Healthy Living

Toast to choosing a great resolution on New Year's Eve!

With the start of a new year comes the promise of doing things right. But the first step to making 2013 a great year is to make a solid resolution; something that you can keep up with and hopefully keep going for many years to come. The real goal of a resolution is to make a change in lifestyle for the long-term. Unfortunately, most people tend to set resolutions just looking at the year ahead. When making your resolution, remember that it’s a decision to live a better life and that it should stay with you for many years to come.

But besides keeping in mind the long-term nature of your goal, here are a few other tips for setting a good resolution for 2013:

• Be realistic. Having a realistic goal to approach makes the whole thing seem less intimidating. Choose a goal that seems within reach.
• Be specific – or not. Specific goals keep you focused and on track, but for some people, they add too much pressure. You can choose something general, like eating better, or you can go more specific, like eating vegetarian meals every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Choose what works better for you! You know yourself best.
• Choose a goal you can feel passionate about. So many people choose goals just because they sound good or other people they know are doing it. Instead, choose something YOU want to achieve. Pick something that YOU value. It makes the journey that much more powerful – and it increases your chances for success!
• Brainstorm. If you’re having a hard time narrowing down your resolution, don’t worry – most people do! Sit down and write down what you want to accomplish in the next year. See if you can narrow down your list or even meditate on the question of what you want to achieve in the coming year. The answer you choose you should feel 100% committed to.

Have a tip for choosing a good resolution? Share it with us in the comments!

The holidays can be quite the stressor! So many things to do, surrounded by temptation, and so little time to squeeze in a workout. My, my, my – it’s the challenge of the year!

But, there are some things that we can do to make the most of the holidays and to keep things healthy amid all of the stress. If you’re looking to have a healthier holiday season, try some of these tips:

• Practice portion control. The holidays are a notorious time for overeating. Be smart with portions!
• Choose healthy meals. Load up on vegetables instead of starchy sides. Choose fruit over cookies. Water over eggnog.
• Squeeze in a walk after holiday dinner. It’s good for digestion and for getting your metabolism moving.
• Keep a water bottle with you. Staying hydrated is going to be key not only for your overall physical health, but also for fighting dry winter skin.
• Take the stairs instead of the elevator while shopping. It’s something simple that can add a few extra steps to your trip, but it pays off over time!
• Make time to de-stress. Take a hot bath, meditate, read a good book. Just give yourself time to wind down after the holiday craziness!
• Breathe. The holidays will be wonderful – and everything will get done. And hey, if it doesn’t, that’s okay too!

Have tips for keeping calm during the holidays? Leave us a comment!

The Fitbit One

The Fitbit One is shaping up to be one of the hottest holiday gifts on everyone’s list this year. Touted as one of the most powerful activity trackers available, the Fitbit One “turns fitness into a lifestyle.”

For those looking to make serious strides (pun intended) toward better health and a wellness-focused lifestyle, the Fitbit One serves as a great motivator. This tracker never rests, taking measurement of your steps, distance, calories burned, and stairs climbed by day and your sleep cycle by night. You’ll be able to monitor your body’s wellbeing 24 hours a day – and the data it offers can be unbelievably motivating.

Use the Fitbit One to act as your personal trainer and coach by using its built-in Fitbit.com membership, which allows for you to log and track activity, food, sleep, water, body mass, weight, and much more.

For anyone on your list, it’s an amazing gift – but don’t wait to order yours. Get your Fitbit One today at Heart Rate Monitors USA to have it in time for the holidays.

Every year it’s the same thing, “I’m going to get in shape and try to be healthier.” Chances are at some point in your life you’ve made this New Year’s resolution, and then quickly broken it. Stop the cycle of making a fitness resolution and then breaking it! To get you in the right frame of mind for the new year – it’s only a few weeks away! – here are some tips to help you stay true to your resolution and make a better you:

1. Plan ahead- Don’t plan on starting your resolution on New Year’ Eve. If you have an idea for a great resolution, start now while you’re excited and willing!
2. Be realistic- If you make unattainable goals, you’ll be more likely to quit at the first sign of seeing no results. It takes time and discipline to really change.
3. Outline your goals- Write down what you want to achieve in a monthly list, and every time you reach your goal, reward yourself. Rewarding yourself doesn’t mean you can eat an entire bag of chips or indulge in another unhealthy behavior, though. Instead, treat yourself with a gift that keeps you motivated toward your goal. A new pair of Altra Zero running shoes makes a great reward. Other great ideas could be a new water bottle for the gym, or a calendar of motivational quotes to keep on your desk at work. You’re satisfying the urge to treat yourself, but also helping ensure you will keep working out!
4. Track your progress- Keep track of every success, even if it’s small. Tracking your progress will help keep you motivated. Instead of focusing on losing 30 lbs, concentrate on the first five and work from there. Keeping a food or exercise journal is also a way to track your fitness goals, to make sure you’re eating enough and eating healthy while also building in enough time for exercise. Also, if you’re looking to change to a healthier mindset, think about keeping a happiness journal or gratitude journal. Write down at least one thing that makes you happy or that you are thankful for every day.
5. Keep Trying- We’re human, and we all make mistakes. If you run out of steam with your resolution, don’t quit. Start over, start fresh, stay positive, and before you know it, you will be back on track.

HeartRateMonitorsUSA.com has all the tools you need to start a new fitness regimen. We can set you up with a new pair of running shoes, or a heart rate monitor to keep you and your progress on track. The time for change is now!

If you’ve been keeping up with the latest from Fitbit, you’ve probably heard some buzzing about the Fitbit One. As the latest roll out in activity monitors, the Fitbit One promises to be sleek, stylish, and discreet – but that’s not what makes it a must-have for health and fitness. Its tracking abilities are pretty incredible, with logging for distance, steps taken, stairs climbed, and more.

There’s a new silent alarm feature that’s built in to wake you up with a gentle vibration when you wear it while you’re sleeping. The battery life is amazing. It can sync with iPhones via Bluetooth and offers wireless syncing. What more could you want from your activity tracker?

Plus, you still get the great benefits of a Fitbit web account, which includes integration with other popular apps, like Lose It! or MyFitnessPal.

For non-athletes, the Fitbit One is a sturdy, affordable, and sleek way to monitor your activity while motivating you to work toward healthy goals.

Stay tuned for updates! We’ll keep you posted once we get the Fitbit One up on the site.

Quotes are awesome. Put them on a t-shirt, binder, water bottle, hat, or write them on your arm before running a marathon. No matter where you put them, they inspire. They motivate. They keep you going when everything else feels like it’s the hardest thing you’ve ever had to do.

When working toward a fitness goal, pursuing a personal record, or just getting the courage to take that first step towards better health, quotes help. At Heart Rate Monitors USA, we give you tools to stay motivated and quotes are just another example of that. Here are some of our favorites to get you moving:

Some of our favorite fitness quotes:

“Strength does not come from physical capacity. It comes from an indomitable will.” -Mahatma Gandhi

“Motivation will almost always beat mere talent.” -Norman R. Augustine

“Energy and persistence conquer all things.” -Benjamin Franklin

“Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm.” -Ralph Waldo Emerson

“Ability is what you’re capable of doing. Motivation determines what you do. Attitude determines how well you do it.” -Lou Holtz

“Motivation is what gets you started. Habit is what keeps you going.” -Jim Ryan

“I’ve missed more than 9,000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I’ve been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.” -Michael Jordan

“Fear is what stops you… courages is what keeps you going.” -Unknown

“The finish line is just the beginning of a whole new race.” -Unknown

“The difference between a goal and a dream is a deadline.” -Steve Smith

“The secret of getting ahead is getting started.” -Mark Twain

“Luck is a matter of preparation meeting opportunity.” -Oprah Winfrey

Today, we have an infographic that’s actually really interesting. Have you ever wondered about who the healthiest people are in the world?

The health of a country is most frequently identified by low infant mortality rates and long life expectancy for adults. Iceland, Japan, Sweden, New Zealand and Finland are currently the top five countries with the healthiest people in the world.

Diet is a key component for healthy living and it is no surprise that people in the five healthiest countries, have healthy diets. Meals are built around heart healthy fish and tofu as well as fresh fruits and vegetables. Choosing locally grown foods ensures freshness as well as whole foods which are low in fat and high in fiber improve health. Diets in these countries limit sodas and sugary drinks while including water, herbal teas and red wine.

Additional factors in maintaining or improving health include reducing stress through meditation, vacations and hobbies; making physical exercise a daily habit; and enjoying healthy social relationships with a focus on face to face interaction.

Source: www.bestpublichealthschools.org

It is always important to keep cleanliness in mind when you are working out, especially while at the gym. Many gym members use a single dumbbell or weight machine in one day, which means that germs can possibly spread without one even realizing. The perfect solution to kill germs after a workout is to keep a small hand sanitizer with you. Instead of buying just any hand sanitizer, however, make sure you are buying one that is most beneficial to yourself and to your environment.

Alcohol Free Sanitizer

Argent US Bioscience has a small 2 oz hand sanitizer, called Silver Thyme Sanitizer Gel, that is all natural and alcohol free. It is made with a unique formula of natural ingredients proven to kill common germs. The ingredients are 100% safe and non-toxic.

Unlike alcohol-based sanitizers that dry out or damage your skin, Silver Thyme Sanitizer Gel is alcohol free and contains aloe vera, thus keeping your skin constantly moisturized and protected. Alcohol-based sanitizers evaporate seconds after use and it also dries up the skin to leave a new place for germs to grow. Silver Thyme’s effective non-alcohol sanitizer kills over 600 bacteria and can keep your hands protected for hours. This limits the need for constant application and proves the theory that “less is more.”

Silver Thyme is also fragrance free and non-irritating. To use, simply squeeze 2 or 3 drops into your hands and massage for 30 to 40 seconds until dry. Your hands will have a silky, smooth feel. The ingredients will stay on your hands and blend with the natural oils of your skin.

Are you ready to order your Silver Thyme Sanitizer Gel? Stock up on some today or even order a single bottle to try it out, as there is free shipping on all Silver Thyme alcohol-free sanitizer orders.

After you’ve had a great workout, it’s always a good idea to give your muscles the nourishment they need to rejuvenate, repair, and rebuild. Working out causes a lot of stress on the muscles, so it’s always good to nourish your body with something healthy  and nutritious after you’ve exercised. The question is – what’s the best food to snack on post-workout?

Well, in our experience, we’ve found that post-workout snacks should have three components:

• Protein – this is essential for muscle building as well as restoring your amino acids.
• Carbohydrates – this gives you energy and is essential for keeping your body moving.
• Vitamins and Minerals – you want to make sure you’re choosing food that offers nutritional value, not just raw protein and carbohydrates.

Not sure where to start when it comes to finding a great post-workout snack? Here are some of our favorites:

• Fruit and low fat yogurt
• Cereal with skim milk
• Dried fruits and nuts
• Turkey sandwich on whole grain bread with lettuce and tomato
• Vegetable omelet
• Fruit or protein smoothie/shake
• Baby carrots and hummus
• Mozzarella cheese stick with grapes
• Banana and a handful of almonds
• Apple with a spoonful of peanut butter
• Popcorn with nuts and dried fruit
• Cottage cheese and pineapple chunks
• Chocolate milk
• Cheese and crackers
• Whole grain waffle with peanut butter or almond butter
• Rice cakes topped with almond butter or peanut butter
• Greek yogurt

What’s your favorite post-workout snack?

CamelBak Eddy Bottle

New to our selection is the CamelBak Eddy bottle. This sleek and stylish reusable water bottle is just what you’ve been searching for to keep your water supply close at hand while you’re out for a walk, at the gym, or on the go.

Make staying hydrated while you’re on the move easy with CamelBak Eddy water bottles from our selection. These BPA-free reusable water bottles come in different sizes and styles to meet your needs as well as your color preferences. Choose from a variety of new colors, as well as options made from stainless steel, to find the bottle that best meets your needs. All CamelBak Eddy bottles feature the spill-proof design you love, as well as the comfortable big bite valve, integrated loop handle for easy carrying and the wide mouth opening for easy cleaning. Here are our newest additions:

• 24 oz. CamelBak Eddy stainless steel bottle in lime plum, charcoal, or silver. Also available in a floral or twigs pattern.
• 20 oz. CamelBak Eddy insulated BPA-free bottle in cobalt, magenta, black, or lavender.
• 16 oz. CamelBak Eddy insulated stainless steel bottle in silver or navy.
• 32 oz. CamelBak Eddy BPA-free bottle in grass, plum, charcoal, or navy.
• 20 oz. CamelBak Eddy BPA-free bottle in clear, navy, grass, dusty rose, plum, or silver blue.

For kids, we have CamelBak Eddy BPA-free bottles in 12 ounce options with several fun designs to choose from, all of which are dishwasher safe, durable, spill-proof, and easy to drink from on the go, so your little one can stay hydrated.

Order your CamelBak Eddy bottle today at Heart Rate Monitors USA.

P.S. Hydration is critically important for a healthy heart! Water allows for us to regulate body temperature, produce blood, and properly nourish and maintain our cells.