That's Fit

Continue reading Top 5 Reasons to Always be Fit

Top 5 Reasons to Always be Fit

Laura Lewis — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 11:00:00 EST

Continue reading Get Fit With These Quirky Tips

Get Fit With These Quirky Tips

Laura Lewis — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 11:00:00 EST

Every Monday, That's Fit's very own "charged up" wellness guru Laura Lewis presents The Passion Principle, a weekly guide that will help you achieve your greatest potential through words of inspiration, cutting-edge ideas and action tips you can use in your every day life!If you are at the point of popping in workout videos and watching from the sofa while sipping on milkshakes and eating popcorn, or you're supplementing your healthy diet with handfuls of peanut M&Ms, french fries and margaritas, well, then some new motivation is in order! Heck, on occasion even I need motivation -- and I am known as an enthusiastic health and fitness advocate and motivator. I am only human, after all. So I decided to conduct a bit of research on some common and not-so-common motivators. I gleaned information from my body-obsessed hair stylist and from the editor of a popular fitness magazine. Plus, I checked out a few online sources. I came up with some "interesting" motivational strategies. Read on!Set an alarm clock in your living room. There was a fellow who had a hard time getting out of bed in the morning to go to the gym. Since his wife and small children were sleeping, he felt it was easier to sleep in with the rest of them. So he decided to set two alarm clocks -- one by the bed and one in the living room. If the one in the living room were to go off, it would wake his children at 5 a.m., which is something he did not want to happen since havoc would inevitably ensue. So he learned to hop up when the first alarm went off, he turned off the one in the living room, and then he headed to the gym.

Continue reading Laugh Your Butt Off - Science Says You Can

Laugh Your Butt Off - Science Says You Can

Laura Lewis — Mon, 25 May 2009 11:00:00 EST

Continue reading Make Your Dream Bod a Reality

Make Your Dream Bod a Reality

Laura Lewis — Mon, 18 May 2009 11:00:00 EST

Every Monday, That's Fit's very own "charged up" wellness guru Laura Lewis presents The Passion Principle, a weekly guide that will help you achieve your greatest potential through words of inspiration, cutting-edge ideas and action tips you can use in your every day life!Do you dream of being fit, trim and happy but never seem to reach your goal? A few techniques based upon NLP (neurolinguistic programming) might help you get out of your own way so you can turn your dream bod into a reality. I'm fascinated with the idea of why some people fail in their attempts to achieve goals while others always hit their marks, especially when it comes to weight loss. In the neurolinguistic programming arena, it is believed that internal programming is often a key factor in how we behave and that by reprogramming our brains using specific techniques, we can achieve greater success. NLP was founded in the 1970s by Richard Bandler and John Grinder, and while it has received some criticism over the years, many have found NLP techniques to be highly effective.Over the past two decades of educating and motivating people who seek to live healthier and happier lives, I have found strategies loosely based on NLP practices to be highly effective in helping folks achieve their diet and fitness goals. What I love most is that NLP helps to remove negative emotions from goals. I have observed in some people when they talk about their desires to be more svelte or ripped that they either have stars in their eyes, and they gaze off into the distance with whimsical looks or their faces become twisted, they slouch a bit and you can almost see the word shame written across their chests. In both of these scenarios, which I have seen so many times, unproductive emotions are getting in the way of those whose goals exist in the form of dreams. Once someone becomes more objective about their goal, it becomes easier to attain.

Continue reading How to Fit Into Your Cute Jeans

How to Fit Into Your Cute Jeans

Laura Lewis — Mon, 11 May 2009 11:00:00 EST

Every Monday, That's Fit's very own "charged up" wellness guru Laura Lewis presents The Passion Principle, a weekly guide that will help you achieve your greatest potential through words of inspiration, cutting-edge ideas and action tips you can use in your every day life!Chronic stress can slow down your ability to lose weight and get rid of stubborn stored fat. Practicing a few unique stress-reduction strategies can help you lose those jiggly arms and way-too-ample bellies and booties!I am quite familiar with stress -- raising kids as a single mother has given me an intimate relationship with it. As a person who writes, coaches and speaks about health on an almost-daily basis, I know implicitly that experiencing chronic stress may result in weight gain, and I'm not talking about an increase in muscle! And after recently spending more than $100 on a pair of cool, "beautiful booty" jeans, I am highly motivated to keep my stress in check, or I'll have to shell out even more cash for bigger clothes. And that is something I do not care to do. Like you, I have plenty of other things I should be buying with my hard-earned cash.Storing more calories as body fat, specifically around your middle, occurs under times of stress. Even slim women who eat healthfully and work out on a regular basis are likely to have more belly fat if they are constantly stressed out. Researchers call it "visceral" fat -- the kind that sticks close to your internal organs and interferes with liver function, hampers the processing of cholesterol and insulin and compromises the function of other tissues and systems. Yikes. So what do we do? Develop our own stress-reduction strategies, that's what. Here are a few.

Continue reading Emotional Eating - Win the Battle

Emotional Eating - Win the Battle

Laura Lewis — Mon, 04 May 2009 11:00:00 EST

The Forgiveness Diet - Let Go and Lose

Laura Lewis — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 11:00:00 EST

Continue reading The Forgiveness Diet - Let Go and Lose

Weight Loss Tips for a Summer Bikini Bod

Laura Lewis — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 11:00:00 EST

Continue reading Weight Loss Tips for a Summer Bikini Bod

Continue reading Eat for Success - Stop, Look & Listen

Eat for Success - Stop, Look & Listen

Laura Lewis — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 11:00:00 EST

Continue reading Find Fitness - Put on a Happy Face

Find Fitness - Put on a Happy Face

Laura Lewis — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 11:00:00 EST

Every Monday, That's Fit's very own "charged up" wellness guru Laura Lewis presents The Passion Principle, a weekly guide that will help you achieve your greatest potential through words of inspiration, cutting-edge ideas and action tips you can use in your every day life!Happy people are more likely to lose weight and get fit than their sadder counterparts. It's because happiness helps you maintain objectivity and stay on the path to achieving high-level goals, and for some, feeling happy might be as easy as looking at a mood-boosting photo. I'm happy. I am sitting at my sister's house looking out the window as I write this, watching the birds flitting around, enjoying the breakfast buffet she placed in the trees for them. See, I have a thing for watching birds. It always lifts my spirits. There is just something so fun to me about observing them dart around and chirp to each other as they fill their gullets until their hearts are content. Good news for me: It turns out purposefully doing things that keep me happy will keep me on target for achieving my goals. Good news for you: Researchers studying the happiness factor and its influence on behavior and thought processes are finding that a good mood may help one to remain objective and see the big picture. In a recent study published in the "Journal of Consumer Research," the authors wrote that "a positive mood enhances efforts to attain future well-being, encourages broader and flexible thinking, and increases openness to information." They found that by placing a happy face beside typed statements read by participants that these folks were more open to information and were able to think more abstractly than those staring down a frowning face. In other follow-up studies, people encouraged to recall happy situations enjoyed similar results. Researchers concluded that "those in a positive mood not only adopt higher-order future goals and work harder toward attaining them, yet also reduce their efforts when goals are proximal or concrete."

Continue reading Body Haters - Love What Your Mama Gave You

Body Haters - Love What Your Mama Gave You

Laura Lewis — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 11:00:00 EST

Every Monday, That's Fit's very own "charged up" wellness guru Laura Lewis presents The Passion Principle, a weekly guide that will help you achieve your greatest potential through words of inspiration, cutting-edge ideas and action tips you can use in your every day life!I want you to fall in love. With you. And with the parts of your body you wish you could change. It turns out that if you accept and love what Mother Nature has given you, you'll be a lot healthier! And if you don't like what you've got, then it may compromise your health. (More on this in a bit.) Here's a question for you: What certain "part" makes you unhappy? Your feet? Your legs? Your chest? Your lips? You know, genetics have a way of passing on features for generations, and, really, it's best if you think of them as part of your history. Something to be loved, not hated. Case in point. Butts run in my family. I am talking booties that are just always there and always will be, no matter what we do. Instead of being tall, lithe and super-"modelesque," genetics has gifted me with more athletic build. And my daughters, now 16 and 20, have ended up with similar physiques. Ever since Victoria and Tarah were small, it's been tremendously important to me that they not grow up hating their bodies. So not only have I always told them how beautiful they are, no matter what phase they're going through, I've also dropped in that they probably will end up having "Mama's" derriere, which isn't a bad thing. Just more to love. As the girls went through puberty, sure enough, the curves made their debut. Statements like, "You've got the butt, girls!" or, "Your curves mean you are becoming a woman" were common. To this day, I have never heard either one of them say they hated their posteriors. Mission accomplished. Or was it? "I don't like my thighs" or "I wish I was tall" have popped up.

Continue reading Optimists are Healthier and Live Longer - The ABC's for Pessimists

Optimists are Healthier and Live Longer - The ABC's for Pessimists

Laura Lewis — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 11:00:00 EST

Every Monday, That's Fit's very own "charged up" wellness guru Laura Lewis presents The Passion Principle, a weekly guide that will help you achieve your greatest potential through words of inspiration, cutting-edge ideas and action tips you can use in your every day life!I am an admitted member of the optimist club. As a matter of fact, a dear friend of mine claims that I am eternally optimistic. In spite of what appear to be roadblocks or hindrances that occasionally get in my way, I remain optimistic. I always believe in the most positive outcome. I don my rose colored glasses as I rise each morning to meet the day. Some may say I am crazy. Yet, I would rather hang out on the side of being happy, joyous and positive than being in a dark pessimistic space. The good news, according to recent research, is that I'm going to be happier and live a longer life. Alright!Researchers consistently show proof that optimists do live longer and are healthier. Check out these interesting tidbits they've discovered. In one review of a Women's Health Initiative study with more than 100,000 participants, researchers found that optimists who expected good things instead of bad things to happen were 14 percent less likely to die than pessimists. Optimists were 30 percent less likely to die from heart disease, which was discovered during eight years of follow-up to the same study. Highly mistrustful or "Cynically Hostile" women were 16 percent more likely to die during the study period than those who were much more trusting. And the most alarming point: They had a 23 percent higher likelihood to die from cancer! Harvard researchers studying positive and negative thinkers tracked students who at age 25 were optimists and found they were healthier at ages 45 and 60 than their pessimist counterparts. Mayo Clinic College of Medicine researchers found that pessimists were more likely to develop Parkinson's disease and dementia as compared to optimistic thinkers. Pessimism has been linked with lower incomes, increased risk of disease, suppression of the immune system, higher stress levels and shorter lifespans. The good news for pessimists: You can defect to our side! Yes, it is possible to change the basic nature of being a pessimist.

Continue reading Surviving Change 101 - 8 Ways to Be Happier & Healthier

Surviving Change 101 - 8 Ways to Be Happier & Healthier

Laura Lewis — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 11:00:00 EST

Continue reading The Wheel of Excellence - 7 Secrets of Champions

The Wheel of Excellence - 7 Secrets of Champions

Laura Lewis — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 11:00:00 EST

Continue reading Baby Steps - Roger Bannister Took Them, You Should Too

Baby Steps - Roger Bannister Took Them, You Should Too

Laura Lewis — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 11:00:00 EST

Continue reading Slump - Dig Yourself Out With These 5 Tips

Slump - Dig Yourself Out With These 5 Tips

Laura Lewis — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 06:30:00 EST

Every Monday, That's Fit's very own "charged up" wellness guru Laura Lewis presents The Passion Principle, a weekly guide that will help you achieve your greatest potential through words of inspiration, cutting-edge ideas and action tips you can use in your every day life!"Snap out of it!" exclaimed Cher's character in "Moonstruck" when she slapped Nicolas Cage's character across the face. Do you remember that? Such a classic moment in film. I find myself at times saying it out loud in the midst of my very human moments -- the moments that have me frozen, unmotivated and well, basically lazy, the moments that prevent me from focusing on what's good for my health in body and mind. Yes, I can have very human moments. Such is life, right? How do you get out of a slump so bad that you make a beeline for a fast food joint after work versus taking time out to find or prepare a healthier alternative? Or the kind of slump where you just feel like plopping on the sofa instead of going to the gym -- day after day? We all need a little "Snap out of it!" help now and then. Today, help is here! Here are 5 things you can do to get out of a slump: Try Something New -- Look, if the idea of going back to the same old workout routine is making you cringe, then maybe it's time for a change. If you have the freedom to do so, join a different gym. Look around for other types of fitness-oriented classes different than what you normally try. Have you ever been in a spin class? Why not give it a try? How about boot camp class? Talk about a way to get inspired! Or how about bringing it home? Instead of investing in a gym membership, invest in a new piece of cardio equipment, like a treadmill. The point is, if the "same ol, same ol" isnt' working for you anymore, then make a change.

Continue reading Fired Up! The Psychology of Passion

Fired Up! The Psychology of Passion

Laura Lewis — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 06:30:00 EST

Continue reading Drop Your Acid - It Will Improve Your Mood

Drop Your Acid - It Will Improve Your Mood

Laura Lewis — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 06:30:00 EST

Every Monday, That's Fit's very own "charged up" wellness guru Laura Lewis presents The Passion Principle, a weekly guide that will help you achieve your greatest potential through words of inspiration, cutting-edge ideas and action tips you can use in your every day life!Have you ever noticed that your mood changes when your diet changes? For example, why do you feel calm and the world feels oh-so-right after you consume a big bowl of pasta? Answer is: Serotonin, the feel-calm neurotransmitter. But it doesn't stop there, folks. How about the good ol' sugar roller coaster? Are you one who has to eat mints all day long, along with a super-sweet snack comprised of a Snickers candy bar and a Coke in order to keep your mood and your energy up? I cannot tell you how many clients I've had over the years who were locked into this pattern. With so much sugar being consumed, one might experience serious blood sugar issues such as hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) or even Type II diabetes. Today, the sugar and ill-health connection is getting more and more attention. However it gets more interesting. What about dropping acid? Your acid? Got your attention? A quick story for you. When I was in college, I was a member of none other than the "World Famous Kilgore College Rangerettes." Competition was stiff to make the team. Once you made it, your weight was monitored. During my time there, two of my fellow "rettes" began to lose an incredible amount of weight (probably eating disorders). But the curious thing to me was how their moods changed from happy-go-lucky to hardly ever a smile as they got thinner than they should have. Were their personalities changing in part as a direct result of their biochemistry shifting?

Blow Your Diet - 5 Reasons You Do It

Laura Lewis — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 06:30:00 EST

Every Monday, That's Fit's very own "charged up" wellness guru Laura Lewis presents The Passion Principle, a weekly guide that will help you achieve your greatest potential through words of inspiration, cutting-edge ideas and action tips you can use in your every day life!Yesterday, while at the hair salon, I picked up Oprah's Magazine, "O" and was skimming through it. It was the January issue. I was enjoying it so much and knew I couldn't find it at the store anymore, so I thought about secretly stuffing it into my purse. But then the guilt would have eaten me up, so I didn't. You know, ALL those hidden cameras while you are sitting there waiting to get your haircut. The salon "police" might have tackled me on the way out the door. Right. Anyway ... I came across an article describing why people continue to blow their diets over and over again. The gist was that researchers found most people fail because they really don't face the real issue as to "why" they want to lose weight. And that it was important for people to identify what makes them feel so uncomfortable about being overweight. I found this interesting as I automatically know what motivates me. I absolutely hate it when my jeans are too tight. Hate it. So, I have locked this into my brain, and it really does motivate me to not order a shake along with my healthy salad at my local "Steak n' Shake." (Yes, I actually go there and get their apple walnut grilled chicken salad. It is delicious!) I have zero problem not eating fries and a shake because I know I do not want to be busting out of my jeans. And in turn, when I stick to my guns, I feel good about me, inside and out. Negative and positive motivators working in tandem. So here's the question: Do you have any idea why you blow your diet day after day, month after month, year after year? Why is it you just can't seem to stay on track? Hmmm. I've pulled together five reasons why I think people blow their diets. Consider this photo gallery "food for thought" and find out why you just can't seem to stick to your program!

Gallery: How Not to Blow Your Diet

The Bottom Line, Folks: Get real about why you fail. Sometimes when sunlight is cast into darkest shadows of the inner workings of you, your newfound awareness can help fuel your path to diet success!