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Lifestyle Archives - Page 2 of 2 -

24 Aug

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Get the Most From Your Running

August 24, 2015 | By | No Comments

One of the most traditional forms of exercises that is simple yet effective is running. In this age of information technology, you have access to the details about every possible topic in just few mouse clicks, and it’s most likely for you to have knowledge about all the benefits of running. Still, to brush up some of the facts and emphasize the benefits of running so that you can have some extra motivation to get rid all those extra pounds you’ve put on lately; here is a quick refresher –

  • Running plays a vital role in improving overall health. This aerobic exercise improves blood circulation, makes your heart pump more oxygen thus increasing the efficiency of your lungs.
  • Increases bone density.

  • Keeps high blood pressure at bay.

  • Boosts immune system.

  • Burns those extra calories giving you slimmer and fitter body.

  • It is said that running decreases the risk of cancer especially breast cancer.

  • Helps in building the core muscle. A strong core muscle is makes it sure you lose more calories while exercising or simply doing any activity.

  • Good for memory.

  • Releases stress from the body. It makes you feel fresh and light.

So if you want to feel better both physically and mentally give running a shot today. The first run might suck. The second one might too. But after awhile you’ll start to notice that you look better. You’ll notice you feel better. You’ll perk up when someone tells you how good you look. And eventually you might even start to enjoy running.

21 Aug

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3 Simple Steps to a Healthier Diet

August 21, 2015 | By | No Comments

Switching to a healthier diet can add years to life and make you happier. Good nutrition promotes mental and physical well-being, boosts your immune system, and keeps you fit. By eating healthy, you’ll have more energy and feel better overall. Simple things, such as adding a tablespoon of flaxseed to your favorite salads, replacing sugar with stevia, and cutting back on salt, can improve your quality of life.

So, are you ready to change your eating habits? Here are three simple steps to a healthier diet:

Eliminate Processed Foods

Stock up on healthy foods and get rid of soda, deli meats, potato chips, refined oils, hot dogs, and ready-made meals. These products are loaded with preservatives, trans fats, and refined sugar, causing serious health problems in the long run. A well-balanced diet should include whole, natural foods, such as oats, fresh fruit and vegetables, grass-fed meat, fish, whole grains, brown rice, nuts, and seeds.

Cook Your Own Meals

Cooking at home is one of the best ways to make sure you eat healthy. This allows you to calculate your macros, track your daily calorie intake, and choose nutritious foods that support your goals. When you eat out, you can never know what goes into your food. Even the healthiest dishes can contain artificial flavors and chemicals as well as added sugar.

Make Smart Food Swaps

Contrary to the popular belief, it is possible to eat healthy without giving up your favorite foods. The key is to make smart food swaps, such as using Greek yogurt instead of mayonnaise, dark chocolate instead of regular chocolate, sweet potatoes instead of white potatoes, and nuts instead of croutons.

For example, if you love pancakes, replace white flour with flax meal, almond flour, or whey protein powder. You can also make pancakes using egg whites, bananas, oats, and cinnamon. The same goes for oils and fats. Replace margarine and refined oils with coconut oil, avocado oil, or real butter to cut calories and get more nutrients in your diet.

17 Aug

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Run Your Way to Better Health

August 17, 2015 | By | No Comments

Want to stay fit and healthy all year round? Looking to boost your immune system, shed pounds, and have more energy? If so, start running! This fun yet challenging activity is one of the best calorie-blasting workouts around. Running a few times a week will make you stronger overall, boost your aerobic endurance, and melt fat away. The best part is that it requires no special equipment or fancy tools – all you need is a pair of sports shoes.

The Surprising Health Benefits of Running

The health benefits of running go beyond fat loss. This form of exercise can strengthen your bones, preserve lean muscle, and relieve stress. Studies indicate that people who run regularly have a lower risk of heart disease, diabetes, osteoporosis, and high blood pressure. Running may also reduce your risk of breast cancer, stroke, and coronary artery disease.

Have you heard about the famous “runner’s high?” This activity has psychological benefits too. When you run, your brain releases endorphins that can cause euphoria and make you happier. Researchers have also found that running helps ward off depression, prevents fatigue, and boosts mental alertness. It’s actually one of the best antidepressants around!

Exercise Your Body and Brain

Numerous studies suggest that running increases brain power and improves memory. It also reduces the damaging effects of stress on your body. A regular running routine can delay aging, keep your heart healthy, and lower bad cholesterol. Compared to other forms of exercise, running is ideal for people of all ages and fitness levels. Whether you’re a newbie or a pro athlete, you can reap its benefits.

The risk of dying from any cause is three times lower in people who run at least 51 minutes a week compared to those who don’t exercise at all. Runners also live an average of three years longer and tend to be happier. This activity is incredibly beneficial to your mind, body, and spirit, and can add years to your life.

14 Aug

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The Many Benefits of Walking, Running, and Cycling

August 14, 2015 | By | No Comments

When it comes to living a healthy lifestyle and exercising, there are many ways that we can go about getting active and burning some calories to help us lose fat and keep a good looking physique. Running is without a doubt one of the most popular ways that people choose to either maintain their healthy lifestyle or to try and lose weight and progress in terms of their fitness goals.

But when you are running, the beneficial aspects that most of us are thinking about include our cardiac ability improving as well as losing weight. Of course these things are very important and some of the main benefits you get from running, however, you may not be aware of what some of the other benefits of running include. It is not only good for physical health but it is also great for mental health. Regularly running helps you to be in a better mood and has even been associated with relieving some forms of depression. Various other studies have also shown that people who run find it easier to fall asleep as well as having better quality sleep.

Cycling also has many benefits that can vastly improve your overall wellbeing and keep you on track to your fitness goals. It is actually one of the most effective ways that you can build your stamina due to the fact that it is such a fun way of burning calories. When you are cycling for a long time, you do not really notice how much time has passed as you have fun cycling. Another one of the fantastic things about cycling is that in addition to building strength in your legs, it also strengthens your body holistically as most parts of your body are involved.

The next type of exercise is one that more people tend to start off with before moving onto the things like running and cycling is walking. Apart from the obvious benefits such as helping to keep your weight in check and strengthening your heart, it can also help to prevent dementia. Studies have shown regular exercise has been found to reduce the risk of dementia by as much as 40%. Walking generally isn’t as daunting to get started with as running can sometimes be making it a great activity for beginners.

12 Aug

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10 Benefits of Taking Up Running

August 12, 2015 | By | No Comments

Hi, my name is Alex, and it was a fateful day almost 2 years ago when I decided I needed to lose weight. I was snacking on chips while watching a television program advertising the merits of exercising the abdominals. The presenter used blocks of fat to illustrate the percentage of fat in an obese person who only weighed 20 pounds more than me. When confronted with this stupendous pile of fat I realized I needed to lose weight, I needed to start running. To prevent the physical and psychological barriers of my new running regime from overwhelming me I trained every day and the benefits of this are innumerable. I’ll attempt to give justice to these personal benefits below.

1. It got me into the gym

Many runners planning on taking part in long distance runs such as marathons avoid weights and the gym due to the fear of bulking up and losing their prized lean physique. It is true that extra mass without function will inhibit endurance performance but if you design your weight lifting program properly, strength can be developed without useless bulk. In addition, lifting movements can provide a greater range of motion than running. If you always remember to lift weights and keep good form throughout the entire range of motion then you will gain rather than lose flexibility and reduce the risk of injury. Before I started running I never went to the gym. However, I wanted to gain a holistic level of fitness that would help me be both physically and psychologically prepared to sprint and run long distances.

2. It helped my career

I continued to increase my weekly mileage and found that I wasn’t just losing weight, I was getting fitter. I felt more energized and mentally sharp at work which boosted my ambition and productivity until my boss called me in one day 2 months ago and promoted me as a junior director charged with overseeing my own engineering project and team. It might seem crazy but I credit this personal and professional success to my decision to start training for a marathon. The sad and slightly depressed pizza eating, beer guzzling man of 12 months ago would never have got to where I am now.

3. I feel more confident

I’ve lost weight and gained muscle after so much training and as a result, I feel more comfortable in myself. Close friends and acquaintances alike are complimenting me on my new physique. This has drastically increased my overall confidence, especially with the opposite gender.

4. I lost weight

My initial weight prior to running was 220 pounds but after three weeks of running almost every day I discovered I had lost nearly 5 pounds. I celebrated by heading out with my friends for a night of drinks. After weighing myself the morning after I found that I was again back to 220 pounds. This taught me a valuable lesson about running. Its benefits are innumerable but being a runner is about accepting a long-term mindset. Since then I have become more disciplined and have kept the weight off.

5. I became healthier

Personally, choosing to run and lose weight kick-started a whole new mindset for me. I started educating myself on an assortment of nutrition and fitness related topics: What food is the best energy source for runners? Does stretching after a run help? How to avoid gastric distress on a long run? And I’m not kidding about that last one.

6. I have more friends

Running exposed me to a whole new little subculture in my local area. Every day when driving to work I saw runners sweating it out throughout the day and night. If you start running chances are you’ll somehow become friends with one of these dedicated souls who’ll in turn introduce you to their friends and their friends until you find yourself swapping horribly inappropriate stories with the running gang about gastric distress during a half marathon. This was one of the key benefits of running to lose weight, I found out I wasn’t alone and I gained a valuable group of friends who understand and accept my running obsession in a way my family and other friends never will.

7. I learned how to eat

I was burning so many calories running every day that for the first time in my life I began to seriously consider what I was putting in my mouth. I went online and started educating myself about everything from macro-consumption to the amount of protein I should be eating. My pantry became increasingly green and lean and I haven’t looked back since.

8. I got back into other sports

With my newly garnered athleticism due to running I was encouraged by one of my new running friends to join his basketball league and my game on Friday has become the absolute highlight of my week. I am rubbish at basketball and cannot shoot to save my life but I enjoy the camaraderie and fast paced nature of the game. I intend to try out some other sports and make the most out of what my body can do at my age.

9. I appreciate nature more

I get a chance every day to admire the natural beauty of forest trails and magnificence of human constructs. I have never before appreciated endless highways and cabled steel bridges so much. Concentrating on my breathing and gait while running amidst the hustle and bustle of the world in my own little bubble of self-contemplation I have come to a fundamental and personal conclusion. The true beauty of running for the purpose of losing weight or any other reason is that it becomes something more, something that infiltrates your life in way you never planned for.

10. I ran a marathon

I really can’t understate the benefits that successfully training for and finishing a marathon have had upon me. Immense discipline, self-confidence and a feeling of accomplishment are among the things that have stuck with me. However, the race never ends and I am already trying to improve my speed rather than distance now for my next race.