Dieting Suggestions from Harvard

Dieting. Just the word can make your head hurt and your stomach crave your favorite unhealthy foods (all of which are probably off-limits for most diets). If you’re like most people, you’ve probably tried dieting in the past. In fact, most Americans have. Every single year, 45 million Americans go on a diet (1).

Some of those diets are more effective than others. There are extreme dieting regimens like the Vegan diet, the Keto diet, and the Paleo diet, or there’s more lenient options like the Mediterranean diet, calorie-restriction based diets, or low-fat diets. It seems like every day there’s a new dieting trend on social media or the internet.

With so many different options to choose from – and differing professional opinions for each diet – choosing one that’s right for you can be a struggle. For a diet to work for you, it needs to be something that gets your body all the nutrients it needs, while helping you feel your best. There’s no one “best” diet for everyone. Every body is different, so not every diet will work for you. That’s why it’s important to really do your research before jumping into a new nutrition plan. Continue reading →

This Relaxing Practice Might Be More Beneficial Than You Think

Tai chi is an art – a mind-body practice that involves mindfulness, slow movements and controlled breathing. It’s a practice that has been around for thousands of years. In fact, it was an ancient Chinese tradition that was originally made for self-defense. (1) And today, it’s practiced by almost 250 million people around the world. (2)

It’s often described as “meditation in motion” because it focuses on total harmony of both your mind and your body. (3) Tai chi can be a very peaceful exercise, not just to practice, but also to watch. The gentle, flowing movements are artistic and beautiful, creating a harmony that can be seen and felt.

This ancient exercise is not only great for summoning inner peace, but also has many health benefits. According to the Tai Chi for Health Institute, “numerous studies have shown tai chi improves muscular strength, flexibility, fitness, improves immunity, relieves pain and improves quality of life.” (3) Recently, researchers have also been studying whether tai chi can help you sleep better and reduce the risk of falls in older adults. Continue reading →

Watch These Inspirational Movies While You Get Your Sweat On

When I was younger, my roommate Tammy and I would try to work out together every morning in our apartment. We were each other’s accountability partners, and we really tried to motivate each other to stick to our workout plans and achieve our fitness goals.

Image Source: www.telegraph.co.uk/

It was winter, so it was super cold outside, and it rained almost every single day where I lived. As you can imagine, finding motivation to get out of bed in the morning and workout in our living room was often a struggle.

But Tammy had a secret weapon that motivated her to get off the couch and start doing pushups or sit-ups or lift weights there in our living room. What was her secret weapon, you ask? I’m not just going to tell you… I’m going to give it to you!

Her secret motivational weapon was a Mohammad Ali YouTube video that you can check out right here. Every morning, she would watch the video, and it would motivate her to start working out. She watched the video so much that she had almost every word memorized, and every morning she would almost yell the line, “Imma show you how great I am!” (1) Continue reading →

Lose Weight in Just 4 Minutes A Day

Could a super simple app really help you eat less junk food? Well, according to researchers at the universities of Exeter and Helsinki – it can! Their research found that playing the online choice-based game they developed actually helped participants make better eating choices. In fact, participants who played every day for a month ate less junk food and even lost weight.The results of this simple experiment were impressive. Professor Natalia Lawrence from the University of Exeter, said that “someone who ate each junk food two to four times a week reduced this to once a week after using the app regularly for a month.” (1) And those that used the app even more had even bigger changes in their eating patterns. 

It might seem outrageous that a simple game could really influence what you eat, but it’s worked for many people. One participant said, “my cravings have reduced dramatically and I no longer eat in the evening mindlessly.” (1)

If you’ve struggled to control your eating patterns or are really attached to those favorite comfort foods, this app could help you not only eat less junk food, but even help minimize your cravings for those foods, making it easier to lose weight and eat healthy. Continue reading →

Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Tips for Staying Motivated

Do you struggle to find motivation to workout every day? Do you have trouble sticking to your workout plans and programs for more than a month? Do you wonder why it’s so hard to get up in the morning and exercise?

If you’ve found yourself lacking long-term motivation to achieve your fitness goals, you’re not alone. Staying motivated is a human struggle that we all face. Our natural state is a resting, lazy state – that’s where our body is most comfortable. Getting out of that natural state, exercising, eating healthy – that’s exactly what we need to do to be healthy – but not at all what our lazy natural self wants to do.

To help you stay motivated to work out, here’s some tips from arguably one of the most motivated figures in sports – Arnold Schwarzenegger. Bodybuilding champion, successful businessman, Hollywood actor and politician, Schwarzenegger, in his own words, is a “disciplined super-achiever” who sets and achieves goals, over and over again. (1) Continue reading →