When you attend a theme park or a ball game, it’s easy to fall prey to concession stands offering hot dogs, sodas, cheese nachos and other high-calorie favorites. Instead of buying into fattening fare, pack your own cooler. Bring along bottled water, cold cuts, fresh fruit, pretzels and other convenient…
It’s hard not to love side dishes. Most of us take comfort in cheesy macaroni, creamy mashed potatoes or fluffy rice dishes. We’re talking about the beloved sidekicks that can derail just about any diet in spite of the best-intentioned main dish. Take traditional mac and cheese. A 12-ounce serving…
Resting on your laurels – aka your butt – can kill you, experts say. Sitting for long periods of time, even if you exercise regularly, can harm your health. Whether it’s at the office, in the car, in front of the TV, on the phone, reading or at school, the…
Are you making the most of your workout time? If you dread your exercise routine or do the same thing, day after day, then your regimen might need a shakeup. Getting started is half the battle, so why not start with something you like? Kickstart a good workout with whatever…
When using the equipment at the gym, make sure you’ve properly adjusted it to fit your height and shape. This reduces your risk of injury and makes the exercise more effective. From the stair climber to the rowing machine, each and every machine has a specific function. In order to…
There are benefits of working out muscles in a certain order. Training large muscle groups first when your energy level is the highest usually works best. These muscles include thighs, chest and back. The smaller muscles like forearms, biceps and triceps should be saved for last. Strengthening your muscles through…
Of course trying to lose weight can be stressful, especially if you place unrealistic demands on yourself. Stop beating yourself up and learn how to manage the stress that inevitably comes from following a diet and fitness program. Constant stress can even be a culprit in derailing your diet efforts…
Sleep away the pounds. Burn fat overnight. Lose 20 pounds in one week. When you’re struggling to lose weight, these empty promises sound mighty tempting. However, you’re likely to waste your money – or worse. Research indicates that more than $243 million was spent on diet pills. From herbal remedies…
For many dieters, that post-dinner period is the witching hour. They follow the program all day long, and watch what they eat. In fact, they’ve almost made it through the day when those P.M. cravings rear their ugly heads. An hour after you’ve finished supper and cleaned up the kitchen,…
Summer means hot weather, and heat means not wanting to fire up the oven and sweat out a meal. But if you can’t stand the heat, then there’s no reason to stay out of the kitchen. Just change the way you make meals. You might think the slow cooker is…