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5 Common Mistakes People Make On A Treadmill And What To Do Instead

Whilst using a treadmill isn’t rocket science, it is still easy to develop bad habits that could sabotage your results or put you at increased risk of injury.

woman on treadmill


To help ensure you’re getting the most out of your treadmill, here are 5 common mistakes to avoid and what to do instead.

1. Not warming up

Before getting into your treadmill workout, it’s so important to warm up for 5 or 10 minutes, but many people skip this vital step.

Walking and slow jogging are good ways to warm up and will gently prepare your body for exercise by gradually increasing your heart rate. This also increases blood flow to your muscles, loosens up your joints and prevents injuries. 

2. Holding onto the handrails

While the handrails of your treadmill are designed to offer support during your workout, relying on them to keep you propped up during your run could be doing more harm than good.

The only instance when holding onto the handrails is acceptable is when you are walking on an incline. If you find it hard to run on the treadmill without holding on, it will either be because the belt is going too fast, or the incline is set too steep. If so, adjust the settings and let go of the handrails. 

3. Running too close to the front of the machine

To get the most out of your workout, make sure you’re running in the middle of the treadmill belt instead of the front.

Running on the front of the treadmill will restrict your arm swing and negatively impact your posture, as you will naturally lean back to avoid hitting the front of the belt. This will put a strain on your shoulders and could put you at risk of injuries like lower back pain. 

4. Wearing the wrong shoes

One very common mistake people make on the treadmill doesn’t even involve the machine itself – wearing the wrong shoes could put you at risk of hip and knee pain.

Choosing an appropriate pair of running shoes and prioritising function before style will provide plenty of support and keep your toes snug, reducing the risk of injury. They will also help you perform better by minimising aches and soreness, allowing you to go the distance.

Look for shoes with extra padding in the soles to protect your heels and foot bones from the high impact of each foot strike. 

5. Looking at your feet

Looking at your feet while running on the treadmill can not only cause you to lose balance and fall, but it can also strain the back of your neck and misalign the rest of your body. This puts stress on your spine, hips, and knees and increases your chances of being injured.

Instead, look straight ahead when on your treadmill, and keep your shoulders level and chest open. This will help your spine create a straight line from your head to your feet.

Conclusion

Running machines are extremely effective, however, they can easily cause harm if you use them incorrectly.

The above mistakes are easily avoidable once you're aware of them, allowing you to reduce your risk for injury and optimise your workout for great results.

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Contact Lenses vs. Glasses: 5 Factors to Consider When Choosing Between Them

Perhaps you are now tired of wearing prescription glasses and considering contact lenses. It seems obvious, but you have essential factors you must consider first before making this decision. The decision between contact lenses and glasses transcends lifestyle habits and personal preferences. Remember, this is your eye health that's at stake. Here are five critical factors to consider to help you reach the best conclusion in this matter.

Exposure to computer vision syndrome

woman with glasses on computer

Prolonged exposure to digital screens that emit blue light has short to long-term ramifications. One of the unfortunate effects of blue light is computer vision syndrome. This condition presents a wide variety of symptoms in its victims, including discomfort, itchiness, migraines, blurry vision, etc. Adding a lens coat such as FL-41 or a similar solution to your glasses can minimize these side effects. However, contact lenses might not be ideal if you suffer from computer vision syndrome. Contacts do not have lenses or coatings that protect eyes from the effects of blue light.

Instead of contacts, consider adding a lens coating to your eyeglasses to ease discomfort or itchiness due to prolonged exposure to blue light-emitting digital screens. You can even get rapid service by using same day eyeglasses delivery shops to get your glasses with a lens coating of your choice.

Eye Irritability

Prescription glasses do not directly cover the eye, granting oxygen easy access. Without a healthy dose of oxygen, the eyes might become more irritable, leading to discomfort caused by dryness or itchiness. Unfortunately, eye contact might have those side effects since they do not allow oxygen to flow through.

If you are predisposed to eye irritability, this could worsen your condition and cause redness. Some contacts get designed to alleviate these side effects, but they might not be as effective. To keep things simple, eye patients suffering from irritability and discomfort should consider refraining from contact lenses. If you would like to go ahead with the switch anyway, look for options that are soft contact lenses that allow oxygen to permeate to the cornea.

Caring For Contact Lenses

woman putting in contact lenses
The life of someone who wears eyeglasses is simple: you wake up in the morning, wipe any dust away, and begin your day. However, eye contact lenses require more than just this simple routine. Since contacts come into direct contact with your eye, they need more care to prevent infections.

First, you must store eye contact lenses in a protective container with a solution that will rehydrate them throughout the night. The following day, you can rinse them and use an eye drop solution before putting them on. In the evening, contacts must get rinsed before being stored in their container. Contacts need to get cycled; that period is much shorter than the standard prescription glass cyclical timeframe. This required extra care for contact lenses could waste some precious time from your daily routine.

Daily Routine

Eye contact lenses are good alternatives for vision correction amongst eye patients who have active lifestyles. Contact lenses might be a good choice if your career or daily routine includes extensive physical exertion such as playing or coaching sports. Eyeglasses could be more convenient if you live a busy life with a fast-paced morning and evening routine. Why? Contact lenses could chip away some precious things as mentioned above.

Also, eye patients with demanding careers might experience eyeglass fogging or slipping as they carry out their duties. In this case, depending on preference, you can choose between anti-fogging strapped glasses or eye contact lenses. Carefully assess your daily routine and determine whether eyeglass solutions are available that are comfortable. If not, you can consider contact lens options.

Personal Eye Health Requirements

spectacles

Everyone's eye health requirements differ from each other. For example, some eye patients suffer from migraines due to their vision, while others experience dryness or itchiness. All these health problems require different solutions, and in some cases, lenses or coatings that minimize the impact of UV rays and blue light could do the trick.

Using glasses affords eye patients the flexibility of adding lenses and coating they need to alleviate any discomfort caused by bright lights or prolonged exposure to digital displays. In such cases, using eye contact lenses might not be the best choice since they don't have this flexibility.

Unfortunately, there is only so much that can get done to get more out of contact lenses. Contact lenses could be a good option if you do not need any extra coatings or lenses. However, consider other factors such as your lifestyle, daily routine, and the extra care required before choosing to go with eye contact lenses.

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5 Ways to Cut Costs When You Are Buying a New Car

Buying a new car is one of the biggest expenses you will make in your life, second only to buying a house. However, driving is essential for most people as they need to get to work, socialise, and run errands. If you want to buy a new car without spending a fortune, here are five ways to cut costs.

Make The Switch To Electric

electric car

Electric cars are the vehicle of the future. With the UK government pledging to ban sales of new fuel-driven cars by 2030 it makes sense to switch early and get used to driving an EV. They don’t produce emissions which is better for the environment and many people believe they are safer to drive too.

Currently, an EV holds its value better than a fuel-driven car so it can be more expensive to buy. However, once you own one you will not need to spend money on fuel which could save you a fortune. EVs don’t have a lot of moving parts which means that maintenance costs are lower too.

Shop Around

There are some great deals to be had on car prices if you know where to look. Don’t settle for the first dealership you come across when buying a new car; shop around and see where the best bargains are. This can save you a considerable amount on your purchase.

Negotiate

Don’t be afraid to negotiate the price you want to pay with the dealership. They are in the business of selling cars and if they want to do the deal, they can make it worth your while. Asking for a price reduction may sound scary but it could save you a few hundred pounds. Even if the dealer won’t give you money off the car, they will usually throw in some bonus features for free if you ask nicely.

Lease Rather Than Buy

car door and key

Electric car leasing can work out incredibly cost-effective. You have to have a down payment, but this is a great deal less than the purchase price of a car. If you are leasing an electric car, you make payments monthly and often things such as servicing and maintenance are included. Companies such as ElectriX can provide more information on leasing, as well as great deals on chargers and insurance.

Research Tax Breaks

If you are self-employed or you drive a company car you will know that company car tax can be expensive. However, if you get the right car this can dramatically reduce the cost. This is because the government has offered tax breaks for cars that have low CO2 emissions. Electric cars come out on top because they don’t produce much pollution and hybrids get tax breaks too. Do your research and you can save a lot of money here.

Getting a new car does not need to be as expensive as you think. Use these tips to get a great price on the car and reduce your costs whilst driving.
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5 Tips To Take Your Home Decor To Another Level

Knowing how to take your home decor to another level can be tricky. But with some time and patience, you can use these simple tricks to make your next project one you will love.

lounge


Pay Attention To The Smaller Details

From the finest print on a cushion to an overtly impressive pendant shade, when you look at a room, you take in everything all at once, even if you aren't aware. The entirety of the space impacts your mood and how you feel when you spend time in it. So you must pay attention to the smaller details that most people gloss over. A professional decorator can help you with the overall design. But you are the one who lives in the home. Because of this, you must choose patterns, ornaments and even materials that bring you maximum comfort and enjoyment.
 
Think Carefully About Your Lighting

One of the most overlooked aspects of decorating is lighting. This is a shame because there are many ways to light your home these days. One of the easiest is to maximize the amount of natural sunlight you can get into a room. You can do this with skylights, window replacement and opening up with glass doors. However, the sun doesn't last all day. And you can use layered lighting to boost the design aesthetic of your home. First, try choosing a main light, such as a pendant. Then use lamps and smart LEDs to complement it at various points in the room.

Use Art To Take Your Home Decor To Another Level

Artwork can elevate a room immensely. And although the art industry is worth $65 billion, you don't need to spend a fortune on a piece to add value to a room. You just need to find something that speaks to you personally and adds something to your overall design. Many people spend their lives curating a collection of art pieces that they can show off. But even as a modest collector, you can use artwork to greatly enhance the appeal of a room. Just remember to use complementing colours, and always hang your pieces at eye level for best results.

Don't Play By Design Rules

There are many rules when it comes to home decor. The law of three, hanging art at eye level, and symmetry. But rules, as they say, are made to be broken. So go ahead and live precariously. Because not all rules will apply to your project anyway. And bending them a little can be fun and visually appealing. For example, you can make better use of a small room's space by arranging furniture asymmetrically. And wall art doesn't always need to be positioned parallel when creating a display wall to show off your favourite pieces of various sizes.

Take Your Time And Try Different Things

Some people can take decorating far too seriously. While you should definitely pay attention to detail and think about what you are doing, you should also take your time. Unless you are under a strict deadline, take the time to experiment with different ideas you think you would like. After all, it's your home, and you're the one who has to live in it. Using the internet and sites like Pinterest for inspiration is a great idea. But you also need to figure out how you can make a design style your own. Otherwise, you will feel like you are living someone else’s dream.

Summary

You can try certain things to take your home decor to another level. These include paying attention to detail, experimenting with layered lighting and taking your time with ideas.

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Common Injuries At The Gym And How To Avoid Them

Exercising is fantastic for both physical and mental health. The NHS calls exercise a ‘miracle cure’ and the benefits are overwhelming. However, it’s important to exercise safely and carefully as there is always a chance that you could strain yourself or sustain an injury. 

woman lifting weights

In this article, we’ll take a look at the 5 most common gym injuries and how you can avoid them.

Groin Pull

Groin pulls are a common injury during exercise. They can happen when you’re running or when doing squats or lunges. Groin injuries are more common the older you are as your muscles and tissues will have less elasticity, however, they can happen to anyone at any age.

You can avoid groin pull by ensuring your inner thigh muscles are properly stretched and warmed up before exercising and by avoiding sudden movements (like bursting into a sprint) when your muscles are still cold.

Shin splints

Shin splints cause pain around your shins and calves. They happen when the tissues connecting to your lower leg bones are subject to repeated stress, making them a common issue among runners, including those who use treadmills at the gym. Some people are more at risk of shin splints than others, for example, beginner runners, dancers and people with high arches or flat arches.

Warming up properly before you run can reduce your risk of developing shin splints. You should also check your form, avoid running on uneven or hard surfaces and ensure that you’re wearing supportive footwear.

Equipment Related Injuries

Serious injuries can happen in the gym due to improper use of equipment or faulty equipment. Injuries can occur if hair, clothing, headphones, shoe laces or limbs become trapped or entangled in machinery or if you trip over or fall onto equipment. Heavy weights or unsecured machines can also fall onto and crush body parts. If you do sustain an injury in the gym that isn’t your fault, or if the equipment was damaged, you may be able to claim compensation for your injury.

You can reduce your risk of injury from gym equipment by ensuring that you’re confident using each piece of equipment and seeking guidance from a qualified instructor if you aren’t sure. You should also be sure to read any instructions or safety guides on the machine. When using gym equipment, don’t get distracted and don’t start machinery such as treadmills, for example, until you’re properly positioned and ready to go.

Lower Back Sprain

This can happen due to lifting too much weight, which will affect your posture when lifting and exercising and create poor form. To avoid lower back pain after exercising, maintain a flat back when lifting weights and engage your core muscles. You should also know your personal limits and avoid pushing past them.

Shoulder Strain

This is another common gym injury that often happens due to lifting excessive weight or poor form when exercising. Shoulder pain is often a result of rotator cuff injury that can result in swelling, inflammation, tears and discomfort when moving the shoulder. If this happens, it’s important to rest to allow your shoulder to heal. The best way to prevent shoulder strain is to strengthen your upper body muscles gradually and to only lift weights that your body can handle without discomfort.

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5 Tips On Saving For An Engagement Ring

If you’ve found the person you want to spend the rest of your life with, chances are you’ll be thinking about proposing. This is a grand gesture and one that signifies your commitment to another person entirely. You will probably want to accompany the moment with an engagement ring, which will act as a reminder of the event for the rest of your lives. However, the more desirable rings aren’t cheap and you may need to plan financially for some time before you can afford one.


couple kissing engagement


If you’re looking to save for an engagement ring – here are some tips and tricks to help you get there.


Research and set a final goal

The first thing you should do is get a rough estimate of the amount of money that you will need to save. If you’ve already got your eye on a ring, take note of the asking price and make this your end goal. If you don’t have a certain ring in mind, then browse some ranges and get an idea of how much you would be willing to spend. Once you have an idea of what figure you are working towards, you can start to plan your finances much more effectively. Open up a savings account and begin saving!

Track your income and expenses

You should be doing this already, but tracking your monthly income and expenses is the first step you should take when looking to save money. Understanding how much disposable income you have left to save and where your costs are becoming unnecessarily bloated is critical to be able to save faster towards your goal. Having a better understanding of your financial position through tracking income and outgoings is also fundamental in avoiding plunging yourself into debt which will hinder your saving efforts.

Cut costs where you can

Once you have identified all your monthly expenses, you can identify areas where you can look to cut costs. You may be spending hundreds a month on takeaway food, nights out or betting – all of which will significantly increase your outgoings and reduce the amount you have to save. Implement a strategy to stop yourself from spending unnecessarily on these things and you’ll be surprised how much more you are able to save at the end of the month.

Set monthly saving targets

Working towards a target is a good way to keep yourself motivated and on course to afford the ring that you want to give your partner. Set a goal that is realistic and achievable but also makes you smart with your money, so you don’t get sloppy with your spending. It could be £50, £150 or £500 a month depending on your income – having a timeframe and end goal will give you an idea of how much you need to save from your income each month.

Sell your unwanted or disused items

It’s not all about cutting costs, however. Earning some extra money will go a long way in boosting your saving efforts and helping to reach your goal faster. If you’ve got old clothes, games consoles, sporting equipment or anything else that you don’t use anymore – sell it on one of the many online marketplaces available these days. Put any income from this straight into your savings pot, but maybe keep it on the down-low to avoid arousing suspicion!

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