Less Lazy

Let’s start with a definition.

Laziness (also called indolence) is a disinclination to activity or exertion despite having the ability to do so. It is often used as a pejorative; related terms for a person seen to be lazy include couch potato, slacker, and bludger.

Why do I care about laziness? Well, it’s because I hear about it all the time. People know what to do when it comes to nutrition and exercise but laziness gets in the way of taking sustainable action. They would change a behavior if they weren’t so lazy.

Laziness might truly exist but to me it’s just a word, a label and a convenient excuse that’s getting in the way. It’s time to move on. Laziness reminds me of stress. Sure it exists and it may not ever go away, but it’s all in how you handle it. It’s time to get a little less lazy. (more…)

Introducing Walking Wednesdays at Lown Cardiovascular Center

I’m always encouraging (ok, begging) my clients and patients to “keep it moving.” It’s no surprise that a commitment to regular exercise has many benefits, for both body and mind. What’s more, it’s fun with the support of others.

I’m now offering my follow-up office nutrition visits as outside walking visits. I also just started an evening walking wellness group at the Lown Cardiovascular Center in Brookline.

The “Walking Wednesdays” group meets from 5 – 6 pm every Wednesday. The walks will start and finish at Lown, 21 Longwood Avenue, Brookline MA. The walks are rain or shine.

The group is FREE. Participation is open to anyone wanting to exercise with the motivation of others. All levels of fitness are welcome. The walks can be adapted to your fitness level. Parking is available on a first come, first serve basis from 5-6 pm at Lown. Public transportation is only a block away with the MBTA Green Line C Train, Coolidge Corner stop. There is also a Hubway bike share stop in the Coolidge Corner area. (more…)

Who are you getting your nutrition information from?

Load Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, or any web site. Search for the nutrition topic of your choice. What will you find? Pages upon pages of information, meaning your simple nutrition question just became a million times more confusing.

So, how do you know what information to trust? One way is to look at the credentials of the writer.

Here is what some of the credentials of nutrition writers mean: (more…)

Coconut Water: Are you drinking the “right beverage” for your workout?

Many articles have been published on the importance of staying hydrated during physical activity. Markets have a wide array of beverages that promote “rehydration” benefits. But, how do you choose the best beverage for your workout?  Do you need Gatorade? Coconut water? Or plain water?

For the everyday exerciser, water is still the only recommended beverage within the scientific literature.

Researchers* have tested active adults’ and athletes’ hydration response to a generic sports drink, coconut water, and water after their exercise routine. All participants performed intense exercises that would dehydrate them. Following that exercise, participants consumed one of the three beverages. Their body weights were recorded prior to exercise, following exercise, and then in hourly intervals following the “rehydration beverage.” For a regular exercise regimen—less intense than an athlete—all beverages had the same effect on hydration. (more…)

New Year, New Resolution, New You

At this time every year, we make resolutions for the future. Often times those resolutions are about getting healthy, losing weight, eating better, and other healthful adjustments to daily living. Unfortunately, shortly after these resolutions are made they are discontinued or placed “on hold”. This year it is possible to make the change and stick to it. All it takes is following the 5 steps of the “stages of change” within the “transtheoretical”, or behavior change, model. These steps include pre-contemplation, contemplation, preparation, action, and maintenance.

1. Pre-contemplation- Unprepared to make a change in your behavior.
2. Contemplation- Determine the change you want to make in your life.
3. Preparation- Collect all of the things you need to make your resolution.
4. Action- Make your change and keep it.
5. Maintenance- Keep your resolution for 6 months. You have finally reached maintenance.

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10 Healthy Holiday Eating Tips

1. Enjoy. The holidays are a great time to gather with family and friends and eat incredible foods. Don’t miss out!

2. Balance. Most people do eat more calories during the holiday stretch. Think about ways to increase your activity to balance out the excess calories. Walk more during your workday. Extend your walk or run by 5-10 minutes. Take the T or bus and get off a stop or two earlier. Small increases in activity can make a big difference.

3. Think Mediterranean. Go for savory vegetables, beans, legumes, nuts, whole grains, yogurt and olive oil whenever possible and use spices to help enhance flavor rather than an extra pat of butter.

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Stressful times call for healthful eating

In this crazy westernized world we live in, stress abounds us at every corner. Some handle it better than others. Some handle it by using food as a way to cope. If those foods are unhealthy, our bodies end up taking the grunt. Eventually stress catches up on us, many times in the form of chronic disease brought about from years of slow accumulation of damage. As I write this post I am faced with an impending stressful situation myself – cramming for an upcoming exam, the single exam that cumulates my entire education. No pressure, right?

I’m learning to deal with the life’s pressures by focusing my energy towards health and wellness. I try to fuel my body and mind with the best foods possible. While studying, I directly feel the power of a wholesome meal in terms of longer attention span and focused concentration. I love food and cooking, so it is natural for me to use it to deal with stress. For example, instead of gobbling down packaged snacks (which adds guilt-stress) I choose to prepare a fresh meal, taking time and letting my mind wonder as I chop, stir, and mix up the ingredients. I use everyday cooking as therapy to release and reflect.

Because everyone is different, here are some other ways to reduce the stress in your life:

• exercise
• journaling
• meditation
• praying
• deep breathing
• healthy cooking
• music
• art

Foods to soothe the mind, packed with antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals!

• whole grains
• fresh fruit like oranges or berries
• dark leafy greens
• fatty fish like salmon
• nuts and seeds
• chamomile tea
• spices like turmeric
• dark chocolate

So the next time you feel out of control, take a deep breath and grab a wholesome snack.

By Liz Schneider, guest blogger.

Review of the FitBit One

The FitBit One is a wearable fitness tracker that I’ve been using for about a month now and I love it. The FitBit One measures and tracks your daily calories burned, steps taken, distance traveled, stairs climbed, and even your sleep activity.

Reasons why I love the FitBit One:

• The small and sleek design. The FitBit is tiny and comes in a nice silicone case that can be clipped to clothing like jeans, sneakers, or even a bra.
• Long lasting charge. Even though the FitBit is worn all day long (and all night if tracking sleep) it only needs to be charged every week or two. It charges fast too (within a couple hours) via USB connection to your computer.
• All you have to do is wear it. FitBit connects via Bluetooth and uploads your usage data automatically to your own FitBit dashboard. Your data can be accessed online, on your smartphone, or even fitness apps like MyFitnessPal.
• Easy user interface. The FitBit dashboard produces straightforward charts and graphs to help you visualize patterns of your activity throughout the day and sleep throughout the night. You can also track food intake to compare energy in vs. energy out.
• Competing against family and friends. My family has FitBit and we are all connected online, each week we see who is “winning”. This sparks the competitive side in almost anyone.
• Way more than just a pedometer. I’ve never really thought twice about my sleep patterns but now I do. The FitBit One comes with a small soft wristband you can wear to bed. It measures the duration of your sleep, number of times you rustle, and how many times you were awakened. You can even program a silent alarm that gently vibrates to wake you up so your partner can stay sleeping.
• FitBit motivates. Digital messages pop up every so often like “Move It” or “Rock on” to encourage you to keep active. Also, a small digital flower grows according to your activity level. Nice touch.

It appears that the developers of the FitBit have thought of it all. FitBit One is a smart, sophisticated, and powerful little gadget. I love learning about my own fitness level and challenging myself and family to move more. With many other personal fitness trackers on the market these days, like Nike Fuel Band and JawBone Up – I am perfectly happy with my FitBit.

By Liz Schneider

Growing your own food

Have you ever sunk your teeth into a freshly picked tomato right from your very own garden? If not, you’re missing out. Growing your own food offers many benefits such as delicious taste, cost savings, healthfulness, and the peace of mind by controlling your own growing conditions.

Don’t know where to begin? Start with tomatoes, peppers, or herbs – they are the most forgiving even for a novice gardener.  Try growing from seeds and watch your veggies sprout up from the soil or buy starter plants that have already been established. Ask your local gardening center for tips, they are the experts.

No land? No problem. Today, gardeners are using all kinds of places to grow food like containers, windowsills, rooftops, and balconies. Collect your own water with a rain barrel and create your own plant food by composting. Gardening opens the door to sustainability.

The more I grow my own food, the more I realize what it actually takes to get food onto the table. For me, gardening has become a gateway to leading a more healthy life. Growing foods in my backyard gives me the power to choose how I will fuel my body. Plus, it makes way for discovering new cuisines through cooking at home. Lastly, growing your own food is an excellent source of exercise. It takes perseverance but it is totally worth it.

Backyard gardens have the power to increase access to healthy foods for everyone. With the 4th of July approaching, why not tap into our American heritage and start planting some food this summer!

I hope this inspires you to plant your own edible garden – you’ll be rewarded with what good soil can provide if you just give it a seed.

By Liz Schneider

Wedding season is here.

Are you prepared to make an entrance? Whether it’s a graduation, reunion, or wedding celebration – there’s always something happening during the summer – and with all that partying comes the challenge of looking your best. Many people use desperate measures to look good. But what if I told you that focusing on how you feel is really what’s most important. Wouldn’t it be nice to feel healthy, fit, and confident for the big day? Here are some tips on how to make positive changes so you can feel your best for summer’s occasions.

5 healthy changes to try now:

• Quit a bad habit. Overcome your tendency toward a bad habit by making daily goals. If you have failed at changing your behavior in the past, investigate why and learn from your mistakes.
• Take up a healthy habit. Do something that inspires you. You’ll be happy to have a genuine response to the inevitable party question, “What have you been up to?”
• Make healthy eating choices. Start in the grocery store where you hold all the power. Focus your shopping around the perimeter of the store where you’ll find whole foods like fruits, vegetables, meat, and eggs.
• Sleep better. Try going to bed earlier and waking up with the sunrise. Summer mornings are incredible for contemplating, exercising, and getting things done.
• Develop an exercise routine. Don’t bother with an activity you hate doing – find something that’s fun, you’re more likely to stick with it. Buddy up with a friend and keep each other going.

Not ready to change? No problem. Change is hard and achievable only when you are motivated. Afraid of failure? Prove yourself wrong. The best way to achieve something you do not think you can do is to reach out to people who have already accomplished that thing. It’s pretty easy to find experts in almost any area of your choosing.

Go forth and find inner peace in the things you can change to feel great, let go, and have fun at this summer’s festivities.

By Liz Schneider