This move will strengthen your abdominals, back and shoulders. Be sure to breathe normally as you perform the Side Plank. It’ll test your balance skills, but most importantly, it will stabilize your trunk, helping you perform simple tasks such as lifting items and opening doors. And doing Side Planks will also improve your performance in […]

Not sure when is the best time to work out? Here’s a little secret: Do it first thing in the morning on an empty stomach. Research has shown that you’ll burn more calories if you perform cardio before breakfast than if you eat first, according to a study at Kansas State University. Another study confirmed […]

Think you’re too old to start exercising? Actually, fitness is very important as you age. Improving your fitness level can slow age-related decline in strength and motor skills. Ignoring it leaves you vulnerable and at risk of losing your independence and ability to care for yourself. Strength is a crucial component to quality of life. […]

Fit kids don’t just score higher on exercise tests – they’re more likely to ace their academic tests too. According to a study from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, children who are physically fit are smarter too. Surprised? You shouldn’t be. Exercise not only gets your heart pumping and boosts blood, oxygen and nutrient […]

Microwave meals have changed since the TV dinners you grew up with, even the ones you ate just five years ago. Responding to criticism about nutritional content, frozen-meal producers have worked hard to bring fat and sodium content down to real-world levels while improving the taste. True, the meals are processed food, but you could […]

Making lifestyle changes isn’t accomplished by forcing yourself to want it enough; it’s achieved by being honest about which stage you’re at in terms of being ready to make a change. According to the Transtheoretical model, there are five stages of change, each of which can help you better understand your willingness – or unwillingness […]

I love inspirational quotes. There’s nothing like the perfect quote at the right moment to motivate me to eat right and stick to my fitness routines. That’s why I suggest you create a small stack of mini flash cards with “power quotes” on them. That way, no matter where you find yourself, you can always pull […]

When you get enough sleep, you wake up rested and ready for your day. But that’s not the only reason to get adequate sleep. Research has found that getting too few zzz’s may be a major reason why so many of us overeat and end up overweight. When you don’t get enough sleep, it’s more […]

If you’re new to fitness, you may be wondering why you’re sore after a weight-training or cardio session. It could be a number of factors, including your previous level of fitness and activity, your age or the intensity of your workouts. If this is the first time you’ve exercised – or it’s been awhile since […]

Losing weight and getting in shape takes a lot of self-discipline, but there is definitely a fine line between striving for health and striving for perfection. Are you too hard on yourself in your quest for a better body? If you’re headed down a road of perfectionism, you’re in for a world of hurt. Expecting […]