By Jennifer Faimon

Complex Movement is Best

WAIT! Don’t just skim down to see which exercise I’ve labeled as the best, get the whole story…

I’m often approached and asked to pin down a single exercise as the one that will help lose the most fat and sculpt the quickest. That’s not an easy question to answer. Not every exercise works with every person, hence my hesitation to label any exercise as the universal best. That being said, some exercises are definitely better than others so we are going to learn about the best TYPE of exercises that will get you results.

What makes an exercise the best?

When you decide which exercises to include in your routine, it is important to consider the type of movement involved. The simpler the movement, the fewer calories you’ll burn and the fewer muscles you will strengthen. On the other hand, the more complex the movement, the more calories you will burn and the more muscles you will strengthen.

To put it simply, exercises that use complex movements will deliver better results than exercises that use only simple movements. Complex movements recruit multiple muscles, some to stabilize and others to perform the movement. This process keeps your heart rate higher than a simple exercise would and gives you a more intense workout.

What is a complex movement?

A complex movement is a multi-joint movement that recruits large portions of the body to complete the exercise. Let’s compare a simple movement leg exercise with a complex movement leg exercise:

The leg curl machine uses a simple, isolated movement to work the hamstrings. You’re in a seated position moving only your knee joint. There isn’t much involvement, if any, from other muscles and it doesn’t burn very many calories.

Now let’s look at a stability ball double leg curl. You start by laying down on your back, hands next to your hips and heels of your feet on the top, center of the ball. Engage the core, squeeze the gluteus then bridge until you have control of the ball. Curl your heels towards your gluteus while keeping your gluteus off the floor! Repeat!!

How many muscles did you utilize while performing the stability ball leg curl? Probably too many to count. You certainly worked your hamstrings, gluteus, calves and your entire core to be able to control the ball during your movement. You also raised your heart rate and really kicked your metabolism into high gear. It’s all about combining exercises that demand more “help” from other muscles! That’s what I call a great exercise.

Other ways to increase intensity

Using complex movements are just one of many ways to kick your workout intensity up a notch. Try incorporating a Super Set into your routine. To do so simply perform two or more exercises in a row and then take a short rest. **For example: Stability Ball Double Leg Curl for 30 seconds then go straight to push-ups (no rest) for 30 seconds. Keep repeating for 2-8 rounds.

The key to finding the best exercise is to find the ones that bring your workout intensity to a whole new level. A combination of changing your workouts up, using interval training, and even some good old cardio will ultimately see you to your goal.

These methods will help you to burn more calories, increase your metabolic rate, and will stimulate the production of more fat burning and muscle toning hormones. Of course, there is more involved to achieving your fitness goals. You need to incorporate fat burning into your routine. You need to consistently challenge yourself during workouts. You need to take control of your eating habits.

So what’s the best exercise for you? Try different exercises patterns and create your own. Just remember to never sacrifice anything for good form. You can also call or email me today to schedule a time for you to try out a class for FREE and experiment with the complex movements I have described.

For some ideas you can go through my “On the 12th Day of Christmas my Trainer gave to me:” workout video on Youtube. It’s a great workout that utilizes Complex Movements..enjoy!

Remember to always Train HARD, Train SAFE and EXPECT results!

By Jennifer Faimon

Will you find the time to exercise today, or will the busyness of this Holiday Season leave you exhausted on the couch? Quite frankly, you don’t have reasons to not do it – you only have excuses.

If you are like most, then exercise isn’t at the top of your list of favorite things. You’d rather be immersed in a bowl of ice cream, enjoying your favorite TV show or dining out with friends instead of sweating.

But the fact is that your favorite things add inches to your waist, and you know that a larger waist equals an increase in health problems, not to mention an overall decrease in your quality of life.

It’s time to get serious about exercise.

You could start by changing your attitude toward exercise. If you go into it with a bad attitude, chances are you won’t enjoy it. It’s time to accept the fact that you can enjoy exercise.

Consider the following:

• Have you written off exercise based on a particular type of routine? Maybe you would enjoy something different. The truth is that no one can deny how great it feels to accomplish a challenging workout. It’s rewarding, invigorating and feels great. You simply need to find the right form of exercise for you.
• Try to pinpoint the main reason that you dislike exercise. Is it the uncomfortable workout clothes that you own? Maybe it is time for a new style. Is it trying to decide what machine to use at the gym? Maybe it is time for a personal trainer. Is it the pain that you feel in your shoulder when swimming? Maybe it is time to find a new form of cardiovascular exercise – one that won’t aggravate your injury.

See, the truth of the matter is that there are many different forms of exercises that will give you the results that you want. Don’t like the gym? There’s a program for you. Don’t like running? There is an alternative. Don’t have the time? There are time-friendly exercise routines that will give you incredible results in under an hour.

Like I said, when it comes to exercise you have tons of options. But it all starts with ditching the excuses and asking a qualified fitness expert like me for the right program for you.

Is it really that easy? Yes.

Exercise is your new prescription medication – don’t forget to take your daily dose!  Questions? Just pick up the phone and give me a call and let me know that you’re ready to get in the best shape of your life.