Health

Get-Fit Clicks

February 7, 2012 at 11:55 am , by jbrown

* We will never pass up a chance to praise the health benefits of dark chocolate. (FitSugar)

* Wal-Mart is set to debut their own “Great For You” label to make shopping for healthy food easier. (MSNBC)

* If your ab workout doesn’t seem to be working for you anymore, give your core a new challenge with this resistance-band routine from our friends at Fitness. (Bonus: It’s easy to do while you’re watching TV.) (Fitness)

* Not all veggies are more nutritious when they’re eaten fresh. Greatist explains which ones get even healthier when they’re cooked. (Greatist)

* Designer Karl Lagerfeld deems Adele “a little too fat.” You know, because her weight is somehow his business. And because fat-shaming people is morally acceptable. Arrgghhhh. (US magazine)

Delicious chocolate photo via Shutterstock.

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Get-Fit Clicks

January 31, 2012 at 12:47 pm , by jbrown

* How to make healthy versions of pizza, pudding and more. (Discovery Fit & Health)

* Which workout will help you sculpt “long and lean muscles”? None of them! Thank you, FitSugar, for explaining the truth behind this aggravating fitness myth (which is clearly one of my pet peeves.) (FitSugar)

* How your weekend splurges can easily undo your best weight loss efforts. (USA Today)

* Seven unexpected reasons why we pack on weight in winter. (Fitbie)

* The secret to coping with a food craving? Tell yourself you can have that brownie/ice cream/bag of chips later—chances are you won’t. (WebMD)

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Get-Fit Clicks

January 17, 2012 at 11:45 am , by jbrown

* It’s hard enough to remember the zillion or so things you need to do each day—don’t make it worse by loading up on these 5 brain-aging foods. (Yeah, you knew added sugar would be one of them.) (HuffPo)

* A great piece about why it doesn’t pay to overdo your workouts, no matter how anxious you are to lose weight. Don’t be one of those people who thinks a good workout = “I am in a pile of sweat and puking.” (NYTimes)

* Which is better for weight loss: eating 6 mini meals or 3 squares a day? EatingWell breaks down the research. (EatingWell)

* Yet another reason to take stretch-and-stroll breaks at the office: A new study shows too much sitting may be bad for your mental health. (Yahoo)

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Get-Fit Clicks

January 10, 2012 at 1:55 pm , by jbrown

* Eating healthy doesn’t have to be dull. Perk up your diet with almond butter, black garlic (I had no idea such a thing existed), popcorn (seriously) and 9 other nutritious, un-boring picks. (HuffPo)

* Tempted to try weight-loss supplements? Fitbie explains why these quick fixes aren’t worth it. (Fitbie)

* Your sluggish metabolism makes you chunky, plus 9 other health myths that just won’t go away. (Lifehacker)

* Does caffeine help you drop pounds? Umm, kind of. (LA Times)

* Smart weight-loss tips tailored to your personality. (Wall Street Journal)

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Get-Fit Clicks: Weight-Loss Resolutions Edition

January 3, 2012 at 3:33 pm , by jbrown

* “I’ll get over my carbophobia.” You need carbs, we swear. Add these 6 healthy ones to your diet—they can help you feel full and melt body fat. (Eating Well)

* “I’ll stop using lack of time as an excuse for not exercising.” You don’t have to spend hours at a gym or run marathons to get fit. Here’s 10 (realistic!) ways to work exercise into your schedule. (SparkPeople)

* “I’ll make the most of the time I do have to workout.” Leisurely cardio sessions and too-wimpy strength-training routines are just two ways you may be sabotaging your weight-loss efforts. (FitSugar)

* “I won’t get fooled by misleading food labels.” How natural is “natural”? Does “no trans fat” really mean there isn’t even a drop in there? Learn the truth behind these and 8 other tricky food labels. (HuffPo)

 

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Get-Fit Clicks

November 29, 2011 at 3:17 pm , by jbrown

* If you’re like me and you spent the week of Thanksgiving eating pumpkin whoopie pies (oops), you’ll need this list of 25 shockingly low-calorie foods just as much as I do. (Fitbie)

* D’oh! Americans weigh about 20 pounds more today than we did 20 years ago. (Medical News Today)

* Working up a sweat may help you sleep a whole lot better, according to a new study. People who exercised at a moderate to vigorous level for at least 150 minutes a week had a 65 percent better sleep quality than people who exercised less. (HuffPo)

* Why mid-morning snacking could be sabotaging your weight-loss goals. (MSNBC)

* Which fitness gadgets are a waste of money? Check out SparkPeople’s 10 ways to spot a scam. (SparkPeople)

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Anna Kournikova’s Biggest Loser Blog: Episode 10

November 23, 2011 at 11:11 am , by Ladies' Lounge

It was Thanksgiving on the ranch! The blue team kicked off the week with a lot of momentum—at the last weigh-in, neither of my team members fell below the yellow line and Sunny was the biggest loser of the week!

Before we got to work, the contestants were faced with a temptation that most people can relate to—Thanksgiving dinner. The average American eats 4500 calories on Thanksgiving. It’s important to learn moderation, so I was glad that Sunny only ate one dish and Ramon limited himself to two. It showed me that they’re really embracing their new healthy lifestyle. Unfortunately, neither of them won a challenge prize. Both of them would have a three-pound disadvantage at the next weigh-in, so our work was really cut out for us. At this point, both Sunny and Ramon knew how to work hard and eat right, so it was important for me to help them push even more in the gym. We worked out at the tennis court and it was incredible to see how much they have improved. They could actually rally with each other!

Bob, Dolvett and I decided to surprise the contestants by making healthy versions of their favorite holiday dishes for a Thanksgiving dinner. Going around the table and sharing what we were all thankful for was really special. It was nice to forget about the competition for a little bit and just enjoy each other’s company.

Judging by the contestants’ comments during the challenge, it was the hardest thing they’d faced on the ranch so far. Seeing the looks of sheer determination on Sunny and Ramon’s faces made me proud. They both gave everything they had and finished the challenge in second and third place. I was happy that Sunny won the six-month biggest loser meal plan and that Ramon also won $2,500, which I thought he truly deserved for pushing himself so hard in the challenge.

For the last chance workout, I had Sunny and Ramon do all of the exercises they were used to, but added resistance bands for a new challenge. Adding resistance to certain exercises is a great way to shake up a routine workout and take it up a notch!

At the weigh-in, it was great to see how happy Becky was when she lost five pounds. She was a completely different person than the woman I walked with on the first day in the desert. I was nervous about who John would pick for the one-pound disadvantage, and he chose Sunny, which was really devastating because she pushed herself all week. Unfortunately, because of the disadvantage, Sunny fell below the yellow line with Ramon. Ramon got eliminated, but he can go home with his head held high because he accomplished so much at the ranch and I know he will go far on his own. I can’t wait to see what he accomplishes at the marathon!

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