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  • Which Treadmill is the Best for Your Home?

    Which Treadmill is the Best for Your Home?

    Getting good cardio in is a great way to stay in good health and good shape. After all, exercise is a serious time commitment. What’s better than having exercise equipment at home to help save you time?

    Today we’re going to help you find the best treadmill for your home use. Here we go!

    Best Treadmills for Home

    Types of Treadmill

    There are two main types of treadmills. The first is the manual treadmill, and the second is the motorized treadmill. The difference is that manual treadmills don’t have a motor and can only go as fast as you can. As such, manual treadmills are usually set at an incline to help you move the belt with your own stride.

    On the downside, manual treadmills can be taxing on the knees and hips of the user. That’s because moving the belt with your own movement can be quite difficult depending on your personal strength. Manual treadmills tend to be less expensive, can usually fold away for easy storage and are much lighter.

    Motorized treadmills, on the other hand, are usually pricier, but they have more features. Heartrate monitors, various running modes and variable speeds are all available with motorized treadmills. Keep in mind, however, that motorized treadmills tend to be more expensive, heavier and noisier.

    These tend to be better served as home gym or workout room exercise equipment.

    Folding Treadmills

    If you have less floor space and need to be able to quickly put away your treadmill, you’ll want a folding treadmill. While most folding treadmills are manual, there are a few motorized folding treadmills. One of the upsides to folding treadmills is that they’re often less expensive than larger, non-folding versions.

    That’s especially helpful if you’re already on limited space. For those looking to save even more, opting for a manual treadmill allows you to run on a budget.

    Non-Folding Treadmills

    For customers looking for a more dedicated exercise platform, a non-folding treadmill is ideal. This goes double for motorized non-folding models. These types of treadmill tend to be more stable, higher-quality and more durable. This makes them ideal for dedicated workout rooms or home gyms.

    Non-folding models are, however, more expensive on average. If you want a stable, non-folding treadmill that won’t break the bank, consider a manual non-folding treadmill. This is a bit of a compromise, allowing for a stronger platform that also has a lower price.

  • Best Ellipticals for Home Use: Getting Cardio from Home

    Best Ellipticals for Home Use: Getting Cardio from Home

    When it comes to a lifestyle of health and fitness, many people don’t know where to start. Isn’t it difficult living a healthy lifestyle? Not with the right equipment, it isn’t! Today we’re looking at ellipticals for home use.

    What better way to get your cardio in daily than using an elliptical in your own home? Let’s get into it.

    Best Ellipticals for Home Use

    Sole Fitness E35

    The Sole Fitness E35 elliptical machine is a great pick for any home gym or workout room. For those looking to workout with high-quality, well-made exercise equipment, this is one of the best options on the market. Well-made is an understatement, too: this equipment can hold a person up to 375 pounds.

    While this is a home elliptical, it’s got build quality and features comparable to that of a piece of gym equipment. The best part about the E35 is that it’s comparatively inexpensive when you put it next to Sole Fitness’ other ellipticals. Take the E95, for instance. The E35 is much less expensive than its big cousin, but it offers mostly the same suite of great features for exercise.

    Nautilus E616

    This particular elliptical, from well-regarded manufacturer Nautilus, is a bit of a budget option compared to the other machines on this list. The E616 is a well-made machine, if not quite as sturdy or shiny as some competitors. The Nautilus sports many different levels of resistance using magnets and offers a smooth range of movement.

    It feels nice to use this machine, which has a great range of movement. On the downside, the machine only has 11 incline settings, making the types of exercises you can do here somewhat limited. That said, for those on a budget, this is some of the best bang for your buck when it comes to an elliptical.

    Nordic Track C 7.5

    The Nordic Track C 7.5 is another wonderful option for a home elliptical. This is another budget-level entry from a respected manufacturer. It makes the list because the features on display here are more than worth the introductory-level price.

    For those looking to get into home exercise, the Nordic Track is a great place to start. 22 digitally-set resistance levels make it a versatile machine, and it has a reasonable 20-inch stride. The 26 preset programs for exercise help you get started with your home workout routine. This is a respectable machine for those looking to get started working out from home.

  • Guide to Starting the Mediterranean Diet

    Guide to Starting the Mediterranean Diet

    When it comes to diets, not many of them are regionally based. However, one diet in particular is based on the relative health of people from a specific region of the world. That region, of course, is the Mediterranean.

    Historically, people from the Mediterranean region have had lower risks of things like diabetes, heart disease and other dietary ailments. In order to replicate this, many dietitians recommend this Mediterranean Diet as one to help you be happier and healthier.

    How to Start the Mediterranean Diet

    The Mediterranean Diet

    The diet primarily took off due to its relative simplicity and evidence-based claims of its health benefits. Studies show that people who eat this diet have lower risk of heart disease, strokes and other premature deaths related to diet. Generally speaking, the Mediterranean Diet is comprised of foods found around the various cultures of the Mediterranean. This could include areas such as Greece, Libya, Spain, France, Italy, Albania, Turkey, and Syria, and many others.

    What to Have

    While you can look to Mediterranean countries for inspiration, there are some rules related to the diet itself. Namely, the things you want to include in normal quantities in your diet include vegetables, fruits, seafood, potatoes, grains, breads, olive oil, legumes, seeds and nuts. Herbs and spices to make your food tastier is all good, too!

    You’ll want to eat cheese, yogurt, eggs and chicken in smaller quantities than normal. That’s not that you can’t have them, just that you should have less of them. Consider having these in smaller quantities or only one of them per day and at only one meal. For instance, consider cutting chicken, cheese and yogurt out of your diet and just having eggs with your breakfast.

    You’ll also want to make red meat a very rare occurrence in your diet. Consider having it once a week or even less. Consuming too much red meat can put you at a higher risk of heart disease and other lifestyle-related diseases.

    What Not to Have

    So now you know what’s alright in the Mediterranean Diet, let’s talk about what you should avoid. Soda, juices and other drinks sweetened with sugar should be cut from your diet altogether. The same goes for refined grains, refined oils, processed meats and foods with added sugars. Generally speaking, if you would call it “junk food” then you should stop eating it.

    That means that candies, white bread, margarine, canola oil, ice cream and the like are all right out. While that might sound restrictive, it’s not as bad as it might sound. You still have a wide variety of great foods to choose from when it comes to making yourself food on this diet!

    Some Specifics

    Now, as for what you can have when on the Mediterranean diet. Specifically, foods from various Mediterranean countries is what you’re going to want to make. Spinach, onions, carrots, tomatoes broccoli and the like are all great vegetables to start with. You can supplement these with nuts like almonds, macadamia nuts, almonds, cashews and hazelnuts. Fruits you should incorporate are grapes, figs, apples, bananas and oranges, among others.

    For tubers, consider adding more sweet potatoes, yams, turnips and potatoes to your diet. These are all great option to base entire meals around! Brown rice, buckwheat, barley, corn and whole-grain pasta and bread are all wonderful options, too.

    Salmon, crab, shrimp, oysters, trout and tuna are all great seafood options to add to your meals on this diet. Remember, try to keep meat options to one meal a day or less. They’re generally not as good for you as plant-based meals!

    If you want to have poultry occasionally, stick to chicken, duck and turkey. For dairy, cheeses and Greek yogurts are okay. The occasional egg, whether it be chicken or duck, is alright, too. Healthy fats, like olive oil, olives, avocados and the like are all great too.

    Spice Things Up

    This is the fun part! Whatever meal you make, you should definitely spice them up with great seasonings. For instance, you can go with nutmeg, garlic, mint, basil, sage, cinnamon, pepper and many more to make your food really pop!

    Remember: this is a big, varied and flexible diet. You’ve got the option to pick from a huge variety of types of food and delicious meals. This diet is a great way to lose weight, get healthier and feel better, all at once. Not to mention, there are surely some delightful Mediterranean restaurants in your area that you can try without guilt on this diet!

  • Tips for Healthier Grocery Shopping in 2019

    Tips for Healthier Grocery Shopping in 2019

    Your life is fast-paced and busy, and it’s hard to find the time to hit the grocery store and shop healthy. It seems easier to simply go through the drive through of a fast food place or just ordering take-out. The issue with that is that eating processed, fast-food items all the time is quite bad for your body. In order to help you get healthier grocery shopping habits established in 2019, here are some tips to get you started.

    Remember: it might seem like a drag to get into the grocery store and buy produce to then head home and prepare a meal. However, it’s well worth your time and energy to look out for your dietary health. After all, it’s easy to fall into the habit of eating junk food all the time, but that’s a surefire way to put on the pounds and increase your odds of diabetes.

    Tips for Healthier Grocery Shopping in 2019

    For Starters

    Before we get started, let’s get into some myths regarding healthy food. For one thing, it’s not hard to find healthy foods. All you need to do is head into the grocery store and pick up items that aren’t processed, sugary or high in fat. It’s simply your palette that needs to change! If you can’t imagine any foods that aren’t fatty, surgary or processed then you’ve been eating far too much junk food.

    Secondly, healthy food isn’t expensive. In fact, it’s often cheaper to eat healthy than it is to eat fried, high-fat meals. If you get a selection of produce, a bag of rice and some side items you can make a meal for a family for under $20. If you buy for the week and plan out your meals you can really get that cost down and spend less than $100 in the grocery store to stock up for the week.

    Why is it so Difficult?

    You’re probably asking yourself: if it’s so darn easy to get healthy foods, why does it seem so difficult? Everyone always talk about how hard it is to eat healthy foods! Well, there are a few reasons. For one thing, fatty, processed foods just taste really good. Foods that are quite bad for you often have chemicals in them that make them addictive, too.

    It can be difficult to break oneself of the habit of eating junk food. However, if you follow a few simple steps then you can start shopping, eating and living healthier.

    Make a Plan

    First, make a plan before you head to the store. Get a selection of healthy meals set aside for the week and plan to make them. Set aside time with your loved ones (or, if you’re single, make it “you” time) to cook meals every night. You’ll find that you not only stress less at the store, but also shop more efficiently when you come with a list of what you want.

    Stick to your shopping list when you hit the grocery store. Don’t be tempted to make last-minute junk food purchases. Trust us, you won’t regret leaving those cookies on the shelf. Opting for healthier foods will make you feel better in the long run and save you money in the short run.

    What to Buy

    Produce, produce, produce. Fruits, veggies, mushrooms and beans. Load up on these, as you literally can’t go wrong. Don’t go too deep on starchy vegetables, as they can be fattening, but go as hard as you want on other forms of produce. It’s seriously difficult to get too many vegetables. Squash, carrots, peas, artichokes, shallots, eggplants, cauliflower and more are all fantastic choices to keep your pantry full of.

    Your weekly plan should include recipes, so when you head to the grocery store you should have an idea of what you need. You’ll also want a load of staples like spices, olive oil and the like to round out your pantry so you can make full dishes whenever you want. Loading up on spices you love, nut butters and vinegars for cooking and other staples makes it so you can always spice up your ingredients into a tasty meal.

    Final Tips

    A good tip to help you avoid unhealthy foods is to cut back on meat. Skinless chicken, lean meats and fish can be good for you in small quantities, but generally speaking, you should avoid red meat altogether.

    Finally, keep in mind that you need to make a concentrated effort to stick to your healthy habits. Nothing worth having ever came easily!

  • Top Ten Apps for Encouraging Mental Health

    Top Ten Apps for Encouraging Mental Health

    Mental health is a serious issue. Medical studies report that mood disorders like anxiety and depression are the third-highest cause for hospitalization among adults 18-44. A few steps anyone can take towards bettering their mental state include regular exercise and a healthy diet. However, there are other steps available too. As always, if you are able, seek professional help for mental disorders that are negatively impacting your quality of life. None of these apps should be considered a substitute for a doctor. That said, these apps all make great companions to help you promote healthy mental health habits! 

    Pacifica 

    Photo Credit: Routine Coach 

    Stress and anxiety are the main focus of Pacifica. Connecting users with a community of supportive people experiencing similar things, Pacifica is a great platform. The app also offers audio lessons to help with relaxation and mindfulness. Meditation and relaxation are also part of the app’s repertoire. Pacifica is described as an app that “helps break cycles of unhealthy thoughts.”