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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  âmommy musclesâ â 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......
Feb

06

RunKeeper Pro

Compatible with the iPhone 3G and 3GX, this application offers anyone using a trail – runners, cyclists, hikers and cross-country skiers, etc., a way to track distance, speed, pace, time, elevation (something most apps don’t offer) and calories burned. You can then store this valuable information on your very own web page (check out runkeeper.com for more information). This is a great way to monitor your progress, as well as brag. Make your info. public, and you might be a few pats on the back! You also have a built-in option to post to Facebook or Twitter, so your peeps can see how you’re doing. Cost: $9.99 (A free version is also available but doesn’t have as many bells/whistles.)

iFitness

This is kind of like having an electronic trainer, and it must work, as it is the “#1 selling fitness app” worldwide, according to Apple. Choose from over 260 exercises, sorted by body part. There are written instructions for each exercise, or, if you really get stuck, there are over 100 instructional videos to help you along. You can add exercises of your own, or delete ones that don’t (and won’t ever) apply to you. And if you really want to take the thinking out of it, you can select one of 12, fitness-expert-created routines. The app also lets you track progress, graph your stats, and then give a shout out to your friends that you just benched your body weight, or whatever.
Cost: $1.99 What a bargain!

GoodFoodNearYou

I LOVE this app! Let’s say you’re out of town on business, or traveling with your family somewhere you’ve never been, and you really don’t want to mess up all the hard work you’ve put in at the gym. Determined to eat healthy while on the road, what do you do? You get this app, that’s what. GoodFoodForYou helps you find healthy eateries based on your location, thanks to GPS technology. How cool is that? In addition to popular restaurants, it includes grocery stores and nearby convenience stores. When you tap on one of the suggestions, a list of healthy items from the restaurant’s menu appears, complete with calorie, fat and carb totals. This totally takes the guess-work out of healthy eating when eating out. Love it.
Cost: FREE!

Do you have a favorite fitness app? Share it here…



Sep

07

Recent studies show that individuals who track their daily food intake while adhering to a weight management program lose more weight than those who don’t. With this in mind, I’ve compiled a list of websites that not only help you track your foods and calorie intake, but offer diet and nutrition advice as well. A few of them will also give you a personalized nutrition plan to follow.
Here are the ‘blue sky’ website picks for
Food Tracking and Personalized Diets

http://www.myfooddiary.com
http://www.my-calorie-counter.com/
http://www.thedailyplate.com
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/
http://www.sparkpeople.com/

Sep

07

Surfing the world-wide-web for information can be the equivalent of looking for a needle in a haystack. Logging hours scouring pages of information from hundreds of sites is also time consuming. As I’m sure you’ve discovered, some website are a goldmine for information, while others provide little in the way of valuable.

I scout the net for information on a regular basis too, and when I find a website worth coming back to, I like to let people know. After all, the more time you save looking for answers, the more time you’ll have to work out!

Below I’ve compiled my picks for the best ‘healthy’ recipe websites, food tracking sites, and nutrition tips/advice.

Enjoy!

Here are my ‘Blue Sky’ picks for Recipe and Nutrition Websites

Cooking Light

FoodFit
Hodgson Mill
Food for Life
Mayo Clinic
Discovery Health

American Heart Assoc
Harvard Nutrition Source
More Matters

Kagome

Light Life

Whole Foods Market

Food Network

Archives

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