Although running uphill is a serious challenge, it still provides so many benefits. There are also many ways to approach the incline. If you want to keep your pace consistent rather than focusing on maintaining a steady RPE (rate of perceived exertion), focus on your arms. In some feat of evolution, our arms and legs are wired to keep the same pace. If you pump your elbows back at the rate you want your feet to go, your legs will follow.

For me, as my legs start to feel heavy, I put all my energy into my arms. I can’t say it makes me float uphill, but it does somehow lessen the burden maybe because my arms are closer to my brain?

Try it next time you're running uphill; it really does help.

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Next time you are at the grocery store or farmers market, be on the look out for fiddleheads. Not some crazy violinist, but baby ostrich ferns, all coiled up so they resemble the scroll of a violin. They really are a delicacy and May is the time to eat them.

I must warn you though, these green plants must not be eaten raw, since they contain natural substances that can cause gastric distress if not cooked properly. So just boil them for five to seven minutes or steam them for eight, until they're just tender. You may notice that the water turns brown, which is totally normal. Be careful not to overcook them as they'll become mushy and lose their wonderful flavor, which is similar to a blend of pea pods, asparagus, and artichoke.

Are these green veggies exceptionally healthy for you? To find out read more

I know that exercising in the early a.m. before you head to work can be a real challenge. If you aren't a morning person, missing out on sleep can seem very unappealing, but here are some reasons you may want to set your alarm for an early morning workout.

1. It's usually a peaceful, quiet time of day, so it can be a great opportunity to think and get some time alone.
2. Exercising in the morning can help wake up your brain, clear your mind, and help you organize your thoughts or your mental to-do list for the day.
3. If you get it done first thing, then you won't have to worry about trying to squeeze it in to your busy schedule, especially if you have kids. Plus, studies have shown morning exercisers are more consistent.
4. Exercising helps get things moving, digestively speaking, so working out early can prevent getting backed up later on in the day.
5. Since working out on an empty stomach can cause you to lose muscle, morning workouts will encourage you to eat breakfast, which has been proven to boost your metabolism, which helps to burn calories.

Tell me, how do you feel about exercising in the morning?

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Sitting at your desk doesn't mean you can't work on toning your mid-section. You can work your belly at work without your boss ever knowing you're doing some strength training on the job. All you need to do is pull your navel to your spine, the most basic Pilates move. Here's how:

• Sit up straight, keeping your back away from the back of your chair.
• Exhale and pull your abs to your spine without curving your back. This will feel a little like a corset. It should feel a little like you are bracing for a punch to the abdomen.
• Focus on your low abs; these you can definitely keep engaged while you breathe.
• Breathe into your back ribs, wherever you have ribs you have lungs. This is a nice stretch for the intercostals, the muscles between the ribs.
• Hold for 30 seconds. Do twice an hour.

Oblique Variation: To challenge your obliques (the abs on the side of the torso) a little more simply tilt your torso slightly to the right and hold that position for 30 seconds. Then, of course, reverse the action by tilting to the left so you can keep even.

Fit's Tip: You can also work your abs when you're waiting at a long traffic light, when stuck in traffic, or heaven forbid, out on a boring date! Try it right now and let me know how it feels.

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