To me, exercise ball exercises seemed like something for older or sedentary people. So I was pretty surprised when I found out my buddy Ray was amped on the idea. Ray is more of a jock than I am and has always been to the extreme in his workouts. For him, an exercise program means jogging, push-ups, sit ups, and lifting weights. I have never known him to be following fads. To see him going in for exercise ball videos was pretty surprising and I wanted to find out more.

I sat down and watched one of the exercise ball videos while Ray followed along on his own exercise ball. It turns out that it had some pretty

useful activities on it. The good thing about exercise ball exercise is that it can really target and strengthen the core muscles. Core muscles strengthen the abdominals and lower back, also known as the power center. This is key to doing Pilates. Ball exercises work on the same principle. Even so, the exercise ball video seemed pretty stupid.To me the exercises looked really easy, and the target audience is not a very athletic bunch (no offense Ray). I was still a non-believer.

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Cardiorespiratory fitness best describes the health and function of the heart, lungs and circulatory system. Cardiorespiratory fitness also describes the capacity of the lungs to exchange oxygen and carbon dioxide with the blood, and the transportation of nutrients and waste products to and from the body’s active tissues. Other terms used and applied to the exercise environment are cardiovascular fitness, aerobic endurance and aerobic capacity. These terms are synonymous.

Cardiorespiratory exercise has proved to have many benefits, such as reducing cardiovascular disease by increasing fat utilization and therefore reducing obesity, and the reduction and management of hypertension and cholesterol. Other reported benefits include improved heart function and oxygen consumption, the ability to perform every day tasks more easily, decreased

resting heart rate, body fat stores, anxiety and stress and management of diabetes.

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When designing an aerobic or strength training exercise program, fitness professionals, such as personal trainers and gym instructors, invariably use the F.I.T.T. principle as their starting point. The good news is that with a little bit of knowledge anyone can use this principle in designing an exercise program that will help them to become progressively fitter and stronger, and help them lose or control their weight.

If you want to start an exercise program or take your current routine to the next level, you ll find the information and tips in this article just what you need.

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When designing an aerobic or strength training exercise program, fitness professionals, such as personal trainers and gym instructors, invariably use the F.I.T.T. principle as their starting point. The good news is that with a little bit of knowledge anyone can use this principle in designing an exercise program that will help them to become progressively fitter and stronger, and help them lose or control their weight.

If you want to start an exercise program or take your current routine to the next level, you ll find the information and tips in this article just what you need.

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Body Fat Distribution

Women bear almost double the amount of body fat as men, primarily to help them carry and nourish babies. Fat is the major energy source needed for fetal development and protection. We have no control over where the fat cells decide to swell and shrink.

The fat cells in the lower body, where women tend to put on inches, are more prone to fat storage. The fat cells in the upper body, where men tend to carry extra weight, are more prone to releasing fat. Women who have dieted will notice that as they lose weight, body fat starts melting away from the upper body first, followed by the persevering lower body fat.

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