Simple until Six

The author of this article was a vegetarian until 6 pm each day. Over the course of four months he lost over 35 pounds. Interesting concept.

Everything pointed to a simpler style of eating. I started following a diet that was nearly "vegan until six." Until dinner, I ate almost no animal products and no simple carbs (no white-flour products, junk food, or sugar-heavy snacks). At dinner, I ate as I always had, sometimes a sizable meal including animal products, bread, dessert, wine -- you name it -- or sometimes a salad and a bowl of soup. I also took several long walks each week (my bad knees couldn't handle more).

Full article:
http://www.rd.com/living-healthy/simple-till-six-weight-loss-diet-an-eating-plan-for-busy-people/article109150.html

Anyone trying this?

I saw this story on ABCnews.com, Getting in Shape, in the Office. Six exercises that can be done while in the office. Sounds feasible. I think I'l'l give it a try and report back after a month to let you all know how its going.

Watch the video to see the exercises.

Beat The Heat

If I had known that the weather would be this oppressive, I would have re-thought this month's Challenge!

It's hard to get out and do something when it's 90 degrees and 80% humidity. If you can get out, please take care of yourself. The Mayo Clinic suggests the following:

• Take it slow. If you're used to exercising indoors or in cooler weather, take it easy at first. As your body adapts to the heat, gradually increase the length and intensity of your workouts. If you have a chronic medical condition or take medication, ask your doctor if you need to take additional precautions.
• Drink plenty of fluids. Your body's ability to sweat and cool down depends on adequate rehydration. Drink plenty of water while you're working out — even if you don't feel thirsty. If you're planning to exercise intensely or for longer than one hour, consider sports drinks instead. These drinks can replace the sodium, chloride and potassium you lose through sweating. Avoid drinks that contain caffeine or alcohol, which actually promote fluid loss.
• Dress appropriately. Lightweight, loosefitting clothing promotes sweat evaporation and cooling by letting more air pass over your body. Avoid dark colors, which can absorb the heat. A light-colored hat can limit your exposure to the sun.
  Avoid midday sun. Exercise in the morning or evening — when it's likely to be cooler outdoors — rather than the middle of the day. If possible, exercise in the shade or in a pool.
• Wear sunscreen. Sunburn decreases your body's ability to cool itself.
• Have a backup plan. If you're concerned about the heat or humidity, stay indoors. Work out at the gym, walk laps inside the mall or climb stairs inside an air-conditioned building

Stay cool!

Nike + iPod

Does anyone have one of those thingamajigs? I must say, it is AWESOME! I was given the sport kit back in the fall, but I didn't have a pair of Nike tennis (and I don't really prefer Nike shoes). So I lollygagged about using the device. In late January, a friend told me about the Shoe Pouch from Grantwood Technology. It allows you to use the iPod transmitter with any brand of tennis shoe. Score!

I ordered one I've been using it since the beginning of this month. LOVE IT! If you are into walking or running and want to track your mileage, pace, calories, distance, etc. and you have an iPod nano, I can't think of a better way to do it. Well, you could use a pedometer, but his is way better. I have yet to upload my data to the Nikeplus website (not sure if I want to do so just yet), but I can see my history on my iPod. When I finally decide to sign-up for another 5k or 10K this will definitely come in handy.

Should I Work Out When I Am Sick?

It's that time of year when we are in a never ending battle with colds, flu and other forms of general crappiness. Many people often wonder if they should postpone their workouts or just suck it up. Well, the good news is that you do not have to be a martyr when it comes to exercise.

According to a Web Md article, you should listen to your body. If you feel sick, maybe it's best to take a break. If you have minor symptoms, you may work out, but go at a moderate pace. Also, you should allow yourself time to recover. Returning too soon can actually cause a relapse of the illness. Take it slow when you do return, so as to allow your body to adjust.

Don't forget to take precautions when working out as well.

• Wipe down equipment before and after use. I suggest before because there is no guarantee that the person who used it last wiped the machine!


• Wash your hand frequently.


• Get plenty of rest.


• Eat well to boost your immune system.

So, no more feeling crappy about missing a workout because you are sick. I mean, you already feel crappy when you are sick, so why make it worse!!!!

Turn Walking Into a Sport

From Her Active Life:

Turn Walking Into a Sport

Maybe you’ve started incorporating more walking into your daily routine - great! But can you do more to get the full benefit of taking those 10,000 steps a day? Dr. Mirkin offers advice on how to go from “walking for health” to “walking for fitness” with his tips on making walks a workout. Read on for his ideas.

Walking is a very safe sport because it rarely causes injuries. Running causes injuries frequently because you take both feet off the ground at the same time and land with a tremendous force that can tear muscles and shatter bones. On the other hand, when you walk, you always keep at least one foot on the ground and land with minimal foot strike force.

Continue reading...

Snack tips

From Her Active Life:

When it comes to planning a healthy lifestyle, ensuring you are eating throughout the day is a top priority.

There are very few individuals who can get by eating two or three times a day without any trouble. This may be fine, as long as it does not cause someone to overeat at every meal, due to their ravenous appetites.

Most people, on the other hand, will do better eating three meals a day and two or three snacks to go along with these meals. This strategy allows them to better regulate their energy levels and prevents cravings.

Be wise with your snack choices, though - if they aren’t well-balanced, you could end up even hungrier during the day and worse off in terms weight maintenance and energy then if you had just skipped snacks entirely.

Look for snacks that fall between 150-300 calories, depending on your needs for the day. Try to focus on incorporating protein with carbohydrates or a source of healthy fat, to keep your mid-day snacks satisfying.

Continue reading for tips

Did You Know...Ways to Incorporate Exercise

Too busy to workout? Find out how some simple activities can get you moving! You can also read more here.