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Healthy Tips Straight From the White House

FitSugar — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 07:00:23 -0700

It's no secret that Michelle and President Obama are one fit couple. If you're wondering how they stay in shape with such a demanding lifestyle and with a personal pastry chef living under the same roof, the first lady has offered some tips in a recent issue of Prevention magazine.

Include exercises in your routine that offer immediate results. Michelle says, "I enjoy arm exercises because you can see what it's hitting." So make sure your workouts target a specific area every time you work out, and the consistency will pay off. Now we have more information on her famous arms.
Don't skip out on workouts. If the wife of the president of the United States can make time to work out, so can you. She wakes up at 4:30 every morning so she has time to fit it in.
Cross train and mix up your routine. Doing the same types of workouts over and over again is boring and a great way to injure yourself. So Mrs. Obama varies her workouts with Pilates, cardio, stretching, and weights.

To see the rest of Michelle's advice read more.

Have no absolute "nos." The first lady admits, "I love French fries, I like a good burger, and I like pie. And that's okay. I would be depressed if I felt I could never eat the things that I love."
Practice moderation. The presidential couple encourages their daughters to make healthy choices when it comes to not-so-healthy foods, and to not be obsessed. So if one asks, "Can I have pie?" Michelle will answer, "Did you have pie last night?" It's all about making healthy choices and finding the balance between indulging in what you love and not overdoing it.

At my house, the girls are always asking for ice cream; I'm going to try the first lady's answer.

Healthy St. Patty's Day to You

FitSugar — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 03:00:00 -0700

Who doesn't appreciate the luck of the Irish? I have found, though, that it is best not to gamble on health. If you are interested in celebrating St. Patty's Day in a healthier manner, I have some suggestions for you.

View Slideshow ›

Weekend Reading: Skinny B*tch

FitSugar — Sat, 02 Jun 2007 03:30:00 -0700

I have to admit it - I definitely have been known to judge a book by its cover. So when I was in the book store the other day, the title "Skinny Bitch" definitely caught my eye.

It's "a no-nonsense, tough-love guide for savvy girls who want to stop eating crap and start looking fabulous." Written by Rory Freedman and Kim Barnouin, these two women give you the facts straight up with a side order of sass and no sugar coating (pun intended).

The basic message in this book is if you eat crap, you'll feel and look like crap. They give you the truth about what you're putting into your body and how it affects you. In Skinny Bitch, there's no beating around the bush when it comes to coffee, sugar, meat, dairy products, smoking, and artificial ingredients - there are entire chapters devoted to how giving these up can make you healthy and help you "get skinny".

This is such an easy read since the voice is so upbeat, straightforward, and outrageous. All they say is backed up with interesting scientific facts in a way that's easy to understand so you feel like a friend is sitting you down and "telling you like it is" instead of some stodgy doctor.

After they give you the truth about what you're eating, they don't just leave you in the dust. There are also chapters about nutrition, meal ideas, great health food products, and a list of ingredients to watch out for.

I definitely recommend checking out this hilarious book that encourages you to wake up and smell the truth, and start getting healthy. You can get it at any major bookstore or order it from Amazon ($11.16).

Fast Food Mayhem

FitSugar — Tue, 05 Dec 2006 17:35:00 -0800

So I've broken down a lot of your favorite fast food spots, leaving you wondering if there is anything you can even eat out there. I understand the occasional fast food stop is unavoidable and you can do it in a healthy way, you just have to follow a few guidelines:

Don't super size. Most people eat way more than anyone ever should at a fast food restaurant because they can. Don't do it! Order small sizes.
Opt for places that offer "made to order" food. Like Subway for example, this way you can easily create a low calorie meal.

There's lots more, so read more

Stay away from all things fried. Fried foods are a diet killer. They are extremely high in calories and, for now at least, trans fats.
Salads are your friend. Almost every fast food joint offers a salad. Try getting a side salad instead of a side of fries. Watch out for croutons (or crispy noodles) and skip the dressing altogether (unless you have your own non-fat dressing on hand).
Fountain sodas are not your friend. Instead of soda you can get water, bottled water, iced tea... anything other than soda.
Hold the cheese and sour cream. They are loaded with calories and fat, not to mention trans fats. And we can only guess what goes into those cheese "like" sauces.
Get something other than a burger - a deli sandwich or a chicken sandwich (not fried). Just try to steer clear of the burgers.
Condiments pack a lot of calories. When ordering something, ask what is on it. Usually there is some mayo-concoction that is called "crazy sauce" or something similar that you may want to go without.

Buggin' out about the FLU

FitSugar — Thu, 16 Nov 2006 03:15:00 -0800

My house has already suffered through the first wave of this flu season. Sometimes I feel like my kids are petri dishes disguised as "super cuties." At the doctor's office recently, for some malady or another, I quizzed her about the flu. I got some facts and I am going to share them with you.

It is possible to pass the flu along up to 24 hours before you become symptomatic. Yikes - you could be spreading contagion all over your loved ones and not even know that you're sick.
It can take anywhere from 1 - 3 days to become symptomatic after becoming infected. I really don't like the delay since I like to know what is going on in my body.
Althought the flu virus is spread by coughing and sneezing, it can remain viable and ready for spreading for several hours on a surface like: hand rails, door knobs, and phones. You touch the surface, then touch your mouth, nose or eyes and the virus can get in you.
You know you have the flu if you have common cold symptoms plus fever, chills, body aches, and a pounding head ache.

I really don't mean to make you paranoid, although sometimes I do feel that I live in fear of the flu. But the best way to avoid catching the flu, other than wrapping your children in plastic wrap or never leaving your home, is to wash your hands often.

28 Tips to Celebrate Heart Health Month

FitSugar — Wed, 07 Feb 2007 13:00:00 -0800

Just in case you haven't heard, it is Heart Health Month. It is never too early to start taking care of your heart and SparkPeople.com have created a great calendar of tips to guide you on your path to a healthy heart.

Here's a few highlights:

Get a check - Doctors don't just treat disease, they can perform screenings and tests to figure out what area in your diet and health that need improvement.
Slow down - chronic stress leads to high blood pressure, which puts you at risk for heart disease and strokes.
Eat 6 to 8 ounces of baked or broiled fish a week for Omega-3 fatty acids which promote heart health.

It is a great resource and in a PDF file. So you can print it out easily and put it on your fridge to remind you of why you shouldn't be eating another helping of ice cream.

Health Tip: Replace Contact Lens Case Every Three Months

FitSugar — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 10:00:00 -0700

You only get one pair of eyes so it's important to care for them as best you can. If you wear contact lenses, here's one thing you can do to keep your lenses clean and prevent eye infections. Every three months (at least) replace your case with a new one. In between replacements, disinfect the case after every use by rinsing it with your sterile contact lens solution. Then leave it open to air dry to prevent bacteria from growing. When was the last time you changed contact cases?

Health Tip: Microwave Your Toothbrush

FitSugar — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 10:20:07 -0700

If you're like most people, you get a new toothbrush every six months, but you really should be changing your toothbrush more often, like every three to four months. When the bristles get worn and lose their rigidity, they don't remove plaque as well. But you should also do some maintenance within that three months, when your toothbrush is just sitting out in the open. After all, think about all the germs and bacteria floating around that would love to attach themselves to your moist toothbrush.

So to prevent colds, flu, and other sicknesses, Reader's Digest recommends that once or twice a week you run your toothbrush through the microwave on high for 10 seconds immediately before brushing. If someone in your home is sick, you may want to sterilize it in the microwave each time you brush. If you're the one who's sick, after the illness passes, ditch your old toothbrush and replace it with a new one.

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Health Tip: Protect Your Toothbrush From Bacteria

FitSugar — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 13:00:00 -0700

Environmental microbiologist Chuck Gerba studies the spread of viruses and parasites, and he made an interesting discovery about bathroom hygiene. Gerba found that every time you flush the toilet, your toothbrush gets sprayed with bacteria. Eww! Even if you put the lid down before pressing the handle, microorganisms are still ejected into the air landing on every surface in your bathroom. Although, you probably won't get sick because the bacteria dies when the toothbrush dries, it's a good idea to keep your toothbrush as far away from the toilet as you can. Placing it in the medicine cabinet or your vanity drawer is a good option. Other items you should store in drawers include contact lens containers, bars of soap, and other things you use on your body in order to protect them from harmful germs. I keep my toothbrush in the bathroom closet. Where do you store yours?

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Health Tip: Remember Those New Year's Resolutions

FitSugar — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 16:00:00 -0700

You may be thinking more about tomorrow's Halloween festivities, but I am asking you to recall the early days of 2008. Remember those New Year's Resolutions you made last January? You know the ones where you vowed to exercise more, eat less sugar, cut back on soda, or sign up for a race.

Hopefully, you've been keeping up with your healthy goals but if you made your resolutions and forgot about them, that's OK. You have a couple months until the year is up, so it's not too late to follow through. Take this as a friendly kick in the butt to brush the cobwebs off your list and join that gym, ditch those cigarettes, or drink more water.

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