Sweet, sweet vacation!

A little time away is always a good thing, no matter how much you love your job (and I REALLY do!) My family and I took a trip to Houghton Lake and enjoyed lots of playing in the water, long, relaxing mornings, and long runs by the lake. It was so nice to recharge our batteries and make lots of fun family memories.

I missed posting while I was gone but did lots of reading and brainstorming for future posts while I was away. So look for more future recipe postings, favorite exercises, and more helpful hints!

Make a splash!

Did you know that swimming for one hour burns approximately 700 calories!? So this summer, as the weather heats up, jump in the pool and cool-off while working out! If you aren't a 'regular' in the pool, follow these tips...

Start small! Don't just jump in and try to swim for a half hour. Do two full laps (back and forth equals one), pause to catch your breath, and repeat three times. Try to practice two or three times a week and work up.

Perfect your form! Use every other lap to do a different drill: Hold a kick board to concentrate on your kicking, or swim with a buoy between your legs to work on your stroke.

Build it up! When swimming 300 yards feels easy, increase your total distance by up to 10 percent per week.

Stay safe and stay cool this summer while burning up lots of calories!

Happy 4th of July!

I hope as the holiday approaches you celebrate our country's independence and your journey to good health. Celebrate yourself by ackowledging your hard work and commending yourself on your committment to your being healthy body, mind, and soul.

We'll all need a little pat on the back, so take this opportunity to celebrate- heck set off a few fireworks for yourself! :)