Fun and Fitness for the 40-Something

If you’ve been working out to lose weight or improve your fitness, you’ve probably noticed that your progress can seem to plateau. To fend off such plateaus and continue making fitness gains, the American Council on Exercise recommends “periodized training.”

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I’ve written plenty about the sports drinks now lining grocery shelves. Runners in particular seem drawn to the drinks—especially in the summer heat and humidity that are so trashing my runs in Chicago this month. But I’m still turned off by those pricey, neon-colored drinks. Fortunately, Runner’s World has suggested some natural alternatives.

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By now, we’ve all read about celebrities who swear by Pilates for achieving a long, lean and strong look. But, if you’re like me, you have only a vague idea of what Pilates actually is—a different kind of yoga, right? Not exactly.

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Looking to crank up your metabolism? Women’s Health offers a 30-minute workout, designed by a spokesperson for the American Council on Exercise, to do just that. According to WH, the exercises “torch extra calories because they work several major muscle groups at the same time.”

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Women’s Health has lined up several food face-offs “to see if real food is better than the packaged stuff at home, the office, or the gym”:

Preworkout:

Energy bar vs. Egg McMuffin

During a workout:

G2 vs. water

Gu vs. banana

Gatorade Endurance vs. orange juice

Post-workout:

Lara Bar vs. PB&J

Naked Protein vs. Soy Good Smoothie

Energy boost:

Red Bull vs. yogurt and apple

Odwalla Bar vs. trail mix and jerky

5-Hour Energy vs. espresso

Weight loss:

Clif Bar vs. almonds

Slim-Fast Optima vs. 6-inch turkey sub

The American Council on Exercise doesn’t just deal with exercise—it also addresses diet and nutrition. And, as it notes, “nutrition is one of those fields that is inundated with quacks who will try to sell you the latest secret to weight loss.” So the ACE has compiled a list of common diet myths in the hope of debunking them.

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Yet another reason to watch our weight: Researchers have found that people who are overweight or obese in mid-life have a greater risk of reduced memory and thinking skills in late life.

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Heading on vacation soon, or even just a weekend away? The culinary temptations can be so great that sometimes we just give up and cast aside any and all eating discipline—only to regret it later. Runner’s World offers some tips for eating healthily and keeping up your energy when traveling.

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Last year, I wrote about an easy way to carry your emergency contact information—the Road ID. It’s a secure, light-weight shoe attachment that provides all of the information you would want on you if you have an accident. I’ve been wearing a Road ID on my running shoe for several years, but I always wondered whether a first responder would even notice it there. Now I know.

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A strong core is critical for fast, efficient running. According to Fitness, runners who did the following four times weekly cut a minute off their 5K times in six weeks.

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