Foam rollers are an effective method of reducing tension and increasing muscle length for either a pre-workout warm-up or post-exercise active recovery. Technically known as self-myofascial release (SMR), the use of foam rollers for the purpose of reducing muscle tension has become a widely accepted fitness practice. There are two prevailing theories regarding why foam…
When it comes to weight management, lowering blood pressure and cholesterol, and decreasing inflammation, making small, incremental dietary changes is the way to go. Trying to make too many changes all at once can be a recipe for disaster—this can cause you to feel overwhelmed and make you want to give up. Instead, try modifying…
WHY, INDEED, HAVE writers been so drawn to the color? According to surveys, blue is by far the world’s most popular hue, regardless of geography or gender — mostly owing to our favorable associations with it, or so researchers posit. Not surprisingly, people love cerulean skies and aquamarine seas, moody gemstones — sapphires, lapis lazuli,…
No one goes to a health club or fitness studio hoping they leave in worse shape than when they arrived. There is one common denominator shared by everyone who exercises on a regular basis: we all want results from our time spent sweating! This is one reason why high-intensity interval training (HIIT) workouts have become…
Summer is a great time to pack your drinks with all the delicious produce that is in peak season. All you need is a basic blender to start whipping up smoothies in a snap. There’s really no wrong way to make a smoothie, but some of the best concoctions are those that have three main…
To achieve something close, she has improvised on her own, which is how she learned to cook. “No one taught me,” she says. On visits to her grandparents’ home in Mexico — she’s named after a nearby volcano — she lurked in the kitchen, watching as tortillas were slapped down and chiles gutted and fried….
For kids of all ages, one of the most revered Halloween traditions is trick-or-treating. On the other 364 days of the year, we tell kids to NOT take candy from strangers, but on one special night we not only allow it, but we encourage the practice. Experienced Halloween lovers know that there are two primary…
As trainers, coaches and nutritionists, many of us have been making a significant mistake with our clients by focusing primarily on what to eat. I’ve made this mistake for more than 10 years. I’ve raved about the “eat this, not that” approach, used food models, calculated macros and figured out how to cut 500 calories…
It’s a tough time for egg lovers. With avian flu limiting supplies in supermarkets all over the country, chicken egg prices are rising to luxury food levels — how soon till they show up on tasting menus as “chicken caviar?” And that’s if you can even find them. Some store shelves are bare, a sad…
Here’s a question every trainer receives on a regular basis: “How do I get a better butt?” The media is filled with answers, but sadly most of them claim you can get a “toned tush” with only two weeks of leg raises, or “chiseled cheeks” by completing a simple 30-day squat challenge, or a “fabulous…