Tag Archives: lifting

The Best of the Rest (Other Workout Types)

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O-Six_Logo_posted

In the National Hockey League (NHL), the Original Six is a popular moniker given to the first six teams to populate the league. For 25 years, only six squads (Boston Bruins, Chicago Black Hawks, Detroit Red Wings, Montreal Canadiens, New York Rangers, and Toronto Maple Leafs) faced off until expansion inevitably diversified the playing field. While the newer teams have their own rich tradition and an ample amount of amazing memories, the Original Six is revered in NHL lore.

Here at Fitdigits, we have our own Original Six.

Walk, Run, Hike, Bike, Cardio and Indoor Cycling will always have a special place in our hearts. For years, the Original Six were the only workout options for our dedicated Fitdigits disciples. However, the release of Fitdigits Version 8.0 introduced over 50 new workout types, and with it the ability to truly customize your workout experience. With that in mind, lets take a look at the next six- the best of the rest. Here are the six most popular of our new batch of workout types:

chart_3Weight Lifting

All of you future Mr. and Ms. Olympia out there have made weight lifting by far our most popular new workout type, nearly doubling the next closest option. While popular perception connects lifting weights solely with gaining mass, pumping iron is a great way to raise your metabolism.

Elliptical

Coming in second most frequently used is our good friend the Elliptical. Elliptical workouts are an excellent alternative to running, in that it allows for a great cardio workout without putting all of the additional wear and tear on your knees, feet and ankles. Maybe try mixing it up on the Elliptical by performing heart rate based interval workouts.

Circuit Train

Getting the bronze medal is Circuit Training. A workout that is short on time but long on results, circuit training is a great way to get an efficient and effective workout. For more information on the benefits of Circuit Training, Shape.com has an excellent article on The 7 Benefits of Circuit Training.

Treadmill Run

Sometimes the relentless summer sun can be beating down a little to aggressively and you need to take your run indoors. That line of thinking has led Treadmill Run to be the fourth most popular new workout type. Record your pace and distance on a treadmill by manually entering your distance.

Treadmill Walk

Walking is a fantastic way to stay active when your body is not up for an intense workout, and Treadmill Walk has slowly but surely made its way into fifth place. The American Heart Association recommends 30 minutes of activity, and walking is a great way to meet that goal. Read all about The Benefits of Walking.

HIIT

HIIT, short for High Intensity Interval Training, is one of the best ways to burn fat while working out, and Fitdigits users have hit HIIT up into sixth place amongst new workout types. HIIT combines intense short intervals of activity with short intervals of rest, allowing the heart to recover slightly before kicking it into overdrive all over again. HIIT is a perfect companion for a compatible Heart Rate Monitor, allowing you to chart your intervals in an easy to understand graph.

8 Reps, 3 Sets

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Twas 8 nights before Christmas, when all through the land
Not a person was exercising, no workouts were planned.
The ham was carved, candy eaten without care,
10 pounds later we complain life isn’t fair.

This holiday season, before you snuggle into your bed,
Make sure to have a Holiday plan in your head.
Fitdigits is sharing the year’s best fitness tips,
To help you avoid adding winter weight to your hips.

8th- 8 Reps, 3 Sets

If you are not lifting weights on a regular basis, you should be.

No this is not the diary of a muscle head Jersey Shore reject. This is dropping straight science on you information seekers.

Weight Lifting raises your metabolism level long after you have left the squat rack, meaning you burn more calories sitting on the couch after a lift then after a run. On top of that, muscles require maintenance. If you have built up your muscle mass, it requires more energy for your body to function throughout the day, increasing your BMR. This is just one of a myriad of health benefits from lifting weights.

So how do you get started? The best set and rep combination for beginners is doing 3 sets of 8 reps. This is just long enough at 8 reps that you will be able to build muscular endurance, but just short enough that you can experiment with some heavier weights.

In the beginning, start light and work on perfecting your form. Without good form, you are cheating yourself! Over time add as much weight as you are comfortable with. Consult a trainer at your gym to help you get started.