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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......
Apr

20

Wouldn’t you rather spend your free time this spring enjoying the nice weather instead of sifting through page after page of websites looking for information? Google is great, but finding the right information when you need it can be very time consuming, so to help you take the thinking out of online research, I’ve compiled a list of what I think are the best websites for all things walking/jogging/running. I hope you find them helpful too!

Training teams/national outdoor exercise groups for women:
1. Baby Boot Camp
2. Nordic Walker
3. Stroller Fit
4.Stroller Strides
5. Walk4Life
6. Walking 365
7. Walk Vest

Running tools:

Runkeeper and Imapmyrun track your runs to see how far you’ve gone, track your speed, find out if your pace is on track…you can even find out the elevation of your route (great if you’re training for the Cincinnati Flying Pig marathon on May 3rd! – one of the hilliest races in the country.) If you have an iPhone, a free application (with ads) is available for download.  The imapmyrun application is ad-free! Visit their websites for more information.

Training Advice on the Web:

Hal Higdon
John Bingam
Road Runner Club of America
Peak Running Performance

Online tools:
-    Maps: Plan your route in advance, or retrace your route online post run, or plan a route to walk or run while you’re out of town. Run the Planet and Trails. Trail Link offers outdoor enthusiasts a way to find a trail for hiking, cycling, and even horse back riding. It is FREE and even has trail descriptions and photos!
-    City Running Tours Great for travelers who like to see the sites on foot. You’ll get a guided tour of your destination by a an experienced runner/tour guide.

Running Shoes

Women's Shoes

Jun

12

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, there are 3 live births every minute, every day. Wow! That means there are a lot of moms out there who are wondering, “how on earth will I get my pre-baby body back?” I’ve been there, done that (3 times, including twins). The good news: it is possible to return to your pre-baby weight. If you exercised regularly prior to having your baby, odds are you will bounce back faster than your sedentary counterparts, so if you put in your time and hard work before baby, I commend you — you will be glad you did.

If you are new to exercise, then you have even more reasons to get moving. Studies show that mothers who participate in regular, post-natal physical activity (3 to 6 days per week for 25 to 60 minutes) experience the following improvements:

  • Increased aerobic fitness
  • Improved high-density lipoprotein-cholestrol levels
  • Improved insulin sensitity
  • psychological well-being
  • Increased energy levels
  • higher self-esteem
  • sense of self-control over changing lifestyle
  • stress management

( Obesity Research 10, 841 – 853 (00 Aug 2002)

So where do you begin? After an “all clear” from your OB/GYN, start by walking.

  • 10-20 mins per day on 3-5 days per week, gradually increasing to 30 mins on most days of the week
  • Invest in a quality baby jogger. I used a single jogger when my first-born turned 6 months old (that is the age they are “allowed” to ride in a jogging stroller), then switched to a double jogger when the #2 came along. When the twins were born, we sported two, double joggers and went on family runs. We certainly turned a few heads, but it was a great way to get back into shape.
  • If you’re more of a walker, jogging strollers are still a great investment. They are designed for ruggedness, and the good ones last like nobody’s business. You’ll be glad you have one – trust me.
  • Hills do great things for your back-side, especially when you’re pushing weight uphill.
  • Need more options? Join a stroller class.

Find a class near you:

Stroller Strides
Stroller Fit
Baby Boot Camp

Here is a great resource for all things baby jogger-related: Jogger Mom

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