Hi, everyone!

I wanted to take the time to blog about an issue that is currently on my mind. This issue is seasonal illnesses, and I want to encourage all readers to put forth the extra effort to remain healthy. Seasons of sickness soon rear their ugly heads, with constant outbreaks of flu, sinus congestion, severe allergies, stomach viruses, etc. Unfortunately, any of us that work in the public arena are more susceptible to these illnesses. I suffered a stomach virus 2 weeks ago, and now trying to recuperate from a dreadful attack of sinus congestion and allergies. One suggestion I offer to colleagues is in the form of a Zinc vitamin, which builds a healthy immune system, equipping your body with a strong-hold defense against microscopic enemies. Of course, I always suggest that you consult your medical provider before making any such decisions. It is always better to be safe than sorry….

Thanks for reading, and if you feel like I have today, let’s both pray for a quick recovery!

Chris

Hi, everyone!

I hope that everyone is ready for a great holiday season. This is a season for much excitement, family “get-togethers”, and social functions. The one negative aspect is, however, that many of us (including myself) choose to over-indulge in the food department. I don’t know if you all agree, but this annual slack in health awareness seems almost instilled within me. I tend to diet, exercise, etc., throughout the year, and save my poor dietary habits for the holiday season. It seems almost as though I treating myself to a holiday gift from myself. I think this is a good topic for us to discuss with the holiday season on our heels. Please feel free to comment and add personal experiences of your own, for that is what this blog is for: to be informative.

We, at Fit Express, wish all of our readers and customers only the best holiday season ever!
Chris

Hello, readers! Today’s topic is “dieting” and the pros and cons thereof. An article in Medical News Today seems to find fault with most of these “miracle” diets, stating that many of these deprive our bodies of much-needed nutrients. We need many of these nutrients to maintain regular levels of energy as well. I do not know about the rest of you, but this came as an eye-opener to me. This is something that is completely logical, but also something we do not readily consider as we subject our bodies to the shock of abnormal dieting habits. Take a look at the article by clicking on the link below:

“Tips And Recommendations For Dieters”
Medical News Today - Article Date: 12 Sep 2007 - 5:00 PDT
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/82096.php

Trying to argue that the youth of today are far larger than ever is a losing argument, so we won’t even try. That said, I am sure you’re more than aware of the fact that one of the main targets of blame in this obesity battle is schools, and the lunches they serve. The question is, ARE they to blame? New studies say no.

That’s right, new studies are showing that when 5000 children were tracked, “the biggest gains in body mass index occurred in the summer when parents had sole responsibility for their children’s diets and exercise opportunities.” So, are you going to let this summer be the same as all the rest while you watch your kid fall deeper into the obesity trap, OR, are you going to use this summer as a fresh start to really get things off on the right foot? That’s what I think you should do, and the article I just read wholeheartedly agrees. The beauty of this summer is, you can teach your kids habits that by the time Fall arrives, really will be habits. That way, during the school year they can begin to truly take care of themselves and get into positive, healthy routines.

The article is packed with great tips for you, the parents, to adopt this Summer. Head over and check out how the experts think you should tackle the arduous task of getting your kids healthy both physically and mentally this Summer. After that, head back to Fit Express and read up on ways you can do this in 30 minutes a day!

What do you do when you want a new weight-loss pill that hasn’t even hit the U.S. market yet? Do you wait and keep up with your consistent daily exercise and diet control? Do you forget about it and work on yourself in other ways? No, if you’re at all like all these people that are so anxious for the new weight-loss pill Acomplia to come out.

If in fact you are like these people, chances are good you’re either going overseas to Europe or even turning to the Internet to acquire these contraband pills before they are legally allowed to be sold on U.S. shelves. I guess the fact that a decision on whether or not the drug is safe has not been made officially three times now, delaying the drug launch by over 16 months. Some people are sick of waiting so overseas they go, or onto foreign web-sites that aren’t afraid to sell the drugs. How scary, and how risky. If the drug has not been approved, obviously it’s for a reason, do you really think it’s easier and safer to try it anyway, rather than just getting up and exercising for 30 minutes a day? Honestly?

At any rate, an interesting read, but please, all my readers, do not do this. If the drug is going to be approved, it will, but for goodness sakes, let it be approved first! Come to Fit Express, give us 30 minutes a day and we’ll transform you. Just be safe!

At least it’s not just the United States anymore! Apparently task forces are popping up in a whole lot of places all of which are demanding the elimination of trans-fats.

According to the new article I just found, “Experts on nutrition and public health called for the elimination of industrial trans fatty acids from food supplies throughout the Americas. The call for action followed the release of a special task force report in Santiago, Chile.” So, based on this fact, they are calling for no trans-fats everywhere in the Americas and I couldn’t be more supportive. Despite the fact that the trans-fat replacements are now being targeted as also unhealthy, the simple fact that there are actually task forces being created and implemented to help combat this kind of dangerous health risk, is a relief to me.

Their “plan” involves the following measures, feel free to read them here, or head over and read the full article for more in-depth analysis: …Read more

Talk about a confusing paradox! While it’s becoming abundantly clear that a large proportion of people in Great Britain are indeed obese and overweight, new studies are showing that in addition to that, or perhaps despite it, they are also malnourished. The term malnourished might leave a lot of people even more confused and thinking of starvation, but in this case, it means that the high-fat, salt and caloric intake of most Britons is leaving them low on all the essential vitamins and minerals they need.

According to the article I just read, “The Department of Health says at least 2 million Britons are likely to be malnourished. Many nutrition experts put the figure as high as 4 million, about 6 percent of Britain’s population.” Wow. The scariest thing, to me, is there are no stats as of yet as to how many of the overweight and obese are malnourished. With 22% of the nation obese and a whopping 75% overweight, who Knows how bad that could be.

Anyhow, sorry to start your fine Monday off with news like this, but hey, Monday’s are never fun, now are they?!

Finally, the end of the week, and the final round of the numbers day! This last one, before you go enjoy your fine Spring/Summer weekend, is a collection of the 15 best diet tips from all over the globe, all over the industry, and all over the internet. I found this article while browsing my feeds, and I have to say, it’s a perfect way to end the week.

On this site, the majority of the time I spend trying to stress that no matter what kind of diet plan you’re on, or wanting to be on, exercise is the best thing you can possibly do to not only help yourself reach your goal weight, but to keep your entire body healthy, trim and functioning properly. No matter how your diet goes, without at least 30 minutes a day of exercise, you’re wasting your time. At any rate, it’s helpful to get some tips on the Diet end of the spectrum, and this article does just that. So, to save you time, here are the top 5 “best diet tips ever,” for you to read up on. For the full list of 15, head over and read the full article!

1. Drink plenty of water or other calorie-free beverages.
2. Think about what you can add to your diet, not what you should take away.
3. Consider whether you’re really hungry.
4. Be choosy about nighttime snacks.
5. Enjoy your favorite foods.

There you are, and now, you should read the other 10, they are just as helpful, just as simple, and just as effective. Now, get off the computer, put on your shoes and go exercise somewhere! It might just be a beautiful day where you are, take advantage of it!

Alright alright, Round 2 of the Numbers posts! This one comes from WebMD and is a VERY helpful little article. You know all those people that just seem to ALWAYS be skinny no matter what? Seems like they put in little to no effort and always maintain a healthy body, while you or your friends bust your butts daily and see little or no results? Yeah, turns out they might just have little secrets too…man, everyone has secrets!

Lucky for all of us, WebMD has chronicled 8 of those very secrets of the “naturally slim” and jotted them down for your viewing pleasure and education. Can’t beat that now can ya! The full article goes much more in-depth, but here for your convenience are the 8 “secrets” they might just be using:

1. They Choose Satisfied Over Stuffed
2. They Realize Hunger Isn’t An Emergency
3. They Don’t Use Food To Cure The Blues
4. They Eat More Fruit
5. They’re Creatures Of Habit
6. They Have A Self-Control Gene
7. They’re Movers And Shakers
8. They Sleep–Well

There you go! For more clarification head over and read the full article, then zip back to Fit Express to get your consistent daily exercise; I have another little secret for you, naturally slim people exercise on average, a whole heck of a lot more than those that aren’t. Take that tip, and try it out on yourself!

Ok, a little fair warning for today…it’s going to be numbers kind of day. When I say that, I mean that today, I have 3 great posts on 3 great articles I have found that all have a numbered list of sorts. Rest assured, on a scale of 1-10, after reading the 3 today, you’ll be at about an 11 as far as feeling better about facing this weekend!

First up, I found a great article packed with 6 reasons why we, as a culture, are not eating healthier. The options are there, the choices are there, but for some reason, the vast majority of us choose time after time to eat the junk. This article, and the research behind it, thinks it knows why that is the case, and offers 6 very helpful reasons to compare and contrast your own lifestyle to. If you have some of these reasons on the list, realize it, and maybe make a change for the better. So, as always, read the full article, but for now, here are those aforementioned 6 reasons:

” 1. Calories. Some70% of those who reported trying to eat healthier said they were doing so because they wanted to lose weight. Yet only 11% of Americans knew how many calories they should be eating each day. (To find out your own recommended calorie level, go to http://www.mypyramid.gov/mypyramid/index.aspx.)

2. Diet and Exercise. Most Americans — 84% — say they are physically active for health benefits at least once a week. But 44% of those who are active say that they don’t balance diet and physical activity to manage their weight. “Consumers need to understand that calories have to be balanced with physical activity — either by eating less or exercising more — to achieve weight control,” says Bonnie Taub-Dix, RD, a spokeswoman for the American Dietetic Association.

3. Breakfast. According to 90% of Americans, breakfast is the most important meal of the day (something most dietitians agree with). Still, less than half (49%) report eating it every day. (If this sounds like you, dietitians recommend stocking your kitchen with healthy “grab and go” breakfasts: low-fat yogurt, cereal bars, whole-grain cereal, and hard-boiled eggs.)

4. Fats. Americans’ concern about how much and what kind of fats we eat is up from a year ago (from 66% to 72%) and we’re specifically trying to consume less trans fats. But it seems we’re as confused as ever about which fats are healthier. Some survey participants reported trying to eat less polyunsaturated fats, but this is one of the fats recommended for health benefits. (For the record, healthier fats include canola, olive, corn and safflower, though it’s important to keep in mind that all fats are high in calories.)

5. Carbohydrates. Americans are getting the message that some types of carbs can improve the healthfulness of their diets. More than 70% of those surveyed said they are trying to eat more fiber and whole grains. But even though low-carb diets have seen a drop in popularity lately,more than 50% of Americans are still concerned about the amount of carbohydrates they consume.

6. “Functional” Foods. According to the survey, Americans believe that consuming specific foods and beverages can provide health benefits, like improving heart health (80%); digestive health (76%); and energy or stamina (76%). Yet more than 50% of those surveys say they don’t actually consume food or beverages that deliver these benefits.”

There you go…I don’t know about you but I very much agreed with all of them. I especially love that exercise made the list. If I could say one change people could make to see better results with whatever diet they choose, it’d be exercise. Get up, and get moving!