Over the last week I have been living in an airport in Toronto and a hotel that is connected to an airport and working really long days. This situation is a very dangerous one for your health as it seems to take a lot of control out of your hands as far as healthy lifestyle choices are concerned.

Because of the hours and the proximity to the hotel I have no car or even a need for a car and have been handcuffed as far as food choices go so I wanted to give a few tips for travel and eating and exercise for those that have not a lot of these choices.

1. Finding fresh fruit and vegetables – First thing that I did when I got booked into the hotel was ask where the nearest market was to get some fruit and veggies. This is an automatic for me whenever I travel but I got a very vague “Its a long ca ride away” and “The restaurant can make you some vegetables” so I knew there would be no help there. Instead I prowled the airport and found a coffee bar that sells apples and oranges. I get an apple, bran muffin and coffee for breakfast every morning. Read the rest of this entry »

Looking to make a change and lose some weight? I have reviewed the top diet on the internet and you can go and read over 200 comments people have made about why this diet has worked well for them, as well as some of the problems.

We see advances in medical science every day and every year there are changes to health and medicine that radically help people now, so what can a baby born today expect as a lifespan?

More than half of the babies born today in developed countries will live to be 100, and the extended lifespan will likely come with fewer disabilities and limitations, according to a review of aging and its impact on healthcare systems.

The question will be though I guess, what about developed countires. Many people in developing countries do not live to 40, which to us in the west seems like just approaching middle age nowadays.

The growing population of very old individuals will challenge nations’ healthcare resources, but recent trends suggest the strain on society will be manageable. The authors cite evidence of progress against conditions that predominate at older ages and a redistribution of the labor across age groups as major influences on the trends but not solutions in and of themselves. Read the rest of this entry »

Diet Tribe is a diet and exercise show on the Lifetime network and this season will be a bit different than last with a few additions.

This season the contestants will try to lose weight and improve their health by preparing for a triathalon as well as haveing a phychotherapist on the show helping the people try to figure out those problems that they may not recognise that are causing them to gain weight.

As we all know obesity is a really big issue in North america and with shows like the Biggest Loser getting a lot ratings, and interest from TV viewers it is not surprising at all that Lifetime is mixing up Diet Tribe and bringing it back for another season. Read the rest of this entry »

Losing weight and staying fit might seem like it is an uphill battle at times. The process does take a lot of patience and hard work, but many people get frustrated or lose sight of their goals only after a few short months. While being physically fit definitely takes effort, there are some things you should remember in order to stay successful in your fitness journey.

Keep these three simple tips in mind when you embark on the path towards a healthier you, and you should be successful in due time.

You have to change your lifestyle. Being fit does not just mean you can walk a great distance for a long period of time, or that you are not sick. True physical fitness requires an actual lifestyle change. Quitting smoking and the consumption of alcohol (except in moderation) as well as eating a healthier diet and getting proper exercise all require a change in the way you live your life. Read the rest of this entry »

I am right now in the midst of a move and I am really finding it difficult to keep any kind of schedule for eating and exercise.

Over the last week as we took possession of our new home we have been cleaning and packing and moving boxes but at the same time the kids are really out of sorts with one foot in the new house and one in the old place. This should end soon after this weekend as all of the stuff is moved to our new home.

These kinds of life changes really wreak havoc on my schedule and just like most people I know what I should be doing but still kinda procrastinate instead of doing what I should be doing.

At the end of last week I stopped working out for no other reason than the moving was just exhausting on it’s own and I am just not getting the sleep needed to let my body recover. I know that, in fact we all know that if you do not get enough sleep and rest then your body just will not recover quickly. This as well should change in the next week as I get a little grumpy when I get slothlike and do not get enough exercise.

Nutrition and eating are by far my biggest problems these day. I have packed up half the kitchen and my wife was not wathcing as I packed up and moved some of thopse critical things for eating. BBQ is still around as is lots of fruit and we are not watching much TV so there is not a lot of snacking going on. One of the staples of my lifestyle is leftovers for lunch as well as bagels or oatmeal for dinner so most of my eating has still been good but our dinners are migrating towards some kind of easy fast food more often then not.

So what do we eat for dinner?

Well my wife is really conscious about what we eat and tries to cut down on fats. We have been out to the places that offer the most vegetables so Subway (no this is not a Biggest Loser flashback) gives us lots of choices as do some of the pita places. I am still a sucker for a burger at wendys but my wife will get salad with low fat dressing.

I have not been very active with this blog over the last few days, and I would like to apologize for that because I always like to write and help and at the same time I seem to just not be finding time. Hopefully a new house and a new schedule will help and I know that I have lots of ideas for future posts. If you don’t hear from me over the next few days then just wait for next week for lots more stuff.

Soccer is a very popular sport for kids and parents alike, and some teams can start up as young as the age of five or six years old. For soccer coaches (and parents) of younger children, there are a few important tips to remember when training the kids for their games. The fitness drills you implement should be fairly easy and not too rigorous, at least until the age of eleven. At that age, the difficulty can gradually be increased.

Think about the kids’ speed, endurance, and agility, but do not work them too hard. It is important to try and get the most ball touches out of every single practice and every single game. Even if no goals or very few goals are scored kids need to feel as if they are accomplishing something, so by encouraging them to kick the ball is important.

A good chunk of time should be dedicated to getting the kids to kick the ball around on the field. Encourage them to have fun with it, and remind them that right now at practice, there is no pressure to score. It’s more important to just be able to visualize and then kick the ball.

The combination of both fitness and ball training should be emphasized. If the kids are physically fit and agile, they should be able to play well. The goalies should also be encouraged to try and block and/or catch the ball as it comes their way. A few simple goalie tests or practice tactics are good to try here to get them involved. Remind the goalies that their role is also very important for the entire team.

If all of the kids are physically fit, you will be able to move onto focusing on the actual game of soccer. A quick run around the field (or half of the field if the children are really small) is a good way to watch and spot check different team members to make sure they are able to run without too many issues.

Encourage all of the kids to try their best without putting too much pressure on them. As long as they understand the concept of soccer and how the game is played, they should do fine. Keep in mind that especially at a younger age, soccer and other sports are meant to be a fun way to work and play together as a team.

Many people have a vision of what the word fitness means. With so many advertisements and promises of a physically fit body, it can become difficult to determine and define what fitness is. It’s definitely a multi-million dollar per year industry, but sadly many Americans don’t know what it means to truly be fit.

Different people have different definitions and limitations on what fitness means. For example, a long distance or marathon runner might define it as having a strong lung capacity and good leg muscles. A bodybuilder or a weight lifter may say that fitness is in how many pounds one can bench press, or the amount of muscle mass one has. The reality is that fitness is determined by each individual person’s definition of what fitness truly is for them and their needs.

True physical fitness is the ability to have endurance, strength, flexibility, and stamina all in one. It also includes speed and balance. While no one will be perfect in all of these areas, just being able to maintain them all at a reasonable level is sufficient to be deemed physically fit.

Some athletes excel in certain areas, while they might fall back on others. But they should be able to at least perform all skill sets in a minimal way without too much difficulty. This is the real definition of someone who is fit. The ability to perform all of these physical tasks in a way that a person can go from one thing to another without any problems is considered fit.

For the “average Joe,” physical fitness might not be as easy as it sounds. It takes hard work and determination to get someone’s stamina, speed, and muscle capacity up to par. Training on a daily, if not weekly basis can help tone someone’s body and get it trained into a working machine that will be able to run, jump, throw, and stretch much further than ever before. Come up with a plan and a program that will be easy to perform, and then expect to increase the difficulty as time goes by.

If you don’t notice a change within the first few months, your fitness plan may need to be revised. With time and patience, anyone can be fit and healthy. You do not have to be an Olympic swimmer or a famous football player to be physically fit and able to perform physically challenging tasks. Training the body to work harder and smarter is something anyone can do, and the rewards are amazing.

The concept of physical fitness and what it means can be different from one person to the next. Experts have a clear definition of what it means to be fit, and most people understand some of these elements.

True physical fitness, however, involves several parts of a successful plan. Whether you’re getting ready to start a new fitness plan or you’ve been working on one for quite some time, here are elements of a successful fitness plan that everyone should incorporate into their lives.

1. Cardiovascular fitness: This element is extremely important to any fitness plan. It involves the health and stamina of the heart and nervous system, as well as the circulation that goes through the human body. Aerobic exercise is an excellent way to ensure cardiovascular fitness, but brisk walking and other similar habits can also help. This element determines how well oxygen is delivered to the brain and lungs, and ensures the body gets what it needs.

2. Muscle strength: The muscles are an integral element of fitness. Muscle not only burns fat, but it helps us to perform daily tasks and exercise more efficiently. Weight lifting is the best way to gain more muscle, and free weights are a great way to start out.

3. Endurance: Not only is muscular strength important, but muscular endurance is important for overall fitness as well. How long your muscles can withstand resistance and weights is essential to good health. It helps to gauge how strong the muscles are. A good test is to see how long someone can hold a certain amount of weight, and then increase the weight in order to determine endurance levels. Biking and step machine exercises are also good ways to improve muscle endurance.

4. Flexibility: The term flexibility refers to how well the joints work, and how well the body is able to move in a wide range of motion. Often, gymnasts and swimmers are very flexible, but anyone can improve their flexibility with a few simple things such as stretching and yoga. This is an important part of fitness because it allows the body to keep a strong core, and prevent back pain or injury.

5. Body composition: Your body composition is basically how much fat versus muscle you have. This is often determined by figuring out someone’s BMI or Body Mass Index number. The less fat and more muscle you have overall, the more fit you are. Remember that men tend to carry less fat than women, so getting trim and toned may take some more time if you are female. A combination of strength training and good aerobic exercise can improve your overall body composition, ensuring your overall fitness levels.

I have been reading a lot of blog posts today and seeing people doing weigh-ins and losing weight. I know that losing weight is not a priority to me but instead overall fitness is my top priority (6′0″ 200 lbs) but lately there have been a lot of changes in my life and I have been eating out a lot more and not always making the best decisions although I have stayed well away from any buffet tables.

But how about you?

About a month or so ago I wrote an email to all of the people that have subscibed to my 21 days of fitness email program and stated that if you just make a goal of what you wnat in one month than you will be much more likely to reach that goal instead of one of those big 1 year of 5 yeatr goals. Well did you read that email or the post that I posted here about that? How have you been doing? Did you lose weight in the last month? Did you get in better shape?

The key to everything in life is the way that you concentrate on what is really important and those things that you are concentrating on will be the things that will happen in your life.

Summer is not over. Do you want to lose some weight? Do you want to be more active? This month, July, and next month, August are the best months to lose weight if for no other reason than there is lots to do outside and there is lots of fresh fruits and veggies to prime your energy pump.

So go do something today to make those great things happen in your life

I believe just as many others do that positive thinking and written goals are something that can propel you too much greater success than just hoping for good to come. One thing that should be mentioned too more often though is the role of negative thinking in our lives.

Negative thinking to me is just looking at the bad side of a situation. Things like “If I run I might hurt myself” or “I don’t want to give up chocolate forever” or “What’s the point, I will probably fail anyway” these are very dis-empowering thoughts and they will stop you from achieving success. Really all negative thinking is is a pattern of thought. Since it is a pattern you can change it and not have it as much in your life anymore.

We have all had tough times and bad thoughts roll through our head but if you think about a time when you were excited and looked forward to a situation compared to a time where you were scared, worried and though you might fail you can remember I am sure the lack of strength and the lack of commitment that you felt. There is nothing worse and what a terrible way to go through life scared of what is coming up looking with fear at the opportunities that await. Read the rest of this entry »