It's STILL winter?!
Don't let it get the best of you.
Tip #1
Go away:
Get out of here. If you've got vacation time, take it. Find a place southern, warm, with hot sandy beaches. That will kick the winter crazies for sure. If you have the time and the money why not? If your like many of us who are locked into riding this winter till its over with no hope of escape, try the other tips. They are a little more cost effective.
Tip #2
Do something fun outside your house:
This doesn't mean you have to go outside. What will help you mentally through this time of year is to get away from your house. It starts to become a hibernation place. Try going to the mall. The open areas and the bright lights can feel like you're outside on a nice day. Of course not all of us can afford to spend too much time in the mall, it might not be the best financial situation. If not the mall, try to get out and around people, find something fun going on or something out of the ordinary. Avoid the theater, it reminds us too much of our cave-like homes. Well, don't completely avoid it...the local high school has a play coming out (Beauty and the Beast) and my younger sister is helping out. So, other than that one time, avoid the theater.
Tip #3
Go tanning:
Yes, tanning. And yes, I do know about skin cancer. I didn't say go burn yourself everyday and damage your skin. You can go tanning for as little as 5 min. It is just enough time for your skin to wake up and feel like it's spring time. Try it. I bet you will feel surprisingly better. It's like taking a very very very short vacation to the tropics (its warm and smells like coconuts). Tanning actually helps our skin manufacture vitamin D. In the warmer months we get plenty of casual sun contact even just walking out to the car because there is more skin surface area to absorb the sunrays. Besides vitamin D tanning also can help release endorphins much like exercise and they can help you feel good and healthy.
Tip #4
Cod Liver Oil:
Sounds gross. There is nothing gross about the oil from a cod's liver. Ha Ha. Ok, so it does sound a bit creepy. But Cod Liver Oil is a great source of vitamin D and because it is an oil we can absorb more of the vitamin into our bodies (vitamin D is a fat soluble vitamin which means it is only absorbed into the body when fat is absorbed). Try the lemon flavored Cod Liver Oil. It goes down easier. It is also a great source of omega-3. If you're pulling your hair out why not try it? It's just like taking a multivitamin. This was a recommendation by Dr. Bonnie Cronin for my mother. She is usually very depressed and in a bad place by this time of winter but she swears that the Cod Liver oil has helped her out of it in a big way.
Tip #5
Workout:
Of course I'm slightly biased to this solution since I am a personal trainer, but working out has many mental and physical benefits that can help at this time of year. Like tanning, working out releases endorphins that are responsible for that "runner's high" we've heard about. You won't feel drugged but it can help spin the world a little more positively. Exercise can also help you feel like you have accomplished something during the day. It can be rare with our hectic lives that we ever get to complete a task. Finishing an exercise routine just feels good. If you exercise in a gym it can also be a great opportunity to get away from the house. See you later cabin fever!
Tip #6
Hope, wish, and pray for spring to come soon. I want to go outside and play!!!
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Featured Exercise - Upper Body
Push-up:
Of course everyone knows how to do a push-up...or at least they think they do. How is it that people can get hurt doing them? Try these tips out to make your push-up more effective.
Benefits - Strengthen upper body, shoulders, chest, and arms. You will also strengthen your abdominals and improve posture when they are done correctly.
Set-up -
On your toes for more difficulty or on your knees to make it a little easier. (the easiest option would be push-ups on the stairs, use the 4th or 5th step).
Hands should be placed wider than your shoulders and the head should be out in front of the hands (see picture).
Execution -
- Keep the stomach tight and the back straight (critically important)
- Keep the shoulders away from your ears. Let them slide down your back a little.
- Lower your body until your elbow is at about a 90 degree angle
- Press back up making sure your body moves as one piece.
- Notice that the head is out in front of the hands. this keeps the shoulders solid and safe and puts more work on the chest and stomach (great for posture).
Make sure your neck is relaxed during the crunch and keep your chin tucked in slightly.
Get all you can out of it by...
How Many times? Do as many as you can. If your working on your knees and can do as many as 30 you should be graduating to toes soon.
Push-ups is a great exercise that can help condition many muscles and teach the body how to work together. Best part about push-ups, there is no excuse for not doing them, you always have all the equipment you need.
Watch a instructional video that I made about push-ups on a ball. The principles are the same. It will really help you become and educated exerciser.
**As always consult your doctor before starting an exercise program. This exercise may not be for you. I share them to spread information, please be careful always while exercising. Know your abilities and your limits. If you have any questions please ask anytime. |
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