a sweat. A lot of people don’t seem to realize that the best fat burning exercises are free and extraordinarily effective. There’s no need to go on a diet or even start eating bland and unpleasant food. Getting your heart rate into the aerobic zone for an extended period of time each day will help you burn more calories and fat than you ever thought possible.

Aerobic workouts have long been favored among physical trainers and fitness enthusiasts alike. The effort one must put in, though, can sometimes seem intimidating to newcomers. Activities like running or long-distance biking are best left alone until your body masters the demands of aerobic training. Something as simple as walking a couple of miles a day can achieve remarkable and surprising effects. Aerobic exercise doesn’t always have to involve stressing your body. You can enjoy the benefits of aerobic exercise quickly, easily and affordably. There’s no special equipment and no special clothing required. Just get out and walk and you’ll be glad you did.

Tags: fitness exercise, great workouts

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Gym class was compulsory in the ninth grade at my high school and my gym teacher was particularly fond of crunches. Each gym class she’d add on five more crunches to our warm up routine, building up our endurance and strengthening our core. Finding the discipline and the strength to do such demanding exercises on your own can prove difficult, especially without the threat of a failing grade. Today we are fortunate to have electronics to aid us in our quest for washboard abs and a strengthened core.

The Slendertone Flex Go Abdominal Muscle Toner is a portable, easy to use product with two toning programs. After attaching medical-grade GelPads to your abdomen, signals are sent to your three main abdominal muscles. These signals trigger powerful muscle strengthening contractions that tone your stomach. I know having such powerful technology strapped to your stomach can seem scary, but the product utilizes EMS technology to ensure your safety. The electronic ab workout product comes in waist sizes from 24 to 47 inches and has settings from beginner to advanced.

Tags: ab workout, home fitness and exercise equipment

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Free weights are an important component of any home gym. As you progress in your weight lifting routine, the amount you lift will increase as well. Within the course of your training you can collect nearly 30 different dumbbells. Thankfully, Bowflex has a product, the Bowflex SelectTech 552 Dumbbells, that replaces those 30 with one set.

Each Bowflex Dumbbell has a dial that can increase your resistance from five pounds to 52.5 pounds. The settings are adjustable by 2.5 pound increments up to the first 25 pounds. The dumbbells can be used for an all-over workout, including exercises for your legs, chest, arms, back, abs and shoulders. As an added bonus, durable molding around the metal plates makes for a quieter workout, so you can listen to your workout playlist without the constant interruption of clanging metal.

Tags: bowflex machine, home fitness equipment

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Many people enter into the world of weight lifting because it can yield some amazing results. Done regularly and smartly, weight lifting truly can transform not only how you look but how you feel as well. Being increasingly toned is an obvious benefit, but this added muscle mass will also increase your strength and overall health. But weight lifting should always be considered a two-person event—and that doesn’t mean you and the host of your workouts on DVD. Especially when you start lifting heavier and heavier weights, always have a spotter.

This is the most important rule of weight lifting safety. When you’re on the weight lifting bench and pressing, a spotter is there to help you lift the bar should the weight be too much. If you get tired and can’t lift the bar another rep, and you don’t have a spotter, there’s nowhere for that bar to go except on your head, chest, or neck. This can be very dangerous, so always make sure that every time you go to lift, there’s somebody there just in case.

Tags: dumbbell workout, DVD Workouts

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There are several non-invasive methods for reducing and relieving pain, and most aren’t what people would expect. While the old two Tylenol and a bottle of Jack Daniels might be the traditional cure for pain, this tired method isn’t healthy and isn’t a long term solution. A number of alternative solutions for pain relief don’t involve chemicals or alcohol.

Often times, simply using heating pads or natural topical treatments to enough to alleviate aches and pains. One of the most innovative ways is acupuncture. A skilled acupuncturist can target specific areas of the anatomy to relieve pain. This isn’t just limited to muscle pain or soreness either, an acupuncturist can also relieve pain caused by stress and other factors.

Tags: heating pad, Pain Relief

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Glucosamine is compound found in natural, healthy cartilage, so it makes sense that it’s often used to treat osteoarthritis and other joint problems. But this isn’t the only thing that glucosamine supplements are good for. Research is still ongoing as to the extent of its effects, but here’s a quick rundown of some of its current prescribed uses:

~Osteoarthritis (particularly of the knee): Glucosamine has a track record of proven results in osteoarthritis sufferers, particularly when it’s paired with chondroitin.

~Diabetes: There are conflicting studies on this matter, with some reporting that glucosamine improves blood sugar control, lipid levels and other key variables.

~Rehabilitation: Glucosamine has improved flexibility in patients rehabbing knee injuries, although it doesn’t help with pain.

Tags: Glucosamine, Pain Relief

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BioFreeze is a line of topical products that penetrates deep into tissue to offer long-lasting relief from muscle aches and pains. Available in both BioFreeze lotion and gel, the products utilize natural menthol USP to create a cooling sensation that gently soothes away pain. In order to let the medication absorb in the muscles, BioFreeze also contains an ILEX base, which in a blend of herbal extracts.

Unlike many similar products, BioFreeze is easily massaged into muscles without leaving grease or stains—plus it doesn’t have an acrid odor. BioFreeze can be used to treat everything from arthritis and sore muscles to strains and spasms. Professional therapists often use the products prior to treatment in order alleviate that may occur during the therapy.

Tags: back pain relief, biofreeze gel

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