Posts Tagged ‘ exercise ’

Lean and Mean Muscles

Oct 16th, 2008 | By Fit Snob | Category: Sustainable Living
Rating 3.00 out of 5

muscle4 Lean and Mean MusclesThere’s this fear by most women that if they do any strength training, they will end up like Conan the Barbarian (no, not the talk show host). Biologically, women do not have the testosterone to bulk up the way men do. Instead, we tend to be toned instead of buff. So break out those weights of yours and get those sexy, defined arms that you’ve always wanted.

The best thing to do to increase tone is to use light weights, about 2 to 5 pounds, and do exercises for about 12 to 20 repetitions. Perform about 2 to 3 sets about 4 times a week. Mixing arm exercises, squats, crunches and lunges in a 20 minute workout at least 4 times a week will guarantee results in about 2 to 3 weeks. You have to include a healthy eating plan as well, but when you exercise more, you tend to choose healthier foods as well.

Tell The Conscious Snob how you work out in the comments below!




Relieve Knee Pain From High Heel Overuse

Oct 1st, 2008 | By Health Snob | Category: Conscious Beauty
Rating 3.00 out of 5

kneemassage4 Relieve Knee Pain From High Heel OveruseWe all love to wear high heels, but wearing them for too long will cause eventual pain, especially in the knees. You can do them in the shower or right before bed time. Your knee is associated with various muscles, ligaments and tendons that create an intricate structure that can easily be stressed. From running to constant bending, the knee gets the brunt of a lot of our movements. Adding high heels only make it more vulnerable to injury and strain. There are four simple massages that you can do easily every day to relieve the pain. Try to do each massage for at least 30 seconds.

The first are to massage is right below your patella bone in your knee. Rub the area right under the patella in a horizontal fashion with the pad of your finger. Apply strong pressure so you can feel the tendon being massaged. The second area is to the outer knee below the patella. Massage that area in short vertical strokes, very similar to the first massage.

The last two massages require larger movements. Always move distal to proximal. To massage these muscles, use the bony part of your wrist to apply the pressure. Start at the bottom of your leg right above your ankle. Apply firm pressure along the muscle. Move the pressure upwards toward the outer side of your knee. Repeat.


The fourth massage is at your thigh. Continue to use your wrist as the method of applying pressure. Start above the knee near the outside of the thigh. While applying firm pressure, move upwards at the outer thigh, along the muscle, towards the outer pelvis of your leg. Repeat.

With these four basic movements, you can immediately feel tension relief throughout your leg. Also remember to alternate heel heights of your shoes so you do not over strain your feet, ankles and knees. Regular exercise also strengthens your muscles. For more information, you can also check out our other article on how to wear high heels without tears.



Get Fit With Pilates!

Sep 2nd, 2008 | By Fit Snob | Category: Sustainable Living
Rating 3.00 out of 5

 High Heels Without TearsI recently started going to a pilates studio and I am loving it! I tend to call myself a yoga-lover, but adding some pilates for core strengthening and toning is great for every body.

Pilates focuses on mind-body movements that improve flexibility, agility and has shown to decrease lower back pain. It uses a floor mat and exercise equipment to challenge your body in a safe environment.

I’ve used Winsor Pilates before, but nothing compares to a class with an instructor to guide your movements. My abs feel tighter and my arms and thighs look more sleek after a few weeks. It takes hard work, but it’s totally worth it. Prepare for summer with pilates and find a studio near you!

Image Credit: www.pilates.com



Dieting is a Fad

Aug 15th, 2008 | By Health Snob | Category: Sustainable Living
Rating 3.50 out of 5

dieting is a fadWe hear all about it in magazines, television ads, everywhere. Take this pill and you will lose weight! Drink only lemon water for a week for a beach body! Eat only cabbage for a thinner you! Please. Keep doing diets and you will go up and down in weight like a yo-yo.

A diet is temporary and usually unhealthy. A person can safely lose 1.5 to 2 pounds a week by lifestyle changes. The key is lifestyle. You are making changes in your life, for the long term. Not one week. Not three days. Eating healthy is forever.

So throw away those Atkins books, the Zone diets, and the South Beach diet guides. Start making changes in your daily routine that you can consistently do in the long run. Yes, you can have that brownie, but not the entire tray. Enjoy that handful of chips, but don’t grab the entire bag. Hungry? Have a piece of fruit and go jogging.

A snob has lots of desires, but she will not sacrifice her health to fit into those leather leggings, no matter how hot they may eventually look. The snob is already fabulous.

dELiA*s Dieting is a Fad