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How to Start a Yoga Practice for FREE
Most of us consider yoga something that is good for our physical and mental health, whether we actively practice or not. This post is for those of you who have considered starting yoga, but put it off for one reason or another. Perhaps you feel you don’t have the extra time, or maybe the cost of attending classes is a barrier. Whatever your reasons, I’m going to offer you a way to begin a meaningful and regular yoga practice that will enhance your health – for little to no cost – in 30 minutes per week. This plan requires no driving, no trying out different studios, no paying $10-30/class, and…
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Easiest, Juiciest Pork Chops Ever
I get excited about pork – it’s delicious, easy to cook, versatile, and more sustainable than beef (not to mention less expensive). According to research published by the National Academy of Sciences, pork uses 10% of the environmental resources to produce – on a per pound basis – than beef. That is shocking – and a relief – for me, because it gives me solid reasons for choosing pork over beef. And, who can resist the smell of fried bacon or a low-and-slow-cooked pork shoulder? Even when I was a vegan, I loved that aroma wafting through my neighborhood from someone else’s kitchen. Except for the two years of being…
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Leaky Gut Syndrome – What It Is and How to Know If You Have It
What is Leaky Gut? Leaky Gut Syndrome vs leaky gut Leaky gut syndrome (LGS) is a well-publicized but medically unrecognized condition that is separate and distinct from the scientific phenomenon of leaky gut (aka, increased intestinal permeability), a known factor in diseases such as celiac and Crohn’s disease. The hypothesis of leaky gut syndrome is that when the junctions in our intestinal lining are malfunctioning, the intestines become hyperpermeable. This then allows harmful substances through the intestinal wall into the bloodstream. Proponents of LGS claim that a host of maladies – from bloating to autism – are caused by the immune system reacting to germs, toxins or other substances that…
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“Quick Win” Upper Body Workout
No equipment and under 20 minutes When I’m short on time and there’s no gym in sight, this is one of my favorite upper body workouts. Other than a chair or a bed, I don’t need any equipment – even shoes are optional (but preferred for stability). This routine is especially useful when I’m travelling or have a hectic morning at home and know I won’t be going to the gym. For example, I’ll definitely be using this workout during the upcoming spring break, when my family will be staying in Airbnbs. The workout below is meant to be done exactly as listed. Take breaks only as needed – we…
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4 Reasons to Break Up With Your Fitness Tracker
Or “take a break” … or “just be friends” Here’s recent imaginary conversation between me and my fitness watch: Me: “It’s not me, it’s you. You only love me when I walk 10,000 steps per day, you take a lot of my work and exercise for granted, and I’m afraid you’ll share my personal information without my permission. In short, I invest a lot of time and effort in you, yet end up feeling inadequate and betrayed. I think we should just be friends.” Fitness watch: [silent] Fitness trackers are great for a lot of things – like setting a morning alarm that won’t wake your spouse. That is the…
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Health At Every Size – What It Is, Why It’s Important, and Where It Goes Too Far
In my recovery from Hypothalamic Amenorrhea (HA), I’ve been listening to some podcasts that discuss the topic. Because the majority of HAers are restricting food and exercising excessively, a lot of these podcasts delve into eating disorders, diet culture, and a principle called Health At Every Size®, or HAES. What is HAES? In short, the HAES approach to both policy and individual decision-making that rejects the following: The use of weight, size, or BMI as proxies for health, and The myth that weight is a choice. The Health At Every Size® Principles are: Weight Inclusivity: Accept and respect the inherent diversity of body shapes and sizes and reject the idealizing…
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How To Get Anyone To Eat Broccoli
Tips for getting the perfect caramelization every time. Anyone with a bunch of broccoli, a knife, and an oven can make amazing roasted broccoli. With a few ingredients and three key principles to keep in mind, you will amaze your family and friends by turning broccoli into a binge-worthy side dish. Before going any farther, I want to set the mood and mindset for optimal broccoli chopping … If you’re of a certain age, or if your family is really into Saturday Night Live, then every time you think of, ahem, “choppin’ broccoli”, this comes to mind: https://www.youtube.com/embed/VUrbtUwsRXo?start=150 As you can see, broccoli preparation can be both delicious and hilariously…
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Turmeric and Curcumin: The Super Nutrient Spice?
How to know whether turmeric supplements are for you. If you live near a Natural Grocers (NG) health food store, you may be familiar with their regular publication, the “good4u Health Hotline Magazine”. This is a legit magazine that is part sales flyer, but also includes nutrition articles, recipes, and store events. I really get into reading these, especially the nutrition articles. They vary from the typical – “eat more organic vegetables” – to the obscure – “methylation adaptogens to restore methylation balance”. (What?! I’ll have to do some research on that one!) The January edition of good4u Health Hotline included the eye-catching article “Natural Grocers Top 10 Trends for…
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The Only Three Exercise Apps You Need
There are approximately one million fitness apps out there, covering every nook and cranny of the wellness/fitness realm. Some are super fancy and/or intrusive – asking you to enter your entire life story and sending you notifications ten times per day (boo!). Others are so chock-full of ads and pictures of oiled-up Schwarzenegger-like dudes that you can’t even really use them (time-wasters and body comparison – double boo). With a bit of diligence and perseverance, one can avoid the worst offenders in the above two categories (invasive and ad/’roidy). In this post, I’ll write about a few of my favorites; keep in mind that these are the ones that I…
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Three Reasons Noom is Not for Me
I was excited to try out Noom, a healthy-habit/weight loss app that’s been getting a ton of press recently. I dutifully entered all of my health info and stats as prompted and waited for my personalized recommendations. Imagine my surprise when Noom gleefully announced that I could lose 15 lbs by March! Surprised because, if I did lose 15 lbs, I’d weigh 100 lbs (I’m 5’6”), which would be unhealthy and darn near starvation. Noom. It’s an expensive app ($45/month at time of posting) designed by behavioral psychologists to help you lose weight. It’s targeted to millenials, because as stated by the app itself, millennials struggle to perform difficult tasks…
A nutrition blog that promotes healthy eating habits and recipes
