tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-88086295587724742612012-03-02T20:08:50.268-05:00karen ohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10525923413052462834noreply@blogger.comBlogger211100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8808629558772474261.post-1964215982529237322012-02-12T11:49:00.002-05:002012-02-16T13:00:17.028-05:00

Dear Loyal Readers, Recently, it has come to my attention that someone has plagiarized my blog. Plagiarism is a strong accusation to level against anyone, however, I believe this individual has blatantly stolen my concept, content, format and ideas.  While researching recent traffic to my blog, I stumbled upon written material that was eerily similar to my own. The writing in question is Brett

karen ohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10525923413052462834noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8808629558772474261.post-22870353891471544282012-01-08T11:24:00.011-05:002012-01-09T10:43:47.016-05:00

Has your weight loss program slowed down or even come to a screeching halt?  After weeks and months of diet and exercise success, many people are dismayed to find their weight loss efforts suddenly stalled.  Well, the answer may be as simple as increasing daily water intake and adding more healthy fats to your diet. Let's examine both of these ideas. Proper hydration is essential for any

karen ohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10525923413052462834noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8808629558772474261.post-40322792320778440092011-10-01T17:59:00.006-04:002012-01-08T11:32:45.396-05:00

Up to this point we have covered the importance of eating a healthy, balanced breakfast, lunch and snack.  And we have discussed the importance of learning to calculate the ideal number of calories your body needs, whether for weight loss or maintaining your weight.  This week we are going to add a second healthy snack to our day and begin manipulating our calories throughout the day for optimal

karen ohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10525923413052462834noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8808629558772474261.post-82608299839828042072011-06-04T18:22:00.005-04:002012-01-08T11:33:52.731-05:00

With all the technological advances these days -- from cars to computers, smart phones to smart houses -- it's no surprise that technology is reshaping the exercise industry too.  Tools that were once available only to elite athletes and sports professionals are now standard fixtures in gyms and for home use. Gone are the days where one has to stop in the middle of exercise, find their pulse, and

karen ohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10525923413052462834noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8808629558772474261.post-65522696656917141222011-05-28T12:17:00.002-04:002012-01-08T11:34:16.186-05:00

I don't know about you, but I'm getting a little tired of  reading articles that tell us (more like shout at us) a list of foods that we must eat.  "Top Ten Superfoods for Health!" or "Twelve Foods You Simply Must Be Eating!"  And nevermind that all of the lists are different -- sure, a few favorites like blueberries and tomatoes seem to make it on to every list -- but recently I stumbled across 

karen ohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10525923413052462834noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8808629558772474261.post-18764310944365294082011-05-15T15:29:00.005-04:002012-01-25T15:16:35.766-05:00

If it is starting to sound like a broken record around here with the "drink more water" mantra... well... all I can say is, "Drink more water!"  This is the third post on the site having to do with water so I hope it is becoming clear how important hydration is for your health.  At this point, you are already drinking at least four glasses of water per day -- one before breakfast and one before

karen ohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10525923413052462834noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8808629558772474261.post-19555330105276404622011-05-07T15:38:00.004-04:002012-01-08T11:38:39.214-05:00

Most people, when they begin any new form of exercise, start out gung-ho and full of optimism.  They have big plans and big ideas on how to get started.  Donning new exercise clothes and brand new sneakers, they have big dreams for their final results.  After a few short weeks, plenty of muscle soreness (in muscles they didn't even know they had!) and less than stellar results, many people

karen ohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10525923413052462834noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8808629558772474261.post-18319258148523262712011-04-29T17:36:00.007-04:002012-01-25T15:11:30.964-05:00

With all the talk these days about good carbs and bad carbs, low carbs and no carbs, how is one supposed to sort through so much information and figure out which carbs are actually okay to eat?  Pick up any magazine or tune into any talk show and someone is espousing the virtues of eating low or no-carb.  Celebrities are shunning carbs, diets promising speedy weight loss warn us to avoid them,

karen ohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10525923413052462834noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8808629558772474261.post-12406925276800265482011-04-14T11:55:00.001-04:002012-01-25T15:07:28.866-05:00

Laughter is the best medicine..... we've all heard that expression about a million times.  But is it really the best medicine?  And for that matter, is it really medicine at all?  Mounting evidence through research certainly suggests that laughter is medicinal with its own unique healing properties.  Just how that healing occurs as well as laughter's full medical benefit is still a mystery. One

karen ohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10525923413052462834noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8808629558772474261.post-16127234481869521802011-04-02T11:30:00.008-04:002011-04-04T07:51:48.578-04:00

Lunch is often one of the most overlooked meals of the day.  Whether you are working, are at home, or traveling, it can often be a haphazard, thrown-together, last-minute-idea meal.  Lunchtime tends to be one of the busiest times -- people have a small window of time between meetings, others are busy running errands, and many are literally eating while they are driving.  A portable lunch is

karen ohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10525923413052462834noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8808629558772474261.post-23559942940555795842011-03-25T09:36:00.003-04:002011-03-25T10:22:00.862-04:00

Have you ever watched your pet dog or cat when they wake up from a snooze?  Likely, one of the very first things they do is yawn and stretch.  Front legs extend out on the ground, hind end up in the air, followed by a good stiff-legged stretch of all four legs -- they sure seem to have the art of stretching perfected!  Like our animal friends, we also know how good it feels to stretch upon

karen ohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10525923413052462834noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8808629558772474261.post-51477417460982609952011-03-18T15:41:00.002-04:002011-03-20T20:37:59.395-04:00

It seems that every few years the pendulum swings wildly when it comes to counting calories -- new diets come and go touting everything from strict measuring and weighing of food, to knowing the caloric content of every single item that passes your lips, to burning off a certain number of calories through exercise.  At the other end of the spectrum comes the recommendation to disregard calories

karen ohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10525923413052462834noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8808629558772474261.post-44103260239803593732011-03-10T13:55:00.002-05:002012-01-25T09:59:08.740-05:00

Walk into the health and beauty section of any drugstore or supermarket and you'll undoubtedly see a vast array of vitamins and supplements lining the shelves.  Everything from all-in-one formulas to individual vitamins such as C, D and E, from enzymes to probiotics, from minerals to fish oil.  Most of us have a vague notion that we should be taking something, but expert opinions vary widely and

karen ohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10525923413052462834noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8808629558772474261.post-27984381434139018382011-03-03T22:56:00.000-05:002011-03-16T13:08:38.201-04:00

By now, after seven weeks of brand new habits, you are well on your way to a healthier lifestyle. You are hopefully feeling more energetic from your balanced, filling breakfasts and also realizing the effects of improved hydration.  And you should be feeling stronger from your daily 10-15 minute walks and perhaps a bit more virtuous from all those vegetables!  You're seeing fewer and fewer

karen ohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10525923413052462834noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8808629558772474261.post-44064140663741102642011-02-25T06:39:00.001-05:002012-01-25T09:40:53.425-05:00

There is one form of exercise that all branches of the United States military use as the cornerstone of their fitness programs in order to get soldiers to peak performance levels as quickly as possible:  calisthenics.  Calisthenics are a form of dynamic, rhythmic exercises that build both strength and endurance and require little or no equipment or apparatus to perform.  They include movements

karen ohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10525923413052462834noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8808629558772474261.post-57678505891766260852011-02-14T17:24:00.000-05:002011-02-23T13:02:39.762-05:00

How often do we hear that we should protect our bones in order to prevent osteoporosis?  Health experts remind us to take calcium, do weight-bearing exercises to grow new bone, and maintain a healthy lifestyle including avoiding excess coffee, alcohol and cigarettes.  But how many of us are familiar with the term sarcopenia, which is the devastating loss of muscle that can occur as we age? 

karen ohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10525923413052462834noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8808629558772474261.post-77267007864302288382011-02-10T20:00:00.000-05:002011-02-12T09:20:25.873-05:00

This week we will be playing the role of food detective, so brush off those magnifying lenses and get ready to examine the fine-print found on food packaging labels.  Since 1994, the FDA has required that Nutrition Facts labels be placed on most food packaging.  They are usually located on the side or back of the package and are very easy to recognize as they all share a standard format.  They

karen ohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10525923413052462834noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8808629558772474261.post-82479895310967951142011-02-04T10:16:00.004-05:002012-01-25T09:46:20.162-05:00

Admittedly, this is going to be a TOUGH one for many people.  If you are one of those lucky souls who loves vegetables and can't seem to get enough of them, this tip will be a breeze for you.  For the rest of us, buckling down and getting those veggies in may seem like a chore at first and it will definitely require determination and sheer will to nail down this tip.  We are going to jump

karen ohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10525923413052462834noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8808629558772474261.post-1676381213208287542011-01-28T07:35:00.000-05:002011-02-01T07:02:16.892-05:00

Congratulations!  We've made it to week three and are ready to add a brand new habit -- Exercise -- in the form of a 10-15 minute walk!  For some, it's the dreaded "E" word; for others, it's something you're already doing and a short walk may seem too simple.  But before you underestimate the power of a daily stroll, let's examine some of the reasons why it is so important to our well-being. In

karen ohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10525923413052462834noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8808629558772474261.post-33508446837952574612011-01-13T19:51:00.000-05:002011-02-01T07:01:40.224-05:00

How often do we hear and read that we should drink 8 glasses of water per day?  Sounds easy, but how many of us actually drink those 8 glasses?!  And we're talking drinking water in its purest form -- not coffee, tea or soft drinks.  While those beverages do include water, they also contain chemical additives and preservatives that may be harmful to your body.  These drinks contribute to your

karen ohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10525923413052462834noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8808629558772474261.post-84266310294328622962011-01-08T10:01:00.005-05:002012-01-25T09:31:55.882-05:00

This week we are kicking off our new healthy habits with one of the most important things you can do for your health--eating a healthy breakfast. Breakfast is often one of the most overlooked meals of the day. And that is unfortunate because it is also the meal that is probably the easiest to control and ensure optimal nutritional intake. Unlike lunch and dinner where we are often busy with our

karen ohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10525923413052462834noreply@blogger.com4