How to Choose an Air Purifier for Allergy Relief. Allergies. Allergy . Health
Are you looking for relief from your allergy symptoms ? If you are, you may want to examine air purifiers. Air purifiers are a great way to seek relief from many of the most common allergy symptoms . In fact, some individuals see a complete elimination of [...]
Home Remedies for Allergies. Allergies. Allergy . Health
Do you suffer from allergies? If you do, you may be looking for ways to seek relief. Although many individuals turn to over-the-counter allergy relief products or medicines that are prescribed by a doctor, many others are interested in learning more about more affordable and natural ways that they can seek relief [...]
Learning to Love Winter: Break Out the Snowshoes!
Winter. It’s something that happens every year. In some places, it’s quite a bit different than the rest of the year. We can definitely say that in these parts. Vermont winters are lovely just like the rest of the year. But we tend to have a lot of that white stuff around. And it lasts for a long time, making it important to get out in it. Otherwise, cabin fever sets in waaay before the season is over.
So how do you enjoy the outdoors in winter if you’re not too keen on skiing (or as my husband describes it, a semi-controlled slide down a steep icy surface) or skating (I’ve never been attracted to the idea of falling on ice)? Try snowshoeing! I doubt it will ever make it as a winter Olympics sport for this reason: If you can walk, you can do it.
We’ve had a gorgeous snowfall this week that meant fun outdoors for the women at Green Mountain. With our beautiful surroundings, we try to get our participants outside as much as possible to experience the joy of recreational fitness, e.g., moving naturally while having fun. Our goal is to help them reconnect with the pleasure of moving their bodies, to become intrinsically motivated to move. ‘Cuz that means we’ll keep doing it, which spells success for reaching health and healthy weight goals.
Getting outside at Green Mountain in the winter means a lot of snowshoeing because there’s no learning curve. Just about everyone becomes a big fan of it.
There’s been a lot of snow south of us this year, too. So if you can’t make it to Green Mountain for snowshoeing, you may have enough around you to enjoy. Here’s a great primer from REI on snowshoeing that can help get you started.
Have you ever tried snowshoeing? If so, what do you think?
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Healthy Cooking Thursday: Faux Sugar on Snow
The Beginning of the Amazing February 2010 Storm @ GMFR
I’m not sure who the genius was who first decided to take some delicious heated maple syrup and pour it on new fallen snow, but whoever it was, I would kiss them today if I could. This wonderful cold weather tradition is almost enough to make a person wish for snow. When the hot maple syrup hits the cold powdery Vermont snow, it transforms to pure candy (what we call “sugar on snow”, the Canadians call “maple taffy”). And for better or worse, this week in Vermont, we are getting a fair amount of the white stuff (about 4 feet in 24 hours at my house, and counting!), which will ensure that I’ll be having a little sweetness for dessert. However, the power’s out at my house, and I only have an electric oven, so I’m not cooking the syrup. (Besides, I know that if I do, I’ll be eating more than I want to of the stuff. It’s a little difficult to only cook a couple of tablespoons of syrup at a time.)
Traditionally, sugar on snow is served with sour pickles and doughnuts. I prefer it with a little bit of nutritive value, namely fruit and nuts. While not cooking the syrup means less of a “candy” experience and more of a slushie one, it also means not having to clean a really sticky pan. Give this healthy seasonal snack a try the next time you’ve got the white stuff coming down in your neck of the woods.
Faux Sugar on Snow
serves 4
2 cups of fresh, clean, powdery snow
1/4 cup REAL maple syrup
1/4 cup toasted almonds or walnuts
2 bananas, sliced thin
Put the nuts and fruit in 4 shallow, rimmed serving dishes (ramekins or “boats” would work well). Scoop the cold snow directly from the outdoors onto the nuts and fruit and quickly pour the maple syrup over the whole mess. Grab a spoon and enjoy.
Check out another great recipe from our archives featuring maple syrup.
What is your favorite snowy weather food?
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A llergic to pets. Allergies. Allergy . Health
Are you a cat owner who suspects that you may be allergic to pets? If you do have a cat allergy, you may be wondering what you should. If you are looking for guidance, you will want to continue reading on, as a few helpful tips for pet owners who are allergic to their [...]
I Cook Healthy Foods, I Just Eat Too Much
If I had a nickel for every time I heard this concern, I’d have a lot of nickels! I work with so many women who understand the basics of nutrition; some even have an advanced understanding of nutrition, but all still struggle with health and weight loss. Why is it that knowing what foods are good choices and understanding how to prepare them in a healthy way isn’t enough?
No doubt that there are a host of things other than physical hunger that can send us to food but emotional eating, food exposure and habit aside, I’d like to focus on large portions encouraging overeating. Eating large meals time and time again may condition us to expect a very extreme stretch to the stomach, which we begin to associate with fullness. Very full (or even uncomfortably full) becomes our sign that it’s time to stop eating.
How can one get back in touch with a comfortable feeling of fullness?
- Avoid huge stretches of time in between meals that may encourage overeating
- Don’t purposely “bank calories” for 1 big meal for the day
- Consider if loading up on huge portions of low calorie foods is also causing you to expect large portions all the time (e.g. eating an entire bag of frozen broccoli with lemon juice)
- Look at how you serve yourself food. Do you automatically start with large plates, completely filled? It may be that clean plate mentality that is causing you to overeat.
The bottom line is that eating too large portions of food, even of foods you wouldn’t think would be a problem like vegetables, could be considered overeating.
Is this something that you’ve ever thought could be a problem for you?
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Fill Your Calendar with Fitness and Never Worry About Working Out Again
There are plenty of people out there that dislike exercise because they don’t feel it is fun to do. Since it isn’t viewed as something fun to do, it is difficult to make time for it. The solution for people like this is to put the fun into exercise, that way it doesn’t feel like you’re working out at all. There are plenty of ways to do this and some methods will cost money and others will not.
However, if you add in a little of both (paid and free) activities, you could be exercising 5 to 6 days a week and not even feel like it. Below are some ideas to fill your calendar with fun things to do that also keep you working out on a regular basis.
1. Use a calendar: I like to use Google calendar because it’s web based and I can access it easily. Plus it can send out email reminders of upcoming appointments. Whichever calendar you choose, the goal is to fill it with as many fitness activities as you can for the entire month.
2. Make a list: Are there things you have always wanted to try but never get around to? Make a list of activities that will get you physically active. Indoor rock climbing, martial arts classes, dancing, boxing classes, zumba, etc.
3. Sign up: Decide which classes or activities you like most. Find out what you can afford and search for free and low-cost sources as well. When you find what you like, schedule some classes. Now you can start filling in your calendar with fun stuff.
4. Map out trails: If you like to run, walk, or even ride a bike, map out some trails that you can use. You can find trails in your area for biking and/or walking or running. Add them to your calendar.
5. Exercise for a cause: There are plenty of causes that you can participate in by doing 3k’s, 5k’s, etc. You can walk or run. Find some in your area that you can do and plug them into your schedule.
6. Contests: Local gyms and fitness groups often hold competitions that you can train for. Stay on the lookout and find what you like. You never know, you could be winning trophies too!
Continue to be on the lookout for activities that will keep you moving. Your calendar can stay consistently full and have you doing fun things that won’t feel like exercise at all. If you never thought of yourself as an active person, this is a great way to start and to meet other active people to keep you motivated.
Do you stay active? What are some of your tips?
Exercise Alternatives to Running
There are many benefits that come from running as well as some risks. I won’t go into them here but if you do a quick search, you will find plenty of articles listing the good and bad of running. However, for the most part, I think running’s benefits outweigh the downsides. Yet, there are some people who loathe it and others who love it but can’t do it anymore or as often due to injuries. Where ever you stand on the subject, it is still good to know what some exercise alternatives to running can include.
If you want to continue to get in a good cardio workout, consider the list below for some cool running alternatives:
- Brisk walking
- Skating (roller blading)
- Elliptical machine
- Swimming
- Rowing machine
- Hiking
- Spin classes
- Stationary bike
- Bike riding
- Treadmill (high incline at a slow pace)
- Jumping rope
- Circuit training
How about you? What are your alternatives to running?
Functional Strength Training to Make Life Easier
There are various reasons why someone may start lifting weights. Some people start to improve their physique, others to become bodybuilders, and still others who just want to burn fat. Lifting weights always reminds me of bodybuilders first because that is how they spend a majority of their time working out. Training is about building bigger muscles and looking good in a competition. For the most part, it isn’t about becoming a better athlete in terms of strength, speed, or endurance.
Functional training helps a person become better at doing their daily activities. You become stronger so that lifting heavy loads isn’t such a burden. You train so that you can lift your groceries or your children with ease. This type of training focuses a lot on your core muscles because those are the muscles used most in our daily routine.
Get Off the Weight Machines
If you want to start performing functional training, it’s best to stay off of the weight machines. Weight machines limit your range of motion. Free weights are a better choice. The movements mimic ones that you would actually do during your day. Dumbbells are a great choice for weights. Use them in combination with compound exercises like squats, lunges, shoulder presses, etc.
Develop that Core
Core muscles are often neglected in working out but they are essential for everything we do. They are stabilizer muscles which help keep you upright (improved posture) and improve balance. They allow you to use your other muscles more effectively in your arms and legs. The core consists of your back and abdominal muscles and there are others that are deeper such as the tranverse abdominis.
Do you use functional strength training in your routines?
