Outside Health and Fitness

Energy drinks are all the rage right now. But not all energy drinks are created equal and it's important to know what's in yours. If possible it's always best to get your energy from natural sources. Many of the drinks on the market have ingredients that give you energy but also come with less desirable side effects. One popular ingredient in energy if you need bursts of energy it might be an indicator that your not getting enough nutrients from your diet.

The gym is a second home to many, so what happens if you have to move? Joining a new one is a lot like buying a new car. It happens every few years. Sometimes you’re dealing with an unsavory salesperson, and hopefully there are no hidden fees that shock your pocket. At the end of the day, you are entitled to be happy with your purchase—or in this case, membership—so be a savvy consumer by asking these six questions: “What is the sign-up cost?” Most gyms advertise the monthly membership fee, but the sign-up cost isn’t necessarily posted. Often the sign-up cost is negotiable , so keep plugging away until you get a reasonable deal. If your salesperson doesn’t budge, ask to speak to a manager. The last thing a gym wants is for you to walk out without a contract—and if they let that happen, it’s not a good sign. Some will even offer to waive the entire sign-up cost if presented with documentation of a canceled membership from your former gym. “Can you show me the gym's

Proper running form involves studying everything from arm swing phase, flexibility, stance, and foot strikes. Maintaining a proper form during your runs reduces the risk of injury caused by overuse, and also allows runners to increase speed. If you are looking to make your jogs a little more effective and prevent injury, check out a few ways you can look at and correct your form. The Foot Strike Reaching out with the foot with an over-stride creates an aggressive foot strike that sends an inordinate level of shock throughout the leg . Although being a runner that strikes on the various areas on the heel does not always negatively affect the stride, it is important that the foot lands in an appropriate position in relation to the rest of the body. The foot should land in a straight line under the body instead of in front of it, directly underneath the hips is ideal. Placing the foot right under hip during the run prevents the stretching and reaching that increases injury risk and a

It can be a struggle to lose weight, but fortunately there are many things you can do to increase your chances of reaching your goals. Below is a list of tips for making weight loss more effective and how to lose weight in a healthier and more structured way. Increase Your Fiber Intake Counting calories is not the only thing you should pay attention to in a new diet. You will also need to increase your fiber intake. Foods that are high in fiber are usually low in calories and you will naturally decrease your calorie intake if you consume more fiber-rich foods. Fiber-rich foods are also usually more filling. These foods require more chewing, which is why you feel fuller after you eat foods like these. Fruits, barley, beans, and oats are examples of foods that are filled with fiber. Perform High-Intensity Workouts You may not need to exercise more in order to lose weight. In fact, you can get more out of your work out if you perform high-intensity interval training. This is a me

Arthritis is a condition that affects the joints of the skeletal system and is considered part of aging, although there are several types such as rheumatoid and psoriatic that can strike anyone of any age. Signs to be aware of include joint and range of motion changes. Various treatments exist including naturopathic or pharmaceutical to alleviate symptoms. Here is a quick review of the top six signs with effective modalities to stop them in their tracks. Pain The most prevalent symptom for any type is joint pain. This comes in the form of throbbing or shooting episodes. It usually occurs upon after sleep or long periods of inactivity. The lack of movement is usually the culprit that causes arthritis pain  in this instance.  Swelling Swelling is caused in various ways including injury, arthritis, or other orthopedic conditions. With arthritis, fluid build-up will come and go for no reason. The fluid can be tested for a definitive diagnosis.  Stiffness Inability to move or bend joints

If you have been a runner for any length of time, you’ve likely been told that running longer distances isn’t natural and you’re going to ruin your knees. The theories presented in Christopher McDougall’s 2009 book  Born to Run show that running isn’t only natural, but our species survived precisely because of our ability to run longer distances, which most animals cannot.  If we are designed to run long distances then what is the best way to run in order to avoid an injury? And why do some runners seem to always be nursing a wound, while others run pain-free, mile after mile? The answer is found in your stride and the way your foot strikes the ground. Heel Strike vs Forefoot Strike Landing on your heel as you run has two detrimental effects. The first is, you are effectively putting on the brakes. If you’ve ever run down a steep hill, you’ll understand what I mean. The second is that it forces all the impact to travel through your skeletal structure, rather than being absorbed by y

The short answer is, yes!  Sea vegetables are far more nutritious than plants grown on land. The reason?  A lot of the nutrients that were once found in abundance in fruits and vegetables are now at lower levels due to over farming, among other things. This is one of the reasons we're overfed and undernourished as a society. Sea vegetables are different, they offer a broad range of vitamins and minerals. They are a fantastic source of B-vitamins, folate, magnesium, iron, and calcium. Sea Vegetables are also one of the best sources of natural iodine on the planet. The World Health Organization estimates that 2 billion people worldwide are deficient in iodine and considers this a serious health threat. So How Can You Get More Sea Vegetables in Your Diet?    There are recipes available with seaweed listed as a key ingredient and, although less common in western cultures, seaweed has been a staple on the dinner table in many Asian cultures for centuries.  Another more common

Skiing the Rockies Is this the year that you pack up the family and head out west for an epic ski vacation? Skiing the Rockies is an amazing adventure but with so many options to choose from it can be a bit overwhelming to decide which mountains to hit. The Rocky Mountains region cover parts of Colorado, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming. The Rockies stretch more than 3000 miles from British Columbia Canada all the way to New Mexico. The mountain range boasts some of the highest peaks in the United States. According to Wikipedia.. " The Rocky Mountains are notable for containing the highest peaks in central North America. The range's highest peak is Mount Elbert located in Colorado at 14,440 feet (4,401 m) above sea level . Mount Robson in British Columbia , at 12,972 feet (3,954 m), is the highest peak in the Canadian Rockies ."  The Essential Guide to Skiing the Rockies The follow "Essential Guide to Skiing the Rockies" can help by provi

I am currently one week through a 28 day clean eating program. I have been so surprised within the first seven days, not only about the benefits I'm experiencing but how wrong I was about clean eating before I started. Here are 7 myths I believed about clean eating which just aren't true. Myth 1: I Already Eat Clean Before I started the program, I would have told you "I already eat clean". I think it's common for all of us to feel like we're eating well. I mean salads for lunch, no dairy (well except for the occasional cheese stick and yogurt), no read meat (well once in awhile) and no processed food (well yeah a sports bar ever once in awhile). Well, for the past seven days I've cut out breads, all dairy, coffee, alcohol and sugar and guess what? I feel incredible. If you feel you're already eating clean you might be fooling yourself. The best way to really be sure is to track yourself for a week and really take a close look at what you're eati

The Final Episode In this episode of the Outside Health and Fitness podcast we talk about how getting outside can benefit your weight-loss goals. On Today’s show you’ll discover… …how different elements in nature support a healthy weight; …fun activities that can be done outside; …and I say goodbye and talk about my decision to take Outside Health and Fitness off the air. Become an Outside Health and Fitness Fan, support the show and get exclusive rewards! Subscribe to Outside Health and Fitness iTunes | Android | Email | RSS | More Options   Weight Loss in America In a recent Gallup poll, 49 percent of Americans said they would like to lose weight which is the first time in at least 25 years that less than half of Americans said they wanted to lose weight. Sounds great doesn’t it? Well, unfortunately there’s a bit more to the story you see obesity rates in America are still on the rise which may explain why fewer people would like to lose weight. “If you look li

Are Your Drinking Enough Water? Ah water, you know how good it is for you. It's vital for almost every function and cell in your body. For optimal health you should consume roughly half your body weight in fluid ounces per day. For example: If you weigh 200 pounds that would be about 100 ounces of water. Sounds good but it can be tricky to keep track and remember to do it. We all have busy lives and it's easy to get distracted. Let's face it, the last thing you want to do before turning in for the night  is stand by the bed and guzzle 32 ounces of water because you forgot to get in your ounces. Here are 5 apps that make consuming water fun and easy through out the day. 1 Water Logged You're not drinking enough water. We can help with charts and reminders (upgrade) to keep you going. Every second, someone around the world is using  Waterlogged  to track & improve their daily water intake. Works with Apple Health, Fitbit & more. 2 Daily Water

I am currently one week through a 28 day clean eating program. I have been so surprised within the first seven days, not only about the benefits I'm experiencing but how wrong I was about clean eating before I started. Here are 7 myths I believed about clean eating which just aren't true. Myth 1: I Already Eat Clean Before I started the program, I would have told you "I already eat clean". I think it's common for all of us to feel like we're eating well.  I mean salads for lunch, no dairy (well except for the occasional cheese stick and yogurt), no read meat (well once in awhile) and no processed food (well yeah a sports bar ever once in awhile). Well, for the past seven days I've cut out breads, all dairy, coffee, alcohol and sugar and guess what? I feel incredible. If you feel you're already eating clean you might be fooling yourself. The best way to really be sure is to track yourself for a week and really take a close look at what you'

Olive Warrior Muffins were born from necessity and desire: the need for an easy, quick recipe, and the want for staying on track with healthy portion sizes. Here’s the story: I was just talking to my good friend, Steve Stearns , about how excited I was for warmer weather. This year I’m planning some great hikes in the Garden State. Like the rest of hikers and campers, I’ve already started thinking of a really great staple snack to keep in my backpack. Nothing beats homemade goods, so here is my recipe for Olive Warrior Muffins. You guessed it: the title is a gentle nod to busy weekend warriors who want to eat well while on the go! Olive Warrior Muffins Number of Servings: 8 Calories: 70-80 per muffin Prep Time: About 10 minutes Ingredients: 1/3 cup skim milk ½ cup oats ½ cup whole wheat flour ½ tsp baking powder ¼ tsp baking soda 1 tbsp onion powder ½ tbsp. garlic powder 4 oz. (or 1 snack pack) unsweetened applesauce 3 oz. pitted black olives, finely di

Prepare for Hiking In this episode of the Outside Health and Fitness podcast... On Today’s show you’ll discover we're talking about exercises that can get you ready for a great hiking season. Also, we're touching on 10 of the top hiking trails in the U.S. …some ideas for getting in shape for hiking season; ...and 10 hikes to add to your bucket list! Become an Outside Health and Fitness Fan, support the show and get exclusive rewards! Subscribe to Outside Health and Fitness iTunes | Android | Email | RSS | More Options Fitness Training for Hikers Even if you’re in good shape there are unique demands hiking places on your muscles, joints and cardiovascular system. For example, when you’re hiking downhill, your legs have to work harder to help keep you balanced. Fitness training helps improve your muscle strength, bone density and joint health. It can also help reduce the risk of injury when hiking. Stuart Young from Take Fitness shared some great ideas fo