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Articles: Frequently Asked Fitness Questions

Frequently Asked Fitness Questions

Q - How much water should I drink every day?

A - Eight ( 8 ) cups of water per day is the minimum recommendation ( that's 64 oz or a 2 litre bottle of Evian). Some experts suggest you should divide your current weight in pounds by 2; this number is many ounces you should drink each day, but no less than 64 oz. ( see Water article above)

Q - What is the best exercise to flatten my stomach?

A - The best way to flatten your stomach is through a combination of regular cardiovascular activity such as walking or cycling, healthy eating and keeping your digestive system healthy by drinking plenty of water and eating wholesome foods. If sit ups worked then we would all have flat abdominals.

Q - How soon and much should I eat after an aerobic workout?

A - Eat light after a workout. The blood supply is concentrated in the muscles where it is needed for exercise and may not be fully available for you to digest your food properly for about an hour.

Q - How often should I train? How hard? How long?

A - Most experts agree that 3 - 6 times per week is sufficient. Exercise for a duration of 20 - 60 minutes at 60-90% of age-specific maximal heart rate.

Q - How much should I weigh?

A - There is no ideal body weight. While some body fat is essential to sustain life, it is generally thought that a healthy body fat percentage for males is 8-20% and for females 13-25%. Body fat percentage should also be used in conjunction with the Waist to Hip Ratio and the Body Mass Index to give you a better indication of a healthy weight for you.

Q - Which is better for replacing fluids - water or sports drinks?

A - Whether you drink water or sports drinks is a matter of choice. However, if your workout or event last for more than 90 minutes, you may benefit from the carbohydrates provided by sports drinks.

Q - How good are those gadgets advertised on TV?

A - Many of the gadgets wind up as expensive clothes hangers or door stoppers. There is no substitute for weight training and aerobic exercise. Remember the old adage, " if it seems too good to be true, then it probably is."

Q - What is the best time of the day to exercise?

A - The best time to work out is whenever you can fit it into your schedule. The morning (before you eat breakfast) is the best time for aerobic work because your glycogen stores within the muscles and liver are at their lowest which means that the body will rely on fat stores as the main fuel.

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Page last modified on July 02, 2006, at 11:56 AM