That's Fit

Regular tennis players are constantly faced with the question -- what do I do with all those out-of-bounce, used tennis balls? Your dog can only chew on so many. Turns out there are 50+ creative ideas shared by Lifehackery. Here are a few health and fitness ones highlighted at Julie's Health blog:

• Juggle! Works your hand-eye coordination and mental acuity.
• If you snore, sew a pouch on the back of your pajamas and slip in a tennis ball. It'll keep you from sleeping on your back -- a prime position for snoring.
• Roll your feet on a couple tennis balls while you're sitting down for a tickly massage or slip a couple balls in a sock, tie it off and place it between your back and and a chair for a pressure massage.
• Rock climbers, listen up! If you're having trouble pulling off that 5.10 rated climb, try squeezing a tennis ball for a week, alternating equal time between each hand. Greater hand strength can make all the difference in making that crux move on the big wall.
• Here are a few from me -- play fetch with your pooch, catch with your kids or squeeze one between your knees and say hello to those inner thigh/adductor muscles.

Check out the full list by Lifehackery, and if you think of any other tennis ball tips for health and fitness, do share!

If insomnia has you in its wide-eyed grip, try pulling on a pair of wet socks. I've read plenty of tips to sleep like a baby, but never cold, swampy feet.

Julie's Health Blog recently shared this unusual remedy, which is published in the book Health20 by integrative physician Alexa Fleckstein and Roanne Weisman. They don't get credit for the idea -- Sebastian Kneipp, a Bavarian priest and a founder of Naturopathic medicine, introduced the concept over 100 years ago. Here's the chilly regimen:

• Before bed, put on a pair of cotton socks which have been dunked in cold water and lightly wrung.
• Then pull on a pair of dry woolen socks over the wet ones.
• Wrap your feet in a towel and hit the pillow.

Studies show cold feet and insomnia are linked. With this treatment, the cold and wet socks stimulate a rush of blood toward the feet, warming your footsies and bringing on sleep. Fleckstein claims it worked for her. I don't know, going to sleep with the aroma of wet wool and bound feet does not sound appealing. Anyone tried this one?