Healthful Bites

When the summer heat is blasting, nothing feels better than cozying up to a shiny, new magazine by the pool (with sunscreen, of course) or in the A.C. So I’ve enjoyed scouring my favorite magazines once again this month for the most useful tips and tricks as well as the most interesting new research findings. Away we go!

• Besides being a fun way to get from point A to point B, walking is awesome from your health. I love to include intervals and inclines to increase the intensity when counting my walk as a workout, but any walk is certainly better than no walk! Here are three reasons to lace up your shoes and hit the road, courtesy of Ladies’ Home Journal:

1. Hoofing it helps preserve your memory as you age.
2. A regular walking routine can reduce back pain.
3. Those who walk while younger are at lower risk for hip fractures later in life.

• Music can be excellent motivation to get you moving faster in the gym—and can apparently also get your dinner utensils moving quicker too, Redbook reports. Fast tunes increase your dining speed and slow jams may make you chill out longer at the table, nibbling and sipping past when you may have stopped without a soundtrack. Loud music caused study participants in a recent Irish study to eat twice as many calories as those who ate with low music. Sounds like we should hit mute at meal time to be more mindful eaters!
• Any woman can testify about the importance of a good sports bra. It feels like a huge victory when you find “the one” (we’re not talking about a mate, of course, but a bra that finally provides ample support)! And according to FITNESS, the time spent searching for your workout wardrobe’s foundation is well worth it: The right sports bra can slash the normal bounce range in half. Why is this important? Reducing the stress on ligaments and skin can keep your girls perkier longer!
• Happy people are healthy people, research has found. New research supports three (it must be my magic number this month!) simple ways to improve your mood, SHAPE says:

1. Sniff some citrus. It can reduce stress hormone levels, as can lavender and baby powder.
2. Get a massage. Feel-good hormones are released during a rubdown.
3. Step outside. Grabbing some fresh air can make you happier and less stressed—the more time outdoors the better the mood!

• One simple question: Huge payoff. When participants in a study noted in SELF asks themselves, “How much will I exercise this week?” they boosted the amount of workout time by 138 percent. Apparently thinking about, and even better, writing down, your plans can knock you off your default workout routine and inspire you to work toward your fitness objectives. Here’s a free, basic seven-day log to begin planning your sessions for next week (don’t forget the rest days!) or just grab a notebook or your noggin and set some S.M.A.R.T. goals!

What are your workout plans for the week?