Day 5: My Throat Hurts and My Sinuses Hate Me

But I am doing moderately well in the cravings department. I saw someone having a cigarette last night and I didn’t want it. That actually surprised me – and what surprised me even more was that I didn’t feel the urge to light up and it never came the whole time I was standing there. Now I’ll grant you, at one point yesterday, I looked at my husband and I said – “Well, I’m not dying for a cigarette.” And he said, “Nope, you’re just dying.” He wasn’t far wrong. I was so congested yesterday I felt like I had … Continue reading →

Day 3: I’m Still Not Smoking

I should probably title this piece, I’m a non-smoker, but I’m not there yet – mentally. I still feel that urge to have a cigarette. Yesterday, I was in the car running errands and I reached for the cigarettes as a habit until I realized they weren’t in the car and that I’d even gotten rid of my ashtray. It was such a knee jerk to reach for the cigarettes that I actually felt my heart speed up for a moment with adrenaline as fear hit me. I couldn’t have a cigarette. And yes, for a few seconds that generated … Continue reading →

I Have a Confession to Make

Good morning readers, I have a confession to make. I turn 35 next April and I have been a smoker for nearly 20 years. Today, I am making a concerted effort to stop smoking altogether. I nearly did it when I was pregnant with my daughter, turning a nearly two pack a day habit down to just 4 cigarettes a day that lasted until I was done breast feeding and then somehow, went right back to where it was before. I’ve tried quitting before and the longest I lasted was six weeks with no cigarettes and then one day, all … Continue reading →

Nine Ways to Avoid a November Exercise Funk

Tick, tick, tick, Halloween is past and November is here. Welcome Jack Frost, Old Man Winter or whatever you want to call it. In most parts of the country, the weather is cooling down and even if it’s pleasant during the day, it’s getting colder and colder at night. It’s getting dark earlier and earlier and even that early morning run is going to feel brutal when the cold air slaps your face and fills your lungs. Your motivation for working out may be dwindling as more severe weather wanders in. Trips to the gym may decline and let’s be … Continue reading →

The Fitness Week in Review October 21-27

Welcome to our last Fitness Week in Review for October. It’s been a busy week and month here at the Fitness blog. Don’t forget that we turn back our clocks an hour at 2 a.m. Sunday morning, October 29. So we all get an extra hour tomorrow and that’s always something to cheer about! So without further ado, here is our Fitness Week in Review: Saturday, October 21 When Is My Child Old Enough to Go Skiing? sought to answer a question that many parents have especially now that winter is approaching and many areas are starting to see snow. … Continue reading →

Dear Fitness Readers

Hey there, do you have a minute? I want to talk to you a sec about all the crazy running we do. Recently, I was talking to a friend of mine and she told me – emphatically – that I needed to take a three-day weekend and just shut it all down. I can’t say she’s wrong, I need a break and I’m already planning to take one the week of Thanksgiving, but that’s four and a half loooooong weeks away. So until then – here are some suggestions for distressing that I plan to put into practice myself: Meditation … Continue reading →

Do You Know What Your Yellow Jacket Is?

The yellow jacket is the subcutaneous fatty layer that surrounds your body just under your skin. Plastic surgeons refer to the yellow jacket when they are discussing your options for liposuction. Before you get upset, everyone has a yellow jacket. This subcutaneous fat layer is a repository for stored energy in your body. Essentially, it’s a battery for your internal organs and your muscles. Your internal organs don’t utilize a large part of this stored energy as compared to your muscles. Your muscles use up to a thousand times more energy especially when you engage in intense activity. The greater … Continue reading →

My Monday Feet Were Made For Walking

Just five days left until the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. I’ll be walking the 1K next Saturday morning and I need to be on site by 6:30 in the morning. Part of my preparation is walking 1K every other day this week and riding my stationary bike for 45 minutes on the alternating days. Since the walk takes place outdoors with more than 10,000 participants, I’ll be alternating the incline to imitate walking up and down hills as well as the uneven feeling of pavement under the feet. The 1K is not a huge distance to walk, … Continue reading →

Confessions of an Avid Exerciser: My Deep Dark Secret

I must admit I am an exercise nut. I love to exercise and I do it almost everyday. So many people wonder why I get up and work out every morning. I am going to confess my deepest, darkest secret to all of you here on just what motivates me to continue these almost daily workouts. Many people work out because they want to keep their bodies healthy. I will admit, that is partially why I do it. I do want my body to be healthy, but that isn’t the main reason, the reason that drives me to exercise almost … Continue reading →

Fitness & Health Alert: FDA Warning About Spinach

The FDA released a warning on bagged spinach this week: FDA Warning on Serious Foodborne E.coli O157:H7 Outbreak The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is issuing an alert to consumers about an outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 in multiple states that may be associated with the consumption of produce. To date, preliminary epidemiological evidence suggests that bagged fresh spinach may be a possible cause of this outbreak. Based on the current information, FDA advises that consumers not eat bagged fresh spinach at this time. Individuals who believe they may have experienced symptoms of illness after consuming bagged spinach are … Continue reading →