Pull on some shoes, step outside for a walk and burn lots of extra calories. At least, these are the promises of toning shoes, foot ware that promises to tone up your lower body with no extra effort. The idea behind toning shoes is the principal that if the shoe is unstable, it will force your muscles to work differently in order to keep your balance. This extra work is supposed to firm your muscles and burn up more calories. The concept is nothing new, believe it or not. Does any one remember Dr. Scholl’s sandals? Theses wooden sandals featured … Continue reading →

Prior to my current job, I was a freelance writer. That required a lot of research and typing, which required a lot of sitting. Now, I am a web designer. That requires a lot of coding and photo manipulation, which requires a lot of sitting. I think about how they say people on airplanes should get up and walk around because sitting for so long isn’t good for you. A study recently found that too much sitting can increase your risks of breast and colon cancer, thus taking years off your life. How can you stay active, even if your … Continue reading →

We seem to be wired to worry. And the older we get, sometimes, the more we tend to worry. Common worries range from family and friends, to work and money, to the state of the economy and the country. There is a good reason behind all of this worrying. Our earlier ancestor’s survived because they worried. They figured out the worse case scenarios and how to get around them, so if bad times did occur, the worriers tended to survive. Today in our modern world, worry doesn’t carry as much benefit. In fact, it can negatively affect our health and … Continue reading →

There is a little bit of a debate going on within my running group. Should we continue at the pace and distance that we have reached because we finally feel like we aren’t dying with each step, or should we take that as a sign to increase the output, pick up our pace and maybe also increase our distance? Opinion and comfort aside, there is good reason to ramp up our routine. That is because our bodies are made to accept and thrive under an increase in physical difficulty. They are designed to adapt and become healthier and stronger when … Continue reading →

If you are currently do this to save money, please stop. It could get you into a lot of trouble. The other day, a friend was telling me how miserable she was because she had yet another sinus infection. Rather than taking the time and the money to see a doctor (or even call her doctor for a prescription), she decided to self medicate with some of her son’s leftover antibiotics. This way they wouldn’t go to waste and she didn’t have to pay for a new prescription. This is not a good idea in so many ways. For one … Continue reading →

Should you be providing organic produce to your children? Is it necessary for their health? Or perhaps organic produce is simply a means of getting you to pay more at the store. What if your budget doesn’t allow for organic produce. Should you skip the produce altogether in the hopes of avoiding pesticides? These are some of the questions that parents today need answered. First of all, how can you tell if something is organic? it should be labeled as such, but sometimes that isn’t clear. Signs can be placed in the wrong spot, and sometimes individual items can be … Continue reading →

I admit that I am somewhat of a germaphobe. it all started when I had kids. It is amazing how often you think about germs when you have kids. I feel like I am in a war. Of course, I don’t win every battle, but I do my best to keep on the winning side of the war. I carry antibacterial gel in the car and encourage hand washing. I disinfect the doorknobs and toys during flu season. I don’t let the kids eat things that fall on the ground. But one thing I really haven’t thought about is germs … Continue reading →