It’s easy to overdo it when starting a new workout routine, especially if you work with free weights. We all want to see results ASAP, and can get carried away with pushing our bodies to the limit to achieve these results. Unfortunately, going too hard, too fast, with improper form can result in painful and sometimes long-term injuries. Here are some of the most common gym injuries and how to prevent them. Muscle Pulls and Strains Pulled muscles often result from going too hard when you first start exercising. Pushing yourself to the limit with heavy weights or running super...

  At HYGEAR, we want to help make your dreams a reality, whether you want to lose weight, improve your athletic performance, or just look and feel healthier. That's why today, we are going to take a step towards your goals. Dream big, then take small steps Setting fitness goals is a lot like taking a road trip. You start with your current location (where you are now), then enter a destination — your goal. Then, map out the turn-by-turn directions to get there. If your big dream is to lose weight, a small step could be writing down what...

Abs are built in the gym but made in the kitchen. Forget the diets, fixes, and trends. They don’t work in the long run. Your nutrition should focus on three key ingredients:  Calories In v. Calories Out Macronutrient Breakdown  Timing How much should you eat?  It depends how active you are. Nutrition expert Alan Aragon suggests using this to find your ideal Calories In v. Calories Out:  Take the average number of hours you work out per week.  Add 10 to that number (use 8 or 9 if you sit most of the day).  Now multiply it by your Goal...

Let’s face it: we don’t always have the time to work out as much as we’d like. And when the American Heart Association, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the US Department of Health and Human Services all agree on a minimum of at least 150 minutes of exercise per week, it can be a bit daunting. That’s why we’re here to reassure you that it is possible to reach your exercise targets and how to do it while juggling a busy schedule. In fact, getting 10 minutes of exercise at a time is not just a time-efficient...

Do you remember your elementary school gym class when your P.E. teacher told you to run a few laps and then stretch? That’s when most of us first learned how to stretch -- hold each stretch for roughly ten seconds, and you’re ready to go.  At the time, dynamic stretching was nowhere in the public consciousness because we were conditioned to believe that static stretching was the best way to warm up our muscles prior to exercise.  Well, believe it or not, research studies today now show that static stretching before exercise is not as beneficial as dynamic stretching, with...

Whether you are just getting started on your fitness journey or you've been in the groove for a while, it's really important to be educated on how you can get the most out of your workouts. For those living especially busy lifestyles, it makes sense to train multiple muscle groups in one session rather than one muscle at a time. That said -- what are the major muscle groups, and what's the best way to train them together? We'll tell you. Muscle Groups 101: What You Need To Know A "muscle group" is exactly what it sounds like -- a...

If you have ever stepped foot inside a commercial gym, there's a pretty good chance you've seen the coveted leg press machine. It's the steel beast that takes up roughly a city block of gym floor real estate and usually has a long line of fitness fanatics waiting for a turn. The seated leg press is loved by many and is an Insta-worthy piece of equipment -- few exercises allow you to move so much weight so quickly. But, truth be told, that's about all it does. You're moving heavy weight along a preset path, so the leg press offers...

If you ask us, there’s really nothing worse than spending your precious time in the gym and not making gains. Not having the right weekly workout split routine could be what’s holding you back from greatness. That said, what is the best workout split? Well, truth be told, there isn’t a “best” workout split -- so you don’t need to worry about that. You see, the best workout split will look differently for different individuals and can range from one to six days. Still, one of the more common -- and arguably most effective -- workout splits is the four-day...

There’s arguably nothing worse than diligently committing to your workout regime only to see zero results. Maybe you’re exercising day-in and day-out, or pushing your body to its limit every single time, only to wonder why you are not feeling stronger or seeing any muscle gain.  What gives? Well, it probably has a little something to do with bad weight training habits.  You already know some of the good habits related to a successful fitness plan: exercising consistently, drinking lots of H2O, eating an assortment of fresh fruit and veggies, and so on. Conversely, bad habits waste your energy and...

So you're finally going to start an awesome resistance training program. Maybe you're shooting to get stronger for your upcoming triathlon, or maybe you just want to get stronger, period. After all, resistance training has a whole slew of healthy benefits, including increasing bone density as well as metabolism.  Now that you've decided you want to improve your health, where do you start? Should you go for the free weights or resistance bands? Well, the better of the two is pretty subjective, as it really depends on what you're trying to achieve from your workout.  You see, not all pieces...

Mobility is a pretty hot topic right now -- and for good reason. With everybody hitting up HIIT classes, running races, and lifting heavy weights, there’s a whole lot of hard work going on at the moment.  Couple that go-getter workout culture with eight- to nine-hour sedentary desk-job bodies, and there’s bound to be a whirlwind of injuries. So, what’s the fix for all that sub-par movement? Mobility exercise.  Mobility exercises can do wonders for your overall health. From keeping your joints healthy to reducing your risk of injury, mobility helps our bodies function optimally. And while many fitness studios...

If you're new to the world of fitness, it may seem like lifting super heavy weights for hours on end is the fastest way to build muscle. Well, we've got news for you: an isometric workout can be just as effective -- and it comes with all the same incredible benefits without moving a muscle. Yup, you read that right! Isometric exercises involve staying still and can be an excellent way to strength train.  Interested in learning more? Read on to learn everything you need to know about isometric movements and some of the best exercises you can do anywhere. ...