7 Common Fitness Training Mistakes and How to Correct Them

7 Common Fitness Training Mistakes and How to Correct Them

When we begin a new fitness program, we are energized to work out and optimistic about achieving our goals. As the weeks pass, our enthusiasm may fade. Workouts may become less frequent and eventually cease altogether before we reap the anticipated benefits.

Studies show that 50% of individuals who start a self-monitored fitness program will stop exercising within six months. The dropout rate is very high when a fitness program is begun at a very high intensity level and when self-motivation to exercise is low. (1)

Following sound principles and practices can reduce exercise missteps, produce better results, and encourage fitness program adherence. The following are 7 common fitness training mistakes and suggestions for correcting them.

1. Vague goals. Goal setting is a key motivator for exercise adherence. Well-defined goals guide decisions about the types of exercises and regimens that will produce the intended results. Set both short-term and long-term goals that are specific, realistic, challenging, and achievable. (2)

2. Beginning fitness levels not assessed. When individuals begin exercise programs, they seldom take inventory of their initial health and fitness status. Assessments offer baseline measures on which to show progress. Test yourself on items related to your goals so that you have clear training targets and can establish reasonable time lines to achieve them. Reaching each milestone demonstrates success and inspires greater self confidence to continue exercising.

3. Loosely focused training program. Without appropriate exercise regimens that specifically target goals, results can be haphazard. A well-designed fitness program can streamline the path toward your expected outcomes while preventing the frustration of slow progress or no progress at all. Unless you are familiar with exercise principles, you may need to rely on professional guidance to develop a well-planned program.

4. Program not individualized. No two individuals are alike, nor do they respond in exactly the same way to exercise. Fitness level, gender, posture, medical history, personal goals, and many other factors provide a basis for individualizing exercise programs. Personalizing your program to fit your needs and preferences will yield faster results.

5. Working too hard. The "more-is-better" philosophy of training is not as effective as you might expect. Training with variations in workout routines produce better results than training to failure or exhaustion. Adequate recovery periods are necessary to prevent dropping out of exercise activities due to overtraining.

6. Not working hard enough. If exercise is too easy, you will be frustrated by the lack of results. A general guideline is to work out within a target zone of 60-85% of maximum effort. As you adapt to specific exercise regimens and your performances improve, you must gradually and progressively increase your work load so that you continue to train within the 60-85% range. (3)

7. Insufficient stretching. As muscles become stronger and tone improves, it is important to stretch prior to and after workouts. Maintaining adequate flexibility is essential for preventing aggravating injuries that can contribute to quitting exercise programs.

Fitness training mistakes are avoidable. As you learn more about exercise and apply sound principles, you will encounter fewer disappointments and realize more consistent gains. If you continue to work wisely, diligently, and safely, you can ultimately achieve your fitness goals.

References

1. Sullivan, P. (1991). Exercise adherence. (ERIC Document Reproduction Service No. ED330676). Retrieved from ERIC database.

2. Schmidt, R.A. & Wrisberg, C.A. (2000). Motor learning and performance: A problem-based learning approach (2nd ed.). Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics.

3. McArdle, W.D., Katch, F.I., & Katch, V.L. (2000). Essentials of exercise physiology (2nd ed.). Baltimore, MD: Lippincott, Williams, & Wilkins.


Dr. Denise K. Wood is an educator and sport and fitness training consultant from Knoxville, TN and creator of [http://www.womens-weight-training-programs.com] and [http://fitness-adviser-tips.blogspot.com]. She has trained a wide range of clients from beginners to Olympians. Dr. Wood is a former national track and field champion with years of international experience. She has been recognized as an outstanding professor in exercise science and research/statistics.

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How to Set Your Fitness Training Goals.?

How to Set Your Fitness Training Goals

Setting fitness training goals is a first step toward giving direction to your exercise program. Goals project a path that leads to the level of health and fitness you envision. Clear measures of your expected outcomes crystallize your progress along the way.

Many can readily express their primary goal as, "to get fit". But what exactly will being fit look like, and how will you know when you have arrived?

There are many ways to demonstrate that your fitness level is improving. Subjectively, you may seem more vibrant, shapely, and toned. But you also need concrete ways of measuring improvements.

Correctly developed goals promote adherence to your fitness program. Witnessing visible progress inspires even greater effort toward achieving goals.

Ideal fitness goals are:

1. Stated in specific performance outcomes: The key is to select a few goals with clearly defined outcomes that exemplify the fitness qualities you hope to develop. Examples are: (a) wear size 12 jeans, (b) walk 5 miles without stopping, (c) bench press 200 pounds, or (d) reduce proportion of body fat weight to 25%.

2. Directly measurable: Each of these outcomes can be assessed early in training and evaluated throughout your program. They provide objective indicators of your improvement. There will be no question as to whether or not you have accomplished them.

3. Targeted for specific short-term and long-term completion dates: Set a date when you expect to achieve your long-term goals. Then establish short-term goals that you at specific dates along a time line (e.g., monthly, every 6 weeks). Short-term goals are mile markers-check points of your progress toward your long-term goals.

4. Realistic and achievable: Given your starting point or current condition, could you potentially achieve these fitness goals within the projected time line?

Goals should be challenging, but not overly aggressive or virtually impossible to reach. If you mistakenly set your goals too high or too low, adjust the targeted values and/or dates accordingly.

Examples of good goal statements are:
*Fit into size 14 jeans by April 1 and size 12 jeans by June 1.
*Walk 2 miles without resting by February 15, 4 miles by April 1, and 5 miles by June 1.
*Bench press 75 lbs. 5 times by April 15 and 100 lbs. one time by June 1.
*Achieve 30% body fat weight by March 1, and 25% by June 1.

Be patient as you navigate the path you set forth. Even if it takes longer than anticipated to achieve your fitness goals, celebrate your milestones and keep going!


Dr. Denise K. Wood is an educator and sport and fitness training consultant from Knoxville, TN. She is the creator of [http://www.womens-weight-training-programs.com]

Dr. Wood is an inspirational motivator with an extensive toolbox of training techniques based in science and delivered to accelerate the learning curve. She has trained a wide range of clients from beginners with special needs to Olympians. Her mission: Teach sound principles, inspire life-changing actions.

Dr. Wood is a former track and field champion with extensive international experience. She was mentored by world-class Olympic lifters and a former Soviet coach. As a graduate assistant at the University of Tennessee during the peak years of her athletic career, she coached many elite athletes in the field events and strength training. She has held many national positions in Olympic Development and with USA Track and Field.

As a career educator, Dr. Wood has been recognized for her work as an outstanding professor in the exercise sciences and research/statistics. Her experience with clients in physical therapy, allied health fields, and corporate fitness has further broadened her knowledge of human performance.

Dr. Wood earned her B.A. from Montclair State University in Health and Physical Education with teacher licensure, and both her M.S. and Ed.D. in Exercise Science from The University of Tennessee. Her areas of concentration were Motor Learning, Social and Psychological Aspects of Sport, and Research Design and Statistical Analysis. Dissertation topic: The Effect of Two Free Weight Training Programs on Selected Closed Motor Skills. She is a professional member of the American College of Sports Medicine, the National Strength and Conditioning Association, the North American Society for the Psychology of Sport and Physical Activity, and the American Society for Training and Development.

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8 Key Training Principles For Fitness and Sports Training

8 Key Training Principles For Fitness and Sports Training

The 8 Training Principles are research-based guidelines that can help you accelerate your training progress and optimize your results. Knowing how to apply these principles gives you an educated basis on which you can make informed decisions about designing your fitness or sports training program. The principles can also help you evaluate the merits of fitness equipment and personal training services.

All of the principles complement each other. For best results, they should be applied in concert throughout every phase of training.

1. Principle of Specificity suggests that your body will make adjustments according to the type of training you perform and in the very same muscles that you exercise. How you train determines what you get.

This principle guides you in designing your fitness training program. If your goal is to improve your overall level of fitness, you would devise a well-rounded program that builds both endurance and overall body strength. If you want to build the size of your biceps, you would increase weight loads on bicep curls and related exercises.

2. The Principle of Overload implies that you must continually increase training loads as your body adapts over time. Because your body builds and adjusts to your existing training regimen, you must gradually and systematically increase your work load for continued improvement.

A generally accepted guideline for weight training is to increase resistance not more than 10% per week. You can also use percentages of your maximum or estimated maximum level of performance and work out within a target training zone of about 60-85% of maximum. As your maximum performance improves, your training loads will increase, as well.

3. The Principle of Recovery assets that you must get adequate rest between workouts in order to recuperate. How much rest you need depends upon your training program, level of fitness, diet, and other factors.

Generally, if you perform a total body weight workout three days per week, rest at least 48 hours between sessions. You can perform cardio more frequently and on successive days of the week.

Over time, too little recovery can result in signs of overtraining. Excessively long periods of recovery time can result in a detraining effect.

4. The Principle of Reversibility refers to the loss of fitness that results after you stop training. In time, you will revert back to your pre-training condition. The biological principle of use and disuse underlies this principle. Simply stated, If you don't use it, you lose it.

While adequate recovery time is essential, taking long breaks results in detraining effects that may be noticeable within a few weeks. Significant levels of fitness are lost over longer periods. Only about 10% of strength is lost 8 weeks after training stops, but 30-40% of endurance is lost in the same time period.

The Principle of Reversibility does not apply to skills. The effects of stopping practice of motor skills, such as weight training exercises and sport skills, are very different. Coordination appears to store in long-term motor memory and remains nearly perfect for decades. A skill once learned is never forgotten.

5. The Principle of Variation implies that you should consistently change aspects of your workouts. Training variations should always occur within ranges that are aligned with your training directions and goals. Varying exercises, sets, reps, intensity, volume, and duration, for example, prevents boredom and promotes more consistent improvement over time. A well-planned training program set up in phases offers built-in variety to workouts, and also prevents overtraining.

6. The Principle of Transfer suggests that workout activities can improve the performance of other skills with common elements, such as sport skills, work tasks, or other exercises. For example, performing explosive squats can improve the vertical jump due to their common movement qualities. But dead lifting would not transfer well to marathon swimming due to their very dissimilar movement qualities.

7. The Principle of Individualization suggests that fitness training programs should be adjusted for personal differences, such as abilities, skills, gender, experience, motivation, past injuries, and physical condition. While general principles and best practices are good guides, each person's unique qualities must be part of the exercise equation. There is no one size fits alltraining program.

8. The Principle of Balance is a broad concept that operates at different levels of healthy living. It suggests that you must maintain the right mix of exercise, diet, and healthy behaviors. Falling out of balance may cause a variety of conditions (e.g., anemia, obesity) that affect health and fitness. In short, it suggests all things in moderation.

If you go to extremes to lose weight or build fitness too quickly, your body will soon respond. You could experience symptoms of overtraining until you achieve a healthy training balance that works for you.

For fitness training, balance also applies to muscles. If opposing muscles (e.g., hamstrings and quadriceps in the upper legs) are not strengthened in the right proportions, injuries can result. Muscle imbalances also contribute to tendinitis and postural deviations.

Keep these 8 Training Principles in mind as you design and carry out your fitness training program. They can help you make wise exercise decisions so you can achieve your goals more quickly with less wasted effort.


Dr. Denise K. Wood is an educator and sport and fitness training consultant from Knoxville, TN. She is the creator of [http://www.womens-weight-training-programs.com]

Dr. Wood is an inspirational motivator with an extensive toolbox of training techniques based in science and delivered to accelerate the learning curve. She has trained a wide range of clients from beginners with special needs to Olympians. Her mission: Teach sound principles, inspire life-changing actions.

Dr. Wood is a former track and field champion with extensive international experience. She was mentored by world-class Olympic lifters and a former Soviet coach. As a graduate assistant at the University of Tennessee during the peak years of her athletic career, she coached many elite athletes in the field events and strength training. She has held many national positions in Olympic Development and with USA Track and Field.

As a career educator, Dr. Wood has been recognized for her work as an outstanding professor in the exercise sciences and research/statistics. Her experience with clients in physical therapy, allied health fields, and corporate fitness has further broadened her knowledge of human performance.

Dr. Wood earned her B.A. from Montclair State University in Health and Physical Education with teacher licensure, and both her M.S. and Ed.D. in Exercise Science from The University of Tennessee. Her areas of concentration were Motor Learning, Social and Psychological Aspects of Sport, and Research Design and Statistical Analysis. Dissertation topic: The Effect of Two Free Weight Training Programs on Selected Closed Motor Skills. She is a professional member of the American College of Sports Medicine, the National Strength and Conditioning Association, the North American Society for the Psychology of Sport and Physical Activity, and the American Society for Training and Development.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Denise_K._Wood,_Ed.D.

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How to Design a Fitness Training Plan

How to Design a Fitness Training Plan

Your fitness plan should be designed to provide clear and personalized toward achieving their goals address information. It is an exercise of all its activities into a cohesive program for the success of the project organized.


Before designing your plan, set specific goals in training. In addition, the results of any health or performance related, such as body composition, stress testing or stress tests evaluations answer. Your goals and current status offer useful information on where you can create your individual fitness program.


01/06 steps summarize how to design your plan.


1. Define your target date for achieving their goals and work backwards to the present.


2. Divide your total time online training phases of at least 4 weeks (with some freedom) from its initial conditioning phase.


3. Set a goal for each phase of training so that, collectively, they take you to your goals. For example, the layers may have the effect of increasing the fitness of strength, cardiovascular fitness, or maintain physical fitness. All exercise activities must work together in the same phase. Using phases or training cycles, called periodization.


4. In each phase or cycle, including changes per week and per day in a range that suits the purpose of the phase. Small variations in training schemes produce more consistent profits and avoid boredom.


5. Select the primary and secondary plans to incorporate exercises in your program in the light of the exercise equipment and ease you have. Work on the prescribed exercises that can be received from a healthcare professional.


6. detailed daily workouts for the first phase of the training plan. Select exercises and activities for each training session and determine the order in which they occur. Allow enough time for all activities, including heating and cooling.


Once completed the design, implementation of the first phase of the training plan. Evaluate your progress and discuss the next and, later, in the light of how they are progressing towards their fitness training phases objectives.


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Eating Right During Your Fitness Training Program

Nutrition plays a very vital role in getting the results you want from your fitness training program. Often times you will hear people talk about the importance of having the right macro nutrients. So what do they mean when they talk about these? They are referring to the amount of calories you get from protein, carbohydrates, and fats. There is no set amount that works for everyone, but there are general guidelines that can be followed depending on what your goals are.

For someone that wants to shed fat, those amounts will be different compared to someone that is looking to put on size and muscle mass. While it's true that a chicken breast does have protein, carbs, and fat, there are different programs that can break down how much of each category on in a particular chicken breast. So where do you start? Often times it's said that if you are over 12% body fat; it's a good idea to follow a fat shredding plan. With this plan you will probably be running a caloric deficit. Meaning that in a typical day, your normal activities such as breathing, walking, and everything else you do besides working out, you would burn around 1800 calories. Now keep in mind this is different from everyone. A construction worker will need more calories for his normal daily activities than someone who sits at a desk. So if you need 1800 calories to get through your daily activities, plus you work out and burn 500 calories during your workout, you would need 2300 calories to get by.

However you don't want to get by and stay the same weight, you want to burn more calories than you are taking in. So you might be between 1800 calories and 2000 calories. Now that you know that amount, it is recommended by many that 50 percent of those calories come from protein, 30% from carbs, and 20% from healthy fats. So if you need 900 calories from protein, how many grams is that? Well one gram of protein is 4 calories. So you would need 225 grams of protein in your meal plan. If you need 540 calories from carbs, you would need 135 grams of carbohydrates. One gram of carbs is also 4 calories. One gram of fat however, is 9 calories. So 360 calories from fats would amount to only 40 grams.

Once you are at the body fat percentage you like, and now you would like to add some mass. The percentages that you are after are different, along with the amount of calories you want to consume. If you were consuming 1800 calories before, now you might be after 2400 calories. At that point some suggest changing your percentages to something like 35 percent protein, 35 percent carbs, and 30% fats. Since you are at a higher calorie intake you are still getting plenty of protein, but you are also taking in much more carbs. Keep in mind that these are just basic guidelines and everyone may need to adjust these amounts for their particular situation.

All this being said, the fact that you are watching your diet, and going through a fitness training program means you are taking the right steps to a happier, healthier, better looking you.

Find great fitness training programs, supplements, and nutrition support while you get in the best shape of your life. Go to http://www.crazyhomefitness.com for more.

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The Pros and Cons of Home Fitness Training

Home fitness training is just one of the many ways a person can get fit and lose weight. There are many benefits to being able to have a good workout at home. It's cheaper and definitely much more convenient than going to a gym. On the other hand, working out at home also has some drawbacks. The best way to decide on whether working out at home is the best option is to weigh the pros and cons of choosing an at-home workout program.

People who work out at home enjoy a number of benefits. The most common advantage is that it is the most convenient way to stay fit and healthy. Working out at home takes away most of the complications of going to the gym or fitness center to exercise. Time usually spent travelling to and from the gym can now be used to do other more productive things, there is no longer a need to fall in line to use the exercise machines, and people can exercise at their own pace with nobody watching them. It is also much cheaper to hire an in-home personal trainer rather than pay for one-on-one personal training at the gym on top of the already expensive monthly dues. The most important advantage of exercising at home, however, has nothing to do with convenience or cost. It is simply a much healthier option considering how many germs a person can pick up when using an exercise machine or piece of equipment that other people have already touched or sweated on.

There is also a downside to home fitness training. The first thing a person who wants to try working out at home would have to contend with is the distractions that come with the territory. Phone calls, unexpected visitors and other unforeseen events can distract a person from the task at hand and once a person has lost focus, it's hard to get back into the groove of things. The lack of space and exercise equipment can also hinder a person's progress, especially when a workout requires the use of special equipment and machines.
Not everyone has the luxury of having enough money and space in their home for a home gym, so people who want to make a home workout regimen work would have to make do with exercises that require little to no equipment. Another problem people who work out at home face is finding the motivation to get up and exercise. The choice between cuddling up on the comfy couch and sweating it out for 30 minutes or more can be a tough one to make, especially after a tiring day at work. It really takes discipline to make an at-home exercise routine work, and people who are lacking in this department are better off working out at the gym.

Exercising at home is a great way for people to lose weight and stay fit, but it is definitely one for everyone. Home fitness training doesn't take much, but without dedication and proper motivation, playing sports or working out at the gym may be a better option.

The Fit Fem Studio can get you in shape in the privacy of your own home. With the studio's in home personal training Long island, women can lose weight without going to the gym. The at home personal training is highly effective and adequate.

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Great Benefits of Cardiovascular Fitness Training

One of the most important keys to fitness is a strong heart and vascular system. The best way to achieve health gains in these systems is cardiovascular respiratory exercise also called aerobic exercise, cardiovascular exercise or simply cardiovascular. We will discuss the benefits of cardiovascular and several great ways to perform it.

There are countless health benefits to regular aerobic exercise. First, it strengthens the heart and circulatory system leading to reductions in heart related diseases and stroke and is a recommended for therapy for heart attack sufferers. Cardiovascular lowers resting heart rates; helps the heart pump additional blood more efficiently, delivering more nutrients and oxygen to the muscles and organs, increases the capillaries and expands the elasticity of arterial passages. This helps feed our bodies and allows quicker recovery from strenuous activity.

Cardiovascular lowers levels of bad cholesterol or low density lipoprotein and can raise levels of good cholesterol or high density lipoprotein. It reduces the risk of blood clots, helps build bone density reducing the risk of osteoporosis and helps maintain healthy blood pressure. There's also weight reduction, suppression of appetite, calorie burning and a reduction of stress. It helps with joint health and arthritis and reduces the risk of many cancers and diabetes.

Cardiovascular offers benefits to sexual performance too, strengthening the heart which translates to more stamina in the bedroom. It also increases blood circulation which benefits both men and women's sexual organs, improving performance and sensitivity and can even improve erectile dysfunction. It enhances mood, energy and muscle tone enriching the overall look of your body and who doesn't want that?

Cardiovascular exercises include: walking, jogging, rowing, swimming and cycling or to keep things interesting try soccer, basketball or water polo. Always warm up and stretch to ensure protection from injury. It's recommended that you engage in some kind of aerobic exercise that increases pulse and breathing rate for at least 15 to 20 minutes, 3 to 5 days a week up to as much as 60 minutes or more for those in better shape.

Pursuing information on cardiovascular you may hear information on fat burning zones and Volume O2 Maximum. There are many conflicting views on these subjects. The fat burning zone is supposedly where you burn more calories by doing lower intensity aerobics than you would at higher intensities. Here are the facts; the body will burn 50% of its calories from fat at lower intensities while only 35% at higher intensity but you will burn more total calories exercising at higher intensity, to keep it simple, don't worry about it! If you are going for fat loss and calorie burning, raising your metabolism is your best bet. Lifting weights will burn more calories, even when you are not in the act of working out than cardiovascular, however both do entirely different things for the body, working in concert with each other. Both burn fat and calories but
cardiovascular also builds a stronger heart and vascular system which feeds oxygen to the muscles making them work more efficiently. Note: cardiovascular will actually eventually slow your metabolic rate, burning fewer calories as your body adapts to it. Therefore it's essential to vary your workouts to maximize your fat burning results.

Volume O2 maximum refers to fitness measurement, calculating the volume of oxygen your body consumes as you exercise at maximum levels. This is important for endurance athletes but not so much for beginners. That being said the higher your Volume O2 Maximum the more efficiently you process oxygen to your muscles and the harder you can go at higher intensities. To increase Volume O2 Maximum workout at levels that raises heart rates to between 65 and 85% of your maximum for at least 30 minutes, 3 to 5 times a week.
To keep your cardiovascular workouts varied and fun take them outside but be careful about temperatures, here are a few essential tips. Always drink plenty of fluids before, after and if you're running distance, during your workout. In extreme heat the skin undergoes vasodilation to keep you cool; this decreases blood flow, raising your heart rate. This can lead to heat related injuries especially in high humidity so be sure to wear cool clothing. In cold weather warm up inside, wear layers of warm, sweat wicking clothes and cover head, hands, face and feet to keep warm.

Finally, make sure shoes are comfortable to prevent injury to feet, knees and back, the last thing you want is to suffer an injury that could have been easily avoided with the right gear and be sure to consult a fitness pro to ensure you're getting the most out of your exercise. Have fun!

For More Information Please Go To: http://www.fitnesskeys4u.com There You Will Receive A Free Healthy Food List.

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8 Key Training Principles For Fitness and Sports Training

8 Key Training Principles For Fitness and Sports Training

The 8 Training Principles are research-based guidelines that can help you accelerate your training progress and optimize your results. Knowing how to apply these principles gives you an educated basis on which you can make informed decisions about designing your fitness or sports training program. The principles can also help you evaluate the merits of fitness equipment and personal training services.

All of the principles complement each other. For best results, they should be applied in concert throughout every phase of training.

1. Principle of Specificity suggests that your body will make adjustments according to the type of training you perform and in the very same muscles that you exercise. How you train determines what you get.
This principle guides you in designing your fitness training program. If your goal is to improve your overall level of fitness, you would devise a well-rounded program that builds both endurance and overall body strength. If you want to build the size of your biceps, you would increase weight loads on bicep curls and related exercises.

2. The Principle of Overload implies that you must continually increase training loads as your body adapts over time. Because your body builds and adjusts to your existing training regimen, you must gradually and systematically increase your work load for continued improvement.

A generally accepted guideline for weight training is to increase resistance not more than 10% per week. You can also use percentages of your maximum or estimated maximum level of performance and work out within a target training zone of about 60-85% of maximum. As your maximum performance improves, your training loads will increase, as well.

3. The Principle of Recovery assets that you must get adequate rest between workouts in order to recuperate. How much rest you need depends upon your training program, level of fitness, diet, and other factors.

Generally, if you perform a total body weight workout three days per week, rest at least 48 hours between sessions. You can perform cardio more frequently and on successive days of the week.
Over time, too little recovery can result in signs of overtraining. Excessively long periods of recovery time can result in a detraining effect.

4. The Principle of Reversibility refers to the loss of fitness that results after you stop training. In time, you will revert back to your pre-training condition. The biological principle of use and disuse underlies this principle. Simply stated, If you don't use it, you lose it.

While adequate recovery time is essential, taking long breaks results in detraining effects that may be noticeable within a few weeks. Significant levels of fitness are lost over longer periods. Only about 10% of strength is lost 8 weeks after training stops, but 30-40% of endurance is lost in the same time period.
The Principle of Reversibility does not apply to skills. The effects of stopping practice of motor skills, such as weight training exercises and sport skills, are very different. Coordination appears to store in long-term motor memory and remains nearly perfect for decades. A skill once learned is never forgotten.

5. The Principle of Variation implies that you should consistently change aspects of your workouts. Training variations should always occur within ranges that are aligned with your training directions and goals. Varying exercises, sets, reps, intensity, volume, and duration, for example, prevents boredom and promotes more consistent improvement over time. A well-planned training program set up in phases offers built-in variety to workouts, and also prevents overtraining.

6. The Principle of Transfer suggests that workout activities can improve the performance of other skills with common elements, such as sport skills, work tasks, or other exercises. For example, performing explosive squats can improve the vertical jump due to their common movement qualities. But dead lifting would not transfer well to marathon swimming due to their very dissimilar movement qualities.

7. The Principle of Individualization suggests that fitness training programs should be adjusted for personal differences, such as abilities, skills, gender, experience, motivation, past injuries, and physical condition. While general principles and best practices are good guides, each person's unique qualities must be part of the exercise equation. There is no one size fits all training program.

8. The Principle of Balance is a broad concept that operates at different levels of healthy living. It suggests that you must maintain the right mix of exercise, diet, and healthy behaviors. Falling out of balance may cause a variety of conditions (e.g., anemia, obesity) that affect health and fitness. In short, it suggests all things in moderation.

If you go to extremes to lose weight or build fitness too quickly, your body will soon respond. You could experience symptoms of overtraining until you achieve a healthy training balance that works for you.

For fitness training, balance also applies to muscles. If opposing muscles (e.g., hamstrings and quadriceps in the upper legs) are not strengthened in the right proportions, injuries can result. Muscle imbalances also contribute to tendinitis and postural deviations.

Keep these 8 Training Principles in mind as you design and carry out your fitness training program. They can help you make wise exercise decisions so you can achieve your goals more quickly with less wasted effort.

Dr. Denise K. Wood is an educator and sport and fitness training consultant from Knoxville, TN. She is the creator of [http://www.womens-weight-training-programs.com]

Dr. Wood is an inspirational motivator with an extensive toolbox of training techniques based in science and delivered to accelerate the learning curve. She has trained a wide range of clients from beginners with special needs to Olympians. Her mission: Teach sound principles, inspire life-changing actions.

Dr. Wood is a former track and field champion with extensive international experience. She was mentored by world-class Olympic lifters and a former Soviet coach. As a graduate assistant at the University of Tennessee during the peak years of her athletic career, she coached many elite athletes in the field events and strength
training. She has held many national positions in Olympic Development and with USA Track and Field.

As a career educator, Dr. Wood has been recognized for her work as an outstanding professor in the exercise sciences and research/statistics. Her experience with clients in physical therapy, allied health fields, and corporate fitness has further broadened her knowledge of human performance.

Dr. Wood earned her B.A. from Montclair State University in Health and Physical Education with teacher licensure, and both her M.S. and Ed.D. in Exercise Science from The University of Tennessee. Her areas of concentration were Motor Learning, Social and Psychological Aspects of Sport, and Research Design and Statistical Analysis. Dissertation topic: The Effect of Two Free Weight Training Programs on Selected Closed Motor Skills. She is a professional member of the American College of Sports Medicine, the National Strength and Conditioning Association, the North American Society for the Psychology of Sport and Physical Activity, and the American Society for Training and Development.

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Fitness Training - The Secret of Success in Tennis

Fitness Training - The Secret of Success in Tennis

Tennis has changed as compared to a few years ago. To excel in this sport, a tennis player needs to undergo extensive fitness training to improve footwork, speed, strength and performance. In order to out-stand the cut-throat competition, tennis players need to follow a tennis specific fitness training program that will help give them that slight edge on court.

Let us have a look at how tennis fitness training assists a tennis player in climbing the success ladder:

Types of Fitness Components

Tennis is a very diverse and complex sport. If you are serious about being successful, training for tennis should address all fitness components, rather than just focusing on court drills, or running fast. Depending on the time of the year, (pre competition etc.) on an average a professional tennis player should dedicate, 30% of the total work time, to an effective tennis training program. A good fitness program will include strength training, agility training, power training, speed training, aerobic / anaerobic training, core training, balance training, coordination training and flexibility training. For a tennis player to make and see an overall improvement in their game, the key is to address all these individualised fitness components with correct intensity and load.

Develop Overall Strength

Up and coming young tennis players need to work more on developing strength, core, and balance. They need to focus on some basic full-body strength exercises, which will help them gain speed and flexibility.
Players who feel weak, and slow around the court, should dedicate more time on agility, and reaction drills and overall strength. This can help you feel lighter and quicker around the court, placing minimal stress and load on the body, thus reducing injuries.

Tennis is a sport that can last for hours, so tennis players need to have a high energy level as well as persistence. Many players will notice the benefits and a marked improvement in their level of strength and power endurance, deep into the last set, after following a specific tennis fitness training program.

Prevent Injuries

Range of movement exercise's and keeping the body supple should be one of the main focuses with all tennis players. They should incorporate stretching as an important part of their tennis fitness program. Self- myofascial release exercises are also very important, as this will help maintain a healthy muscle. Performing tennis exercises regularly, not only helps in overall performance, but also helps, prevent and reduce injuries within tennis players. Doing some stretching exercises everyday after practice will boost muscle flexibility, this would further decrease the risk of injuries in the future.

The Perfect Solution

Often players can be seen giving excuses that they can not give time to training due to their tight schedules and continuous tournaments. A perfect solution to this is to perform a 20-30 min (Starter) tennis fitness workout prior to your regular tennis practice. Over time this will not only help improve your level of tennis fitness, but these starter workouts will have you warm, get your feet moving, and have you ready to go for the start of each practice. (no more wasting 10mins of your court time). If you can do these starter workouts 3-4 times a week, prior to each practice, you and your coach will be surprised how much more effective your time on court will be.

At Tennis Fitness, we provide training for tennis and tennis programs for players of all levels. We offer specific exercises for tennis fitness and online tennis programs that are proven to work. We help improve tennis footwork, speed, agility, core, power and strength.

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Significance of Tennis Fitness Training Components

For a tennis player it is imperative to incorporate fitness components into training. Where tennis training is about learning the right technique for ground strokes, volleys, serves etc.; tennis fitness is to improve your footwork, cardio, speed, reaction, core, strength & power. In order to gain the best results, you will need to do tennis training and tennis fitness altogether. Both are required for all level players, be it a beginners or an expert. A well planned tennis training program helps a player in becoming more efficient and proactive on the court.

There are several components of tennis fitness training that are very helpful for tennis players of all levels to achieve the required swiftness, reaction, force and power for the sport.

Agility Training: Once the level of tennis becomes higher working on the specific movements to rapidly change direction becomes crucial. This is where agility training comes handy. It provides the ability to rapidly change direction, without losing speed, balance, or body control. Agility training helps a player to focus on his tennis footwork technique and strength to become much more efficient while carrying out strokes on the court.

Strength Training: This is the next important part of training for tennis. Strength training helps players to become more powerful and explosive on the court. A strong player is one who is able to hit the ball harder. Apart from power it also improves the ball control. Proper stroke mechanics can be easily learned if the muscles and joints are strengthened. Another important reason that strength training is now imperative for competitive players is that it helps protect against injuries.

Flexibility training: This is another important part of tennis fitness training that needs to be done every day after practice. Flexibility is defined as the range of motion about a joint and its surrounding muscles during a passive movement. An accurate flexibility level allows the players to reach balls in extreme positions as well as helps them to prevent injuries that could occur while playing.

If you want to become a professional tennis player, and reach your maximum potential, a tennis training program alone, is not enough, both tennis fitness as well as tennis training are required.

Individualized tennis training fitness program, should incorporate all the following areas, eg. strength, agility, cardio and flexibility. At a high level at least 1/3 of the total practice time should be devoted to fitness training for tennis. One of the biggest mistakes made by tennis players is stop training for fitness during tournaments. It is very important to do a minimum in order to maintain the current fitness level. Following a correct tennis training fitness program is a must for players who want to excel at every level of the sport.

At Tennis Fitness, we provide training for tennis players of all levels. We offer specific tennis fitness exercises and online tennis programs that are proven to work. We help improve tennis footwork, speed, agility, core, power and strength. Visit http://www.tennisfitness.com.au to know more about tennis training exercises tips and our tennis training programs.

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Fitness Training Programs at Home Vs at the Gym

Fitness Training Programs at Home Vs at the Gym

I have been asked in the past if it is possible to get a great gym quality workout at home with minimal equipment and I feel that answer is yes. Good fitness training programs can be done at home. Don't get me wrong there are benefits to a gym. Some have nutritionists to talk to, personal trainers, and some resources that one can justify buying. But what is the main goal? Well let's think about that for a second. You are either looking for cardio training, or resistance training. Can cardio training be done at home? Of course it can.

A jump rope is one of the least expensive pieces of workout equipment you can buy. A good speed rope can be less than $10. So you're not good at jump roping, why not try it every other day for about 5-10 minutes. If you mess up, so what start over. Before you know it you will be skipping that rope like it's nothing, except hard work and burning calories.

Another great form of cardio is running. Yes gyms have treadmills facing bunch of TVs, but are you there to workout or there to watch TV? Why not go outside and jog, get some fresh air, and enjoy the outdoors. There are plenty of free apps for phones that give you GPS on your route, speed, average pace, and tons of other great things. If you think you don't have enough room for all the weights needed think again. A barbell is a great asset, but dumbbells can go a long way. And now there are plenty of different companies that make adjustable dumbbells. Some from 5-100lbs. Those with a doorway pull up bar, and a stability ball to use as your bench (this way is great for stability and the core) are the basics you need to get started on your fitness track.

So to recap, there are a lot of good things about a gym. Some people just need to go somewhere to workout otherwise they find it hard to get motivated and get off that couch. However, there is so much time and money that can be saved by finding a fitness training program that can be done at home. With a little bit of money invested to get some equipment, and a little extra room in the house, you can transform your body and life at home.

Get into the best shape of your life with a great fitness training program. Head over to

http://www.crazyhomefitness.com to get yours and get started

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