Treadmill star

Treadmill star. On April 30, 2004, three-time Iron man competition winner Chris Bergland entered the Guinness Book of World Records when he completed an astounding 153.76 miles on a treadmill in a 24-hour period. Bergland runs only on treadmills. Over the past ten years he has logged more than 25,000 miles on them.
More Health and Fitness

Heart disease

Heart disease. A Centers for Disease Control national survey on the prevalence of heart disease in the U.S. found the highest rates of heart disease in Alabama, Arizona, Florida, Kentucky, and Louisiana. The study found education level to be an important factor in heart disease rates, i.e., the lower a person's education, the higher their chance of being diagnosed with heart disease.
More Health and Fitness

Her Sports

Her Sports Magazine. This monthly magazine motivates its readers to achieve their fitness goals, stay healthy and be active through practical guidance on training, health and nutrition. Their mantra: encourages women to be involved in sports, participate in active travel, adopt healthy nutrition habits, and to nourish their mind as well as their body. Learn more at HerSports.com
More Health and Fitness

Smoking

Smoking. Following are the basic facts about smoking: it is dangerous; it increases your chances of having a heart attack, stroke, lung disease and cancer; second-hand smoke is dangerous to others nearby; you can quit smoking even if you have smoked for a long time; when you quit smoking you will feel better, live longer and save money.
More Health and Fitness

Why we age

Why we age. There are over 300 theories proposed for the biological basis of aging. Many of those theories fit into two categories: stochastic and genetics. Stochastic theories believe age is a result of random damage to cells and organs over time. Genetic or programmed theories believe the death of our cells and organs are not random but are genetically determined.
More Health and Fitness

Planks

Planks. This exercise works the abs. Start by lying face down on the floor, legs straight and feet together, looking straight ahead. Keeping your body straight, use your abs to lift your body on your toes and forearms, hold for thirty-seconds and return to the start position for one repetition. Start with thirty-second intervals and increase as desired.
More Health and Fitness

Breathe

Breathe. Breathing allows for the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide between your body and the outside world. The average person reaches peak respiratory and lung capacity in their mid 20s. Then they begin to loose respiratory capacity at a rate of 10 to 27 percent per decade. You can offset this decline with cardiovascular exercise in order to maintain or improve your breathing capacity.
More Health and Fitness

Oblique Twists

Oblique Twists. This simple crunch exercise works the side abdominal muscles. Start by lying flat on a mat with your knees bent. Using your abs, lift your head and back toward your knees (similar to doing a sit-up). While in this position, rotate your upper torso to the right, back to the center, and then to the left for one repetition. Increase your repetitions as desired.
More Health and Fitness

Jogging versus running

Jogging versus running. What is the difference between jogging and running? Obviously running is faster than jogging. Some say running a mile in less than 9 minutes is considered running, while running slower than a 9-minute mile is considered jogging. Others say if you are moving at slower than 6 miles per hour you are jogging.
More Health and Fitness

Serving sizes

Serving sizes. MensHealth.com recently published a handy way to keep your diet in check. Use your hand as a reference to estimate portion sizes as follows: two fingers = 1 serving of cheese; open palm = 1 serving of meat; closed fist = 1 serving of fruit or vegetable; cupped hand = 1 serving of salad dressing; and a thumb = 1 serving of candy.
More Health and Fitness

Tuna

Tuna. Tuna is an inexpensive food that provides the highly desired combination of low-fat, medium calories and high-protein. The protein in tuna is good for strengthening and maintaining muscles and repairing damaged tissues. Protein also stabilizes blood sugar levels, which keep your appetite at bay and your energy level high.
More Health and Fitness

Goals and objectives

Goals and objectives. A goal is a statement of vision specifying something to be achieved or obtained. Objectives are statements of specific activities required to achieve the goal. For example, a goal of losing weight may be accomplished by the objectives of cutting calories, exercising three times a week, and drinking more water.
More Health and Fitness

Sweat

Sweat. Your body releases perspiration in order to cool itself. Sweat is comprised of water, ammonia, salt and sugar. It is produced from sweat glands when your body heats up from physical activity and needs to cool down. As sweat leaves your body through skin pores, it hits the air and evaporates, producing a natural cooling effect.
More Health and Fitness

Ghrelin

Ghrelin. Ghrelin is a hormone that makes people hungry, slows metabolism and decreases the body's ability to burn fat. Research shows that Ghrelin levels in the blood spike before meals and drop afterward. First identified by researchers in 1999, this hormone continues to be the focus of efforts to further explain eating variations and perhaps correct eating disorders.
More Health and Fitness

Pedometer

Pedometer. A pedometer is a pager-sized device worn on your belt that records the number of steps you take based on your body's movement. Pedometers are becoming popular as an exercise gage and motivator. Some pedometers are analog devices that measure steps. Others are digital models that track the distance you walk, plus the calories you burn.
More Health and Fitness

Bulimia

Bulimia. Bulimia nervosa is an eating disorder where a person goes through a repeated cycle of binge eating and purging. Purging is an attempt to lose weight that might be gained during a binge. Bulimia is most common in adolescent and young adult women. Experts attribute the majority of bulimia cases to cultural factors and family influences.
More Health and Fitness

High in

High in. Some food products are marketed as "high in" certain nutrients or vitamins, for example, high in Vitamin C. The Food and Drug Administration defines the term "high in" as a food or beverage serving that provides twenty percent or more of the daily value of a nutrient per serving.
More Health and Fitness

A few good men

A few good men. A recent American Academy of Family Physicians survey of 1,100 men revealed that 30 percent of them "wait as long as possible" before seeking a health practitioner's intervention when they feel sick or in pain. More than half said they had not seen their primary care physician during the past 12 months. This study reinforced similar results from past studies.
More Health and Fitness

Super sized

Super sized. The Center for Science in the Public Interest has documented just how big some fast-food offerings have become. For example, McDonald's original two-ounce serving of fries served in the 1950s totaled about 200 calories compared to today's 600 calorie “super size” version. During the same time span, a single bottle serving of Coca-Cola has increased from 6 1/2 to 20 ounces.
More Health and Fitness

Water-rich foods

Water-rich foods. Water-rich foods such as watermelon and cucumber can help you feel fuller on fewer calories. Watermelon, for example, has only 42 calories per serving. A healthy diet strategy suggests putting water-rich fruits and vegetables at the front end of the meal to help you eat less and feel more satisfied at meal's end.
More Health and Fitness

Isolation

Isolation. Isolation movements are sets of exercises that work on one joint or one muscle. An example of an isolation movement is crunches. Fitness experts agree that isolation methods are excellent for developing specific muscles but generally do not burn much fat.
More Health and Fitness

Carbs

Carbs. Carbohydrates are chemical compounds produced from the union of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen. Carbohydrates are the chief source of energy for all body functions and anaerobic muscular exertions. Foods that are high in carbohydrates include breads, pastas, beans, potatoes, bran, rice and cereals.
More Health and Fitness

Boundaries

Boundaries. According to Dr. Pamela Peek, author of "Body for Life for Women, Fight Fat after Forty," many women lose out on exercise because they get caught up in juggling work, family and other responsibilities. Women need to be careful not to become too far involved in care giving tasks that have no boundaries, which leads them to defer the things they need to do to stay healthy.
More Health and Fitness

Work calories

Work calories. A recent CareerBuilder.com survey found 47% of workers admitted they had gained weight since starting their last job. Try the following measures to reduce calories at work: take the stairs; park further away or get off one stop earlier; workout or walk during lunch; join a work sponsored sports team; drink more water; and bring a healthy lunch to work.
More Health and Fitness

Fat city

Fat city. Houston, Texas is the fattest city in the United States, according to rankings compiled by Men's Fitness magazine. The survey ranked the 50 largest U.S. cities based on a several factors, including percentage of obese residents, recreation facilities, sports activities, and number of junk food outlets. Following Houston was Philadelphia, Detroit, Memphis and Chicago.
More Health and Fitness

Body Mass Index

Body Mass Index. BMI is a simple measure of a person's fitness or weight condition. BMI was invented in the 19th century by Adolphe Quetelet. It is defined as an individual's body weight divided by the square of their height. A BMI of 18 to 25 is considered optimal. A BMI under 18 equates to being underweight while over 25 indicates being overweight.
More Health and Fitness

Essential vitamins

Essential vitamins. People often fail to get the daily recommended amounts of essential vitamins and minerals. In addition to fruits, vegetables, low-fat foods and whole grains as a primary source of nutrients, health and fitness experts suggest taking a daily multivitamin and a calcium plus Vitamin-D supplement.
More Health and Fitness

Drinks

Drinks. Slim down by changing the way you drink. Try the following calorie-saving liquid diet tips: substitute or reduce the cream, syrup or whole milk in your morning coffee; substitute water or diet soda for regular soda during lunch; take water with a lemon or a glass of wine with dinner in stead of the usual drink.
More Health and Fitness

National Walk to Work Day

National Walk to Work Day. U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Tommy G. Thompson declared the first National Walk to Work Day on April 2, 2004. National Walk to Work Day was initiated to draw attention to the need to get out and exercise and to get in shape. Officials hope this will encourage people to add a thirty-minute walk to their daily lives.
More Health and Fitness

April

April. Freshly picked fruits and vegetables provide more nutrients and more flavor than canned or stored fruits and vegetables, and usually cost less as well. Try adding one or more of the following fruits or vegetables that are ripe and at their natural peak during the month of April: asparagus, broccoli, celery, mushrooms and rhurbarb.
More Health and Fitness