Search Results for: blog a fit mind and a fit body

Physical Activity Reduces Risk of Dementia and Alzheimer’s

After just writing about the importance of seeing fitness as something that encompasses body, mind and spirit, I wasn’t surprised to read about research just published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, which indicate that regular exercise may help prevent cognitive problems.  Specifically it’s found that those who remain physically fit during the mid-life years were almost 40% less likely to develop Alzheimer’s or dementia. Previous research has found that regular exercise can prevent a host of other health problems, such as arthritis, certain types of cancer and stroke. It’s also been found that an individual’s level of health during … Continue reading →

Body, Mind and Spirit

Fitness is most often equated with exercise.  But it’s so important that when striving for overall health, we look at not only the body but the mind and spirit as well. I like to think of this as a wheel with three spokes.  One spoke represents the body, one the mind and the other spirit.  When one spoke is broken or missing, everything is thrown off balance. Body is the part where we focus on exercise and eating right.  The type of exercise and eating plan will be different for each person.  It’s going to depend on where you live, … Continue reading →

Improving Fitness with a Heart Rate Monitor

When it comes to fitness devices, most of us are probably more familiar with the benefits of a pedometer than a heart rate monitor.  But you might want to consider investing in one, if you want to improve your fitness even more. Exercise is about more than just how often you do it and for how long.  The level (or intensity) of the exercise is just as important. A heart rate monitor can keep track of your heartbeats, allowing you to stay in the appropriate heart rate zone.  In other words, you don’t want the intensity of your exercise to … Continue reading →

Toddlers And Sports

If it seems to you that children are participating in sports at much younger ages than they did when you were a kid, you’re right. More and more kids are beginning to play sports at younger and younger ages. There is considerable debate over whether or not early involvement in organized athletics is beneficial for children. It is undisputed that children need physical activity, and plenty of it in order to develop strong, healthy bodies and minds. It is also clear that many children do not get enough physical activity, and that their health suffers because of that. Many children … Continue reading →

False Fitness Claims

I hate to say it…but I told you so. This is for all those who thought wearing a pair of shoes could help you lose weight. I really don’t mean to be harsh. I can understand the hope that all it takes is wearing a particular type of shoe to help tone the legs. But at the same time, I think we all need to be a bit realistic. To have a fit body, it actually takes work. If you haven’t already heard, Skechers is paying out $45 million to settle claims filed against them. They are accused of exaggerating … Continue reading →

Fit with Forgiveness

Have you ever considered forgiveness as part of your fitness plan? If you haven’t, you just might want to after reading this blog. In my view, a fit lifestyle is one that encompasses every area of an individual’s life. It relates to your physical, emotional, spiritual, intellectual and mental being. I liken it to a wheel with five spokes. If any one of those spokes is missing, the wheel becomes unbalanced. So in fitness you can’t just concern yourself with the physical aspect. You have to look at your overall health and this is where forgiveness comes in. Consider what … Continue reading →

My Struggles with My Body and My Self-Image

I have a confession to make…I absolutely hate to have my picture taken. So I will avoid it at all costs. In fact, every time I am tagged in a photo on Facebook, I immediately untag it. I don’t appreciate being put out there without permission. Okay, that’s not really what it’s all about. It is my inability to accept my body image. Because of my extreme disliking to having my photo taken, I have bypassed two opportunities in the past several years for my family to receive a free 8×10 portrait, compliments of the church I attend. You see, … Continue reading →

Benefits of Exercise When Pregnant

With three teenagers, having a baby is the last thing on my mind. But with so many women I know around me carrying a child, I was thinking about how differently I might have felt nearly 18, 15 and 13 years ago when I was pregnant if I had been more active. Exercise may be the last thing on earth you feel like doing when you are pregnant. You may be dealing with nausea and a lack of energy. You may feel big as a house. But many of the aches and pains that come along with pregnancy could be … Continue reading →

Online Streaming of Fitness Classes

Today in my neck of the woods (Wisconsin), I am feeling pretty grateful for unseasonably warmer weather. Yesterday we hit as high as the mid 50’s and today we are in the 40’s. It is quite a contrast from a year ago when we were digging ourselves out after receiving more than two feet of snow. Winter can be a difficult time to exercise. It becomes especially challenging when the clouds are grey, the temperatures are frigid or there is a ton of snow. Who wants to go out in that? Maybe it’s not even the weather. Maybe you are … Continue reading →

A Mind Body Blast Deal for 2012!

I recently took a 6 week fitness and nutrition class called Mind Body Blast and really enjoyed it. To sum it up, it’s an online class with Luci Gabel, a national exercise physiologist and wellness consultant. It’s like having your own nutrition consultant and fitness trainer on-the-go. Mind Body Blast is a small step approach, where you tackle one change to your diet and exercise program each week. Mind Body Blast is not a specific diet (no fads), it’s a program that simply hones in on healthy habit changes for lasting results. Luci guides you through the course through a … Continue reading →