Posted by Michelle Hering on Tue, Jul 21, 2009
I've been home from vacation for a while now, and looking back, it's funny that I was so worried about running while I was away—little did I know that the real trouble would be once I got home. The vacation was fun but not really relaxing, and I've found that I've been really tired. In fact, I've fallen into the habit of pushing the snooze button on the alarm clock rather than lacing up the old running shoes. I haven't been for a run since we've been back.
It's strange because I just can't seem to figure out why I am so tired. I've been eating healthfully and getting a good night sleep (Reid has been sleeping through the night for about a month and a half, thankfully). I'm sure I will get my energy back soon, but I must admit I'm getting antsy. So, I went back and reread some of The Best Life Diet. I was reminded that the program is organized into three phases and consists of small, manageable steps. When I first joined the program, I followed the structure and took it one step at a time, but since I'd gotten in a groove, I'd forgotten about building up gradually. So I've decided to go back to the beginning again: Baby steps—my new goal is to just get out and get moving. If I go on a one-mile run great. A 2.5-mile run, great. Even just walking the dog is OK, too, as long as I get outside and get my blood pumping.
Spending so much energy worrying about getting out for a big run is really stressing me out and probably not helping the fatigue. Maybe if I'm able to let go of the panic of not training, I will be able to get up and out for that long run soon.
To learn more about The Best Life program, check out TheBestLife.com.
Posted by Bob Greene on Fri, Jul 17, 2009
I'm
always advising my clients to find ways to make fitness fun—if you
enjoy your exercise routine, you're more likely to stick to it when
obstacles come up or you're tempted to go off track. One of the
activities that my clients rave about time and time again is dancing.
If you've ever watched Dancing with the Stars or So You Think You Can Dance,
you can see first-hand what a workout the dancers gets. And now, recent
research shows that even amateur dancers can reap the benefits of
getting down.
One study found that people who salsa danced
reaped improvements in their cardiovascular fitness—they elevated their
heart rate and increased their energy expenditure. And a second study
suggests that even the slower tango can help you get in shape by
increasing the number of steps you take each day. In the study, older
adults strapped on their dancing shoes and logged 2,000 steps during
the two-hour class, which replaced previously sedentary time.
If
dance class sounds like music to your ears, you have a lot of options.
You can enroll in a ballroom dance class, such as tango, cha cha or
salsa, at a local dance studio. If you'd like a little more privacy,
look into buying a dancing DVD so you practice your moves at home. You
can also head to your gym and take any number of dance classes—from hip
hop to tap and belly dancing to ballet.
The great thing about
dance workouts is that many people find that they don't really feel
like work. The music, the people (whether you're partnering up with
someone or dancing solo with a group of other people) and the moves make it
feel like more of a fun social get-together than a sweat session. But
it's not just about having a blast, of course—dancing helps you blast calories,
too. You can burn anywhere from 200 calories per hour for a slow dance
to around 500 or more for the faster dances. You'll also improve your
posture, flexibility and your endurance. And there are some studies
that show that dancing can ease stress, increase energy and reduce your
risk for some diseases, including Alzheimer's and dementia. Get ready
to get moving!
For more great fitness and weight-loss advice, check out TheBestLife.com.
Posted by Michelle Hering on Wed, Jun 03, 2009
I'm starting my fourth week of my marathon training, and I've just began to notice how my hunger has increased. I'm still breastfeeding, which made me a bit hungry anyway, and then when I added my training onto that, I end up burning a lot more calories than before. When I read the article, "Bye Bye, Baby Weight" on TheBestLife.com, I found out that I should be eating 2,500 calories a day while breastfeeding. Well, no wonder I'm so hungry! I never adjusted my calorie intake for breastfeeding, and now that I'm in training, I need even more! Although I knew I had to adjust my intake, I wasn't sure how many extra calories I needed or what kind of foods would best help my training efforts. Lucky for me, a quick email to a Best Life nutritionist (just one of the many perks of being a member of the site) helped me determine what was right for me.
Not only did she tell me how many calories to add, but she also helped me figure out when and what to eat! How great is that? This week has gone so much better than the last few weeks. Now, I have energy all day, I'm not so starved that I struggle to make healthy decisions, and I've been logging some great runs! Today I just finished eight miles, and it was my best time yet.
Learn about more member perks at TheBestLife.com.
Posted by Michelle Hering on Tue, May 05, 2009
I still haven't quite mastered the whole new mom thing, and already it's time to head back to work. Returning to a full-time job with four-month-old at home has not been an easy task so far. Even Jack, our family dog, has had to adjust.
One of my problems is that I get stuck thinking of every activity separately. For example, I get up then eat breakfast then walk the dog. Next, I have to drop Reid at day care, then get to work, head to the gym for my workout, and finally, thankfully, sleep. I tend to lose sight of the fact that I can combine tasks, such as walking the dog and pushing Reid in the stroller. And in doing so, not only do I save time, but there are many unexpected benefits: Jack and I get to stretch out our muscles and Reid gets some fresh air.
An article I ran across on TheBestLife.com called "Whittle (Your Waist) While You Work" has some great tips on how to de-stress my day, get in a healthy lunch and even burn a few extra calories. One tip I easily worked into my day: Setting an alarm to take a five-minute stretch break. In another article "The At Work Workout," I found tips on squeezing in some fitness during a busy day at the office. Now I keep a pair of tennis shoes at work for unexpected breaks in my day (I can go for a quick walk if a meeting gets cancelled, for example). And I even bought an elastic band that I can use to do some strength training moves right at my desk. Not only does it help melt stress away, but it also gives me an energy boost. Adopting these few tips has given me the freedom to enjoy my time at work without getting cramped and stiff. I've even noticed that with a few minor changes, I have more energy to go to the gym after I get off of work! All of these strategies have helped make the transition from stay-at-home mom to working mom a little easier. (Feel free to use them whether you're returning to work after a long break or you never left!)
Posted by Stephanie Clarke on Wed, Apr 22, 2009
First I should start by saying that I love breakfast! Sure, it's fuel to start the day and it gives my metabolism a boost, but it's also so tasty and requires minimal prep! I have a variety of different breakfasts that I rotate through depending on my mood, the amount of time I have in the morning, or what day of the week it is (i.e. how long it has been since my last trip to the grocery store!)
Lately, I've been craving something to cater to my sweet tooth—and this one hits the spot while still being extremely healthful. I start with 2 whole-grain waffles (I love Nature's Path Hemp and Flax waffles) and top them with about 1/3 cup plain low-fat yogurt, ½ sliced banana, and 1 tablespoon chopped walnuts. I finish the whole thing off with 1 teaspoon of pure maple syrup, warmed. This breakfast is by far better than any banana nut muffin you could find, and it's much more nutritious!
The combination of whole grains from the waffles, healthy fats from the nuts, and protein in the yogurt, gives me energy and satisfaction to last throughout the morning. Plus, I get about 20 percent of my daily calcium needs from the yogurt. Try it for your next a.m. meal, or let me know what your healthy favorites are!
For more healthy breakfast ideas, join TheBestLife.com.