Sports and Fitness

My husband attended a softball meeting just last week. It is in preparation of the softball season that is just ahead. Although we have snow on the ground and apparently a few more inches to come yet, the reality is that in just a couple of months the softball season will begin. Hard to believe but something I am looking forward to as it has become a special activity for both of us. He plays and I do the stats. Now over the course of the years he has begun to take considerable notice of the difficulties he has had … Continue reading

Did Your Deodorant Stop Working?

The deodorant/antipersperant aisle at the store is full of options. Sporty, teen, extra strength, spray, invisible, transdimensional, does the dishes too, etc. I used Secret because that was what my mom used… and I stuck with it for years. One day, I noticed that it wasn’t working as well as it used to. The powder fresh scent wasn’t lasting as long, and I was starting to feel sweaty. Betrayed! By my favorite deodorant! Oh, the horror! Heartbroken, I switched to another brand — Suave, if you’re curious. I’ve more or less been switching between the two every few years now, … Continue reading

How to Talk to a Person with Bad B.O.

This may be a recurring nightmare among folks in management positions: a star employee has a problem with body odor… and it’s up to you to talk to them. What do you say? How do you approach the subject tactfully? It’s not an easy one. Even for the people we hold closest — family and friends — it’s not always easy to point out a flaw like body odor. I feel horrible suggesting that a friend needs a breath mint… yet I’d definitely want to know if I was the stinky one. The approach is even more delicate when you … Continue reading

Pets on Steroids

Last week, I took my dog Lally to the vet for help with a major allergy attack. She had been itching her face so badly that the hair around her eyes was gone and the skin was raw. Benadryl alone wasn’t doing enough to relieve the itching, so the vet brought out the big guns: steroids. Steroids are very useful for reducing inflammation, and they’ve really helped Lally with her allergy attack. Almost immediately she stopped scratching at her face and ears! She’s got a ten day course of prednisone, and the vet told me to keep up with the … Continue reading

Optimal Metabolism

To help you lose weight you need to rev up your metabolism and give it that extra heave-ho. You have tried to consume fewer calories and exercise more and those are both great things to do and highly essential in the weight loss battle, but you feel like you are missing the mark somehow. As you get older your metabolism slows down, especially around the mid to late 30s mark. Losing weight becomes tougher. To help you in the weight loss adventure there are some great metabolism boosters to keep in mind that will help you to get those pounds … Continue reading

Why Too Much Exercise is a Bad Thing

Believe it or not there is such a thing as getting too much exercise. People who are obsessed with physical activity are often diagnosed with a condition known as obligatory exercise and anorexia athletica. The results of such behavior can cause physical and psychological harm in a number of ways, including: INJURY Studies show excessive exercise can damage tendons, ligaments, bones, cartilage, and joints. In addition, when minor injuries aren’t allowed to heal, they often result in long-term damage. Too much exercise actually destroys muscle mass, instead of building it up, especially if the body isn’t getting enough nutrition and … Continue reading

Real Men…

In honor of Father’s Day and Men’s Health Week, let’s take a look at what makes a real, healthy man. Real men have feelings. You don’t have to be the strong, silent hero. If something hurts or doesn’t feel right, talk to your doctor! Real men have a support network. Family, friends, coworkers — people you can turn to if you need help and people who look to sometimes you for help. A true support network should be a give-and-take. Real men go to the doctor. A yearly check-up will help you catch any possible health problems early — when … Continue reading

Are You a Spoon?

Wondering what a spoon is outside of an eating utensil or a very a snuggly position with your spouse? Well, wonder no longer. A spoon is a body shape that means you carry excess weight on your hips, thighs and behind the knees. My legs are somewhat spoon like, even when I am at my peak weight; my legs are larger than my upper body would indicate. Spoon Doesn’t Equal Overweight Before you get the wrong idea, just because your lower body is larger than your upper body, don’t believe that this is an indicator of being overweight. I felt … Continue reading

Dear Heather…Can you be frugal & still get a good workout?

Dear Heather, Maybe I should have sent this to the frugal blog, but I had a question about being frugal and being fit at the same time. The simple fact is I don’t have a lot of extra money. I have three kids and I’m a single parent. My ex helps me out with child support, but I use that money to take care of the kids and keep extra in the bank if they need something. I try to limit my spending to necessities only with the occasional splurge here and there. A couple of years ago, I tried … Continue reading

Dear Heather … The Thin Commandments

Dear Heather, I like your blog and I like reading it, thanks for putting in the work to keep it updated. I hope you’re doing well, I noticed you haven’t been writing as much as you usually do. But I digress, the reason for my note is I’ve been reading some weight loss motivation books lately and I came across these Thin Commandments. I wanted to know if you’d heard of them and if you have any comments on them. If you aren’t thin, you aren’t attractive. Being thin is more important than being healthy. You must buy clothes, cut … Continue reading