Fuel your athletes for success

April 28, 2011 by
kidsplaying

Spring and Summer bring  basketball, baseball, softball and soccer the popular sports many kids will be participating in. Many parents hope to keep their children in tip top shape and primed for success. Here are four things that can help parents keep their athletes fueled for success.The four things that all parents should consider are body composition, hydration, food and how often they eat , and a healthy dose of encouragement. What parts to consider in each area are explored here and can be factored into your child’s successful sports endeavors. Body composition is very important for … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Child/Teen Exercise, Child/Teen Mental Health, Child/Teen Nutrition

Top 10 Workout Mistakes

April 25, 2011 by
Top 10 Workout Mistakes by Angelique Millis

    There are a lot of unhealthy and counterproductive workout habits and behaviors in which many unknowingly partake of on a daily basis; things that people have been doing wrong for years but simply never took the time to examine. These are mistakes that ANYONE can make, especially when starting out in the gym. I like to call them “Gym-stakes” & I am here to warn you of what they are before you accidentally develop bad workout habits. Here are the Top 10 Workout Mistakes: 1.     Doing Cardio “The Wrong Way” There’s a delicate balance when it comes to cardio- If … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Exercise Tips, Motivation Tagged With: ,

Mend Your Mental Health With EXERCISE

April 25, 2011 by

I love the movie "Legally Blonde" with Reese Witherspoon. Her entire outlook on life is so inspiring and motiviating. If you have not seen it, man/woman/child/grandmorther, GO RENT IT! It's well worth the $2 fee and the 90 minutes of your time. There's a part in the movie where Elle (Reese Witherspoon) is before the judge, discussing her client's innocence in the case. She says "I just don't think that Brooke could've done this. Exercise gives you endorphins. Endorphins make you happy. Happy people just don't shoot their husbands, they just don't." Endorphins are produced by the pituitary … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Exercise, Integrative Wellness, Mental Wellness, Motivation

May Letter from the Editor

April 24, 2011 by
Portrait of a young couple and a child with their arms outstretched --- Image by © Royalty-Free/Corbis

Hello Readers! Thank you for visiting our site!  As the new Editor in Chief of eFitFamily.com, I am honored to welcome you to our mission…”To stamp out environmental and lifestyle disease for our children’s generation.”  We strive to provide information and inspiration to everyday families to help you live healthier every day.  Our writers/contributors consist of an outstanding team of experts in various fields dedicated to giving simple steps to implement healthier lifestyles.  Each month we focus on different topics in line with nationally known health themes. For the month of May, you … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Mental Wellness, Motivation

Journey Of Life

April 23, 2011 by
Paths

I like to imagine the journey of life to be similar to traveling down a long road with your values at the end, with many detours on the way. I also like to think of this as the human body and what I try and teach every day. Deep within our body located on our backbone are our core muscles. These are the muscles that support our frame. Although we can’t see them they are our base of support. A strong core provides stability and balance, the greater the stability of the centre, the more powerful the muscles of the arms and legs can contract. Let’s now adapt this to your emotional strength. If … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Mental Wellness, Motivation Tagged With:

Tu índice de masa corporal

March 24, 2011 by
BMI

El índice de masa corporal (IMC) es una herramienta usada por médicos, nutricionistas, entrenadores y otros profesionales de la salud para determinar si una persona está en su peso saludable. Se calcula tomando en cuenta la relación entre tu estatura y peso dándonos un número que nos clasifica en una categoría que nos da a conocer si estamos en un peso saludable. El cálculo IMC no distingue entre musculo y grasa y por eso no mide el porciento o nivel de grasa en el cuerpo aunque mientras más grasa tengas en el cuerpo mayor será tu IMC. Debido a esto atletas que son muy musculosos pueden … [Read more...]

Filed Under: En Espanol

Food for Families

March 21, 2011 by

A lot of people come to me for nutrition advice - young people, forty-some thing's, vegetarians and even athletes.  The most important group to address is the family.  I don't know many people that honestly live, breathe, sleep and eat alone, all the time.  Most people are involved in a family - plus one, plus 4 or plus 10!  Good nutrition is NOT attained by one person alone...it needs to be addressed at the family/group level. As an ISSA Specialist in Fitness Nutrition, I am qualified to provide nutrition advice and meal plans to individuals in general good health.  When I first meet with … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Nutrition

Beat the ”Mommy Blues”

March 20, 2011 by
mom

Having a baby is supposed to be a time of excitement and joy.  However, life has a tendency to surprise us and things do not always end up how we planned.  If you are feeling down, doubting your ability to be a mom, or confused or disappointed about your emotions, here are some tips to keep in consideration: 1. You’re not alone.  Research indicates that anywhere from 30 to 80% of new moms experience “mommy blues” and 10 to 25% experience more severe symptoms, or postpartum depression.  Ask others if mommy hood was a more difficult adjustment than they expected…you may be surprised that even … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Adjustment/Transition, Adult Mental Health, Depression, Healthy Mommy & Baby, Mental Wellness, Women's Health

Pregnancy and Exercise

March 20, 2011 by

When a woman is pregnant her body goes through dramatic change. Common physical complaints are exhaustion, lethargy, back pain, nausea, muscular and joint pain and dizziness. There are major hormonal changes with the production of existing hormones raised and new hormones are made specifically for pregnancy. During pregnancy, the woman’s cardiovascular system expands to support the needs of the growing fetus. There are muscular imbalances where specific muscle groups must work harder to support the body in the upright position. Pregnancy hormones stimulate lengthening and laxity in the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Healthy Mommy & Baby, Women's Health Tagged With: ,

Meal Planning Tips for your Busy Family

March 19, 2011 by
_MG_7226

  To say that family life is “busy” is an understatement. Between work/school schedules, extracurricular activities and other obligations, most working moms will jump at any opportunity they can take to press the “easy button”, especially when it comes to meal planning and food preparation. Here are 5 easy food planning tips to make sure your family is getting a balanced diet, even on a budget! Determine your Family’s Needs So your family’s gotta eat- and eat often. Planning out your family’s meals ahead of time will ensure that they are getting the nutrients they need, not to … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Adult Nutrition, Child/Teen Nutrition, Family Nutrition, Healthy Eating, Healthy Mommy & Baby Tagged With: , ,