Don’t Be So Hard On Your Knees!

Sometimes a weeks worth of bending and floor exercises can take a toll on your knees. One time last month, I had to come home and apply heating pads and Icy Hot to my knees because they ached so bad. Then I finally realized that my workout regimens were focusing too much on things that were working my legs more than any other body part.

If you’re looking for other ways to workout that don’t put too much stress on the knees, try switching a couple of exercises for these:

Stationary bikes
Boxing
Elliptical trainer
Ergometers
Swimming

Also, to help protect your knees against injuries, try exercises like knee circles, hamstring curls, leg lifts, and wall sits to help strengthen their knees.

Keep Yourself Energized During the Day

Because you don’t run off batteries like the Energizer Bunny, it’s only natural that doing too much work at one time can put you in a burn-out stage fast. In order to avoid this, how about trying these three tips:

1. Take a Nap
If you work too much during the day and you’re unable to take naps, try finding another way to relax your mind. For example, on your lunch break, try massaging your temples for 5 minutes. This can relax the tense muscles in that head of yours and prepare you for the next segment of the day.

2. Meditation
Take at least 15 to 20 minutes a day to meditate by yourself. It doesn’t matter what you do during this time, just make sure you do it. For example, you can listen to a guided CD or a stress release meditation CD.
3. Schisandra
There is a berry that has been used for years to rejuvenate the senses; it contains vitamins and flavanoids that can help boost your immune system. It boosts physical and mental abilities.
So this week, take this time out for you, and when you feel you’re overdoing things, try some of these three remedies.

What do you do to rejuvenate your body?

3 Instant Stress Relievers

There are many simple things that we can do eliminate daily stress that life may bring. Three things that I have found helpful to keep stress at a minimum are:  breathe better, expect the unexpected, and try to think happy thoughts.

As you’re reading this, I would like for you to try a breathing exercise.  Try taking some deep breaths and release them slowly.  Doing this relaxes the nerves, eases tension, and gives you a chance to recollect your thoughts. 

In preparation for the unexpected, it is important to understand that sometimes things may not happen as planned, but if you prepare yourself beforehand, you’ll less likely panic.  This will save a lot of emotional stress that come with the unforeseen.

Thinking happy thoughts always gets me through tough times.  I think that’s why I watch a lot of comedy shows; getting a good laugh is good for the soul.

What are some ways that you handle daily stress?

Healthy Habits 101: Green Tea- Great for Drinking… And for De-puffing?

That’s right all you green tea fans out there– while most people recognize green tea as a great antioxidant drink that’s good for your body, what most people don’t know is that green tea works on improving the skin’s appearance, and even kicks back at wrinkles. If you buy the tea bags, there’s a secret weapon waiting to take on puffs and bags under the eyes. So after you’ve emptied your mug, squeeze out any extra liquid from the bag, and place them over your eyes to reduce the puffs. Who would have known, some of the simplest solutions to your beauty answers are right in your kitchen.

Baby Training

Do you agree with weight training for babies? The American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) contends that strength training for kids is both safe and beneficial and does not cause any bone-plate (growth) disturbances, provided that the program is properly designed and competently supervised. There is this article that gives you seven tips for weight training your toddler.

Here are some tip:
Safety is your first priority. Invest in some expert advice.
Work in small groups as partner exercises are fun for kids.
All exercises should be completed in a slow and controlled manner until perfect technique is established.
Workout yourself. Kids learn best by example.

Click here to read more.

Enroll Back Into The Gym

I’m not sure if you like to workout, but I know I try to every once in awhile. It can be hard making time to workout. I want my body to look it’s best, but sometimes I feel like a gym dropout. You know what a gym drop out is. It’s like a high school dropout. You dropout before you really get a chance to reach your goals or complete your mission. There is this informational article that explains how you may be a gym dropout. It also comes with a short exercising quiz. If you feel like you are- take the quiz and get back on your feet and go back to the gym. You can do it!

Click here to take the quiz.

Change Your Socks

How many times do you change your socks during the day? I know it’s a weird question. But studies have shown that changing your socks during the day is an amazing trick for a refreshment of energy. As the day goes by your feet sweat. So changing your socks (let’s say around lunch time) will give you a fresh feeling for the rest of the day. Feeling fresh allows you to relax and feel better about yourself.

Learn more tricks here.

Light Therapy Battles Depression

Depression may be caused by a number of psychological reasons, and one of the major causes of depression, the kind that just seems to appear suddenly, is external stimulation or a change in the immediate environment surrounding someone who is suffering from a bout of depression. These stimulants can be the weather, the lack of activity or deeper psychological reasons, however, for a wide variety of depression types, light therapy has been known to alter and improve the mood of the majority of patients both in the short term and in the long run.

More on this article

Tips to Stay Healthy During Air Travel

Have you ever arrived at your destination feeling exhausted and dehydrated?

There are some good reasons for this feeling: the cabin of an airplane usually has a humidity level of 10 to 20 percent; typical indoor humidity is 30 to 6 percent. Humidity in the air keeps your airways moist so the lining can help trap germs trying to enter your body; when the air is too dry the mucous in your airway can’t do the job and viruses or bacteria can enter more freely.

There are a number of things you can do to prevent this from happening:

• Drink plenty of water. The rule of thumb is 8 ounces of water for every hour you are in the air. Caffeine and alcohol may aggravate dehydration and should be avoided or kept to a minimum.

• Chew gum and swallow often to help prevent sinus and ear problems.

• Bring a good moisturizer with you. The air inside the plane cabin can cause your skin to become dry, flaky and itchy. You can also use a small water spritzer to spray your face to prevent it from drying out during the flight

• Use eye drops, especially if you wear contact lenses.

• Dry cabin air can cause nosebleeds so consider using a saline nasal spray or drops.

• To prevent blood clots ask for an exit row or aisle seat for more leg room. Stretch often and avoid crossing your legs.

• To reduce stress arrive early and wear comfortable clothing and shoes.

• If you are prone to motion sickness, travel on an empty stomach and keep your seat upright. Don’t read or watch the movie during bumpy spells.

For more tips, check out everydayhealth.com.

Stay Healthy, Stay Hydrated

According to the Beverage Institute for Health & Wellness, staying hydrated isn’t that difficult.
Knowing what hydration is may help you understand how important it is to your health. Athletes may have increased hydration demands, but this does not mean that you shouldn’t be trying to drink a few more glasses of straight-up water yourself.

Also, there is an increased awareness lately of hyponatremia, more popularly called “water poisoning” or “water intoxication.” While potentially life threatening, the risk of heat stroke and heat exhaustion remain high and should not be discounted.

Hyponatremia is a condition where you have consumed so much water that the sodium levels in your bloodstream are reduced to dangerously low levels. There is a balance that must be struck between keeping your body cool in the summer heat but keeping the levels of sodium and other minerals high enough.

Adding sports drinks into your diet can help with this goal, although many drinks contain high fructose corn syrup. While you need the sugar (and salt, potassium and magnesium) found in these activity drinks, steer away from the potent sweetness of HFCS.

There are some “older” remedies as well to maintain your sodium levels.  Pickle juice has long been used by athletes to help prevent muscle cramping. It contains salt, sugar, and vinegar; all three of these are used by the body when working hard. Vinegar, also known as acetic acid, is similar to the citric acid found in sports drinks

At work, keep a bottle of water on hand at your desk and keep drinking it throughout the day. Waiting until you’re thirsty is usually too late to be of immediate help to your body.

How do you keep hydrated and refreshed throughout the day?