Feel Good About Yourself

    She wore an itsy bitsy ,  teenie-weenie  polka dot bikini. Or so the old song goes....

Picture of Salma Hayek at Listal



Looking good - and feeling good  - at the beach or wherever Summer fun brings you is easier than many of us ever imagined. Forget worrying about others and how they look at you. All that really matters is how you view yourself. Improve your self esteem and your outlook on life with just 30 minutes of exercise every day!

If losing a few pounds is one of your goals - start getting in shape the good old fashioned way. You won't even need to join a fancy - and often expensive - health club to improve your life. In fact, a better life can be yours for little or no money out of your pockets. Save your hard earned cash and stick with simple exercises that have worked for centuries.

For a more toned, and muscular body - add some simple weight-bearing exercise to your routine. Do a couple sets of 10 push ups before you head out for your run. Get an exercise mat and a few pieces of inexpensive home fitness equipment. Beat the Summer heat and work out in the cool comfort of your living room!

Burn More Fat - Faster

It happens to us all. Our new - or renewed - healthy habits start to yield some noticeable improvements. Maybe your clothes are fitting better - or even way more loose than just a few short months ago. Your self confidence is returning. You're starting to look better in the mirror!

Then it happens - you hit that inevitable wall or rough stretch where your stomach doesn't seem to be as fit and trim as you'd hoped for. Maybe your stamina hasn't reached the level you'd like. Or you still are unable to fit into those skinny clothes you wore just a few years ago.

You're not alone. Many trim and toned healthy folks have felt these very same challenges. And worked through them!

Here's one simple way to burn more fat - faster.

Simply pick up the pace during your workouts. Varying your pace can help your body burn more calories.

Pick any cardio exercise you enjoy ( like running, swimming, rowing, or even your treadmill). Warm up for 2 minutes at a moderate pace, then pick up the pace and put her into really high gear for 30 seconds to a minute. Shoot for the highest intensity you can. Work your body!

Then - Slow down and go for a few minutes at a slower, more normal pace so you can begin to catch-your-breath. As you regain a more normal breathing pattern - it's time to kick it into higher gear again!

Gradually pick up the pace again for a minute or two, then back off again for a few minutes. Slowly return to a more comfortable pace. ( This might take a few minutes - depending on the length of your workout and how much time you need to recover. )

Repeat these steps eight or ten times. ( Less if you start feeling really drained. Don't worry though - you'll get better at this in a matter of weeks!) With these high-speed bursts of energy you'll maximize your weight loss and muscle growth! And - you burn more calories in less time! You burn more fat in less time than you might otherwise!

Add some simple weight-bearing exercise to your routine. Do a couple sets of 10 push ups before you head out for your run. Get an exercise mat and a few pieces of inexpensive home fitness equipment.

Grab your jump rope and sneak in a few minutes whenever you can!

Winter Workout WonderLand!

    This Weekend many in North America are feeling an early taste of Winter! If you plan to head outdoors today for your daily run - you may want to warm up indoors, before exposing yourself to the frigid air.  When you warm up indoors you'll reduce the strain on your heart. You'll probaly feel better about venturing outside as well, because you'll be warm already.

   Running - or any outdoor activity can put extra strain on your heart as it tries to pump blood to your extremities. Walking will help relieve some of this strain by dilating the  blood vessels in your legs. The trick is to warm up slowly, to allow your body to adjust to the coldness.

    If you don't warm up when it's freezing outside, you could set yourself up for severe chest pain or worse - like a heart attack. 

    Before you head out into the Winter Wonderland you may want to dress in layers. Wearing multiple layers enables you to adjust your attire as you go, according to the weather and your level of activity.

    For your inner layer (the one closest to your skin), try light wool blend long-johns or cotton thermals. Some avid runners are using  garments made from a synthetic fabric such as polypropylene, which wicks away perspiration from your body.

   Then add an insulating layer - like a nice warm sweater, or hooded sweatshirt for warmth. Many Winter running enthusiasts find the new synthetic fabrics do a better job of keeping you warm and dry than either wool or cotton. If that works for you - fine! The key is to wear enough layers to keep you both comfortably warm without preventing you from moving freely!

    If you're getting snow or sleet , wear an outer layer that protects you from wind and rain. If you can - choose a fabric that's waterproof. Keep that cold ice and snow away from the inner layers!


    If you're like many of us you may prefer working out in the warmth and safety of home! ( Why get all bundled up and drive miles through the arctic air to a fancy healthy club? ) Get yourself some simple home fitness equipment and put a favorite comedy in the DVD player! Enjoy yourself while you work off those extra pounds!

   

The Secret to Lasting Weight Loss

    Do you ever find yourself wondering if you'll Ever lose those extra pounds? You know - the ones lingering around your waistline and stomach. You're not alone. You and several million other well meaning, hard working,  busy people are in  much the same boat! We all have seemingly countless demands upon our time and resources.

So, what's the answer to your time crunch? How do you fit  30 to 45 minutes of exercise into your hectic schedule every day?

Sometimes the pressures of raising children and caring for parents can seem overwhelming. Do you ever just want to throw your hands up and give up?

Take heart. You don't have to give up. Find just 15 or 20 minutes and get out in the fresh air where you can calm your soul and hasten your heartbeat! Pick up that jump rope and jump for as long as you can while watching your favorite show.

Encourage your children to join you in a race around the block! See if you can beat them! ( If you can - you're far better off than many of us! )

Don't have time to head out to the local gym or health club? The weather outside too cold?  No worries! Grab a few inexpensive pieces of home fitness equipment and work out in the comfort of home!

Take care of yourself and you'll be in better shape to take care of those you love and care most about! Do whatever you can to sneak in a few minutes here and there.  A couple 20 minute workouts add up to your daily quota! And some experts say that you'll burn even more calories with two shorter workouts!

Be a little selfish - make time for exercise!

See Yourself Win the Battle of the Waistline

    A sportswriter once asked a famous baseball player how many hits he expected to get in the big game later that same day. The famed slugger didn't waste a moment before responding "I expect to get a hit every time I step up to the plate!"

    Did he? Of course not. In any given year the best hitters might safely get a  hit 3 of every 10 times they come to the plate. They know the numbers. They are well aware of the stats - and yet they believe they can get a base hit every time they step up to the plate! They focus on the positive outcome they want.

    And they work towards that positive outcome. They exercise daily and condition their bodies to stay in top physical form. ( Babe Ruth excluded here - history is full of the legendary poor eating habits the Babe enjoyed. ). The time they spend in batting cages toning their timing and swing would tire most of us.

   The average tennis pro today spends several hours daily just hitting tennis balls! That doesn't include the hours spent running and in strength training! They walk out on that court believing they can hit ace after ace. They know in their heart they can get to balls most of us would never even try for! They have positive expectations built upon a solid foundation of preparation.

    These athletes have invested the time, focus, and hard work required to reach the pinnacle of their chosen sports!

    We can't all expect to hit 90 mph fastballs like A-Rod or get to incredible shots like Kim Clijsters does on a tennis court. And we can practice some of the very same healthy habits the pros use to stay in fantastic shape!

    If you want to trim up your waistline and get your body into a slimmer, sexier shape - why not do what the pros do? Exercise - hard - every day! Build up a good old fashioned sweat! Work your heart and lungs for at least 20 minutes most days of the week. If you want better results - pick it up to 30 or 45 minutes of heart-pumping cardio exercise daily.

    Every other day work on strength training - in addition to your daily cardio regimen. You'll start seeing ( and feeling ) results in a matter of weeks!

   You won't even need to hire a personal trainer or join that fancy ( and expensive ) health club! Turn that extra room into your own home gym! Put s TV and DVD player in and watch your favorite TV shows while you get in your best shape ever!  Pick up some inexpensive home fitness equipment and work out when you want to.

   Spend a lot of time on the road? No worries, many hotels offer fitness rooms. Or do the stairs as many times as you can muster for a great cardio workout! If the weather outside is nice - start your day off right with a healthy run .  Buy a Jump Rope
and toss it in your bag -  get a great workout wherever you are!

    Ride your bike or simply start by going for a daily run!  Call a friend and play some tennis or head out to the golf course ( just skip the cart and walk) . Who says getting in better shape has to be dull and boring?  If you want a better looking body - do like the pros and try these ten tips for better fitness!

Kick Start Your Heart and Lungs!

  Do you ever find yourself wishing you could look a little better in your favorite beach attire? ( Or, in my case - A Lot better! ) Maybe you'd like to feel more comfortable taking your shirt off at the beach? ( You mean I don't have to hide my belly? )

  How do look at the beach or the lake this Summer?

  Want tighter abs? Want to shed those last few pounds before the 4th rolls around? Well, the good news is - you can tighten up your tummy. You really can look better at the beach and have greater self confidence when you start shedding clothes!

Add this to your arsenal of daily exercise routines:



Won't cost you a dime to start walking more everyday. And then running. Sit-ups and crunches are free. The classic push up will help define your upper arms and chest while helping you tighten your abs muscles.

Want  quicker results?   Buy an  Indoor Rowing Machine  and  watch your waistline start shrinking in a matter of weeks!

Or start simple if you prefer. Get some easy to use Home fitness equipment and turn your extra bedroom into a convenient mini-gym! No need to shell out those expensive health club dues every month. Save your money and get healthy without fighting traffic or the crowds at the gym.

Do yourself a favor this Summer. Start your own personal health-care plan. Start exercising every day. Start enjoying life a little more. Forget your worries for a few minutes every day and kick-start your heart and lungs. The natural high you'll soon feel is better than any drug known to man! ( And a whole lot less expensive! )

A Woman

"Hope deferred maketh the heart sick.

What, sir, would the people of the earth be without woman? " Mark Twain

What a paltry thing, after all, is man, man uncomplemented by woman! Left to himself, he stagnates; linked with a woman, he rises—-or sinks. A gentle touch stimulates him, a confiding heart makes of him a new creature. Under the rays of feminine sympathy, he expands who else would remain inert. Fame may allure him, friends encourage him, fortune cause him a momentary smile, but only woman makes him; and fame, friends, fortune, all are naught if there be not at his side a sharer of his weal. A man will strive for fortune, strip himself for friends, scour the earth for fame; but were there no woman in the world to be won, not one of these things would he do.

Two friends are walking along and they encounter a beautiful lady. One is 25 pounds overweight and looks like he hasn't exercised in years. The other gent has the same slim waistline he had decades ago in college. He beams with self confidence and clearly enjoys life to the fullest.

Which guy will this attractive woman be more interested in?

You don't have to spend a fortune. Many healthy, happy, and contented folks have never set foot in a fancy health club. ( And there are many who do - regularly! ) The point is - you can get healthy and enjoy a better quality of life and never need to part with much of your hard earned cash.

Get yourself some inexpensive home fitness equipment and shed those extra pounds without even leaving the house!

Hard Work Means Lasting Results

If you want to lose weight fast - forget the pills and miracle weight loss potions so readily available at every counter. Instead, for lasting results - work hard. Exercise daily. Build your strength - gradually you will be able to achieve not only weight loss - but the lifelong benefits of better health and fitness!

Christ did not say, "Come unto me all ye pleasure hunters, ye indolent and ye lazy;" but "Come all ye that labor and are heavy laden."

"There is but one method of attaining excellence," said Sydney Smith, "and that is hard labor."

"I do not see," says Emerson, "how any man can afford, for the sake of his nerves and his nap, to spare any action in which he can partake. It is pearls and rubies to his discourse. Drudgery, calamity, exasperation, want, are instructors in eloquence and wisdom. The true scholar grudges every opportunity of action passed by as a loss of power."

"Adversity is a severe instructor," says Edmund Burke, "set over us by one who knows us better than we do ourselves, as He loves us better too. He that wrestles with us strengthens our nerves and sharpens our skill. Our antagonist is our helper. This conflict with difficulty makes us acquainted with our object, and compels us to consider it in all its relations. It will not suffer us to be superficial."

Strong characters, like the palm tree, seem to thrive best when most abused. Men who have stood up bravely under great misfortune for years are often unable to bear prosperity. Their good fortune takes the spring out of their energy, as the torrid zone enervates races accustomed to a vigorous climate. Some people never come to themselves until baffled, rebuffed, thwarted, defeated, crushed, in the opinion of those around them. Trials unlock their virtues; defeat is the threshold of their victory.

"Every man who makes a fortune has been more than once a bankrupt, if the truth were known," said Albion Tourgée. "Grant's failure as a subaltern made him commander-in-chief, and for myself, my failure to accomplish what I set out to do led me to what I never had aspired to."

"What is defeat?" asked Wendell Phillips. "Nothing but education." And a life's disaster may become the landmark from which there has begun a new era, a broader life for man.

"To make his way at the bar," said an eminent jurist, "a young man must live like a hermit and work like a horse.

Whatever you seek - in terms of better health or success in life - you can achieve with hard work and focused effort! You can enjoy life more and have a slimmer, stronger body. Exercise and eating healthy foods result in better health and fitness.

Start today. Get some home fitness equipment and work out before you work or school. Catch your favorite TV shows while you pound away those extra inches around your waistline.

10 Easy Fitness Tips

1. Start your day with a Healthy breakfast.
Breakfast fills your "empty tank" to get you going after a long night without food. And it can help you do better in school. Easy to prepare breakfasts include cold cereal with fruit and low-fat milk, whole-wheat toast with peanut butter, yogurt with fruit, whole-grain waffles or even last night's pizza!

2. Get up and Get Moving!
It's easy to fit physical activities into your daily routine. Walk, bike or jog to see friends. Take a 10-minute activity break every hour while you read, do homework or watch TV. Climb stairs instead of taking an escalator or elevator. Try to do these things for a total of 30 minutes every day.

3. Enjoy Healthy Snacks.
Snacks are a great way to refuel. Choose snacks from different food groups - a glass of low-fat milk and a few graham crackers, an apple or celery sticks with peanut butter and raisins, or some dry cereal. If you eat smart at other meals, cookies, chips and candy are OK for occasional snacking.

4. Work up a sweat.
Vigorous work-outs - when you're breathing hard and sweating - help your heart pump better, give you more energy and help you look and feel best. Start with a warm-up that stretches your muscles. Include 20 minutes of aerobic activity, such as running, jogging, or dancing. Follow-up with activities that help make you stronger such as push-ups or lifting weights. Then cool-down with more stretching and deep breathing. No need to spend a fortune at the health club. Buy some inexpensive home fitness equipment and burn those calories without leaving the house!

5. Balance your food choices - don't eat too much of any one thing.
You don't have to give up foods like hamburgers, french fries and ice cream to eat healthy. You just have to be smart about how often and how much of them you eat. Your body needs nutrients like protein, carbohydrates, fat and many different vitamins and minerals such as vitamins C and A, iron and calcium from a variety of foods. Balancing your food choices will help you get all more of these essential nutrients.

6. Get fit with friends or family.
Exercise is much more fun with friends or family. Encourage others to join you and plan one special physical activity, like a bike ride or hiking, with a group each week. Make it a weekly habit. Enjoy the time with family and friends.

7. Eat more grains, fruits and vegetables.
These foods give you carbohydrates for energy, plus vitamins, minerals and fiber. Besides, they taste good! Try breads such as whole-wheat, bagels and pita. Spaghetti and oatmeal are also in the grain group. Bananas, strawberries and melons are some great tasting fruits. Try vegetables raw, on a sandwich or salad.

8. Join in physical activities at work or school.
Volunteer to coach the school baseball team. Join the office basketball team or tennis league! Whether you take a physical education class or do other physical activities at school, such as intramural sports, structures activities are a sure way to feel good, look good and stay physically fit.

9. Foods aren't good or bad.
A healthy eating style is like a puzzle with many parts. Each part -- or food -- is different. Some foods may have more fat, sugar or salt while others may have more vitamins or fiber. There is a place for all these foods. What makes a diet good or bad is how foods fit together. Balancing your choices is important. Fit in a higher-fat food, like pepperoni pizza, at dinner by choosing lower-fat foods at other meals. And don't forget about moderation. If two pieces of pizza fill you up, pass on a third.

10. Make healthy eating and physical activities fun!
Take advantage of physical activities you and your friends enjoy doing together and eat the foods you like. Be adventurous - try new sports, games and other activities as well as new foods. You'll grow stronger, play longer, and look and feel better! Set realistic goals - don't try changing too much at once.

Relays of races, rugged and long,
       Up the peaks rising and blending!
     Wine for the daring, meat for the strong,
       Power with toil contending!
    "Higher! Yet higher!" the man's full song—
      "Never a last ascending!"

Make Your Self More Attractive

Some research guys recently asked a couple hundred women about what they liked and disliked about their boyfriends or husbands. Over 2 out of every 3 of the ladies suggested that they very much wanted their man to be in good physical shape. Two-thirds of these respondents want their men to maintain healthy, firm, and strong body types.

Skinny is out.

A little extra flab too often turns into even more.

The consensus is clear - most women want a man who knows how to keep his body toned and muscular.

If you find yourself looking for love this Valentines Day - take a quick look at your body. What can you do to make yourself more attractive to the fairer sex? The answer in many cases is very simple. Start getting in shape. Adopt healthy habits and practice them daily.

If you're a little out of practice as far as fitness and exercise goes - don't fret. Start with simple steps. Evaluate your current shape and think about where you'd like to be. Visualize your ideal body shape. Picture your wife running her hands up your muscular, firm chest and arms. Now start working - in whatever way you can to firm up your muscles.

Get some simple home fitness equipment - and start working out at home. No need to spend a bundle on that fancy health club. Avoid the lines and the hassle of just fitting visits to the gym into your already hectic schedule. Get up a few minutes early and start your day with some simple exercise right in the comfort of home.

If you want a tougher workout and the potential for quicker results - you might enjoy the benefits of using your very own Indoor Rowing Machine. These babies can really help you burn some major calories and strengthen your abs and chest at the same time. It won't be easy - but nothing worthwhile is ever easy.

Do it for your wife or your lover. Do it for yourself. You really can enjoy life more and have better relationships when you live a healthy lifestyle.

Live Better

Exercise helps you enjoy a better life. You can add around two hours of life expectancy for each hour of exercise you do. Just 30 minutes a day can make a real difference in your health. Exercise does wonders for your mood and hormones, and can send your energy levels soaring.

Play with your little ones at the park after work. If the weather outside is simply unbearable - get some inexpensive home fitness equipment. Hand weights and a jump rope will help you get started. Or you can outfit that extra room with an indoor rowing machine and a Total Gym.

Once the weather gets a little nicer - walk, roller blade or play basketball with your friends. Park a little farther away from your destination. Better yet - ride your bike to work or school. Take the stairs, not the elevator. Enjoy a brisk walk with your family or friends after dinner. Do some sit-ups, push-ups and leg lifts to keep your body moving and toned while you enjoy watching your favorite tv shows. Use hand weights or the TotalGym to make the most of your TV viewing time.

Eat Healthy Foods. The American Heart Association recommends filling up on the good stuff. If you're watching your weight, fruits and veggies will give you vitamins, minerals and fiber with few calories - and you'll feel fuller. They're low in fat and sodium and contain no cholesterol. Eating fish is a great way to add lean protein to your diet. Fish high in omega-3 fatty acids, like mackerel, lake trout, tuna and salmon are all great for your heart. Try broiled, baked or steamed foods, not fried; add a salad, not fries, as your side order; drink skim milk, not soda. These small choices can add up to big calorie savings

Getting fit and staying fit with daily exercise and eating healthy foods is essential to a long and healthy life. The quickest way to lose weight and keep the excess weight off for good is really very simple. Practice these two habits for a life of better health and fitness.

Finally - if you are like the millions of people who still smoke - Quit smoking. You know smoking is bad for your lungs. Did you know it's also bad for your heart? Smoking increases blood pressure, decreases HDL (the good cholesterol), decreases exercise tolerance and causes fatty buildup in arteries, increasing the tendency for blood to clot

Avoid Stress and Beat Those Winter Blahs

Beat those Winter blahs with the four simple steps:


1. Eat healthy foods - preferably 4 to 6 smaller meals a day. Eating more often helps your metabolism. Enjoy an occasional treat. Just try to keep a majority of your food choices healthy. Enjoy good, natural foods that are high in nutrients, fiber, "good fats," and lean protein. Get some protein early in the day.

2. Sleep at least seven hours every night. Try to get on a schedule and stick with it. Guard your sleep time closely. People who sleep at least seven hours a night tend to enjoy overall better health and are ill less often than those of us who can't seem to find enough time for at least seven hours.

3. Exercise and stay active. Americans spend a great deal of time sitting. Its unavoidable - we sit at our desks for hours on end, and in the car. Then we go home and sink into a favorite easy chair. But the human body was built to be active. Enjoy a long, healthy walk. Too cold outside? Get a jump rope, or do some push-ups and jumping jacks. No need to spend a fortune at the local health club. Get some inexpensive home fitness equipment.

You can stay active and start getting in shape without shelling out a small fortune every month!

4. Find something each day to laugh at. Grab a funny book or pick up a comedy at the library. Rent a funny movie. Laughter is good for your brain and your whole body! Release some healthy endorphins in your brain and laugh as much and as loud as you like!

Try these simple and effective steps this Winter and you can ward off stress and the annual post-Holiday blues.

Winter Workouts

The weather outside is splendid – if you’re from Antarctica. Or happen to love playing Hockey on an outdoor rink. I love all four seasons. Winter is really great for all the indoor activities we so enjoy. Cooking and enjoying good company in a nice warm home make winter a special time of year.

Getting outside and enjoying nature can pose a challenge when the wind-chill is at single digits or lower! Your daily jog is super refreshing when the temperature is best suited for Eskimos.

If you’re like me you might find it way easier to get some exercise indoors on these freezing cold winter days. Isn’t it so much nicer to flip on the DVD player and enjoy a favorite comedy while you burn away those holiday calories?

Many of us face the challenge of moving our running and exercise time indoors from November to April. Joining a gym or health club is one option. Growing numbers of avid health enthusiasts are opting to put low impact exercise equipment right in their homes. They eliminate the expense of that fancy-pants health club membership. No more waiting to get on your favorite rowing machine. Or that elliptical closest to the TV screen.

If you’re like me you might prefer working out before the rest of the family wakes up. Early morning workouts get your heart pumping and burn off a ton of calories! All before you even step outside! And you'll keep burning more calories long after your workout!

Enjoy a nice warm cup of your favorite coffee or tea and then hit the rowing machine for 15 minutes. Jump rope or work out with your exercise ball for a few minutes. They say that ab exercises done on the ball are more up to 20% more effective! ( I have NO idea how "they" measure such effectiveness. )

The possibilities are practically endless. And you don’t even have to get out and brave the bitter Winter cold. Make this your best year ever and invest in some simple inexpensive home fitness equipment. Convert that unused corner of your basement into your very own mini fitness center!

Health experts agree – the quickest way to lose weight and keep it off requires but two simple habits. Daily exercise and eating healthy foods in moderation. Start getting in shape fast and enjoy the benefits of a healthier, sexier body!

Your Best Year Ever

Wishing you a Happy and Healthy New Year!

If you want to lose some weight this year - or simply make your life a little better - now is the perfect time to set your course. Decide what you'd like to accomplish and start taking action. If you're busier than ever - do yourself a huge favor and schedule some time for yourself. Then guard your time without compromise.

Write it in your planner - exercise time or time for sports as many days out of the week as you can. Busy at work? Schedule a meeting over lunch and enjoy a fast paced walk before you sit down to eat. Take your staff to the gym - or cut out 30 minutes early and walk off some of that workday stress.

Many successful leaders swear by their early morning exercise time. Try it and see if you don't find yourself feeling more energized throughout your workday. More clarity and less stress are just two of the benefits sited.

Whatever time works best for you - make the time each day for exercise. If you want more energy and excitement this year - start exercising every day. You'll soon feel more positive and way less stressed out. Try a new sport - or two or three. Join a league and enjoy the pleasure in making new friends. If you have fun while you burn off those extra Holiday calories you're far more likely to stick with your healthy habits!

Choose better health and fitness for this year and every year! If you're trying to spend less and save more of your hard earned cash - good news! You can easily enjoy better health , lose weight and start getting in shape all without spending a small fortune.

Find a comfortable pair of shoes for walking or running. Pick up an inexpensive jump rope and get some hand weights or dumbbells. You can build muscles and lose weight fast doing simple calisthenics we all learned in middle school or high school.

Add some variety to your workouts - pick up some inexpensive home fitness equipment and get fit right in the comfort of home.

If you want more energy and a slimmer, sexier body - you can have it all! Medical and health professionals have known the secret formula for years! The quickest way to lose weight - and then keep it off - is with daily exercise.

Have a Healthy, Happy New Year!

Fit Past 50

Christie Brinkley - the famous Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Model - is said to be in her 50s. Denise Austin - the fitness guru seen on TV for years - has reportedly reached the half century mark too! They both still manage to look healthy and radiant! They have maintained the kind of healthy bodies one might normally expect of someone in their 20s!

These two celebrities are proof positive that you can postpone looking old! You can still look great in your 50s!

What's their secret? Two simple and powerful habits are at the core of their outstanding fitness levels. They exercise regularly and eat healthy foods!

Whether you are in your 20s or fast approaching your 50s - its never too late to start your own fitness program. The benefits of a healthy lifestyle will have you wishing you'd started years ago!

You can enjoy life more. You can look better - healthier and more vibrant! You can improve your outlook on life and have more fun than you ever dreamed of! More energy and zest for living are yours for the asking!

Why not get a head start on your New Years resolutions! Start today! The sooner you begin the sooner you can start enjoying life more and looking years younger! Start getting some exercise every day.

You won't need to spend a small fortune to get started. Do you have a Family Video in your neighborhood? They offer free fitness videos. Or check out the local library and grab an exercise video! ( They probably have several of Denise Austin's excellent workout videos. )

Not ready to join that fancy health club in your neighborhood? Save your money. You can get a great workout with just a few simple and inexpensive pieces of home fitness equipment!

The key is getting started. And staying active. Fitness is a journey to be enjoyed!

Keep eating healthy foods. Drink plenty of water and try to get a good night's sleep every night. Give your body the healthy nutrients it needs and plenty of rest! Better fitness is really just the result of a few simple, healthy habits! A healthy lifestyle is yours for the asking.

If your wanting to shed a few pounds in the New Year ( or quite a few - like me ) the quickest way to lose weight is with plenty of heart-pumping exercise! Watch what you eat and stick with your exercise plan and you can start seeing results in a matter of weeks! What have you got to lose?

Start getting in shape and enjoy the New Year even more!

Planning for Better Health and Fitness

One of the biggest secrets to healthy lifestyle success is to plan ahead. With just a few simple tips you can save time and cut some of the stress in your daily life. Plan for some exercise everyday. Or some kind of sport or physical activity.

If you want to lose some weight - plan to incorporate the 2 vital keys into your daily schedule. Make time for exercise. And stick to eating healthy foods!

Involve your family or loved ones. Enjoy your journey together! Keep meals simple! Foods that keep your family healthy can be fast and easy to prepare. Unless it’s a special occasion, keep cooking simple and involve kids or other family members.

Cook several main dishes when you have more time-like on weekends. Make soups, stews, or casseroles to freeze for the next week. Cook extra for later.

Do some tasks ahead. Washing and trimming vegetables, cooking noodles for a pasta salad or lean ground meat for tacos a few hours, or the day before, can save you lots of time during busy weekday evenings. Saving time in the evening enables you to have more time for exercise or active family fun! Take the dog for a brisk paced walk. Chase your kids around the school playground! Enjoy your extra time together!

Plan fun, and energizing activities for all family members to enjoy a couple times a week! For example, go on a family bike ride, plant a family garden, or pack a picnic meal to eat at the park and afterward go on a family hike. Plan (with your kids) fun activities for the whole family. Make a regular date to walk with friends or neighbors. Join a new activity group, like aerobics or yoga. Sign up for the company softball or basketball team.

Make time for physical activity by walking, jogging or swimming during your lunch hour or take fitness breaks instead of coffee breaks. Do something fun - and give your energy level a boost! Try jumping rope, some good old fashioned calisthenics, riding a stationary bike or other home fitness equipment while the kids are busy playing, at school or sleeping.

Plan ahead. Make active time part of your daily or weekly routine and write it on your calendar! Invite a close friend or family member to join you in the activity. Sharing the experience with someone will make it more enjoyable and you can keep each other motivated.

Enjoy Life More

Study after study has conclusively shown that keeping active—whether through sports, exercise, or everyday chores—will help you to live longer and enjoy each day more. Active people have a reduced risk of heart disease, obesity, diabetes, and some forms of cancer. They generally have a more positive outlook on life and the energy to get things done and make things happen. Sounds like a pretty good return on an investment of just 30 minutes a day.

Have you been thinking about changing some aspects of your life? Here’s a quick self-assessment to help you think about which aspects of your life you want to improve: Are you physically active for 30 minutes every day? Do you exercise vigorously at least three times a week, for a minimum of 20 minutes? Do you regularly exercise to increase your strength and flexibility?

Do you smoke? Do you have more than a couple of drinks of alcohol a week? Do you take other drugs or medicine on a regular basis? Is your weight what it should be?

Do you eat a well-balanced diet? Are you able to cope with day-to-day stress? Can you deal with big emotional problems—or do you eat, drink, or take drugs to relieve stress when troubles arise?

The answers to these questions indicate that the lifestyle of many of us isn’t up to
par. If you see your lifestyle lacking in any of these areas - make a fitness plan and start today! Don't delay! You deserve to enjoy life more and have more energy!

An active lifestyle improves your health and decreases your risk of premature health problems. Total fitness includes mental, social, and physical components; however, this book will focus on physical fitness. Contrary to what many people believe, physical fitness isn’t just about being muscular or maintaining a low body weight. It’s also about aerobic fitness, flexibility, muscular strength and endurance, and maintaining a healthy body weight.

Life is too short. Don't you owe it to yourself to enjoy your all too brief lifetime as much as possible? You don't need any expensive health club memberships or fancy-pants high-tech gear. ( Although millions of healthy fitness lovers enjoy the convenience of having home fitness equipment and their own mini-health clubs. )

You can look and feel years younger when you get up and get active. Get some form of exercise - whatever pleases you - every day! For better results - try several hours of vigorous aerobic exercise each week. If you still want to drop a few pounds this year - no worries. The quickest way to lose weight - and keep it off - is with plenty of good old fashioned sweat and exercise. Start eating healthy foods and give your body the healthy nutrients it needs to fuel your workouts and help you drop those extra few pounds!

Save Your Money - Get some Home Fitness Equipment

Many healthy fitness lovers swear by their early morning workout time! Maybe you might enjoy working out before the rest of the family wakes up. Those early morning sessions on the elliptical or your own rowing machine are an excellent way to get your heart pumping and burn off a ton of calories! All before you even step out the door and head off to school or work!

Growing numbers of avid health enthusiasts are opting to put low impact exercise equipment right in their homes. They are avoiding the expense of that health club membership. No more waiting to get on your favorite rowing machine. Or that treadmill with the clear view of the TV screen.

Enjoy a nice warm cup of your favorite coffee or tea and then hit the rowing machine for 15 minutes. Jump rope or work out with your exercise ball for a few minutes. Fitness experts say that ab exercises done on an exercise ball are up to 25% more effective!

Start your day with laughter - plug a funny sitcom or movie into the DVD player and laugh to your heart's content while you burn some calories and build muscles!

The possibilities are practically endless. And you don’t even have to get out and brave the cold. Do you have a basement or an extra bedroom that you can convert into your very own fitness center? Get some weights and a jump rope, maybe a rowing machine. Have your very own little entertainment center maybe – complete with some of your favorite exercise videos and music to inspire or get you moving!

Make this your best year ever! Invest in some home fitness equipment. You can easily turn that unused corner of your basement into your very own fitness center!

Health experts agree – the quickest way to lose weight – and keep it off – is with daily exercise and healthy eating. Make a few healthy choices each day. Start eating healthy foods and getting more exercise. Take a walk at lunch. And again after Dinner. Skip the fast food. Enjoy something healthy instead! Keep making healthy choices and keep moving!

Start getting in shape fast and enjoy the benefits of a healthier, sexier body!

Never Quit

In college I had a really tough accounting class one semester. Our instructor seemed nearly as old as those hallowed halls of the original building on our peaceful little campus. It was a grand architectural tribute to generations long past. Yes, that old brick and stone masterpiece had stood tall on the prairie for over a century!

When the going got tough – the demands of work, family, and friends on my time seemed to leave little for study and the endless barrage of assignments good old Professor Williams piled on us. So, I chose what I thought was the easy solution. I dropped the class and avoided what appeared to be an inevitable C – or even worse. Well, I avoided the C and was forced to take the class again the following year! Same professor. Same assignments.

The old saying about hindsight being perfect 20-20 vision sure holds true here. I had to use double the effort to arrive at the same goal – a decent grade in that class.

Sometimes our biggest challenge in the quest for just about any goal is staying the course – or sticking with it. Even the slightest obstacle can – at times – seem overwhelming or insurmountable. Keep your enthusiasm – keep it fun. Try new sports or workouts. If you stop seeing results or seem to have reached a plateau in your weight loss or fitness journey – don’t dismay. Many – just like you and I – have encountered these same challenges.

Quitting is easy.

And it’s not always the best answer.

When the temperature outside is in the upper 90s and you’re already worn out from another tough day chasing the children or at whatever your job requires – we all get tempted to quit and just rest.

Better fitness and health don’t happen when we just sit there. Avoid and overcome the urge to quit. Keep moving in the direction of your fitness goals. If its too hot outside – put in a funny DVD and laugh to your heart’s content while you exercise indoors. A few – often inexpensive – pieces of home fitness equipment will help you burn those calories and develop healthy muscles without enduring the Summer’s relentless heat!

10 Tips for Better Health and Fitness

1. Start every day with a healthy breakfast.
Breakfast gets you going after a long night without food. And it can help you focus and do better at work or in school. Easy to prepare breakfasts include cold cereal with fruit and low-fat milk, whole-wheat toast with half an avocado or a little peanut butter, yogurt with fruit or berries, whole-grain waffles or even last night's pizza!

2. Get Moving!
It's easy to fit physical activities into your daily routine. Walk, bike or jog to see friends. Take a 10-minute activity break every hour while you read, do homework or watch TV. Climb stairs instead of taking an escalator or elevator. Try to do these things for a total of 30 minutes every day.

3 Snack smart.
Snacks are a great way to refuel. Choose snacks from different food groups - a glass of low-fat milk and a few graham crackers, an apple or celery sticks with peanut butter and raisins, or some dry cereal. Enjoy a handful of walnuts or almonds and some strawberries or grapes! Avoid the stuff you find in vending machines.

4. Work up a healthy sweat.
Vigorous work-outs - when you're breathing hard and sweating - help your heart pump better, give you more energy and help you look and feel best. Start with a warm-up that stretches your muscles. Include 20 minutes of running, jogging, or dancing. Follow-up with activities that help make you stronger such as push-ups or lifting weights. Then cool-down with more stretching and deep breathing.

5. Balance your food choices.
You don't have to give up foods like hamburgers, french fries and ice cream to eat healthy. You just have to be smart about how often and how much of them you eat. Your body needs nutrients like protein, carbohydrates, fat and many different vitamins and minerals such as vitamins C and A, iron and calcium from a variety of foods. Balancing food choices and checking out the Nutrition Facts Panel on food labels will help you get the nutrients your body needs!

6. Get fit with friends or family.
Being active is much more fun with friends or family. Encourage others to join you and plan one special physical activity event, like a bike ride or hiking, with a group each week.

7. Eat more whole grains, fruits and vegetables.
These foods give you carbohydrates for energy, plus vitamins, minerals and fiber. Besides, they taste good! Try breads such as whole-wheat, bagels and pita. Spaghetti and oatmeal are also in the grain group.
Bananas, strawberries and melons are some great tasting fruits. Try vegetables raw, on a sandwich or salad.

8. Join in the fun at work or school.
Take a yoga class during lunch or enjoy other physical activities at school. Join the company basketball league - or start one! Play intramural sports or sign up for a class at the local college or YMCA. Play a variety of sports and enjoy outdoor activities wit family and friends! Sports are a sure way to help you feel good, look good and stay physically fit!

9. Keep Eating Healthy Foods
A healthy eating style is like a puzzle with many parts. Each part -- or food -- is different. Some foods may have more fat, sugar or salt while others may have more vitamins or fiber. There is a place for all these foods. What makes a diet good or bad is how foods fit together. Balancing your choices is important. Enjoy your favorite pizza at dinner. Then choose lower-fat foods at other meals. And don't forget about moderation. If two pieces of pizza fill you up, pass on a third. Have a glass of water instead!

10. Make Fitness and Healthy Eating Fun!
Take advantage of physical activities you and your friends enjoy doing together and eat the foods you like. Be adventurous - try new sports, games and other activities as well as new foods. You'll grow stronger, look years younger and feel better! Set realistic goals - don't try changing too much at once. Buy a few pieces of inexpensive home fitness equipment and boost your fitness level without even leaving the house! Put a favorite comedy in the DVD player and roar with laughter while you build muscles and burn calories! Fitness is fun - and helps you get more more out of life!