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Runner’s Itch: Why You Might Itch When You Run

You’re midway through a run when an itchy feeling hits your legs. It’s barely noticeable at first. Then it gets a bit worse … and then a little uncomfortable … and then climbs to PLEASE MAKE IT STOP...

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What Is Blood Flow Restriction (BFR) Training?

A new training technique that embraces the concept of working out “smarter, not harder” allows you to exercise at a lower intensity and still make progress. The method is called blood flow restriction...

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9 Benefits of Hiking

Whether the leaves are changing in fall or the flowers are blooming in spring, getting outside for a hike can be a breath of fresh air — literally. In addition to being a good form of exercise,...

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What Are the Benefits of Calisthenics?

No time, money or desire to go to a gym? Then, we’ve got the perfect exercise routine for you. A calisthenics workout engages all muscle groups — with no cash, equipment or travel necessary. You’ll...

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Should You Really Work Out When You’re Sick?

We’ve all been there. Whether you’re this close to hitting a seven-minute mile, you’re one week into a brand-new Zumba® class or you just started making power walks after lunch your thing, that bug...

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Injured Foot? Try These Cardio, Core and Strength Workouts

So, you just left the doctor’s office wearing a walking boot to protect an injured foot or ankle. Months of on-your-feet training turned your legs into pillars of strength. Now? You just feel broken....

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11 Kettlebell Exercises for Your Whole-Body Workout

Kettlebells aren’t new. These cannonball-looking weights with handles have been around since at least the 1700s. Some people believe they were used in ancient Greece. And kettlebell training became...

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How Often Should You Work Out?

Regular exercise is part of a healthy lifestyle. But you might be wondering how much you should work out in a given week to get the most benefits.  General guidelines recommend 150 minutes of...

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6 Desk Exercises That Help You Get Stronger While Working

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends we all get at least 150 minutes of exercise each week. That includes a combination of aerobic (heart-pumping) exercise and strength...

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Should You Try Foam Rolling?

Exercise can lead to sore, achy muscles. But foam rolling can be a useful strategy when it comes to warming up before a workout or cooling down after a sweat session. By using a lightweight...

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What Is Passive Stretching?

When you think of stretching, you might picture someone sitting on the floor, legs extended, reaching for their toes. But passive stretching takes a different approach. Instead of relying on your own...

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The Importance of Wearing a Bicycle Helmet

Do you wear a helmet whenever you ride a bike? For 4 out of 5 people reading this, the answer is probably no. That’s a fact that needs to change. Bicycle helmets save lives and prevent injuries. Using...

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TikTok Trend Alert: How Creatine Can Improve Your Workout

If one of your goals this year is to hit the gym, you may recently have gone down a rabbit hole of information on how to make the most of your sweat sessions. It can be overwhelming to read about what...

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What Is Citrulline?

Have you heard of citrulline? It’s an amino acid that you produce naturally. But it’s also in some foods, like watermelon, as well as sold in supplement form. There’s a lot of hype about this...

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Try a Massage Gun for Relieving Aches and Pains

Feeling stressed out and tight? A massage therapist can help work out those stress-induced kinks. But what if you don’t have the budget or time to see one?  With an ever-increasing array of massage...

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Active Stretching: What It Is and How To Do It

Stretching seems easy enough — for example, bending over and touching your toes. And you’ve probably done a stretch or two before or after a workout. But did you know that there are many forms of...

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Why You Should Try Assisted Stretching

It’s a familiar scene: You’re watching the big game and see the wide receiver or the point guard on the sidelines stretching out their hamstrings with help of a trainer. This type of stretching is...

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Pilates 101: What It Is and Health Benefits

If you’ve been looking for a new workout routine that can give you a good balance of flexibility, strength, muscle tone and help for a few aches and pains, Pilates may be the answer. It might look a...

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Love Outdoor Workouts and Sports? Don’t Forget Your Sunscreen

Are you someone who loves to walk or jog in a park or play sports all summer out on a field? If you’re out in the sun having a good time, it can be easy to think of sunscreen as an afterthought. But...

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Does Your Kid Need an Athletic Cup?

Helmets, padding, shin guards, gloves and … a cup? You might be wondering exactly what you need to keep your athletic youth safe when they tackle their next big sports season. But athletic cups (also...

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How To Stay on Track and Avoid Injury While Cycling

We’ve all been there, caught between the desire to slow down and the need to push through the pain of an intense workout no matter the cost. But if you’re a newbie to spin classes and indoor cycling,...

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The (Many) Benefits of a Cardio Workout

“Get your blood pumping!” If you haven’t heard that phrase on the court, field, pitch or track, you’ve likely at least heard it on TV. Cardiovascular exercise is a surefire way to get your blood...

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Lower Back Pain? 7 Exercises and Stretches To Get Back at It

Your back is a finicky thing, isn’t it?   Too much standing? Back pain. Too much leaning over while gardening? Ouch. Long day sitting in meetings? Ack! My back!  It can seem like the sweet spot...

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Dirty Bulking — and Why You’re Better Off Going Clean 

If you’re into fitness (or pay any attention to health advice) you probably know the basics of how we build muscle. Eat healthy foods. Exercise regularly. Sleep well. Those things you hear over and...

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Damage Control: What To Know About Runner’s Toe

Shiny marathon medals often symbolize the miles and miles of training logged by hard-core runners. The same can be said for black, loose or missing toenails. A condition dubbed “runner’s toe” can be a...

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High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT): It’s for Everyone!

High-intensity interval training, or HIIT, sounds pretty intimidating. But HIIT workouts are FOR EVERYONE — and they’re especially good for those of us who are older or sporting a body type that isn’t...

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Could You Be Addicted to Exercise?

Maybe it started off as a resolution to get in the best shape of your life. But your once-celebrated exercise habit now seems to be taking over — and your loved ones are getting concerned. Could you...

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Can You Drink Too Many Electrolytes?

Your body needs electrolytes. These amazing substances help your body function in numerous ways. They work to maintain fluid balances. They turn nutrients into energy. They support muscle control and...

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How To Work ‘Exercise Snacks’ Into Your Day

When you hear the words “exercise snacks,” you may think of a smoothie, a piece of fruit, a hard-boiled egg or a protein bar. But the idea of exercise snacks isn’t about what you eat pre- or...

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Can Beetroot Powder Improve Athletic Performance?

A powder made from grinding dried beets may be the secret to better performance in activities such as distance running, cycling and … ahem … a certain other sweaty endeavor. Research shows that...

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What Smelling Salts Do to Your Body

Maybe you remember those old black-and-white movies where the damsel in distress faints and is revived with a whiff of smelling salts. Or when Rocky Balboa takes a big inhale to continue the big fight...

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5 Yoga Poses You Can Do Right Now To Strengthen Your Core

So much of yoga is about achieving a balancing act: The ebb and flow of diaphragmatic breathing. The ability to firmly plant your feet on the ground but still remain flexible. Finding ways to focus on...

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Is Salt an Electrolyte?

There are times when you might need to consume a little extra salt. Surprised? That’s understandable, given the amount of time and energy spent vilifying salt when it comes to personal health. There’s...

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How To Treat (and Prevent) Saddle Sores

Whether you’re new to cycling or a seasoned pro, you sometimes pay for that time on the seat. Painful red bumps, sometimes referred to as “saddle sores,” can develop on your thighs and groin area....

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Tendinitis or Tendinosis? Why the Difference Is Important and What Treatments...

Whether it’s an elbow, shoulder, hip, knee or ankle, a painful tendon is a troublesome condition that can affect just about anyone. You’re probably familiar with an inflamed tendon being called...

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The Long Run: How To Train for a Marathon

A marathon stretches 26.2 miles (42.19 kilometers). It’s a long and physically taxing distance to run. Famously, the first marathon runner, Philippides, collapsed and died after his final steps. Yet...

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Can You Exercise Your Varicose Veins Away?

Varicose veins are very common: Approximately one-third of all adults have them. And odds are, most of those people find them annoying. And for good reason! Varicose veins can cause pain, itching,...

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Just Keep Swimming: 9 Health Benefits of Water Workouts

Remember the joy of childhood when you’d spend a hot summer day splashing around in a cold pool with friends? Maybe you were even on the swim team growing up, and the sound of a whistle takes you back...

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Are Electrolyte-Loaded Sports Drinks Healthy?

There’s no shortage of neon-colored sport and electrolyte drinks sitting on store shelves. Those bottles are filled with promises of improved physical performance, faster workout recovery and less...

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Can Kinesiology Tape Help Your Athletic Performance?

If you’ve ever watched the Olympics or basically any other sporting event, you’ve probably noticed athletes on the court or in the field, or even in the pool, wearing large pieces of brightly colored...

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Slow and Steady: The Health Benefits of Tai Chi

Have you ever watched someone do tai chi? They look like they’re moving in slow motion. But can moving at that snail-like pace really do much good for your body? Yes! Those gentle, flowing movements...

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5 Isometric Exercises You Should Be Doing and Why

Need a pain-free starting point for your fitness journey? Or maybe you’re hoping to maintain muscle mass while rehabbing? Look no further than isometric exercise. Isometric movements are a great...

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What Is EPOC? (And Why It Matters)

Do you want a bigger bang for your exercise buck? Excess post-exercise oxygen consumption (EPOC) is one way to get it.   EPOC, often called the “afterburn effect,” is the increased use of oxygen and...

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Should You Try the 7-Minute Workout? 

It’s not always easy to figure out how to start exercising. What moves should you do, and for how long? Do you need a bunch of fancy equipment to get started? Is this even working?!  The seven-minute...

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Is Pickleball Good Exercise?

If you’ve ”hit a dink shot into the kitchen,” you know the joy of pickleball. This booming sport is fast paced, simple to learn and serves up lots of health benefits. Padel, a paddle sport similar to...

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Is Running Bad for Your Knees?

Running is one of the most affordable and convenient forms of exercise. But as you’re running (on a track at the gym, around your neighborhood, on a trail in the park, on a treadmill at home), you may...

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Everything You Need To Know About the 75 Hard Challenge

Never give up. Never surrender. You can do anything if you just put your mind to it. We often rely on mantras like these as a form of motivation. When faced with difficult challenges, we hold on to...

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The 75 Soft Challenge: When 75 Hard Is Too Much

It takes time, dedication and discipline to pick up a healthy habit and keep it going. But sometimes, when we’re sucked into new routines and fitness challenges, we can find ourselves a bit in over...

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6 Health Benefits of Boxing

When you’re feeling tense and frustrated, a good workout can help. Fitness boxing, which is a form of exercise that has roots in traditional boxing, offers a safe outlet for your emotions — not to...

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How To Follow the FITT Principle for Fitness Success

You know how important exercise is for your health. Keeping your body active is essential for preventing and managing chronic diseases like diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity and more. And the...

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