There are so many nutrients and vitamins that our bodies need, and it's nearly impossible to know which one we aren't getting enough of, and which we need to work to get more of. For those of us that are trying to lose weight and get healthy, I want to encourage you to start adding a couple of supplements to your diet. Flavored Water: I start out with a flavored water. I like to use Propel, which is a Gatorade product, but there are plenty of others out there that are zero calorie, zero … [Read more...]
Exercise Excuse Busters– 5 Ways to Motivate Yourself to Move
There's a really good chance that you're not living on a ranch where you have nothing to do but exercise, surrounded by motivation and encouragement. No, it's up to you to summon your inner Jillian Michaels and talk yourself into getting your sweat on. There you are, standing at that fork in the road, weighing your options-- do you take the path that's easiest, most familiar, and ignore the call to lift weights and break a sweat? Or do you head down that shorter path, the one on the hill, the … [Read more...]
Medical Issues aren’t the Only Reason to Have an ID Bracelet
There is some security in knowing that if I had some medical emergency while jogging along the community fitness trail in town, that first responders will immediately have access to my name, my parents' cell phone numbers, and the fact that I'm allergic to Penicillin. While I'm only 42 years old, things happen-- I could have a heart attack, get hit by a bus, or pass out for some reason. I bought the Road ID bracelet for myself, and one for each of my kids, after reading a news story about a … [Read more...]
Obese Kids: The Fix Starts at Home
Originally printed in Upstate Parent Magazine. When kids are young, it’s so easy to get them to exercise — it’s all play! You take them to the park, you sign them up for swimming lessons, or you go for a walk. As they get older, and more independent, it’s a little more challenging. For kids who play a sport, the job is much easier. They go to practice, and the coach — if it isn’t you — has them run laps, do drills and scrimmage. For kids who don’t play sports, it can be a struggle. … [Read more...]
Exercise is Good for Your Body AND Your Brain
These bodies of ours were made to move, just as our brains were made to think. Yeah, over the years some parts get worn down, things start to crack and creak-- and the same thing happens to our brains. In our culture we sit more than we move, and our bodies-- and our brains-- suffer as a result. The more we sit, sedentary, the less opportunity we have for improving our physical strength, or expanding our cardiovascular stamina. Because our brains benefit from physical exercise, … [Read more...]
A Healthy Partnership
For more than a year now, I've been learning about essential oils. I'm an incurable sceptic. But my sister has been selling Young Living Essential Oils, and I've politely accepted her advice about how to treat a cough, or how to help my kids with stress or an upset tummy. I always follow her advice, and am always surprised at how well the oils work. So, I'm diving in! I've always only promoted items that I actually use, and Young Living Essential Oils are no exception. You've no doubt seen … [Read more...]
Lightening the Load: Losing Weight to Lose Weight
Let's say you pick up a 10-pound hand weight and try to run with it. Not fun, right? Once you set that puppy back down, you'd be able to run faster, longer, and with less pain and discomfort. That's what I did this morning. I really do enjoy running. But for the past year or so it's gotten harder, more painful, less fun. I weighed 190 pounds. I have never weighed that much in my life, and it's embarrassing to put in print for all the world to see. Even 9 months pregnant I didn't weigh that … [Read more...]
Flash Sale: Ultimate Healthy Living Bundle (2 Days ONLY!)
Contains affiliate links. If you're anything like me, you wish you had a Fairy Godmother who would Bibbety-Bobbity-Boo healthy meals to your table every night. Because we know there is no Fairy Godmother, we scour the internet for short-cuts to make it easier to embrace a healthy lifestyle, squeeze a Whole Foods lifestyle out of a Trader Joe’s budget. You want the best for your family. You want to raise healthy kids, have strong immune systems, be more fit and energetic, and be intentional … [Read more...]