Do Interactive Fitness Video Games Really Work?

When I first started using Wii Fit Plus, my oldest son asked if “that thing” really works. He thought it was kind of funny and not a true way to get healthy. I was convinced only because a good friend of mine had lost weight using it (along with changing her eating habits). Since I have been using it for several months now, I can definitely say that it works. How else do you explain the weight loss and inches I have taken off…or the increased energy and flexibility I have? I have been using it during the winter months … Continue reading →

Fitness Founder Jack LaLanne Dies at Age 96

The founder of our modern fitness movement, Jack LaLanne died this past week at the age of 96. You have to admit, the guy looked good for 96 years old! For more than 70 years, LaLanne taught about the benefits of strength training and eating a healthy diet. What he started decades ago has turned into a multi-million dollar industry. The sad part about it is that despite his beneficial teachings, Americans continue to struggle with weight issues. It was in 1936 that the nation’s first health club opened. At the time it served as a place to not only … Continue reading →

Kim Kardashian Endorsing Skechers Shape-Up Shoes

I have always been apprehensive about Skechers Shape-Up shoes and would really love to hear from those who have actually used them. Do they work? Do they really help you get toned? Well apparently Kim Kardashian thinks so as she has just signed onto a seven figure deal with the shoe company. Set to begin in 2011, it is called the “Shaping Up with the Kardashians’ Challenge” and will include not only Kim Kardashian but her mom as well. It is apparently a competition-type challenge where Kim and her mom will workout using the Skechers Shape-Up athletic shoes. So be … Continue reading →

Bhangra Aerobics: Bollywood-Style Fitness Routine

I have always had a love for East Indian culture. It’s kind of embarrassing to admit but when I was a kid, I used to take pictures of East Indian people. My parents were so embarrassed one time on a trip to the zoo because I kept following this family around, snapping photographs of them. When I was a teenager I received a pen-pal in my French class. It was a boy from Calcutta, India. That pen-pal relationship lasted several years, even into young adulthood. We not only exchanged letters but we talked on the phone a few times and … Continue reading →

Is Reality Fitness a Joke?

Are you for real? One of the stars of an apparently “hit” reality show “Jersey Shore” is set to make a whole lot of money thanks to a fitness DVD. This brings up a stirring question, is reality fitness a joke? I have never personally watched “Jersey Shore.” In fact, the only reason I know anything about it is because I am a fan of “The View” and on one of their segments they had some of the stars of “Jersey Shore.” Now forgive me if you are a fan of this show but I really thought these people were … Continue reading →

World Run Day 2009

Are you a runner? Do you enjoy running not only for fitness, but also for an even more rewarding reason? Do you want to run for your favorite charity? You can make a difference in the lives of someone else by raising money for a good cause. On November 8, 2009, many people around the world are choosing to run to help raise money for their chosen charitable organization. The World Run Day was started in 1999. A man named Bill McDermott from Long Island wanted to encourage people to not only run for a healthier existence, but to dedicate … Continue reading →

Muscle Soreness Leads to Death

Have you ever used Icy Hot, Ben Gay or Tiger Balm? These are liniments we typically use to treat muscle soreness and muscle cramps. In a report from the Associated Press, a young, seventeen-year-old woman named Arielle Newman died from an overdose of methyl salicylate. That’s an ingredient found in these medicinal liniments. She put the cream on her legs using long adhesive pads because she was sore. Newman ran high school track. Her muscle aches and pains were just a part of the training regimen that she engaged in to keep herself fit and in peak condition. The New … Continue reading →

Dancing at Public School Not Just About Prom Anymore

Michele should enjoy the following, since she’s from Hawaii. We’ve talked about Dance Dance Revolution here in the Fitness blog before. We’ve talked about the problems with not having enough physical education time in the schools. Today, I get to talk about both these subjects as Dance, Dance Revolution is about to become a part of public school physical education classes in Hawaii. Taking the Initiative The initiative is a part of the Hawaiian Department of Education’s emphasis on lifetime physical fitness over the more typical team sports. A verbal agreement was reached with Konami, the maker of Dance, Dance … Continue reading →

Fitness Tax: Personal Health Investment Today Act

Hey, it’s tax day (don’t panic, you still have until Tuesday at midnight to file) so I thought we could spend a few minutes talking about taxes, deductions and credits. A few months back, I wrote about the fitness tax credit being offered to Canadian taxpayers and what a great idea I thought that would be if we had something similar here in the States. As it turns out, there was a bill introduced in the 109th Congress that ended up in Ways and Means and stalled there. The bill received very little media attention and it was not reviewed … Continue reading →

In the News: Bush Tells Parents to Get Their Kids Outside

Last week, President Bush warned that childhood obesity is a problem for both American families and for the country as a whole. The President was meeting with a group of business leaders in order to encourage the idea of advertising that would promote and encourage healthy food and exercise. “One way for this nation to cope with the issue of obesity is to get people outside – whether it be through sports or hiking or conservation.” President G.W. Bush The President’s also signed a proclamation declaring February as the American Heart Month. The First Lady offered her own thoughts on … Continue reading →