Love to Laugh

  I subscribe to the healthy lifestyle emails sent out by Ellie Krieger, a nutritionist who has her own cooking show on the Food Network. Her last email was all about the benefits of laughing. It turns out, there are some very scientific health benefits to laughing. Laughter improves your mood, eases stress, reduces anxiety and can help boost your emotional stability and creativity. Laughter also "reduces pain, improves immune function, lowers blood pressure, and may contribute to a longer life."  Add a little more laughter into each day. It will improve your physical and emotional health, and as a side benefit it will be an abdominal work out too. :)

Curb Sugar Cravings

Want to curb sugar cravings? Try adding more protein to snacks and meals. It will help you avoid spikes in blood sugar and keep you satisfied longer throughout the day. The more sugar-rich, processed and carbohydrate filled foods you eat, the more a chemical in your brain gets released that makes you feel relaxed.  Generally these highly processed foods don't keep you satisfied for very long. Instead of reaching for the chips or cookies, try balance some protein (hummus, almond butter, even a small piece of cheese) with some fresh fruit or veggies. The more fiber and protein in a snack or meal, the longer you'll stay full. (Food Tip from IDEA fitness magazine, p.58).

Go Red for Women

Did you know that heart disease is the number one killer for women? The American Heart Association has an amazing campaign called Go Red for Women. Their goal is to help end Heart Disease in Women. If you're looking for more information on how to get involved, go to www.goredforwomen.org. They also provided some simple tips we can all do to improve our heart health. They include Eating a healthy diet which is rich in Omega-3 fatty acids (which can from fish oil supplements and/or eating oily fish twice a week like salmon), high in fruits and veggies and whole-grain/high fiber foods, trying to keep our sodium intake under 1500 mg a day, avoiding trans-fats and keeping saturated fats to under 7% of your daily calories, eating less than 150 mg of cholesterol a day and finally, drinking no more than 1 alcoholic drink a day. Smoking cigarettes can also increase our risk of heart disease. The American Heart association also suggests doing 150 minutes of moderate intensity exercise such as brisk walking a week (that evens out to around 21 minutes a day). If you're looking to lose weight, they recommend 60 - 90 minutes of exercise a day. Let's get a jump start on our health and make positive changes in our lives. 

September Discount

§      Swing into your fall routine. Join a class, meet new friends or bring old friends. Each person you refer for the month of September will get 5% off their first class and you’ll receive 10% off you package of sessions. (redeemable at action in motion Pilates and Physical Therapy. You must mention this blog).

Tip of the Month: September

§      Fall kicks off a time where kids are back in school, people are back from vacation, and most people look to get back into a normal routine. Look at your work schedule and identify the best time to get exercise (it may shift depending on what your routine has been like over the summer), prep meals ahead of time and put leftovers in the fridge for when you don’t feel like cooking. It’s always about consistency not perfection. Allow yourself the needed time to get away from the lazy days of summer and move into your new routine.