Category Archives: Fitness

Learn how to fit fitness into your day and reap the rewards for the rest of your life here at the Families.com Fitness Blog.

Lifestyle Replacing Diet Plans?

You might be surprised to learn that less and less people (especially women) are dieting.  At first, this might sound like a bad thing.  After all, isn’t obesity a significant problem in the United States?  Shouldn’t more people be dieting? Well there are a couple of issues to consider.  The first is that many women are starting to embrace and accept their bodies.  Not that they don’t want to make healthy changes.  But there is less concern about being stick-thin. Others truly don’t see having too much weight as being unattractive. There are a couple of ways to look at … Continue reading →

Types of Heart Rate Monitors

My last blog talked about how heart rate monitors can improve fitness.  Now we are going to look at the different types that are available and who would benefit from having one. However, I feel a reminder is in order here.  Always consult first with a doctor before starting a new exercise program. The two basic types of heart rate monitors are chest strap models (which go around your chest) and finger sensor models (wristwatch style, where you touch a sensor with your finger).  A variety of features can be found with both types. The following are some of the … Continue reading →

Improving Fitness with a Heart Rate Monitor

When it comes to fitness devices, most of us are probably more familiar with the benefits of a pedometer than a heart rate monitor.  But you might want to consider investing in one, if you want to improve your fitness even more. Exercise is about more than just how often you do it and for how long.  The level (or intensity) of the exercise is just as important. A heart rate monitor can keep track of your heartbeats, allowing you to stay in the appropriate heart rate zone.  In other words, you don’t want the intensity of your exercise to … Continue reading →

Setting Fitness Goals with a Pedometer

There are many different ways you can set fitness goals for the New Year.  One is by using a pedometer. What I love about these is you can pick them up for as little as $10.  But you can certainly spend much more on a nicer model. One type of goal you might want to set is taking 10,000 steps a day.  If that sounds like too much, you can reduce the amount. Some people like to figure out the average number of steps they take and then set goals from that.  The best way to do this is calculate … Continue reading →

Unhealthy Behaviors and Emotions

Does psychology play a role in the ability to lose weight?  For some people, the battle to shed extra pounds requires more than a good diet and exercise plan.  There could be something much deeper going on. In fact, some experts believe that in the majority of cases where people struggle with their weight, there are unhealthy behaviors and emotions involved.  If that’s true, then the best plan in the world won’t be able to conquer the problem. So it comes down to the heart of the issue.  It may go beyond the lack of willpower to stop eating when … Continue reading →

Benefits of Treadmills and Elliptical Exercisers

Going to the gym is not my thing.  And I always crack up whenever I drive past the clubs with the large windows, where you can see people walking on treadmills. For some reason, sweating seems like something that should be done in private.  But maybe that’s just me. At the same time, I’m not the type of person to fork out a lot of money on gym equipment.  Especially if there is the chance I won’t stick to it.  But a few years ago I made a worthwhile investment when I purchased a treadmill. Notice that I didn’t say … Continue reading →

Sitting Can Kill You

Just when you start to feel pretty good about your health, a new study comes along to smash it all to smithereens.  Apparently, exercising isn’t enough if you sit on your bottom for more than six hours a day. After doing some quick calculations I realized this is the case for me.  Like millions of others, I have a desk job.  So I am pretty much forced to sit. Not only are they saying it’s bad for your health.  It could even be killing you! Why?  Our bodies go into shutdown mode when we are sitting.  Doing this for long … Continue reading →

Don’t Sabotage Your Efforts

Have you been struggling with keeping your New Year’s resolutions?  There could be things you are doing or not doing that will sabotage all of your efforts, not only in the way of losing motivation but getting injured. Let’s consider some of the ways this can happen.  One way is by jumping too quickly into a fitness routine that your body isn’t ready for. I can’t help but chuckle as my husband and I discussed his ability (or should I say inability) to handle an insanity workout.  We were watching an infomercial and both of us agreed that the movements … Continue reading →

Negative Consequences of Yo-Yo Dieting

Most of us know that yo-yo dieting (losing weight, gaining weight, losing again, gaining again) isn’t good for your health.  Studies in the past have suggested that it could lead to gallbladder disease, high cholesterol and blood pressure. It may also have a negative psychological impact, such as leading to depression.  It can actually decrease your motivation and make you feel that weight loss will never happen. According to new research by Wake Forest University, in postmenopausal women yo-yo dieting may actually increase the risk of developing heart disease.  One of the things that can happen is that although blood … Continue reading →

Fitness Should Be a Lifestyle Change

We’re just a few days into the New Year.  Are you still feeling the same resolve to make this a healthier year? It’s no secret that gym clubs are swarming in the month of January.  More fruits and vegetables are purchased in January.  Changes are being made across the board. Yet it’s not uncommon for this to start dropping off in February and March.  By April it’s pretty obvious who are going to be the ones most likely to stick it out. While the good intentions are there, it won’t be what keeps you going.  There has to be more … Continue reading →