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A simple regimen to begin can help increase life expectancy and improve the quality of that life, making the golden years just that. More>>
Years and years of dire warnings, endless statistics and pleas to eat right and exercise have done little to reverse the obesity problem in the United States. More>>
Being beautiful is simply embracing an attitude of self-confidence and self-acceptance. Being who you are, fully and completely, is what makes you beautiful. You already are good enough. Your job now is to be healthy enough to live long enough to do all you have to do. More>>
Even if you faithfully hit the gym every day, most people live sedentary lifestyles that can still lead to health problems. Make a choice to integrate motion into otherwise stationary activities. More>>
While most of Anchorage is covering up, and putting on hats, gloves and scarves, a select group of determined, motivated athletes are stripping down and baring all (well, most). If you're looking for motivation, or even a chance to see Anchorage's fittest bodies, you'll find it this weekend at Anchorage's Fitness, Figure and Bodybuilding Show. More>>
These shorter, colder, darker days combined with a great TV lineup puts any to-do list in real danger. So what's a girl to do? Here's a 30-minute circuit workout you can do at home, even while you're watching TV. More>>
What works for your friend, your neighbor, or your spouse may not work for you. So instead of trying to force yourself to follow someone else's plan to get fit, create your own. More>>
Interval training will make your heart and lungs stronger and better able to recover from any emotional stress you may encounter. Like when one of your kids yells "MOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMM!" More>>
In times of crisis, seeking out and accepting help is easy. The same should be true in tackling the everyday problems that affect our lives. More>>
Eunice Kennedy Shriver died this week, and the motto of the games she started more than 40 years ago echo as strongly today as they did then: "Let me win, but if I cannot win let me be brave in the attempt." More>>
Over time, your body will adjust to your weight lifting routine, and will need further stimulation to continue to change. When this happens, it's important to switch things up to continue seeing results. More>>
I vote for "in shape" to be defined by ability. Society defines a very limited range of body shapes as acceptable. Unfortunately, most of the world doesn't fit into this range. So we're left feeling lacking, wanting, deficient, not good enough. What if we all appreciated our bodies for what they can do? What if however you look right now is good enough for right now? More>>
We've all seen the statistics. We all know the trend. Americans in general are getting more and more sedentary. The same tools that make our virtual world expansive are not surprisingly having the same effect on our waistlines. While we can communicate with friends across the country in the blink of an eye, we don't even have to stand up and walk across the room to answer the phone. More>>
Independence Day is a fine time to reflect on life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness as they relate to your own personal health and fitness. More>>
The Velocity U-12 White Team girls have very healthy self-images. They understand the value of defining themselves through their actions rather than how they look. They do not judge themselves for past mistakes. They do not anticipate how they will be in the future. We can learn from this in appreciating ourselves for our efforts, rather than waiting for a specific result to take pride in what we're doing. More>>
A couple weeks ago I wrote about posture. Now that you've had some time to self assess and hopefully make adjustments, I'd like to delve a little deeper into the most common deviations and offer some tips to correct them. Correcting the body's imbalances always starts with self-awareness. As most of us are either right or left handed, we also tend to favor certain areas of the body over others. More>>
Every vocation has its own vocabulary. Weight trainers are no exception. We have sets, reps, lats, glutes, hammies, gluceps, tri-strings, etc. If you didn't notice I made some of those up, you definitely need to brush up on your gym vocabulary. More>>
The first step is to acknowledge your feelings for what they are. When you're feeling sad, angry or fearful, are you aware of these feelings? Sometimes I find myself interpreting an emotional need as a physical need, and eating when my body isn't hungry. More>>
Having great posture can make you look slimmer, more confident, and taller. Standing and sitting with proper alignment can help prevent fatigue, muscle strain, and back pain. This week we have some great tips for maintaining good posture. More>>
I know many parents who don't exercise because they feel they don't have time. So, I've come up with ten exercises that can be done while your children play. This program can be done at any school or park playground. More>>
The best example we can give our children is to treat ourselves as we want them to treat themselves. This Mother's Day, give yourself and your entire family a present that will serve you all for life. Start devoting time for yourself, every day, to be the healthiest you can be. Everyone in your household will benefit. More>>
Maybe it's not as bad as a zombie flick, but people at gyms sometimes seem like they get no benefit from the time they're putting in, are clearly not enjoying themselves, and ultimately doing very little good for themselves. Doing 20 or 30 minutes of cardio is recommended for most days, but it doesn't have to be a dreary, monotonous, mind-numbing activity. More>>
Just as the Earth's energy is limited, so is each of ours. Just as the Earth has become cluttered and polluted, so have many of us, in both mind and body. Earth Day can also be about saving relationships by tuning in to one another. Earth Day can be about saving ourselves. We can make the Earth better in so many ways. Start with you. Start today. More>>
Stress itself can be a killer, contributing to depression, diabetes, heart disease, hyperthyroidism, obesity, and anxiety disorder. How we deal with stress can often make things worse. More>>
Obesity has more than doubled in the U.S. since 1980. What it will be 20 years from now depends on us. Can mastering the who, what, when, where and why of health and fitness be the difference? More>>
A lot of children say they want to grow up to be police officers or firefighters -- clear role models serving the public good in our communities. But they also serve as role models for fitness, especially those who've participated in the 911 fitness challenge. More>>
It's natural for people to feel uneasy, edgy, or simply unwell after a less-active winter. And now, finally, temperatures have warmed enough for us to get outside, roads are clearing, snow is melting... and the volcano blows. More>>
An exercise program has been ongoing at both Trailside and Oceanview elementary schools for four months now. Teachers love having easy access to an exercise class within the building. And Sharing goals and being tortured side-by-side brings people together. It's also a great way to let go of the day's stress before heading home. More>>
Some people watch and read about other people living lives and forget to have one of their own. And while that's a good distraction from everyday doldrums, it needs to be balanced with other healthy ways of coping with life and taking care of you. More>>
It takes about three weeks to develop a new habit. So if you start now, you can be well established in a new (good) habit by summertime. More>>
by Karen Patten Friday, February 27, 2009 Are bathrooms making us fat? My friend Terry used to have an elaborate post public restroom use hand-washing ritual. He'd roll out the paper towels ahead of More>>
This past week, several people have asked me the best way to get started on an exercise program. The answer is going to be different for everyone. There's no "one size fits all" answer to anything in health and fitness. More>>
I love Zig Zigler's quote, "People often say that motivation doesn't last. Well, neither does bathing -- that's why we recommend it daily." More>>
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