on 3/7/2010
| filed in: Personal
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WIthout going into details about my personal life, let's just said things have been anything but rosy lately, and I could really use a bit of encouragement. I'm beyond stressed, and before this turn of events, my fall back method for dealing with stress has always been to work out. However, lack of child care and an unpredictable work schedule has wreaked havoc on my ability to run or hit the gym with any regularity - and that REALLY causes me stress!! I HATE missing my workouts, and knowing I'm losing fitness makes me feel even worse about myself and my life than I already do. Seriously, I'm a mess without my daily running fix. To put it bluntly, I feel like crap! Try topping stress with GUILT. PLEASE. Right now I need cheerleaders, I need tips, I need ideas for fitting workouts into a crazy schedule. In short, I need a support group. I know my fitster friends are awesome - you come from all walks of life, you have amazing creden... read more
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on 3/6/2010
| filed in: Health
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You’ve probably heard that eating fish is healthy for you. But did you know that keeping fish as pets can help you feel better too? Researchers have discovered that people who watch fish swim in an aquarium for 20 minutes experience significantly lower blood pressure. As a matter of fact, a finned or furry friend can help improve your health in a variety of ways.
While it’s no secret that dog owners enjoy the cardiovascular benefits of daily dog walks, cat owners also seem to have healthier hearts. Studies have shown that a friendly pet can reduce anxiety, help lower blood pressure and moderate levels of cholesterol and triglycerides. Much like yoga or meditation, pets may help to calm us mentally and physically by diverting our attention from stressful situations. The simple, rhythmic motion of petting an animal may play a part in relaxing us too.
Having a pet around may even improve your immune system function. Pet owners report a significant reduction in&... read more
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on 1/26/2010
| filed in: Health
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Of course exercise is healthy, but did you know it is preventative in many ways? Of course maintaining a healthy weight can help stave off diseases like Type 2 diabetes, heart diease, and other debilitating long-term health robbers. But in the short-term, exercise also boosts your body's immunity to cold and flu viruses by circulating infection-fighting cells throughout the body. Physical exercise is also a great stress reliever - and you KNOW the toll stress takes on the body and the way it weakens your immune system. It's not a coincidence that when you're overwhelmed and stressed you're more likely to get sick. Hey, does that mean when a kid doesn't show up to school on a day when his big project is due, there's a chance he really IS sick - and he can blame ME for stressing him out? ; )
*Cautionary note: Overtraining has the opposite effect. Studies show that after a marathon, runners are so fatigued that they're MORE susceptible to getting sick. The key to ev... read more
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on 1/2/2010
| filed in: Health
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With so much focus around creating the perfect strength training and cardio workout, many people forget about the importance of good posture. Maintaining good posture on a regular basis is going to serve a number of purposes, so it’s time to start paying attention to this factor and making the most of your posture at all times.
Here's some straight talk on the benefits of maintaining good posture.
Increased Confidence Levels
Good posture increases your confidence levels. Because confidence is one of the things that will dramatically impact how other people view you, by straightening up your posture, you can instantly come across as more attractive to others.
Typically when you use good posture you will also feel better about yourself in general which in turn will increase your mood levels, so this is something you definitely do not want to overlook. Paying attention to your posture will truly impac... read more
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on 12/26/2009
| filed in: Goals and Motivation
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Ever wondered if it would be worth it to join a gym rather than just working out at home? Likely there will be increased traffic on FC by the new year's resolutioners who will at least start the new year with fitness goals. This is for you. But this blog is also for those of you who may have tried going it alone and had some measure of success, but also found it challenging to stay motivated.
What ARE the benefits of working out in a gym? Here's my take on the subject.
1. You have a sense of structure. You have to pack your gym bag or don your workout clothes; on the drive to the gym you mentally prepare yourself to work out; and honestly, if you have shelled out money to belong to a gym, you're more likely to commit to working out if, for no other reason, than to get your money's worth out of the membership!
2. There is expert advice available. Gyms have certified trainers on staff if you are new to working out. There are also classes you c... read more
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