Calisthenic training involves any exercises performed using no added weight, and is commonly referred to as body-weight training. Calisthenic training can be done as a stand-alone routine, or programmed into any weight loss, bodybuilding or fitness workout.
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Knowing how much weight you can lift is extremely useful when planning your weight-training routines. Different training goals require you to vary your repetition ranges and lift at different percentages of your max.
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Feeling sore after a workout is known as delayed onset muscle soreness, or DOMS. This occurs as a result of muscle breakdown during a workout, particularly on the eccentric portion or downward phase of movements.
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The deadlift is often called the king of exercises, and for good reason. It works nearly every major muscle group in your body -- the lower, mid and upper-back, your glutes, hamstrings, core and forearms.
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Losing weight mainly centers around "calories in versus calories out": You need to eat less than you burn to lose weight. Obviously dietary management is key in the "eating less" aspect, but strength training plays a crucial role in increasing your calorie expenditure.
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In the pursuit of weight loss, people will try many forms of exercise, from jogging, cycling and gym cardio to lifting weights. One training method you might have overlooked is kettlebells. As with any exercise plan, how quickly you lose weight following a kettlebell plan depends on a number of factors.
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Sprinters are a prime example of how important nutrition is for performance. To compete at the highest level, they need their nutrition to be on point so they have enough energy to stick to a demanding training schedule, yet they don't eat so much they gain body fat, which can affect performance.
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Weight machines are generally targeted more toward beginners, or those recovering from injuries, but they can be useful for anyone.
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Power plays a fundamental role in netball. You need power in your lower body when jumping to block shots or sprinting to reach a loose ball, and you need power in your upper body for making passes and shooting goals.
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Moving from general gym goer to powerlifter can feel like a big leap. You may be the strongest guy or girl in your gym, but when you step onto the platform with other competitors in front of hundreds of spectators, it can be a daunting experience. This needn't be the case if you're properly prepared though.
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Hyperextensions are an often overlooked exercise when it comes to increasing your core strength and adding muscle mass, and they can also be used in rehabilitation programs.
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Big arm muscles can make a huge difference to your physique. Your arms are an important muscle group if you compete in bodybuilding, and even if you don't, big arms can still turn heads in the gym and help you become stronger.
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Weighted dips are a great exercise for training your chest, triceps, shoulders and core muscles. When performed correctly, they can add pounds of muscle to your upper body and also improve your strength for other exercises such as bench presses and military presses.
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The behind the head military press is a hotly debated topic. While it is a staple exercise in many bodybuilding and strength routines, and can offer numerous benefits, it also carries a certain degree of risk. Performing it too often, or with poor form, can lead to injury.
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Along with their blistering speed, sprinters are renowned for their impressive physiques, low body fat percentages and bulky muscles. Sprinters need to be ripped, as carrying excess fat mass can have a huge negative impact on speed, notes Marc Perry, strength coach and owner of Built Lean.
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Pairing your back and biceps muscle workouts is a common way of splitting up a bodybuilding routine. When you perform back movements such as rows or pull-downs, you're targeting your mid and upper back but also working your biceps, meaning these two muscle groups fit well into the same session.
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The bench press is an effective exercise for developing your chest, shoulder and triceps muscles, and for building upper-body strength. However, it also carries certain risks and can be detrimental to your shoulder health.
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Swimming is a demanding cardiovascular activity that burns a high number of calories. Half an hour of vigorous lap swimming burns between 300 and 444 calories, while crawl and butterfly can burn close on 500 calories in the same amount of time.
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While a broken finger may sound like a minor injury, it can actually be quite serious. The bones in your fingers allow you to perform many everyday tasks and hold various objects, and breaking them can cause great discomfort.
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Getting your body fat levels down to the shredded condition required to compete in bodybuilding is no easy task. Following a generic healthy meal plan with some light cardio and strength training thrown in won't cut it.
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