In my opinion, nothing beats a long bike ride in the Fall. However, lack of light and low temperatures (not to mention snow and rain) can dampen anyone's enthusiasm to jump on the saddle. This is where taking a good old-fashioned spin class comes in handy.
Spinning tops my list of five fitness classes everyone should try. I know that riding a stationary bike in a low-lit room with a bunch of strangers doesn't necessarily sound like a good time, but it is. It is an amazing cardio workout and a calorie burner too. Just this morning I burned over 400 calories in a hour-long class, and I got to rock out to Van Halen. What more could a child of the '80s ask for? Spinning makes sense if you are a cyclist, but it is a great way to keep up your cardio fitness if you run as well. A good spin class will include a warmup and a cooldown period with stretching, as well as intervals, sprints, hill climbs, and jumps (where you come in and out of the saddle quickly). I highly recommend taking a hand towel, because spinning equals sweating, and a water bottle. In fact, many places don't allow you to participate in a class without water.
Visit Spinning.com to find an official spin class near you. I have also seen spinning classes listed on gym schedules as Cycle Plus. Whatever you do, arrive early to class so you can adjust your bike to fit your body. Ask the instructor for help if you need it.
When we talk about food rich in antioxidants — disease-fighting nutrients — all sorts of Summer berries come to mind. Even though these berries may be hard to come by in cooler months, there are still plenty of Winter foods chock full of antioxidants. To see if you are already enjoying these foods, start the slideshow to learn what they are.
We all have different workout styles. One area where that difference can be extreme is competition. Some folks are competitive and are always trying to be faster, lift more, or out-skill their friends, workout buddies, or strangers at the gym. Others could care less about what the people around them are doing and are instead competitive with themselves. They constantly work hard to beat their own personal records.
I think a little friendly competition is positive because it can be really motivating, so tell me . . .
6 Simple Ways to Reach Your Best Body The more effort you put into your workout, the better your results will be. While the fitness industry has seen more than its fair share of trends, exercise fundamentals have pretty much stayed the same: To get toned, challenge your muscles with heavier weights and new exercises. To burn fat and calories, increase your workout intensity. And to stave off boredom, mix up your routine. 0 Comments
We're always rooting for Lauren Conrad around here, and that's something we have in common with her level-headed best friend Whitney Port. Lauren will have to say goodbye to the easy-going blonde when Whitney leaves her pals on The Hills and moves to New York, where she'll star in the East Coast version of the show, The City. OK! magazine interviewed the up-and-coming fashion designer, and the answers give us a peek into what Whitney is all about.
When asked if she feels pressure to be thin in Hollywood, Whitney gives a relatable answer and says, "Yes and no. There are days that I care more than others. Then there are days where you step back and realize you can't always be so presentable."
To see what Whitney does to stay in shape, read more
Oops! Nestlé did it again. In July, Nestlé recalled some Lean Pockets for having plastic bits in them, and now the company has announced it is recalling 879,565 pounds of Lean Cuisine frozen chicken meals for the same reason. The presence of small pieces of hard plastic led some customers to complain and caused one injury. All of the affected products are chicken-based meals.
Check your freezer for the following products subject to recall, and call Nestlé Consumer Services Center at (800) 227-6188 with any questions.
Lean Cuisine Pesto Chicken With Bow Tie Pasta: Production code "8280595912" with a "Best Before" date of "May 2010."
Lean Cuisine Chicken Mediterranean: Production code "8231595912" or "8241595912" with "Best Before" date of "Sept 2010"; production code "8263595912" "8269595911" or "8274595912" with a "Best Before" date of "Oct 2010"; or, production code “8291595912” or “8301595912,” with a “Best Before" date of "Nov 2010.”
Lean Cuisine Chicken Tuscan: Production code “8234595911” and “Best Before" date of "Sept 2009”; production code “8253595911” or “8269595912” with a “Best Before" date of "Oct 2009”; or, production code of “8292595911” or “8296595911” with a “Best Before" date of "Nov 2009.”
My pal Yum isn't pleased with this news either. If you're now inspired to cook your own food, she's has recipes galore for you to browse for inspiration.
Eating too many meals out can make our pants fit a bit more snugly, even when we're choosing what seem to be the healthiest menu items. Cities like New York and Philadelphia have mandated that chain restaurants print nutritional information on menu boards to increase awareness in terms of what we are feeding our bodies. Now Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has made California the first to implement these efforts statewide.
According to Newsweek, there's a plan to reintroduce legislation in the next Congress that would require chains across the country to print nutritional information. Do you think the presence of calorie and fat content would motivate people to make smarter decisions, or would Americans continue to dine on the unhealthy food that contributes to obesity?
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Anya Hindmarch
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