March 2009

Organize your Spring Cleaning

Submitted by Kathy on Mon, 03/30/2009 - 20:19
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As April approaches, and the flowers bloom and trees begin to sprout new leaves, so does the dreaded thought of spring cleaning. But not to worry, here are some quick tips to help you organize your spring-cleaning schedule, and get you out of the house as soon possible and enjoying the sunshine.

Spice Up your Workout

Submitted by Kathy on Fri, 03/27/2009 - 20:16
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Getting into a regular gym routine is essential to actualizing those weight-loss goals. But what happens when it gets a little boring doing the same old weight-training exercises and mastering those cardio machines? Don’t be afraid to spice up your regime by injecting some new and fun alternatives every now and then.

What is Cellulite and How do I Get Rid of It?

Submitted by Kathy on Mon, 03/23/2009 - 20:08
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It’s the one kind of dimples that are less than adorable—cellulite. What exactly is it? As we age, we lose elasticity in our skin, which causes the fat cells directly under it to be more visible. As the fat cells push up against surrounding fibrous connective tissue, leading to the “orange peel” appearance of cellulite. As we gain weight, the fat cells tend to bulge more and rise to the surface. Men have cellulite as well, but it is less common and not as obvious, as men tend to have thicker skin.

How to Get your Pre-Baby Body Back

Submitted by Kathy on Fri, 03/20/2009 - 20:06
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Pregnancy is often difficult to bounce back from—but once you’ve finally welcomed your new baby and you start getting into a routine, it’s time to start thinking about getting back into your pre-baby shape. Remember to start slow. Your weight-loss goals are attainable, but like most difficult tasks, getting back to your natural shape will take some dedication and work. Start by integrating as much walking into your daily life as you can. Take the long way when possible, do a couple extra runs up and down the stairs, or take your baby out for walks.

Medication and Weight Gain

Submitted by Kathy on Mon, 03/16/2009 - 20:00
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Sometimes it can be quite discouraging. You’re well on your way to weight loss with the proper exercise regime and nutrition plan but you’re not dropping the pounds as quickly as you might like. What could be the problem? You might want to take a look in your own medicine cabinet. Some medications actually can cause weight gain as a side effect.

Combating Water Retention

Submitted by Kathy on Fri, 03/13/2009 - 19:58
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It’s a common trait among women – we retain water. This is especially true when we’re going through PMS, when we’re pregnant or as we go through menopause. We tend to hold on to water because various hormone levels change during these times. Sometimes we can really see the swelling in our face, ankles, lower legs and tummy area. Retaining excess water can leave us feeling lethargic and bloated and takes us that much farther away from our weight-loss goals.

Is Spot Reduction Possible?

Submitted by Kathy on Mon, 03/09/2009 - 19:53
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Spot reduction—what a great concept—the idea that working a specific muscle group will also reduce the amount of fat in the specific area. This would mean that doing nothing but sit-ups will eventually give you that oh-so desirable flat stomach. Unfortunately, spot reduction is a myth. Why? Building up a specific group of muscles will never get rid of the layer of fat in that area. Chalk it up to genetics—we simply do not have control over where we lose fat in our body. We are all unique individuals and therefore we all lose fat in different areas in different ways.

What is the Best Time to Exercise? Morning, Afternoon or Evening?

Submitted by Kathy on Fri, 03/06/2009 - 19:50
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While experts agree that exercising in either the morning or the evening is better than no exercise at all, it seems that exercising in the middle of the day might be the best time to squeeze in a workout. Although it might not always be practical to go and exercise on your lunch break, it seems that our bodies are at their peak in the afternoon. This means that we are at our strongest and most flexible as our bodies have been warmed up from all our morning activities.

Exercising Through your Period

Submitted by Kathy on Mon, 03/02/2009 - 19:45
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That time of the month that Mother Nature blesses us with is something we usually don’t look forward to. Many women suffer from dysmenorrhea, which is the clinical term for a condition marked with severe menstrual pain. Cramps are the most common symptom that sometimes can be so painful that all we want to do is curl up in bed and call in sick to work.