What Advice Would You Give Your Younger Self?

It’s a question I’ve posed to clients and seminar attendees in the past: what direction or wisdom would you share with your younger self if you could go back ten, twenty, thirty years (or more)? The idea obliges us to think about the whole of our journey thus far – how we’ve viewed health or success, how we’ve valued our well-being against other commitments, how we’ve weighed instinct against authority – among endless other inquiries. The fact is, life teaches us. I’m not talking just about the assemblage of data – more information gathered, more studies skimmed. I mean the self-knowledge acquired – sometimes through hard-won means – as well as the priorities that have come into focus over time. It’s often about the

Triathlon blog: Counting down the days

With just a few days to go now before my first triathlon, I ask myself – am I ready? The answer is not that simple, I feel I am ready to give it a go, but at the same time I really only feel like I am just getting started. When I first agreed to take on the Vitality London Triathlon  my main concern was the swim section, but I’ve taught myself a passable front crawl (and can revert to breaststroke if I need to), my riding is vastly improved thanks to my Cyclefit experience and the run, well that’s the bit I am looking forward to most because then I know I will finish. I’ve really enjoyed the learning, the improvements and the

Now You Can Get the Full Nutritional Breakdown of Any Recipe Online

Edamam Nutrition Wizard The one great thing about eating frozen dinners is you know exactly what you’re getting. Well, at least in terms of stuff like calories and carbohydrates—it can take a chemist to understand (and pronounce) all of the ingredients they’ve added to your meal. (Can you say “disodium guanylate”? No really, can you?) That’s part of the reason we started cooking at home in the first place. But when we look to Pinterest and cookbooks for inspiration, it’s hard to know if the meals we’re salivating over are actually good for us. Sure, the chicken recipe says its healthy and even substitutes Greek yogurt for sour cream and quinoa for couscous, but we have no idea if its nutritious or a calorie bomb. That’s

AARP survey: Many generic medicine prices have risen sharply

Reversing a long-term trend, prices for more than one in four generic medicines widely used by older Americans increased in 2013, some very sharply, according to a survey by AARP. Generic drug prices on average are still falling, but the increases for certain classes of drugs may be a sign of more to come, the advocacy group says, because industry consolidation is reducing competition, manufacturing quality problems are causing shortages and the number of blockbuster brand-name medicines going off patent has fallen since a huge surge a few years ago.

I Ran Outside!

Tuesday started off really great. I woke up ready to go and managed to find the time to run outside! I can’t even tell you the last time I ran ALONE outside – no stroller, no buddy, just me. It was pretty nice, actually. I pounded out those miles, too. Running really is my first athletic love, but it’s just harder than ever to coordinate solo time on the sidewalk… This was a nice reminder that it’s worth it. Got home and felt sweatier than ever! Two things about the photo above: I always feel weird just running in a sports bra (like I’m running nekkid!) but one of the reasons that I love the Enell bra (<—review) is that covers so much on the

Devastating consequences of secrecy and silence

Thanks to many generous contributors I now have an arsenal of potential responses to the question “what do you do?”. My options span a wide range of possible replies, including the flippant, cheeky, risqué, straight, cryptic, serious, intense, and downright arrogant. I am now equipped for any situation with an answer I can choose to suit the context, the characteristics of the questioner, and my own willingness to engage. If only we all had such luxury when it comes to matters relating to sex. Misunderstandings and awkwardness about sex can be more than just an inconvenience or embarrassment. Sometimes there are potentially devastating consequences. The way we engage with ideas relating to sex can have far-reaching effects on our lives as individuals, within our families

Pacing tips for first time triathletes

Pacing yourself for one discipline is hard enough but when trying to do it for 3 it becomes even more challenging. The key is to make sure you think about each discipline individually, understanding your strengths and planning accordingly. Someone very good on a bike can sometimes push to the max, finishing this leg in a strong time, only to suffer in the run and lose all the time they made up.   For first time triathletes a good place to start is the sprint distance triathlon. While the distances are shorter, it’s worth bearing in mind that it does not necessarily mean it’s easier as you are generally working at a higher level  (sprint) throughout. Different tactics need to be considered for different levels of fitness

No-Mayo Tuna Salad

The secret ingredient in this tasty reipe is the sweet potato, which (along with hummus) adds a creamy texture so there’s no need for mayo. Plus, it’s incrediby easy to make! In a small bowl, use a fork to break tuna chunks into small pieces. Add sweet potato chunks, tomatoes, celery, and scallion, and mix together. Add hummus and mustard to moisten tuna to desired preference. Sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste. 1 can (5-6 ounces) unsalted tuna, packed in water, drained1/2 cup baked sweet potato chunks, cooled (about 1/2 medium sweet potato)1/4 cup chopped cherry or grape tomatoes1/4 cup chopped celery1 scallion, green part only, finely chopped2-3 tablespoons hummus1 tablespoon Dijon mustardSea saltFreshly ground black pepper

Losing weight is simple.

“You need to stop saying that. It isn’t easy or simple. I know what you mean–others don’t.” My husband made that remark to me after I responded to a new friend’s question about losing weight. It was only then I realized how frequently, when asked about my journey to fit; I used the adjectives easy and simple. Once he pointed it out, however, I immediately saw his perspective. Weight loss, loss maintaining, and healthy living was all very simple…to explain. Carving my healthy living path, getting fit & remaining that way was all very easy …in theory. In no fashion did I mean execution of these simple concepts was easy (I’d begged & bribed myself to do cardio enough times to know that well)

Greatist Workout of the Day: Thursday, May 28th

This series of GWODs was designed exclusively for Greatist by Bodeefit. For more information about the exercises in this workout, or to see video demos of each movement, follow the links below the graphic. Be sure to note the results of your workout so you can track your progress as you go. Before you tackle this workout, try this quick and effective full-body warm-up. It’s just five simple moves but hits every major muscle group and gets your heart pumping. Step Up! Complete 25 reps of each of the following movements, then 20 reps, then 15 reps as fast as safely possible. Add a 1-minute Plank Hold after each round. Step-UpsExplosive Push-Ups Bicycle Sit-Ups Want to kick the intensity up a notch? Hold lightweight dumbbells