#healthyliving – Page 2 – TP Mechanical Blog

Reboot Your Workout

Posted on March 9, 2014March 10, 2014 by TP Mechanical

It’s very common to fall out of a fitness routine, especially at this time of year. Everyone has their excuses: holiday schedule changes, bad winter weather, injury or illness, failed New Year’s resolution, etc.

Regardless of the reason, you need to get back in the habit. Now is a perfect time to recommit to achieving and maintaining a prime fitness level. But before you start to pick up where you left off, be mindful of the following things:

Start slow. Do not try to make up for lost time. Depending on the length of time since your last workout and the reason for stopping, you might not want to resume working out at the same level you were at when you stopped. Rather, decrease your exertion by 20 to 30 percent and gradually build your way back up.
Choose an activity you like. Enjoying your workouts is a must. If you find cardio preferable to weight lifting, focus on that. The goal during the first month is to get moving, whichever way you choose.
Recruit a buddy. Grab a friend to join you. Adding a partner to your workouts can boost your commitment and give you someone to discuss fitness with, and the two of you can keep each other motivated.
Track every workout. Charting your workouts is a great way to watch yourself steadily improve and to stay motivated. Small fitness milestones give you a series of short-term goals to reach as you work towards your overall goals.

Presented by TP Mechanical | Provided by HORAN

Protect Your Health

Posted on March 2, 2014February 28, 2014 by TP Mechanical

When you’re sick, you have to deal with visits to the doctor’s office or the hospital, bottles of medications and days in bed recovering. Wouldn’t it be easier to just stay healthy in the first place? If you’re not a fan of medication schedules and wasting days weakly lying in bed, you should consider the powerful role that prevention care can play in keeping you healthy.

The most important part of preventing disease and illness is healthy habits, including a balanced diet, sufficient sleep and enough exercise. Going to the doctor for recommended checkups and screenings is also a key factor in identifying and treating potential health problems before they develop or worsen. Recommendations vary depending on your age and gender, and sources such as the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) offer guidelines for various preventive screenings and tests.

Due to recent health care reform, you may be able to receive many preventive services at no cost. Non-grandfathered health plans are required to cover a variety of preventive services. Check out what is covered by your insurance and take advantage of preventive care that can keep you and your family healthy.

Presented by TP Mechanical | Provided by HORAN

One Step at a Time

Posted on February 23, 2014February 21, 2014 by TP Mechanical

Presented by TP Mechanical | Provided by HORAN

Whether meandering from the couch to the refrigerator for a snack or cruising around the block as part of an exercise routine, almost everyone includes some walking into their day. Walking is a great form of exercise for achieving better health and burning calories. But do you know the recommended amount of walking to achieve optimum benefits?

Studies show that walking 10,000 steps, or about 5 miles, is an excellent daily goal for most people. But you don’t have to do endless laps around the local high school track; steps throughout your day all add up to a healthier you. Try wearing a pedometer to help you monitor how close you are to reaching your goal—whether you start by aiming for 5,000, 10,000 or 20,000 steps a day. Here are some ways to incorporate more steps into your daily life:

Climb the stairs instead of awkwardly staring down strangers in the elevator.
Park a few spots farther from the door and stretch your legs with long strides before shuffling through a crowded store.
If you sit at a desk all day, drink a lot of water. Your body will periodically remind you to get up for a stroll to the restroom.
Window-shop downtown or at the mall instead of surfing online stores.
Give in to those puppy eyes and take your dog for a walk.

Every step counts so keep walking! Although a vigorous walk of at least 30 minutes has additional benefits, reaching 10,000 steps every day is a great start toward better health.