Health

Ready to swim, bike, run? Here’s what you need to know before you dip your toe into the water of your first triathlon.

Create a plan. Whatever your reasoning for participating in a triathlon, from getting in shape to getting closer with your partner, you’re going to need to have a plan. Before you start training, outline a training schedule and be sure to include rest days. There are many online guides that can help you find a training plan suited for you and your partner’s fitness level according to the time you have before your big race.

Healthy mom, healthy baby. Few would argue that a mother-to-be has the starring role in how a baby develops during pregnancy. However, recent research shows that in biological terms fathers shape their children’s development more than previously thought. Components of the male sperm have been linked with numerous pregnancy outcomes, from an increased risk of miscarriage to a predisposition for obesity in offspring.

At the moment of conception, the genetic contributions of the female and male are equal. However, research connects a mother’s experiences during pregnancy with her offspring’s long-term health.

A great go-to menu is enjoyable for the mind and satisfying for the body. The idea of creating a go-to menu stems from research that says we make over 200 food-related choices per day, yet the average person estimates this number to be just 15. This huge disparity suggests there’s a lot of unconscious choices interfering with our weight loss efforts.

This is especially true when we’re stressed, tired, bored, or lonely—the most common states when we’re particularly vulnerable to poor eating or overeating.

How you spend your morning sets the tone for the rest of the day. There are a myriad of proven and suggested benefits for maintaining a morning routine. First and foremost, studies indicate that your willpower is at its highest in the morning before fatigue has a chance to set in. Instead of starting your day in a rush and feeling like you're already behind, set aside the time to complete some necessary tasks that boost your energy levels rather than deplete them. Here are a few suggestions to help you take advantage of the most productive part of the day:

If you’ve lost weight and gained it back, you’re one of the 95 percent of people who struggle with weight maintenance. Losing weight, although a challenge, is easy compared to weight maintenance. It has been proven so often, this statistic has become fact.

What was your trigger for regaining the weight? Was there an injury so exercising became more of a challenge? Did life get so busy you began eating out more and planning less, or did stress allow emotions to take over?

What the hell is wrong with me? Nothing really.

It seems that I cry more these days as I have gotten older. My stoic husband can get weepy when watching a sappy movie, sometimes (he will deny this). But some people tend to cry more naturally than others and I fit into that category.

So why does it seem people are ashamed to cry? Because it’s been drummed into us (especially men) that crying is a sign of weakness or even seen as unprofessional.

You are a truly unique and powerful being. Every day, in every area of your life, you can affect positive change that will grow your existence toward true joy and sense of purpose.

I’d like to share some truly magnificent holistic healing methods that you might not be aware of that can change everything for you… right now. Any part of your life that causes you stress or unhappiness—whether it is your personal relationships, profession, finances, emotional well-being, or physical health—is within your power to change for the better.