The Skinny on Skipping Dinner to Lose Weight

True or false: eating dinner early, or skipping it, can help you fight body fat.

Sweat Together: 7 Partner Exercises Made for Cuffing Season

‘Tis the season for “cuffing.” You know, that time of the year when the cold air and falling leaves send us running in the comforting (and warm) arms of another. If you’re still a bit perplexed as to what I’m talking about, don’t worry, I’ll let one of the Millennial’s over at UrbanDictionary spell it out for you in plain English:

“During the Fall and Winter months people who would normally rather be single find themselves along with the rest of the world desiring to be "Cuffed" or tied down by a serious relationship. The cold weather and prolonged indoor activity causes singles to become lonely and desperate to be cuffed.”

Now that you have an understanding of that sudden, overwhelming desire to find the PB to your J, you’re probably wondering why I’m rambling on about matters of the heart on a health and fitness blog. Well, my friends, cuffing season is the perfect time to mix-up your workout routine. I’ve already shared the benefits of including a variety of exercise positions into your routine, but asking your partner to join you on a Saturday morning run or gym shred session is another simple way to add some spice to a stagnant fitness regimen.

According to researchers at the University of Aberdeen, having an exercise partner boasts great results, since the presence of a gym buddy increases the amount of exercises we do. In addition to the boost of motivation and emotional support that you get from working out with “bae,”—another term that we have Millennial’s to thank for—being cuffed this season allows you to experience a new array of exercise positions.

So, this fall/winter say goodbye to that solo fitness routine and hit the gym with your partner for some challenging, imaginative and fun workouts. I may not be able to help you hone your cuffing season skills (sorry), but I can definitely provide you with a few exercise ideas for couples. Keep reading to learn how you and your cuffing partner can be the fittest couple at this year’s office holiday party.

The Secret to Perfecting the Weight-Loss Smoothie

The thicker the shake, the thinner your waistline. That at least seems like a good bet given new data showing that a drink thickened with fiber makes you feel fuller. In fact, participants in the study, which appears in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, reported feeling fuller after drinking a thick shake with only 100 calories than after drinking a thin shake with five times as many calories. 

Slow it Down, Child: Exercise like a Human, Not a Robot

When I sat down at my computer to write this post, I had a million ideas bouncing around in my head, but none of them stuck. For some reason, preaching to you about the health benefits of quinoa or the latest trend to take the fitness community by storm seemed a bit redundant. Although I usually find those sorts of topics electrifying, today, I wanted to do something a bit out of the ordinary. I wanted to talk about something different.

Mix it up: How Adding Variety Into Your Exercise Routine Can Get You Results

If you think back to your last few workout sessions, did you perform the same exercises over and over again? Well, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but it’s time to switch up your routine.

6 Ways to Prevent Sports Injuries

Ask any athlete what their worst fear is, and they’ll probably say getting a debilitating injury. It’s absolutely devastating to be sidelined for an inordinate amount of time due to a sprained ankle or torn ACL. Since it’s common knowledge that playing sports is hard on the body, a smart athlete makes sure to take great care of his/her body. Having love for the game, whatever it may be, is not enough; you need to have love for your body too.

While it is impossible to avoid experiencing harm while playing sports, research suggests that injury rates could be reduced by 25% if athletes took appropriate preventative action. No matter what sport your play, here are 6 general rules to follow for injury prevention:

Ditch the Delivery: A Healthy (and delicious) Pizza Recipe That You’ll Love

Superman has kryptonite and humans have pizza. A cheesy, garnished to perfection, oven roasted pie is a delicacy that no one on Earth can resist—even personal trainers. As magnificent as this classic Italian dish is, it’s often not the healthiest of meals to consume. Yes, it’s true that pizza contains all the ingredients for a nutritious and well-balanced meal—dairy, protein, grains, and vegetables—however, the pizza that we’re eating is usually the high fat, high calorie, and high sodium kind from the neighbourhood fast-food joint or frozen food aisle at the grocer's. That greasy slice may look simply irresistible, but it’s doing damage to your body.

The Best Exercises for a Super-Sculpted Butt

When I start working with a new client, I ask them what their fitness goals are so that I can get them the results they desire. The vast majority of the time I hear, “I want a toned butt.” Getting a booty that rivals Beyonce, Kim Kardashian, or J. Lo is at the top of my clients’ wish list, but aside from doing squat challenge after squat challenge, most are unaware of the other highly effective tush toning exercises. If you’re like my clients, it’s time to put the squats to rest and add some variety to your fitness routine with 8 booty-blasting moves. These exercises are easy to learn, target important muscles in your glutes and hamstrings, and, most importantly, will give you a firmer bum in no time.

Less is More: Cut Back on Salt with a Low Sodium Diet

We live in an age of convenience. Almost anything your heart desires can be obtained at the drop of a hat, whether it’s the latest bop from Beyoncé or a last minute anniversary gift for your wife. On the surface, instant gratification may seem completely wondrous, but if we grab our magnifying glass and do a little sleuthing, it’s quite clear that getting what you want, when you want it, can sometimes be detrimental to our wellbeing.  

4 Easy Yoga Poses for Pain Relief

Most people decide to unleash their inner yogi because they want that perfectly sculpted yoga body; however, the benefits of yoga extend far beyond washboard abs and tight glues. Several research studies have found that yoga is an effective (and natural) way to treat chronic conditions such as, back pain, fibromyalgia, osteoporosis and carpal tunnel syndrome. If you’re experiencing an achy body, the thought of twisting and contorting it into a series of poses and stretches may be fear inducing, but when performed correctly, the fluidity of yoga movements can increase mobility and strength without the wear and tear on your already painful joints, says yoga instructor Cynthia Maltenfort. “Yoga is a safe alternative to weight-bearing exercises that could worsen weak joints because it strengths the muscles around them, which reduces tension and increases mobility,” explains Maltenfort.

So, whether you’re suffering from moderate to severe pain, relief may be a yoga pose away. Here a few of my favourite yoga positions to ease body aches and help you get back to enjoying life to the fullest.