Today’s tip comes to you straight from the American Heart Association. We love this idea because it mentions cardio boxing. Here’s what they had to say:

The American Heart Association knows that Americans love television. They also know Americans need more exercise. So why not combine the two, they ask?

Try dancing to the music when you tune into your favorite music show or practice some stress-relieving cardio boxing (we assume they mean shadow boxing) when your least favorite reality contestant is on camera.

During commercials pedal your stationery bike, walk on the treadmill or slip in a little strength training doing bicep curls with cans of your favorite fizzy beverage as weights.

It doesn’t matter exactly what you do, so long as you’re up and active. Aim for at least 15 minutes, says the AHA. But who knows? If you get really engrossed, you just might outlast the guys on The Ultimate Fighter Live!

When you’re trying to lose weight there are lots of little things you can do to help you achieve success. Hydration really can help! One great trick is to down some water before each meal so you don’t feel so famished. It can help you watch what you eat because you’re less hungry and will be likely to make better food choices.

Another great tip from dietician Elaine Magee, who writes the “Healthy Recipe Doctor” blog for WebMD  says that for the compulsive snacker it’s a great idea to keep no-calorie beverages at hand “as a way to keep your mouth busy and less likely to snack on junk food.”

Attending a party? WebMD suggests grabbing a low-cal drink in one hand and keeping it there. Not only does it make it harder to graze the buffet, but you’ll also be less tempted to sip endless cocktails.

Finally, if you keep your body refreshed with plenty of water it may also help your workouts. Staying hydrated means you can exercise more and longer than if you don’t drink water. So drink up!!!

We found this great tip on Web MD.

One of the easiest ways to cut back without feeling denied is to switch to lower-calorie versions of the foods you crave. A pizza tastes just as good with reduced-fat cheese, and when you garnish low-fat ice cream with your favorite toppings, who notices those missing calories?

And, while you’re trimming fat calories, keep an eye on boosting your fiber, suggests registered dietitian Elaine Magee, RD, MPH. Fiber helps you feel satisfied longer, so while you lighten family favorites, you can easily amp up the fiber by adding a cup of whole wheat flour to your pizza dough, or toss a handful of red bell peppers on the pie.

Don’t forget to lighten the drinks going with your meals as well. Try switching from high-calorie favorites to diet soda or light beer. Hate low-calorie drinks? Mix your preferred drinks with a splash of the low-cal option. Then increase the ratio as your taste buds adjust. Don’t forget to keep pouring that ultimate beverage, says Magee: water!

We know you all exercise on a regular basis but if you’re having trouble making it into the gym, they’re are ways to help keep your weight down. One of our favorite things to preach to folks is to go walking. Walking is a great way to burn calories and keep your body moving. Why not take your dog or family or both on a nice walk after dinner. It’ll keep your metabolism going longer and help digest dinner.

Taking a walk when the weather is nice is easy but if it’s not so nice, even a five minute walk is better than no walk at all. Here are some tips for getting in some extra steps throughout your day:
* Park your car at the back of the lot.
* Hike the mall and be sure to hit all levels.
* Take the stairs EVERY chance you get!
* Sweep your drive or rake your leaves instead of a blower.
* Crank up your Ipod and get your heart rate up when you mop or vacuum.

It all adds up. If you walk twice a day for 10 minutes and try a few of these tips, you just may find you have an extra 30-minute low impact workout tucked under your belt for the day.

Sorry we’ve been a little quiet on the blog lately. We had some logistical projects going on that were taking up all our time and attention. We’re back and promise to be more consistent!

Today’s Weight Loss tip is one I personally live by and in speaking with many of the fighters at Ultimate Fitness, I have learned that it’s one of their mantras as well. Today’s tip is to ADD don’t SUBTRACT. What this means is rather than subtracting things from your diet, i.e. diet denial, add foods instead. Add in yummy items that you really love like deep-red cherries, snappy grapes or crunchy snow peas. Slip your favorite fruits into your bag lunch and breakfast cereal; add the veggies into soups, stews or sauces. The concept here is that if you add good-for-you foods, you’ll fill up on those and skip the bad-for-you snack items.