EXERCISE  I don’t know why it isn’t a compliment to be called a dumbbell. Not only are these weights adaptable to multiple different indoor exercises; they also provide the extra level of challenge you need to continue to progress through the winter months with an indoor workout. They’re cheap and easy to store even in a small apartment. What more do you want? Read More>>

EXERCISE  If you suffer from depression, anxiety or just pure frustration at what’s going on in your life, there’s good news: A study in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine found that exercising regularly can have a dramatic effect on your mood, perceived depression and your overall outlook on life. Read More>>

EXERCISE  If you want to succeed at getting fit and achieving a healthy weight, don’t keep it a secret. A recent study in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine confirms what many fitness experts have long been touting: accountability works. Study participants who were kept accountable to their nutrition program through food journals and review were twice as likely to stick with it and get the results they wanted. A similar study, done months earlier in the same journal, showed the same outcome. Out of 1,685 weight-loss seekers, the single biggest predictor of their success was if they were held accountable through diaries in their fitness program. Read More>>

EXERCISE  It’s finally warm outside and time to get out those pretty glasses and whip up some fun, fruity drinks. But watch out. That cool beverage that goes down so sweetly could contain more than half of your daily caloric intake. Read More>>

LIVING FEATURE  Just as children learn to clean their rooms and finish their homework, they need to establish healthy eating standards while they’re young. Habits, good and bad, become ingrained as children grow up. In fact, one of the best predictors of adult obesity is being overweight as a teenager. While just 25 percent of overweight preschoolers will remain heavy into adulthood, by the time kids are in high school, almost 75 percent of those who are overweight will remain heavy or obese as an adult. Read More>>

LIVING FEATURE  Pilates is all about using your mind to control muscles. Named after its inventor, Joseph Pilates, who called it Contrology, the exercises emphasize flexibility and core strength. Pilates exercise programs may appear gentle or even relaxing to observers, while participants readily acknowledge the exercise program provides a challenge, especially to muscles in the abdomen and back. Read More>>

LIVING FEATURE  Finally I got it. After months of searching, scouring and reading about the Wii Fit, I managed to snag one at a Wal-Mart late one evening (probably right after a shipment came in). I had anticipated using this to get Me-Fit since hearing of its release. OK, I’m a fitness trainer, and I have to admit to already being in pretty good shape — but I was curious about this little white board and whether it lived up to the hype. Read More>>

EXERCISE  You just smacked the snooze button on your alarm clock for the fourth time, and finally you decide it’s time to get up. How can you get your blood pumping, your brain awake and your mind sharp without breaking a sweat or spending too much time? Stretching in the morning is a great way to revive your body from its deep slumber. Stretching increases blood flow to your muscles and resets your mind for a successful day. Read More>>

EXERCISE  Osteoporosis is estimated to cause 1.5 million fractures annually in the United States in people 50 and older. But did you know the prevention of this bone-related disorder starts when you’re just 12 to 14 years of age? Read More>>

EXERCISE  I was checking out at one of my favorite local grocery stores a few days ago and my eyes found their way to the magazine rack. What I saw was quite amazing: Right there on the cover, “Celebrity Dieting Secrets Inside.” I was intrigued. Now, having a background in exercise and physiology, I know regular exercise and eating right are the only “secrets” out there, but all too often we get caught up in all the conflicting advice, information or news — we lose sight of what really works, end up confused and disregard how regular exercise benefits our bodies. Read More>>

EXERCISE  Are you bored with your indoor workouts — slaving away on that treadmill, stair climber, or stationary bike? Do you feel stifled by a mundane fitness routine? It’s time to get back on track, exercise outside and have some fun. A study at the University of Tennessee found that exercise performed outdoors has a lower perceived difficulty. You’ll also have the crisp air and surrounding environment to look at — motivating you through your entire workout. Read More>>

EXERCISE  Finally, it’s here: the warmth of summer. The sun is shining, birds are chirping and the gym promises only a stuffy and stale replay of all the workouts you’ve done when the weather was not so great. So you lace up your shoes for a run, which still doesn’t seem that inspiring. As you jog by a local park, you notice the playground. Time for a detour. Read More>>