Wild Rice and Edamame Salad

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I made this dish last night and it was a hit with my family and I have no doubt it will become a familiar side or main at many other houses soon too!

I think it imperative to start with the simple cooking instructions for wild rice as the salad above calls for the rice to be already cooked so you can get to mixing the ingredients, chilling and most importantly eating.  All the prep for this recipe can easily be accomplished while the rice is cooking. Wild rice is actually not rice at all, its a long grain from wild marsh grass however, its nutritious and these days its cultivated in California (Yay for local!) Minnesota and Wisconsin.  Wild rice can be found in the bulk sections of these local Berkeley and San Francisco stores; Whole Foods,  Berkeley Bowl and Rainbow Grocery.

BASIC STEAMED WILD RICE

INGREDIENTS

1¼ Cups Wild Rice

3¾ Cups Water

 

INSTRUCTIONS

1.  Place the rice in a fine mesh strainer and rinse well under cold running water to clean

2. Place the rice and measured water into a medium saucepan with a tight fitting lid and bring to a boil over high heat.  Cover and reduce the heat to low.  Simmer undisturbed until the rice has absorbed most of the water and the grains have swollen (some may split apart to show their white pith, this is fine and actually having the bulk of the grains split will give you a less chewy texture and more even cook throughout the rice).  About 35-55 minutes (generally the longer and darker the grains are the longer the cooking time will be). If some liquid remains after the rice is don, drain it off.  Fluff the rice and cook, uncovered, over low heat for about a minute to let any excess liquid evaporate, about 1 minute.

 

INGREDIENTS
  • 1/2 cup blanched slivered almonds
  • 2 tablespoons white sesame seeds
  • 4 cups cooked wild rice (see above)
  • 3 medium scallions, thinly sliced (white and light green parts only)
  • 2 cups shelled cooked edamame, thawed if frozen (I find frozen is easy for this)
  • 2 medium carrots, peeled and small dice
  • 1/2 cup dried cranberries
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons toasted sesame oil
  • 1/4 cup rice vinegar, plus more as needed
  • 2 teaspoons honey
  • Kosher salt
  • Freshly ground black pepper
INSTRUCTIONS
  1. Place the almonds in a medium frying pan over medium heat and toast, stirring often, until golden brown (do not let the nuts burn), about 8 to 10 minutes. Transfer to a large heatproof bowl. Add the sesame seeds to the pan and toast, stirring often, until golden brown, about 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer to the bowl with the almonds.
  2. Add the rice, scallions, edamame, carrots, and cranberries to the bowl with the almonds and sesame seeds and toss to combine.
  3. Whisk the olive oil, sesame oil, rice vinegar, honey, and a pinch each of salt and pepper in a medium bowl until combined. Drizzle over the rice mixture and toss to combine. Taste and season as needed with more salt, pepper, and vinegar. Cover and chill for at least one hour before serving.  Once you pull this out for serving give it a good stir and re-adjust the salt and pepper as necessary.
Please let me know what you think of this dish as I know its going to be added to my go-to list!

 

 

 

 

Say “Goodbye” to The Flu Season Forever

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Woman Sneezing

Say “Goodbye” To The Flu Season Forever

Every year when Winter rolls around,
you’ve probably noticed the glut of
commercials for cold and flu medicines
that promise to put an end to the coughing,
sneezing, headaches, stuffiness and
more that comes with being sick.

Most of us just chalk it up to being
“that” time of year.

But the truth is, there’s a very good
reason why Winter coincides with
greater chances of being sick with the
flu or a similar illness.

As it turns out, a vitamin D
deficiency is the culprit.

And when you stop and think about it,
it makes total sense.

As Winter progresses, the daylight hours
become shorter and shorter. Combine that
with the fact that most people try and stay
indoors to keep warm, and you’ve got the
perfect recipe for a vitamin D deficiency.

That’s because your body makes the vitamin D
it needs with the sunlight that hits your skin
when you’re outside.

A study published in the journal Epidiemology
and Infection found that there is a direct correlation
between the lack of vitamin D most people
experience during winter and coming down with
a cold. [1]

The researchers stated, “We conclude that vitamin D,
or lack of it… [is the] seasonal stimulus [for illness].”

Another study, published in the 2009 edition of the journal
Archives of Internal Medicine discovered that a vitamin D
deficiency is responsible for many upper-respiratory tract i
nfections. [2]

And that’s just the proverbial tip of the iceberg when it
comes to research linking vitamin D deficiency to getting sick.

For example, one Dutch study found that children with
the least sun exposure were twice as likely to develop a
cough and three times as likely to develop a runny nose,
compared to children who got plenty of sun. [3]

Another Russian study stimulated vitamin D production in
athletes. They did this with sun lamps that gave off UV rays.

The result?

The athletes experienced 50% LESS respiratory
infections and had less days missed due to illness. [4]

And while I don’t have to space here to tell you about
ALL the neat vitamin D studies I’ve found, I’ll leave you
with one more.

In 1994, a study published in the Journal of Tropical Pediatrics,
investigated the effects of high-dosage vitamin D supplementation
on children.

The researchers gave 27 children (ages 3-12) 60.000 iu of
vitamin D per week. They did this over the course of six weeks.

Also, you should know that these children all had a
history of frequent respiratory infections.

By the time the study ended, NONE of the children
developed respiratory infections. [5]

Dr. Rehman, the study’s lead author, stated,
“infections were fully controlled and no
recurrences were reported for six months.”

That’s simply amazing when you think about it!

So save your money this Winter. Instead of
going out there and getting cold medicines, get
some sun… well, that is if you’re lucky enough
to live in a warmer climate.

Otherwise, stock up on vitamin D!

The kind of vitamin D you want to take is important.
Choose a supplement that contains vitamin
D3 (cholecalciferol).

As far as how much, research indicates you
may need as much as 5,000 – 8,000 iu to
get the protective, immune-boosting effects.

Oh and by the way, if you’re serious about
taking your health and fitness to the next level
for the New Year, why not take advantage of
your FREE Fitness Consultation?

During this consult, you’ll receive detailed
information on how to get fit and trim that’s
tailored to YOUR body.

There’s no obligation and it’s totally and
completely free. To sign up, use the link below

I want my free fitness consult!

References:

1. Cannell JJ, Vieth R, Umhau JC, Holick MF,
Grant WB, Madronich S, Garland CF, Giovannucci
E.”Epidemic influenza and vitamin D.”Epidemiol
Infect. 2006 Dec;134(6):1129-40. Epub 2006 Sep 7.

2. Ginde AA, Mansbach JM, Camargo CA Jr.
“Association between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin
D level and upper respiratory tract infection in the
Third National Health and Nutrition Examination
Survey.” Arch Intern Med. 2009 Feb 23;169(4):384-90.

3. Photodermatol Photoimmunol Photomed.
2004 Oct;20(5):270-1.

4. Vopr Kurortol Fizioter Lech Fiz Kult.
1990 May-Jun;(3):30-3.

5. J Trop Pediatr. 1994 Feb;40(1):58.

Five Tips for Making San Francisco Fitness a Priority

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Committing to a San Francisco fitness program is really hard.  It’s tough to stay motivated when you are the only one saying you have to do it.  It’s hard to see the fruit of your labors when some of them are only measurable with a doctor’s complex testing and instrumentation. It’s exceedingly easy to be consumed by the pressing responsibilities of life and it’s really easy to tell yourself that one more day won’t make a difference.

To make San Francisco Fitness a priority in your life, you need to give yourself as many reasons and as many helpful tools as you can.  Here you’ll find five great tips for making fitness a priority in life, rather than an afterthought.

5 Tips To Make Health And San Francisco Fitness A Life Priority

Clarify your undeniable need for fitness, enlist some help, and pencil—no pen—fitness in to make sure that you live well and live long.

Write it down—what gets done in the course of your day?  The things you’ve made time for.  Exercise should be top of that list because it is what will ensure that you are around to do more and live better.  Schedule time for fitness just as you would for getting dressed, working, and attending important meetings.  Block out your time for fitness in your daily planner first so that you make the time.  Schedule exercise in at a time that makes sense and the rest around it.

Buddy up—get a friend to be your fitness buddy; or, if a friend isn’t interested or available, partner with a like-minded acquaintance at the San Francisco fitness  center and make him or her your friend and fitness buddy.  Having a buddy makes fitness fun and (close to) painless and helps you support each other.  You’ll find that the reasons you give your buddy to go on work for you, too!

Make a list—list all the reasons why you want to get fit and be healthy.  This helps you set fitness goals, motivates you with clear reasoning, and works as a reminder for those times when ambition is waning.  Refer back to your fitness list to see what goals you’ve accomplished, what goals need revamping or replacing, and for general motivation.

Reward yourself—create a reward system as further motivation; with one caveat—your reward cannot be food.  Give yourself something worth working for, something that promotes fitness, and something with lasting motivational power.  A spa treatment, new clothes/wardrobe, a long weekend or vacation, or new recreational or even fitness activity are some good rewards to start with.

Look to the pros—the guidance and support of a good personal trainer is unbeatable as a prioritization strategy for San Francisco fitness.  A personal trainer will help you in innumerable ways by making exercise more enjoyable, more ‘do’-able, providing ongoing information and support, structuring a fitness program tailor-made for you, and being a general source of motivation.  You’ll find that keeping that appointment time and being accountable to someone else helps, too.

You’ll find these five simple tips for prioritizing fitness in your life will go a long way toward your success on the San Francisco fitness trail.  Small changes like these can make a big impact and really help you keep your good health and well being at the forefront of your list of things that need doing.

San Francisco Fitness Tips For Beginners

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Starting on the path to better San Francisco fitness can be a difficult road in the beginning, but those that make the commitment to stick it out will be rewarded not only with better health, but feeling better as well. There are plenty of pitfalls for those that are starting a San Francisco fitness routine, but being aware of them and working through them don’t have to be a struggle. In this article, we’ll take a look at five tips for people that are starting on the path to better health.

Eating Right

Improving your eating habits is an important part of improving your overall fitness. A great way to think about what you eat is that it is fuel for making your body work better. A diet that is comprised of a healthy balance of proteins, carbohydrates, fruits and vegetables will help your body work better, and you’ll be surprised to see how much more you can eat following a healthy diet than one that is made up of fast food or lots of junk food. But changing your diet doesn’t mean starving yourself – if you’re following a San Francisco fitness routine, your body will need plenty of fuel to run efficiently.

Work Out with a San Francisco Fitness Trainer

A personal trainer doesn’t have to be a drill sergeant! The relationship that you form with your San Francisco fitness trainer can be a highly valuable one. Not only will he or she be there to make sure you are working out in a safe and efficient way, but they can help encourage you when you’re feeling down or that you can’t get through the next exercise. A personal trainer can also assess your needs and create an exercise program that is right for your body and reaching your goals.

Stay Positive

It’s easy to lose your enthusiasm for working out shortly after you’ve only begun. You may not see changes in your body soon after starting an exercise program and this can be very disheartening. While it’s true that you might not see changes right away, you are making great strides in ensuring that your healthy lifestyle will have a positive impact on your health and your self confidence! Try keeping track of your progress and you’ll see that, while you may not see changes overnight, the small changes will soon add up.

Get Plenty of Rest

While exercise is an important part of improving your health, getting plenty of rest is just as important. Sleep deprivation has lots of had effects, from temperament to loss of memory and concentration and can even reduce reaction time. Try to avoid exercising right before sleeping, as well as caffeinated products, and try to get eight hours of sleep every night.

Make a Lifestyle Change

Those that are willing to make a lifestyle change, rather than those that only want to lose a few pounds for an upcoming event, are much more likely to succeed. Crash dieting may help you reach a short term goal, but what will happen when you go back to your regular eating habits? Most people will put the weight they lost right back on. Making the commitment to change the way you eat and your exercise habits will not only help you reach your goal, but you’ll be much more likely to retain the good results.  There is no better way to stay on track, than to hire a San Francisco fitness trainer!

Why Strength Training is Beneficial to San Francisco Fitness

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A San Francisco Fitness Expert Reports! There’s a common misconception that muscle is heavier than fat, so why bother with strength training? The truth of the matter is a pound of muscle weighs exactly the same as a pound of fat. Muscle just happens to be leaner than fat and looks a whole lot better on the body. This isn’t the only reason to incorporate strength training into your San Francisco fitness routine. In this article, we’ll take a look at more reasons why strength training is beneficial to those that wish to improve their overall health.

Beneficial for Weight Loss

Strength training is a very important factor in weight loss because the metabolism is increased as muscle is increased. The metabolism is the rate in which calories are consumed, and the rate and efficiency of the metabolism is greatly increased depending on how much muscle is present in the body. Simply put, the more muscle you have, the more calories you will burn. It has been estimated that for every pound of muscle, the body will burn 35 to 50 more calories a day. This not only helps reduce fat, but helps keep it off.

Helps Prevent Osteoporosis

Not only can strength training help with losing weight, it can also help prevent osteoporosis, which is especially important for women. Strength training can help prevent loss of bone density, which can lead to brittle bones and a host of other health issues. Not only can strength training help prevent the disastrous effects of osteoporosis, but those that are already suffering from osteoporosis and benefit from it as well, as strength training not only helps prevent bone loss, but it can also help increase it.

More Good News

While helping with weight loss and preventing osteoporosis are two big advantages to incorporating strength training into your San Francisco fitness routine, there are many other benefits as well. It can help with cardiovascular health, prevent Type II Diabetes, and even make great strides in protecting joints. Perhaps the greatest advantage is that it can help reduce the bane of many a woman’s existence – belly fat.

Believe it or not, abdominal fat is often the result of not just overeating but stress. Our bodies produce a hormone called cortisol when we are under stress, and this hormone can increase the appetite and convert calories into abdominal fat. This fat is possibly the most dangerous of all the fat the can develop on the body because it is so close to several vital organs, putting undue pressure on them and perhaps causing them to malfunction. Not only does strength training use up cortisol, but it helps reduce the appetite and also helps reduce the dreaded belly fat.

Incorporating strength training into your San Francisco fitness routine has so many benefits that it would be foolish to dismiss it. If you don’t know where to start in your strength training, why not consult with a personal trainer to get you started? Anyone can take advantage of a personal trainer’s expertise to make sure they are making the most of San Francisco fitness and strength training, and to ensure they are working out safely and effectively.

Choosing the Right San Francisco Fitness Program to Meet Your Goals

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Before embarking on a San Francisco fitness program, it’s important to sit down and outline your goals. What do you want to accomplish with your fitness program? Are your goals to lose weight, or increase your strength, or simply to benefit from a healthier lifestyle? Knowing what you want to achieve before you start will start you on the path of choosing the right fitness routine to help you reach your goal. In this article, we’ll take a look a few different exercise routines, their pros and cons, and how a San Francisco fitness trainer can help direct you on the path to reach your goal.

Walking Routines

Walking is a great, balanced exercise for people of all ages, but those that truly wish to benefit from this routine will have to do more than take a leisurely stroll around the neighborhood. Walking at a faster pace than normal will help burn calories and keep the muscles working. Picking up the pace can be as simple as lengthening the strides and keeping the arms moving – not necessarily swinging but by bending the arms at the elbow.

For older folks, walking is a great way to help keep the body in shape, but younger people may not gain as many benefits and might want to augment their San Francisco fitness program with another exercise. Walking may also be difficult for those that suffer from joint or muscle problems.

Swimming Routines

Those with joint or muscle problems may benefit from a swimming routine, which works the entire body without putting undue stress on joints and muscles. Swimming is great for those that want to work at their own pace, and beginners can slowly build up their endurance and eventually be able to swim continuously for as much as thirty minutes at a time.

However, if the goal is weight loss, swimming may not be as affective as choosing a workout routine outside the water. One of the benefits of working out outside of water is that the body temperature rises and the metabolism is increased for upwards of eighteen hours after exercise, but exercising in water results in the water conducting the heat away from the body, which means that the body temperature will not be raised and neither will the metabolism.
Resistance Routines

If your goals include increasing strength and muscle mass, doing a resistance routine may be the best choice. Not necessarily the best choice for losing weight or improving cardiovascular fitness, resistance training can at least help maintain body weight, as the muscles will use more calories than the fat. Resistance training can also be increased in difficulty with added repetitions or less time between exercises.

Trying to decide the best path to take isn’t always as simple as choosing a favorite sport or routine. Consulting a San Francisco fitness trainer, who can assess your present fitness, strengths and weaknesses, can be a valuable asset to any one seeking to improve their health. Not only can a San Francisco fitness trainer set you on the best path to reach your goals, but he will be with you every step of the way, to make sure you work in the safest way possible and to encourage you.

Fitness in San Francisco Will Give You More Energy

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Fitness in San Francisco will increase your energy levels by building cardiovascular endurance.  Aerobic exercises are those which strengthen the heart and circulatory system, and in doing so, results in more efficient use of oxygen by the body.  But there are a number of other benefits which are accrued as a result of aerobic exercising combined with good nutrition and strength straining, and they all increase the body’s energy.

Energetic From the Inside Out

As people age they often begin to complain about not having enough energy anymore.  Often the lack of energy is not due to age, but rather to lack of proper nutrition and aerobic conditioning. The body uses oxygen to generate energy and when your aerobic capacity is low, your energy level will be low.

For the body to have enough energy to function at full capacity, the heart and lungs and circulatory system must be able to deliver oxygen efficiently.  Your aerobic capacity determines your endurance.  In other words, if you have low aerobic capacity, your endurance will also be low making it difficult to complete many daily activities such as climbing a set of stairs.

When you begin a program for fitness in San Francisco, it must be well balanced.  Fitness is a concept which embraces three components:  strength, aerobic capacity and nutrition.  You can’t include two components while ignoring the third and expect to see overall fitness in San Francisco.

Increasing your aerobic capacity increases energy levels in many ways.

  • Reduces fatigue by increasing oxygen supplies
  • Burns calories so you are able to lose weight
  • Increases heart strength so it is better able to pump oxygen rich blood
  • Increases stamina
  • Improves delivery of oxygen to muscles which increases endurance
  • Helps you sleep better at night
  • Increases metabolic rate

Joining Forces

Your aerobic conditioning exercises should be combined with strength training and nutrition in order to achieve the best results.  Your body operates as a unit, and like any unit all of the components must be maintained.  A personal trainer can create a program which improves your general health which leads to increased energy.

A personal trainer can design a fitness in San Francisco program that includes a variety of aerobic exercises in conjunction with your strength training.  Aerobic exercises include jogging, bicycling, swimming, aerobics, rapid walking and many sports activities.  By including a variety of aerobic exercises to increase your cardiovascular healthy, the fitness in San Francisco program will be fun and interesting in addition to being effective.

Aerobic exercise can increase your energy levels by increasing the body’s oxygen supply, improving cardiovascular functioning and helping you get a good night’s sleep.  A personal trainer can work with you in your home or office at your convenience.

You don’t have to be one of those people complaining about not having enough energy!

How Stress Influences Your Health and Fitness in San Francisco

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An Expert in Health and Fitness in San Francisco Reports! Work, money, family, the future – there are plenty of things that we stress about. It isn’t just worries or bad things happening that cause stress, but any sort of change, from getting a promotion at work to planning a wedding, that put stress on your body. Stress can come from emotional or physical changes, illness, drastic changes in the environment, and pushing your body too hard. Eventually, stress can have a negative impact on your mental and physical health. In this article, we’ll take a look at how stress can affect your health and why fitness in San Francisco is a great method to help you relieve some of that stress.

What stress does to the body

Our bodies react to stress in a variety of ways, including fatigue, headaches or other aches and pains, insomnia and other emotional disorders like anxiety or depression. Others might experience gastrointestinal problems like ulcers, cramps or irritable bowel syndrome. Stress can also play a part in cardiovascular health, prompting high blood pressure, heart palpitations, hearts attacks or strokes.

Stress can also adversely affect women and the health of their reproductive systems. Women under stress may experience an absence of a menstrual cycle or abnormal menstrual bleeding. The hormone imbalance that stress creates escalated symptoms of fibroid tumors or endometriosis. Stress can even make getting pregnant difficult for those couples experiencing problems with infertility.

Another way that stress can affect people of both genders is that it quite frequently opens the door to illness. Too much stress can cause our immune systems to falter, making us more susceptible to catching colds or the flu. Stress can even have a negative impact on our skin, causing itchy skin, hives or rashes.

Why exercise can help

While exercise has the obvious benefits of improving overall health and helping you live longer, it can also greatly reduce the amount of stress your body is under. Fitness in San Francisco helps relax tense muscles and promotes better sleeping patterns, plus a wide range of benefits that aren’t so obvious. Exercise promotes better blood flow, including in the brain, which can help combat that feeling of having your head stuffed with cotton.

It also releases endorphins that can provide a happy, healthy feeling after a good work out. There is a lot of evidence that people that work out on a regular basis and are in good health are better able to handle the long term affects of stress. Stress will always be a part of our lives, but combating it with fitness in San Francisco can certainly help minimize the negative effects.

Get help in the fight against stress

Getting on the right path to better fitness in San Francisco can be difficult and confusing in the beginning, and you may not see the beneficial effects right away, so it’s easy to quit. Consulting an expert in health and fitness in San Francisco is a great way to get going and keep you motivated. Not only can a personal trainer assess your present health and design a work out routine to help you combat stress, but he’ll also be there every step of the way to encourage you.

Balance in Your Fitness in San Francisco Program

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For those that are only at the beginning of their path to better fitness in San Francisco, the word “exercise” conjures up the image of endless hours running or pumping away on a stationary bike. While these exercises certainly have their merits, they are only a part of a balanced fitness program that incorporates several different disciplines. Varying your fitness in San Francisco routine with elements of flexibility, cardio training and strength training will not only help you optimize the results but will also help keep you from being bored. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at these three important elements and how to get help in making your routine a balanced one.

Cardio Training

Cardio training is often considered to be the cornerstone of any balanced workout. Any movement that gets our hearts pumping can be considered cardio training, from riding a bicycle to doing aerobics. The benefits of cardio is that they make the heart stronger, help burn fat and raise the metabolism so that you’re better able to burn up calories. Experts vary in their opinions of how often we should have cardio training, but most agree that about thirty minutes most days of the week is excellent, even if it’s cut up in ten minute increments. The most important part is getting the heart beating at your target heart rate for extended periods of time.

Strength Training

Strength training is an equally important part of a balanced fitness routine. Remember how cardio training helps raise the metabolism? Well, strength training can help in this area by keeping your muscle mass at a healthy rate. And if your goal is to lose weight, strength training in conjunction with cardio training is the best way to go, because the more muscle mass you have, the more calories you’ll burn over the course of a day. Not only will you be improving your muscles, but also your bones and joints.

Flexibility Training

Flexibility is also an important part of a balanced fitness in San Francisco program, whether it is simply a stretching routine at the beginning or end of a workout or a fuller experience such as yoga. Tired muscles are usually tight and restricted, and stretching can help to increase their flexibility and relieve tension. The benefits of including flexibility training in your fitness program are many, including better posture, protecting the joints and possibly avoiding injury, and even helping to prevent lower back pain.

How To Achieve Fitness in San Francisco

Newcomers to exercise might be scratching their heads and saying to themselves, “Okay, I know these things are important, but how do I find the right balance for me?” It’s true, everyone is different and your needs might be drastically different from someone else’s. A great place to start is to consult a professional of fitness in San Francisco. If you are looking for fitness in San Francisco, a personal trainer is ideal for newcomers and experts alike, because they are able to do a full assessment of your needs, medical concerns and goals and help you reach them in a balanced, safe way.

Fitness in San Francisco – Exercise Equipment

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Those that are getting ready to start a new fitness in San Francisco program may be tempted to avoid using exercise equipment for a variety of reasons. Buying an exercise machine or joining a gym can be expensive, and there is a common misconception that people can attain the same amount of exercise without them. The truth is there are clear advantages of incorporating exercise equipment into your fitness in San Francisco program. In this article, we’ll take a look at different kinds of exercise machines and why incorporating different machines in your fitness program can help you reach your fitness goal.

Free Weights

We often think of free weights as dumbbells, but free weights can come in a variety of shapes and sizes, from small hand held weights to medicine balls. Free weights help in strength training and can also help improve balance, as all the muscles in the body are needed to maintain balance while lifting. However, concentrating on specific muscles can be a challenge with free weights. While it is true that there are those that prefer to use free weights in their workouts as opposed to strength training machines, these types of machines have their advantages as well.

Strength Training Machines

Weight machines typically have a stack of weights attached to a pulley, which then can be lifted by pushing or pulling. Strength training machines are generally considered to be safer and easier to use than free weights and are great for those just starting on their fitness program. Because machines typically only work on one specific part of the body at a time, they are also ideal for those that are recovering from injury and need to build up strength. Machines also make sure that the correct movements are used, as opposed to the cheating that can occur with free weights, such as using momentum instead of muscle to lift weights. Your fitness in San Francisco program can and should include free weights and strength training machines to maximize results.

Cardio Machines

Cardiovascular machines are used to increase the heart rate, which can help improve the health of the heart and burn fat. These machines can mimic the motions of walking, running, bicycling, climbing stairs as well as other disciplines. It can be argued that actually doing these actions instead of relying on machines is better, but the machines do have clear advantages, such as being able to easily monitor your progress. Most cardio machines feature a display screen that can monitor the heart rate, “distance” traveled, or calories burned. Another advantage is that your fitness in San Francisco program can always continue, even if it’s raining or snowing.

Vary Your Routine for Better Results

The best fitness in San Francisco programs will incorporate both cardio and strength training to maximize their advantages and result in better fitness for the whole body. While cardio machines are excellent for burning fat and getting the heart pumping, the strength training will help maintain all the benefits of the cardio workout. When designing your fitness routine, be sure to incorporate both cardio and strength training, which will help you realize your fitness goals in a faster and healthier way.