By: SPARK_MRUDY, SparkPeople Blogger
9/11/2018  12:00:00 AM   :  259 comments   :  158,778 views

If there was one perfect exercise, it would quite possibly be walking. Not only does it improve heart health and burn calories, but it also strengthens the bones and reduces stress. Plus, walking is low-impact, easy on the joints and requires no equipment other than good shoes and stable ground—which means almost everyone can do it.

That being said, for all the wonderful benefits of walking, there's actually no such thing as "one perfect exercise." Every activity, no matter how awesome, is always more beneficial when paired with a complementary one. It's a concept called cross-training, and it helps prevent overuse injuries, balances out the muscles and promotes better recovery after workouts. It also adds variety to workouts, which prevents boredom and burnout.

By: SPARK_COACH_JEN, SparkPeople Blogger
9/10/2018  12:00:00 AM   :  124 comments   :  27,521 views

I freely admit that I'm a perfectionist. I like things done a certain way and sometimes get frustrated when things don't go as planned. I spent many years putting too many items on my daily to-do list, then easily discounting all my daily accomplishments when a few things on the list weren't completed.

The past few years, I started getting tired—not just the tired like you feel at the end of a long day, but a really worn down kind of tired. I blamed the fact that I'm a busy mom with lots of responsibilities, but deep down I knew that some of what was happening was totally under my control. The expectations I was setting for myself were too high, and I was constantly struggling with falling short. I was trying to be a superstar in all areas of my life and it wasn't going well.

My husband encouraged me to think about my daily tasks and whether or not they all really needed to be on the to-do list. Did the house need to look spotless every day? Did I have to make a complicated dinner every night, or were sandwiches okay sometimes? Did I have to be the first one to volunteer for every project, or could I take a backseat and let others step up?

By: SPELIZABETH1, SparkPeople Blogger
9/10/2018  12:00:00 AM   :  65 comments   :  17,299 views

At SparkPeople, we love helping people accomplish big goals—but we believe it's equally important to celebrate the small successes along the way. Each week in the Spark Spotlight, we'll check in with a featured member about his or her proudest moments, biggest challenges and advice for others on living, thinking and feeling healthier. We hope these quick snapshots will help motivate you to keep moving steadily toward your own goals, week by week.
 
This Week's Spotlight: Meg Marie (PEACELOVENYOGA)
Age: 31
Location: West Salem, Ohio
 
Small Success of the Week
 
Meg Marie dropped to less than 300 pounds and is over the moon. She credits her weight loss to her daily yoga practice and determination to dig deeper into her practice and have more energy for her family.

By: SPELIZABETH1, SparkPeople Blogger
9/7/2018  12:00:00 AM   :  52 comments   :  13,818 views

When Debbie Morales discovered she won the grand prize after finishing the FitFusion & SparkPeople 28-Day Check-In Challenge, she was shocked. After all, it's not every day you win a trip to train with Jillian Michaels in Los Angeles.

But win it, she did. In order to be eligible for the grand prize, Debbie had to complete 28 straight days of workouts with the FitFusion trainers via their on-demand video series. Tailored especially for SparkPeople, these workouts could be completed at home on almost any device in 10-, 20- and 30-plus-minute time frames. The challenge cycled through workouts that targeted the entire body—buns and thighs; chest, arms and back; and abs and core. The FitFusion challenge also included built-in rest days.

By: SPARK_MRUDY, SparkPeople Blogger
9/5/2018  12:00:00 AM   :  66 comments   :  41,691 views

Whether you're reading this in the dog days of summer, the crispness of fall or the dead of winter, 'tis the season for potlucks. From backyard barbeques to football Sundays to holiday gatherings, the concept of everyone bringing a dish to share not only takes the burden off the host, but it also adds a hearty helping of good cheer to any event. There's nothing like a delicious spread of shared food to bring people together—and maybe spark some healthy competition for the last scoop of spinach and avocado dip.
 
But on the not-so-healthy front, potlucks and weight-loss programs don't always make great party companions. From cookies and brownies to queso dip, loaded nachos and fried chicken wings, many of the most shareable foods aren't conducive to a healthy diet. But that doesn't mean you have to send your regrets and stay home with only a plate of veggies to comfort you. Instead, bring your own healthier dish so you know there will be at least one option that won't break the calorie bank. Or, better yet, host your own healthy potluck event, where the only rule is that everyone has to bring something that can be consumed with zero-to-little guilt or regret.

By: SPELIZABETH1, SparkPeople Blogger
9/5/2018  12:00:00 AM   :  61 comments   :  25,344 views

Anyone else enjoy reading cookbooks for fun? I can't be the only one. I sometimes read them cover-to-cover like a good non-fiction novel. Words like, "macerate," "baste," "caramelize," "deglaze" and "julienne" make my mouth water as my fingers reach out for the chef's knife. There's something so special to me about creating something out of nothing—especially when that something is delicious.
 
Because there are plenty of cookbooks out there with fabulous, good-for-you recipes, it's easy to overlook the ones that are free of meat. However, adding a plant-based meal or two (or three) from time to time to your meal rotation can help lower your cholesterol and your risk for heart disease, among other benefits. That doesn't mean you have to become a vegetarian to enjoy meals without the meat, though—you can begin by replacing just one meal a week with a vegetarian option and go from there. After a few veggie-packed meals, you might even surprise yourself with how much you don't miss the meat and opt to go meatless more often.
 
To get you started, we've rounded up ten of our favorite vegetarian cookbooks we think you'll love.