There’s no shortage of ways to measure fitness, but which method is the most accurate? Body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, and the numbers on the scale can help track weight loss and offer clues to your overall health, but none of them provide a reliable measurement of cardiorespiratory fitness, which, according to the American Heart Association, is one of the strongest indicators […]
When you’re a fitness junkie, sore muscles may feel like a badge of honor. After all, when friends and co-workers ask why you groan every time you sit down, you get to tell them you crushed a tough HIIT session, or that you nailed a squat PR during leg day. But aside from bragging rights, is it good to be […]
Running gets your heart beating, your blood pumping, and your breath heavy — so, yes, it most certainly counts as cardio. But is running the best kind of cardio? And can you really lose fat by running? The simple answers are yes and yes; running is cardio and you can lose fat by following a regular […]
When you’re in the middle of a workout, you can feel your body working hard: you sweat, you shake, you breathe heavier. If someone asks whether you’re burning calories in the middle of an intense gym session, you’d say yes, of course! But what about after your cool down? Do you think you’re burning calories […]
Indoor cycling’s benefits are numerous; as a workout, it’s convenient, efficient, effective, and as social as you want it to be. You can do it in a class of one or dozens, depending on your mood. And these stationary bike benefits scarcely scratch the surface. “I’m biased toward indoor cycling as a truly fun exercise […]
When was the last time you did jumping jacks? If you answered, “in elementary school gym class,” it might be time to reacquaint yourself with this classic exercise. They may look like child’s play, but jumping jacks offer a slew of benefits — whether you’re 12 or 65. Read on to find out why jumping […]
For enhancing lower-body strength, power, and stability, it’s tough to beat the lunge. If you really want to turn up the intensity, there’s no better choice than the running lunge. “Adding a single-leg vertical jump to the reverse lunge makes the classic strength exercise more challenging,” says Openfit Director of Fitness and Nutrition Content Trevor Thieme, […]