Fitness and Shoveling Snow

With most of the country dealing with snow, shoveling has become a concern for many. Experts are issuing warnings that if you aren’t in good enough shape, you may be at risk when shoveling snow. Not only have there been reports of injuries but there have even been reports of death due to shoveling. In a previous blog I wrote, Keeping Fit Boosts Your Energy, I talked about how fitness has never been on my radar screen and how for years I battled fatigue. In years past when I attempted to shovel, I always found myself worn out quickly. I … Continue reading

Fitness Week in Review for October 13-19, 2008

What kind of music do you listen to while you workout? Would you consider running a marathon while you were pregnant? Do you skip over warm-ups and cool downs because you want to get out of the gym and on with your day as quickly as possible? Those are just a few of the questions posed last week in the FITNESS blog. To see what else you might have missed take a look at the following recap: October 13th—–How “Fit” is Your Child’s Cereal? Most of us are so concerned about getting our children off the couch and outside to … Continue reading

Avoiding Fitness Mistakes

Besides neglecting to include a warm-up and cool-down in your workout there are a host of other mistakes beginners and experienced fitness fiends make from time to time. To get the most of the time you spend burning calories it is important to recognize, and then eliminate these blunders from your fitness routine. Making fitness mistakes a regular part of your routine can lead to loss of interest or more serious injuries. Take a look at these fitness mistakes and ask yourself if they have become a regular part of your fitness regime: Unrealistic Expectations Despite what you may see … Continue reading

Fitness Reminders

I don’t know about you, but I struggle to squeeze in daily exercise. Whereas I do have a fitness routine (which is punctuated with several hours per week of marathon training) I also mother a child, work, run a household, and basically try to keep my head above water on a daily basis. Needless to say, when I do have time to get to the gym I don’t have the luxury of spending hours upon hours there. I need to get in, get out, and get on with my schedule. In doing so I often forget to complete basic portions … Continue reading

Dealing with Your Triggers

In my last blog I talked about knowing your triggers…the things that cause you to slip from making healthy food choices or staying consistent with exercise. I mentioned that sadness is my trigger for eating the wrong things and stress for failing to exercise. Hopefully you have taken the time to really consider what it is that triggers your lack of consistency. It can be the biggest detriment to living a healthy, fit lifestyle. Recognizing those triggers is just the first step. You now have to do something with that knowledge. You should come up with some helpful ways to … Continue reading

Warm-up and Cool-down

Sometimes we forget two very important aspects of working out. That is remembering to warm-up and cool-down. Before we start an aerobic exercise our muscles are cold and tight, meaning they are not totally prepared for a workout. Doing a warm-up helps prepare your body for your workout and decreases the risk of a muscle strain. A cool-down helps you bring your heart rate down and allows you to transition back into your daily routine. Your warm-up can be a less intense version of what your aerobic activity is. For example, if you are going to go for a three … Continue reading

Weighing Thy Self

The experts say that once a week or even once a month is the best way to do it. I say, “Whatever works for you.” I do it once, twice, even three times a day. A mistake? Possibly. However, in my experience I have come to discover that if I do not weigh myself this often I think that I am off the hook and tend to forget about my goals. It is my way of staying on top of things. There is even a club for the obsessive weighers like myself. At http://weight-loss.fitness.com/club/7618-weigh-yourself-everyday-club-272.html you will have company if this … Continue reading

Help! My Scale Is Stuck!: Plateaus and Weight Loss

Everything was going great. You were losing weight each and every week and you were really pumped. It was so exciting to watch your weight plunge downhill. You felt better, you knew you looked better, and it was a wonderful feeling. Not to mention that you were able to buy new clothes in a smaller size! Finally. Then one day….BAM…nothing. The scale was not moving although you kept up your same exercise routine and your same calorie count. What happened? My dear, you have hit a plateau. Do not fret though, this is common. It is just a bump in … Continue reading

Making Healthy and Reasonable Resolutions

It’s that time of year: time to start thinking about New Year’s resolutions. I like the idea of a fresh start for the New Year. But I don’t always stick with my resolutions. I think that’s because I try to make them too big and too broad. Know what I mean? Get in shape. Eat better. Exercise more. They’re kind of nebulous and easy to forget. According to USA.gov, the most popular New Year’s resolutions include: Losing weight/exercising more/getting into shape Eating better/eating right Managing debt/saving money Quitting smoking Reducing stress Getting a better job Getting a better education Travel … Continue reading

Exercise and Music

What kind of music do you listen to while you workout? A new study says the type of tunes that play on your iPod as you run (or participate in other cardio exercise) influences your physical endurance. The new research, which is set to appear in the Journal of Sport & Exercise Psychology, is part of a 20-year study highlighting motivational qualities of music in sport and exercise. The findings illustrate the benefits associated with exercising in time to music. In one part of the study 30 participants exercised on a treadmill while listening to songs by pop stars such … Continue reading