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Tuesday, 09 February 2010
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Rise and Shine...and Exercise
Lately, I've been having to get up super early. If you know me, you know this means I do wake up early, but I also re-set my alarm for as late as I possibly can sleep, maybe open one eye to check my e-mail on my phone, and eventually roll out of bed to make coffee and trudge out the door. But the other day I thought to myself: What if I changed up my morning routine a bit?
I've always been an "afternoon gym" person. Clearly, working out in the morning is not an option for lazy ol' me. But going really late in the evening makes me stay up all night and disrupts my sleep cycle. The afternoon (when I do actually go) is the perfect time for me, and often breaks up my day quite nicely. I realize that this is not usually an option for those of you in the real world who work, so I have taken the liberty of listing a few quick little exercises you can do first thing in the morning. They will perk you up without tiring you out, and are a great way to jumpstart your day. More Here... -
V-day with my Diabetic Sweetheart
One thing that I've always prided myself in is my ability to produce amazing as well as adorable cupcakes. I just got a new boyfriend to spoil, and with valentines day rolling around I was ready to whip out my fabulous chocolate cherry cupcakes when I realized....
Uh...he's a type one diabetic.
More Here... -
My Battle and Recovery: Bulimia
For the past 2 years (or more) I have been saying that I am recovering from bulimia. That isn't exactly true. My body was in recovery but my mind was still obsessed with every calorie and gram of fat. I was still weighing myself dozens of times a day and if the number went up or stayed the same then it was time to exercise until my body collapsed from exhaustion.
Now, for the first time in a long time, I am happy. This strange new emotion of happiness takes my breath away at times. It has been so long since I have truly felt happy. Now I actually feel like I am really recovery from this monkey on my back called bulimia. It has only been about a week since my last binge and purge but I have found that I have the ability to eat a normal meal and not freak out. I still have a lot of weight to lose (doctor's opinion, not mine) but I now know that it is possible to lose the weight in a safe and healthy way.
I am eating 3 normal sized meals a day, but I am making healthy food choices and taking my exercise the way that my doctor recommended 20-30 minutes a day, 3-4 days a week. More Here...
Monday, 08 February 2010
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Advice: Should You Workout When You're Sick?
This comes from our Advice column!
"Should you workout when you're sick?"
Think you have some good advice? Hop over and share your answer!: "Should you workout when you're sick?"
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Health Foods That Make You FAT!
As an avid, shameless reader of Cosmo, my roommate often likes to read the steamier passages out loud. But I could not have been prepared for the shocking, scandalous article she chose to read me the other day..."The Top Ten Most Dangerous Health Foods." More Here... -
Exercise With Your Significant Other!
With Valentine's Day only a mere week away, many people are just gushing over their boyfriend/girlfriend these days. Even though you know that you should be hitting the gym instead of cuddling up next to your SO, many people opt for the cuddle session instead of leaving their babe behind.
Well, who said that you can't bring your date to the gym?
Here are a few great workouts that can be done with a partner!
- Weight lifting. While many of you think that grunting and groaning during weight lifting may be unattractive, this is one of the exercises that can almost always require a spotter. Guys- help your girl find a weight that she is comfortable with using, and girls- encourage your man to beat his record at the bench press.
- Yoga. This calming and soothing practice may be just what the doctor ordered for a high-strung couple. If you don't want to attend a class together, try practicing yoga at home with your beau (either by purchasing a video or by following simple online directions).
- Jogging. There's nothing wrong with a little friendly competition, so challenge your date to a race (either on a treadmill or on the track). First one to hit the mile mark gets a nice massage when you get home!
- Stretching. Even though stretching isn't necessarily a workout, it can be done super efficiently with a partner! One great couple stretch: sit on the floor facing each other with your legs stretched out in front of you like a V. Lean down and stretch, grabbing your SO's feet. After returning to the upright position, put your arms out in front of you and grab each other's hands. Have your SO gently pull you forwards, and do the same for him/her.
Aside from working out together and getting some extra quality time in, working out with your partner will ensure a new level of safety and pride. And plus, you'll see just how hard your SO works to be healthy for you!
Do you work out with your boyfriend/girlfriend? Do you prefer to workout with a partner or alone? -
My Dilemma: Money and Value vs. Health
Personally, I subscribe to both Dollarish and Healthkicker daily digests. That said, this article is basically the crossroads between the two.
Coca-Cola is following the trend of other sugary snacks and coming out with a smaller-portioned, higher-priced option. Much like 100-calorie packs (which over-charge per ounce for the convenience of pre-portioning your snacks for you), Coke is hoping folks will still buy tiny cans of Coke for the opportunity to appear healthy. The article does note that it is progress away from the super-sizing trends of adding tons extra of calories for only $0.59 cents.
Thus, my dilemma. I'm as budget-conscious as the next person (actually, quite possibly more-so!). But, I've also become quite a bit more health conscious in the last year. I'm still very much in the college mentality of never turning down free food, which carries over into rarely turning down cheap food! So, Coke is presenting me an opportunity to allow myself a bit of a treat (I can't honestly remember the last time I drank regular soda...), but at a higher cost. Basically the same premise as McDonald's fries - I can get a small for a dollar, or a large, with three times as many fries, for only twice the cost. What is a health-AND-budget conscious girl to do? More Here...
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Being Smart About Supplements
My hatred of vitamins and minerals spans back to the days when I used to hide my little chewable pills underneath couch cushions so I wouldn't have to force them down my throat. So it may come as a surprise to many (my parents) that, years later, I have become a firm believer in supplements.
As a vegetarian, sometimes I don't get the nutrients that my body needs to function at peak performance, which leaves me feeling unhappy and sluggish. While it's important to get the majority of nutrients from fresh, unprocessed foods (try the "Rainbow Diet," if possible), we could all use a little help sometimes.
I try to take a daily multivitamin every morning so that I can make sure I am getting proper doses of nutrients, and also allowing my body to absorb other vitamins and minerals correctly. Some multivitamins even have small amounts of caffeine in them, giving you a little extra boost in the morning. One warning: Take vitamins with food, otherwise they will make you quite nauseous. Not pleasant!
Do you take supplements? Have they helped your overall health?
Sunday, 07 February 2010
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Tips For Staying Motivated During the Last Stretch of Winter
Do you have trouble keeping up your fitness routine in the Winter or anything else for that matter?
Many people do. I mean who wants to get up out of their warm comfy beds in the morning and trek to the gym in 20 degree weather? It's dark outside for many people when they get up, which can make it even harder to leave your house. Winter is by far the most depressing season of the year. Many go through seasonal depression, whether it's mild or severe, but most have to push even harder to get their motivation running again.
Winter lasts so long and by the time February rolls around everyone is ready for it to be over with already. It's also a lot harder to eat healthy, comfort foods are where it's at in this cold weather.
Here are some tips to stay happy and motivated during the hardest month of the year. More Here... -
Caffeine: A Runner's Dream?
I admire people who love running, I really do. I am not one of those people. It feels amazing when I actually get out and run, yes, but does the prospect of running propel me out of bed in the morning? Not exactly. Which is why I was thrilled to stumble across this article from the New York Times that endorsed caffeine as a way to enhance your daily workout.
The report stated that caffeine offers many benefits to athletes, including increasing the power output of muscles by releasing calcium and improving endurance, leading to unquestionably faster running times. This is brilliant news for someone like myself, whose only exercise in the morning is lifting a giant mug of steaming hot coffee to my mouth.
But are there any negative effects? Well, there are two adverse effects, but only if you are not a regular coffee drinker: increased urination, heart rate and blood pressure. The good news? The body becomes habituated to these effects almost immediately, so after a couple cups, you're ready to roll!
Do you think coffee can actually make you run faster? Will you drink a cup before your next run?
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