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Gyms have their positive points: they are convenient, house lots of equipment, and often have childcare available to parents who need to tote their tots to the gym (this includes yours truly). Gyms also can offer a range of fitness classes and most  have personal trainers on staff. If you're not a huge fan of going to the gym however, and would like to try something different, check out these fun alternatives... Stroller Fit® SF targets the  “mommy muscles” – those muscles used during  labor and delivery, and post-partum, and basically every day thereafter. Moms have a chance to get ......
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Maybe you've been on a workout train for some time, diligently going to the gym and happily taking your dose of cardio and weight training, maybe even a few classes too just to challenge yourself. Perhaps you've been on this train, per se, for years, then all of a sudden, you're okay with missing a workout, then two. The idea of going to the gym or out the door for a jog becomes a chore, when it was once something you enjoyed. Have you been there? Are you there now? If so, read on... I think I can help. True, I am a trainer, but at heart, I'm really a fitness buff and have been since college. ......
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Because I love yoga, and Pilates, but am by no means a guru of either practice, I felt compelled to pass along some helpful resources so that you can learn more. Yoga is one of those activities that evolves as you evolve. The yoga you do today will not be the same yoga you do a year from now, and your body won't likely be the same body either (note: this is a good thing - Yoga evens 'things' out, balances muscles, massages the joints, just all-around good stuff ;0). I've learned through my own yoga/Pilates journey that there is always something new to learn.  That said, here are some fabulous......
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Even though I have addressed this topic before (a-hem, at least twice before), I'm circling back because A) I keep getting asked, "I did strength training today, what should I do tomorrow?" and B) I keep getting asked, "Is it okay to do both strength training and cardio on the same day?" If you want to cut to the chase, check out: "Cardiovascular or Weight Training: Which should come first?" Otherwise, stay right here, 'cause I'm about to WOW you with...pretty much the same thing I said before. ;0) Here's the thing - you need to know what it is you want to get out of your workouts. Are you try......
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You have probably heard about Pilates, or possibly know someone who talks of "reformers, chairs, straps, pulleys" (and other contraptions), and silently wonder, "what the heck is Pilates anyway?" The Pilates Method (or simply Pilates) was developed in Germany in the early 20th century by Joseph Pilates. The core-strengthening and posture-improving benefits of regular practice have helped the Pilates Method develop a loyal following of faithful participants in recent years. The aesthetic benefits of regular practice can be seen on the physiques of famous devotees, such as Madonna and Gwyneth Pa......
Sep

05

We’re all well versed in what to look for on food labels:

Calories per serving
Fat percentages
Carbohydrate
Sodium
Vitamins/minerals

At a glance, we’re able to determine whether a food is good choice or not, and whether it will help us meet the daily quota for a particular food group.

Look further down the label to the “ingredients” list, however, and you see a very long list of ingredients – some of which are difficult to pronounce. “What is this stuff?” you may, and should, wonder. That is a very good question. The answer? Lots of stuff: chemicals, additives, flavoring, sweeteners, preservatives, moisture controls, nutritional supplements – some natural, some synthetic, herbicides (yes, I said herbicides), and pesticides. These “additives” do serve a purpose – they help food stay fresh longer, they are emulsifiers, texturizers, neutralizers, buffers, bleaching agents, clarifying agents…the list goes on. My point — there are many additives in food we regularly consume that our bodies don’t want, or need.

So how do you avoid consuming these food additives? Eat fresh. Buy and eat foods that are wholesome and natural (fresh fruits and vegetables) and organic, and try to avoid pre-packaged foods containing high levels of hydrogenated oils, nitrates and nitrites, and MSG.

If you see an ingredient listed on a food label and want to know what it is, find out on www.nutritiondata.com. This site lists most food ingredients in their database, and also has tools for analyzing recipes, so plug in your favorite dish and find out what you’re really eating. Another super site is www.foodadditivesworld.com — here you’ll be able to look up the ingredient in questions and find out other names for that ingredient, as well as what it is made of. This site also has information about the glycemic index and the effects of processing on food.

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