Fitness Is a Journey

Fitness isn’t a one time deal. You don’t try it one day and suddenly develop a habit or lifestyle of fitness. Rather, fitness is more like a journey. Think about journeys you have taken in life. First, consider a literal journey you have gone on. It usually consists of a lot work preparing for it. You have to plan, prepare and pack. By the time you are done, you are almost wiped out. Fitness tends to start off this way. You plan what you will do, you try and prepare your body and you pack on some exercises…only to find … Continue reading

Developing a Fitness Plan

So you’re ready to get off your duff and get moving? You might feel a bit overwhelmed about developing a fitness plan…but you don’t have to be. First, write down your plan. I prefer to type mine up. There is something about seeing your plan in writing that makes it easier to stick to. My current plan looks this way: Monday – Cardio- Tuesday – Arms Wednesday – Core Thursday – Legs Friday – Core Your plan could look very different. You may have instead, the days you will go to the gym, the days you will walk or whatever … Continue reading

Creating a Fitness Journal – Part 1

Sometimes we need to see things in black and white. This way we can’t deny the truth, whether it is the amount of exercise we are getting or the types of foods that we are eating. If you really want to be successful in developing and maintaining a fit lifestyle, I strongly suggest putting together a fitness journal. You can make this as simple or as fancy as you like. You can use a spiral notebook, your computer, a binder, whatever works best for you. Before you put together a fitness journal however, we need to think about the key … Continue reading

When a Chronic Condition Interrupts Your Fitness Routine

It is so frustrating to have a good fitness routine going, only to see it crumble because of sickness. I have been battling a severe flair-up of costochondritis for about two weeks now. The inflammation and pain have prevented me from doing any form of exercise, let alone light housework, without exacerbating the problem. I have also had to come to the realization that I likely suffer from a chronic form of it, so this won’t be the last time my life is interrupted. I guess it helps me to somewhat understand what others go through who have conditions like … Continue reading

Is It Time For a Fitness Makeover?

While I haven’t watched it in some time, one of my favorite television shows used to be “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.” I loved the stories behind the families who were chosen and the excitement on their faces the first time they laid eyes on their new home. There are so many other types of “makeover” shows on now…everything from your clothes, to plastic surgery. So what is the draw to makeovers? It’s a chance for something new, a fresh start in life. It can be very inspiring and motivating. The same is true in fitness. So perhaps it is time … Continue reading

Fitness and Your Bones

Men and women looking to avoid suffering the painful and often debilitating disease osteoporosis should be exercising more, according to leading scientists. Researchers at top medical universities around the nation are urging people to look after their bones by living well and getting fit. They say by doing so you can reduce your chances of developing osteoporosis, a disease where the inner honeycomb structure inside each bone becomes thinner and more fragile. Osteoporosis can affect any part of a person’s body but the wrist, hip and spine are the most common areas. Experts say the best way to strengthen your … Continue reading

The Fitness Week in Review for Jan 27-Feb 2

We’ve negotiated a smooth segue from January to February. For most of us, January is a month of transition, we’re recovering from the holidays, we’re going back to school, we’re going back to work, we’re getting started on new work out programs and new goals. February is different though. February means the New Year isn’t just arrived, it’s here, we’re in it, we’re down in the shallow end and we’re starting to really wade out into the year. It’s been an interesting week here for me and as I described in a blog I wrote late yesterday, I’m waiting on … Continue reading

Top Ten Best Fitness Goals You Can Set for Yourself

In an earlier article, we talked about the Top Ten Best Fitness Gifts You Can Give Yourself, let’s talk about the best fitness goals you can set for yourself as we approach the new year and a time for new year’s resolutions – this might help you clarify the resolutions you want to set for yourself and build your resolution plan. Don’t worry if you’re not sure what a resolution plan is, we’re going to talk more about that here over the next week as January 1st approaches. In the meanwhile, here are the top ten best fitness goals you … Continue reading

10 Best Fitness Choices for 2006

It’s the time of year for making those top ten lists and as I wind up my workweek and look forward to this weekend, I thought what a better way to summarize the year and the work we’ve done here at Families.com and get in a little fun at the same time. Towards that effort, I have thought about some of the fitness choices we’ve discussed here in the Fitness Blog and I’ve thought about the New Year’s Resolutions we are all considering for next year and those that we planned for this year. In that light, here are my … Continue reading

Fitness Tips: How Do You Feel About You?

One thing I’ve discovered over the last few years is how you view yourself is indelibly linked to how successful you are in the challenges you choose to undertake. So let’s talk a little bit about how you feel about yourself, because from the get go – if you hate yourself and you feel extremely negative about yourself – then you will not likely find the success you are craving. There are a number of things that I do when I am feeling down about myself or unhappy with how things are going with my fitness program and more. You … Continue reading