Do you find yourself feeling like you aren’t doing enough exercise? Or maybe that if you take one or two rest days, you won’t see results as quickly? Aren’t we supposed to be moving as much as possible, all the time, to get better results? Not necessarily! Exercise,...
“One myth to watch out for is that Kegel exercises fix everything. That's not necessarily true. Kegels can make things worse for people who are experiencing high tone pelvic floor problems, for example, because the exercises are further engaging the already overly...
Many of us link fitness progress (or results) with the number on the scale, or even how our clothes fit, but the trouble with that is that you can be making tremendous progress, and you may not see those two metrics reflect ‘positive’ changes (especially if you have...
Achy knees? You may need to strengthen your hips. Do your knees ache sometimes? If so, you are not alone. Knee pain or discomfort is more common than you might think, especially for women. In fact, women are more likely than men to experience knee pain...
Does exercise increase cortisol levels, and should we be worried about avoiding higher-intensity exercise (especially during times when we may already have higher levels of cortisol, such as during peri- or post-menopause)?
SIT and Tabata are both types of high-intensity interval training (HIIT), which, according to the American Council on Exercise, High-intensity interval training (HIIT) can provide numerous health and fitness-boosting benefits (including “increased mitochondrial density, improved stroke volume, improved oxidative capacity of muscle and enhanced aerobic efficiency.”
I was recently asked a great question about the definition of functional training (thank you, Shelia!) and thought it might be a great idea to share more about this concept in case you have been wondering about it too. "Functional training" has become a...
Is mobility work a part of your regular fitness routine yet? You've probably heard of mobility by now, but when it comes to fitness, what exactly is mobility, and why does it matter? The American Council on Exercise (ACE) calls mobility (defining optimal...
Spring is a time of new beginnings, and many of us take this season of warmer weather and baby plants and animals as a time to reset our environment. What if we also took inventory of some of our less helpful food and lifestyle habits and did a little spring editing there as well? Consider the following questions:
Have you ever wondered, “how many calories can I burn with this workout routine? How often should I do it to lose weight?” If so, you aren’t alone!
I know many of us are exercising to help us change our body composition or reach weight loss goals. If you are curious about the calorie burn (or use a tracker to help provide you with this kind of feedback) of your exercise routine, I hope you find this email helpful.
Here are three main reasons why you may want to stop worrying about your exact calorie burn with exercise:
Imagine this scenario: you run into someone you haven’t seen in a while, and they’ve obviously lost a good amount of weight. What happens in your brain? Do you wonder how they did it? Do you ask them their secret? Are you tempted to take notes and do everything exactly as they did?
In 20+ years working in healthcare, I’ve seen many weight loss trends come and go. Some plans help people slim down, and some don’t. Some are based on sound advice, and some are completely absurd. The truth is that no matter what seems to be in fashion, the basic scientific facts about weight loss remain consistent. I do my best to keep an open mind when a seemingly new idea rolls around, but it’s usually an old idea wrapped up in a shiny new package (book, podcast, celebrity interview, etc.). We have to be careful where we are getting our advice, especially in a world where anyone can post any advice publicly without consequences.
Here are the top 2 mistakes I see people make when they want to lose weight:
I was recently a great question, “is exercise truly worth the effort?”
I will admit to being 100% biased regarding the benefits of exercise. I have always enjoyed moving and found it beneficial in so many ways throughout many different stages of my life.
However, I know that not everyone feels the same about working out, and I can completely understand why exercise may not be something everyone wants to do regularly.
When it comes to whether or not exercise is worth your time, there are a few things to consider.
The best way to burn more fat is not a secret pill, powder, fast, or ‘method’ — it’s much more simple (and yet, so interestingly complex within our body!) than that. To burn more fat, we must keep our body and its systems strong and healthy, and exercise is a remarkable tool to help us do this.
If you are short on time, please know that when it comes to a good workout, consistent quality matters more than quantity! Focus on what you can do to move your body each day, in the time you have, especially during busier seasons of life.
Here are a few tips on fitting in fitness when time is tight:
You already know exercise is vital for your health, but are you prioritizing movement throughout the rest of your day? The average adult spends 70% of their day seated, wreaking havoc on our health. Researchers have found a strong association between too much sitting and all-cause mortality risk, even in those who meet the current minimum daily guidelines for exercise. One of the things you’ll hear me talk about a lot is the small, simple habits we can create to support our health. One of those small (but important!) habits is non-exercise activity time (or NEAT for short). If you are trying to stay healthy and maintain a healthy weight, adding more NEAT to your day may be helpful. An individual’s metabolic profile helps determine how much activity they do daily (not including sleep time). This profiling offers a way to chart your daily schedule to determine how much time you spend sitting vs. in motion (standing, walking, etc.).Why is that important? For two adults of similar size, daily energy expenditure (accounting for similarities in size-based, basal resting metabolic rate) from this type of NEAT movement can vary by as much as 2,000 calories per day. That enormous difference can significantly aid in weight loss without adding additional ‘exercise’ time.
Need help getting back into a workout groove? We’re here to help! Are you feeling overwhelmed by all of the workout choices out there? Not sure where to start (or how to continue) to reach your goals? We're here to help! Fall is the perfect time of year to...
Sleep: You know it's essential, but how much do you need, and what if you can't sleep? When it comes to our health and wellness, we're usually focused on all of the things we should be doing (exercising, moving throughout the day, eating healthy food). Interestingly,...
Q: How do I lose stubborn belly fat? What I find so frustrating is my weight is where I want it to be. I do strength training, cardio, and concentrated core and ab work, but I can't lose this gut. I bet you are going to say it has a lot to do with diet, and you...
The #1 question I get asked about is: "What workouts should I do to lose weight?" I wanted to share some thoughts on this topic with you today since I am so frequently asked about this (and if weight loss isn't one of your goals, this can also help with exercising for...
You already know how good exercise is for you. But let's be honest - as dedicated as you are to your workout routine, there are some days when you just can't get going. I feel you! If taking a rest day (an excellent option if you are feeling low energy or not...
I don't know about you, but with each passing year, I find that the more I know, the more I realize I don't know. As more research, studies and information become available; there is always a seemingly new approach or important new "thing" to do (or not do!)...
What's the most important thing to focus on for weight loss? We often focus on the parts of 'health' in segments -- we'll aim to eat better, exercise more, relieve stress, or sleep more. While all of that is important, we need to look at our body as a whole...
I am often asked: Should I lift heavy or light weights? Won’t lifting heavy make me bulk up? Isn’t lifting light weight just a waste of time? And while I know many trainers would disagree, my answer is that both types of training can offer significant benefits....
#1: Muscle burns fat best, even at rest. What's the most effective form of exercise to improve your body composition? Strength training! Strength training helps you build muscle and lose fat simultaneously, which cardio exercise alone can't achieve. Strength...
You can absolutely work out at home without spending a dime (and we tons of no equipment needed workout videos available to prove it!). But if you have been exercising in your home space for a while, you may want to consider investing in a few simple...
GLIDING DISCS: This inexpensive, portable tool can help you get more out of your workouts! How to find (or make!) the proper gliding tools for you Why use gliders? Gliding discs (sliders or gliders) are simple, practical tools to help you get more out of your...
We are excited to share this special guest post from Rebecca the Dietitian! We recognize how much the way you fuel your body influences your exercise results, and are excited to be able to bring you Rebecca’s sound eating advice to help you optimize your health, enjoy...
We hope these quotes about expressing gratitude inspire you to consider adding being thankful to your priorities when it comes to healthy habits so that you can reap all of the wonderful benefits that come to you and those around you when we put thankfulness into practice on a regular basis.
Foot pain can literally stop you in your tracks. But did you know it can also cause issues with your neck, shoulders, hips, knees and more? If your feet hurt, chances are good you’re making subconscious (or completely on-purpose!) adjustments to your posture...
You probably started working out because you know it’s good for your body. Physical activity helps decrease the risk of heart disease and type 2 diabetes, reduces the likelihood of developing certain types of cancer, strengthens our muscles, and protects our...