TRAVEL BLOG

One very popular sport is gymnastics, and especially when the Olympics roll around every four years. Gymnasts appear to be treated like rock stars if they attain the level of medal winners, and they typically get lucrative endorsement contracts. But the few seconds spent on the international stage at that level are only a result of many years of painful pJractice—countless hours of attempting that perfect vault, that ethereal experience on the parallel bars, or that unbelievable floor routine. When that young man or women finishes a spotless performance, the crowd roars to its feet with thunderous applause. But if there is a fall, or a break in the pattern, or some other mistake made by the performing athlete, a collective sigh comes from the audience, and the gymnast is aghast in disbelief. Gymnastic routines take special training, and the effort can be brutal. The work is punishing, and the injuries can be traumatic. As Jim McKay used to say on ABC Wide World of Sports some years ago

I confess that being spontaneous is a difficult one for me.   I am definitely a plan and prep girl when it comes to almost everything about Darla.   I have always done better with structure and a guide to get me from start to finish.   Where this has served me best is in my meal planning and exercise.   I am not one of those who open the door to the refrigerator puzzled by what to eat, looking for something and finding nothing.   I think that would drive me crazy, and talk about wasting energy by leaving the frig open…YIKES. I have dedicated one day out of my weekend and sometimes during the week, to plan and prep my meals.   This not only ensures that I eat healthy, but saves me lots of money, time and stress, especially when time is limited during the busy work week.   I have two crock pots that are in constant use and filled with boneless/skinless chicken breast, brown rice, quinoa, and steel cut oats at any given time.   Having crock pot chicken ready to eat is fabulous and I use

Are you a parent or guardian that uses or has used a daycare facility for your children? Don’t put yourself down if you do. Many parents use this type of option if one or both parents are working outside the home. However, there may be some things about daycare that you would want to know and that may surprise you. There are few parenting issues as hot-button as daycare -- is it good for kids or a glorified form of neglect? According to iVillage Health , recent studies have weighed in on both sides, saying that poor quality care can lead to behavior problems, while more nurturing, attentive environments can lead to higher test scores in grade school. But to many parents, exactly what happens in that romper room between 9 and 5 is still unclear. According to some mothers who’ve popped by unexpectedly and longtime daycare workers, a lot more goes on than you think. Here is one of the sixteen tips they suggest are worth your time to know: Your Child May Be Calling the Daycare Teachers “Mo

One of the essential building blocks of the human body is protein. Commonly perceived as being a major component of meat, protein is actually present in many types of foods. Healthy individuals usually have sufficient amounts of protein in their body, but in some cases you can actually consume more of it than you need on a daily basis. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), proteins are part of every cell, tissue, and organ in our bodies. These body proteins are constantly being broken down and replaced. The protein in the foods we eat is digested into amino acids that are later used to replace these proteins in our bodies. Protein is found in the following foods: • Meats, poultry, and fish • Legumes (dry beans and peas) • Tofu • Eggs • Nuts and seeds • Milk and milk products • Grains, some vegetables, and some fruits (provide only small amounts of protein relative to other sources) Proteins are made up of amino acids. Think of amino acids as the building blocks. There a

Do you ever find yourself getting caught up in over-thinking healthy and what it takes to live healthy?   In my journey of living a healthy lifestyle, I have found that over-thinking can lead to feelings of inadequacy of not doing things right, and getting so overwhelmed that it turns into something that is not enjoyed.   Living a healthy lifestyle should be about simplicity, enjoyment, fun, balance, and all those fabulous things in life that make life worth the ride.                                                                         I come from a background of extreme athlete, competition, and counting every Getting Back to Healthy gram of protein, carbohydrate and fat I put in my face, in addition to the supplements taken at spaced out intervals throughout my day, and the intense workouts all tucked neatly into my very organized trainer binder.   Whew…I think about that now and remember how strict, stressed, and really undernourished I was during that time.   My body fat was no