Healthy eating, fitness and losing weight» Fitness

December tunes, not just Christmas carols

Just Kas | Runaholic — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 06:12:55 +0000

We can’t go dull when it comes to our playlist, let’s not limit ourselves to sweet Christmas carols. Our friend, Chris of Runhundred provided us with new tunes to keep ourselves upbeat.

Given that they’ve both passed on now, it’s been a surprise to see both The King and his son-in-law (The King Of Pop) drop club hits this month.Elvis turns up in a remixed version of “Suspicious Minds.”It’s the latest in a series of re-worked Elvis tracks that began appearing after Junkie XL had a crossover hit with “A Little Less Conversation” from Ocean’s Eleven.And, Michael Jackson’s “Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’” also gets the remix treatment—though the changes are subtle—as part of the new MJ-themed Cirque du Soleil production Immortal.

Other highlights from the top 10 include Katy Perry’s latest single, two tracks featuring Lil Jon, and a curious collaboration between Will.I.Am, J-Lo, and Mick Jagger.

Here’s the full list, according to votes placed at Run Hundred–the web’s most popular workout music blog.

Calvin Harris – Feel So Close (Benny Benassi Remix) – 131 BPM
Katy Perry – The One That Got Away – 135 BPM
Elvis Presley – Suspicious Minds (Can’t Walk Out Remix) – 121 BPM
Michael Jackson – Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’ (Immortal Version) – 123 BPM
LMFAO & Lil Jon – Shots (Dummejungs Remix) – 128 BPM
Rihanna & Jay-Z – Talk That Talk – 84 BPM
Will.I.Am, Mick Jagger & Jennifer Lopez – T.H.E. (The Hardest Ever) – 106 BPM
Alexandra Stan – Mr. Saxobeat (Maan Studio Remix) – 126 BPM
Laidback Luke, Steve Aoki & Lil Jon – Turbulence – 129 BPM
Dev – In The Dark (DJ Kue Remix) – 126 BPM

To find more workout songs–and hear next month’s contenders—folks can check out the free database at RunHundred.com. Visitors can browse the song selections there by genre, tempo, and era—to find the music that best fits with their particular workout routine.

Are you enjoying these monthly tunes update? Hope it’s boosting your ears for more activities!

Article by Just Kas | Runaholic (c) TRX Runaholic Diary - Read full story here.

Oiselle: Love this Company

Fit Mommy — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 04:52:13 +0000

Oiselle is on sale now at The Clymb!

Article by Fit Mommy (c) Fit Mom's Blog - Read full story here.

Creamy Sweet Potato Pudding

CatheDotCom — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 04:38:24 +0000

Ingredients

21/2 tablespoons agar flakes
1/2 cup raw cashews
1/4 teaspoon sea salt
1 1/4 cups boiling water
1 1/2 cups sweet potato (what we commonly call yams) or pumpkin if preferred. Cooked and pureed.
1/4 cup yacon syrup or agave nectar
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground cardamom
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon gluten free vanilla extract (or regular if preferred)

Directions:

1. Place agar, cashews and salt in food processor (a Vitamix type blender will work fine) and process to a fine powder. Add boiling water and process on high speed. Add sweet potato and yacon syrup (or agave) and process again until smooth. Blend in cinnamon, cardamom, nutmeg and vanilla.

2. Pour pudding into six 1/2-cup ramekins, 1/2 cup mason jars, or 1 small (3 cup) serving dish . Refrigerate until set, about 30 minutes.

(Can also be served warmed)

Tips: Once you add the boiling water thanks to the agar flakes, the mixture will thicken very quickly. Have the other ingredients ready to add.

For flavor variation: Try Maple Flavored Agave Nectar.

Article by CatheDotCom (c) Cathe Friedrich» Creamy Sweet Potato Pudding | Blog - Read full story here.

Can You Work Out Sitting On Your Ass?

Crabby McSlacker — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 20:07:00 +0000

Photo: yischon
Sitting and Exercising. Why are these two activities so hard for some of us to put together?

Depressing studies about the negative health consequences of sitting have scared some of us into using treadmill desks or stand-up workstations, but truth is, most of us still manage to spend a substantial amount of time each day on our posteriors. Is there any way we sneak some activity into this overabundance of ass-time?

As it happens, while I have a few resources to offer on this question, I could really use some advice myself an a semi-related Seated Exercise Dilemma, and am hoping a kind reader or two might share their advice or experience.

So want some ideas for sit-down exercise?

Chair Dancing!
I practice a form of this myself in the passenger seat during long car trips. But for the definitive, So Perky You'll Puke Guide to chair dancing, you gotta watch this video (via HuffPo).

Pedal at Your Desk
Studies show health benefits for workers who use those little desk-bike type pedal exercisers. Shockingly, however, the researchers found that people used them less often after the novelty wore off, so be careful before you fork over for one if you're the sort who has a variety of different exercise machines serving as clothes drying racks in your basement already. They seem to come as cheap as $20, but I have no idea if they're crap at this price point. Anyone tried one?

Chair Exercises
So if you have the sort of work environment where you have (a) privacy or (b) open-minded colleagues who won't shun you or call security if they see you deviating from the normal sit-and-slouch-and-slog posture, you may want to experiment with Chair Exercises.

But where to find some?

Article by Crabby McSlacker (c) Cranky Fitness - Read full story here.

How to Get Your Boyfriend to Work Out: 5 Tips.

Davey Wavey — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 18:09:57 +0000

How to inspire your boyfriend to go from couch potato to hot tamale!

Dear Davey,

I go to the gym a lot and enjoy staying active. My boyfriend, on the other hand, is a couch potato. While I love him the way he is, I really think hitting the gym could benefit him. How can I get him to exercise?

From,
Casey

Hey Casey,

The funny thing about changing other is that it’s nearly impossible; people only change when they’re ready. It takes tons and tons of energy and effort to try and bend someone to our will – and, ultimately, I think that energy is better served is other endeavors.

Having said that, if your boyfriend seems open to exercise, I do have a few tips to help cultivate his inner Arnold:

Lead by example. Inspire your boyfriend to exercise by being a role model. Through your own active and healthy lifestyle, demonstrate the amazing exercise benefits that you enjoy. Plan fitness dates. Who says date night needs to be dinner and a movie? One of my favorite date ideas is going climbing at a rock gym. It fosters great communication and team work – and it’s fantastic exercise. If your boyfriend enjoys it, he’ll probably want to go back. Sometimes you just need to find the type of exercise that he enjoys. You could also try gymnastics, tennis, swimming, spinning, hiking, yoga or any other activity. Pin it on Fido. If you have a dog, start taking more frequent walks. Eventually, you can make it a habit. Even an afternoon walk, when done over and over again for many months, can make a big difference. Use positive reinforcement. A lot encouragement goes a long way. After engaging in exercise with your significant other, compliment him on his progress, increased energy levels, etc.. Flattery can work wonders. Give him the gift of fitness. For a lot of people, the biggest exercise barrier is not knowing what to do. For a holiday, birthday or anniversary gift, book him a few sessions with a personal trainer. The trainer can show him the ropes and help create a plan tied to his goals.

Using these tips, you may be able to inspire your boyfriend to live a more active lifestyle. But you may not. While it’s very difficult to try and change others, it’s much easier to change ourselves. If your boyfriend wants to be sedentary, ask yourself if it’s something you can learn to accept.

Love,
Davey

Article by Davey Wavey (c) Davey Wavey Fitness - Read full story here.

New articles to read around the web

Fit Mommy — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 15:41:45 +0000

11 Ways Gluten and Wheat Corn Can Damage Your Health

A Mom’s Guide to Too Many Toys

Holiday Gifts for the Athlete Inspired Mom

Article by Fit Mommy (c) Fit Mom's Blog - Read full story here.

12 days of Christmas Fitness: Win a Chance to workout at Curves

Just Kas | Runaholic — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 15:29:33 +0000

Time flew fast and it’s nearly Christmas. Today mark’s the first day of December, the very first time FTW Magazine will be giving away few items blessed to us which we want to share and give as another way for us to thank you.

We’ll try our best to giveaway our personal favorites and swear by brands for everyone.

If you haven’t heard just yet, a few months back, I was chosen as Curves Ambassadress hence together with Curves, I will be giving away a generous gift certificate from Curves located at 2F Serendra Bonifacio Global City. To enter today’s giveaway, leave a comment by answering the question below:

1. What are you going to prepare for Noche Buena and why did you choose on having these scrumptious meals?

2. How will you burn the holiday bulge of festivities?

or you may also join us through a challenge for the week.

Challenge: Quench your thirst while you protect your heart! Tea, whether it’s cold or hot, delivers anti-oxidant compounds. Dip into that favorite tea on your favorite cup, let it simmer and gulp up! Take a photo of your cup and tell us what you love about it! send us the link!

The winner will be chosen using random.org starting tom and will only be giving away during weekdays to give ourselves the weekend a break – hey, there will be tons of reunions coming up!

Article by Just Kas | Runaholic (c) TRX Runaholic Diary - Read full story here.

Do Not Get Discouraged with Weight Loss Challenges

Jean Luc Boissonneault — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 14:51:58 +0000

Okay, let’s begin any discussion about weight loss and frustration with a few simple words: most people get discouraged. If you spend one hour watching television talk shows you are going to hear things like “yo-yo” dieting, crashing, and quitting mentioned whenever weigh loss is discussed. This is because almost everyone who goes on a diet is going to feel very frustrated and even like a bit of a failure. Why? Just like those who are trying to quit smoking, it can take up to four or five times to get it right.

This is why we are going to give you three very potent secrets to dieting success. These are ways of looking “around” the sense of discouragement and seeing success on the other side. They include:

Focus on the actions not the scale – a good diet plan is going to tell you to get on that horrible old scale just once each week. You may feel the temptation to get on the scale once or twice each day, but that is a big mistake. Instead, look at the changes you are making. Show yourself some respect and admiration for the actions you are taking. If your success is not immediately reflected in that number on the scale, don’t worry because many people experience a delay in weight loss due to a change in their diet, new muscle formation from exercise, and the process of shedding water weight. The scale is not the real measure – your persistence is! Understand it’s a lifestyle not a quick fix – how many years did it take to reach the weight that you are right now? It was probably not a matter of a week or so, right? Okay, this means that you have to understand that you are changing your eating habits, which means that you are changing your lifestyle. This is something that will take a bit of experimentation and patience in order for you to be successful. You have to learn how to dine out, endure the holidays, deal with social occasions, and also how to feed yourself and your family. You have to learn how to develop a good relationship with food and how to incorporate more physical activity into your daily life. This is a lot to manage, so be good to yourself. Don’t take the numbers too seriously, too many factors are involved – scales, calories, grams, and all of the other numbers of dieting can be a bit overwhelming. Don’t let this discourage your efforts. Ignore the numbers if they are too much to handle. Learn what to eat and how to exercise, and then go from there!

Article by Jean Luc Boissonneault (c) Free Form Fitness Blog - Read full story here.

Mind Is Everything Workout

Tatianna — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 06:57:08 +0000

Today's workout is a follow up routine to yesterday's Tear It Up Workout. In this workout I was focusing on the upper body and abs. This routine got pretty tough at the end, and in my last sequence of exercises I could barely finish it. But this is also a very fun routine because I incorporated some really cool new exercises that I came up with. I always try to get my creativity flowing when I come up with these challenging moves, because I think it makes exercising more fun when we don't do the same old moves every single time.

10 fitness related holiday gifts

workoutmommy — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 03:20:41 +0000

Last week I posted this question on my Facebook wall–> “What is on your fitness wish list”?

Here are some of your answers and I added a few of my own. If you are out shopping for the fitness enthusiast in your life, here are some great ideas!

Garmin Forerunner : I don’t have one of these but so many people rave about it. Do you have one? What do you love about it? (I can’t seem to quit my Polar. I love it!) Bike trainer
Sleeveless wetsuit
Elliptigo: I actually saw someone riding one of these the other days and thought it looked fantastic. Even my 6 year old was fascinated and told me that I need to get one of “those funny things”. I think he is right! (ahem..santa?)
Lululemon pants: I don’t have any of these either. Wow, they are pricey! Are they worth it? Why? Treadmill: I recently got one of these as a present. It was worth every penny! Money: for race fees and equipment. Workout DVDs: yoga, Zumba, and Jillian Michaels were the top requests. Kettlebells: one can never have enough kettlebells around! If you have Amazon Prime, there are many kettlebells that have free shipping! Nanny: this is at the top of my fitness wish list! I need someone who can watch my kids so I can go running or go to the gym whenever I want. It’s not going to happen, but a mom can dream, right?

Did I miss anything? Tell me in the comments below since you never know if Santa might be reading!

Related PostsHoliday gifts from Land of NodStaying fit this holiday seasonFit and healthy linksNow is the time to put on your skinny jeansGiving thanks

Article by workoutmommy (c) Workout Mommy - Read full story here.