Get in Shape with Arbor Glen’s Help!

Have you heard? We’re having one last personal training session this month and it just so happens to be tomorrow, July 28th, from 6 to 7 PM.

Arbor Glen actually has multiple personal training sessions each month, but we understand it sometimes proves difficult for everyone to get out to these sessions, but you always have options for keeping in shape around Arbor Glen and right in your apartment.

If you can’t make it out to one of our personal training sessions, set your own fitness schedule and come to the Arbor Glen fitness center when you get a chance. We have state-of-the-art equipment that is sure to help you with your fitness goals.

Want to venture outside of Arbor Glen? Lifestyle Family Fitness offers great deals to all potential members, and their facility is top-of-the-line. Did you win a great deal from Lifestyle Family Fitness at our pool party this past weekend?

One of the easiest ways to get in your 30 minutes of exercise each day is to do so right in your apartment. You can buy very basic equipment like free weights, or a jump rope, both of which can be stored away easily. Without equipment, you can still jog in place, do push-ups, and various other strength and cardio exercises right in your home.

How do you stay in shape here in Lakeland?

Texting Can Wait Until You Park

While many people believe they are able to multitask, texting while driving are two activities that should never go together. Texting is an easy task when sitting on a couch at home. However, trying to type out a coherent message while operating a 2-ton piece of machinery is a completely different scenario with potentially dangerous results. It’s reckless, and no one should try this!

Why not put the phone down long enough to drive home safely? It’s easy, and you could potentially save lives just by waiting to text. If the conversation is important, make the call with your hands free device!

Do you think Florida will ever ban texting while driving?

“Tea” is My Favorite Letter in the Alphabet

I admit it: I am a coffee person. But I don’t want to be anymore! I’m trying to refine my tastes and learn to love tea. I know there are several varieties out there, but where does one start on the road to tea drinking? In my brief research, I ahve found a few helpful tips on finding the right tea for you:

• Tea drinking is an experience, so it should not be rushed. It takes time to brew great tea, so you should really cherish the drink you’ve created.
• Black tea is the most consumed variety in the Western hemisphere. It has a bold, bright flavor. This sounds like it would be the perfect tea for me – it’s probably the closest tea to coffee!
• The darker the leaf, the hotter the water must be for brewing.
• If you like fruity flavors, oolong tea my be the variety that best suits you. It’s also commonly consumed when people are trying to lose weight.

One of the most interesting things I discovered on my search for the right tea for me is the Adagio starter set. For less than $20, you get an “easy-to-use” teapot, Adagio’s guide to tea, and four samples of some of their best teas. As they call it, it’s a great way to get introduced to the world of tea drinking, and for that price, why not try it out?

(photo courtesy of euphbass on flickr)

Lose the Beard

Guys out there, is your face summer ready? It’s time to lose the beard, or any facial hair for that matter! Shave it off and let your skin get some sunshine.

If you need some encouragement to get clean-shaven for the season, then Thrillist has a great incentive for you! Thrillist is having a Neutrogena MEN Sweepstakes in which you can win two of the three new products Neutrogena has for the men’s line. Here are your options:

• New Sensitive Skin Shave Cream
• New Sensitive Skin Shave Balm
• New Sensitive Skin Oil-Free Moisture SPF 30

Which ones do you want to win? Enter the sweepstakes today!

(photo courtesy of dotbenjamin on flickr)

Eat Better to Get in Summer Shape

Okay, I have to admit – I am slightly behind on getting in summer-shape. I may not have hit the gym as hard as I should have been over the past few months, but this doesn’t mean that I can’t kick it into high gear right now!

My first step is to really work towards getting some great abs. I know I am really close, but exercising alone only does so much. If you want to achieve the summer abs you’ve been exercising so hard for, you have to change your diet to really make it a reality. Try some of these ab power foods that Men’s Health suggests:

Blueberries: Really, all berries are great. They are full of anti-oxidants that can help you fight off illness and infection. You’ll really need that if you want to power through working out this summer.

Turkey: One turkey breast is packed with protein which the the single most important part of a solid diet plan. It’s also one of the leanest & tastiest meats out there.

Oatmeal: It’s not just for breakfast, you know. If you tend to be a late-night snacker, a little bowl of oatmeal can help stave off your meal cravings until the morning. Oatmeal is full of soluble fiber, which is thought to reduce your bad cholesterol levels.

These are just a few suggestions from Men’s Health on how to get in better ab shape. Hey, these are great for getting in great shape altogether!

The Gym + You = All You Need

Telling yourself that you are ready to get in shape is a huge step…but where do you go from there? The hardest part about getting in shape is getting started. What’s keeping you from doing it?

The most common problem people run into when trying to start a new exercise regimen is that they rely on someone else to go with them. Counting on someone else starting a program with you means you are not fully committed to getting in shape, and this will ultimately lead you to failure. It may seem scary to get back to the gym, but that is one everyone else there has done at some point.

Getting in shape is a commitment you have to make to yourself. Don’t let anyone else keep you from it!

What Your Mouth is Trying to Tell You

Many people believe that simply brushing & flossing their teeth twice a day is enough to keep their mouths healthy, but dentists everywhere disagree.

22 dentists were asked what they really think when they see patients, and one of the most common themes on answers was that they believed people do not do enough to prevent serious dental problems. For instance, do you only visit the dentist twice a year? This is an acceptable number of visits only if you are in great dental health. If you have any toothaches, gum sensitivity, or other mouth problems, it’s necessary to visit the dentist more often.

Another problem dentists encounter is that their patients buy too much into the hype. You don’t need to sanitize your toothbrush unless you’re sharing it with others, and whitening toothpastes only tackle surface stains and won’t have long-lasting effects.

Some hype you can buy into is the great advantage of having an electric toothbrush. They’re not a good reason to skip your regular dentist appointment, but they can go a long way in keeping your mouth healthier until your next appointment. They’re very affordable, so why not get one today?

Go from “Night Owl” to “Early Bird”

Why are mornings so difficult for some people? I know I still struggle though I’ve been on the 9-5 schedule for awhile now. A lot of people are on this same schedule, yet we still struggle to make mornings work for us. Here are some things I’ve been trying to make mornings more pleasant:

• Get everything ready before you wake up: Even after I’ve made dinner, I make another meal: lunch. It’s always so much easier to pack everything the night before than have to worry about it in the morning. This helps me both avoid going out to eat because I’ve made a meal, and allows me to sleep in another 10 minutes if I’d like to.
• Make morning the time for yourself: Mornings are typically dreadful because we’re so rushed! We have to make sure everything’s ready for work, we haven’t forgotten anything we’ll need for the day, etc. But why not make this the time you have for yourself? You can start waking up 20 or 30 minutes earlier and just do something for you. I’ve been knocking out a chapter in a book, or finally catching upon local news. What would you do?
• Wake up at a reasonable hour even on the weekends: Getting up before sunrise wouldn’t be so difficult if this is what we trained our bodies to do everyday, not just every weekday. I accomplish this by always keeping my curtains pulled back. The bright sunshine always gives me a hint that it may be time to rise & shine.

These are some ideas that could get you night owls becoming early birds soon. What are your ideas for making mornings your favorite time of day?

Practice Your Heuristics

Do you know what a heuristic is? It’s a saying (typically a cliche) that helps people think and act more efficiently by guiding thinking in a more useful direction. Still sound complicated? You can think of heuristics as “rules of thumb.” I’m sure you’ll recognize some of the more popular heuristics.

• If you want something done, do it yourself
• never procrastinate anything you can do right now
• Always assume that you will succeed
• If you can’t find a solution, change the rules

Try saying some of these to yourself everyday. You’ll find yourself more motivated and productive. I know it still seems a little bizarre, but it really does work!

(photo courtesy of Ralph Hockens on flickr)

Don’t sweat the small (or big) stuff.

Ever have one of those days where it seems like nothing is going your way & the stress just overwhelms you? I felt like that sometimes when I started my new job. The pressure is so huge that I would get so frustrated and want to just stop.

I chose to vent my frustrations by talking with friends, and it was really therapeutic.. Everyone has their own preferred way of blowing off some steam that works for them, but what if your way isn’t working? Here are some  ideas for venting your frustrations in a healthy manner:

• Talk. Talking,as I mentioned before, is my preferred way of venting my anger and frustrations. Having a conversation with someone about all that bothers you can be therapeutic. For me, it really gives me perspective on the issue at hand.
• Cry. Crying may not be for everyone, but it really is a great way to get all of your anger & sadness out once and for all. I had a good cry when I was getting ready to move to my apartment and I felt so much better afterward. If you feel the tears coming on just let it out, you won’t regret it.
• 

  Get a good workout! Endorphins will help eliminate your stress.

  Exercise. Walking, running and jogging are great ways to vent. You can create a workout music playlist that matches the intensity of  your feelings. Some of your most frustrating days in your life may turn out to be your best days in the gym!

• Get Creative. Flex your artistic skills and use this as a medium to release some tension. You can write poetry or short stories, paint a masterpiece, or even sing at the top of your lungs. Even if you don’t have one artistic bone in your body, you’ll feel so much better from laughing at yourself.

These are just some ideas. Some may work for you, some may not. What do you like to do to get stress relief?

(photo courtesy of Rance Costa on flickr)

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