Friday, June 28, 2013

Heat: Signs, Symptoms, and Strategies for Training in the Heat



Keeping athletes and clients performing at their peak while also avoiding heat-related illnesses takes preparation and planning. Bodies need time to adapt to the increased physiological demands of training in warm environments. But even with preparation and planning, heat illnesses can and still do occur.


Heat illnesses generally affect those with lower levels of fitness. More fit individuals are typically better able to tolerate exercising in the heat, acclimate quicker, and sweat more (1). To help clients and athletes meet the demands of training in the heat, acclimate them to the warmer environment over a 10 to 14 day period, balancing the length of training sessions with intensity (i.e., long duration with a low intensity, or short duration with a moderate intensity)(1). Adequate hydration is another key component to preventing heat illnesses, as inadequate hydration decreases the body’s sweat rate. Encourage replacing fluids lost to sweat and urination, and offer hydration breaks during training (1-2). (Contrary to Coach Boone’s words in the iconic football movie “Remember the Titans”, water is not for cowards nor does it make you weak.) Teach participants strategies for monitoring fluid loss, such as daily weigh-ins, and pre- and post-workout weigh-ins if necessary (1-2).

Evaporation of sweat is the body’s key mechanism for staying cool. Humidity decreases the rate of sweat evaporation, as can limiting the skin’s exposure when wearing full training gear. If possible, reduce the amount of gear and clothing worn, especially during the acclimation period (1-2). Selecting moisture wicking fabrics will speed the rate of evaporation over less permeable materials. Also attempt to schedule trainings during the cooler times of the day, either in the early morning or early evening, or move them into climate controlled indoor venues when available.

Heat can also affect children differently, since they have immature thermoregulatory systems, including both a delayed response and limited ability to sweat (3). They may require a longer timeline to acclimate, incorporation of more rest breaks, extended warm-ups and cool-downs, and frequent reminders to hydrate (1-3).

By Stacey Penney NASM-CPT, CES, PES, FNS

Monday, June 24, 2013

19 Awesome Reasons to Exercise Today

I know it's summer and you have exciting places to go and things to do. But wait! Did you forget about your workout? Again?

Lots of people fall off the exercise wagon during summer months due to vacations, taking care of kids home for the summer months, and other warm weather distractions. I get it, I really do, but what about all the amazing perks that you're missing out on?

Just in case you needed a little reminder that will motivate you to lace those shoes back up and get your workout back on, here are 19 Awesome Reasons to Exercise Today!
  1. Exercise makes your clothes fit better: Consistent exercise will tone and tighten your body, and this means that your clothes will not only fit better they will also look nicer. But don't get too attached to your current clothes. Exercise ensures that soon you'll be trading those current clothes in for smaller sizes.
  2. Exercise reduces your stress: Let's face it, you have enough stress in your life—so take a break. A challenging workout invigorates your muscles and leaves you relaxed and less stressed.
  3. Exercise boosts your energy: Research routinely concludes that exercise increases energy levels in sedentary people. So when you're feeling fatigued, fight it with the most powerful tool available: exercise.
  4. Exercise makes you stronger: Who doesn't want to be stronger? You rely on your body's muscle strength and endurance throughout each day. With consistent, challenging exercise, your body will naturally become stronger.
  5. Exercise burns calories: Extra calories end up stored on your body as fat. Fight back by eliminating loads of calories with fat-blasting workouts.
  6. Exercise gives you confidence: Healthy confidence is a wonderful thing to have. By exercising consistently you're able to increase your natural confidence.
  7. Exercise can be fun: Don't laugh, I'm serious on this one. Whether you believe it or not, exercise can be really enjoyable. Remember how fun it was to run and jump as a child? Tap into your inner child as you find enjoyment in moving your body through exercise.
  8. Exercise reduces your blood pressure: Exercise is so powerful that it has been proven more effective than medication in reducing high blood pressure. A single workout has even been shown to reduce blood pressure for the day, and consistent exercise reduces overall blood pressure.
  9. Exercise tightens your problem areas: With exercise you can reduce flab on your arms, legs and waistline. So wave goodbye to the jiggles with a consistent, challenging exercise program.
  10. Exercise increases your insulin sensitivity: Research continues to prove that exercise dramatically improves insulin sensitivity. Peak after-meal insulin levels have been shown to drop by more than 20 percent after as little as 3 weeks of consistent exercise.
  11. Exercise improves your sleep: Exercise is your most powerful sleep aid. Tired muscles encourage your body to quickly fall asleep in order to get overnight repair work done.
  12. Exercise lowers your risk of heart disease: Exercise strengthens your heart and protects it against disease. A non-active lifestyle is a huge risk factor for heart disease, so use consistent exercise as your ally against disease.
  13. Exercise makes you feel amazing: Challenging exercise releases natural endorphins (happy hormones) into your bloodstream that dissolve pain and anxiety. You've probably heard of the ‘runner's high', this can be achieved by any great workout.
  14. Exercise lowers your risk of diabetes: Research has shown that exercising as little as half an hour each day can dramatically reduce your risk of diabetes. If you are at risk of diabetes, or already have diabetes, use regular exercise as treatment for reversing the disease.
  15. Exercise is an opportunity to meet new people: Gyms, bootcamps, workout centers and even jogging trails are all great places to connect with fun new friends. So lace up and put your self out there!
  16. Exercise improves your BMI: Maintaining a healthy BMI is key in disease prevention, and exercise is the best way to keep your BMI under control.
  17. Exercise increases your endurance: Don't ever get out of breath from walking up stairs or through the mall again. Your regular exercise builds up endurance for everyday activities.
  18. Exercise improves your overall health: Does your doctor give you the lecture about losing weight and exercising more? Once you start exercising regularly you and your MD will see an overall improvement in your health.
  19. Exercise makes you look amazing: Are you excited about the current shape and size of your body? If not, no worries. Regular, challenging exercise will work wonders on your physique. Within just a few weeks you'll start to see shape and tone in all the right places.
No more excuses this summer. You have 19 great reasons for getting back to your workouts. I'd like nothing more than to see you attain all of the above 19 benefits of exercise!

Provided by John Hall Studios

Thursday, June 20, 2013

How to take control of your body size

How to take control of your body size | Herbalife fitness advice | www.DiscoverGoodFitness.com
Do you find your body size fluctuates?  Sometimes it’s going up … and sometimes your body size is going down? 








Many people find that their body size is usually pretty steady but a long vacation, a period of intense exercise or a major life event can sometimes result in weight loss or gain.  When this happens it can lead you to feel out of control. In fact, my body size changed a lot recently. I’m an active person and on top of working and my usual exercise routine, I also spend my time running around after my four lively kids! So, when I recently went on an extended business trip, I didn’t think twice about the extra exercising: I was running about and leading a few fun classes each day. I didn’t pair the extra exercise with extra calories and my weight dropped by about 7lbs (3kgs).You may think this is wonderful news but I’m petite and losing that weight wasn’t something I was trying to do.  My body shape changed and my clothes didn’t fit properly. What I should have done was pair my calories in with my calories out.  In the back of my mind I knew this but I didn’t equally prioritize eating properly. And my sudden weight loss was accompanied with a lack of energy – the last thing I wanted!

This week, I’m going to share my tips to help you maintain your weight and avoid body size fluctuations – whatever is happening in your life. After all, you’ve worked hard to make sure your body is the right size for you – let’s make sure you keep the shape you want.

Plan for success

Know what you are going to do and when you are going to do it. This is important for both eating and exercising and will help you stay in control of your body size.
·      I make time for balanced meals and always keep a few healthy snacks on hand to make sure I have something nutritionally beneficial within reach – this is especially helpful when I’m rushing around.
·      I  try to make sure my minimum exercise level is set at 30 minutes a day.
With these two things I know that I can balance my calories in with my calories out. If I find myself exercising more then I can add an extra snack when I think about it – I don’t give myself a chance to forget and that means my body size will stay just right.

Be consistent

Whether you want to maintain, lose or gain weight then you need to be consistent with your eating and exercise routines. I feel like our attention spans are getting shorter but we have to give routines time to work. It’s no use doing something for a day or a week and then giving up.
At the same time, we know that a life that is the same every day would be boring. That means that if you have an extra portion of dessert one day then, no, you don’t need to jump up and start exercising to balance the calories.  You just need to say no to extra dessert the next day.
(Too often I hear people say they’re planning to miss a meal because they ate too much the day before.  It’s important to understand that even if you do slip up on your calories, you still need to consume calories later because your body needs consistent amounts of fuel. In the same way, follow a day of intense exercise with a different activity not complete laziness. For instance, the day after an endurance run consider a gentle swim.)

Balance
Don’t let changes in your life be an excuse to let your body size become something beyond your control.
I want to make it clear that you must not create a habit of thinking “I ate a donut = I must run for an hour right now” because this could create an unhealthy pattern of extremes. Exercise is not a substitute for poor nutrition and good nutrition is not a good excuse to skip your workout. These two important parts of our life work best when combined in a perfect balance. Strive to find the balance that is right for you.
Balancing your nutrition and activity level consistently will help you stay in control of your body size. And, when we feel in control, we feel happier!

Written by Samantha Clayton, AFAA, ISSA.

Monday, June 17, 2013

Marathon: Weight Training Tips

You just made the decision to start training for your very first marathon. Great! Now the planning begins. You need to get your running schedule, your recovery days, and your nutrition plan in place. But don't forget to schedule time for the weight room!

Weight training is often overlooked as part of marathon training. Some running coaches have historically dismissed it on the grounds that any extra weight or bulk is bad for a runner. But many top runners and coaches have come around to the realization that muscular strength and conditioning are important both for runners' performance and their overall health.

Running long distances is hard on the body. Many runners begin to lose lean muscle tissue during marathon training, but a good weight training program can help you stay strong throughout your training and more easily transition to your post-marathon workouts.

Do not feel weaker at the end of the race than you were at the start! Incorporate weights and pass the stragglers like they're standing still.

Lift Around the Long Runs

Of course your highest priority while training for a marathon is running. Time your weight training properly around your runs.

Schedule your weight training on days when you aren't doing long runs. Running long distances is physically draining, and adding weight training to that burden risks overstressing the body and decreasing your conditioning. Runners who exert too much find themselves dragging and weakening toward the end of their training.
Make sure to preserve a day off to rest and recover between weightlifting sessions. In addition, mix in a few rest days from all workouts. It's imperative that you give your body the time recover and repair the damage done by intense training.

Remember: You can't get stronger if you don't recover.

Training Frequency and Exercise Selection

Preserving lean muscle doesn't require the same lifting intensity as building bulk. A program where you hit each muscle group twice per week, or at minimum once per week, will suffice.

When training for a marathon, your overall training volume should be kept low, and compound exercises are a must. Intensive isolation work has the potential to tax your reserves, making it harder to recover and leaves you with less energy to devote to your runs.

As a general rule, limit yourself to two sets of compound exercises per workout. This will allow you to fit in a complete range of exercises while lowering the chances that you overdo any of them. The fewer exercises you can do per workout while still hitting all the main muscle groups, the better off you will be. You'll want to include leg strengthening movements in your workout plan since these muscles are central to running, but don't overlook upper body exercises. Following a workout program that targets all major muscle groups is important in maintaining muscular balance and avoiding injury, but it can help your marathon performance as well.
A strong upper body is essential to maintaining a good arm movement pattern while running, especially once fatigue starts to set in. Furthermore, if your upper body is weak from the start, it'll be faster to fatigue during your runs, which can impact your focus and concentration.

Recovery Techniques to Consider

Take steps to ensure you recover optimally between each session to better prepare yourself for the runs ahead.
Get at least eight hours of sleep each night. If you aren't sleeping enough, you will not recover. It's a must.
A post-workout stretching regimen minimizes the inevitable aches and twinges that come with training. Consider taking hot baths or going in for an occasional massage. Both of these are fantastic recovery techniques, and after a long, difficult run, you've earned the ease.


Nutrition and Supplementation Tips

You're going to burn a lot of calories running as much as marathon training requires. Eating properly throughout your training is crucial to keep your energy levels up and maximizing recovery.

In-race nutrition is a science unto itself, but in general, you should prioritize protein and carbs both before and after you run. These are the types of fuel that the body needs most during intensive work, and supplements can help you find them in easily digestible forms.


Consider utilizing soy or whey protein, which will quickly help you meet your protein needs. The amino acid glutamine is favored by a broad range of athletes to aid in the recovery and repair process, as are branched-chain amino acids, which can safeguard against lean muscle tissue loss.

For all natural nutrition and supplement products go to http://valparaiso.herbalhub.com and find the only comprehensive product line developed specifically for athletes.

Wednesday, June 12, 2013

New mom? Must read fitness advice for you.

New mom? Must read fitness advice for you | Herbalife fitness advice
Are you trying to lose baby weight but find that you’re not seeing results despite your best efforts? Sometimes new moms hit a fitness and weight loss plateau and it can feel like you’ll never get back to your pre-baby body. But working smarter not harder can  help you see results, so don’t despair.

I know it’s hard to drop baby weight and I’ve written before about why new moms need to concentrate on bonding with their baby. I also believe that eating right and snatching a few moments to exercise can help new moms feel more positive, reduce stress and rebuild body confidence.
Any new mom’s focus will be on developing a baby routine but it’s important to carve out time for yourself too. Otherwise as your baby reaches each milestone, you may find that you aren’t reaching your goals. With all your attention on your baby, it’s easy to neglect yourself and that can lead to you losing confidence.
I’m a positive person and I want you to be confident too!  So here are my tried and tested tips to make sure that you new moms can overcome any fitness plateaus and continue to build your strength and stamina.  Whether you want more energy or would simply love to fit back into your favorite jeans, try to apply these ideas in your life.

Four ‘new mom tips’ to kickstart your fitness routine:

  • Try to exercise for at least 30 minutes, five days a week and split up your workouts so that three focus on cardio activity and two are strength based.
  • Mix up your workouts and vary your routine. If you follow the exact same workout plan every time then your body will adapt and you’ll stop seeing results.
  • Make sure you’re exercising effectively – take a look at some of my how-to videos so you can perform common exercises correctly.
  • Once a routine becomes easy then pick up the pace – you need to keep challenging yourself.
Many people find that the effort they put into exercising drops off over time, so try these extra tips to stay motivated:
  • Add some resistance training to help build lean body mass as this will help your fitness plan be more effective.
  • If you find cardio boring then choose to add some fun: pick your favorite music or train with a friend
  • Try HITT to push yourself and vary your routine.
When you hit a fitness or weight loss plateau it’s time to re-address your plan and ensure it is balanced to meet your core needs and help you to achieve your goals. Remember, getting back to a level of fitness and body confidence you are happy with is not a race, so take it one day at a time.
Having a baby (or babies) changes your body in many ways and it is important to understand that you need to listen to your body. Get adequate rest and don’t stress out about your baby weight! Stress can sabotage your plan, so relax and have fun being active.
Written by Samantha Clayton, AFAA, ISSA.

For nutrition and health products that support healthy weight loss go to http://valparaiso.herbalhub.com

Monday, June 10, 2013

How To Start Running For Health and Fitness


How to start running for health and fitness | Herbalife Fitness AdviceCardio exercise is important so let’s talk about one of the easiest ways to add an effective cardio workout to your fitness routine: running.
It’s no good just knowing about the benefits of working out and not putting that theory into practice; today I’m going to try and convince you to take up running.
I’m a big fan of running but I’m naturally a sprint specialist – that’s a discipline that is all about explosive power over a short distance.  Endurance running is a completely different exercise. Okay, so it still uses your legs but I think running is something that anyone can get into with relatively little equipment.  It’s also easy to start out walking and gradually ramp up – making sure you always go at your own pace.
Whether you are training for a marathon or just want to add some cardio exercise to your fitness routine, here are some simple tips to help you reach your running goals.

Equipment

The great news is that you don’t need to purchase a lot of equipment to run, although there are a few essential items that will make your journey more enjoyable:
-  a pair of running shoes that fit well
-  distance running socks
-  comfortable clothing
All these will get you started, in time you might also want to invest in a running watch and a belt that holds your water container.

Listen to your body

If you do not feel ready to run, simply walk instead. Once walking for a set time becomes easy, try to alternate between jogging and walking. Your aim should be to find a comfortable sustainable pace that feels good. Remember to stop if you experience pain. Always perform a warm up and cool down to ensure your body is prepared for exercise.

Train to time not distance

During the first few weeks of running, focus on the amount of time you are running (walking or jogging) instead of thinking about distance. Set a goal of 20-30 minutes and, once you can successfully run for the entire duration, increase your time. Looking at miles in the first few weeks can be mentally discouraging. Once you can successfully complete 45 minutes at your desired pace, map out the miles and steadily increase the distance you cover.

Understand your phases

Don’t just hit the pavement and start racking up miles, instead know that you need to form an aerobic base level by training at about a level five or six intensity out of the maximum level 10 intensity level. This is because ‘steady state training’ effectively teaches your body to burn fat as fuel. This will be important as you start to increase your distance. You can work on your speed later in your training.

Cross training

In order to become an efficient runner you must run, however adding cross training such as biking, swimming or weight training to your weekly routine will help you to get fit and will help you to avoid getting bored.

Take technique one day at a time

Pick one technique to work on each time you go out for a run. There are several things you can work on such as:
-       your foot placement; ensuring you are striking the ground between the mid and forefoot
-       your arm movement; ensuring you are staying relaxed as you pump your arms back and forth
-       your posture; ensuring you keep a strong core.
If you break down your technique one day at a time you will not be overwhelmed and, after a few weeks, you will have improved your running style.

Mix in some hills

Add some hill running or varied terrain into your program. Running up hill is a great way to build strength as it is considered the weight lifting of running. Your posterior chain muscles including the hamstrings, glutes and calves have to work harder when you are running up hill.

Pamper yourself

Make sure you dedicate some time to take care of yourself. Increasing your activity level doesn’t have to mean skipping out on your usual fun outings with friends. If you manage your time well and keep a written fitness journal you’ll find that you’re able to measure improvement. You might also want to ask a friend to join you as a running buddy or join a running club. Although running – and exercise in general – can feel addictive, make sure you make time for other activities. 

Rest!

You must schedule rest days into your program to allow your muscles to adapt to the increased workload and efficiently repair themselves. One to two rest days per week are essential for great performance.
***
Now that you’ve read this, please make time to commit to some cardio exercise today. Whatever your current fitness level, you will find that getting out and moving your body will become easier. And, as an added bonus, many people find that running clears the mind.
To begin, your focus should be on improving your general fitness level in order to best prepare your body for an increased workload.  I truly believe that following a smart and simple approach to running is the best possible plan. Ensuring that you prepare your body a little bit each day is the safest and most pleasant way to train.
Let me know in the comments below if I’ve convinced you to try running, or walking or jogging…
 Written by Samantha Clayton, AFAA, ISSA

Thursday, June 6, 2013

Belly Fat In Women Over 50 - Why It's There And How To Get Rid Of It

A common complaint among women over 50 is that it gets harder to lose weight and any weight gained tends to settle in the belly area. As you age your metabolism drops as much as 10% per decade. When you hit menopause your metabolism can take an additional 5 to 10% drop due to hormonal changes. Add to this the fact that these same hormonal changes make it easier for your body to deposit fat in the abdomen and you end up with a growing belly fat problem.


While this may make it seem as if there are a lot of hurdles to cross to get rid of belly fat, there are steps you can take to prevent or remove belly fat after the age of 50.

1. Exercise. If you never exercised in your life, now is the time to start. If you have been a regular workout enthusiast, then add a bit more to your weekly routine.

Part of the reason metabolism drops is because your body loses muscle with age. Muscle is what burns calories, even when you are at rest, and exercise is the best way to preserve muscle, and therefore your metabolism.

2. Eating. The way your body handles nutrients changes as you age. For example, carbohydrates were easily converted to energy when you were in your teens and twenties. However, now that you are in your fifties, more of the carbohydrate calories that you consume get converted to body fat.

To work around this issue you can reduce your carbohydrate intake by about 200 calories a day. To avoid hunger, you can replace those lost calories with the same amount of protein.

3. Triggers. Even though your body changes as you age, the basic mechanics still apply. In other words, if you feed your body only what it needs, then it will be able to utilize those calories for energy and general body repairs. However, if you overeat, especially if you eat too many carbohydrate calories at one time, these extra calories will "spill-over" and create belly fat.

To avoid this learn what your eating triggers are. What causes you to overeat?
Your trigger may be psychological. For instance, you may eat when you feel stressed. Or, you could be triggered to overeat by eating the wrong foods. Research shows that foods that contain fat, salt, and sugar are highly addictive. This would include a burger and fries, potato chips, and many other "trigger foods."

After the age of 50 women do have a tendency to gain belly fat. But by using the tips above to shift your eating habits, exercise routine, and identify your triggers, you can burn the belly fat and get the slim waistline you want.

Possibly the most important thing to keep in mind is that every successful fat loss story begins at the same place, with a compelling and motivating personal goal.
Article Source: Dr. Becky Gillaspy

For health and nutrition products that support weight loss got to http://valparaiso.herbalhub.com

Monday, June 3, 2013

What to do when you fall off your diet

What to do when you fall off your diet | www.DiscoverGoodNutrition.com | HerbalifeWhether you’re dieting to lose weight or maintain weight, everyone falls off their diet from time to time.  Know what your triggers are, and how to deal with a momentary diet lapse.
Your day started out great.  You got up early, did your workout, had your protein shake.  You showered and dressed, packed a healthy lunch and headed into work feeling energized and ready to tackle the day.  As you go through your emails, you find one from your boss asking for the report you promised her – the one you thought was due next week.  Your stress level skyrockets.  And in a panic, you get to work – but not until you’ve grabbed a donut from the break room.
It only takes a moment for your diet to go from terrific to terrible.  You have a bad day and think a bowl of ice cream will make you feel better.  Your movie companion offers you some buttered popcorn and you just can’t resist.  You cook too much food for dinner, but rather than packing it up for tomorrow’s lunch, you just finish it off instead. 
No matter how good your intentions, you can’t expect to follow your diet perfectly every minute of every day.  There will be those times when you have something you shouldn’t – so the trick is figuring out not only what gets you into trouble in the first place, but also how you can talk yourself back down.
If you’ve fallen off your diet – and everyone does – here are some tips to help you get back on track:

Know that lapses happen.

Everyone makes diet mistakes from time to time.  What you don’t want to do is beat yourself up about it, because you’ll feel as if you’ve failed – which could lead you to just give up and lose control completely.  A single event – eating something you shouldn’t, or exceeding your calorie limit for the day – is simply a lapse.  Recognize it for what it is, but don’t let things get out of control.  String enough lapses together, and you’ve got a relapse – and you’re back where you started.

Know what triggers you to eat something you shouldn’t.

Most people can identify what it is that triggers them to eat when they shouldn’t.  Stress, for example, is a big one – when people eat in response to stress it’s because they think a treat will make them feel better.  And it might – at least momentarily.  But then the guilt sets it, which stresses you out, which causes you to eat more … and the cycle continues.   Fatigue, loneliness, frustration, boredom – there’s a whole host of emotions that can trigger you to eat.  Sometimes there are people in your life that are the problem – like the ones who are always urging you to have something ‘just this once’.

Figure out how you can change your response next time.

If emotional eating is a problem for you, you’ll want to work on finding other ways to deal with your emotions that don’t involve food.  It’s been said that people eat to ‘stuff down their emotions’ in order to avoid feeling sad or lonely or frustrated.  But many people also say that it’s really the fear of experiencing the emotion that makes them eat … and that when they simply let the emotion happen – and learn how to deal with it – it’s never as bad as they thought it would be. When your emotions are getting the best of you and food is calling to you, try writing your thoughts down, calling a friend, turning on some soothing music, taking a walk, or having a cup of tea instead.

Talk nicely to yourself.

If you’ve eaten something you haven’t and the little voice in your head is saying, “You’re such a failure, you’ll never lose weight!” you need to be a little nicer to yourself.  Instead, say the same thing to yourself that you’d say to a friend if you were offering support.  “So you got stressed and grabbed a donut – it’s not the end of the world!  Let’s take a walk at lunch to burn off some extra calories and stop for a salad on the way back”.

Wait it out.

Delay tactics can work really well when you’re feeling tempted to eat something you shouldn’t.  If you’re keeping a food diary, take a look at it before you indulge.  Just taking a moment to consider what you’re about to eat – and why – can be enough to stop you in your tracks.  The other thing that often helps is to tell yourself that you’ll wait 10 minutes once the urge strikes, to see if you still feel the need to indulge.  Most of the time, you’ll get busy doing something else and just forget about it.

Get back on track right away.

Don’t let the day get away from you.  A slip is one thing – just don’t let it turn into a fall.   If you ate something you shouldn’t have, just get over it and pick right back up at the next meal.  It’s too late to do anything about the last meal you had – focus instead on the one you plan to have next.

Remind yourself of how much you’ve accomplished.

Sometimes after a slip, it helps to do a little ‘system reset’.  Think about what motivated you to make changes in the first place, about how far you’ve come, and the accomplishments you’ve made.  You have the know-how and the commitment – and you know you can achieve your goals because you’ve been making progress.  And remember that progress is measured in many ways – not only by what the scale says.  Every time you make the best choice in a restaurant, pack a healthy lunch, turn down an offer of food you don’t want – or skip the donut when you’re stressed and take a deep breath instead – you’re making progress.
Written by Susan Bowerman, MS, RD, CSSD.

Get in shape for Summer, it's right around the corner!

Get in the summer spirit with the refreshing taste of Formula 1 Orange Cream. Available for a limited time only, this delicious shake is a nutritious and guilt-free meal that will help you meet your weight-management goals this season. https://mygreatshapetoday.com/ians-health-store