Health & Wellness

Going the Distance

jbloustein — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 14:51:30 -0600

My feet pounded the pavement, still moving in a steady rhythm though my legs were starting to feel heavy. The warm southern California air seared my lungs.

Up ahead, tall palm trees flanked the road. I couldn’t see where the road ended, but what I did see made me breathe a little harder. A sign with big letters: Mile 18.

I was running the L.A. Marathon—my first race ever—and I dreaded what was coming. The wall. That point of utter exhaustion around mile 20 when the body reaches its limits of endurance.

Strengthening Body and Soul

jbloustein — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 08:23:03 -0500

Guideposts.com offers lots of information about healthy living from veteran experts like author and nutritionist Rebecca Katz and Season 4 Biggest Loser contestant Julie Hadden to our newest authority on making positive changes, New Healthy You Contest winner, Tammie Temple.

Runner’s High

Thu, 11 Dec 2008 18:11:40 -0600

One of the first things I did when I moved to a new neighborhood in Philadelphia was scope out a running route. It didn’t matter that my neighborhood was what real-estate agents call “up-and-coming”—a former industrial zone of brick warehouses and factories being converted to condos.

Work the Blues Out

mcherkezian — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 15:21:21 -0600

We all know that hitting the gym can help you lose weight and gain muscle, but did you know that it can actually make you happier? Light to moderate aerobic exercise can improve your mood for two to four hours following the activity, according to Indiana University psychologist and researcher Jack Raglin, who offers the following tips to make sure you're working off the blues along with those calories:

Running for a Cause

mcherkezian — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 09:00:45 -0500

If you watch the ING New York City Marathon on Sunday, November 1, the television cameras will focus on a handful of professional athletes competing for trophies and prize money. But in the crowd of runners behind them are close to 6,000 people who are running for something else: to raise funds for or awareness of a cause.

The Right Stuff

admin — Sat, 01 Sep 2007 07:54:00 -0500

Evening at the gym. Thin women in sleek spandex jogged on treadmills, men in tight tank tops grunted as they pushed thick weights over their heads, muscles bulging. And then there was me. Out of shape, 30 pounds heavier than I was in college. Wearing gym shoes that clearly had never been worn. I was getting married soon, and the thought of all those wedding photos was enough to motivate me to buy a gym membership. But I dreaded working out. I sucked in my stomach every time another perfectly toned girl walked by.

Biggest Loser Love

mcherkezian — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 16:14:14 -0500

What’s more inspiring than losing a total of 259 pounds in front of the world? Falling in love along the way.

That’s what happened to Damien Gurganious and Nicole Brewer of New York. The engaged couple applied for Season 7 of the NBC weight-loss reality show The Biggest Loser after Damien proposed.

Dancing Her Way Thin

admin — Mon, 01 May 2006 13:53:00 -0500

When April Nicoll takes to the dance floor—and that's often these days because she's an instructor at a local studio—it's with all-out enthusiasm. For dance, for motivating her students and most importantly, for being the best mom she can be.

A Prescription for Aging

admin — Sun, 01 Jul 2007 11:06:00 -0500

Dr. Sherwin Nuland, M.D., the author of The Art of Aging, shares some tips for a healthier life.

1. Exercise your mind.
Read anything, from your daily paper to the works of Dickens or Karen Armstrong. Do crossword puzzles, visit museums, sign up for a class at the YMCA or local college.

2. Exercise your body.
Join a gym. It may be challenging, but you'll find something you enjoy—walking, swimming, even dancing. You'll be amazed at how every success leads to another.

A Simple Exercise Program for Beginners

mcherkezian — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 12:39:55 -0500

I’ve been exercising regularly for a few years, with tremendous improvements in my health, and whenever someone asks me how they should start out in exercise, I tell them to just get moving!

Try to get moving every day—whether it’s walking, running, strength training, sports, running around with the kids, swimming, paddling, or whatever works for you. If you can do that, you’ll get healthier and fitter over time.