In order to fully understand how to go about the rest day workout properly we first need to discuss why rest days are a necessity. Some of you may not be the type that can manage to stay away from the gym for long periods of time. This can be a serious struggle for those who have worked out for a long time or aren't sore from their most recent workout. However, rest days are still important and intense workouts every day can actually harm your body. Read my article on some of the negative effects of overworking yourself and practicing bad habits here. You should also know that a rest day doesn't necessarily mean you have to lay in bed like a vegetable. It's actually good to get up and…

Let's talk about the benefits of listening to music while working out. Over the decades countless studies have been performed that analyze using music to alter or control mood. If you take the time to reflect upon (from memory) or listen to some different classical works, you will realize that there are heavy mood driving sounds woven throughout these compositions. This is the very reason that the greats like Beethoven were able to play out hours upon hours of concert and take audiences "on an adventure" of sorts. This still holds true today when we go see our favorite artists live. Imagine the last concert you attended...think about the emotional journey that their music took you on. Now think about the music you listen to every single day...Do you listen…

Many people avoid the gym. There is a wide variety of reasons why. Maybe the stigma against the gym stems from an insecurity when first starting out. Maybe it is too expensive to pay so much every month for a place to workout. Maybe they have children to attend to and cannot leave them alone to head to the gym. Maybe you are on a limited time schedule and really just need to get something quick in before an important appointment. Many people are investing in video programs such as P90X or some sort of Ab Ripper Pro. While these are great and they are guided and do usually show you some results if you work through the program with the proper intensity, they are usually a little longer than…

Hiking is one of those things that someone can easily fall in love with. There is no better feeling than strapping on a backpack, loading it full of the basics, and embarking on a journey out into nature. Whether you live in a city and love it, or live right on the edge of the great outdoors, you cannot deny that hiking brings out a newfound love for nature, health, and fitness. Hiking isn't always about getting out and getting active. Many people really focus on the active benefits of hiking, but what about the passive benefits that result from this activity? Did you know that hiking actually has mental health benefits as well? The Reason I Started Hiking I grew up in a really rural area, so being outdoors…

I know it's easy to burn the midnight oil these days with all the distractions in your daily life. I know personally I am always fighting myself staying up way too late. I spend a lot of time on here, on the internet in general, listening to music, or cooking late. In addition to all these things I am trying to fit in time for the gym. I know that when I come back from the gym I for some reason become a crazy person that no longer needs sleep. So the gym in the afternoons, while this is really the only time I can make it having other obligations in the morning hours, can be really to my detriment. I know also how tough it can be to put…