Nine reasons you need a personal trainer

By Penni Jones

Better Living Staff Writer

 

Not sure you need a personal trainer? Here are nine reasons why you probably do:

 

1.       No more plateau: Fitness and weight-loss plateaus happen to the best of us. A trainer can help you revamp your routine and get you over the plateau.

2.       Learn proper form: Bad form can lead to injury.  A trainer will watch you and give immediate feedback on technique and form. Trainers pay attention, and help you improve your posture and increase your strength safely by teaching you to use the proper muscles and make a mind body connection.

 

3.       Accountability: Sometimes we all want to blow off exercise in favor of happy hour or a nap. But an appointment with a trainer gives you extra motivation to get to the gym.

 

4.       A routine that works: If you’re not exercising properly, going to the gym can be a waste of time. A trainer can help you develop a realistic routine that works specifically for you.

 

5.       Push your limits: A trainer will help you safely push your physical limits so you can get in better shape without injuring yourself.

 

6.       Gain a fresh perspective: There is an overwhelming amount of fitness and nutrition advice available. It can be too much for the average person to sift through. Your trainer is tasked with staying on top of health trends. They can sort through the information and tell you what applies to you.

 

7.       Maximize your time: You will get results faster when working with a trainer. Your trainer will develop a program that is efficient and allows you to pack the most into the shortest amount of time.

 

8.       Identify your goals: Not sure where to start? Not sure if you need to lose weight or only firm up? A personal trainer can help you identify your needs and goals, and help you attain them!

 

9.       Spend time with an objective eye: We all have areas we need to work on, but it’s sometimes difficult to see ourselves objectively. A trainer will let you know if your perceived problem areas are really a problem, and help you target specific muscle groups to work on the places that actually need improvement.

 

Better Living trainers aim to make at least one correction every minute of a workout. By keeping your form perfect, you will not only prevent injury but also build muscle and balance your body.

 

For more information on how personal training can benefit you, please call Better Living at (734) 747-0123.

 

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http://www.popsugar.com/fitness/10-Reasons-You-Should-Get-Personal-Trainer-15353629

http://www.healthworksfitness.com/3129-2/

Avoid holiday weight gain!

By Penni Jones

Better Living Staff Writer

 

The holiday season is officially here. Thanksgiving is only the beginning. Next come holiday parties, family get-togethers, and sugary treats everywhere! But don’t worry. You don’t have to pack on the pounds just because it’s party season. Here are 7 tips to help you keep your figure in check while celebrating:

 

1.    Eat before the party. Have a healthy meal before you leave the house so you’ll arrive satisfied. If you arrive hungry, you’re likely to overindulge in festive and fattening treats.

2.    Be smart at the buffet. If the party is a dinner party with a buffet, you probably won’t want to eat before the party. However, if you select a salad-sized plate instead of the larger dinner plate, you will automatically choose smaller portions. Just don’t go back for seconds!

3.    Limit your alcohol intake. Alcohol not only adds calories, but you’re more likely to make bad food choices if you over-indulge.

4.    Be selective with your treats. You might not want to avoid the tasty offerings all together. But choose what you want the most instead of wasting calories on foods you aren’t that crazy about.

5.    Eat mindfully, even in social situations. It might take more effort when you’re socializing, but chew your food slowly and enjoy every bite. If every bite counts, you’ll need fewer to feel satisfied.

6.    Contribute to the party with a healthy dish. If you bring a tasty salad or vegetable dish with you, you know there will be a healthy option there!

7.    Don’t put off exercising. There is no reason to put off exercising until the New Year. Taking care of yourself is just as important right now as it will be in January. In fact, Better Living Fitness Center is offering discounted memberships if you sign up by December 25. Sign up for success right now!

 

For more ideas on making the most of your holidays without expanding your waist line, contact Better Living at (734) 747-0123.

 

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http://www.moneycrashers.com/avoid-holiday-weight-gain-statistics/

http://www.webmd.com/diet/10-ways-to-avoid-holiday-weight-gain?page=2

7 Reasons to Indulge in Dark Chocolate

By Penni Jones
Better Living Staff Writer

 

Cacao on its own is healthy, but bitter and unappealing. That’s where sugar, milk, and butter come in to turn cacao in to dark chocolate. The things that make the chocolate taste wonderful are also the things that make it fattening. But the healthy benefits of dark chocolate still remain if you stick to treats that are at least 70% cacao. So if you’re jonesing for a sweet treat this Halloween, you should indulge (but not overindulge) in dark chocolate. Here’s why:

1.   It’s heart healthy: A long-term study in Germany released in 2012 found that about a square of dark chocolate a day lowered blood pressure and reduced the risk of heart attack and stroke by 39 percent. This is due to flavonoids, which are antioxidant compounds that increase flexibility of veins and arteries.

2.   It can make you happy: Dark chocolate contains phenylethylamine (PEA), which encourages your brain to release endorphins, which make you feel happy.

3.   Dark chocolate can help you stick to your diet: Researchers at the University of Copenhagen found that it is more filling, offering a more satiated feeling than milk chocolate. In other words, dark chocolate lessens the cravings for sweet, salty, or fatty foods. A small portion of dark chocolate can help you stay on track!

4.   It helps control blood sugar: Dark chocolate helps keep your blood vessels healthy and your circulation ready to protect against type 2 diabetes. The flavonoids also help reduce insulin resistance by helping cells function normally and regain the ability to use your body’s insulin efficiently. It also has a low glycemic index, meaning it won’t cause huge spikes in blood sugar.

5.   It’s good for your teeth. Dark chocolate contains theobromine, which hardens tooth enamel. So it’s a sweet that actually lowers your risk of getting cavities!

6.   Dark chocolate is high in vitamins and minerals. It’s high in iron, potassium, magnesium, and copper!

7.   It’s full of antioxidants. Antioxidants help rid your body of free radicals, which cause oxidative damage to cells. Free radicals are implicated in the aging process and may be a cause of cancer. So eating dark chocolate can slow down aging and help protect you from some forms of cancer.

For more information on healthy foods and living your best life, please call Better Living at (734) 747-0123.

Check out our website and like us on Facebook! 

http://www.womenshealthmag.com/health/benefits-of-chocolate?slide=7

http://www.fitday.com/fitness-articles/nutrition/healthy-eating/6-health-benefits-of-dark-chocolate.html

Are cheat days worth it?

By Penni Jones
Better Living Staff Writer

Whether or not a cheat day works for you depends on how you define a cheat day. For me, cheat days are a disaster. I will use a cheat day as an excuse to eat pastry for breakfast, pizza for lunch, and cake for dinner. 

However, some people need a weekly cheat day to keep going. Healthy eating requires willpower to keep yourself from forbidden foods. Rewarding restraint with a scheduled day per week can help satisfy cravings and replenish your willpower. Some studies suggest that cheat days increase your production of the hunger-dampening hormone leptin while boosting metabolism. 

But when we label certain foods as “cheat” foods, the negative name doesn’t help us practice restraint. In fact, off-limits foods can develop an emotional charge. On the flipside, labeling foods as “healthy” can also backfire. It can make us forgo portion control and overdo it. This is yet another place where moderation is key.

When deciding whether or not a cheat day is right for you, ask yourself what a cheat day means to you. If it’s a day of indulgence, then you should avoid the cheat day altogether (unless it’s your birthday- you should totally go for it on your birthday). If a cheat day means having a small dessert when you usually avoid sweets, then you can handle the cheat day without ruining a week’s worth of hard work. 

Check out or website and like us on Facebook. 

https://blog.myfitnesspal.com/the-problem-with-cheat-days/

http://www.self.com/flash/diet-blog/2012/06/the-pros-and-cons-of-diet-chea/