The mere act of taking some time to write down what you want to do for exercise each week could actually help you accomplish getting moving. In fact, recent research has found that people who write down what actions they are going to take each week to exercise (join a gym, run at the track, etc.), rather than just the reasons why they want to exercise (get healthy, lose weight, etc.) were inspired to exercise more. As a result, the folks who wrote about their actions saw their fitness levels skyrocket.
You're well on your way by reading FitSugar, and hopefully you've started a fitness journal. But why not go a step further and start your own fitness blog on OnSugar? It's free, and blogging is fun (trust me, I know), and it could help motivate you to get to the gym more. Who knows? Maybe you'll even end up motivating someone else to hit the gym too!
People who are trying to lose weight are bound to have food on their minds. So scientists at the Institute of Food Research in Norwich, England, are going with that urge and working to develop foods that will make you feel full. They're hoping to create foods that will slow down the digestive system in order to naturally trigger the brain to suppress the appetite. From breads to yogurt, they'll be able to create foods that trick the brain into thinking you've eaten a ton when you really haven't. The idea here is to make dieting easier, and modified foods like these could hit the shelves within a few years.
Scientists all over the world are getting on board this appetite-controlling boat, and some are working on injections or implantable devices to help people feel full and lose weight. I'm all for putting an end to the obesity epidemic that continues to rise, but this idea seems a little deceptive. We all know that diets don't work and that healthy lifestyles complete with regular exercise and a nutritious, low-calorie diet are the way to go. If these modified foods switch off people's appetites and encourage them to eat a lot less, then what happens when they lose weight and go back to their regular eating habits? I'm also concerned about regulation of these foods. What if young girls or people suffering from eating disorders get a hold of them? Am I right to be skeptical, or do you think these appetite-suppressing foods are the next best thing for weight loss?
If you're like most people, you get a new toothbrush every six months, but you really should be changing your toothbrush more often, like every three to four months. When the bristles get worn and lose their rigidity, they don't remove plaque as well. But you should also do some maintenance within that three months, when your toothbrush is just sitting out in the open. After all, think about all the germs and bacteria floating around that would love to attach themselves to your moist toothbrush.
So to prevent colds, flu, and other sicknesses, Reader's Digest recommends that once or twice a week you run your toothbrush through the microwave on high for 10 seconds immediately before brushing. If someone in your home is sick, you may want to sterilize it in the microwave each time you brush. If you're the one who's sick, after the illness passes, ditch your old toothbrush and replace it with a new one.
The plank is one of my favorite multitasking moves. It works your abs, your arms, and your back, and you can do it pretty much anywhere, without a bit of equipment. Better yet, it's highly versatile: Vary the moves just a bit, and you've got a whole new exercise. Here are four ways that you can rock the plank.
Do you tend to eat fast and until you are absolutely stuffed? If so, you might want to rethink your eating habits. A new study has found that people who eat quickly and until they're full are three times more likely to be overweight than those who don't.
Try to slow it down during your meals and snacks. Slowing down your eating process will give your brain the chance to realize that your stomach is filling up before you've already eaten the whole kitchen sink. Besides, it's not fun feeling absolutely stuffed, so you may even be saving yourself a bit of discomfort as well.
Wanna get your heart rate up? Then go running! But when you're done, take my pop quiz for a similar effect. If you have been reading FitSugar this week, you will be well-prepared. So test your knowledge and see if you caught all the info.
If you feel like you need a little review, all the answers can be found in this week's posts. Good luck!
I'll admit that I'm a creature of habit. I eat my meals and snacks at pretty much the same time Monday through Friday. I eat breakfast when I wake up, have a little snack around 10, lunch by 12:30, another snack around 4:00, and dinner by 7:30. If I don't eat at the same times every day, my body reminds me with a dull headache or rumbling in the tummy. The weekends are a little different because my schedule varies, but for the most part, I stick to a regular mealtime schedule.
The mere act of taking some time to write down what you want to do for exercise each week could actually help you accomplish getting moving. In fact, recent research has found that people who write down what actions they are going to take each week to exercise (join a gym, run at the track, etc.), rather than just the reasons why they want to exercise (get healthy, lose weight, etc.) were inspired to exercise more. As a result, the folks who wrote about their actions saw their fitness levels skyrocket. 
Agnes B
Bullboxer
Yoox