Latest news with #AlexanderRothstein
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
This Easy Workout Trick Boosts Performance, Study Shows—And You Might Already Be Doing It
People usually don't give much thought to sounds at the gym or on a sports court—clanking weights, squeaking shoes, background music. One sound in particular that's common background noise in these scenarios? The grunt. Most gym goers have had to try to tune out someone who insists on unnecessarily grunting with every rep on at least one occasion. But it turns out, grunting during your workouts may have some pretty legit performance benefits. Grunting during explosive has the potential to actually increase power output, according to a new study in Scientific Journal of Sports and Performance. But what's the science behind grunting to boost performance, and can you harness it to optimize your own physical pursuits? Here's what we know. Meet the expert: Alexander Rothstein, CSCS, ACSM-EP, is an exercise physiologist and instructor for the exercise science program at New York Institute of Technology. In the recent study, researchers had martial artists perform a series of explosive moves—think lightning-fast strikes and powerful jumps—once with grunting, once without. As the scientists had expected, when athletes let out a grunt, their power output noticeably spiked. The researchers believe that the sharp, forceful exhale involved in grunting may actually amplify your strength during high-intensity efforts. So yeah, that noise might be doing more than just turning heads at the gym. The study also assessed vertical jump height, however that metric didn't seem to be impacted by grunting. When you're pushing through a heavy lift or explosive move, your body naturally tries to create core stability. A lot of people actually hold their breath to do this, which builds internal pressure but also cuts off airflow. That can lead to faster fatigue and even spike your blood pressure—not exactly ideal mid-rep. Grunting, or more specifically, forcefully exhaling, offers a smarter solution. 'When you forcefully expire, you create abdominal pressure and maintain airflow—it's the best of both worlds,' says exercise physiologist Alexander Rothstein. 'You won't fatigue as quickly, and your core muscles will still be firing and stabilizing like they should.' In other words, that sharp exhale helps you brace your core and generate more power—without the drawbacks of breath-holding. Rothstein says this extra stability may also improve your mind-muscle connection, making your body feel safer and more secure, which can help you produce even more force. The key, though, is the exhale itself—not necessarily the sound effect that comes with it. You don't have to be a black belt to take advantage of this technique. Using a forceful exhale—audible grunt optional—can give your lifts a legit performance (and health) boost, even if you're just trying to crush your Tuesday gym sesh, says Rothstein. 'Any time you're doing something that requires serious core stability or exertion, I'd recommend using that forceful breath,' he says. That includes hitting a one-rep max, powering through the final reps of a tough set, or tackling explosive moves like box jumps or overhead presses. (Skip it during activities meant to promote calm, like yoga, where that intensity can work against you.) Here's the big win: It's not just about raw power. The real benefit for most of us? Better breathing = better performance and better health. 'I'd actually call it a significant health benefit because you're not holding your breath,' Rothstein says. Forcefully exhaling keeps your blood pressure in check, helps you avoid early burnout, and trains you to engage your core muscles properly—no breath-holding shortcuts needed. Now, about the elephant in the weight room: gym noise. It's not the sound that matters, it's the mechanics, says Rothstein. Loud, guttural yells may feel satisfying, but they're not what's giving you the performance edge. 'Focus on a strong, outward push of air—not a shout,' he says. And yes, basic etiquette still stands: 'Don't exhale forcefully into someone's face.' You Might Also Like Jennifer Garner Swears By This Retinol Eye Cream These New Kicks Will Help You Smash Your Cross-Training Goals
Yahoo
07-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
How Many Miles Should You Walk Per Day For Weight Loss?
"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." Walking has a whole bunch of benefits like improving cardiovascular health, mood, and sleep—but exactly how many miles do you need to walk per day to get these perks? You might have heard that 10,000 steps—which ends up being about five miles—is the daily goal you should shoot for. But this number might be more arbitrary than you think. In fact, though this rule of thumb has been around since the 1960s, there's little *scientific* evidence that walking 10,000 steps should be your target, according to a 2022 review in The Lancet. (We aren't exactly sure what the origin of this popular step goal is, but it could be partly due to the fact that the Japanese character for 10,000 looks like a man walking, as Women's Health reported previously.) Luckily, there is some science that helps clarify what a good step goal is and, good news: it's lower than 10,000 per day. Here's how to determine how many miles you should walk per day, according to experts. Meet the experts: Alexander Rothstein, CSCS, ACSM-EP, is an exercise physiologist and instructor for the exercise science program at New York Institute of Technology. Laura A. Richardson, PhD, a professor of Applied Exercise Science and Movement Science at the University of Michigan School of Kinesiology. On the low end, anything above 2,200 steps (which is roughly a little over a mile, assuming that 2,000 steps is roughly one mile) was associated with lower mortality and cardiovascular disease, according to a 2024 study in the British Journal of Sports Medicine. But, when it comes to getting the most out of the activity, walking anywhere from 6,000 to 7,500 steps was found to reduce all-cause mortality for women over 60, according to the 2022 Lancet review. Meanwhile, for those younger than 60, step-count benefits didn't plateau until 8,000 to 10,000 steps. Beyond all-cause mortality, a higher step count—this time just under 10,000 steps—was found to be associated with a lower risk of dementia, though benefits were observed with as few as 3,800 steps per day, according to a 2022 study in JAMA Neurology. Basically, there's a range of how many steps you should shoot for, and you could see benefits even walking short distances, depending on your experience level. One thing to keep in mind is that the CDC recommends that adults get 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous-intensity exercise per week, so if walking is your main form of exercise, you want to make sure that you're hitting this number of minutes—no matter what the mileage is, says Alexander Rothstein, CSCS, an exercise physiologist and instructor for the exercise science program at New York Institute of Technology. This might mean walking for about 22 minutes every single day or for 30 minutes, three days a week. Since time is what matters here and everyone walks at a different pace, there's a range of how many steps and miles this would shake out to. Something else experts want you to consider is that when it comes to walking for better health, frequency is also super important. 'With walking, you're looking for this to be as many days of the week as you can,' says Laura A. Richardson, PhD, a professor of applied exercise science at the University of Michigan. It's all about finding a step count that's sustainable—as in, it won't leave you too sore and tired the next day—which will be different for everybody based on their fitness level. Start with fewer miles and then increase over time to create a more sustainable routine. Aim for: anywhere between 2,000 and 8,000 steps per day—which is between one and four miles. Keep in mind that frequency of your walks and the total time you spend walking per week is also important. If weight loss is your goal, answering this question really shifts to focusing on energy expenditure, both experts agree. Increasing distance or intensity are both ways to turn up the amount of energy you're using on a walk, but if you're looking to lose weight, just walking might not be the most efficient and effective way to go. Strength training, as well as more varied exercise than just daily walking, would be most effective. Not to mention, so many other factors like genetics, nutrition, and environment contribute to weight loss. When it comes to walking though, one 2018 study in Obesity found that 10,000 steps did enhance weight loss, especially if 3,500 of those steps were performed at a higher intensity. Aim for: closer to two miles (and up to five) at a higher-intensity speed. But remember that walking alone might not be enough to see weight loss results, and strength training and nutrition are key. Focusing on breaking up sedentary time, or the time that you spend not moving, also has important health benefits that might be more important than your total distance walked per day, Rothstein says. One small 2024 study in Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise found that people who got up and walked for just five minutes after 30 minutes of sitting were more likely to have lower blood pressure and lower blood sugar. Plus, 'micro-walks,' or walking in short bursts throughout the day, were found to use more energy than walking the same distance all at once in a 2024 Proceedings of the Royal Society B study. They demand more of your metabolism and can improve circulation, mental health, and digestive health when spaced out, per previous WH reporting. Wear a device that counts your steps so you can keep track of your goals. Keep items you reach for all day in another room so you have to get up, like keeping your phone plugged in far from your workspace or bed. Set reminders on your phone to stretch your legs throughout the day. Keep an under-desk treadmill handy for TV watching, phone calls, or breaks. (They're just not ideal for anything that requires intense mental focus, says Rothstein.) Take a quick walk during your lunch break. Park your car farther away from your destination. Opt to take the stairs. Prioritize 'micro walks' by taking a five minute walking break after every 30 minutes or so of the best overall fitness tracker by WH this year, the Fitbit Charge 6 can help you track even more than your daily steps. It has an easy-to-use interface, pairs seamlessly with Android smartphones, and allows you to access texts, calls, and Spotify, so you can keep your tunes playing on your walk. $136.29 at Apple Watch Series 10 dropped in late September 2024, and it's already a favorite (just ask WH's editor-in-chief, Liz Plosser). Compared to previous versions, it's lighter weight, has a bigger screen, and has better batter life. It's perfect for tracking all kinds of fitness activities, walking included. $411.91 at as WH's top under-desk treadmill of 2024, the Daeyegim walking pad is durable, easy to use, and quiet—so it shouldn't interrupt whatever activity you're inevitably multitasking with while you're getting your steps in. Plus, it comes with a remote, making it easy to adjust your speed. $99.99 at sneakers are seriously comfy, with their thick cushioning and orthotic feel. WH named them our best walking sneaker in 2024—and, for less than $100, these shoes are worth every penny. $63.98 at The main elements you can change to increase intensity are speed and incline, says Rothstein. These will increase the workout that your heart gets and burn more calories. But, there are a few other ways to get your heart pumping harder on a walk. Additional ways to make a walk more challenging, per experts: Vary the surfaces you walk on. Add weight to your walk with ankle weights, wrist weights, or a weighted vest. Increase speed or incline. Incorporate faster-paced intervals into your walking routine. You Might Also Like Jennifer Garner Swears By This Retinol Eye Cream These New Kicks Will Help You Smash Your Cross-Training Goals
