Our weekly take on fitness news, trends, research, and workout tips
January 6, 2009
123rf
Two of the most popular New Year’s resolutions are to get in shape and save money. It’s unfortunate, then, that these two goals often seem to contradict each other. After all, it costs money to join a gym, to eat healthy, and to buy fitness gear, and these so-called luxuries are often the first to go when pennies get pinched.
But taking care of yourself will only save you money in the long run, so it’s important to find ways to stay active and healthy even when you may not be able to afford top-notch training or first-class fitness clubs. Here are nine easy ways to get started without breaking your budget. Read More
Our weekly take on fitness news, trends, research, and workout tips
December 22, 2008
Istockphoto)
A few week ago I blogged about an interesting way to make your treadmill runs a little bit easier. But for some people, the treadmill just won’t cut it—not even during the coldest winter months. I’ve spoken to a lot of friends and experienced runners in the last few weeks who want to keep pounding the pavement outside, but know that it’s going to be a challenge. Here are some of the tips they’re using to get going. Read More
December 9, 2008
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By Amanda MacMillan
Giving fitness-related gifts can be tricky. Sneakers and clothing tend to be personal choices, not really things that you can pick out for other people. And exercise DVDs or equipment can be boring, or even insulting, to a friend who hasn’t yet climbed on the workout wagon.
Because I’m buying for such a mix of people this year—from my sister, who’s got more fitness gear than I have closet space, to my dad, who will only break a sweat if there’s a techy gadget involved—I had to find fun, unique presents that don’t cost a fortune. View a slideshow of my favorites, all for less than $100.
Our weekly take on fitness news, trends, research, and workout tips
December 2, 2008
123rf/Health
As a health writer, people often ask me if I’ve changed my lifestyle to become a healthier person. Do I eat healthier, work out more, and actually put to use any of those nifty tips I learn about every day?
For a long time, my response was, “No—I still have all the same bad habits; now I just feel guiltier about them.” Read More
Our weekly take on fitness news, trends, and workout tips
November 25, 2008
Nikkifitness.com
My grandparents’ house, where I spend most holidays, is like a black hole—in a good way: Whenever I’m there, I spend most of my time sleeping, eating, and lazing about, pleasantly sedated by the combination of the blazing fireplace, the comfy blankets that Grandma knits and leaves on all of the furniture, and the inevitable food coma that results after one of our afternoon Pennsylvania Dutch feasts. My parents have actually asked me if I ever sleep in New York, since I seem to need a lot of catching up in that department whenever we’re at Grandma and Grandpa’s.
But this season, I’m determined to approach the annual trip differently. Holidays are all about tradition, and that’s exactly what I need: A new tradition that keeps me, and my family, moving. So I talked to Nikki Glor, a certified personal trainer and fitness instructor at Crunch Fitness in New York City, and creator of her own NikkiFitness DVDs. Chances are, your family may be planning a similarly lazy couple of days; if so, here’s now to get them (and yourself) out of the rut. Read More
Our weekly Get Fit blog: The latest news, trends, research, and workout tips
November 18, 2008
Brooksrunning.com
Got two minutes? While you’re at your computer, treat yourself to a dose of fitness inspiration—and donate to a good cause at no cost to you!
Brooks (one of my favorite running shoe and apparel companies) is hosting a video on its site; every time it’s clicked on between now and December 21, Brooks will donate five cents to the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center for the support of breast cancer research.
The video is just the beginning of Brooks’ new commitment to breast cancer research: In March 2009, it’ll debut a line of apparel that donates 12.5% to various charities, and visitors to the Brooks site will be able to vote how much each group should get.
This cute little clip, titled “Dream,” made me want to cut out of work early for a jog through the streets of Manhattan. For anyone else who’s shared the fantasy of a perfect run—you know, where “water bottles grow on trees and no one ever gets sore knees”—I imagine you’ll feel the same way. Watch the video, send it to friends, and get inspired!
Our weekly Get Fit blog: The latest news, trends, research, and workout tips
November 17, 2008
Pop quiz: Your alarm goes off at 6 a.m. the morning after a busy day at work, a late-night dinner with friends, and only six hours of sleep. This will be your only time today to fit in a workout, but you really just want to hit snooze. What do you do? Read More
Our weekly take on fitness news, trends, research, and workout tips
November 4, 2008
Istockphoto
I woke up Sunday morning and stuck my head out the window, hopeful that my friends who were running the ING New York City Marathon would have good weather. They were in luck: Beautiful sunny skies and cold-but-not-too-cold temperatures made for great racing conditions. While I know that some of us on the sidelines were quite chilly, I’ll bet the runners were quite thankful for the almost-perfect autumn day.
Pretty soon, though, these crisp autumn mornings will turn into bitter cold winter days; I’ve already noticed that it’s been harder and harder to get up and run in the mornings as the temperature drops and the wind picks up. And while some runners embrace the cold and will keep running outdoors through the new year, I tend to retreat to the gym during the winter—to the dreaded treadmill. Read More
Our weekly Get Fit blog: The latest news, trends, research, and workout tips
October 28, 2008
There’s one part of me that’s always felt older and more out of shape than the rest of my body: my knees. Maybe it’s because I tore a bunch of ligaments in one knee when I was in the fourth grade. Maybe it’s because up until about two years ago, I did very little running or weight-bearing exercise, and I’m sure my knees have always been weaker than they could have been. Whatever the cause, I’ve had a long-standing fear about landing too hard or jumping too high and twisting something or worse—plus, a constant ache in both knees whenever I sit with my legs bent for too long. Read More
Our weekly Get Fit blog: The latest news, trends, research, and workout tips
October 21, 2008
By Amanda MacMillan
One thing I always feel that I’m missing when I take a yoga class is some real personal attention. I can usually follow along well enough—and occasionally the instructor will give me a little twist or a gentle push into the right position—but I’ve never actually made a real effort to make sure I’m doing the moves correctly. Read More
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