Making the Better Choice

Filed under: Motivation , Tipping the Scales Getty Images I had a beautiful aha moment the other day. In the midst of moving issues and emotional stress , I realized that sometimes being healthy doesn’t mean picking the vegetables over the potato chips. Of course, that is a great example of making a healthy choice. There are times when being healthy might mean actually paying attention instead of blindly making food choices. There are times when perhaps it isn’t about making the right choice but about making the better choice. Sometimes being healthy means making the best choice available to you at the time. Sometimes being healthy means eating out and choosing to keep your meal small or getting the value size instead of the mega or extra-large food mountain. I finally stopped making food choices based on my feelings and started making a conscious effort to at least pick the better option. I actually logged in to my tracking system. I took the first step toward getting my healthy lifestyle back on track, and it felt amazing! I have also learned the importance of just saying no. No, I don’t need to finish that meal. No, I don’t need dessert every day. No, I don’t need the fried option; the grilled selection will do just fine. People like to say that it is the small decisions that add up to big rewards. I am committed to creating opportunities for minor successes with the confidence that those tiny changes will reap large benefits in the (hopefully) near future. When I realized that even though I didn’t have any fresh fruit or vegetables but managed to stay in my calorie range for a few days, I was ecstatic! Yes, I could have been upset because I didn’t have any fruits or veggies, but I chose to focus on the fact that I was in control and managed to stay within an acceptable calorie range. It has been weeks since I’ve went a day eating less than 2,000 calories. I am not proud of the food selections I have made, but I made them. Now the only option I have is to learn from those mistakes and move on. Aside from my aha moment, I had a small problem with my scale. Somehow, the scale did not survive the move. When I took it out of my husband’s trunk to use earlier this week, it refused to function. I think the scale was trying to send me a message. Perhaps instead of stepping on the scale and being disappointed, I get another week or two to work on getting my habits back on track and to hopefully see the numbers read my pre-move weight. I am actually excited to go buy a new scale and resume my weekly weigh-ins. While I did not make large strides in the exercise department recently, I am happy because we found an apartment that has a gym facility on site . I will be able to resume my fitness routine and I am thrilled! I am looking forward to starting and ending my day with quick walks with my dog and enjoying the treadmill and other machines in the gym area. I feel like I am seeing the light at the end of a very dark series of unhealthy choices. I am mentally, emotionally and physically ready to be on track, and I have started taking those steps. It is amazing how much clearer the path of weight loss is when you actually have a plan to follow. I don’t necessarily mean a detailed plan such as a specific gym routine or an itemized diet plan . Rather, the plan for me is to track my food, start with a simple exercise such as walking leading into running and to continue making the better choice. After decades of dieting only to gain it back, two That’s Fit readers have decided to finally rethink their relationship with food and exercise over the next year to move toward a lifetime of fulfilling, healthy living. Come by every week as Ashley and Lee share their successes and challenges as they tip the scale. While Ashley is eating healthier, Lee has resolved to ditch diet soda. Permalink | Email this | Comments

More here:
Making the Better Choice

Looking to Lose Weight the "Healthy Way" [Forum]

Well I am new to the world of blogging, so I decided with dietblog. I am hoping I will finally be able to start my diet, and STICK with it this time. I had a baby 7 months ago, and now I am struggling to actually get in the mood of happy weight loss. My goal is to lose 30lbs, but the healthy way. Ive lost 10lbs with the weight watchers diet, which made me very happy, but fell off the wagon. Ive tried the hCG diet for about a week, and I felt like I was starving myself. I gave that up because it didnt give me the motivation to take care of my baby or even clean the house. I am a stay at home mommy who is currently going to school online. When I stress, I turn to food. So I need help! I’m hoping that I can get the support I need through the dietblog community, so hello everyone!

Here is the original post:
Looking to Lose Weight the "Healthy Way" [Forum]

It’s National Yoga Month, and That Means Free Yoga!

If you’ve always wanted to achieve Standing Bow pose with grace, now is the time. September is National Yoga Month , and to celebrate, over 1,000 yoga studios nationwide are offering one week of free yoga through October. The hope is to inspire more people to try yoga so they can reap all the physical and emotional benefits of regular practice. All you have to do is sign up on the Yoga Month website for a free week of yoga at any of the participating studios. After choosing a studio, you’ll receive a card in your email, entitling you to a free week of classes; just print it out and bring it to your chosen studio. The one restriction is that you can’t use the pass to get free classes at a studio you’ve already gone to; it’s only for new students. Besides a free week of yoga, many studios will be offering free days of yoga that require no prior registration. There are also multi-day events and music/yoga festivals planned like the Evolve and Evanston music fests.

Originally posted here: 
It’s National Yoga Month, and That Means Free Yoga!

Healthy Recipe: A Smoothie Fit For Popeye

When I don’t have the time to sit down and eat a well-balanced breakfast in the morning, which happens all too often, I whip up a quick spinach and fruit smoothie that gives me energy, fills my belly, and fuels my tank with all the right foods. The spinach may sound strange, but the other ingredients mask the flavor. Before I can get into the carpool line, I’ve already sucked down fresh veggies, yogurt, and fruit to boot. And better yet? So have my kids. Wanna check out my delish spinach smoothie and the nutritional value?

Continued here:
Healthy Recipe: A Smoothie Fit For Popeye

Kim Clijsters: Balancing Family and the US Open

Filed under: Fitness , Celebs & Entertainment Julian Finney, Getty Images Kim Clijsters returned to the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center yesterday to defend her title at the US Open . After stepping away from tennis in 2007, Clijsters returned last year with her new daughter, Jada, in tow. Clijsters told That’s Fit that during tournaments like the US Open , she typically practices an hour or two a day and then hits the gym to follow a basic workout schedule. But during the off-season, her workout schedule can vary from four to six hours a day in the gym. She admits that training after pregnancy was frustrating at times. “I started from zero,” she said. “In the past, I would really focus on just the weak parts of my body, but this time I had to train everything again.” Now that the 27-year-old Belgian tennis star is also a mom, she said that her busy training schedule comes with trade-offs. “I have help from our nanny, my husband and other family members,” she said. “But, of course, I have days when I feel guilty about being away from [Jada].” Off the court, sports are a family affair. She met her American husband, Brian Lynch, while he was playing professional basketball in Europe. To relieve stress, they go mountain biking during the off-season and take their dogs for long walks. Clijsters said she also loves yoga and swimming to relax. Sports are in Clijsters’ blood: Her father was a soccer star, and her mother was a professional gymnast. But Clijsters said while sports, in general, were always a priority, tennis was always her first love. “Sports have always been important in my life. I feel better when I work out, and it has become a way to relax, get rid of stress and makes me feel good about myself,” she said. “So even if I’m not practicing tennis, I will always find a sport where I can challenge myself.” As for Jada, there is no pressure to choose professional sports, but rather to embrace an active lifestyle. “She can choose whatever sport she would like,” said Clijsters, “but we will teach her that playing sports and healthy eating is a good way of life.” Although Clijsters has extra support as a professional athlete, her love of activity and healthy living — and making it something the entire family is involved in — is a lesson all of us can learn from. Want to give your own tennis game a boost? Enter to win a Prince EXO3 Black 100 racquet! Permalink | Email this | Comments

See original here:
Kim Clijsters: Balancing Family and the US Open

3 Ways to Get More Out of Your Runs

Running is just about the best form of exercise (if your knees and back can take it) for so many reasons. It’s cheap, you can do it anywhere, it burns major calories, and tones your thighs and booty beautifully. There are also many ways you can change up the way you run in order to get a more effective workout. Try these techniques the next time you lace up your sneaks. Mix up your terrain : Doing so offers varying degrees of shock absorption for your joints and feet, so changing up your exercise terrain strengthens the muscles around your hips, knees, and ankles in different ways. Instead of sticking to the treadmill all the time, try to alternate your workouts between pavement, grass, dirt trails, sand, track, and your beloved treadmill. Don’t fear hills : Whether you’re on a treadmill or the open road, add incline to your workouts. Uphills will burn more calories, strengthen your leg muscles even more, and build your endurance. Then when you run on flat surfaces, you’ll be faster and able to run longer distances. Vary your steps : Many runners suffer from repetitive stress injuries because they run the same way all the time. You can help prevent pain by varying your steps throughout your run. Try shortening or lengthening your stride, running with high knees, running in a zigzag pattern, skipping, or running sideways. You may get some funny looks if you’re outside, but you can smile knowing you’re avoiding injury.

See more here: 
3 Ways to Get More Out of Your Runs

Which Weekend Treat Would You Rather Indulge In?

Weekend is definitely the time when I let loose a little and stray from my healthy ways. I always look forward to a huge brunch on Sunday morning, with my favorite treat being a warm Belgian waffle topped with fruit and homemade whipped cream. What about you? Which Weekend Treat Would You Rather Indulge In? A decadent, savory meal such as a steak or bacon cheeseburger. A sugary sweet treat such as cheesecake or a waffle with whipped cream. Alcohol Something else - I’ll tell you below. I don’t indulge on the weekends.

See original here: 
Which Weekend Treat Would You Rather Indulge In?

Speak Up: Which Fitness Retreats Are Your Fave?

I’m asking for your help; Summer is ending soon and I need vacation suggestions. I’m debating going glamping , but I kind of want to try a fitness retreat, which is something I’ve never done before. And even though I can turn any vacation into a fit one by renting a bike , going on a hike , or spending hours walking and sightseeing , I’m looking for something a little more structured. I’ve read about surf retreats , bikini boot camps in Costa Rica , and mountain biking in Moab . I know that yoga retreats are becoming more popular, and that resorts like Canyon Ranch offer all sorts of spa and wellness packages. My problem is that I don’t know anyone who’s ever gone on a fitness retreat. If any of you have tried it, I’d love to hear your thoughts! Tell me what you think in the comments below, and maybe you can help end my last-minute vacation anxiety.

See the original post here:
Speak Up: Which Fitness Retreats Are Your Fave?

Trainer Donny D-Fine Turns Twitter Into a Workout

Get excited! Donny D-Fine is back, and has managed to turn another popular social networking site into a fitness workout. This time it’s Twitter. We first came across Donny a few months ago when the OnSugar blog goddessbody shared his Facebook workout : “Update your body, not your status.” It was pretty hilarious, and also effective if you were looking to sweat a bit. This time around Donny has named a series of upper body moves after Twitter actions, throwing in his own brand of humor: “Don’t let you body sag so throw in a hashtag.” He even references Kim Kardashian outing a federal marshal via Twitter and Britney Spears having the most followers . Are you gonna work out Twitter style?

See more here: 
Trainer Donny D-Fine Turns Twitter Into a Workout

Has a Workout Ever Moved You to Tears?

A good workout often provides an emotional outlet for me; sometimes exercise is an even better outlet than talking about my problems. When I’m feeling stressed out, upset about something, or just need some time alone, sweating it out on a run or on my yoga mat always makes me feel better. Exercise can be like therapy, and at times the physical release has triggered an emotional one, so much so that it’s moved me to tears. Has this ever happened to you? Has a Workout Ever Moved You to Tears? Yes, I’ve cried while working out. No, I’ve never cried while exercising.

View original here:
Has a Workout Ever Moved You to Tears?

Next Page »