One More Reason to Get a Good Night's Sleep

Men and Mental Health

Business consultant/fitness specialist Megan Senger wrote an interesting piece for IDEA Fitness Journal in October about men's mental health.  She wrote, 'while it's outside the scope of practice for a fitness professional to diagnose or treat mental illness, awareness is important.'

The following statistics highlight the need for more support in this area:

• More than 6 million men have depression each year
• Suicide is the 7th leading cause of death for all U.S. men
• Men are four times more likely than women to commit suicide
• Men underreport depression and may also underreport suicide attempts

Depression may not look the same in men as it does in women, according to William Pollack, PhD, of Harvard Medical School.  Men experiencing depression may display it in various ways other than sadness including:

• anger
• aggression
• work "burnout"
• risk-taking behavior
• alcohol and substance abuse

If left untreated, these symptoms may worsen and lead to even more serious problems. 

"Couch-to-5K" Feedback

I just wrapped up two "Couch-to-5K" Programs and I am so happy how everyone did.  I received some wonderful feedback that I wanted to share.  Here are a few comments from some of my participants:

"I ran the V.A. Fun Run in Bedford today.  I did it all without stopping!  I am very proud of myself.  I followed your schedule and it worked!  I am so pleased."

"Paul was very kind, encouraging, and supportive.  He was not judgmental if you couldn't meet the class expectation.  He snuck in small pieces of advice in an encouraging way."

"Paul is great.  He is very approachable and he supplements his training with useful information via e-mail between sessions.  I was nervous to sign up because I am so out of shape but I felt great after each session."

Beef Cuts Explained

Dr. Jonny Bowden "The Great Cholesterol Myth" Lecture

Mercury-Contaminated Fish

Funny Bit on Seafood

Couch to 5K Success!

Throughout the summer, I run several 'Couch to 5K' Programs.  I received a wonderful testimonial from a participant in Littleton who I trained this past summer:

I have never been much of a runner.  Last summer I started running and attempted my first 5K.  It was not a positive experience and therefore did not continue with running regularly.  This year, when the opportunity to train for a 5K came up, I decided to try again since I had started to get more in shape this year through strength training.  I found this Couch to 5K program to easy to start and I felt successful in completing the weekly routines.  By the end of the summer, I was able to run for 30+ minutes at a faster speed.  I completed the 5K at the end of the program and beat my last years time by 3:00! I felt the training, support, and encouragement that I got from the trainer, Paul Connolly, was helpful and necessary in me achieving my goal.  I now have the goal to run either the Falmouth Road Race next summer or the Boston Half Marathon.  Thanks, Paul!! 

Liz P.
-Littleton, MA 

Sometimes I Forget to Listen to My Own Advice

Healthy Foods You Should Have In Your Fridge

If you want to be healthier and lose weight, a fridge makeover may be just what you need. Keeping powerful perishables on hand will help you make a smart choice when you're tired, busy, or just craving junk. Stock up on these 10 foods and watch the pounds melt away.

http://www.fitsugar.com/Healthy-Foods-You-Should-Have-Your-Fridge-34872965#opening-slide

Female Strength!

Yoga for Basketball

Top 5 Exercises

Great video from Boston.com about the Top 5 Exercises everyone should be doing (at least a variation of them) in the gym every workout:

http://www.boston.com/health/2014/08/11/hit-list-exercises-everybody-should/pra77PfIuJJZbbB4uUJVhJ/story.html

Omega 3 Fatty Acids w/Andrew Weil

The Empty Pickle Jar

How Accurately Do Fitness Trackers Monitor Sleep?

Perform Better End of Summer Sale

(Click the 'Perform Better' Banner to the right to check out all the great Summer Sale deals!)

"Natural" Foods

Real Food: The Best Diet

Can Exercise Reduce Alzheimer's Risk?

Can exercise reduce Alzheimer's Risk? Some very interesting has come out of the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio.  Check out the full article here: http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/07/02/can-exercise-reduce-alzheimers-risk/?_php=true&_type=blogs&_r=0