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The last post in my series about eating healthy and finding deals on health food addresses a question many of us have had at one time or another: What does it mean to "go organic," and, "why buy organic?" Once again, Victoria has an awesome and informative post that addresses these questions, then finishes with mouth-watering recipe chock full of organic food.  Thank you for sharing your passion with us Victoria! Making the choice to purchase and consume organic food is a personal one. However, it is a choice that you should feel very good about making. By purchasing organic foods, you are ch......
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In part 3 of our series, Healthy Eating on the Cheap, financial blogger Victoria, happens to also be a health food nut who is passionate about organic eating. She has some great tips for buying organic foods if you are buying on a budget.  Thank you for blogging for me today Victoria! Buying Organics on a Budget Perhaps you have decided that purchasing organic foods is going to be a priority for your family. Although your budget may not have much wiggle room, there are ways to make this lifestyle work. Fortunately with more and more interest in organically grown food, there are many options a......
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We stump, stoop, slouch…so much so that the quality of our everyday lives can be directly affected from these posture problems.  I thought of this while sitting at the computer working, and had to stretch to relieve that nagging tightness between my shoulder blades. At the same time, I noticed a whole slew of other bad habits I was committing, and quickly set about practicing what I preach. Why good posture is important: Practicing good posture can improve your breathing, decrease your risk of injury, help you move more easily through the tasks of daily living, and also improve your sports ......
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Not long ago, if your neighbor had told you she was training for a triathlon, you might have looked at her crossed-eyed and with one eyebrow raised. Once thought of as an endurance sport for athletes who had both an unnatural pain threshold, and oodles of time on their hands, triathlon has in recent years become a sport for anyone who likes variety, has a few hours each week to dedicate toward training, and enjoys challenges small and large. No longer a sport just for the guys, the proliferation of female participants in triathlon events proves its growing popularity: in the late 1990s, women ......
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Did you give yoga a shot once upon a time, only to walk out mid-class, scratching your head and wondering, what was I thinking? It is possible the style you tried didn't match your personality, athletic ability, or just moved at a pace geared more toward advanced yogis than beginners. It isn't uncommon to feel lost during your first several classes, but there is a way to ensure you don't feel too out of place: pick the right style of yoga first. Before you write off yoga for good, try a class that is a better match for your personal style. I've compiled a short list of the most common yoga sty......
Mar

09

Though these races can be crowded, the experience is amazing. If you’ve ever participated in a Race for the Cure event, you know what I’m talking about.

Start training for your 5K event now, and you’ll be race-ready by mid-spring!

Find a race near you…Komen Race for the Cure 2010

Mar

08

You’ve been home with a brand new baby for six weeks, and realize your post-baby body more closely resembles your newborn’s than your pre-baby body did. Armed with your favorite workout DVD, your first attempt at a new mom workout routine is interrupted multiple times for feedings, diaper changes and soothing cuddles. You try to grab a walk, alone, when your husband gets home, but get only as far as the street corner when the cell phone rings: the baby is crying, and only you can remedy that. What’s a girl who wants to get back into shape to do?

Luckily, there are options, and one often over-looked solution is to scout out a gym that has a dynamic childcare service. In fact, many nurseries will take babies as young as 6 weeks old. The problem? New moms are often uncomfortable leaving her newfound love in anyone else’s care longer than a nanosecond.

Here are a few tips to make the transition to a regular exercise regimen a bit easier:

Ask and you shall receive. “Build your network of support,” says Cram. “You are with your babies 99% of the time. There needs to be a period of time when mom is focused on mom.” Help might be just around the corner (literally). Enlist the help of friends, neighbors, grandparents, and your spouse.

Make it a family affair. “The kids love the daycare area, and despite frequent trips to change diapers, it is totally worth the effort,” says Riley. “My kids have made friends (at the gym) and are learning about fitness, rock climbing, swim lessons…it is excellent family time.”

Get fit with friends. Exercising with a group of women who have similar interests and goals can provide both the structure and incentive you need to stay committed. Stroller classes (for infants 6-months and older) are one great example. But don’t overdo it. “Moms with multiples need to be very careful pushing strollers that are too heavy,” says Riley

And don’t forget to get the “go ahead” from your OB/GYN before beginning an exercise plan. By six weeks postpartum, most women who have no medical contraindications can return to a scaled-back version of their pre-pregnancy routine. Muscles, tendons and joints take time to return to normal. Maternal fitness expert and author of Pregnancy for Dummies, Catherine Cram, M.S., recommends short bouts of gentle exercise, such as walking in 15 min increments, three times per week for several weeks before increasing exercise intensity. “Start slow, and remember, every woman is different, so pay close attention to how your body feels,” says Cram.

Mar

07

Not long ago, if your neighbor had told you she was training for a triathlon, you might have looked at her crossed-eyed and with one eyebrow raised. Once thought of as an endurance sport for athletes who had both an unnatural pain threshold, and oodles of time on their hands, triathlon has in recent years become a sport for anyone who likes variety, has a few hours each week to dedicate toward training, and enjoys challenges small and large. No longer a sport just for the guys, the proliferation of female participants in triathlon events proves its growing popularity: in the late 1990s, women made up 15% of the field. Today, they comprise about 40% of the field. (stats from USA Triathlon). The growth spurt can be partially attributed to the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, women’s triathlon was covered for the first time. This was also the most-watched Olympic Games in history.

Tri it inside!

Training for a triathlon is a tremendous undertaking. You can gradually build up your confidence for longer events by starting out with sprint-distance indoor events. Several nationally known health clubs host indoor triathlons in a range of formats: 10-min swim, 20-min bike, 15-min run, or 10 min swim, 30 min bike and 20 min run. Indoor triathlons are fixed time events: you swim, bike and run for the designated time, and whoever gets the farthest in that time wins. Because these events are mostly comprised of “triathletes in the making’” versus the hardcore crowd, you can sample each tri component with less intimidation. Typically, the entire event lasts about 45 minutes (not including transitions from swim-to-bike-to-treadmill). Events are held Nov-April.

Here is a short list of gyms (Chicago-area, and national), that host indoor triathlons:

Life Time Fitness (Nationwide)
Wheaton Sport Center (Chicago)
Fitness Formula Clubs (Chicago)

The Chicago Tri Club website has a list of numerous indoor events. Check it out!

The Cleveland Triathlon Club has an indoor tri series, as well as numerous listings for indoor training classes and events to help you stay in tip-top shape during the off-season.

If you like to combine competition with a cause, TriToHelp.org is a National Indoor Triathlon series that helps raise money for epilepsy research. Visit their website for a complete event schedule.

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