We have all heard about the core, but recently I have been learning about core stabilizing muscles. These are basically the muscles that are the foundation of our movements…the ones that not only keep us balanced, but also keep us moving. Core stability means using the muscles of the trunk to support the spine and body during activity. The trunk muscles include those in the abdomen and back, around the neck and shoulder blades, and around the pelvis, hips, groin, and buttocks. Strengthening your trunk gives greater stability and power to the whole body for it’s activities. Core stabilization helps improve posture, balance, strength, and coordinated movement, and helps protect the body from injury. One of the exciting things for me to think about in terms of fitness is how connected all the parts of our bodies are, and how crucial this is to all of our movements. [Read more…]
Try This at Home…It is Simple, but Far from Easy!
Nine Reasons to Eat an Egg!
Eggs are one of my absolute favorite foods…at least the Cadbury variety! Truthfully, I’m not much of a real egg eater, but after reading about them recently, I am going to start incorporating them into our family’s diet more regularly. My kids actually love eggs, especially the scrambled kind in the morning. So adding more eggs shouldn’t be too hard. The following are nine reasons we should eat more eggs:
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What is Best After a Workout…Water or Sports Drinks?
I ran 10 miles with my friend Susan this morning on a trail near our house, and by the last two miles I was seriously dragging. When I finished the run, I felt terrible… my legs were heavy and I felt sluggish. Lucky for me, my son had left a Gatorade (Fierce Grape) in my car and I drank it shortly after I finished. It tasted great, and I was amazed at how quickly I recovered. If we are exercising outside this summer, we are bound to sweat more than usual, and when we sweat we lose more than just water from our bodies. Our sweat contains minerals, which are also lost. Should we be replacing those with an energy drink? Is it more important during the summer months to drink sports drinks, like Gatorade? I guess the best answer is that it really depends. [Read more…]
The Fresh Fruits of Summer
Some of my favorite childhood memories involve biting into a ripe, juicy peach and tasting the best part of summer. On our way home from the beach the other day, we counted 12 farm stands selling peaches, plums and fresh greens, which is why today I am kicking myself for not stopping to pick up some of those ripe summer fruits! Luckily within three miles of our house there are at least three stands…and that is where I am heading this afternoon. [Read more…]
The Beach and the Baby Jogger
My children and I are in Bald Head Island for two days visiting some friends who have a house here. To get to the island you take a ferry, bringing whatever bags and gear on board with you. Since we are staying such a short time, we didn’t bring much. One item was large and a little unwieldy, but essential for the trip…the Baby Jogger. [Read more…]
Happy Father’s Day!
I am Bert Belt’s daughter. 20 years after his death I still miss him and think of him often, as I do on this Father’s Day. My dad instilled in me a love of sports. Whether he was participating in them (he loved golf, running, and skiing) or watching them (his favorite team was the Iowa Hawkeyes), my dad valued athletics. I remember that on most Sunday mornings when we were growing up he would go out for a 12-mile run. The funny thing is, I don’t ever remember him running any other day of the week…just that one weekend run. That was sort of how he was. I recall one morning when I was about 10, he announced (after he had been at a party the night before) that he and his friend were going to run the upcoming Chicago Marathon. This was way before running marathons became a popular thing to do. Whether it was pure spontenaity or the influence of certain beverages at the party, it was a little insane. He didn’t have much time to think about a training regimen since it was a matter of days before the race, not weeks or months! [Read more…]
Don’t Want to Pay for a Massage? Use a Foam Roller!
I like a massage, just like the next person (or runner, at least). But let’s face it, sports massages are not cheap! Just how much are we willing to do to keep running and exercising? For me, it depends on a few factors. If I am training for something, and it’s pretty close to race date, or if my insurance pays for it (some do), then I can justify a massage. Otherwise, it fits into the luxury category, and I usually do without. Although there really isn’t anything like a good deep tissue massage for tight muscles, these days I am relying more and more on the foam roller to do the job. [Read more…]
A Few More Exercises For the Pelvic Floor and the Core
I have written about the pelvic floor on this website before. As I research and talk to professionals about this topic, I am amazed at the importance of this complex group of muscles, especially for women. Most of us know about Kegel exercises, and are hopefully already doing them regularly. I know I need to be even more consistent about doing them! However, there are many other exercises that can be done before or even during other core exercises that target the pelvic area as well. The following are some that strengthen the pelvic floor and the core, and can be done in just a few minutes while you are working out, or even right before bed: Core/pelvic floor exercises.
Is There Such a Thing as Too Much Pizza?
After loading about 10 frozen pizzas into the car on a recent shopping trip, my husband turned to me and asked, “Is it possible we are buying too much pizza?” According to my kids, there is no such thing as too much pizza. As the mother, however, I know there has to be a limit, right? But I do love pizza (yes, even the frozen kind)! To me it isn’t just how it tastes, it’s what it means…no cooking! I have tried recipes for pizza crust before, but in the end, it just seems like a lot of work for what has always been the “easy night”. Pizza and work in the kitchen just don’t seem to go together. [Read more…]
Do We Need to Exercise More as We Get Older?
A recent study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association shows women need 60 minutes a day of moderate exercise to prevent weight gain as they age if they consume a normal diet. This is an increase in exercise time from the current guidelines of 30 minutes five days a week of moderate to intense activity. I don’t know about you, but this seems like a lot! That’s seven days a week! But it really isn’t the whole story. [Read more…]
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