We all know the drill for date night – dinner and a movie, anyone? If the same old dating routine is getting a little stale, maybe it’s time to try something new! I’m here to throw out the crazy idea of switching out your usual routine for fitness date night... [More]

During this time of year, I always try to take an afternoon to go through all of my summer gear. I have to make sure that my swimsuit still fits me, double check that I have enough beach towels and find my summer tote. One of the most important things that I do though is to check the expiration date on my sunscreen and buy some new stuff if necessary. When one of my friends asked me why I was tossing out perfectly good sunscreen, I realized that there are a lot of myths and misunderstandings regarding sun block... [More]

Lately, it seems that there has been a lot of news coverage surrounding the recent salmonella break-outs that have been tied to peanuts and pistachios. While the reports talked about how many people were getting sick and which brands to avoid, I noticed that there wasn’t much discussion about salmonella itself... [More]

Since the weather has been so nice lately, one of my friends has been trying to talk me into taking our bikes out onto the local bike trails. So finally yesterday afternoon, I took my bike out of storage and went on a ride. We were enjoying the ride so much, by the time I got home, we had gone 8 miles! I’m usually a pretty active person, but it had been a while since I had been out on a trail ride – particularly one of that length! I felt great while biking, but this morning I was definitely feeling the effects. Everything was sore!.. [More]

While checking the news online today, I came across a heart-breaking article highlighting the impact that Lyme disease can have on people. While that particular story is an extreme case, it really got me thinking. During the summer, Lyme disease becomes an important issue for anyone spending time outdoors. In fact, about 20,000 Americans are reported to get Lyme disease every year.. [More]

It’s that time of year! Spring is in the air and you know what that means, don’t you? Time to engage in some spring cleaning! A thorough cleaning will help get rid of dust, germs and bacteria that might cause illness and aggravate allergies... [More]

Have you heard about the H1N1 Flu (Swine Flu)? I’m sure by now you have. It’s been all over the news. As with most things, it’s best to have all of the facts before jumping to conclusions. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has done a great job of educating people with the facts of the swine flu. Below are some of the highlights... [More]

Let’s get scientific for a minute and talk about calories. When designing a personal nutrition plan for yourself, calculating how many calories you burn in a day is an important first step. The number of calories you burn in a day is what’s known as your total daily energy expenditure (TDEE). Also known as your maintenance level, this number will give you a reference point for your diet. But before we can get that number, we have to calculate your Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR)... [More]

Sometimes it seems like falling asleep can be quite the battle. For example, last night I crawled into bed at my normal 10:30 bedtime. However, I didn’t fall asleep for another hour! Every time I would close my eyes, my mind would start racing through all sorts of topics. What will I plant in my garden this year? Did I actually turn off that light upstairs? What should I pack for lunch in the morning? The thoughts just kept on coming, leaving me wide awake long after I should have been sleeping!.. [More]

It never ceases to amaze me how incredible the body is. There are so many intricate parts and they all fit together. It blows me away sometimes. Take for example, serotonin. You may have heard that if you are stressed out or down in the dumps, you should get moving and be physically active because exercise triggers the brain to produce more serotonin.. [More]