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men competing in bicycle race Image Credit: Ryan McVay/Digital Vision/Getty Images If you’re like most athletes, pre-race anxiety is a fact of life. Despite feeling like you couldn’t possibly eat anything, having a good meal before your bike race can mean the difference between riding the best race of your life or running out of steam halfway through. Ignore that knot in your stomach and eat something close to a normal meal that has the right mix of carbohydrates and nutrients to keep you going, at least until the climbing sections are over....

Your walking speed can tell you more about your health than you might think. Image Credit: Getty Images / Kali9 Walking is the most popular aerobic physical activity among Americans, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That’s a good thing because it not only offers its own set of health benefits, but your walking speed can also be an indicator of how healthy you are. Advertisement Benefits of Walking According to the Mayo Clinic, walking regularly at a brisk pace can:...

Shaking muscles after weightlifting can simply be a sign of fatigued muscles. Image Credit: Anchiy/E+/GettyImages When you exercise, you challenge your body beyond its normal limits, which gets your heart pumping and your lungs working to circulate oxygen throughout your body. Lifting weights adds an extra challenge to your muscles — and if you experience some shaking after lifting weights, it can be alarming. Advertisement Body shaking can be a typical aftereffect of strenuous exercise, but you can take preventive measures to reduce after-exercise shaking....

Getting down to the floor is a functional movement that translates to a lot of daily activities. Image Credit: The Good Brigade/DigitalVision/GettyImages Sitting on the floor probably isn’t your first choice, but sometimes you need to get down there to clean, play with grandbabies or make space for someone else to sit on the couch. No big deal — until getting down on the floor becomes too tough to manage....

Homemade fruit popsicles with greek yogurt on wooden sticks. Image Credit: StephanieFrey/iStock/Getty Images Losing weight may be on your to-do list, but it can be difficult to accomplish. To lose one pound a week, you need to consume 500 fewer calories per day. This may sound overwhelming, but you can make a few simple changes to reach your goal. Eating only popsicles is not healthy and you won’t effectively lose weight by doing that....

A healthy diet is important to losing weight. Image Credit: Ravsky/iStock/GettyImages For some people, your core is one of the last places fat comes off your body as you lose weight. But if you follow a simple core weight loss program, you can slim down your entire body — including your belly and/or hips. Advertisement Sorry, No Spot Reduction If you are looking for core exercises for weight loss, you’ve got company: According to the National Center for Health Statistics, 71 percent of Americans have overweight or obesity....

Several types of shellfish — including frozen lobster — can be purchased in your local grocer's fresh fish and frozen food section. Image Credit: Bartosz Luczak/iStock/GettyImages Several types of shellfish — including frozen lobster — can be purchased in your local grocer’s fresh fish and frozen food section. These selections are available either partially prepared and cooked, completely raw or completely prepared, ready to heat and serve. Advertisement Fresh fish is often flash frozen to preserve its flavor and consistency, which is often done with frozen lobster claws and tails....

The last thing you want to do is serve ribs that smell funny or bad pork chops that make people fall sick. Image Credit: bhofack2/iStock/GettyImages When you’re cooking dinner, the last thing you want to do is serve ribs that smell — or look — off. Nor do you want to dish up bad pork chops that could cause people to fall sick. Fortunately, there are some pretty clear tip-offs when your pork is spoiled....

Exercise, like jumping rope, can alter the digestive system. Image Credit: Hinterhaus Productions/DigitalVision/GettyImages There are several effects of exercise on the body that can positively alter digestive system functioning, such as an increase in endorphins, a reduction in stress level and speeding up of the metabolism. Exercise can even alleviate symptoms of digestive diseases and prevent constipation. Advertisement But like anything in excess, too much physical activity can have its drawbacks, such as stomach upset and an increase in stress hormones....

There are different ways to look at average leg press weight. Image Credit: gpointstudio/iStock/GettyImages In This Article Average Leg Press Weight How to Use the Leg Press Sets and Reps Whether you're looking to save your back from barbell-induced discomfort or just want to try some new exercise equipment, the leg press is a great tool that you can most likely try at your gym. Advertisement But if you're new to this machine, you probably want to know what weight to start with and how to use the machine properly....

Radishes in a bowl on a wooden table Image Credit: voltan1/iStock/Getty Images Vegetables are good for your health, but some of them contain high levels of sugar. Knowing which vegetables have a high glycemic index number and therefore affect the blood sugar faster is valuable information. The higher the glycemic index, the more sugar the food contains and the faster your blood sugar will feel the impact. Among the vegetables that are high in sugar, several fall into these categories: roots, sweet peppers, bulbs and starchy vegetables....

A woman jogging at night on a city sidewalk. Image Credit: HalfPoint/iStock/Getty Images Jogging is a simple and flexible form of exercise that requires little in the way of special equipment or facilities. In comparison to running, jogging is gentler on your knees, hips and ankles. Jogging can help you lose weight, as you burn more calories during jogging than while sedentary. Regular night-time jogging will burn a significant number of calories....

Pain in your side can stop you in your tracks. Image Credit: gpointstudio/iStock/Getty Images A brief pain in the lower right quadrant of your abdomen experienced after running can cause concern. It may take you out of your run and cause you to hobble home. In many cases, it’s a simple side stitch that resolves on its own. If you continue to experience the pain long after you run or consistently during future runs or other exercise, consult your physician for a workup....

Senior woman taking a pill Image Credit: Lighthaunter/iStock/Getty Images Magnesium is one of the more diversely used minerals in your body. It plays a role in ion transport, which impacts your muscle function. Without enough magnesium in your body, you can have symptoms that may include hand tremors. Advertisement Magnesium You have about 25 grams of magnesium in your body. According to Oregon State University’s Linus Pauling Institute, magnesium is involved in more than 300 chemical reactions in your body, most of which are part of the metabolism of energy from food....

Granny Smith apples have a unique tart flavor that you either love or don’t quite care for. Image Credit: Nedim_B/iStock/GettyImages Granny Smith apples have a unique tart flavor that you either love or don’t quite care for. Here’s what you need to know about the Granny Smith apple nutrition profile, in terms of how many calories and carbs are in a Granny Smith apple and the health benefits it has to offer....

Mild forms of depression sometimes respond to OTC pills. Image Credit: skyNext/iStock/GettyImages Although severe depression needs the intervention of a doctor’s care with prescription medication, those with milder forms of the mental state can often find relief from pills available over the counter. Advertisement ​Know what each one does, what the correct dosage is and any side effects before taking them.​ Video of the Day Tip Although over-the-counter antidepressants are generally safe, some can cause adverse neuropsychiatric reactions in some people....

Stretching you ankle can help with scar tissue. Image Credit: Victor_69/iStock/GettyImages If you have scar tissue in the ankle from an injury, surgery or overuse, you might have restricted mobility in this part of your body. Although scar tissue serves a specific purpose in the wound-healing process, it can also result in pain, or in the case of an ankle injury, decreased activity. Advertisement Physical Therapy for Scar Tissue When you injure soft tissue such as ligaments, muscles, tendons or fascia, your body responds to the trauma by forming scar tissue....

Pinched nerves is one of the risks of weight lifting. Image Credit: Mireya Acierto/DigitalVision/GettyImages Strength training is very rewarding, but it’s not without its potential hazards. Due to the heavy loads and pressure placed on the body’s tissues during weight lifting, pinched nerves are a common issue. Know how to spot one and treat it before it puts the kibosh on your gains. Advertisement What Is a Pinched Nerve? There are thousands of nerves all over the human body, which are part of the peripheral nervous system, or PNS, explains the North American Spine Society....

Overripe fruit makes the perfect base for homemade ice cream, ice pops and more. Image Credit: jenifoto/iStock/GettyImages When you have an abundance of fresh fruit in your fridge, time’s a tickin’. That beautiful bushel of bananas can quickly turn into a mound of mush in the blink of an eye. Advertisement But don't fret about overripe fruit — just because it gets a little soft and squishy, doesn't mean you can't enjoy it....

When performing shoulder exercises, focus on keeping your back flat and shoulder blades retracted. Image Credit: Antonio_Diaz/iStock/GettyImages Some exercisers swear squats are the ultimate booty-building move. Others may consider hip thrusts the true key to glute gains. Bottom line? Every exercise has its critics and lateral raises are certainly no exception. Advertisement While lateral raises can help build shoulder strength, they may not be the exercise you need for healthy, stable shoulders....