health

  For most people, at-home solo workouts mean bodyweight-only exercises rather than studio classes and gym sessions that call for weights and other gear.  While it might seem like a setback for some, using your body weight to exercise can be efficient. Some of the best bodyweight exercises test your form and allow you to perfect it, requiring zero equipment and little space.  Here's what you need to know about some of the best bodyweight exercises to help you get a total-body strength training workout at home.  Air Squats Stand with feet shoulder-width apart. Lower your hips down and back like you're sitting in a chair. Go as low as you can without losing the natural curve of your lower back. Drive through the feet to return to standing. Think about pressing the floor away from you as you stand up, keeping your weight in your heels. Repeat the exercise. Make sure your chest stays tall, and your core stays tight. You should feel your entire lower body and abs working....

Fun and abs are two words that almost never go together. But all of that is about to change. This exciting workout that uses a fitness ball works your abs by making them work hard to keep you balanced on the ball. It also shapes your core and works on the fat that covers the muscles in that area. Basic bounce Patrick Goudeau, the Nike Elite Fitness trainer who made the Amazing Ball Choreography (ABC) DVDs, made this 30-minute routine. Move as quickly as you can from one exercise to the next. About 350 calories will be burned each time. For the best results, try to do it four or five times a week. Sit up straight on a fitness ball with your feet on the floor in front of you and your knees bent about 90 degrees. Engage your core and start to bounce. Think of bouncing up instead of down, and let your feet lift off the floor. Continue bouncing for 5 minutes, moving your arms in different ways: Reach in and out, forward and back, up and down. Have a good time! Jumping jack Hold the ball whi...

"Get fit" is often used as a synonym for "lose weight" or "tone up," but this challenge is about a lot more than just looking better in your workout clothes. Think of it as a month-long plan to make your life better. The steps that follow are meant to help you put yourself first, one day at a time. Set a goal On the first day, make a plan for what you want to do over the next 30 days. Make a list of all the reasons you want to improve your health that doesn't have anything to do with how you look. Doing these things will help you stay motivated. Makeover your pantry Look over the food you have on hand. Toss any that have been overly processed or have ingredients or additives you don't recognise. Also, get rid of any foods you really don't like but bought because you thought you "should" eat them. Healthy eating is about having fun and getting the nutrients you need, not about deprivation and willpower. Consider the scale Check how you...