The Valslide was created by celebrity trainer Valerie Waters to maximize the results her clients were getting, and developing something that would be easy to travel with.

The ValSlide incorporates Core, Stability, and Strength training into fun simple movements that targets trouble areas such as your legs, inner thighs, and butt all at the same time.

Tags: celebrity tricks, core, Exercise, Fitness, lunges, Valerie Walters, ValSlide, video, Weight Loss, Workout|
Posted By: veronica | Jul 3rd

It’s been hard for us to watch what we eat when it comes to fats because we’re always hearing different ideas. Fortunately, researchers have now singled out what kinds of fat you should eat and how much you need every day.

Here are six points to remember the next time you’re planning your meal or ordering at a restaurant.

1. Fat won’t make you fat

Eating the right types of fat could actually help you slim down. Researchers at Stanford University found that people who ate a moderate-fat diet lost twice as much weight in two months as those who followed a lowfat plan.

2. Your body needs it

The human body cannot survive without fat. In addition to acting as an energy source it provides a protective cushion for your bones and organs and keeps your hair and skin healthy.

3. Not all fats are created equal

Your body does need fat, but that’s no excuse to indulge in cookies and cupcakes.
There are different types of fat molecules, and some are far better for you than others,” says Mo. An easy way to tell the difference? “Bad” fats (saturated and trans fats) are usually found in animal-based and processed foods (think steak, cheese, butter, and doughnuts), while “good” fats (poly- and monounsaturated ones) tend to come from fish and plant sources, such as salmon, olive and soybean oils, nuts, and seeds.

4. Lower doesn’t always mean better

Experts recommend getting roughly 25 to 35 percent of your total calories from fat. For a woman who eats 1,500 calories a day, that’s about 50 grams, or the amount in 3 ounces of sirloin, half an avocado, 2 tablespoons of peanut butter, and two cookies.

5. Fish contains the healthiest fats

Research reveals that this type of polyunsaturated fat (found in cold-water fish, like salmon, sardines, anchovies, and flounder, as well as flaxseed, walnuts, omega-3-fortified eggs, and red meat from grass-fed animals) can do everything from lower your blood pressure and cholesterol levels to fight memory loss and improve your skin.

6. “Trans-fat-free” labels can be misleading

To spot hidden sources of trans fat, scan ingredient lists for partially hydrogenated oil or shortening.

Read more from Shape.com about the Big Fat Truth

Tags: Diet and Eating Well, fat, fat free, health, Heart, omega 3, polyunsaturdated, trans fat, Weight Loss|
Posted By: veronica | Jul 2nd

Apparently people have been throwing “swine flu parties” to attempt immunity against the virus while it is a fairly mild form. According to doctors this is a bad idea!

“Reports have emerged of people intentionally mixing with friends who have flu.
Their reasoning is that it is best to be infected before the winter when the virus could become more deadly.
But public health expert Dr Richard Jarvis said such behaviour could undermine the fight against swine flu.”

Continue reading at BBC News.com

Tags: Doctors, health, health expert, swine flu, swine flu parties|
Posted By: veronica | Jun 30th

Here’s a way to watch TV and not be accused of being a couch potato. With these 5 simple moves from Fitness.com you can tone up while watching the tele.

#1 Couch Push-Up
Targets: Chest, arms, abs
Begin in push-up position with hands on side of couch, palms under shoulders, legs extended and feet on floor, hip-width apart.
Keeping back straight and abs engaged, bend elbows to lower chest toward couch.
Push back up. Do 15 reps.

#2 Remote Reach
Targets: Abs, obliques
Lie faceup on floor with knees bent, abs engaged, holding remote control in right hand.
Lift left knee to 90 degrees, straighten right leg and raise.
Lift upper body; twist torso to left, reaching right hand under left leg.
Grab remote with left hand and lower upper body.
Repeat on other side. Do 12 reps, alternating sides.

#3 Ice Skater
Targets: Abs, glutes, hamstrings, quads
Place pillow on floor.
Stand to right of pillow, feet hip-width apart, knees slightly bent.
Lift left leg a few inches off floor and squat, keeping right knee behind toes.
Jump over cushion and land on left foot; reach right hand down to left toes.
Do 10 reps, alternating sides.

#4 Pillow Crunch
Targets: Abs, inner thighs
Lie faceup on floor with knees bent, legs together, abs engaged.
Place pillow between knees and lift legs off floor, knees bent 90 degrees over hips.
Place hands behind head and exhale to crunch up while squeezing pillow with legs. Keep elbows out and eyes looking up.
Inhale to lower. Do 15 reps.

#5 Lunge Touchdown
Targets: Glutes, hamstrings, quads
Stand with feet hip-width apart, abs engaged, with a pillow 3 feet in front of you.
Lunge right foot forward, keeping knee behind toes, and grab pillow.
Push off right foot and stand up, lifting right knee while pressing pillow overhead. Hold for 1 breath; lunge to return pillow to start.
Do 10 reps, alternating sides.

Tags: at home workout, couch potato, easy, Exercise, Fitness, health, Health Care, how to, Weight Loss, Workout|
Posted By: veronica | Jun 29th

Hey, all you smug skinny people, guess what? A new study has found that the people who are most likely to live longest are… drum roll please… People who are carrying a few extra pounds.As we know, extreme obesity or being underweight is unhealthy. This study is the first to realize that people of a “normal” weight are not the luckiest. This does not mean that people of a normal weight should add extra weight.

It was found that underweight people are 70 per cent more likely to die than normal weight, extremely obese people 36 per cent more likely. Overweight individuals, however, are 17 per cent LESS likely to die.  Read more…

Tags: death, fat, Fitness, health, Medical Studies, Mortality, Obesity, study, underweight, weight|
Posted By: rebecca | Jun 26th

The easiest way to avoid sabotaging your diet is by having healthy snacks prepared ahead of time. With these snacks on the go ideas you’ll be prepared the next time that hunger strikes.

At work:
-bring fruits and vegetables and avoid the vending machines.

-On a a plane, train, etc
-bring nuts that are high in protein and easy to pack.

-On a Road Trip
Pack fiber rich granola bars to avoid a fast food stop.

-At the gym
Grab an energy bar that is low in fat and calories, but high in fiber to give you the energy you need to feel the burn.

-At the movies
Save money and calories by bringing light microwave popcorn

-At the mall
Have a protein rich light cheese stick for a yummy snack outside the food court

Tags: calories, Diet and Eating Well, grab and go, health, healthy, road trip, snacks, traveling, work|
Posted By: veronica | Jun 19th

Everyone feels great about their choice when they opt for the salad. Salads are a great way to pack more veggies into your diet, but be aware because not all salads are figure friendly.

Salad is a great option for dieters, but what you add to your greens is what could be adding weight to the scale.
Fatty dressing, croutons and starchy carbohydrates like pasta should be avoided. High-calorie healthy fats like nuts, olives, and avocados should be added with the 3/4 rule. Three-quarters of your salad should be made up of leafy greens and raw veggies, while 1/4 is devoted to small portions of healthy fats and higher-calorie “fun” ingredients.

Also, it’s great that you realize the high fat content of dressings, but you may want to think twice about ordering your salad on the side. In stead of drenching each piece of salad in your dressing, just pour a small amount on your salad to give it some flavor.

Here are some great salad ideas so that your salad never gets boring.

Tags: calories, Diet and Eating Well, fat, healthy, how to, recipes, salad, Weight Loss|
Posted By: veronica | Jun 15th

It may sound too good to be true, but it isn’t. There are so many things that we can change in our day to easily get in more exercise. With a few simple moves, you can burn more calories, improve strength and flexibility, and get healthier all day long.

Here are some ideas from Shape.com

At work
-Window-shop at lunch. Brown-bag a healthy lunch, and spend the time you would’ve spent waiting to be served at a restaurant window-shopping or running errands instead.

-Stretch. Hamstring muscles get especially tight while sitting at your desk, and can lead to lower backache. Do this hamstring stretch: Stand, bend your right knee and shift your weight as if to sit back, straightening your left leg, heel on the ground, and lifting your toes. Hold for 20 seconds; switch legs.

At home

-Clean your home. If a grungy floor doesn’t move you to do some weekend cleaning, maybe this will: You’ll burn about 215 calories* cleaning (vacuuming, mopping, etc.) for just an hour.

-Go for a sunset stroll. Walk off some of your dinner: Even a leisurely, 30-minute walk burns approximately 140 calories.

On the commute

-Pump your own gas. Forget full service. Get out of the car to pay, pump and wash your windows down.

Continue for more great ideas!

Tags: at work, calorie burning, commute, desk, Exercise, Fitness, health, Heart, ideas, lunch, stretch, walk, Weight Loss, Women, Workout|
Posted By: veronica | Jun 9th

As it turns out, the exercises synonymous for abs of envy, may not be the best way to train your core-it may even be harming your back!

“The best way—for both your back and your beach body—to work your midsection is to do movements that challenge the muscles to perform the way they’re designed and expected to work in real life, and not to train muscles in isolation. “It’s important to have strong abs, but strong abdominals are not the only thing,” says Dr. Guyer. “You have your back extenders, your flexors, which are belly muscles, you have your oblique muscles.” Working all of these muscle groups—the anatomical association known as “the core”—is essential to both back health and general athleticism.”

Continue Reading.

Tags: abs, back, crunches, Exercise, sit ups, Workout|
Posted By: veronica | Jun 5th

Saunas have been known to provide some great health benefits. Partaking in the heat can help with arthritis, asthma, chronic fatigue, and can flush toxins from your body. Some studies have even found that sauna use can decrease your blood pressure, despite the fact that your heart rate jumps from an average of 100 beats per minute to 160. (This is with normal usage, which is about twenty minutes.) However, it can also be dangerous. Don’t consume alcohol in a sauna, and try to avoid going in if you have recently had an alcoholic beverage. Dehydration can be a real issue here, so no matter what you’ve been doing, make sure you rehydrate afterward with two to four glasses of cool water.And men, beware: sperm motility and quality can be affected directly after a sauna visit. So if you’re trying to become a dad, maybe you should avoid the steam. Read more…

Tags: Alcohol, arthritis, asthma, Blood Pressure, chronic fatigue, dehydration, health, heart rate, heat, sauna, sperm, steam room, toxins|
Posted By: rebecca | Jun 3rd