Not everybody has the time to go to the gym before or after work which can make it difficult to fit enough exercise into your routine. Gym memberships can also be pretty expensive and you might not be able to afford it. The simple solution to both of those problems is to set up your own home gym. That’s fine if you’ve got a big spare room that you don’t use for anything else, but most of us aren’t that lucky. Gym equipment takes up a lot of space and if you’ve only got a small spare room that … [Read more...]
How to motivate yourself to go to the gym
At the beginning of every year, thousands of people sign up for a membership to their local gym. By March, most of these people have already quit. This lack of motivation can come down to a number of factors. Here are just a few ways you can win back that motivation so you look forward to every gym session. Choose the right gym It’s possible that the gym you’ve signed up for may not be the right fit for you. You may have just been put off by the price, in which case you may just … [Read more...]
How Your Fitness Level Impacts Your Mental Health
Scientists have managed to find a connection between your fitness level and physical exercise and your mental health. If you would like to beat the blues or manage your mood swings, maybe have been struggling with depression for a while, you might consider skipping the medication and starting a plan to exercise more. After all, you will be able to benefit more than one way and you have nothing to lose. Below you will find a few tips on setting up a fitness routine for a happier … [Read more...]
Starting out the New Year with Diligence
So many of us look ahead to the impending year as we mull over the past 360-some-odd days and try to encapsulate our wishes for the new year with one word. I'm no different. My word for 2019 is Diligence. "Constant effort to accomplish something." That one word has a lot of other things wrapped up within it, including goals, consistency, determination, seeing things through to fruition. Never. Ever. Giving up To be honest, that's the one that's hardest for me-- the not giving up. I'm … [Read more...]
What’s in your water? Supplements that help your body.
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...]