Posts by Craig Ballantyne
3 “Core” Exercises for Beginners
It’s summer – the time of year when almost everyone wants six-pack abs. But if you’re a beginner at exercise – especially if you’re overweight – the worst thing you can do to lose belly fat is hit the floor and do hundreds of crunches and sit-ups.
Read MoreA Neglected Metabolism-Boosting Move
If you want to burn a lot of calories, you need to do a lot of resistance-training exercises for the back of your body, not just the front. Your entire upper back is one of your biggest muscle groups. By exercising this important area, you can burn more calories than if you just train your chest and stomach muscles.
Read MoreAdding Extra Oomph to Almonds
As you know from reading ETR, almonds have a host of health benefits. They can lower cholesterol, help reduce inflammation, and keep blood sugar in check. Plus, they are a good source of healthy fats, fiber, and protein. And back in 2003, I discovered a study that showed almonds help with weight loss. Since then, I’ve been recommending raw almonds to my clients as well as the millions of people who read my articles on the Internet and in Men’s Health magazine
Read MoreRunners Need Strength Training
Runners are notorious for trying anything to improve performance, from eating “power gel” to buying space-aged shoes. But most runners are missing one key performance booster: strength training.
Read MoreThis Thing’ll Kill Ya
It should come as no surprise that ETR, a newsletter on how to get “healthy, wealthy, and wise,” doesn’t recommend watching TV. We all know that TV is detrimental to productivity. Even worse, it sets us up to eat junk food and increase our waistlines.
Read MoreThe Truth About Fat Loss
Last November, I traveled to Mesa, AZ to hear Bill Phillips speak at a seminar. Phillips is the creator of the Body for Life Transformation Challenge. But at the end of the conference, it wasn’t Phillips’ words that I remembered. Nor was it Richard Branson’s, who spoke to us via satellite. Instead, a man named…
Read MoreNutrition Tip to Boost Fat Loss
You bust your butt in the gym – and it’s working. You lose weight, drop a few inches, and are feeling good. Then, suddenly, you stop seeing results. The plateau phase of any fat-loss program may be normal, but it can be frustrating. Fortunately, a little change in your diet can get you back on track: Simply stop eating foods from a bag or a box and start eating more fruits and vegetables.
Read MoreHow to Exercise When Injured
It happens. You strain your shoulder, sprain your wrist, or even break an arm. Most people think that working out with an injury like that will be a waste of time. But that’s plain wrong. In fact, by exercising your strong arm, you can actually maintain – or possibly even improve – the strength in your injured arm.
Read MoreWhy TV Makes Us Fat
The researchers examined the connections between watching TV, eating, and exercising in young adults (aged 26-36). They found that the young woman who watched more than three hours per day of TV had a higher prevalence of severe abdominal obesity when compared to the women who watched less than one hour of TV.
Read MoreA Fat-Loss Program for Very Overweight People
I’m often asked where really overweight men and women should start when it comes to a fat-burning exercise program. My answer is probably not what you’d expect.
Read MoreThe Best Workout Schedule
What’s the best time to work out? And how should you organize your training? Weights first, then cardio? Or vice versa? Read almost any fitness blog or magazine, and you’ll find a different opinion.
Read MoreHow to Lose Your Belly and Thighs
If you want to lose belly fat, you should do lots of crunches. And if you want to tone your thighs, you should reach for your ThighMaster. Right?
Wrong on both counts.
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