Avoid Putting on Extra Pounds During the Holidays

Once again, the holiday season is upon us. I’m sure we’re all looking forward to spending time with family and friends, relaxation and of course,  the holiday feasts. During the time between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day, which is roughly 6 weeks, I tend to see people increase their body weight anywhere from five to ten pounds, in some cases even more. Here are a few ways to help prevent putting on extra weight during the holidays: Portion Control. It’s difficult to say no to appetizing food when it’s right in front of you, so what you can do is ask for a smaller dish to control your portions. Because you will not be able to put as much food on a smaller plate, the amount of calories you take in will be reduced. Water Intake. By drinking plenty of water throughout the day, you will be less likely to feel hungry. Studies have shown that the more water an individual consumes during the day, the more he or she will feel a sense of fullness. If your stomach does not signal the need for food, you will most likely eat less during the day. Exercise. The key is to increase your metabolism so that you can burn more calories. Taking a fast paced walk about 30 minutes after eating is a great way to speed up your metabolism. Also, walking up and down a flight of stairs is a good idea; so is chasing your kids, grandchildren and animals! Whatever gets it going! Have a wonderful Thanksgiving and a joyful holiday season! Don’t let the holidays ruin your fitness!...

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When Being Health Conscious, Let’s Not Forget to Build Muscle

It seems that every time we generally talk about health, the first thing that comes to everyone’s mind is weight loss, which I have no issues about. After all, with so much influence from television, magazine articles and the internet,  how can anyone be expected to think otherwise? Case closed, right? Not so fast. Here is something else we should all start thinking more about: building muscle. That’s right… BUILDING MUSCLE! Let me list a few facts to keep in mind when you start working on your muscles: 1. Muscles burn more energy than fat. If you are fat with no muscle, your body will burn fewer calories, especially when you are inactive. The good news is that muscles burn more calories than fat, even when you are resting. A little effort to build some muscle pays off, many times over, with the benefits of fat burning. 2. If your body is covered with a healthy layer of muscle, it will be strong enough to support your skeleton. You will probably have fewer injuries related to falls. If you do injure yourself, you will be more likely to recover faster with fewer complications. Your body will be strong enough to compensate temporarily for your injuries. 3. In order to build muscle, you need to exercise. Exercising has numerous benefits for your health and well-being. You get to build muscle while you benefit from the increased oxygen supply, the increased blood supply and the mood enhancing benefits of exercise. The above are just a few of the many benefits of including a muscle-building program to your schedule. The evidence is overwhelming. Just remember to check with your doctor first and then hire a certified personal trainer to show you the proper way. You will not regret it. So the next time you hear someone bring up the topic of health make sure you tell them about importance of building muscle and you will definitely stand out in the crowd!...

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Do You Think I Need Personal Training? Well….

If I had a dime every time I heard this question …$$$$$ you got it!  Let me just state for the record, that 95% of the people who have asked me that question knew exactly what the answer was going to be. But, just to be fair to them, I immediately answered their question with a question of my own: “Do you have 5 minutes to spare?” With so much information out there about the benefits of exercise, eating right and a positive attitude I still find it hard to believe that a large majority of the population still does not make the time to incorporate some form of exercise during the day. I think what confuses most people these days is the fact that exercise is simply not taken seriously enough. I strongly believe that if more people took the time to re-educate themselves about the benefits of exercise, we wouldn’t be in the state of crisis we are now in regarding our own health and the well being of our children… you can count on that! Therefore, what advice can I give to anyone who is contemplating the decision to make a commitment to exercise? Give me 5 minutes and I’ll show you what you have been...

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