Ask The Fitness Dude » Sports

Speed Agility Ladder

FitnessDude — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 22:22:18 +0000

You may not think it, but there are many types of Speed Agility Ladders to choose from. There are short, long, dual, outdoor, indoor, etc. Depending on what type of drills you want to do and what sport you are in, there is a specific one for you.

Speed agility ladders are great for…well, you guessed it…Speed. Foot speed it a must no matter which sport your are in, and agility latters can help you achieve that quickness.

Dual Agility Ladder

Great for outdoor or indoor sports, this is a favorite among coaches because you can have two people exercising at the same time for competition. This particular dual agility ladder is 40″ wide and allows the athletes to train side by side because of the fixed round rungs which are 20″ wide and 18″ apart, creating 20 stepping areas.

This ladder is tough and durable, and it has to be durable when you have big football or basketball players who might step on it during the drills.

==>Buy The Dual Agility Ladder

Basic Agility Ladder

This Power System agility ladder is great for long or short drills, and can be used indoors or outdoors. This ladder comes in two 15 foot pieces that can be connected together for a large 30 foot agility ladder. You can also lay these ladders next to each other to use as a dual ladder (although, pieces do not connect side by side). This is is a great ladder to have, it is tough and durable and very versatile.

==>Buy the Power Systems Agility Ladder

Pro Agility Ladder

This is probably one of the nest Agility Ladders on the market. What makes the Pro agility ladder so great is that you can adjust the lengths of the steps quickly and easy, for longer or shorter strides. The Pro agility ladder also comes equipped with loops that you can strap weight onto so the ladder does not move. This style comes in a 15 footer or a 30 footer. The 30 footer can be split into 15 footers for a wider variety of training. This is a very durable and tough ladder that can withstand a lot of abuse.

==>Buy the Pro Agility Ladder

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Funny Motivational Picture

FitnessDude — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 18:41:49 +0000

I love this picture! Even though he is out of shape, he probably blocked pretty well. It is true for many people though, many people do fitness wrong. That is why so many people get frustrated and give up. If you learn the correct way to workout and have the correct nutrition plan, then you will see success. Ask the fitness dude a question, so you can find out how to do fitness correctly.

What is Plyometric Training?

FitnessDude — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 01:27:02 +0000

I wanted to take a quick look into plyometric training so I could let people know about this affective way to workout. Plyometric training has been around for awhile, since the 1970′s. It’s only now that people are really starting to catch on to this form of working out. Plyometric training could also be called jump training, it has been used strongly in the athletic world, especially basketball, football, and volleyball.

Plyometrics is focused on training people to be faster and stronger. Plyometrics will benefit you in helping you to run faster, jump higher, hit harder, and throw farther. So if you are a person looking for an edge in sports, then plyometrics is a workout you definitely want to start including in your weekly workout routines.

Pick a day where you can do some plyometric exercises, and make sure you try to push yourself further every time you do the routine. With Plyometrics training you will help your muscular system, tendons, and nervous system. You will learn how to react quickly with power, giving you that edge over your opponent.

So whether you are a dynamite professional athlete, or an average Joe athlete, plyometrics can help you excel in your sport.

Is swimming a good exercise?

FitnessDude — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 04:59:08 +0000

Like many workouts swimming has it pros and cons, but is swimming a good exercise? Actually, it is a very good workout, there are many benefits to swimming that are very healthy for your body.

The great thing about swimming is that anyone can do it…except for those who can’t swim. But if you can swim, swimming is something you can do for the rest of your life. I knew a 70-year-old man who would swim across his lake and back everyday, the guy was as healthy as a horse. But not everyone has the convenience of having a lake as his or her backyard. I actually do not recommend swimming in a lake when you’re alone, the risk is to high for a cramp, but if you warm up properly you should not have any problems. I recommend going to a local gym or a public pool to do your swimming exercise, because it’s safer.

So what are some of the benefits that swimming provides for you? Swimming is great for your ligaments and joints, but unlike running where there is a lot of wear and tear on your joints, swimming has no impact. Swimming also has incredible health benefits for your heart and lungs. I like to hike a lot, but nothing has prepared my lungs and heart better for a hike like swimming has. The endurance that you get from swimming is amazing, thus making swimming an incredible exercise. Swimming also provides a full body workout. Your whole body is engaged in every stroke and kick, targeting every major muscle group of your body. The water provides resistance for your muscles, so you do get a great workout.

Swimming can also provide those who have or have had injuries an alternative to running or some other high impact exercise. The swimming pool has been used for injury rehab, providing those who are injured to regain strength in their muscles, ligaments, and joints. There are a lot of athletes who have trained in a pool; they have used the water’s resistance to their advantage, because even a lot of these athletes are injured themselves.

We know that swimming is a good exercise, but is swimming good for weight loss?

This might come as a surprise to you, especially after hearing all the health benefits that swimming provides. But swimming might not be the greatest weight loss workout; in fact you might actually gain weight, but mostly because of lean muscle mass. If you are looking into burning fat, you are much more able to do so by doing interval training and having a nutrition plan. Swimming has had a lot of contradictory weight loss studies, some people gain weight, some people lose weight, and some people experience no change at all. But swimming is great for those who are pregnant, have back problems, and knee problems.

I would definitely recommend swimming, but I would make swimming a “part” of my workout plan, instead of “being” my workout plan.

Do Exercise Balls Really Work?

FitnessDude — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 16:07:36 +0000

The concept of an exercise ball is kind of weird and sometimes hard to grasp. Can something so simple…be so effective? The answer is…Yes!

An exercise ball, also known as a Swiss ball, stability ball, Pilate’s ball, and a sports ball, is actually a very affective exercise tool in strengthening your core. How does it differ from sit-ups or crunches on a floor? When you do sit-ups or crunches on the floor, the solid ground helps to stabilize your core. Because the floor stabilizes your body, you only get an abdominal workout instead of a full core workout.

The reason an exercise ball works, and the reason you see them in gyms and physical therapy centers, is because you are laying on an object that is unstable. Because you are lying on an exercise ball that is unstable, your core muscles (just not abdominal muscles) have to work to stabilize your body when you perform an exercise. Exercise balls help you to workout all those little supporting muscles that you cannot target if you were just to do sit-ups or crunches on a floor.

What about using your exercise ball as a chair?

Although sitting on an exercise ball can help strengthen your core, do not believe the myth that you will get six-pack Abs from sitting on a ball all day. There are a lot of factors that you need for great looking Abs, cardio, weight lifting, core exercise, and a great nutrition plan.

Exercise Balls are great to have and there are tons of workouts you can do with them. Exercise balls are cheap and affordable and can definitely help you in reaching your fitness goals.

Do you have a question? Then ask me! Just click on the “Ask the Fitness Dude A Question” at the bottom right of the page.