exercise physiology

  • What It Actually Means to ‘Tone’ Your Muscles

    What It Actually Means to ‘Tone’ Your Muscles

    The word “toning” is something of a joke in many fitness circles, because it’s a word that’s thrown around when people mean other things. Sometimes it’s a code word for being thin, as when somebody may promise you that a workout will tone your muscles rather than making you bulky. Other times it’s a moneymaking…


  • Please Stop Checking Your Heart Rate so Much

    Please Stop Checking Your Heart Rate so Much

    Your heart beats faster when you’re working hard, so it’s a good way to tell if you’re exercising hard enough…right? Well, not exactly. Your heart rate is only a good gauge of effort in certain types of exercise. And it can even steer you wrong if the numbers are miscalibrated.