Top Healthiest Cities

Is your city healthy? Does it make you feel fresh, fit and motivated? or sluggish, tired and gloomy?

Well, I got my Women's Health issue for January/February and came across the "The Healthiest Cities For Women." 

Among the top 10 healthiest cities we have:

1. Raleigh, N.C.: In this booming city of good shopping, 81 percent of the women over 40 stay on top of their mammograms. Also, even if you feel just fine, it's good to go get a physical to check up on your body and keep it maintained.

2. San Jose, Calif. (of course): Here we have many days of sunshine a year, (just like California's neighbor, Hawai'i! surprise!) get out and get running. Women's Health reported that many of the women run, swim and or lift weights, which keeps their bodies toned and tight. Also getting out in that snow when that time of the year hits, snowshoes or cross country skies burns up to 490 calories...Hello cute swimsuit :)

3. Austin, Texas: The women in this city eat lots of fruits and veggies every day, which helps them to lower their risk of certain forms of cancer. Not only do these low-caloric and sugar foods help with reducing cancer risks, but keep your weight at a comfortable rate.

Women's Health has a complete list of Top 10 on their site.

Start now and help to make your city healthier and make the list, well in the top 10!! (hint: come on Hawai'i, I mean who can resist this beach for a run, North Shore, anyone?)

The North Shore on O'ahu offers great places to swim, surf, run and play volleyball on the beach with friends. 

HYDRATION!

A while ago I wrote about how important it is to stay hydrated.
Again I'll stress it's importance. Especially when living in hot places, well anywhere it's important to drink water. Sometimes is hard and kind of a drag to carry around a water bottle, but you'll be thankful.

those of you athletes out there, peak performance is achieved also through being properly hydrated. I'm sure you know that, but Like me sometimes, it's hard to carry bottles on a long and strenuous hike, but that dry mouth feeling isn't fun, and getting light headed isn't safe either. Becoming dehydrated while working out decreases the body's ability to cool off and leads to heat exhaustion.

We also lose water through out the day, going to the bathroom, sweating and breathing, according to livestrong.com

OK even with losing weight. Drinking water and staying hydrated keeps the good ol' appetite in control. Water in your stomach makes you fuller.

For certain health conditions, it's important to stay hydrated. Kidney infections require a lot of water drinking and going to the bathroom, so do bladder infections or kidney stones. Kind of intense conditions, but it's good to know. I mean for other health conditions and just to stay healthy in general.

skip the gym

You don't NEED a gym to get in a workout...I know it can be scary to walk in there with so many people that seem to look fantastic. They look like they know exactly what they're doing and make working out look so easy.

In fact, working out is easy, to a certain point. Do things you love, get out of the gym! (That way you can save on money.)

-Try 2 hours and 30 mins a week of intense/moderate aerobic workouts,(ex: brisk walking.) 75 mins of jogging or running works too.
-5 hours a week or moderate workouts can provide even better results.
-Strength training at least twice a week helps to keep the body up to par. (REMEMBER: Be sure you're in correct form when lifting.)

-Squats, lunges and ab workouts count for strength training..Keep that in mind

please for more information visit,EveryDayHealth.com

off the beaten path

So, this blog is about staying fit and healthy right? I know taking care of your skin isn't exactly being 'fit,' but it is keeping your body healthy. Skin is obviously an important part of our body. Here's some of the top skin products provided by realbeauty.com

1.) Cosmedicine Medi-Matte Oil Control Lotion - $42
Out of my personal experience using this, it's great. It really does keep your skin from getting real oily and shiny. It's avaliable on sephora.com

2.)Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser - $9.49 (sale)
avaliable at drugstore.com
I haven't used this product before, but I hear it's pretty good, and realbeauty.com says that it doesn't strip away the needed oils and nutrients on your face.

3.) Jergens Natural Glow Daily Moisturizer - $6.37
Again, just visit drugstore.com and type the product name in the search bar and it will come up. I've head about this product and it has seemed to have gotten pretty good reviews. I'd give it a shot.

For a complete list of 33 best skin saver products, visit... realbeauty.com

lose weight work out

I always look on the Web Site shape.com because what they talk about are things that are healthy for you, and fun ways to keep the work outs interesting. Yes, it is hard to get out and work out everyday, but most of the techniques they talk about have pictures to explain what's going on, and how to do it. I have a lot of things I'd like to share from what I have learned, but I also like sharing other places that have some awesome information.

Sculpt your body with some fun, and moves that 'actually-work.'

(sorry if the pic is kind of dark, took it with my phone)

Floor Work..does what?

After spending hours of studying and reviewing for finals, quiz's and homework, it's important to take a break for some 'me' time.

Of course it's great to sit back and flip on the TV because its right there and all that has to be done is lift your hand, woo hand work out? Nope. It's not all that healthy either to have your eyes glued to another screen.

Cheap and simple, just lay out a towel for some floor work. You don't need any special work out equipment, just your own body weight. Come on, you don't have to spend money on your body weight. Quite few exercises can be done in your dorm room, or living room and pretty much anywhere. Just lifting your own body weight can tone you up and keep you strong. The results of course don't show up in just one day (though that would be nice,) it takes time, and patience is key.

If you do have a set of weights, you can use those to tone your arms, but you don't have to exhaust yourself and use 25 lb weights, which will really bulk you up; that's what lifting heavier does. If you use lighter weights 3-8 lbs, 16 reps and perhaps 2 sets, you focusing more on being tone, and lean. You won't turn into a huge body builder. You'll just be staying in shape