Your gym bag essentials probably include the basics like hair ties, deodorant, and a towel. But there are a handful of workout must-haves that are designed to streamline your pre, during, and post-workout routines. Ready to make your sweat session better than ever? Listed below are five gym bag essentials you never knew existed: Sphynx 3-in-1 Travel Razor $15 If you need to shave, but the showers are too crowded, use this 3-in-1 razor that allows you to shave outside of the shower. It includes a refillable water spray bottle, shea butter moisturizing pre-shave bar, and a razor blade for you to quickly shave on-the-go. memobottle™ Slim memobottle $32 Does…

Summer is here and it’s time to take your workouts outside. Walking is a great outdoor exercise and when it comes to walking partners, it’s hard to beat your dog. Your dog will never get caught in a meeting, cancel because of a cold or choose a must-see-TV marathon over a long walk. The fact that dogs love walks is good for us too. Listed below are the ways walking with your dog will keep you fit all summer long: DOGS KEEP YOU MORE ACTIVE A study published in the Journal of Physical Activity and Health found that 60% of dog owners who took their dogs for regular walks met…

You know you should exercise. You know it’s good for your health, your mind and your body. You mean to do it, you really do, but there are just too many things that stand in the way. Or are there? Some excuses are valid such as you were late for work because the baby spit up on you or there was an accident on the freeway and some excuses are, well, just excuses and many of us have a well-stocked arsenal of why we “can’t”. Here are some excuses that are used for missing a workout, and how to overcome them: “I’m Too Tired” Of course you are! Being sedentary…

Staying active during the work day can be a challenge, but whether you are a total fitness fanatic or just want to stay active, tracking your daily steps is a healthy habit to have. Health and fitness experts recommend logging in at least 10,000 steps a day. If you choose to add on a spin class, yoga, or another form of exercise on top of the 10K steps, even better, but if you don’t make it to the gym that day, taking those 10,000 steps is a totally realistic fitness goal that will keep you moving all day. Listed below are some ways to get your 10,000 steps a day…

While walking at a relaxed pace has major health benefits and for sedentary people, it can be a great way to start to an exercise program, but walking isn’t necessarily a calorie-torching activity. So, if you’re looking to burn extra calories on foot, consider revving up your activity with these tips: TACKLE THE HILLS – Use your surrounding environment to break a sweat on a walk. Seek out the hills instead of avoiding them. If you don’t live in a hilly place, even doing hill repeats on the same hill gets your heart pumping. HIT THE TRAILS – Trails require more coordination and all-body stability to navigate roots and rocks…

Walking is not only the simplest form of exercise that almost everyone can do, it’s also a free activity that can aid in weight loss and maintenance. But walking’s benefits go even further, so here are some more reasons to start, or keep walking: IT SHARPENS YOUR BRAIN – Walking for exercise may become increasingly important as we age and our risk for dementia and other brain disorders increases. It can even help reverse the effects of aging and significantly lower risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. To improve your cognition even more, try walking backward which can help you think faster on your feet. Incorporating specific mind-enhancing moves into your…

Despite its reputation as being an ideal low-impact exercise, walking can also lay you up if you’re not careful. Injuries ranging from blisters to tendinitis happen to walkers, but that certainly doesn’t mean you should hang up your walking shoes. Here are a few of the most common walking injuries and tips on how to manage or avoid them altogether: BLISTERS – Blisters are caused by friction from ill-fitting shoes and sweaty socks. Even though they’re usually small, these fluid-filled sacs can derail a walk, hike or run. No matter how tempting it might be, do not pop blisters. When you puncture the skin, you open up the potential for…

Who says you need a gym membership to get and stay in shape? You can reap many of the same fat-burning, body-toning benefits by working out in your own home, especially if you have some inexpensive exercise equipment at the ready. Here’s some gear ideas for enhancing an at-home workout. You can find this equipment at sporting goods stores or online. Yoga Mats – A yoga mat is handy for floor-based exercises because it provides support for your body and offers better traction than a towel. Learn some basic moves from a yoga or Pilates DVD, then (weather permitting) take your mat outside for a workout on your deck or…