Sports Health Exercise» Health

Why Losing Weight is like Spring Cleaning

tracybenham — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 17:40:28 +0000

Getting started on your weight loss goal is kind of like spring-cleaning or organizing your closet. It’s not hard, but it’s usually a pain in the butt to get started. Sometimes it is just easier to get going and not think about it too long. If you have decided to spring clean your house this month, but need to wait until you have time, energy or help – nothing is going to happen as soon as you want or need it to.

Spending more time then necessary on making a list, getting someone to help, getting the proper cleaning supplies and making sure you have enough the time in your schedule is a recipe for frustration. You may even end up starting and stopping a few times and even spend valuable time, energy and money to never really get anyway.

Same thing can be said when you organize your closet. When you make a plan, go out and buy new hangers and organizing bins, by the time you get home you are out of time for the day. The next day you start to sort, but realize you don’t have time to finish and everything gets squished back into the corners. You then make another plan to start again next weekend. Over-scheduled and overwhelmed at having to start again, it is easy to put it off ‘one’ more time. Or at least until you have more time, a rainy day or when you have someone to help. Even if you just finished one drawer it makes it easier to continue the process.

Losing weight has some of the same struggles. Every time you start and stop a healthy eating and/or an exercise routine, it makes it hard to start all over again. If you are so busy that you feel like you can’t waste anytime it seems only fitting that you wait until you find the perfect product or plan. Or maybe you need to wait because you know your schedule is going to open up next week… or you need to wait till you can afford the new cross fit program or a trainer.

It is going to be impossible to get to the stage where being healthy is not just about losing weight.

Just get started. Spend 1 minute and decided what you are going to do today and this week to improve your health and fitness. Make it simple and get going. I do not know one person who doesn’t know 5 things that they can do today that will take them closer to a healthier lifestyle. NOT ONE.

You know that fruit and vegetables are better for you than hamburgers and fries. You know that walking 30 minute, (even 15 minutes) is better than watching Dancing with the Star on TV. We know that drinking water is better than soda. Just get started doing a few things that you already know will get you steps closer to losing weight, have more energy, being more productive…

Most people know enough about health and fitness to get started and get quite far along without doing any extra research, or spending any money. Once you get to the point where you need a few tips, motivation, more detailed vs. a general get you butt moving plan then you should contact an expert, join a gym/program or take the next step like buying new shoes. After you get moving toward your goal you will be able to ask better questions. It is easier to customize a program and your goals once you have started on the path.

But for today, just get started. Go for a walk, eat your veggies first, drink a glass of water before any soda – or do any of the 1 to 5 simple things you already know you can do today to move you one step closer to your health goals. You may find that you have a little more energy to actually get and finish your spring-cleaning faster and be ready to tackle those closets.

Ready for an Epic adventure? Join Tracy Benham as she Cycles the Silk Road this summer with Tourd’Afrique and get all of her travel, health, fitness, training and TravelFit tips on her new Facebook page and Twitter.

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Why Losing Weight is like Spring Cleaning is a post from: Sports Health Exercise

Does Exercising in Hot Weather Burn More Calories?

tracybenham — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 21:51:47 +0000

Guest Post:

If you’re looking to burn more calories and think running during the highest temperatures each day or doing yoga in a stuffy room will do it, think again. The only extra weight you’ll lose by training in the heat will be water weight and of course, that will be instantly regained the second you drink in some much needed water. In my professional opinion, you’d be wiser to exercise in more moderate temperatures which may inspire you to exercise even longer or more intensely; doing so would definitely increase the amount of calories you burn.

Exercising in very cold temperatures, on the other hand, does result in extra calories being burned. Our bodies have to work harder to maintain our core temperature in the cold. Shivering, for example, requires our muscles to continuously flex, and this active motion does burn extra calories. Interesting, huh? I don’t recommend that any one should set their home thermostat to 20 degrees though; that would just be silly. At the end of the day, we should all plan to burn calories based on our actions. Training in a super hot environment can be dangerous. If you do choose or have to train in the heat, make sure you’re wearing proper sun-protecting if necessary and hydrating properly.

Does Exercising in Hot Weather Burn More Calories? is a post from: Sports Health Exercise

Our Planet and Climate Change

tracybenham — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 03:02:33 +0000

10,996 Blogs

155 Countries / 21,426,953 Readers ( and counting)

Why would a company that specializes in health, fitness, activities and travel write a post about climate change? Climate change affects us all.

Health effects of climate change include famine and disease.

Sports and activities are usually more fun when they are played outdoors.

Being fit and healthy is easier when you aren’t wondering about food and water.

Climate Change is happening now.

“This December world leaders will gather in Copenhagen to negotiate a global response to climate change. As a world leader in greenhouse gas pollution as well as clean energy technology, the United States needs to take bold action by implementing comprehensive clean energy policies to curb emissions.”* *(http://www.blogactionday.org/)

To find out how climate change will affect you: The Top 100 Effects of Climate Change.

This list will surprise you.

It includes things like baseball, wine, salmon and skiing.

Other areas that are mentioned that effects us all: food, sports, environment, animals, health/sickness, oceans, human costs, and even national security.

Less deer, more jellyfish.

Lower mountains, more deserts.

More floods, hurricanes and fires and disease.

The time is now.

More ways to get involved**

Add your name to those across the world calling on President Obama to lead on climate change. http://www.blogactionday.org/en/takeaction

Sign the Tck Tck Tck campaign’s “I am ready” pledge supporting an ambitious, fair and binding climate agreement in Copenhagen this fall:tcktcktck.org/people/i-am-ready

Join the UK Government’s “Act on Copenhagen” effort to promote a global deal on climate change: www.actoncopenhagen.decc.gov.uk/en

Learn and act with The Nature Conservancy’s Planet Change site: change.nature.org

Watch and help promote Current TV’s green-themed video journalism at: current.com/green

Support strong climate legislation in the US by making calls to your Senators with 1Sky: www.1sky.org/call

Put yourself on the Vote Earth map and upload your photos, pictures and weblinks to show the world future you want to see:www.earthhour.org/home

More actions and information available: http://www.blogactionday.org/en/takeaction

** List from The Official Blog of Blog Action Day.

Turn Down, Switch Off, Recycle, Walk, Change

Our Planet and Climate Change is a post from: Sports Health Exercise

AHN: Fit Kids: Healthy Lunches

tracybenham — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 12:40:42 +0000

AHN reminds you to pack only healthy foods and all of your choices will be good.

For a few ideas on some easy ways to get kids to eat a healthier lunch – watch this quick AHN: Fit Kicks Video. (Season 2,# 16 AHN Video)

Watch all new Health, Fitness, Cooking, Yoga, Sports, Travel and more AHN Shows on our new Channel.

Active Health Network now runs on ActiveHealthChannel.com.

Don’t worry we still produce many of our exclusive shows and podcasts for numerous sites. (Check your favorite site for days and times)

Have an Active, Fun & Fit Week and we’ll see you soon here on SHE.

AHN: Fit Kids: Healthy Lunches is a post from: Sports Health Exercise

Spend Time Outdoors Everyday!

tracybenham — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 19:14:28 +0000

Your kids follow your health and fitness habits. Make it easy for them to think that enjoying the outdoors and being active is something that everyone loves to do. Go outside and play. Take them to a park, a pool or even around the block. Let them pick the activities, sports or games. Then share some of the ones that you played as a kid.

Don’t have any kids – borrow some your siblings or friends that would love a few minutes to themselves (they will thank you for it). It will be fun to remember how much fun it to just run around and laugh for no reason.

So get outside and remember when everyday was filled with non-stop activities and adventures.

Make this weekend a Happy, Healthy and Adventurous one!

Spend Time Outdoors Everyday! is a post from: Sports Health Exercise

Daily Kick in the Butt

tracybenham — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 13:42:08 +0000

Train your palette.

Numerous recent studies confirm that food portion sizes have increased in U.S. over two decades.

Put your stomach and appetite on a training program.

Every time you eat out order always order a Small.

Start sharing main courses. Stop ordering appetizers unless they are your meal. Share a main course and order 2 salads. Skip the bread plate or actually acknowledge that it is part of your meal and order less food.

Save money, calories and your waistline, while your stomach gets used to portion sizes

Daily Kick in the Butt is a post from: Sports Health Exercise

The ‘No time to Exercise’ Workout, Instant Stress Relief, Parks and Celebrity Fitness

tracybenham — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 22:09:46 +0000

UP now and brought to you by the team at SHE.

* The ‘Got No Time Workout’. AHN Fit Kick up now on Active Health Network.

Watch this quick and effective workout and “then it your turn to get to work“.

*Plan your next Fun and Active Day with your Family at a National Park -Over two hundred of them are FREE.

Planning a Visit to the Grand Canyon is a Great Motivator to Get in Shape and Trave Fit!

Visit Travel Fit Now to find our more.

*Stressed and need a quick way to change your physiology? AHN: Yoga Kick on the Active Health Network.

AHN Yoga Expert, Stacy McCarthy

*Need some Motivation to Get in Shape for your next adventure. Check out Why TF Now.

*What do your favorite celebritiesdo to get in shape? Watch this AHN Fit Kick Video

Fitz and Brooke Shields

Brooke Shields talks Fitness with AHN Fitness Expert Fitz:

Coming this week on Sports Health Exercise

Daily Kick in the Butt, Ask Fitz, Get Fit on Blog Talk Radio and more No – Nonsense, Energetic and Intelligent Health and Fitness info.

Have an Active & Fit Week and we’ll see you soon here on SHE.

Active Health Network ™ , Active Health Channel, Travel Fit NOW, Active Travel Channel are all produces by the team at Sports Health Exercise LLC.

SHE is Healthy, Fit & Active Worldwide. Thanks for joining us and please share our sites, posts, videos and more with your friends and family. Together we can bury all of the hype and gimmicky health and fitness information and make the world a happier and healthier place.

The ‘No time to Exercise’ Workout, Instant Stress Relief, Parks and Celebrity Fitness is a post from: Sports Health Exercise

Supplements and Negitive Calorie Food for Weight Loss

tracybenham — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 16:33:02 +0000

Yesterday we were contacted by a health professional about our feelings about recommending supplement use and using the term “Negative Calorie Foods”. The author, who is a respected fitness professional, is debating with the publisher over including both of these options as easy ways to lose weight. The author is vehemently against recommending these methods, but the publishing company seems to think that both of these terms are important when writing a diet book.

Below are just a few of the thoughts we shared regarding supplement use:
We are in agreement in NOT recommending any supplements to help an individual lose weight. The minute you mention that taking a pill could help people lose weight; many people immediately head to their local supplement store to buy more unnecessary products. This, in turn, will leave them frustrated and thinking that the rest of your information is just another gimmick to sell your product. Real (degreed and experienced) health and fitness professionals have been fighting the diet pill and supplement companies for years over tricks like this. There are many supplements companies that show ‘research’ (purposely mislabeled, misappropriated and misused information) right up until the day that they have to pull the products off of the market. Hydroxycut, Metabolite, Xenadrine are just a few that come to mind.

Why do people have to DIE, waste hundreds of dollars, get liver and kidney damage and a number of health related sicknesses, before we stop supporting supplement use as a quick and easy way to lose weight? There are numerous medical reasons to use supplements; however, none of these reasons should be in a health book that deals with weight loss. I am a bit surprised that a company that has published numerous books in the health and fitness category would want to include such over-hyped information.

As for the Negative Calorie Foods.
I am assuming you are not talking about water. Yes, it does take energy to digest foods, but connecting that fact to a weight loss program is one of the latest marketing tricks of diet and supplement companies.

Using the term “Fat Burning” or “Negative Calorie Food” is just another attempt to confuse the public into thinking that there is an easier way to lose weight than eating healthfully, watching your nutrition and exercising. As you know, there are thousands of research studies and plenty of other factually-based information sources available that explain how to lose weight safely and effectively. None of these supports eating ‘apples all day so that you lose weight safely and permanently’ (with apples, of course, being a food that is touted as having negative calories – which they do not).

There are also hundreds of articles in JAMA, MSSE (Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise), and many other researched and evidenced based-journals that can supply you with evidence concerning supplement use.

Supplements and Negitive Calorie Food for Weight Loss is a post from: Sports Health Exercise

AHN: Food Kick – Breakfast – Why Bother?

tracybenham — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 21:16:12 +0000

You have heard it a hundred times, eat breakfast to lose weight. AHN licensed and registered dietitian, Christy Caggiani tells you why in this quick AHN: Health and Nutrition Video.

AHN: Food Kick – Breakfast – Why Bother? is a post from: Sports Health Exercise

Why are you Really Putting Off Getting Fit?

tracybenham — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 19:12:37 +0000

If you haven’t reached your health and fitness goals, now’s the time to get started!

If you wait until the kids are back in school, after your vacation, when the economy gets better, when your schedule opens up, or when a pill comes out that can make you fit while you sit on the couch – stop waiting! (Unless you are a mouse – see below!).

There isn’t a perfect time to start something new once you are out of sixth grade.

A recent study reported that sedentary mice that were feed a ‘diet pill’ burned more calories and could exercise longer than mice than the control mice. This drug may some day help bedridden patients fight obesity and diabetes, but they are a long away from seeing if these results can some how translate to people.

So health and fitness professionals can relax and not worry about how the next magical product could force them out of a job.

Couch potato’s and exercise haters -join us and come aboard. Give in and get fit, be more active and start the journey to increased energy – today. We’ll help make it easy – stay tuned for quick tips, workouts, activity and sport guides, easy healthier cooking options, recipes and so much more.

Motivation Directly to your cell phone: Sign up for the Mobile Texts – on the sidebar.

For More SHE: SHE-AHN.com

Why are you Really Putting Off Getting Fit? is a post from: Sports Health Exercise