Relax Already: Get Juvenile

Now that I’m an adult, I often think back to the days when I was a carefree little girl and the only things I had to worry about were which color dress to wear to school and where to get enough blankets to make a fort. When life’s stresses get me down now, I take a cue from my girls and play like a kid. It really helps take my mind off frustrating grownup problems and calms me down so I can better deal with those adult issues. Here are some ideas: Color, draw, paint, or knit. Do something crafty with your hands. Play with your pet. If it’s nice out, enjoy the sunshine and the wind in your face with a bike ride. Don’t forget your helmet! Swing or play in a park. If there’s still snow where you live, go sledding or make a snowman. Join a kickball team. Read a kids’ book or other easy read. Play with a child - a good game of foursquare relieves a lot of stress. Turn up some music and dance around the house. Bake something scrumptious.

See the rest here: 
Relax Already: Get Juvenile

Your Tips on Breaking Through the Wall

We’ve all been there. You’re working out, running, biking, swimming, or whatever, and you hit a mental wall. All you can think about is wanting to stop and go home. This is a really common problem among regular exercisers, but that doesn’t make it any easier to deal with. Here are some tips from fellow FitSugar readers. “Yeah, if I hit a wall it kind of depends on what that barrier is. If I’m just feeling ‘ugh,’ I give myself 10 minutes more to see if I start to feel better. If I’m feeling bad, I’ll cut back on my intensity for a bit; walk instead of run, go into Child’s Pose, etc. If I’m feeling downright terrible, I call it quits for the day. I’ve only really needed to do that once, but it turned out I had the beginnings of a stomach bug. Best to listen to your body, and be kind to yourself.” - benheld “It’s all about variety. Keep your body guessing and your mind active. Constantly switch up your workout so it doesn’t get stale and you don’t hit walls. Also, sometimes a great song can get you through anything!” - michlny Mila_83 says, “I try something new. If I usually run or take spinning classes, I go to the pool or take a fun urban rebounding class. Last time I tried rock climbing instead of usual 7-mile run.” “If I feel like stopping I just think about how great I’ll feel if I keep going and how bad I would feel if I gave up.” - genipher85 For more great tips keep reading

The rest is here:
Your Tips on Breaking Through the Wall

Are You Destined to Have Your Mother’s Body?

Like mother, like daughter, right? When I look at old photos of my mom at my age, we look exactly alike. Some children resemble their parents so closely that there’s no doubt in your mind that they’re related. So does that mean a woman is destined to grow up to look like her mom, and inherit the same body type, whether it be wide hips, large thighs, or a flat tush? One finding proved that apple-shaped bodies are more likely to be seen passed down through family trees than pear-shaped and thin frames. That’s because it’s not just your mother’s genes you inherit, but also your father’s. Since men usually store fat in their bellies, this body shape can often be passed on to his children. Don’t worry just yet if you’re not too psyched about growing up to look like your parents. The good news is that although your inherited genes may determine up to 80 percent of your weight and shape, you’re not destined to have a tire around your waist just because your mom does. Your environment and personal choices also play a major role. Another good point to bring up is that your mother’s generation wasn’t encouraged to exercise like women are today, so a regular exercise routine can make a huge difference in what your body looks like when you reach your mother’s age. Tell me, do you already see your mother or father’s shape when you look in the mirror?

See the original post here:
Are You Destined to Have Your Mother’s Body?

Rachael Ray Slims Down

With all the burgers, beers, and EVOO Rachael Ray downs, I’ve always wondered how she stays so fit - I’m sure constantly being on the go helps. Just this week, Rachael was in Miami hosting her Burger Bash as part of the Food Network’s annual South Beach Wine and Food Festival (SBWFF). And while I wasn’t as lucky as Yum to sample the fare, I did get to read all about Rachael’s exercise secrets in People . That’s a worthy replacement, right? While at the SBWFF, Rachael shared she went into serious exercise mode after having a cyst removed from her throat last year. Post surgery, she started running 3.5 miles every day: “The gym used to be my adversary. But that has all changed. Now, I look forward to it every morning.” And when she talks morning, she’s not kidding! To allow for gym time before heading to the TV studio to film her talk show, Rachael is usually up before 6 a.m. and raring to go. She runs for 30 minutes before heading to the gym for an hour-long workout on the elliptical. I’d say the gal loves her cardio! How much weight has she dropped? Learn the details when you read more. She can’t tell you for sure how much weight she’s lost - Rachael doesn’t count calories or weigh herself - but there’s definite progress. She says that her body has changed, her mind is clearer, and she’s dropped several dress sizes. She doesn’t slack off either. Even while letting the good times roll at the SBWFF, Rachael made a point to work out at a local Miami gym. Hitting the local gym is a great tip to have when traveling yourself - I also pack workout DVDs and a resistance band before hopping on a plane.

See original here: 
Rachael Ray Slims Down

Minutes to a Healthier You: Call It Out

If you find yourself stressed out during your day, whether it be work, family, or life-related, there’s no reason you have to deal with it on your own. Reaching out to someone you love and trust, someone who knows you well and has the power to calm your nerves, is one of the easiest and most effective ways to make you feel better. When you’re at your wit’s end, call a friend or family member and take a few minutes to share your worries, grief, or frustration with a caring ear. Talk therapy with someone close to you will ease your mind if you’re upset, but it’s also great to connect and laugh with someone every day even on days you’re feeling happy and relaxed.

View original here:
Minutes to a Healthier You: Call It Out

Fitness Download of the Day: Lower Body Yoga Sequence

I’m pumped because this week’s Get Fit For 2010 challenge is all about fitness, and there are so many different ways to get moving. Yoga is one of the healthiest things you can do for your body, and a great complement to high impact activities like running, skiing, and swimming. If you can’t get to a class, check out this nine-posture Lower Body Yoga Sequence . It’s great for runners looking to increase their speed, for skiers and riders looking to perfect their balance, and also great for stressed out people looking to slow down their body and create serenity in their mind. Download this PDF , print it (color looks best), and hop on your mat. I guarantee that your thighs and booty will be burning by the time you reach the last pose, Half Moon . After you exercise, don’t forget to write a fitness journal blog post in the Get Fit community group for a chance to enter our weekly prize - $100 gift card from Nike - as well as our fabulous grand prize .

The rest is here:
Fitness Download of the Day: Lower Body Yoga Sequence

Speak Up: What Healthy Habits Are Hard For You to Stick With?

Every time I go to the dentist, the hygienist asks the million-dollar question, “Have you been flossing every day?” I know she can tell by looking at my teeth and gums that the answer is no, but I think she asks just so I feel bad enough to actually remember to do it. I know it’s recommended to floss at least once a day , but for some reason, I can only remember to do it a few times a week, which is why flossing daily is one of my healthy goals for 2010 . Tell me, what healthy habit to do have a hard time keeping up with?

More here: 
Speak Up: What Healthy Habits Are Hard For You to Stick With?

Cardio 101: Endurance, Intervals, Fitness

Variety is the spice the life, and your cardio workouts, which hopefully are a part of your regular life, are no different. Spinning your wheels at the exact same speed each workout is not only boring for your mind, but your body as well. As your body acclimates to your workout, you begin to plateau - meaning you’re not challenging yourself as much as you could, and you’re not burning as many calories as you could be. All that wasted potential . . . Don’t waste your time on a single track cardio plan; your aerobic life plan should be a mix of endurance, fitness, and interval training. You shouldn’t just hop on the elliptical or hit the streets and do the same routine every session - you need to mix it up. Here are three types of workouts you should include in your cardio life. Endurance : Maintaining a steady and somewhat slower pace for a longer duration is an endurance workout. Aim to work out for at least 40 to 60 minutes maintaining a target heart rate of 60-70 percent of your max (check my calculator to learn your max heart rate). This type of workout is good for burning both fat and calories . Endurance workouts are great for ” recovery ” workout, the day after an intense workout. Try running on flat ground for at least 40 minutes at a nice steady pace. Add five minutes on to your run each week until you’re running for a full hour. To see the other two, just read more. Fitness : Short and intense workouts to increase cardiovascular fitness are fitness workouts. For these workouts you work at a consistent and intense pace for a short period of time. Keep your heart rate between 75 and 85 percent of your max for 20 minutes. A tempo run is a great example of this kind of workout. You will burn the maximum number of calories in a shorter period of time. Doing just this type of workout can lead to injury, since you are pushing your body, heart, joints, and muscles beyond your comfort zone. Once you have warmed up, put the speed of the treadmill a couple of notches past your comfort zone and run for 20 minutes. Don’t forget to cool down. Interval : I love interval training since it is a blend of both endurance and fitness training. It challenges the cardiovascular system by alternating intensities. It also increases your metabolism and will burn calories and fat. Here is a challenging interval workout: interval sprints on treadmill . No matter what type of cardio you fancy, these three types of workouts can and should be included in your workouts from biking to running, from swimming to rowing. So which type of training is your favorite and which do you need to do more of? Tell me in the comment section below.

See original here:
Cardio 101: Endurance, Intervals, Fitness

Learn to Love: Pink Grapefruit

In my mind, nothing beats the tang of a pink grapefruit in the morning. Considered a classic diet food, it has been much abused by the weight loss industry - remember the Grapefruit Diet ? This is no reason to ignore this healthy citrus fruit. Learn why you should learn to love grapefruit of the pink variety. Both varieties of grapefruit are low in calories. A serving of the pink fruit contains only 65 calories and two grams of fiber. Grapefruit is also high in vitamin C, offering 48 milligrams in one serving. Plus it is in season now. Not only does pink grapefruit contain the hard-to-come-by antioxidant lycopene , the citrus fruit also contains a broad range of other antioxidants. Lycopene might have anti-tumor properties and is a powerful enemy of free radicals, which cause cell damage, so it’s definitely a micronutrient you want to include in your diet. Research found that eating half a grapefruit before every meal can lead to greater weight loss in dieters. While I might not be able to eat the fruit before every meal, eating some before breakfast seems highly doable. Not only that, but the scent of grapefruit oil has been found to reduce the appetite . Researchers speculate the oil’s smell has an effect on liver enzymes, which help nix cravings and spur weight loss. Grapefruit is not just for breakfast anymore. Add sections of the fruit to salads, like this jerk-grilled chicken with arugula salad . It pairs nicely with avocado too.The tangy fruit also makes for a great dessert in a grapefruit sabayon gratin . Love it or hate it, tell me how you feel about pink grapefruit in the comment section below.

Here is the original:
Learn to Love: Pink Grapefruit

Jessica Biel Makes It to the Top of Mt. Kilimanjaro

When Jessica Biel sets her mind to a goal , nothing gets in her way. Here’s another reason she’s the fittest celeb of 2009 - today the 27-year-old actress reached the top of Mt. Kilimanjaro, the highest peak on the African continent at 19,341 feet. She began the climb on Jan. 7 , in the hopes of raising money and bringing awareness to the growing need for clean drinking water worldwide. The expedition was known as Summit on the Summit , and Jessica was joined by other notables such as actor Emile Hirsch, actress Isabel Lucas, and musician Lupe Fiasco. The grueling hike was expected to last a week, but it looks like they made it a couple days ahead of schedule. Congrats to Jessica and the entire crew!

View original here:
Jessica Biel Makes It to the Top of Mt. Kilimanjaro

Next Page »