I have been sleeping in ecstasy for the past few weeks. Yes. I have a Sleep Number Bed. Not only do I have a Sleep Number Bed, but I have the new kind with Memory Foam on top. Mmmmmm. It's amazing. In fact, I didn't realize how poorly I was sleeping until I got this bed.

I value sleep. I'm a fitness trainer, fitness enthusiast, mother of two and writer of far too many things. I need to sleep, and I need to sleep well in order to accomplish the ridiculous amount of tasks that fill my days. Are you familiar with this insane style of living? I bet many of you are.

Sleep is such a powerful tool. In fact, it's a requirement for professionals and parents and growing children too. Think of it this way. Exhausted people don't work out. Those running on fumes struggle to achieve the bare minimums of each day and then toss and turn at night, unable to get to sleep quickly. Sleepless people tend to eat poorly and gain weight as a result as well. The bottom line? Quality sleep is a crucial component for vitality, fitness and success.

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Sometimes I worry about my bones. My grandma had osteoporosis, and my mom is taking measures to keep from falling prey to the same condition. Seems I should follow suit. Here's how I might bone up on staying strong, according to RemedyLife.com.

• Eat a diet rich in calcium and take a vitamin D supplement.
• Get at least 30 minutes of exercise, like walking and running, most days of the week.
• Engage in strength-training at least two days per week.
• Get a bone density screening at the time of menopause (or around age 50).
• Limit salt intake -- it causes the body to excrete calcium.
• Limit soft drinks.
• Don't smoke.
• Don't consume more than one or two alcoholic drinks per day.

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It's easy to step into a gym for the first time and feel somewhat intimidated. There are a bunch of people you don't know (many of which may be more fit than you), countless machines that look like torture devices, and a language being spoken that is oftentimes difficult to follow.

With regard to the last of those factors, I've started offering a virtual classroom here on that's fit that I call "Gym Lingo." Although much of what is covered may be old hat to some of you, others will benefit from this crash course on gym speak and will have you fitting in with the locals in no time.

The bell has rung. Please find a seat...

This week we'll focus the various ways people tend to describe the various ways a fit body can be built. Here are just a few to help you along with your gym vocab.

Cut. Generally speaking, this means that a person has a very low body fat percentage and a great deal of muscle definition. (synonyms include: shredded, sliced, diced, ripped, carved)

Jacked. When a person is both large in overall muscle mass and still maintains a good deal of definition, suffice to say that this term certainly applies. (synonyms include: diesel, stacked)

Soft. Not really directed at unseasoned lifters, but more so at veteran exercisers who have lost some muscular definition due to an increase in body fat.

Pumped. Not so much a body type as it is a state of swelling the body experiences from the rush of blood brought on by resistance training. Still, you may frequently hear use this term to describe how someone looks or how they feel.

There are several other ways you may one day hear someone describe a fit body, but these are certainly among the most common. If you have any others that you'd like to add, please be my guest and add them in the comments section below.

Hopefully this helps you the next (or first) time you go to the gym.

Class dismissed.

I am a sucker for expensive hair care products. Pricey shampoos and conditioners, any kind of serum that promises shiny results and expensive visits to the salon for a new color are all part of my hair routine. But I also know that fancy packaging and a big price tags don't necessarily guarantee quality, and that there are plenty of inexpensive alternatives.

Many of these can be found at home -- in your refrigerator. A couple of years ago I embarked on my only little adventure wherein I tried out a few of the food products that I'd heard were great on your hair to see if they really worked. I was surprised and impressed that most of them did! Although I didn't stick with any of them (lets face it -- hair that smells of mayo isn't as enticing as hair that smells like Aveda), I still think they're worth giving a try if you're curious.

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Is there a single reason for the obesity epidemic in America? Nope, but there are a few top causes. One of the top ones is probably right down the hall in a vending machine or in the fridge at home: the soft drink.

I was a soft drink addict for many, many years, but then quit cold turkey about four years ago. Result? Almost instant weight loss and a much better sense of well being. Still, it was tough -- very tough.

Now, with all the artificial colorings, sugar, caffeine and other icky ingredients in there, I can see why the addiction still runs rampant these days. And make no mistake -- it is an addiction.

The only bad part besides that is the fact you're drinking calories without ever feeling "full." According to nutritionists, that is a primary reason many of us are overweight. Can you stop? It's mind over matter, just like sticking to a diet.

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In what I consider to be a winning situation in American schools these days, an industry report (just a disclaimer) states that there are fewer amounts of high-calorie soft drinks in schools.

This is due partly to the banning of these beverages from schools due to newer state laws, and as a result, drinkmakers are introducing healthier drinks to replace them. I'm not sure that replacing high-calorie sugar water being replaced with 'healthier' versions is enough. Well, unless we see what versions are popping up in school vending machines.

Have you seen healthier soft drinks appearing in school machines recently? If so, I'd love to see what newer selections have started appearing. With 22 states having passed various pieces of legislation governing the types of drinks sold in school vending machines, there are apt to have been numerous changes with the new school year that has just started.

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