iRenew – Official Blog
11Jan/122

Building a Balanced Physique by Making Good Use of Your Gym Time

Having a favorite body part to build up is fine; in fact, seeing the results of your workouts and getting compliments about these parts you've worked so hard on are the best ego boosts you can get. However, simply focusing all your attention on your favorite body parts isn't recommended – unless your target physique is similar to a certain spinach-eating sailorman.

When working out, it's important you create a balanced regimen to exercise your whole body. This way, you can certainly attain your fitness goals without making your shoulders and arms look too big for the rest of your body. Here are a couple of tips to make sure you make good use of your gym-time:

Keep yourself motivated. Laziness is one of the worst things any gym-goer can experience while working out. From skipping exercises to dropping the program altogether, laziness can have devastating effects on a perfectly good routine. Usually, this happens after you've worked out your favorite body parts, leaving you content with that you did for the day and disregarding the need to exercise more. Doing this constantly will get you imbalanced results, as you've only worked on one part of your body while the rest stay idle.

You can do a couple of things to counter these lazy spells. These include setting goals, getting a workout buddy, and even buying new workout clothes. These should make sure you keep yourself driven to reach your fitness goals.

Redo your routine. When creating workout programs, most people prioritize their favorite parts first, and then work their way down. Why not do it in reverse? Pick workouts for your least favorite body parts first. This way, you'll always be reminded to work on everything else on your next visit to the gym.

Of course, this doesn’t mean you can forget about the basics of a proper workout. Keep in mind that it's still best to work on bigger muscles, like the chest, back, and legs, before proceeding to the smaller ones. Just put the least favorite parts at the top of the list as a reminder of what you have to do for the day.

By following these tips, you can rest assured that your physique will end up as balanced as your fitness program.

Do you have any personal tips on how to achieve a balanced physique? Feel free to share your exercise regimen by leaving a comment – we'd love to hear from you!

Tagged as: , , , 2 Comments
23Nov/112

Go Past the Stuffing: How to Have a Guilt-Free Thanksgiving Dinner

When thinking about Thanksgiving, one thing usually comes to mind – the food! From juicy, stuffed roast turkey and mashed potatoes, to an assortment of cakes, pies, and other desserts, this holiday is easily one of the most sumptuous ones in an entire year. For this reason, it's hard to imagine anyone not enjoying the festivities. Well, if you’re one of the many of health-conscious Americans trying to keep the pounds away, you might beg to differ.

Thanksgiving can be torture if you're on a very strict diet. With everyone having a feast over so much food on the table, it's hard not to get jealous as you keep to your grilled veggies and lean meat.

But whoever said you had to skip on the delicious holiday spread, anyway? Here are some tips on how you can indulge in your favorite Thanksgiving meals without totally abandoning your fitness goals:

Boost your metabolic rate. One way of preparing for the holiday feast is by creating a special exercise routine and meal plan that will increase your metabolism before Thursday. Having a high metabolic rate means you'll burn more calories at a higher rate, even when your body is at rest.

In terms of exercise, there are two routines that stimulate calorie-burning: One is through interval training, a proven way of training your body to burn more calories through alternate sets of high and low intensity exercises; and the other through strength training, which increases muscle mass, allowing you to burn an extra 50 calories for each extra pound of muscle.

Your metabolic rate also depends highly on your eating habits, and the best way to increase your calorie-burning rate is through eating right. Plan your meals and avoid depriving your body of the fuel it needs to keep going. Before you know it, you'll be a calorie-burning machine, ready to take on Thursday's Thanksgiving turkey without hesitation!

Pace yourself. Remember to eat slowly; this way, you can enjoy all the dishes you love while consuming lesser calories. This is because, according to a growing number of studies, it takes about 20 minutes for our brains to realize that we're full, and that it's time to stop. On the other hand, if you hulk down mountains of stuffing in record time, you may already be eating past full tank, resulting in two things: a food coma and the nagging feeling that you've had too much to eat.

If you happen to have been working hard on your fitness for a while, indulging in your favorite Thanksgiving dishes won't be a problem. Make it your reward for doing your best! Even better, you may be burning most of what you'll eat, thanks to your high metabolic rate.

Of course, it wouldn’t hurt to schedule a post-Thanksgiving workout either. This way, you can make sure that all the holiday calories are burned away.

What did you do to enjoy last year's Thanksgiving? Got more tips on staying healthy and avoiding holiday weight gain? Leave a comment – we'd be happy to hear from you!

Tagged as: , , , , 2 Comments
26Oct/111

Pumping Up the Volume: How Music Promotes Efficient Exercise

Whether you love hitting the gym, going for bike rides, or jogging outdoors, listening to music while working out significantly improves your exercise productivity. By creating the perfect mix of your favorite, upbeat songs and power tracks, you can actually feel more energized, allowing you to lift heavier, bike farther, or jog longer.

Based on an a studyconducted by researchers at California State University, Fullerton, people who workout with music are more engaged and motivated compared to those who don’t. Apparently, this is because athletes were able to distract themselves from feeling muscle fatigue,  hence allowing themselves to exert more effort without even feeling the difference.

If you exercise outdoors, bring your mp3 player to musically inspire you. If you're a gym rat, most fitness centers already play music in the exercise rooms. However, it would still be better if you brought your own choice of tunes. This way, you can customize your tracks, and make sure that you keep up a high level of energy.

Creating the Perfect Playlist

When it comes to making the perfect workout playlist, some people tend to turn technical and start talking about specific beats per minute (bpm). This can help if you've got the time and patience to understand it, but the easiest way to build an effective workout playlist is to simply load it up with tunes you love. After all, researchers do agree that motivational music differs from one person to another. If you are able to groove to the music, then you've got a good playlist.

You can also consider some all-time favorites or power songs to add to your workout playlist. Examples include tracks from the Rocky soundtracks, Black Sabbath's "Iron Man", and select Michael Jackson songs like "Beat It", "Thriller", and "Billie Jean". They're not a necessity, but adding them wouldn’t hurt. Combine these tracks with your favorite songs and you can bet on getting that energy boost you need when exercising.

You can even plan the playlist according to your exercise routine. For example, you can begin with songs ideal for warming up, followed by a faster set of tunes for the more intense parts of your program. Don't forget to end the session with the perfect cool down track. By following this, you may find yourself actually moving to the beat of your music – a sure sign that your playlist is working for you.

What songs are a must for you when you go out to exercise? Feel free to share your ideas – we'd love to hear from you!

Tagged as: , , , , , 1 Comment
23Oct/115

Balancing Out Your Fitness

There are many ways to train your body to become faster, fitter and stronger. In the course of training your body, though, there may be things you might be neglecting. One of these is developing a sense of balance. It might seem like a small thing compared to building tougher muscles and a leaner shape, but it plays a vital role in your speed, stamina and strength in the long run.


Balancing your Body

Did you know that with a better sense of balance, you can actually avoid sports-related injuries by a good deal? Surprisingly enough, even professional athletes tend to run into the problem of not having a perfect sense of balance. You might have the tightest abs and a perfect beach bod, but if you can't have balance, you may be more susceptible to fall-related injuries.

So how do you work out your balance? First of all, you can begin by performing all your workouts with both of your feet on the ground. Contrary to the belief that working on an unstable surface develops a sense of balance, working out on even ground enhances your balance proficiency and can help you develop power, speed and jumping ability.

Other tips to keep in mind include trying out more activities and avoiding sitting for very long periods of time.

 

Balancing your Mind

While you can train all you want to develop your muscle tone or sense of balance, overtraining can be incredibly counterproductive. Overworking your body can lead to stress, strain and increased susceptibility to illness. While you might think that resting makes you feel lazy, you need to keep in mind that you're doing your body a favor by giving it time to recuperate from the strain of your fitness regimen.

Listen to your body and understand when it needs to rest. In the long run, this will help you develop your body in a more balanced manner.

You can also keep your body balanced while contributing to a good cause. We're currently offering the limited edition pink iRenew bracelet in honor of National Breast Cancer Awareness month. 15% of the proceeds from these bracelets will be going to the Donna Foundation's 26.2 with Donna National Marathon to Finish Breast Cancer.

How well do you think you can balance? Is there any aspect of your wellness that you want to work on? Feel free to share your thoughts with us in the comments.

Tagged as: , , , , , 5 Comments
17Oct/113

iRenew Tweets With Rajon Rondo

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On behalf of iRenew Products and Rajon Rando, we would like to thank everyone who took part in Rajon’s live Twitterview last Friday hosted by iRenew Products.  It was a major success and Rajon had dozens of questions to answer from his fans. Sorry to the fans who did not get their questions answered but tune in for more info about Rajon and iRenew on Twitter(@irenewproducts and @RajonRondo)  Here is a recap of the Twitterview.  Enjoy!

1. What’s been keeping you busy?

@RajonRondo: Just working out, playing games, getting ready for the season.

2. How is the elbow holding up?

@RajonRondo: The elbow is good.

3. Tell us what your pre-game rituals are?

@RajonRondo: I can’t give all of my secrets away.

4. Who was your favorite player growing up?

@RajonRondo: Have a lot of respect for AI”s game. (Allen Iverson)

5. What’s it like getting to play with Ray?

@RajonRondo: It’s great. He’s a great player and great shooter.

6. Would you ever consider playing another sport?

@RajonRondo: Maybe football.

7. How do you improve your quickness and speed?

@RajonRondo: Lots of practice and hard work.

8. Have you personally used the Irenew bracelet?

@RajonRondo: Ya, I wear it on gamedays.

9. How often do you go back home to Kentucky?

@RajonRondo: I’m there quite a bit.

10. What was the most exciting thing about playing in the championship?

@RajonRondo: Winning the whole thing.

 

Tagged as: , , , , 3 Comments
10Oct/111

Gearing Up for the Gym: Must-Haves to Optimize Your Workout

Want to get the most out of your session in the gym? It isn’t enough that you throw on just anything you find in your closet. It helps to have a set of equipment specifically designed to improve your performance, endurance, and of course, keep you looking good even during the heaviest and sweatiest sets.

But aside from looking your best, there are a whole slew of other reasons to why you need the best gear while working out. Wearing the wrong equipment can really get in the way of having a fulfilling workout, whether from injuries such as a sprained ankles due to low-quality cross trainers, or simply from the discomfort of wearing an icky, sweat-drenched top.

Here are some tips to keep in mind:

Let Your Body Move. The best clothes to wear for a good workout allow a full range of motion and keep you comfortable even at your sweatiest. Restricting clothes not only make you look silly in the gym but can also keep your muscles from flexing to their full extent, rendering most exercises ineffective

You Will Get Sweaty. Now, sweating is an integral part of working out. It shows how much effort you exert, which also defines how effective your workout is. However, sweating can be unproductive if it gets in the way of your comfort. With that said, look for clothes that dry faster or allow your body to breathe even at your sweatiest. Pair these tops with a trusty towel and you can stay dry and comfortable on the gym floor.

Show Some Support. Getting the right kind of support will prevent you from hurting yourself in the gym. Supportive gym equipment includes gloves, thigh supporters, and jockstraps. If you're building bulk and lifting heavy weights, consider weightlifting gloves that are designed to increase your strength and enhance your grip, while at the same time prevent calluses and blisters from forming on your hands.

Speaking of support, you can also give your energy a boost with iRenew® products which may help you keep your balance better and enhance your strength and endurance.

With all the right gear you can certainly feel 100% more confident the next time you hit the gym. Would you have any other gym tips to share? If you have any suggestions for your fellow readers, feel free to leave a comment. We’d love to hear from you!

Tagged as: , , , , , , 1 Comment
   Older Entries »

Blogroll

iRenew Categories

iRenew Pages

iRenew Post Archives

iRenew Recent Posts

iRenew Tag Cloud