Fitness Mastery: Hypertrophy, HIIT & Running Optimization

Comprehensive fitness involves a mix of strength training for hypertrophy, HIIT for metabolic health, and corrective exercises for postural alignment.

Happy Man Lifting Dumbbell Against Beige Background

How to Get Physically Stronger Quickly

A solid base of physical strength can take years of consistent training to develop. However, with concerted a effort, it's possible to see quick improvements.

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How Long Does it Take to Get Really Buff?

Many people would love to have a body similar to the physiques that grace the covers of fitness magazines, but the process of getting there can seem a little overwhelming. You probably know that getting really buff takes diet and training dedication, but a few other variables play a big role.

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How Diet Affects Athletic Performance

Diet can have a massive impact on athletic performance. Inadequate calories and nutrients can impair even the most conditioned athlete, while the right balance of energy and macronutrients will help every athlete perform their best. Dietary needs will vary based on an individual's age, gender, body type and sport.

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How Many Times a Week Do Bodybuilders Work Out?

It takes a high level of dedication and sweat equity to develop the enviable physique of a bodybuilder. It's blatantly clear that bodybuilders must spend a considerable amount of time working out in the gym, but there's a fine line between "enough" and "too much" when it comes to training volume.

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Veterans with spinal cord injuries participating in a tricycle race

Is Riding a Recumbent Bike Good Exercise?

Like most other pieces of cardiovascular exercise equipment, a recumbent bike can provide you with a good workout -- assuming you put a decent effort into it. If you lounge back and casually pedal while listening to Beethoven and flipping through "People"

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Runner in motion

What Kind of Shoes Should a 14-Year-Old Cross-Country Runner Wear?

While other athletic activities call for special gear, a good pair -- or two -- of shoes is just about all cross-country runners require. High school cross-country competitors race on hills and straights, so make sure your 14-year-old gets a leg up on the competition with the right shoes.

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Does Strength Training Cause Water Retention?

It's normal for your weight to fluctuate a couple of pounds from day to day, and if you're engaging in resistance training, newly-acquired muscle may reflect a slight gain when you weigh yourself. But you may also notice weight gain due to fluid retention.

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Athlete running road silhouette

How to Mix Long Distance Running With Weight Lifting

Distance runners often get stuck in the trap of training routines that only involve running. Putting in the miles is significant to successful distance running, but resistance training is an often overlooked and incredibly valuable training tool for runners.

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Muscular man measuring bicep

How Long Do Biceps Take to Get Big?

There are so many variations that determine the rate of muscle growth that it's not possible to say precisely how long it will take for you to achieve impressive biceps. Your training age, body type, training intensity, exercise history and hormonal profile all affect the rate of muscle growth.

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Back support for muscle back

Can Exercise Belts Prevent Hernias

Exercise belts or back braces are used by some exercisers and people who do a lot of heavy lifting at work. The theory behind exercise belts is that they provide support for the lower back to prevent injuries -- but their effectiveness for this is questionable.

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Will Wearing Running Shoes While Not Running Ruin Them?

One of the benefits of running is its minimal equipment requirements; a good pair of shoes, some support and you're off for a good workout. But the shoes are a critical piece of equipment. They're costly and improper shoes contribute to injury. Avoid wearing your running shoes while not running.

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Burn-out Sets for Muscle Growth

You perform a burnout set at the end of a body part workout to completely fatigue the muscles. A burnout set involves lighter weights and very high repetitions -- from 15 to up to 100, to encourage maximal glycogen depletion. This training protocol can be beneficial for muscle growth.

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Lifting dumbbells

How to Build Muscle Fast for Girls

Muscles are in style. No longer is the waif-like, super-skinny body the "ideal figure." More and more girls are aiming to build healthy, fit figures that are strong and muscular. Because girls lack the testosterone that boys have, you won't build big, masculine muscles by lifting weights.

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