Outdoor Sports for Winter Fitness
Every guy knows that the winter months mean many things, and one of those things is weight gain. Since it’s often hard to jog or even get to the gym in the face of a serious snowfall, exercise too frequently takes a backseat to the rest of your life as the cold deepens. We tend to eat heartier and more during the cold months, as our metabolisms slow in an evolutionary directive to preserve the layer of fat our ancestors spent all summer laying in against the lean, cold months. So, especially when this biological impetus is combined with the unbridled gluttony of the holiday season, we find ourselves buckling our belts a bit looser and sucking in the chubbier gut. We make our New Year’s resolutions to lose all that winter weight–but what if you could keep the pounds off altogether? Here are some tips for keeping the extra weight off during the winter with outdoor sports. Read more
The Ten Worst Exercises
Everyone knows that exercise is good for you. Not only does is keep your body strong, trim, flexible, and with better endurance, exercise improves cardiovascular help, speeds digestion, strengthens the immune system, improves the mood and concentration…the list goes on. Most of us are tempted to think that any exercise will do, however, fitness and sports professionals now know that there is a wrong way to exercise. Some exercises put unnecessary strain on certain parts of the body, waste your time by being ineffective, or are even dangerous. What are the ten worst exercises/techniques, and why are they all wrong for you? Read more
Jump Rope: Not Just for Grade School Anymore
Most guys, when you mention a jump rope, will envision two things: the little girls doing double-Dutch in grade school…and the scene in Rocky, where Rocky is jump-roping like mad, his visage steely-eyed and his body rock-hard. For the sake of exercise, let’s think more Rocky and less double-Dutch. The jump rope, long relegated to recess by the majority of sports and exercise trainers, has undergone a Renaissance. What’s the deal with jumping rope–why is it such an awesome workout, what benefits does it have for us Urban Daddies in need of some whipping in shape, and how is it best done? Read more
Trampoline vs. Elliptical Machine: Which Workout Wins?
For years, the elliptical machine has been a gym favorite of many men (and women) for a stationary cardio workout, offering more advantages than using many other kinds of machines. However, over the last several years, the trampoline has been gaining more visibility as an exercise method, not just a fun time for energetic kids. Personal trampolines are now fixtures in home and gym workouts, with some gyms even offering trampoline classes right along with elliptical and spinning cardio workouts. Both are great–but how do the trampoline and elliptical machine measure up against each other? Read more
Comprehensive Guide to Nordic Ski Boots
Nordic skiing is a very popular snow sport, both in Canada and other countries, since it doesn’t need to be done in a specialized ski area. No lift ticket, waiting in line, or hoping that the ski resort is open and has snow early or late in the ski season required—just the right equipment, snow, open space, and the desire to get a fantastic workout. There’s just something about being out there in the frigid air, the snow glistening around you, feeling your body responding to the terrain, your heart beating in your ears. It’s beautiful, and an amazing whole-body workout.
There are several variations of Nordic skiing, including cross-country, back-country touring, Alpine touring, and telemarking. Nordic ski boots are not the same as downhill skiing boots: the Nordic ski boot’s heel can’t be affixed to a ski. Other boot variations are available, depending on the kind of Nordic skiing you want to do. Here are the basics on Nordic ski boots. Read more
