Take it Outside! Outdoor Fitness Ideas
by Deb McLeod
With flowers blooming and birds chirping, you might have a hankering to get outside. Moving your workout outdoors is one way to get outside, enjoy the fresh air and benefit your health all at once.
If you're a gym rat, though, or you enjoy working out in the privacy of your own home, you might not immediately think to plan a workout in the sunshine. But you don't have to do a formal workout to keep fit. There are many things you can do outdoors that back up your fitness regime and are fun in the process.
Find a park
For some throwback fun, consider finding a park with a par course. These courses lead you through larger parks and instruct you to complete a series of exercises before you jog or run to the next station. (Check with your local parks and recreation department to find out if any of your local parks have a par course.)
If there's no par course, you can still create a fun workout at the park. Find one with a walking or running trail and use that for your cardio component. You can do pull-ups on the monkey bars, chase the kids to the swing set, and use the play structure's stairs as a stepper. In no time, you can create a workout that's a change from the ordinary.
Find a court
Haven't played basketball or tennis in a while? Maybe it's time to dust off the old tennis racquet and give it a go, or head to the park and shoot some baskets. If you have a child old enough to play with you, challenge him or her to a game of pickup basketball, and don't go easy (or let them go easy on you).
Visit the garden center
While this itself isn't a workout, you do have to work with all those plants you buy. Getting your yard ready for a garden and planting is hard work. If you spend a day in the yard sowing your garden, you will get a good workout.
To make gardening even more of a fitness challenge, consider planting a tree or moving a large plant to another part of your yard. The shoveling and handling of the plant will give you a good strength workout.
Be a kid
Head out into your newly refreshed yard and play with the dog. Chase him around the yard. Ten minutes of that is sure to get your heart rate up. Once you are warmed up, challenge the kids to a game of tag, or head to the trampoline to a bit of jumping with them. Think about all the things you enjoyed as a child - digging in the dirt, playing kick ball, playing tag, running after each other with water guns. Act like a kid and you're sure to get a workout.
Take a "walkcation"
These days, everyone talks about the concept of a "staycation" where you take a vacation at home, getting to know your home town like a tourist might. A fitness twist on this is a "walkcation". Get a book or find a website that features hikes near your town, and each weekend take one of the recommended hikes.
Not only will you benefit from a fitness standpoint, but you'll also get to know - with some intimacy - the natural wonder that surrounds you.
And that's good for body and soul.
... Continue reading Take it Outside! Outdoor Fitness Ideas.
Girlfriend Getaways
A weekend away from work and personal responsibilities...time to relax...laughing and bonding with a few friends...These are just a few of the reasons that girlfriend getaways are becoming more popular than ever.
Women account for around 32 million trips last year, and a lot of them were girlfriend getaways. According to the AAA Girlfriend Travel Research Project, these trips now represent four percent of all US leisure travel spending, which is almost $200 million a year.
And what do all these women do on their trips?
* Dining out (86 percent)
* Shopping (74 percent)
* Spa visits (73 percent)
* Going to the beach or pool (70 percent)
Sound good? Then you're ready to get away with the girls.
Planning a getaway can be tricky, so here are some tips to keep in mind.
Talk about money. Everyone involved needs to be honest about how much they can comfortably afford to spend. Remember that the point of the trip is to be together - it doesn't have to be at a swanky resort or exotic locale.
Share the legwork. Each person should do some research on possible destinations. Find out about activities, accommodations, air fare and other potential costs. Then get together over coffee, discuss the details and pick a destination.
It's helpful to have one person in charge of booking, handling the money and communicating with the group. But when it comes to planning itineraries, it's best to take turns. By sharing responsibilities for meal and activity planning, no one can take over the group and everyone has input into the fun.
Step outside your comfort zone. No group trip will thrill everyone all of the time. Be willing to go somewhere you've never been, try new types of food and do an activity you wouldn't normally do.
Because girlfriend getaways are so popular, a number of hotels offer special packages to make the trips even more fun. For example, here are two packages offered by Radisson hotels:
Minneapolis. This package includes a spacious guest room, a bottle of wine upon check-in, a $25 gift certificate to a local mall and a daily buffet breakfast.
Orlando. Some of the goodies in this package include a two bedroom suite, a bottle of champagne with chocolate covered strawberries, a $10 Starbucks gift card, complimentary transportation within five mile radius of hotel, and a $50 dinner for two at the in-house restaurant or a $50 credit for two to a spa, or two guest passes for a local fitness center.
Check the hotels where you're going to find out if they offer anything special for a ladies-only weekend.
Taking a break from it all is a healthy thing to do. And when you can share that break with close friends, you'll come back rejuvenated and ready to take on the world again.
... Continue reading Girlfriend Getaways.
Dealing with the Loss of a Loved One During Valentine's Day
By Louise Zweben, CEO of SympathyTree.com
Valentines Day's, anniversaries, birthdays and the holiday season are especially difficult if you have recently lost a loved one. It is normal to be depressed during these days, as you think of the times you spent together, knowing that those days with that special person are now in the past. The best gift you can give yourself from that special person this Valentine's Day is to start looking ahead. However, it is important to remember that looking ahead does not mean forgetting that special person and leaving those memories behind. It is actually the opposite - looking ahead is about finding a way to keep those fond memories alive forever, knowing that no one can take those times away from you, and that now is the time to move beyond the past and look ahead. This decision to look ahead is an essential part of the grieving and healing process and is vital to your health and balance. On this Valentine's Day, let me share with you four ways to show your love for the one you've lost, while continuing on with your journey of healing.
• Create an online memorial, a unique and meaningful way to capture the life of someone you have loved and lost in stories and pictures, and then share those special memories with close friends and family. Such a memorial keeps all family and friends, including the ones who live far away; talking about the times they shared with that person to provide you the comfort of a close community. Through an online memorial, you build a tribute to that special person which captures what made them so special. You can create an elegant online memorial in just a few minutes with basic computer skills by using a website that offers memorial sites. Above all, it is a love letter to them on this special day. It can help in mourning and healing, so that we can begin to take the first steps needed to move forward.
• View photographs and watch videos of you with your loved one as a way to remember the times you shared with them. Blocking it out when it hurts is not the right thing to do. In fact, the first step in moving forward is looking back.
• Invite close friends or immediate family over to share a meal or just some time together. Any time that you spend with them can be a very cathartic and reflective time and begins the process of putting things in perspective.
• Pledge to join a support group so you can learn to cope with the loss of someone who was a part of what made us what we are. So, what do we do, how do we go on after they are gone and how do we deal with the grief? In addition to family and friends, a support group can help you during this difficult time.
These four things may be the best way to pay tribute to them, to begin to deal with your loss, and to do something very special for them and for yourself on this Valentine's Day.
Louise Zweben is the CEO of SympathyTree, an online memorial site . Louise first had the idea for SympathyTree.com from her personal experiences in dealing with the death of a close family friend. Louise is a serial entrepreneur with successful businesses spanning a wide range of areas including Technology and Real Estate.
... Continue reading Dealing with the Loss of a Loved One During Valentine's Day.
Feeling Fatigued? Try Exercise!
by Karen Asp
You're exhausted. Not only have the shorter days and lack of sunshine sapped your energy, you're also wiped out from the holidays. The last thing you want to do is exercise. Yet here's the irony: A new study confirms that just a little bit of physical activity -- even a brief stroll -- will combat fatigue and give you an instant rush of energy that will last for hours.
More Exercise, Less Fatigue
Researchers from the University of Georgia recently took 36 fatigued non-exercisers and assigned them to one of three groups. For six weeks, one group did 20 minutes of moderately intense exercise on an exercise bike three times a week, the second group did similar workouts but at a more leisurely pace, while the third group did no exercise.
Jump to full text of this article here.
... Continue reading Feeling Fatigued? Try Exercise!.
Do You Have a Pleasure Deficit?
By Jacquelyn B. Fletcher
Last Tuesday a series of things happened that made me realize I am experiencing a pleasure deficit. First, I had a lunch with some really groovy folks. Jocelyn Hale, the Executive Director of the Loft Literary Center, Dennis Cass, the author of the hilarious and fantastic book Head Case, and Pilar Gerasimo, Editor-in-Chief of Experience Life magazine. We were discussing an article in the December issue of Experience Life called A Real Pleasure in which the staff of the magazine describe how all the latest research in the fields of positive psychology, neurology, and psychoneuroimmunology show that pleasure is good for us. Yet, each of us at the table admitted to not taking proper care of ourselves by doing activities that really gave us joy. For instance, I absolutely love massages but I haven't booked one since before my daughter Eva was born. She's 8 months old.
Why? Because when I take breaks that are just for me, my Inner Critic starts beating me up: "You should be spending more time with your husband! How dare you get a massage when you should be playing with your baby! What are you doing taking a break from work? You don't want the bank to foreclose on your house, do you?! Have you seen the state of the kitchen? How could you live in such filth?! Cancel that massage you selfish cow, you have to clean the house!"
After my inspiring lunch appointment, I ended up at the eye doctor with what turned out to be a case of episcleritis. My left eye was all red and it hurt. Why? Because I'd been listening to the Inner Critic's messages and staring at the computer for too many hours in a row. You got it. I'd been working too hard, with too few breaks for fun.
The final straw was a voice message that same day from my friend and co-author Clare. She admitted she was totally exhausted. She's working two jobs and had to work through the Thanksgiving holiday without a break.
Enough! It's time we Smackdown our Inner Critics to take care of ourselves! Instead of letting the Inner Critic freak out on me and tell me I can't possibly get up from the desk since there is so much to do, today I'm going to flip it the bird. After a business phone call I must take at 10:30 a.m. CST, I am outta here! If you don't hear from me for the rest of the day, you'll know I am off visiting a flower shop and inhaling as deeply as I can. Or maybe I'll be tasting a cup of joe in my favorite coffee shop. Or perhaps I'll even book a massage for later this very day. The only errand I'll run is to buy myself a pair of reading glasses - promise!
So what will you do today, right this minute, to increase the joy and pleasurable experiences in your life?
Jacquelyn B. Fletcher is an award-winning author, personal development coach, mom, stepmother, and wife. Find more smackdowns for your inner critic at 101smackdowns.com.
... Continue reading Do You Have a Pleasure Deficit?.
It's All About The Shoes
(NAPSI)-From comfortable mules to towering stilettos, women love to accessorize from the bottom up. According to a 2007 consumer survey, American women own, on average, 19 pairs of shoes--and 15 percent of women own 30 pairs or more.
To give women the opportunity to shop for a good cause, leading multimedia retailer QVC and the Fashion Footwear Association of New York (FFANY) will once again host QVC Presents "FFANY Shoes on Sale," a charitable shoe sale benefiting breast cancer research and education.
This annual event, now in its 15th year, has to date raised more than $28 million for the cause. And the sale, which airs October 15 from 7 to 10 p.m. (ET), lets women indulge their love of shoes while giving back and helping to support a cause that hits very close to home.
With more than 100,000 pairs of shoes being offered at half the manufacturer's suggested retail price, this is a terrific opportunity for both fashion-conscious and budget-minded shoppers to indulge charitably. For details, visit www.QVC.com.
Women who love shoes can help a great cause while indulging their personal style.
... Continue reading It's All About The Shoes.
Give Yourself a Hand - Advice for Maintaining Beautiful Hands
By Alpha Del Bosque
Maintaining beautiful hands is important for maintaining a youthful look at any age. Your hands get the most exposure and show your age the most, so care of them is care for your age. Knowing how to maintain your hands as you age is the best way to make sure they look your best and that you, in turn, look your youngest and best.
As you enter your 20's, your hands look young and healthy for the most part. This is your skin's glory years as it is likely yours overall. While in your 20's is the best time to start preventing the effects of aging, because you don't yet have to worry about treating the effects that are already there.
Premature aging is most often caused by exposure to the sun. In your 20's is the best time to begin protecting your hands. At least twice a day, use a moisturizer with an SPF of at least 15. If you are going to be outdoors in the sun for long periods of time, apply a sunscreen with a UVA blocking agent in it. UVA rays are what cause brown spots and wrinkles. About once a week, exfoliate the skin on your hands by using a facial scrub. Removing old dead skin will help the daily moisturizer you are applying to penetrate deeper into your skin. Finally, apply an over the counter lightening skin ream nightly to your hands. This will fade minor brown spots and discoloration that may already be infiltrating the skin on your hands. Beware, though, if you are not using your sunscreen, the spots will reappear.
As you enter your 30's, your estrogen levels will begin to drop. This drop will cause more dryness in your hands than you experienced in your 20's. In addition, this is the time when the first signs of photo aging may occur (loss of tone in your skin or blotchiness). There are still steps you can take.
Each morning, when you get up, apply a moisturizing cream with a sloughing agent (lactic acid, glycolic acid, or salicylic acid). This will help to keep dead cells from accumulating on your skin's surface. After you moisturize you will need to layer on the sunscreen. Again, the sunscreen should have an SPC of at least 15 and contain either transparent zinc oxide or Parasol 1789. You will also tend to lose moisture during the night. To prevent this, apply an emollient serum to the backs of your hands about a half an hour before you go to bed. Lastly, to fade out any brown spots that have begun to show, apply a prescription bleaching cream (see your dermatologist) in the morning and then some sort of vitamin A derivative in the evening.
As you reach your 40's you skin will begin to thin out, which is a normal part of aging due to a loss of collagen in the skin. You will begin to notice more veins, wrinkles, and sun spots on your hands (if any of them look strange or change shape or color, see a dermatologist).
In your 40's you will want to change to a hand cream that contains whey protein, which has been shown to help the production of collagen. Also as always, don't forget to put on a layer of UVA/UVB blocking sunscreen. In an effort to help produce collagen as you sleep, apply a nonprescription retinol cream or Renovo. If serious wrinkles and spots continue to appear on your hands, you may have to resort to in-office dermatological procedures. Consult your doctor before making any decision about serious treatments. Many of these procedures can help reverse some of the effects of aging that all the measures discussed simply cannot prevent.
It is your face that probably gets noticed first, but your hands get the most exposure: the most exposure to people, the sun, and the elements. Because of that exposure, your hands are what is going to display your age. By taking proper care of your hands you will be able to look your best, and maybe even look younger than you thought you could. So take care of your hands, no matter what your age, and enjoy the benefits.
Alpha Del Bosque has been a beauty expert for the last 7 years. If you want to learn more about make-up, beauty, diets and fitness, visit her web site at http://www.celebritymakeuptips.com
... Continue reading Give Yourself a Hand - Advice for Maintaining Beautiful Hands.
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