Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Women's Fitness Apparel - Choosing the Right Workout Clothes for Your Body

Why It Matters

Most of us already know that when we look great, we feel more confident. That feeling definitely applies to our workout attire - a cute outfit will help you work harder and encourage you to keep working toward your fitness goals.

The Right Support

Bigger chested girls will want to look for more supportive tops that have: 1) adjustable back hooks and wide shoulder straps, similar to your regular bras, 2) removable inner cups for added support, and 3) fuller coverage all around to keep it all held in. Unfortunately, you'll need to invest a little more money than smaller-chested ladies to keep your lovely ladies supported and happy.

Don't forget bottom support either! Look for bottoms that provide lift for your buttocks and compression for your thighs. Not only will they feel great on a run, but your lower half will look amazing too.

Length is Key

Pay attention to the length of both your tops and bottoms. Tops that are too short will ride up when you're running or doing downward dog, but tops that are too long will actually accentuate any extra curves in your mid-section and end up being even more unflattering than the shorter tops. Especially if you are curvier, look for tops that end just above the widest part of your hips and slightly below the tops of your pants.

For bottoms, try to avoid pants with very low rises (just below the belly button is flattering on most shapes) and aim for wider waistbands to keep your tummy tamed. If you prefer full-length pants (great for yoga and gym workouts), a slight flare leg is flattering on all shapes. If you prefer shorter lengths (great for running, cycling, and most sports), a fitted Capri keeps your thighs compressed while giving your calves some extra breeze. If you are self-conscious about your legs, stay away from tight full-length styles. Also avoid loose capris, which will just make your thighs look bulkier.

Performance-Enhancing Fabrics

Thanks to breakthrough technological advances in the last several years, you now have the option of finding workout clothes that incorporate the latest technologies at all different price points. The most relevant technologies are: 1) moisture wicking fabrics, 2) anti-bacterial finishes, and 3) more durable fabrics in polyester and nylon blends. Though it recently started making cotton tees, Under Armour became a huge hit when they pronounced "Cotton is the Enemy." The reason is because when you sweat in cotton, it starts to feel heavy and weigh you down, whereas some of the newer moisture managing fabrics actually draw sweat away from the skin and evaporate quickly so you can keep going and going.

The best news is that you no longer have to pay an arm and a leg to get these new performance enhancing technologies.

Be Forgiving

Be kind to your body and opt for styles that are most flattering to your shape. If you feel self conscious about your upper body, go for tops that are flowier or have a slight flare. Regardless of your size, stay away from tops and bottoms that are too tight, or you might actually create unseemly rolls that you don't even have! Also, make sure that you have a comfortable range of motion - try doing different stretching positions, jumping jacks, etc. in the dressing room before you buy.

Miss Versatile

Choose versatile clothes that will look just as cute at the gym as they will on your weekend errands or a casual brunch with the girls. Not only will it ensure that you don't end up wearing tacky colors and prints that you normally wouldn't be caught dead wearing on the street, but you'll also be able to justify spending a little extra on your workout clothes since you are getting a bigger bang for your buck!

Finally, don't forget to have fun with your workout fashion, just as you do with your street fashion - getting fit and healthy is a lifestyle, so treat your workout clothes with as much care and attention as you do the rest of your wardrobe. Your body will thank you!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6305816

The Secret to Women's Fitness

Ladies if you are serious about getting fit and want to know the best workout for women then you have arrived at the right place. The best fat burning exercises for women, the best exercises for women to lose weight, the best cardio workout for women, and the best high intensity interval training workouts all have to include kettlebell training if you are serious about getting REAL results!

Thats right, I said kettlebell training. Ladies by now you may be familiar with the ancient kettlebell unless you have not looked at a TV, newspaper, or the internet in the last couple of years. To give you a quick history about the kettlebell it originated in Russia. This ancient strength and conditioning device has been used and has built some of the best bodies throughout history over the course of the last three centuries! Thats right, this ancient device is really ancient. The world's greatest athletes and strongmen have utilized kettlebell training to build ultimate fitness, to build the best looking athletic bodies, and to increase performance more than just about any other fitness and strength tool around. The base lift that is widely used with kettlebell training is known as the double arm kettlebell swing. The swing is performed by you picking the bell up with both arms and executing an important technique known as the hip snap in order to swing the bell back and forth like a pendulum. This single lift trains hundreds of your muscles at one time allowing you to burn an unbelievable amount of calories, therefore causing you to melt away inches and pounds at a more rapid rate than just about any other workout you can do. This is no fad ladies. This is not some ridiculous piece of in-home equipment that is going to take up a lot of space in your home and cost you a ton of money. This single device is simple, yet unique in it's design. Because of this you will soon learn that there are literally hundreds of different exercises that you can perform with it to give you a better workout than a fully furnished gym!

For an investment to build the ideal body kettlebell training should be at the top of your list! If you don't get acquainted with kettlebell training then you are missing out. I'll even make it easier on you to learn more about by asking you to access the rest of my articles. Remember that anyone can train hard, but only the best train smart!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/3018048

The Most Beneficial Fitness Workouts for Women

This post is for all of the ladies out there.

What if I told you that almost all fitness advice targeted towards women is counterproductive to their goals? Unfortunately, this is actually the case. The reality is that men and women posses differing targets with regards to attaining a specific appearance. As a result, they must workout differently. Most ladies wish to acquire a slim feminine look. So which are the best fitness workouts for women to achieve this? Incredibly, there's been a gaping lack of knowledge on this subject... until now.

Visual Impact for Women: the very first fitness product of its kind.

Earlier this year, Rusty Moore (1) unveiled his long-awaited women's fitness product: Visual Impact for Women. Rusty is the author of Visual Impact Muscle Building: a strategic plan intended for males to enable them to put on just the right quantity of muscle to attain a "GQ" appearance that's less bodybuilder-like and more Hollywood celebrity-like. His latest program shows ladies how to get a slim, slender look without overdoing muscle tone. While striking muscle definition is desirable for the majority of guys, females likely don't need bulging arms or a raging six-pack. They would rather have a sleek, hourglass-shaped physique which includes a flat midsection and subdued muscle tone.

Women shouldn't press their reps to failure when they desire to slim down.

Does your fitness instructor push you hard every appointment to "pump out" those last couple of repetitions? Maybe you listened, grinded them out, and felt proud of yourself after. Training to failure is great advice... if you want to build mass. This applies regardless of how many repetitions you carry out or how heavy you're lifting. If you wish to obtain strength without adding muscle mass size, which will ultimately allow you to get the slimmed down feminine look, then stay clear of training to failure. I know this is controversial information, but it's scientifically proven.

Ladies don't need to add more muscle mass to shed extra fat.

Maybe your fitness instructor tells you that you must put on muscle to reduce more body fat. While this is correct (you'll burn off slightly more calories by adding more muscle to your body), wouldn't you prefer to burn a substantially larger number of calories without getting more buff? If I were a woman, my answer would be yes. If this is the case, then you'll need to have strategic cardio exercise as a cornerstone of your plan. By executing cardio exercise the right way, you are able to burn a boat load of calories, without getting thunder thighs and shoulder muscles like the Incredible Hulk. Sound like a plan? Visual Impact for Women will teach you the best way to make this happen.

Women shouldn't eat more often if they want to slim down.

Eat 6 times per day to keep your body burning fat constantly. Another landmine suggestion. A common complaint I've heard amongst my female friends is that it's very difficult to keep their daily calorie consumption in check to the degree needed in order to lose weight. This is especially true for ladies because they are usually smaller compared to males so they really need to be eating considerably less. But this really is easier in theory. Last time I checked, restaurants don't offer "female size" portions. Many gals I know can easily eat the same amount as guys. Guess what, if you're eating six times per day, your meals will have to be so tiny, you're practically setting yourself up for failure.

In Visual Impact for Women, Rusty describes an eating strategy that I actually adhere to myself (as a man). He recommends keeping track of calories on a weekly basis instead of a daily basis, eating two small meals then one large meal during most days, and integrating intermittent fasting once or twice a week. This strategy allows you to slim down while still enjoying bigger, fulfilling meals (even 1,200 calorie restaurant dinners), which is why I love it so much. I can honestly say that strategic calorie manipulation is the best option. The inflexible six meals a day method will probably make you give up, weep, run away to Ben & Jerry, and put on weight (in that order). Don't fall into this trap.


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6541392

Saturday, March 21, 2009