De-stress with a Standing Side Curl

De-stress with a Standing Side Curl
JORGE’S DAILY FIT TIP

By Jorge Cruise, Chief Diet and Fitness Expert
Thursday, October 9, 2008
Are you stressed out or on the verge of a major mental meltdown? Well, I have a simple trick for combating stress: exercise. You’ve heard this before, right? Channeling pent-up frustration and negative energy into a sweat-spilling workout will not only burn off unhealthy emotions, but it’ll burn off unwanted fat as well! Physical activity decreases the body’s levels of cortisol, a stress hormone, and spurs the release of endorphins, which is a natural mood-booster. So next time you’re tense, grab a pair of dumbbells and try this standing side curl. Be sure to keep your elbows tight against your body when you perform this move. Here’s how it’s done:
Step 1: Hold a pair of dumbbells with your palms turned out, elbows to your sides. Keep your chest up, feet hip-width apart, knees slightly bent, and abs tight throughout the exercise.
Step 2: Breathe slowly as you curl the weights up toward your shoulders for a count of 10 seconds, keeping your elbows tight against your body.
Step 3: Hold and squeeze at the maximum tension point for a count of 2 seconds. Lower the weights through a count of 10 seconds until your arms are nearly straight (do not lock your elbows).
Step 4: Repeat three times without resting.
Your coach,Jorge Cruise