If you are over your ideal body weight and hesitant to begin exercising for fear of failing to lose weight, don’t hesitate to start getting active, even if the weight drops off slowly or not at all.  Research shows that people who are not at optimal weight but who are active have a lower mortality risk than those of normal weight, but low fitness levels. Read the rest of this entry »

If you eat an extra 100 calories a day and keep your activity level the same, you could gain an extra 10 pounds a year!  Keeping calories in check is an essential part of an overall healthy eating plan that can help you avoid weight gain, aid in your weight loss efforts or maintain your optimal weight.  In other words, almost everyone can benefit from cutting back 100 calories each day, and here are 7 simple ideas. Read the rest of this entry »

Are you struggling to find the time to increase your physical fitness with your hectic lifestyle?  Like you, many people are looking for easy ways to get fit, and toning shoes seems like a reasonable answer—do what you normally do with these shoes on and get in shape—how easy is that? 

Toning shoes, also called balance shoes, have zoomed up to a full-fledged active footwear category that is still growing.  Almost every shoe brand has jumped on board, and it currently is the fastest-growing segment in the footwear industry, with sales expected to be in the billions this year alone.

Manufacturers state that these shoes help you burn more calories, reduce joint stress and improve posture.  Some shoes tie in other features to add an extra challenge such as a midsole material that simulates the feel of walking in sand, extra weight in the front of the shoe, and pods of air in the midsole.

But are these shoes all that? Read the rest of this entry »