This past year, like a lot of people I know, I really got into watching the Winter Olympics. Some nights I found myself cheering for athletes competing in sports I’ve never even heard of before! Take, for example, the sport of skeleton. Competitors in skeleton lay face-first down on a luge sled and hurtle down a bobsled track at speeds up to 80 miles per hour. The true challenge in the sport is that this little sled has no steering mechanisms; athletes steer through their body movements alone... [More]

One of my favorite television shows is “The Biggest Loser”. I find it very motivating when I see how hard the contestants push themselves every week. If they can do those workouts with Jillian, I have no reason to skip a 30 minute session with my bike! Many people I know are trying to be their own “biggest loser” and this show inspires their efforts... [More]

At my job here at Group Health Cooperative, I (along with the other Health Promotion Coaches) help companies develop worksite health promotion programs. It’s rewarding work! Because every organization is different, we have an opportunity to help them create a program that fits their needs. When it comes to health promotion, a one-size-fits-all program is definitely not the direction to go!.. [More]

It’s January and you all know what that means – New Year’s Resolutions are in full swing. If you are like me though, they may already be broken (never again will I attempt to give up chocolate forever!). This commonly happens when people set unrealistic expectations and find themselves exhausted and worn out from the holidays. One resolution in particular that always seems to be popular is the resolution to exercise more... [More]

There are many jobs these days that involve sitting at a desk or working on a computer all day long, mine included. Unfortunately, this is not good for the body. But, there are some simple and beneficial exercises that can be done even at your desk. Try some of these desk exercises; they can lead to improvements in overall body health!.. [More]

I really enjoy my job. Hey, I get to write fun and interesting posts for my readers every day! Who could complain about that?! In fact, I think that most people also enjoy their jobs. However, sitting at a desk for most of the day can make it more challenging to keep weight off... [More]

It seems like everyone has their own routine when it comes to doing the grocery shopping. I personally prefer getting it done on a Wednesday evening. I get home from work, eat dinner, grab my grocery list and off I go! With fewer people there, I’m able to get my shopping done much faster than I would on a Saturday morning! However, that’s not my only grocery shopping tip – I have a few more tricks up my sleeve!.. [More]

Every so often, I like to treat myself to a cookie, bowl of ice cream or glass of wine. I figure if I feed myself nutritious foods 90% of the time, I can relax 10% of the time and indulge my craving. Fortunately, I also enjoy exercising on most days of the week. I wasn’t always this dedicated to exercise, though. When I was younger, I considered the trip from the couch to the refrigerator my daily walk!.. [More]

Diets are popular. Really popular. It seems like every time I turn around, a new fad diet is making waves in Hollywood and everyone is talking about it! What I’ve found though, is that most people try diet after diet, constantly searching for the perfect solution to weight loss... [More]

There are numerous reasons to quit tobacco use. For those of you who smoke cigarettes, cigars, pipes or use chewing tobacco, I’m sure these reasons are not new: increased risk of throat, mouth and lung cancer, stroke, heart attack, gum disease and other dental problems. Even if you aren’t a chain smoker and only smoke half a pack or even a few cigarettes a day, you are still doing damage to your body... [More]