Health Archives - Lifestyle, Health, and Communication Concerns

Category: Health (page 1 of 2)

Alternatives to the Peloton Stationary Bicycle

Indoor cycling has always been popular, but now during this stay at home period, it is increasingly common to see people with indoor gym equipment. Also, it is a great way to avoid costly gym memberships while still staying healthy. While children may not be able to use them, parents will be setting a good example for their children when they exercise.

Peloton stationary bikes are one of the most in-demand stationary bicycles, but there seems to be one issue with them; the cost. A Peloton Stationary bike costs from $2,200, and not many can afford this. If you are looking for the same experience but at a lower cost, you should check out these Peloton alternatives.

NordicTrack Commercial S22i Studio Cycle

The NordicTrack S22i stationary bike is a good Peloton stationary bike alternative. At $1,599, it is cheaper and still comes with all of the features you want. The NordicTrack features a mechanical shaft to simulate the inclines and declines of actual bike riding. There is a 14-inch HD touchscreen with iFit on-demand and live studio workouts. It costs between $33 and $36 to subscribe to the iFit programming annually.

ProForm Smart Power 10.0

The ProForm Smart Power 10.0 is a high-end stationary bike that comes at a cheap cost. Sold for $999, this bike has a steel body and a 10-inch HD color capacitive touch display. There is handlebar adjustability, full seat, and a water bottle holder. ProForm comes with the iFit membership service enabled.

Echelon Smart Connect EX3

The Echelon Smart Connect EX3 is $1,400 cheaper than Peloton and comes with outstanding features. It offers certified trainers via the Echelon app and your mobile device. The bike doesn’t come with an attached screen. However, there is a little spot on the handlebars that allow you to slide in a phone.

The Myx

Last but not least is The Myx. At $1,199, the Myx features in-house fitness programming and a 21.5-inch screen. It comes with reversal pedals and shoe-clips. There is a monthly membership fee of $29, making it comparable to Peloton at a slightly lower cost.

There you have it! These are the Peloton Stationary bike alternatives you can get today to keep yourself fit while staying indoors. During the shelter-in-place period, indoor cycling can be an excellent way to stay fit or blow off steam. These alternatives mentioned above come with all the features of the Peloton stationary bikes and even more. They are guaranteed to offer you a great indoor exercise experience. You can get them online or visit a brick-and-mortar store to purchase one.

Family Hobbies to Help Keep Kids and Parents Healthy

August 27, 2020 / Cliff Robertson / 0 Comments

It is a gift when parents get to spend quality time with their kids. You do this not just to enhance bonding, but to keep people mentally and physically healthy. But what are family hobbies you can try with your kids to stay healthy? Let’s find out.

Painting

Painting is a great activity to express creativity and develop fine motor skills. It is easy and cheap to do. You can get plastic aprons and inexpensive painting materials to start painting with your kids.

Gardening

Gardening is an activity that will enable you and your kids to appreciate the gift of nature. Gardening is a therapeutic activity that instills a sense of responsibility into your kids. You can engage in this fun activity with them outdoors or indoors using potted plants. Plant some seeds and watch it with your kids come to life.

Dancing

Do you think dancing is just for having fun? No. Dancing is always a means of achieving body fitness. The beauty of dancing is that you can switch up different dance styles with your kids. It’s a win-win situation for your family.

Magic

Get ready to pull some aces from out of your sleeves. Children love surprises,and magic is a way to offer it to them. You do not need to attend magic school to perform magic. There are simple magic tricks you can try and wow your kids. You can find them on YouTube.

Photography

Photography is a skill and activity that teaches your children to appreciate the beauty around them. Also, it is an activity that will help you capture fun moments with your kids. You can use an advanced camera or smartphone camera to get this fun hobby going.

Hiking

The taking in of fresh air and amazing views and sharing of moments with your kids, while you walk through hiking trails, are all part of the beauty of hiking. Not only will hiking expose your children to new things, but it is also a way for you to stay healthy. Don’t forget to take the sunhat, sunscreen, and water along with you.
Parents are often advised to spend quality time bonding with their kids to get to know them better and to open lines of communication. Partaking in activities such as hiking, dancing, and gardening can help improve the health of every member of the family. If you are still struggling to hit your health and fitness goals, adding a supplement to your daily routine can be a good way to help fill gaps. Zahler Prenatal, Nordic Naturals, and Livon Labs are a great way to support your health each day.

How to Stay Grounded in Life’s Most Trying Times

May 20, 2020 / Cliff Robertson / 0 Comments

Life can be unpredictable. One moment, everything is rosy. The next, you are facing one challenge or the other. Regardless, giving up isn’t an option. These trying times bring the best out of you.

“When adversity strikes, that’s when you have to be the calmest. Take a step back, stay strong, stay grounded, and press on.” – LL Cool J.

However, how do we stay calm, grounded, and press on? In this post, we will be providing you with insightful tips to help you stay grounded when facing various life challenges.

Stop Worrying

When life’s turbulence has hit you, it is normal to feel sad and downcast about it. But that is not the best way to handle the challenge life has thrown at you. Worrying does not solve the issue, rather it compounds it. If life throws you down, get up, smile, and press on.

Stay Away From What is Causing You Trouble

If you continue doing what that hurts you, then there is no way you can withstand the challenges that come with it. Stop and observe what is happening, and find out how to improve your situation.

Do Not Listen to Negative People

Listening to people that have a negative perspective of life is akin to pouring gasoline into a fire to put it out; it just gets worse. When you are facing hard times, read motivational books, speak with positive thinking people and you will be inspired to stay grounded.

Take Action

Some people when life’s vicissitude has hit them sulk and cry. The truth is that remedy will not come your way if you sit down and get sad about your situation. Get up and put the solutions you have learned into work.

Make Self-Care a Priority

If you want to survive tough situations, you have to consider self-care as essential. When you eat the right food, surround yourself with positive people, you are building your mind and body. Start taking care of yourself so that you will be able to stay grounded and face the storm.

This can also include using supplements that seek to support a healthy internal response to stress and anxiety. Carlson Labs, Perque, and Vinco are supplement brands with products carefully formulated using nutrients, herbals, and other ingredients to provide optimal support for mind and body.

Accept What Has Happened

One of the reasons many are depressed during tough times is that they fail to acknowledge the situation. If it is something you do not have control over, accept it is something beyond you, and move on. If otherwise, get and start looking for a solution.

There you have it! Above are some useful tips to help you stay grounded during life’s most trying times. Never let tough times define you. With the tips above, you can stay grounded and get past any challenge you are going through.

How Aging Parents Can Talk with Family About Health Concerns

April 14, 2020 / Cliff Robertson / 0 Comments

Talking to aging parents about health concerns is not a simple conversation to have. However, that should not deter children from talking to aging parents about their health because it is very important. But how can you talk to them and get them to open up? Below is a rundown of several ways to talk to aged ones about their health.

Respect Your Parents’ Dignity

As you are talking to your parents about their health, it is important to do so with respect. It is important to maintain a parent-child relationship. It is their health and decision to make whether to listen to you or not. They are more inclined to listen to you if you respect their dignity. If you feel they aren’t able to make those decisions, you will need to speak with a lawyer about obtaining guardianship over them.

Maintain Consistency

The more persistent you are about talking to your aging parents, the more likely they are to come around. While you are being consistent, ensure that you are not disrespectful.

Be Empathic

It is important to see things from your parents’ point of view. Normally we see things from our perspective rather than from theirs. Being empathic helps us to relate better to them about their wants and needs.

Be a Good Communicator

Express your concerns rather than forcefully telling them what to do. Listen to their opinions and ask open-ended questions that further discussions rather than a closed question that will make them dismiss the discussion abruptly. Allow them to take control of the health talk, and they may be more willing to adapt to changes.

Have Other Family Members Present

Lastly, older parents may only want to discuss health concerns in the presence of immediate family. If you have siblings, make sure they are present. Avoid outsiders unless you feel that those people may bring a better approach that is more convincing.

If you aren’t at the stage where such serious conversations need to take place, but rather they have lifestyle habits that you feel aren’t beneficial, then the conversation might wind up being different. Maybe they aren’t seeing a doctor, following a regime of prescriptions, they smoke or drink, or you want them to consider supplements from brands like Irwin Naturals, Metagenics, and Bluebonnet. No matter the reason, consult the above tips but alter them in a way that will yield good results.

Talking to your aged parents about their health is not easy, but if approached in the right way, you may find that the results are better. The tips discussed above are a good way to talk to them about health concerns while also strengthen your relationship.

Negative Parenting and Their Effects on Child Psychology

April 7, 2020 / Cliff Robertson / 0 Comments

Children are impressionable. They are influenced by the adults in their lives, and there is clear evidence that they are mostly influenced by their parents. Parenting, therefore, is a task that determines how every person and citizen will turn out.

Bad parenting is a topic that has been discussed for decades but seems not to be going away anytime soon. Negative parenting, as it can also be called, encompasses several things that culminate in parents not providing the right guidance for their children from the early days to when they are young adults.

As stated in the paragraph above, negative parenting takes several forms. In its basic form, it happens when the child is not reprimanded or punished for their mistakes. On the other hand, it can happen when excessive punishment is administered to the extent that the child becomes damaged psychologically. Child abuse is an entirely different level of negative parenting.

For years, parenting has been studied by psychologists, and it has been found that negative parenting affects children in various ways. Some of the effects of negative parenting on child psychology include:

Antisocial Behavior

Children who exhibit antisocial behaviors care nothing about how their actions can hurt others. Inconsistent and hard parenting, as well as parental drug abuse and domestic violence, lead to this problem.

Poor Resilience

Children who were not properly brought up are never resilient. They can’t cope with social, emotional, physical, and behavioral hardships. This results from not teaching a child coping skills as well as not being responsive in times of need.

Depression

Poor parenting also results in child depression. Such factors as low levels of overall support, parental depression, physical punishment, and unhealthy expression of negative emotions contribute to depression in children.

Aggression

Aggression is another psychological problem suffered by children who were and are being denied proper parenting. It has been found that children who have poor relationships with their mothers tend to be more aggressive. When parents express negative feelings towards their children and have serious conflicts with them, the children eventually become more aggressive.

Helplessness

Negative parenting also exposes the child to feelings of helplessness. In the early days, when they are dependent on their parents’ poor treatment, which is a part of negative parenting, it makes them feel lost and helpless. This feeling of helplessness mostly follows the individual into adulthood.

There you have it! Above are some of the effects of negative parenting on a child’s psychology. Bad parenting is among the leading causes of mental issues such as depression, aggression, helplessness, and more. As parents, we should learn to use more of good parenting when training our kids.

How to Overcome Helplessness in All Aspects of Life

March 31, 2020 / Cliff Robertson / 0 Comments

Life is tough. This becomes more apparent are you get older. At some point in your life, you will feel helpless. This is especially true in the time of trauma and it can be very difficult to shake off that feeling and move on. It is important to understand that helplessness is a learned trait; this isn’t a slight against you, but there are reasons why other people don’t feel this way. Their upbringing, what has or hasn’t happened to them, and physical and mental health all play parts in this.

With that being said, It is possible to unlearn helplessness and do something better with your life. Here are some of the ways to do that. If you find that you need help, reaching out to a support group, counselor, or therapist can be a big step in the right direction.

You Are Not a Victim

Most people that feel helpless often have the negative idea that life is trying to mess them up. Some people feel that the world is conspiring against them. The first thing to realize is that you are not a victim. There may be several other people passing through similar things as you. While your circumstances may be the result of someone else’s doing, continuing to blaming them will prevent you from taking control of your life and moving forward.

Life is Full of Ups and Downs

You also need to realize that life is full of ups and downs. If you are in a very bad situation, chances are you will rise above them someday. All it takes is time and effort. Accept the bad days and believe that better days will come, but don’t forget to work towards improving whatever situation you may be in.

Change is Constant

Another important thing you need to realize is that change is constant. If you are in a terrible situation right now, it is definitely not going to be the end of the road. Life events can turn things around with just little intervention from you.

Ask For Help

While being self-reliant is important, you need to realize that asking for help is not a bad thing. We all need somebody to lean on sometimes in or lives. Do not be afraid to ask for help. Even if you get no for an answer, try other sources.

Take Positive Action

You need to take positive action to overcome helplessness in all areas of life. When you are in a dire situation, take action, make changes, and fight to get out of that situation. In some cases, you will be surprised at how quickly things can turn around.

There you have it! Above are some tips to overcome helplessness in all aspects of your life. Feeling helpless at times is one of the expected things in life. However, with the tips above, you can hopefully get started down a path to overcome these feelings.

What Affects Joint and Knee Pain More: Walking vs. Biking

November 22, 2019 / Mallory Robertson / 0 Comments

Walking and cycling are essential exercises to stay in great shape. They also help to build muscles in the thighs, legs, and feet. But be careful, they can increase pressure on your joints.

Walking and cycling affect joint and knee health differently. If you have tightness in the joints, walking and biking are some of the best ways to manage it. However, it is important to understand how both walking and biking can work to help enable you to support healthy joints so you can do even more. Like some of these awesome exercise routines

Below is a description of the two exercises and how they may affect knee and joint pain.

Walking

Your knee joint is made of cartilage and bones. The cartilage relies on joint fluid for nourishment. When there is fluid retention in the knee joint, it leads to discomfort. This is a symptom associated with osteoarthritis. Walking is a way of helping to manage osteoarthritis.

If you have mild to moderate osteoarthritis and knee joint pain, you should walk to strengthen the knee joint. If the pain is excruciating, walking may not be wise. This is because walking is a weight-bearing exercise. The weight falls on the knee joint causing more pain.

Biking

Biking is another way of exercising the knee joints, albeit with no impact forces. Unlike walking, it is a non-weight bearing activity. Therefore, less pressure is applied to the knee joints. This is not the case if you have excess weight. Having excess body weight means that you have to apply more pressure when pedaling, and this can stress your painful knee joints. This sustained and constant pressure may actually cause pain for some riders. For outdoor cycling, ensure that the bicycle is comfortable to ride and that you avoid trying to go too fast or take hills that you aren’t prepared for.

From the description above, one can see that both forms of exercising are applicable under different conditions. If knee joint pain is painful, it is best to see a medical doctor before you choose between biking or walking. The goal is to choose either of these aerobic activities that will complement your knee joint pain management. We hope you will find this guide helpful in managing your knee joint pain properly.

A Few Thoughts for Planning Your Next Getaway

November 13, 2019 / Cliff Robertson / 0 Comments

You need a vacation. If you’re like me, you’re bad at actually taking vacations. Do you really, truly unplug? I know I don’t… the struggle to disconnect from work and social media is real. It’s hard to do. Follow these suggestions to plan a getaway and make it memorable.

Lower the pressure of the trip. Seriously.

Tons of pressure to make that vacation perfect can wind up backfiring on you. The best memories you make on vacation are often impromptu — the unexpected conversations and laughter is more meaningful than the fancy dinner itself (even if the food is great).

Keep a loose itinerary.

Unexpected events will happen that can stress you out. A delayed flight or traffic on the way to the dinner reservation can throw your whole itinerary off. Have a loose itinerary for some days, but also leave a few days completely open. Whenever your schedule is flexible, you won’t be hurrying to complete everything on your travel wish list. Also, keep the itinerary with you. Print it out, use a custom padfolio like this one, or create a list on your phone so it’s always with you.

Actually take some down time.

At this point in my life, I think that enjoying downtime without feeling guilty or needed elsewhere is a learned skill. You have to actually learn to enjoy the down time, which is somewhat ironic since it’s the whole reason you went on vacation in the first place. Traveling with others can become extremely stressful at times, because everybody has a different set of preferences. So, if downtime means alone time, set that expectation clearly with whoever you’re traveling with. Maybe it’s them, maybe it’s you, but if you need space then speak up. Whatever is life-giving and rejuvenating for you, do it. For some that means being around people, for others it means solitude. You do you, but be clear about it for everyone’s sake so nobody has hurt feelings or misgivings.

Cardio and Leg Workout Ideas for Amazing Fitness

October 16, 2019 / Mallory Robertson / 0 Comments

Having a strong body and legs is essential for you to live the best life possible. Cardio and leg workout exercises should be a key part of your daily routine so you can maintain your health and body shape. If your heart skips a beat when you hear “cardio workout,” don’t worry, because there are many fun cardio and leg workout exercises that will help you build a healthy body.

Below are some fun and creative ways to go cardio and work on your legs to gain outstanding fitness.

Jumping Rope

Some equate jumping rope with a child’s game. They couldn’t be more wrong. Jumping rope a few times per week not only helps you to get your heart rate up, but it will also help you to strengthen your legs. A great thing about this exercise is that it can be done anywhere and at anytime.

Swimming

Swimming is a low impact activity that is excellent for people with bad joints. Swimming is deceptively hard. It works the heart, strengthens the body, and helps to protect the joints. A few laps in a pool will help you to build abs and legs too. Swimming is fun and at the same time highly effective in enabling you live the healthy lifestyle that you desire.

Cycling

Ditch the treadmill and walking, and switch it up for cycling. This cardio exercise is intense and a good way to help develop your legs, arms, abs, and thighs. Done outdoors, this exercise engages every part of your body to ensure that you maintain your overall wellbeing.

Running

Running is a good way to burn calories and keep the body in a healthy state. Just make sure to follow these running tips before heading out. Running is very, very hard on your legs, so make sure you are preparing your body before pushing out the kind of mileage each week that will help you to lose pounds. Best of all, if you can’t run outdoors, your local gym may have a treadmill, or you can buy one for your home.

There you have it! Above are some cardio and leg workout ideas to help you become or stay fit. These workout routine can help whip your body and legs into a more healthy state. They are safe and highly effective in enabling you to live a healthy lifestyle.

Above all, these cardio and leg workout ideas will help you achieve your fitness goals.

Why You Should Sleep in Compression Tights

September 20, 2019 / Mallory Robertson / 0 Comments

Many hold the belief that sleeping in compression gears does not amount to any benefit. This is not true. Compression tights are made of materials that ensure good quality sleep. Good quality sleep is essential to maintaining balance in life.

Here, we will list the benefits of you going to sleep in compression tights, so you get enough rest at night.

Support Circulation

Athletes suffer the risk of having blood pool around their ankles where the pressure is the greatest. Compression gear is made of linen and spandex weaved together, which fit snuggly and help to prevent blood clots in this area. A compression stocking achieves this by improving blood circulation.

Stabilizes the Body

Compression gear has many tiny pores that help them to breathe. This allows them to be worn during sleep and still allow for air circulation around the body, which is important to stay cool while sleeping.

Recovery

Sleeping in compression gear may help to boost recovery and the rebuilding of muscles after exercise. This gear support blood circulation around the body, which is essential for healing and rebuilding torn muscles. If you have muscle swelling, compression clothes may shorten healing time.

Use for Sleep

For those that are battling sleep apnea, compression gear may help with sleep. This is mainly because of its property to eliminate the excessive collection of fluids in specific regions of the body. Sleep apnea is caused by the blockage of the airway due to the pooling of fluids. Compression gear ensures that excess fluid and swelling is eliminated.

Helps With Aches

Compression garments constrict the muscles and increase blood and oxygen flow to them. They remove the buildup of certain compounds and enzymes that accumulate in the muscles.
As you can see, there are many reasons why you may choose to sleep in compression tights. Compression gear provides you with comfort before, during, and after your workout. Wearing compression tights to sleep should not be a problem. From the list above, it can be seen that they come with some health benefits to make you live a healthier life.