Getting the right elliptical for your body and budget!


suffering from knee painOuch! If you suffer from bad knees, joint pain in the knee, knee arthritis, runners knee, or have a knee replacement, doing cardio can seem like an impossible task. 

Many of us head to the gym with knee injuries or pains, and are confused looking at the rows of cardio machines… 

We want to get in a good workout, but don’t want to worsen any injury or pain in our knees. 

Why Are Ellipticals Better for Knees Instead of Treadmills?

Both treadmill and elliptical workouts will help you burn calories, get a good sweat in, and enhance your cardiovascular health – but after this point, both become two completely different machines. A major difference between ellipticals and treadmills is how these machines can take care of your body, especially your knees.

If you’re wondering if an elliptical is ok for your bad knees, studies show that elliptical training programs can reduce pain and improve knee function. We strongly recommend choosing ellipticals over treadmills for your workout regimen if you are recovering from a knee injury, or if you have joint pain in your knees.

Here are a few quick general reasons why ellipticals outshine treadmills for those with knee injuries:  Continue reading


Dieting Suggestions from Harvard

best diet planDieting. 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 for Weight LossTai 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.

Mohammad Ali

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

junk foodCould 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?

workout motivationIf 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


3 Natural Solutions for Better Zzzs

When’s the last time you slept like a baby? If you’re like most people, getting a good night’s sleep can be a struggle. In fact, according to statistics, between 10% and 30% of adults struggle with chronic insomnia. And, almost half of all Americans reported feeling sleepy during the day three to seven days a week. (1)

And while we all know that adults need seven to nine hours of sleep per night, making that happen is easier said than done. Not getting enough sleep is a dangerous problem – both for your physical and mental health.

Drowsiness can lead to everyday blunders like forgetfulness and falling asleep at work, and also accidents as fatal as car crashes and work-related accidents. Disrupted sleep is even linked to a higher risk of death! Continue reading


5 Foods to Eat to Protect Your Joints

joint painOsteoarthritis is the main cause of joint pain in older people. (1) To age well, taking care of your joints is super important. Having healthy joints can help you avoid lots of pain and discomfort that is so common among older people.

Diet is one of the easiest ways you can take steps today to prevent osteoarthritis and other joint problems in your future. There are a ton of foods that are rich in vitamins and minerals that work to prevent the breakdown of cartilage and protect your joints.

Adding these five foods to your diet can help keep your joints happy and prevent the progression of osteoarthritis. And, these five foods are delicious additions that are easy to incorporate into your snacks and meals. Continue reading


Prevent Falls by Getting Your Boogie On

Every 19 minutes, an older adult dies from a fall, according to US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (1) Every 11 seconds, an older adult is taken to the emergency room because of a fall.

senior citizen fallingFalls are extremely dangerous for older adults – in fact, they are “the leading cause of fatal and non-fatal injuries for older Americans.” (1) For seniors, falls threaten health and safety and can lead to multiple injuries.

But, falling is avoidable. And, according to one recent study, avoiding falls can be as easy (and fun) as…dancing! Continue reading


Three Helpful Tips for Actually Accomplishing Your Goals in 2021

It’s almost spring, which means we’re about one-fourth of the way into the new year. A few months ago, you probably had lots of expectations and excitement for a fresh start and another opportunity to set goals and make progress in your physical fitness.

However, if you’re like most people, you’ve probably forgotten about most of your goals by now. According to some recent statistics, “less than 8% of people actually stick to their resolutions each year.” (1) 

new years resolutionsBut, don’t let those dreary statistics get you down. You can still achieve your goals for 2021 with a little dedication and hard work. With these three helpful tips for achieving your new year’s resolutions, you’ll be well on your way to a healthier, happier, and more successful 2021.

Continue reading