The Chatterbox

The Chatterbox

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October 29, 2009
Pumpkin Seeds
Have you carved your pumpkins yet? If you have, did you save the seeds? Did you know that pumpkin seeds toast up super yummy and are rich in iron, zinc and antioxidants? I have tried many times to roast pumpkin seeds and I have found that the best way to roast them is to do it in a fairly low temperature oven for about an hour or more. Oh, and there are a few other tricks to do too. Since I’ve had a few glitches with my photos this week, if you can’t see the photos for this post, hop on over to Sweet Peas and Pumpkins, where I have the directions and photos posted. A few tips to get...
Healthy Eating, Healthy Snacks
October 26, 2009
Monday's Health Tip: Climb Those Stairs!
Good news for all you people who think you don't have time to exercise. In a recent study, British researchers confirmed that some exercise, even as little as a few minutes a day , is better than nothing. So what's the easiest way to work up a sweat without investing too much of your precious time? It's as easy as climbing stairs. Whether you work in an office building or at home, there's most likely no shortage of stairs around you. Just a few trips up and down the stairs every day is enough to improve your cardiovascular health, such as helping to lower bad cholesterol (LDL), increase good...
Exercise, Health, Personal Training
October 19, 2009
Sharing
As parents, we all seek to encourage sharing, but this time, I could have done without... R, our 5 year old, went from a typical high-energy day to completely lethargic, feverish, and a chronic cough Friday morning. I took him to the doctor and he tested positive for H1N1. Despite my best efforts to wash our hands frequently, use sanitizer and do every basic flu prevention remedy, I got sick the next day, and now G, our two year old, is sick as well. Thankfully R bounced back very quickly, and has been fever and cough free since this weekend. Me? I went to the doctor and was told to...
Sickness
October 19, 2009
Monday's Health Tip: Teen Substance Abuse
Well, this isn't exactly a health tip, but it's a health topic that is all too often overlooked. Nickelodeon, the popular kids network known for shows like SpongeBob SquarePants and iCarly, has started airing a show that deals with a much heavier topic...teen substance abuse. The stats on this topic are sobering. In 2007, almost 25,000 of the 2 million people admitted into rehab were under the age of 15. Linda Ellerbee, the host of the popular series "Nick News with Linda Ellerbee" will host the show, titled "Kids in Rehab", that looks at the lives of several teenagers who want to get sober....
Health and Wellness, rehab, substance abuse, teen health, underage drinking
October 16, 2009
It's snow problem
Bad enough that lousy weather robbed us of a summer. Here in the Northeast, we lost all of June to clouds and rain. July was touch and go, and then there were a couple of uncomfortably humid weeks in August. That was it! Now it's mid-October, and already the unbelievable has happened: it has snowed. We're not talking about accumulation here, but the typical high for this time of year is in the low 60s. Instead, temperatures are flirting with the freezing point, the wind is whipping, and the skies are gray. And there were the snowflakes, drifting to the ground before melting on contact....
Skiing, Snow, Snowboarding, Winter
October 12, 2009
Monday's Health Tip: Travel Fitness
On November 7th, I'm heading off on a girl's trip to the gorgeous island of St. Maarten. (Well, I'm assuming it's gorgeous, based on the pictures I've seen.) Although I'm over-the-moon excited about my upcoming getaway, I always get a little nervous about my exercise routine. Will I find ways to exercise? Will I stay semi-on track so I'm not completely out of shape when I get back? So, in anticipation, I went online too look for helpful (and easy) ways to get some physical activity while traveling without having to devote too much time to the cause. (I mean, c'mon. I'll be on vacation.)...
Exercise, Health, Personal Training, Travel
October 5, 2009
Monday's Health Tip: Foam Rolling
A foam roller may look sweet and innocent, but the effects it has on your body are far from that. You may have seen a few of of them lying around your gym: Foam rolling is a form of stretching called myofascial release. The specifics of this type of stretching can get complicated, so I'll do my best not to get too scientific on you. Basically, what it does is help release the tension in your muscles, allowing them to loosen up and remain limber. Think one word: massage. Wanna know how how this seemingly simple piece of equipment does this? Think back to middle school science class. Do you...
Exercise, Fitness Equipment, Health, Personal Training