That's Fit http://www.thatsfit.com That's Fit http://www.thatsfit.com/media/feedlogo.gif That's Fit http://www.thatsfit.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/Working in the Workouts: See Mommy Runhttp://www.thatsfit.com/2008/10/09/working-in-the-workouts-see-mommy-run/http://www.thatsfit.com/2008/10/09/working-in-the-workouts-see-mommy-run/http://www.thatsfit.com/2008/10/09/working-in-the-workouts-see-mommy-run/#comments

I joined this group recently. It's for moms who run. Or hope to. I guess that would be me.

I used to run. I trained for a marathon and crossed the finish line several years ago. I'm trying to get back on the wagon. Running can't really involve my little girl the way other activities do: the playground, short hikes, walks with the stroller, jumping on a trampoline and dancing around the house are much easier ways of getting moving while caring for my 3-year-old. I have a jogging stroller, but have used it for jogging only a few times. It fills in as the rugged wheels we need for traversing grass fields and trails, but usually at a much slower pace. The truth is, my kid weighs me down, literally, more than she motivates me.

That's about to change. At least I hope so. And I'm hoping See Mommy Run can help. A group of women setting an example for their kids, and doing something for themselves, at the same time. Beautiful.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>marathonmomsmothersrunningsee mommy runSeeMommyRunstrollerwomenDeanna GlickThu, 09 Oct 2008 08:00:00 ESTGuidelines to get you movinghttp://www.thatsfit.com/2008/10/08/guidelines-to-get-moving/http://www.thatsfit.com/2008/10/08/guidelines-to-get-moving/http://www.thatsfit.com/2008/10/08/guidelines-to-get-moving/#commentsFiled under: ,



I don't think it's news to any of us that physical activity will keep us healthy. Nonetheless, the government put out a press release confirming it yesterday. More specifically, the guidelines were released to help Americans find ways to fit exercise into their daily lives and -- gasp! -- actually enjoy it.

The guidelines are based on the first thorough review of scientific research about physical activity and health in more than a decade, according to the Department of Health and Human Services. A 13-member advisory committee appointed in April 2007 reviewed research and produced an extensive report in order to come up with the guidelines.

This gist of the guidelines is this: Adults gain substantial health benefits from two and a half hours a week of moderate aerobic physical activity, and children benefit from an hour or more of physical activity a day. In addition to preventing disease, physical activity can improve thinking ability in older adults and the ability to engage in activities needed for daily living.

Continue reading Guidelines to get you moving

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>adolescentsadultschildrenDepartment of Health and Human ServicesDepartmentOfHealthAndHumanServicesexercisegovernmentguidelinesphysical activityPhysicalActivityDeanna GlickWed, 08 Oct 2008 09:00:00 ESTFitSpirit: Seeking the strength of waterfallshttp://www.thatsfit.com/2008/09/27/fitspirit-seeking-the-strength-of-waterfalls/http://www.thatsfit.com/2008/09/27/fitspirit-seeking-the-strength-of-waterfalls/http://www.thatsfit.com/2008/09/27/fitspirit-seeking-the-strength-of-waterfalls/#commentsWhile our neighbors head to church, a friend and I plan to hit Great Falls National Park on Sunday morning and sweat it out on the trails. We're both going through very challenging times and we need to escape and work our bodies and breathe and take in something much bigger than us and our worries. Something tells me God approves. In fact, He will be there.

There's something about waterfalls. The power. The beauty. The refusal to stop going. That's it. They just keep going. So that's what we'll do. We'll take a lesson from the waterfalls. The Stone Roses song comes to mind:

She'll carry on through it all.
She's a waterfall.
She'll carry on through it all.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>beautydifficultGreat Falls National ParkGreatFallsNationalParkMarylandnaturepowersong lyricsSongLyricsStone RosesStoneRosesVirginiawaterfallDeanna GlickSat, 27 Sep 2008 06:00:00 ESTStress Less: Make your own kids' mealshttp://www.thatsfit.com/2008/09/23/stress-less-make-your-own-kids-meals/http://www.thatsfit.com/2008/09/23/stress-less-make-your-own-kids-meals/http://www.thatsfit.com/2008/09/23/stress-less-make-your-own-kids-meals/#commentsFiled under: ,

I know we don't usually think of the phrase "make your own" anything when it comes to reducing stress. But in the case of kids' meals, I honestly believe it applies.

We often divert to going out to eat when we're maxed out on stress and running way short on time. However, let's disect this knee-jerk reaction a bit and see how much time we're really saving:

By the time kids are loaded into the car, you drive to a restaurant, wait in line to order or wait to be seated, decide what to order, wait for it to be prepared, eat it and come home, you could have easily boiled some water for pasta and steamed veggies and called it a night. Think about it. What's really easier? Another thing I like to do to save time and feed my family, make a couple of dishes on Sunday that can be eaten all week long: enchiladas, a pot of soup, lasagna. I also often make chicken tenders with a package of chicken cut in that format, dipped in bread crumbs, salt and pepper and sauteed in a little olive oil. Takes 10 minutes, tops.


If you still prefer to go out, knowing what's in kids' meals at various restaurants might stress you out enough to keep you home. According to the article, one Chili's Bar and Grill kids' meal composed of country-fried chicken crispers, cinnamon apples and chocolate milk contained 1,020 calories, while another composed of cheese pizza, homestyle fries, and lemonade contained 1,000 calories. A Burger King meal with a double cheeseburger, fries, and chocolate milk has 910 calories, and Sonic has a "Wacky Pack" with 830 calories worth of grilled cheese, fries, and a slushie.

While there are some healthy choices on restaurant menus, "parents have to navigate a minefield of calories, fat and salt to find them," the report said. Plus, there's the price of the food and the gas to get to the restaurant.

Now do you believe me that it's less stressful to stay at home?

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>caloriescookingfoodgoing outGoingOuthomekidsmealsrestaurantsDeanna GlickTue, 23 Sep 2008 07:00:00 ESTSweet, tasty and tart in one placehttp://www.thatsfit.com/2008/09/16/sweet-tasty-and-tart-in-one-place/http://www.thatsfit.com/2008/09/16/sweet-tasty-and-tart-in-one-place/http://www.thatsfit.com/2008/09/16/sweet-tasty-and-tart-in-one-place/#commentsFiled under: ,


AOL debuted its new site for women last week. As Team Lemondrop puts it, the site "is a place where you can care equally about America's Next Top Model and America's next top president."

I care more about the latter than the former, but I was enticed enough. A quick surf session brought me a collage of the weird faces people make when they dance, a piece from a model on how to take a decent pic and, my favorite, how to handle a Facebook request from someone who really isn't a friend.

I made sure to take note of the 1,600-calorie desserts, too, so I can avoid them!

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>internetLemondropmodelsitewomenDeanna GlickTue, 16 Sep 2008 12:00:00 ESTStress Less: A hammockhttp://www.thatsfit.com/2008/09/16/stress-less-a-hammock/http://www.thatsfit.com/2008/09/16/stress-less-a-hammock/http://www.thatsfit.com/2008/09/16/stress-less-a-hammock/#comments

Hammocks are quite the old-school phenomenon when it comes to relaxation, although they were created to fill a need for sleeping quarters. Now, they come to mind when one has a few Coronas and lime wedges to consume in an afternoon.

There is no shortage of various styles on the market with new-fangled designs and supports. I don't own one, but I make it a habit to give hammocks a whirl whenever I have the opportunity. I still remember lounging in one with my husband on the Big Island of Hawaii under the moonlight at the Hilton Waikoloa Village resort after completing the Kona Marathon earlier that day in 2002.

But certainly one does not need to complete a marathon, visit an island or stay at a resort to make use of this lovely time-tested practice. I recently had the opportunity to make use of a hammock with my daughter in my brother-in-law's back yard in Northern California. It was the traditional woven style that allows gravity to force all of your muscles into relaxation. They are the best kind, I think. Since then, I've been scouting my yard for a good spot. I think I've found one in between two solid trees in the back. Just in time to enjoy the pleasant Fall temps and foliage.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>CoronahammocklimerelaxrelaxationsleepingtreesDeanna GlickTue, 16 Sep 2008 10:34:00 ESTFitSpirit: The Middle Placehttp://www.thatsfit.com/2008/09/13/fitspirit-the-middle-place/http://www.thatsfit.com/2008/09/13/fitspirit-the-middle-place/http://www.thatsfit.com/2008/09/13/fitspirit-the-middle-place/#commentsFiled under:

I'm a bit of a sucker for memoirs. I even read A Million Little Pieces after James Frey was deemed a fraud. (He's still working, by the way. No such thing as bad press, right?) I just finished The Middle Place by Kelly Corrigan.

Jacki Donaldson read and posted about the book a while back. But I read it after a new friend of mine recommended it. She recently went through the excruciating experience of losing her mother to ALS while living an airplane ride apart. I am currently going through the same thing.

The Middle Place instead involves dealing with cancer, but the themes involving parent-child relationships, distance, disease, and faith are the same. Kelly, who survived her cancer, struggles with all of it, but particularly faith. She is baffled by the Buddhist truth of detachment, "even to people." She still struggles with faith to this day, several years later. I struggle with it a bit as well and I suspect all of us do to some degree. It's the very nature of faith, after all. It's transparent, intangible.

Continue reading FitSpirit: The Middle Place

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>A Million Little PiecesALSAMillionLittlePiecesbookbuddhismbuddhistcancerchildrendiseasedistanceeternal lifeEternalLifefaithillnessJames FreyJamesFreyKelly CorriganKellyCorriganlou gehrigs diseaseLouGehrigsDiseasememoirsmotherparentspeacereadingrelationshipsThe Middle PlaceTheMiddlePlaceDeanna GlickSat, 13 Sep 2008 06:00:00 ESTWorking in the Workouts: Get out of the carhttp://www.thatsfit.com/2008/09/11/working-in-the-workouts-get-out-of-the-car/http://www.thatsfit.com/2008/09/11/working-in-the-workouts-get-out-of-the-car/http://www.thatsfit.com/2008/09/11/working-in-the-workouts-get-out-of-the-car/#commentsFiled under: , ,

I've written about walking kids to school as a slam-dunk for a parent to to get daily exercise. But why stop at school?

I realize it's not practical to walk everywhere and some of us don't live in neighborhoods within walking distance of various errands or activities. If this is you, I recommend taking stock of those errands or activities. I'm willing to bet there's at least one or two you could give up in favor of walking or biking around the neighborhood with your kid(s).

If you live in a neighborhood like mine, you can walk to your kid's school, the park, the rec center, the library, a cafe for lunch, even the doctor or dentist. This is what I do. Incorporating walking into your day has myriad benefits; a bunch of short, brisk walks add up to countless calories burned. For example, yesterday I walked my daughter to her first ballet class at the rec center, rode the stationary bike while she danced, and then walked home. Today, I walked downtown for lunch with my daughter, then walked to her preschool a couple of blocks away and then back home. Both days I logged more than 30 minutes of continuous exercise. Bonus strength training for pushing a stroller, too!

Continue reading Working in the Workouts: Get out of the car

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>bikingcalorieserrandskidsschoolwalkingDeanna GlickThu, 11 Sep 2008 07:00:00 ESTStress Less: Weigh your luggagehttp://www.thatsfit.com/2008/09/09/stress-less-weigh-your-luggage/http://www.thatsfit.com/2008/09/09/stress-less-weigh-your-luggage/http://www.thatsfit.com/2008/09/09/stress-less-weigh-your-luggage/#commentsIf you travel by airplane at all for a trip that lasts more than a carry-on's worth of clothes, you know the worry. Will my suitcase weigh more than 50 pounds and I'll have to pay extra? Airline luggage allowances are a pittance these days. The airlines giveth -- blankets, pillows, peanuts, room for luggage -- and the airlines taketh away. Unless you pay, of course.

First, let me say that I realize that, to the inexperienced, 50 pounds may sound like a ridiculous weight for a suitcase. How could anyone pack that much stuff for a trip? Let me tell you, it adds up quick. And now that more of us have to add those heavy toiletry bags to the check-in mix to avoid the potential of having our shampoo tossed out at the security checkpoint, it's worse. And, if you've got a kid to pack stuff for in your luggage, well, it's a challenge to keep that weight under control.

There's really no way to take all the stress out of air travel, but we've found an easier way to determine if we've put on too many travel pounds without struggling to see the scale over the suitcase we're holding.We've been using this handy suitcase scale for our past several trips to via Southwest Airlines to California to see our families. So worth the $10 I spent. There's also a digital version of the same thing. Or, if you're in the market for a new suitcase, some have built-in scales. Pretty cool.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>airairlineallowancechargeluggagepayplanescaletravelweightDeanna GlickTue, 09 Sep 2008 15:30:00 ESTWorking in the Workouts: Amusement my ... feethttp://www.thatsfit.com/2008/09/04/working-in-the-workouts-amusement-my-feet/http://www.thatsfit.com/2008/09/04/working-in-the-workouts-amusement-my-feet/http://www.thatsfit.com/2008/09/04/working-in-the-workouts-amusement-my-feet/#commentsFiled under: ,

Fitting exercise in when you are a parent can be challenging enough. When you are a parent on vacation, you can almost forget it. Unless a trip to an amusement park, as they are called, happens to be on your itinerary.

I should have worn a pedometer when we went to Sea World in San Diego last week. Even without measuring, though, I'm pretty sure we cleared at least five miles. We're talking brisk. No strolling. Not even close. With a show schedule and a 3-year-old, you simply cannot be leisurely. Remember, though, if you want to count a walk in this kind of park a workout, you must bypass the junk food around every bend.

Of course, I'll need a vacation from my vacation when I return home. The good news is that going to the gym will feel like one.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>amusement parkAmusementParkexercisekidspedometerSea WorldSeaWorldwalkingworkoutDeanna GlickThu, 04 Sep 2008 07:00:00 ESTFitSpirit: Blues travelerhttp://www.thatsfit.com/2008/08/31/fitspirit-blues-traveler/http://www.thatsfit.com/2008/08/31/fitspirit-blues-traveler/http://www.thatsfit.com/2008/08/31/fitspirit-blues-traveler/#commentsFiled under: , ,

When my body isn't moving so much, my mind goes to a bit of a blue place. I'm not quite there, but I feel myself getting close. Ironically, this week my body has traveled thousands of miles and I've seen my favorite blue place in the world -- the Pacific Ocean.

As most of us know, traveling usually means our health suffers a bit due to lack of exercise, increased stress and the subsequent effect on our mental state of both. I travel from my home in the mid-Atlantic to my native California at least twice a year. I am writing from my mother's home in the Los Angeles area right now. Before heading home a week from tomorrow, we will have traveled by air and navigated airports for more than 12 hours and spent almost 20 hours in cars in order to visit family and friends on opposite ends of the state. So much movement, so little exercise.

Thankfully, visiting the loved ones we live so far away from keeps my mind a bit happier during these sedentary vacation days. And I do try to adhere to some of the common tips for maintaining good health and fitness while traveling, such as making good food choices and drinking lots of water. I also follow certain prevention guidelines.

When I get home, I'll run through the neighborhood, hop on my bike or swim laps at the rec center in an effort to kick those endorphins back into high gear and then some. I'll certainly have to in order to heal the little bit of homesickness and heartsickness that's sure to crop up after leaving so many loved ones behind.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>airairportbluesCaliforniadarkfamilyflightfriendsheartsicknesshomesicknessLos AngelesLosAngelesloved onesLovedOnesmid-AtlanticoceanPacificsedentarystresstravelingvacationDeanna GlickSun, 31 Aug 2008 06:00:00 ESTStress Less: Traveling with kidshttp://www.thatsfit.com/2008/08/27/stress-less-traveling-with-kids/http://www.thatsfit.com/2008/08/27/stress-less-traveling-with-kids/http://www.thatsfit.com/2008/08/27/stress-less-traveling-with-kids/#comments
Air travel with children pretty much defines the ultimate in stress. But upon touching down last night for our two-week vacation in our native California, my husband and I were marveling at how much easier air travel has become now that our daughter is 3. It's downright pleasant, in fact. No packs of diapers to haul or awkward toys. One change of clothes is enough. But then there's the stroller and that darn car seat. Seems the kids need them until they're 12 now. And we have to have one for the car once we come down from the sky.

Until the car seat is in its rightful place, lugging it around can be an awfully annoying chore. A handy carrying case with wheels has been our salvation during the past three years of nearly thrice yearly trips back and forth from the East to West coast to maintain family relationships outside of Facebook. There are many variations on the concept.

But of course there's something better now. Just like getting a new cell phone right before the newest, coolest one comes out, baby gear seems to get better just a little too late to be able to take advantage. Parents can now use one piece of equipment that does double duty as a stroller and a car seat. It tows car seat size kids around just like a suitcase on wheels in this very cool contraption. Just when I was feeling a little bit good about how much easier our airport lives had become, turns out we're way behind the times. I'm going to drown my sorrows in the pool now.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>childrenkidsStress LessStressLesstravelDeanna GlickWed, 27 Aug 2008 12:30:00 ESTFitSpirit: Mother Nurturehttp://www.thatsfit.com/2008/08/23/fitspirit-mother-nurture/http://www.thatsfit.com/2008/08/23/fitspirit-mother-nurture/http://www.thatsfit.com/2008/08/23/fitspirit-mother-nurture/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Maintaining health in my mind and body has always been important to me. But it became more so after I became a mother. I've been fortunate, for the most part, to be one who enjoys motherhood and has been able to achieve a good balance most of the time.

Still, I was intrigued when my friend and neighbor handed over her copy of Mother Nurture to add to my bedside table. It's a fabulous resource regardless of how well a mother might be coping, or not. It could be a lifesaver for some.

If anything else, reading about preventing depletion, building teamwork with your partner and achieving balance in your life is fabulous motivation to keep moving forward and enjoy being a parent rather than viewing it as a task to be completed. I'm actually putting it on my short list of great baby shower gifts. I suspect it would be a lot more valuable than another blanket in the nursery.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>bookdepletedmother nurturemotherhoodMotherNurtureparenthoodstressDeanna GlickSat, 23 Aug 2008 06:00:00 ESTWorking in the Workouts: Kids can count your repshttp://www.thatsfit.com/2008/08/21/working-in-the-workouts-make-kids-count-your-reps/http://www.thatsfit.com/2008/08/21/working-in-the-workouts-make-kids-count-your-reps/http://www.thatsfit.com/2008/08/21/working-in-the-workouts-make-kids-count-your-reps/#commentsFiled under:

My daughter loves to count. She can get beyond 20 these days. "Helping" is another thing she adores. "Mommy, I help you cook." "Mommy, I help you fix that." And on, and on.

So I was delighted to come across a great tip today that makes use of both of these favorite activities. It comes from a special section of Workouts for You devoted to exercising with kids. Most of the ideas on the list are actually things I've written about in this series already. But here's the new one: involve your kids while you strength train at home by letting them count your reps out loud for you and/or clock your rest time in-between sets. You can incorporate the task into doing a few push-ups or sit-ups or while using dumb bells. Squats or leg lifts too.

Sometimes our old brains forget the simple things kids find fun. And it's a big bonus when that fun truly translates to "Mommy, I help you work out!" And it's the truth!

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>countingexercisehelpinghomekidsleg liftsLegLiftspush-upsrepssimplesitupssquatsstrength trainingStrengthTrainingworkoutDeanna GlickThu, 21 Aug 2008 07:00:00 ESTStress Less: Potty training in publichttp://www.thatsfit.com/2008/08/19/stress-less-potty-training-in-public/http://www.thatsfit.com/2008/08/19/stress-less-potty-training-in-public/http://www.thatsfit.com/2008/08/19/stress-less-potty-training-in-public/#commentsFiled under: ,

I typically like to address my Stress Less installments to everyone, but this one is for parents of preschoolers who are potty training. That's because I've noticed potty training tends to cause the most stress amongst my fellow parental cohorts. I'm not going to offer magic tricks for how to get your kids to use the potty. But I will aim to ease minds about doing so in public restrooms.

I actually find it strange that parents allow their kids to romp without a care on pesticide laden grass in public parks, identified as such with those handy little flags, but freak out if their child touches anything in a public restroom. Fifty percent of American women won't sit on a seat and they teach their kids to do the same. But in an ABC News test, the toilet turned out to be the cleanest thing in the public restroom. As the subsequent report points out, you're not going to get germs from your backside. You're going to get them from your hands.

There really is little need to worry anyway. At least not about genital herpes or HIV. But you might worry about staph infections. It's possible to contract an infection from potty seats, but it's not as likely as you might think. The bottom line: as long as you wash your hands after a trip to the bathroom, you and your kids will likely never acquire anything by way of the public potty.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>diseasegermsinfectionpottypotty trainingPottyTrainingpreschoolerspublicSTDtoiletwash handsWashHandsDeanna GlickTue, 19 Aug 2008 09:30:00 ESTWorking in the Workouts: Surf in your living roomhttp://www.thatsfit.com/2008/08/14/working-in-the-workouts-surf-in-your-living-room/http://www.thatsfit.com/2008/08/14/working-in-the-workouts-surf-in-your-living-room/http://www.thatsfit.com/2008/08/14/working-in-the-workouts-surf-in-your-living-room/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Well, not really. But you can get the body that comes from riding waves with a big bonus: your kid might like watching while you do. Who knows? Maybe they'd even join you.

Surf Stronger is a workout video series that incorporates surf video and stars two-time runner-up World Champion surfer, Serena Brooke. Talk about inspiration!

For me, this workout would be a bit melancholy, as I still miss surfing my native Southern California waves as a Northern Virginia transplant. I'm no Serena, not even close. But longboarding at San Onofre with my dad are memories I hold dear. Watching the waves from my basement is something I never thought possible. I love the idea nonetheless, especially with cooler months approaching faster than a pipeline off the North Shore coast.

Continue reading Working in the Workouts: Surf in your living room

Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>absbeachcore trainingCoreTrainingdownloadindooriPodliving roomLivingRoompaddleSerena BrookeSerenaBrookesurftoned armsTonedArmsvideowavesworking in the workoutsWorkingInTheWorkoutsworkoutDeanna GlickThu, 14 Aug 2008 07:00:00 ESTWorking in the Workouts: Worth the weighthttp://www.thatsfit.com/2008/08/07/working-in-the-workouts-worth-the-weight/http://www.thatsfit.com/2008/08/07/working-in-the-workouts-worth-the-weight/http://www.thatsfit.com/2008/08/07/working-in-the-workouts-worth-the-weight/#commentsFiled under:

My daughter has surpassed 30 pounds. And it's a good thing, because if it weren't for her whining to be carried, I wouldn't be getting any strength training in these days. As for aerobics, walking to and from the rec center twice a week for my kid's swim classes has been my only so-called workout recently.

These waning days of summer are always tough, right? The heat. The kids' boredom. The heat. The vacations. The needing a vacation from your vacation. The heat. I'm more apt to end up toasting cold brews with neighbors outside at 5 o' clock than working in any sort of workout this time of year.

I think the best thing I can do at this point is start plotting my fall schedule to get back on the wagon. And it will be easier, don't you think? We dread September in so many ways. End of summer. End of fun. Back to school. Back to schedules. But I think we need to get back to schedules. There's a reason we have them. They force us to do the things we need to do. Like working in the workouts. You with me?

Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>fallschedulestrengthsummerworkoutDeanna GlickThu, 07 Aug 2008 07:00:00 ESTStress Less: Water, water everywherehttp://www.thatsfit.com/2008/08/05/stress-less-water-water-everywhere/http://www.thatsfit.com/2008/08/05/stress-less-water-water-everywhere/http://www.thatsfit.com/2008/08/05/stress-less-water-water-everywhere/#commentsFiled under: ,

I've often been struck by the myriad stress relief techniques that involve water, from tabletop fountains to aerobics in the pool as well as warm baths or taking a spin on a boat.

But why does water work?

According to this newsletter on therapeutic techniques, the body has a relationship with water which is both primordial and present and there are many reasons why we might be drawn to water to feel better: we are made up largely of water and life is composed of water, providing all living things with a flow of nutrients as well as a channel of elimination. Perhaps this is why stress relief with water has moved beyond the warm bath into the realm of hydrotherapy.

According to this hydrotherapy source a warm bath (ranges from 35°C to 40°C) relaxes the body and soothes sore areas, increases blood circulation in skin, promotes cell renewal, and eliminates toxins through perspiration and lymphatic drainage. Water has a hydrostatic effect that stimulates touch receptors on skin and boosts blood circulation. Far beyond stress relief, the technique can be effective for treating rheumatic diseases and arthritis and improve fitness levels in dogs and horses.

Personally, nothing works quite like a dip in the ocean.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>boatinghydrotherapystress reliefStressReliefwarm bathWarmBathwaterwater aerobicsWaterAerobicsDeanna GlickTue, 05 Aug 2008 07:00:00 ESTStress Less: You snooze, you losehttp://www.thatsfit.com/2008/07/22/stress-less-you-snooze-you-lose/http://www.thatsfit.com/2008/07/22/stress-less-you-snooze-you-lose/http://www.thatsfit.com/2008/07/22/stress-less-you-snooze-you-lose/#commentsFiled under:

Stress, that is. A timely story about sleep posted this morning discusses why sleep is so important in so many ways to our health. Of course, one of those ways is managing stress hormones. And, of course, I am struggling through the morning after an entire night of insomnia.

According to the article, our bodies use sleep to release certain hormones, including those essential for growth and development. If we wake in the middle of the night, those functions are disrupted. One example is cortisol. For people with normal sleep patterns, this stress hormone peaks around 4 a.m. We're blissfully unaware because we snooze through it. Then, a doctor is quoted as saying: "If you're awake longer than you should be for a few days, that puts your body under stress, which leads to higher levels of cortisol."

Let's hope I have some luck tonight.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>cortisolhormonesinsomniasleepstressDeanna GlickTue, 22 Jul 2008 10:00:00 ESTStress Less: Massage works, but why?http://www.thatsfit.com/2008/07/15/stress-less-massage-works-but-why/http://www.thatsfit.com/2008/07/15/stress-less-massage-works-but-why/http://www.thatsfit.com/2008/07/15/stress-less-massage-works-but-why/#commentsFiled under: ,

Try to find a person who doesn't enjoy a massage to relax. You'd be hard-pressed. Of all the stress-relieving techniques out there, massage is my absolute favorite.

Certainly, massage relieves muscle pain and soreness, but it appears to be most popular for stress relief. It's effectiveness is largely due to the fact that manipulating the muscles releases endorphins, the brain's natural opiates, which encourages a feeling of well being and confidence. Studies show massage can be helpful for various ailments. But when looking at the list, one can't help but notice many of the benefits involve the mind more than the body. Consider the following from a Mayo Clinic article:

Continue reading Stress Less: Massage works, but why?

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>alcoholanorexiaanxietybraincancerchildrendepressiondiabetesendorphinsmassageopiatesreliefsmokingstresstouchDeanna GlickTue, 15 Jul 2008 10:00:00 EST