Author: Libby

You’ve probably heard that you should walk 10,000 steps per day for fitness and weight loss — but how many miles is 10,000 steps, and why is that number important? Initially, this concept of walking approximately 5 miles originated as a way to get people to move more. But now, researchers are investigating whether it’s a useful goal at Should You Walk 10,000 Steps Per Day for Weight Loss?. So far, studies show that 10,000 steps per day isn’t a magic number, but it is a good indicator of how much activity a person is achieving in a day. In fact, one study of steps…

A hammer curl is a variation of the biceps curl and targets muscles in the upper and lower arm. While this exercise is almost always performed with a dumbbell, you can do it with cables or bands. Hammer curls are a great addition to your upper-body strength routine. How to Do Hammer Curls Stand with your legs straight (but not stiff or locked) and knees aligned under the hips. Your arms are at your side with a dumbbell in each hand, the weights resting next to the outer thigh. Your palms are facing the thighs, thumbs facing forward, and shoulders…

Walking is an excellent form of exercise to build strong legs and healthy joints while also burning calories. Many people who start a walking program like to track their progress as they build mileage and increase their fitness levels. Understanding your distance and calories burned while walking can help you achieve your goals. Read on to learn how to best track your efforts with calorie guides and calculators at How to Count and Track Calories Burned Walking. How to Track Calories Burned While Walking You can measure calories burned while walking using different types of data. For example, you might…

Some nutrition experts call the avocado a superfood.1 This flavorful fruit provides health benefits, such as cholesterol and blood sugar management, because it is a good source of fiber. But when you look at avocado nutrition, you might be surprised. Not only are avocado calories high, but most of the calories come from fat. So should you include this fruit in a healthy, balanced diet? Many people do, but if you’re watching your calorie and fat intake, you may decide to consume avocados in moderation at Avocado Nutrition Facts and Health Benefits. Avocado Nutrition Facts One-half of an avocado (100g) provides 160…

The pulldown exercise works the back muscles and is performed at a workstation with adjustable resistance, usually plates. While seated, you pull a hanging bar toward you to reach chin level, then release it back up with control for one repetition. This exercise can be done as part of an upper-body strength workout. How to Do a Lat Pulldown Sit comfortably on the pulldown seat, with your feet flat on the floor. Check the height of the bar. You may need to adjust the bar height by shortening or lengthening the chain or cable that supports the bar or your…

The incline dumbbell press is a free weight exercise designed to target the chest, shoulders, and triceps, independently hitting each side of the body. This exercise is a great way to focus on and define your upper-chest muscles. Unlike the more traditional flat bench press, the incline press shifts the movement’s focus to the upper portion of the pectoral muscle groups and the front of the shoulder. This allows for more significant hypertrophy (muscle growth) of the upper chest when the exercise is performed regularly at How to Incline Dumbbell Press: Techniques, Benefits, Variations. The incline dumbbell press is designed to…

The Bulgarian split squat is a version of a single-leg squat where the back leg is elevated on a bench or a sturdy chair. As a unilateral squat, the exercise focuses more on the quadriceps than similar lower-body compound movements. It also requires a lot of balance and coordination, increasing the core and upper body engagement required to maintain proper form.1 The Bulgarian split squat is a great movement to add to a lower-body strength or total-body workout routine. Due to the compound, balance-focused nature of the movement, it’s a good idea to include it toward the beginning of a workout, perhaps after…

If you want to build stronger glutes, you’ll want to do exercises and activities that target those muscles. The “glutes” are actually three different muscles—the gluteus maximus (the largest muscle), the gluteus medius, and the gluteus minimus. Read on for 7 moves to try that will build your butt. What Are Glutes? The glute muscles are located under the fatty tissue of your buttocks. They consist of three muscles including the gluteus maximus, gluteus medius, and gluteus minimus. Your glutes are large, powerful muscles that help you walk, run, sit, stand, and many other movements. You can increase the size…

Chicken breast is an excellent source of lean protein (protein without a lot of accompanying fat). That means most of the chicken breast calories and macronutrients (macros) come from protein. People who eat enough protein are more likely to maintain muscle mass and preserve a healthy metabolism. Chicken breasts are also relatively inexpensive, versatile in recipes, and can be prepare in a variety of ways. For example, baked chicken breasts and air fryer chicken breasts tend to be convenient and healthy cooking methods. Learn more about chicken breast health benefits, food safety, and ways to prepare it as part of a balanced eating…

There are many benefits of doing a plank, as planks are an excellent abdominal and core exercise. To ensure you keep your core strong and stable, add the move to your ab workout program. Keep reading to find out plank exercise benefits and different variations along with instructions. What is a plank? A plank involves balancing on toes and forearms as you hold the rest of your body off the ground. Your spine is kept in a neutral position and your head, torso, and legs are aligned. Planking is an isometric exercise since keep your core muscles contracted in one position at…