That's Fit

Most of us have one major problem with exercise: Finding time for it. I know the feeling--between working 8-10 hours a day, spending time with family and trying to run a household, it's difficult, sometimes impossible, to find time to head to the gym. My job is no help--being a writer doesn't exactly burn too many calories.

But they key is trying to find way to work exercise into your everyday life. Weight Loss Journal recently revealed 8 ways to exercise throughout the day, including:

• Sucking in your stomach -- it really does help to tone your tummy, and it makes you look slimmer instantly.
  
• Fidgeting. It helps you burn calories throughout the day.
  
• Taking the stairs at work.
  
• Using a desk exercise machine. You can work away while silently pedalling under your desk. Neat, huh?

Read the rest of the tips here, and when you're done, tell us what you do to work in the workouts.

Each week, we'll be naming a Super Food and offering unique ways to use those Super Foods that pack nutritional power. After all, you are what you eat -- make it count!

Peppermint is a flavour we see in abundance: In candies, ice cream, gum, even our Grande Mochas at Starbucks. But peppermint is more than just a sweet treat; It's an effective cure for a variety of ailments, and a healthy flavour to add to your everyday diet.

First and foremost, peppermint has long been believed to be good for your stomach woes, from gas to nausea to gallbladder disease and even stomach cancer. And today, it's more than a just a belief -- According to this article from the Harvard School of Medicine, peppermint is an effective natural treatment for the symptoms of Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS,) including pain, cramping, bloating and diarrhea. In fact, in studies, 75% of participants with IBS saw a major reduction in symptoms when they took peppermint capsules daily.Pretty impressive, huh?

Most abdominal exercises can't quite be called relaxing. You might enjoy them, and they might not be painful, but if you try to tell me any exercises really feel wonderful while you're doing them, I'm going to ... well, I just won't believe you. But that's not really my point.

This week's Fit Gadget, the Multi-Core-Flex Excel Body Gym, is designed to massage your back while working your abs, quads, and inner and outer thighs. Actually, it claims that, in addition to giving you a fantastic workout, it will give you "the most relaxing back massage you've ever had. Its comfortable rounded pads enable you to stretch your entire upper body as well as your back for total relaxation."

Hmm ...

Join me as I search my soul for direction regarding my latest pursuit: A tummy tuck. Will I go through with it? Will I "Tuck It In?" Keep reading. Keep coming back. And you'll find out.

May 6, 2008

Thirteen days down and a lifetime to go with this new flat tummy of mine. Yep, it's flat. And tight. And with the exception of some swelling that is driving me bonkers -- more about that here -- I am thrilled beyond thrilled with my new mid-section. My decision to go through with a tummy tuck surgery was in fact the right one.

So let's wrap things up with this Tuck It In series. The last time I wrote, I was right out of surgery, recovering at home in my recliner, bandaged and compressed, with two drains and a pain pump sprouting from my belly. I was walking in hunched-over fashion and popping pain pills, antibiotics, probiotics, and a muscle relaxer as prescribed. Now, almost two weeks later, I am out of the recliner and walking upright. The drains and pain pump are gone, all drugs are out of my system, and I'm wearing only my compression wrap to hold me firm and shape this new shape of mine. I'm driving, walking two miles at a time, and counting down the weeks until I can run -- four more to go.

Join me as I search my soul for direction regarding my latest pursuit: A tummy tuck. Will I go through with it? Will I "Tuck It In?" Keep reading. Keep coming back. And you'll find out.

April 16, 2008

One week from today. Seven days. Tummy tuck day. It's on my mind all the time -- when I wake up in the morning, when I run my few morning miles, when I play with my little boys, when I put my clothes on and take them off, when I look in the mirror, when I go to bed at night. My pending surgery is all-consuming. So is my tummy.

My stomach has bothered me for seven years, ever since my first big baby boy came screaming into the world, ever since that 50 pounds I gained to support his massive weight -- 10 pounds, nine ounces -- melted into saggy skin. It got worse with the second monster boy -- 10 pounds, two ounces -- and then worse again after I lost weight this past year. Don't get my wrong. I love that I was able to carry big babies. I love that I lost the weight that excess food and cancer treatment left on my body. But I don't love my tummy. I don't want to be consumed by it anymore.

I wasn't sure what my physical therapist meant when she told me to "zip it up" as I was exhaling during an ab exercise. So she explained: Suck in your stomach just like you would if zipping really tight jeans. Aha. We all know how that feels, right? My exercise suddenly became easier.

Here it is, a little something designed to strengthen the lower transversus abs.

• Lie on your back.
  
  

• Place hands on your lower abdomen.
  
  

• Inhale and feel your abdomen expand. Your tummy should pushed out and full of air.
  
  

• Exhale as you pull your lower abdominals in, just like you would when zipping tight pants. The more forcefully you exhale, the stronger the transversus abdominus contraction.
  
  

Do 10 to 15 reps twice daily and before you know it, those tight jeans won't be so tight.

Scientists have found two cell proteins that help our stomach muscles relax to make room for a big meal. Called P2Y1 and P2Y11, the proteins control slow and fast relaxation of the stomach. Researchers theorize that a drug could be created to inhibit these proteins, subsequently disallowing the stomach from expanding beyond it's resting size. Think of it as gastric bypass, without all the icky surgery.

You can have the same effect without taking pills, though. Portion control is one of the most important parts of managing your weight. In addition to choosing the right foods, you have to choose the right amounts. Mayo Clinic offers a slide show of portion sizes to help you get started.

Ever considered placing yourself in a time-out? I have. When my kids are driving me crazy, or my responsibilities are mounting, or I just need a bit of silence, a time-out seems quite heavenly. And if I follow the proper time-out protocol of sitting quietly for one minute per each year of age, I'd get a whole 37 minutes all to myself. Not bad.

OK, so maybe a mommy time-out is not likely to happen. A food time-out might be in my future, though, especially now with holiday eating in full force.

Nutrition experts recommend we all take food time-outs during our meals. They suggest taking 20 minutes between courses -- the amount of time it takes for fullness signals to travel from your stomach to your brain. Stop, think, and listen to your body's natural hunger cues, and you'll take control of your appetite and avoid overeating too.

Frequent stomachaches affect many people, but how do you know when a stomachache is just a stomachache? Could it be something worse? It might just be heartburn, but one of the most common sources of a stomachache is an ulcer. Everyday Health reminds us to look out for these symptoms when a stomachache hits:

• Sharp, sudden or persistent pain
• Bloody, black or unusual vomiting
• Bloody, black or unusual stools.
  
• Weight loss
• Poor appetite
• Bloating
  
• Belching
• Nausea

If you have any of these symptoms, see your doctor immediately. These could be signs of an ulcer -- or something worse. Don't take your chances.

Whether you're into cosmetic surgery or not, sometimes the only way to get a particular result is to have yourself altered surgically. But thankfully that's not always the case -- in many situations a little hard work can get you similar, if not the same, results. Want specifics? Well here's a great set of moves in slide show format from iVillage, including moves to help give yourself a bust lift, a tummy tuck, and even a tighter backside.

Think of all the money you could save by skipping the surgery and going for natural results instead -- that's one heck of a fun vacation or a lot of shopping for new clothes!

The adenovirus has been around for years, causing cold and flu-like symptoms, including some stomach flus, is gaining lots of attention lately -- for being potentially deadly. New and improved testing methods has revealed that the adenovirus is prevalent and sometimes fatal in healthy people, often fatal in those with a compromised immune system -- those awaiting a bone marrow transplant, for instance.

But knowing the adenovirus is the first step to stopping it in its tracks. In fact, vaccines have already been contracted for certain strains. In the meantime, what can you do? I know it sounds cliche but washing your hands is the best way to prevent transmission of any virus.

For more info on the adenovirus and recent findings, check out this article.

Turnips don't usually make me think 'tasty'. Rather, the vegetable conjures up images of kids being sent from the table after refusing to eat the mushy mass left on their plate. I don't actually have anything against the turnip really, it just doesn't excite me in the same way that broccoli, fresh peas and carrots do.

Well it didn't excite me that is, until I saw this article about just how good they are for you. Did you know, for example, that turnips contain heaps of vitamin C, calcium and iron? And as an added benefit, the super-vegetable can lower your risk of developing a range of cancers including stomach, lung, breast and ovarian.

It's important to note though, that in order to reap all of these anti-cancer benefits, you should avoid boiling turnips. If you'd like to find some other recipes that offer tasty ways to consume the vegetable, take a look at the recipes listed at the bottom of the article.

Do you suffer from exercise-induced heartburn? It can really be miserable, not to mention put a serious kink in your efforts and sap your motivation to work your hardest. So in order to stave it off completely, or deal with it most effectively when it does strike, try these tips:

• Pay attention to your diet, and do some problem-solving
• Eat something small that you know helps reduce your chances of heartburn right before you workout.
• Experiment and find the ideal time to eat before working out -- whether it's 30 minutes or 2 hours, everybody is different.
• Pay attention and experiment to see if all exercise, or only certain kinds, trigger heartburn attacks.
• Don't be afraid to treat heartburn symptoms, for example taking a small sip of vinegar can neutralize the acid.
• Try commercial over-the-counter treatments like TUMS or some other calcium-based antacid. Experts say it certainly can't hurt to try.

One of the biggest physical issues people wish they could change about themselves is their midsection -- everybody wants a flatter and more toned stomach. But somehow even though it's one of the most desired physical changes it also seems to be one of the most elusive. Part of it is that even the slightest layer of fat can cover up a toned tummy and make it look flabby, and the other part is probably not having the time to work on it. But like anything, having the time is all about priorities and about how bad you want it, and if you're looking for a fast way to squeeze in some ab work these exercises may make it easier to get started. eDiets has tailored common moves like sit-ups, leg raises, and others into a fast and efficient ab routine.

Happy crunching!

Are you looking to shape up your abdominal muscles? I remember the first time I realized the appeal of six-pack abs way back when I first saw Janet Jackson's video for the song "That's the Way Love Goes". Miss Jackson changed her look from the former Rhythm Nation-image of a youth in full-black commando outfits, to sexy and sleek wearing a short and slinky stomach-baring top. All the boys at my Jr. High were obsessed with that video, as were the females (for different reasons). Even as teenage girls, we all wanted to have those abs.

Years later, I still have never had a six-pack. I don't actually want them anymore, but I would love to lose a layer of fat and look more toned. While sit-ups were the way to go back in my Jr. High days, the ideal way to flatten your stomach now is through aerobic exercise (to burn off the flab covering the muscles underneath) and by toning through strengthening your core.

As this article discusses, poses like those utilized in Pilates -- ones that work your core muscles through repetitive reaching, bending and twisting movements -- are not only great for toning you stomach but also help strengthen your back. The piece gives instructions on how to properly execute an abdominal cycle, a series of movements that will have your abs looking fab in a mere 10 minutes a day. Whether you're still holding on to that six-pack ideal we all discovered thanks to Janet Jackson, or you're just looking to firm and tone, this is a good way to start.