Weight lifting is great for your well being and all around fitness, but it can’t hit everything.  And you’ll realize this when you try exploring into other fitness activities that will help hit muscles that you don’t get to in weightlifting.  Some of the top all around strength building are the following activities.
Judo – Judo is a martial arts (I think it qualifies as an art at least) that involves a lot of ground work and taking people to the ground and exerting control over them.  You’ll be struggling against someone’s else strength for most of the time and this …read more

This summer, get outdoors and enjoy nature while also getting fit. In addition to traditional fitness routines such as walking and running, you can also incorporate these activities into your summer fitness regimen.
Hiking
If you are headed to the mountains for vacation this summer, enjoy your time outdoors and get fit by hiking. Be sure to take a lot of water with you on your hike and only stay on designated trails, particularly if you are unfamiliar with the area.
Biking
Enjoy the summer sun by biking. Whether you are riding on the city streets or through the hills, you can get in …read more

Now that summer is upon us, many people are heading to the pool. But pools aren’t just for getting a tan and relaxing, swimming is actually a great way to stay fit. People of all ages and fitness levels can enjoy swimming. It’s a low-impact aerobic exercise that takes the stress off leg joints, in comparison to walking, jogging or running.
Another benefit of swimming is that it can provide an allover total body workout. If you are overweight or haven’t exercised in a while, ease yourself into a swimming routine by starting out slowly.
Start by swimming two days a week …read more

Roy Saari, a Gold and Silver medalist in the 1964 Tokyo Olympic Games, died suddenly on December 30 of congestive heart failure, according to the Los Angeles Times. Saari, the son of a southern California high school swimming and water polo coach, earned the Gold Medal as part of the US champion 800m relay team. He earned the Silver Medal in the 400 individual relay.
Saari, who become an attorney, real estate agent, and planning commissioner for his hometown of Mammoth Lake, California, was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame in 1976. He is particularly noted for his …read more

Image details: XII FINA World Championships – Swimming served by picapp.com
US swimmer, Eric Shanteau, who won the compassion of millions of Olympic viewers this summer in Beijing when it became known that he had been diagnosed with cancer just weeks before the Games and elected to delay the necessary surgery in order to compete in the men’s 200m breast stroke event.
Now, the good news is that Shateau is recovered and competing again–most recently at the US National Short Course competition at Georgia Tech this week, where he finished second to fellow Olympian Ryan Lochte in the 200m individual medley.

“Sports Illustrated” announced their Sportsman of the Year this morning and it’s, who else but, Olympian Michael Phelps. The 23-year-old winner of eight Gold Medals in Beijing is the first swimmer to be so honored by the venerable magazine. “Sports Illustrated” editor, Terry McDonell called the selection of Phelps “the easiest choice I have made.”
Last year’s winner was more traditional, former Green Bay Packers quarterback, Brett Favre. Congrats to Michael.
(photo © Newscom)

Katie Hoff, who failed to live up to the hype surrounding her at the Beijing Olympic Games, has announced that she will be training under Michael Phelps’ coach, Bob Bowman in the future. The 19-year-old fellow Baltimore native earned two Bronze Medals and one Silver Medal in Beijing–no small achievment, but was overshadowed by her teammates, especially Phelps.
Hoff holds the American record in the 200m freestyle and is the world champion in the 400m and 4×200m events. It’s clear that she has a lot of swimming (and winning) ahead of her.
(photo © Newscom)

Australian Olympic, long-distance swimmer, Grant Hackett is announcing his retirement from swimming at Australia’s Swimmer of the Year awards banquet this evening. The 28-year-old has seven Olympic Medals to his name, including three Golds. Hackett competed in the Sydney, Athens, and Beijing Games. He is best known for winning the 1500m freestyle in 2000 and 2004. He finished second in that event in Beijing.
(photo © Newscom)

American Olympic swimmer, Natalie Coughlin brought home six Medals (one gold, two silver, and three bronze) from the Beijing Games to add to her five medals from the 2004 Athens Games. Here she is on Rachel Ray’s show talking about her medals and the problems they cause going through airport security.

South Africa’s Natalie du Toit continues to excel at the Beijing Paralympic Games. The 24-year-old, who lost her leg in a 2001 motorcycle accident, won her fourth Paralympic Gold Medal on Friday in the 400m freestyle event, setting a world record time of 4:43.81 for her disability class.
Du Toit has also won Gold in the 100m butterfly, 200m individual relay, and 100m freestyle events. She has one more event–the 50m freestyle–in which to compete.
(photo © Newscom)