There’s nothing like that sense of accomplishment when you look down after sweating it out on your cardio machine of choice – whether it’s a treadmill, elliptical or bike – and seeing a big number in the calories burned column. But don’t be fooled. When you put in all that…
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…
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…
There are just some times of the month when, regardless of how much of a gym rat you normally are, you can’t seem to get moving. Or it just plain hurts to engage in the exercise you usually do. If periods cramp your fitness style, then there are some ways…
As much as we’d prefer not to admit it, computers are keeping us fat and having some negative effects on our overall health. We’re slaves to technology, sitting in front of our monitors for hours on end. When we need to speak to co-workers, we now rely on instant messenger,…
Don’t like to sweat it out? Struggle with even the most basic group class? Why not water down your workout by enrolling in a water aerobics class? For the person who has trouble with strength training, step or other high-impact classes, a water aerobics class might be just the exercise…
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…
Feeling down? Maybe you’re nervous or angry about something. What you eat may have an impact on your mood and help you get happy. To release dopamine, a neurotransmitter associated with the pleasure centers of the brain, try eating bananas or leafy greens or drink a glass of milk. Make…
There’s a reason health experts go nuts over this superfood. Walnuts are a great source of omega-3 fatty acids, which offer a host of health benefits. Research shows that walnuts reduce the risk for heart disease and lower bad cholesterol while providing the body with fiber, B vitamins, magnesium and…
Heavier people seem to be more prone to cognitive problems like Alzheimer’s disease, and now researchers know why. It seems that packing on the pounds reduces the size of your brain, according to a recent study. Clinically obese people – those whose body mass index was more than 30 –…