Lessons from The Biggest Loser

By Emily Gilly

This week I watched a recent episode of The Biggest Loser. Which is odd for me, because I’m not usually a fan. That said, I am really starting to see the appeal. The season is now ended, but I happen to catch this episode where the remaining contestants run a marathon. That’s 26.2 miles! In just six months, these morbidly obese people went from completely out of shape to marathon runners!

As I watched I found myself in complete awe of these people. I workout regularly but I wondered if I could do what they were doing. Even if I had six months to train, could I do a marathon? It was downright inspiring to me.

How about you? What inspires you to do more, run harder, and persevere? I think that everyone who seeks to be fit is inspired by something. For millions the Biggest Loser has inspired them to lose weight. I have to say that I am blown away by the way it has helped so many people face their weight issues.

What inspires you to be healthy?

Bella Braised Chicken Recipe

1 tbsp unsalted margarine

2 medium onions chopped

2 stalks celery diced

1 carrot diced

2 cloves garlic minced

3 tbsp flour

¼ tsp ground pepper

Six 4oz boneless skinless chicken breasts

1 tbsp olive oil

One 14.5 oz can diced tomatoes

1 cup low sodium chicken broth

½ cup dry white wine

2 tbsp minced parsley

1 tsp dried thyme

Preheat oven to 325 degrees

In non-stick skillet melt margarine. Add onions, garlic, celery and carrot. Cook until softened. Transfer to casserole dish. Dredge chicken in pepper-seasoned flour, sauté in olive oil until brown. Arrange on top of vegetables in casserole dish. In same skillet cook tomatoes, broth, wine and parsley until boiling. Add to casserole and bake uncovered until chicken is cooked (about 1 hour). Yields 6 servings.

www.corefitnesssolution.com

Stretching: the Truth

By Lisa Ann Smith
Via Women's Health Magazine

Stretching is like backing up your PC: You know you should do it, but it's easy to blow off. Besides, you never really learned how. Stretch before you sweat? After? Are a couple of toe touches enough? If you're anything like us, you're so confused you may not bother stretching at all.

But that kind of play-and-pray strategy is risky. Unlike your computer, your body doesn't auto-save. You risk losing your range of motion and stability if you skip out on stretching. So we asked experts to analyze the research and give us the real deal.

What we learned: There are three key kinds of stretching. Combine them strategically (yet simply) and you'll prepare your muscles to expand and contract quickly so you can finesse your way around the field, up your flexibility, and promote healing between workouts.

Benefits of Morning Exercise

By by Stephanie Romero

via Families.com

There are some real benefits to morning exercise. There is just something about starting your day off with a good fitness routine that can really set a good pace for the day.

One of the benefits to exercise in the morning is that you get it done. If you are anything like me, putting off fitness

until later doesn't always happen. In fact, most times if I don't get it in right away in the morning, it is very unlikely to happen later. Let's face it, life is filled with interruptions, distractions and so many things to do that it makes sense to first exercise.

When you exercise in the morning you are more likely to stick to a routine. A fitness routine is important to lose weight and get healthy. You also tend to eat better when you have exercised in the morning. Who wants to take the time to put in a good workout or a long walk, only to follow it up with a donut? Many times we are more motivated to eat healthier if we have started off the day on the right foot.

You will also find that you have more energy if you exercise in the morning. It may be difficult initially, getting yourself out of bed but once you do and you exercise, you will feel more energized to take on the day.

Research has also shown that those who exercise in the morning sleep better at night. When you workout later in the day, you cause an adrenalin rush that can be difficult to calm down when it's time to go to sleep.

A final benefit to exercising

in the morning is that it puts you in a better mood. You feel better about yourself and that can create a more positive attitude about life in general. You feel more ready to take on whatever faces you that day.

If fitting in exercise has been difficult, try switching it to the morning and discover the benefits of it. You will be glad you did.

Your Excuses NOT to Exercise Stop Here! via Yahoo Shine

By Laurel House via Yahoo

From Fonda-style leg warmers and g-string leotards, to massive gyrotonic machines, to uber-posh gyms, to The Biggest Loser televised boot camp, fitness has come a long way… all the way around. You see, as we learned in the 80s, the best way to get fit is to make it simple, accessible, and inexpensive. Yes, those machines do work… if you use them. And, yes, gyms do work… if you go… which may be why we are now a nation of fat people. It’s too easy to come up with an excuse not to work out: “Exercise equipment is expensive,” “it’s too time-consuming to go to the gym,” “I can’t afford a fitness trainer…” Well those excuses are no longer acceptable.

Thanks in part to the economy; we are going back to basics to get in shape. From at-home cardio on the Wii, walking with friends, and group exercise DVDs, you no longer have an excuse not to workout. To help renew your fitness attitude, May 1st will be the first annual World Fitness Day- a celebration of healthy and active living, and the brainchild of none other than fitness in the flesh- Jane Fonda. Attendees will learn about physical fitness from fitness experts and will be burning calories in group workouts.

To mark the occasion, some serious fitness trailblazers, including Jane Fonda, Richard Simmons, Billy Blanks, Denise Austin, Debbie Allen, and Dr. Sanjay Gupta, along with thousands of fitness fanatics, will come together, to transform Atlanta’s Georgia Dome into a workout wonderland, moving to the live tunes of the Pointer Sisters and Ludacris!

More than just celebrating fitness once a year, the concept behind World Fitness Day is to remind all of us that fitness is a lifestyle. Meaning? According to Denise Austin, “Fitness as a lifestyle means that you are dedicated to doing something active every day. It doesn’t take that much to get in good shape. If you’re too busy, tighten your tummy or do twists and rotations at your desk. Walk for 15-minutes at lunch. Just try a little something every day. It will become part of your life like brushing your teeth.” Working in extra steps during your day really does add up. Try this power walking interval exercise with walking legend, Leslie Sansone.

Make exercise and weight loss social by getting girlfriends together, put on a fitness DVD, and start a fitness program for you and your friends to use at your home. If you want to work out with a really big class, ExerciseTV* will be streaming the World Fitness Day “star”-studded classes live. Yes, you can work out with Jane Fonda too, if you tune in… Come on, get in shape girl!