I love training brides. They are as motivated as Olympians who have to compete in tight strapless dresses and are willing to move heaven and earth in order to reach their goal (which happens to be a very effective strength training system). It’s also great to have a finish line with an open bar and a professional photographer.
My client Sheri Schecter tied the knot a while back. For months before the big day she talked about wanting to be a “buff bride” and insisted on lifting as much and as heavily as possible. The girl was an unstoppable metal moving machine. On her own she did loads of cardio as well. Of course the big day was a smashing success and the lovely couple is now happily wed.
Some of the cutest people with impulse control problems in our society are also known as toddlers. They eat what they want, scream when they want and stick anything tempting right into their cute little mouths. And no matter how hard you try, you can’t ever get them to organize their own sock drawers. Now it turns out that those of us who were able to retain some of that charming impulsiveness of youth, may have a more difficult time staying lean than other people. A study by the National Institute on Aging recently found that very impulsive people tend to weigh 22 pounds more than people who have a tight rein on themselves.
But don’t fret, just because you are impulsive doesn’t mean you are doomed to be tipping the scales the wrong way. There are lots of things you can to do whip your toddler self into shape.
Take this quick quiz and find out now if you might be a Fitness Toddler…
True or false?
1. Stationary cardio machines seem like the stupidest toys ever invented.
2. You are unable to sleep with a box/bag of your favorite treat lurking in the house.
3. People think you’re fun and spontaneous. You
4. don’t mind walking, as long as there is a treat where the sidewalk ends.
5. You get bored easily and wonder when this quiz is going to be over.
If you answered true to 4 or more of the 5 above questions, consider yourself an FT.
Helpful tips for adorable fitness toddlers:
Make it fun! Good advice for everyone, but especially for FT’s. So take an unusual class, try a new sport or bring a buddy to the gym.
Remove temptation. Much like those little plastic thingies new parents put in the light sockets so that their little darlings don’t fry their fingers’ off, F.T.’s must be protected from tempting temptations.
Find a “fitness parent” who you like and want to please. You tell them you took an upside down aerobics class and they say “good boy!” or “good girl!”
Don’t expect instant results. Nobody expects toddlers to run marathon on those chubby little legs, and you should expect too much too soon either.
Don’t compare yourself to other “fitness grown-ups.” They may be more disciplined and consciences, but you will always be more fun at party’s. Plus you’d be totally bored with their workouts before you can say sweat sock three times fast.
Eating breakfast is like saving for retirement. We all know it should be a top priority, but it always seems like starting tomorrow is a better idea. Yet, study after study shows that people who make time for an early meal are much more likely to maintain a healthy body weight. Plus, eating breakfast can improve focus, energy levels and reduce homicidal tendencies.
Lucky for all of us, there are some breakfast ideas that are so easy, delicious and nutritious that they are capable of helping us to overcome the very strong forces of morning inertia.
The morning breakfast pie is just such an option. It consists of toasted bread (preferably whole grain), nut butter (peanut or almond work great) and sliced fresh fruit. My favorites are apples, strawberries and blue berries.
The morning breakfast pie has everything you need to start your day out right. The bread offers complex carbohydrates for energy and fiber. The nut butter has a bit of protein to keep you feeling satisfied and a tad of healthy fats. The fruit offers just the right bit of sweetness, vitamins, even more fiber and a head start on your five-a-day.The morning breakfast pie takes less than two minutes to make and is a great investment in the rest of your day.
Make one today for a happier, leaner and more productive tomorrow!
A good scrambling hike is like a daypass to the world’s most scenic and challenging gymnasium. Somewhere between hiking and mountaineering, a scramble might have you crossing a stream on a fallen log, rock hopping on all fours, or crawling underneath a rebellious tree that decided to grow sideways. Once you get hooked on the challenge and unpredictability of a good scramble, regular ol’ hiking might feel as boring as a walking on a treadmill.
Scrambling is also great for your brain. Instead of just putting one foot in front of the other you are challenged to figure out the best path over various obstacles based on your own capabilities. Can you fit through there? Can you jump that far? After a good scramble your brain will be as stimulated as your body.
Scrambling also encourages team work. You and your trail mates will be trying to figure out the best routes, letting each other know which rocks are slippery and generally working through it all together, helping you to develop A+ communication skill as you get fit. Keep in mind, especially if you’re a beginner, that scrambles are a bit more dangerous than conventional hikes. Always bring a buddy and toss a first aid kit in your daypack for good measure.
What I love about a good scramble is that every component of fitness is simultaneously challenged. You may be strong in a gym, but true fitness is demonstrated with one foot on a rock, one in the air, your body stretched out while you pull yourself forward with one arm. Scrambling will put you into positions that the average gym couldn’t come up with in its wildest dreams.
And speaking of boring, repetitive gyms, a scramble hike is never the same twice because the landscape is always changing. And if you’re the kind of person who’s always looking for ways to improve, this type of hike can also a great diagnostic fitness test. Scrambling will let you know if you need to spend more time working on balance , improving your range of motion or increasing your upper body strength. Pay attention during a scramble and your weaknesses will be revealed.
So get scrambling, the world is your obstacle covered oyster!
The next time you are dreading the cardio portion of your fitness life, consider the following records. I promise that 30 minutes on the elliptical trainer won’t seem so daunting.
Longest amount of time spent on the stationary bike
George Hood rode for more than 111 hours while raising over $30,000 for charity. Go George go!
Longest non-stop hill walking trek
Emil Llic covered 126 miles (204 kilometers) on rocky and mountainous roads without any rest, even consuming food and drink on the move. Let’s all hit the incline button on the treadmill in his honor.
Longest swim
Martin Strel swam 3,272 miles (5,268 kilometers) down the Amazon River. “The Fish Man” covered this whopping distance in only 66 days while dodging piranhas, crocodiles and Columbian drug lords. At least when you have to share a lane with other swimmers they don’t usually try to bite you.
Longest solo run around the US perimeter
Reza Baluchi spent six months running around the United States covering 11,000-miles (17,701kilometer) along the way. Now that’s a road trip.
Greatest distance travelled on a treadmill in 24 hours
Edit Berces covered 153.6 miles (247.2 km) on a treadmill set up at the Euro-centre Shopping Mall. She must have been so ready to hit the food court after that! On the men’s side, Arulanantham Suresh Joachim ran 160.24 miles (257.88 km) in one day.
We all know salads are good for us, full of fiber, vitamins in their natural states and healthy oils. Unfortunately, making salads on a daily basis can be as much fun as cleaning out the crisper drawer. For some reason, after a full day making a healthful salad feels like a monumental chore. Luckily for you, there is the Salad of the Week solution.
I learned this practice from a very healthful roommate that I lived with for a few months (she also stretched during conversations and danced along the beach wearing her walkman). Each week Super Healthy roommate would visit the local farmers market, stock up on produce and then come home and make a giant salad. She would put the mega salad in the biggest Tupperware bowl I had ever seen and then eat from it for the rest of the week (she ate it without dressing, so maybe she was part rabbit).
This method is brilliant for many reasons. Jumping right on top of the produce before it is even put away ensures that nothing is stashed and forgotten, avoiding the sad, gooey fate of so many vegetables bought by well intentioned people. Also, making one big salad can be a relaxing meditative experience, as opposed to the daily grind of pulling everything out, chopping a little bit of each and then putting everything away again. Salad mass production is much more efficient than the frustrating piece-meal method.
The best part is that when a salad is pre-made and ready to eat you are much more likely to eat more salad thereby keeping your nutritional halo shiny and green.
So get chop, chopping and let the good health roll!
We all know salads are good for us, full of fiber, vitamins in their natural states and healthy oils. Unfortunately, making salads on a daily basis can be as much fun as cleaning out the crisper drawer. For some reason, after a full day making a healthful salad feels like a monumental chore. Luckily for you, there is the Salad of the Week solution.
