You've heard of macronutrients - protein, carbohydrate and fat.  These are the building blocks of our daily diet, yet few people really understand that you need to know what quantities of each to include in order to achieve your goals.  Hopefully this post will shed some light on the subject. Carbohydrates Carbohydrates are typically your body's primary source for energy. Carbohydrates are comprised of sugars, starches, and cellulose. Your body must break down carbs in order to turn them into glucose (commonly referred to as blood sugar).  Each gram of carbohydrate contains 4 ..read more

If you have no running experience but are looking to run your very first 10K, then you’re in luck. In today’s post, I’m sharing a few practical guidelines to help you get started on 10K training the easy way, even if you have zero running experience and/or are completely out of shape.   Are you ready?  Let’s lace up and dig in.    What’s a 10K Besides the shorter 5K, the 10K is one of the most popular race events for newbie runners. A 10K is 6.2 miles and can add a new level of challenge and interest to your workout routine. Don’t feel intimidated by the distance ..read more

Tired of seeing list after list of what you need to do in order to lose weight?  I gathered tips from top experts like the Mayo Clinic, Prevention Magazine, Fitness Magazine, Heath Magazine and others, compared them and found the 10 tips they had most in common.  You might be surprised to see what they agree on. Everyone has a plan People are hungry for a formula, a plan, something to help them lose.  Sometimes it's significant weight like I needed to lose when I started. And sometimes it's just those last several stubborn pounds of stomach flab like I need to lose now. I decided t ..read more

New Years has come and gone.  Did you make some lofty goals in terms of getting into better shape?  Chances are if you're like most people you took on too much and are a bit frustrated by your lack of progress right now.  Don't beat yourself up. Here is a list of 10 small, easy health tips to help you get over the resolutions and start making some real progress. 1. Strength-train during commercials A known metabolism jump-starter, resistance training just once a week can improve your ability to resolve conflicts and focus your attention, a Canadian study has found. Luckily, you don't ..read more

It's that time of year again!  I have to admit that for much of my life, Thanksgiving was an endless dinner buffet ending in a food coma.  Now that I've wizened up a little to things healthy, I'm taking a slightly different tactic to keeping the eating under control.  Here are eight tips for having a healthier Thanksgiving experience. Don't deprive yourself.  I know that this sounds unhealthy, but you've probably grown up accustomed to certain foods and it would be a shame to deprive yourself of those things on this once-a-year holiday.  Rather, read the rest of the tips below to enj ..read more

Everyone wants to know: which exercises burn the most fat?  Fortunately we have published scientific data that gives us this information, but it is a little difficult to understand.  In this post I have boiled the data down to a specific list of top fat-burning exercises so that you can optimize your workouts. Top fat-burning activities based on average calories burned The Compendium of Physical Activities gives the measured Metabolic Equivalent (MET) values for some 821 different activities.  A MET is a measure of the amount of effort expended to do a given activity.  Basically, the h ..read more

Everyone wants to know: which exercises burn the most fat?  Fortunately we have published scientific data that gives us this information, but it is a little difficult to understand.  In this post I have boiled the data down to a specific list of top fat-burning exercises so that you can optimize your workouts. Top fat-burning activities based on average calories burned The Compendium of Physical Activities gives the measured Metabolic Equivalent (MET) values for some 821 different activities.  A MET is a measure of the amount of effort expended to do a given activity.  Basically, the h ..read more

Is Salt Really Bad for You?Is salt really bad for you?  The answer is surprising, since we've been told for years to limit our salt intake to avoid high blood pressure.  To sort fact from fiction, here are 6 things you should know about salt. We need salt.  It helps maintain cellular fluid balance and cardiovascular function.  It plays an important role in the nervous system, allowing neurons to send signals to other neurons and cells, allowing for nerve transmission as well as muscular movement. (source: chriskresser.com)Too little salt intake can be harmful.  Salt deficiency can lead to s ..read more

Getting Started with Yoga for SeniorsAre you looking for new ways to be healthier and happier? Yoga and meditation offer numerous perks, and many people are surprised at how easily they can slip participation into their daily routines. Here is how seniors and their caregivers can make yoga and meditation part of their lifestyles and enjoy a better quality of life.   Easier than you think It’s not unusual for people to find yoga and meditation a bit intimidating. If you think you need to fold yourself into an impossible shape and hold it for hours on end, here’s some good news: you don’t. Vir ..read more