I am very excited about the new website LIVESTRONG.COM, which is a site focused on changing your life.  I think you will find this website to be a trusted resource for daily health, fitness and lifestyle information (The Lance Armstrong Foundation partnered with Demand Media to launch this venture.) 

The site includes some very useful tools such as The Daily Plate, a free food, calorie, and fitness tracker. 

I also like the "Dare to" section that empowers you to make smart choices in your life or even dare a loved one to do so (examples: quit smoking, exercise regularly, get more sleep….) 

Many well-known experts will offer their two cents on matters related to health and overall well being.  I loved reading Bobbi Brown’s article here. 

You will find all sorts of advice on health, food, exercise, balance, and more, so check out LIVESTRONG.COM for a more LuSHHus life.

Cheers!

→ Read the article

It may seem dated, but there are many reasons to consider replacing your gasoline-powered lawnmower with a good old-fashioned push lawn mower:

• Save money because push lawn mowers don’t use gas
• Save money because push lawn mowers are inexpensive
• Save the planet because you will greatly reduce your carbon footprint with a push mower
• Enjoy the process more because push mowers are not noisy
• Decrease risk of injury because push lawn mowers are easy and safe
• Never worry whether or not your push mower will start
• Improve your health and fitness by pushing the push mower

Of course, if you have a huge lawn, the push mower is not for you.  However, if your yard is a manageable size, I urge you to consider getting a push lawn mower.  The push mowers are easy to obtain online; here are a couple that received good reviews:

In the spirit of full disclosure, I should tell you the LuSHHus lawn mower is a gas-guzzler (it was actually passed down from my father-in-law.)  The need to replace the LuSHHus lawn mower will soon be upon us, and I look forward to talking to Mr. LuSHHus about the benefits of a push mower.  An added benefit for him: I’d be a lot more willing to use the push mower than the noisy, big, gas-powered one we currently have!

Cheers!

→ Read the article

The President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports has just launched its Adult Fitness Test which measures aerobic fitness, strength, flexibility, and body composition.  (This sounds a lot like the physical fitness tests in the military). The test is designed for adults 18 and over, and the results could help you measure your overall fitness and set goals for a healthier, longer life.

Here’s what the test involves:

• Time yourself as you walk 1 mile or jog 1.5 miles.
• Count how many half sit-ups you can do in a minute. To do a half sit-up, lie on your back with your knees bent and curl your trunk off the floor toward your knees, keeping your lower back flat on the floor.
• Count how many push-ups you can do in a minute.
• Take the sit-and-reach flexibility test. Sit on the floor, legs extended in front of you, with a yardstick taped to the ground between your legs (your heels should be at the 14-inch mark on the yardstick). Slowly stretch forward, your fingertips on the yardstick. Do this three times, recording how far you reach on your farthest stretch.
• Measure your height, weight, and waist.

Plug the numbers into the Adult Fitness Test website to get your results and tips for improvement.  One feature I really like is that every time you retake a testing event you can automatically compare your results to see how your fitness has changed.  Ready to take the test?  Click the image below!

Cheers!

→ Read the article

Women’s Health offers a 20-minute plan to get rock solid abs in 30 days, and I think it’s worth sharing with you.  I’ve been performing several of these exercises (moves 1, 2, and 5 in particular) with noticeable results.  You’ll find that you are working your entire core with these exercises.  Click here for the details of all the moves, and see below for pictures of each exercise.  You are advised to do all the moves on non-consecutive days two to three days a week. 

• Stability Ball Pelvic Tilt Crunch

• Walk the Plank and Rotate

• Stiff-leg Pullover Crunch

• The Matrix

• Knee-to-Chest Crunch

• Prone Oblique Roll

• Rear Leg Raise

Have fun!

→ Read the article

RealAge is a website that offers personalized health assessments and management tools, and I highly recommend it to you.  One of the best features of this site is the RealAge Test which determines how well you are maintaining your body.  It can be an eye-opening experience to learn how your calendar age compares to your "real age."

RealAge offers much more such as daily tips, 65 health tools and tests, a blog, forums, and professional advice on all health and lifestyle matters.  Take advantage of this free website to improve your health!

Cheers!

→ Read the article

This is the Eat Well Guide widget that you can use to find local and sustainable foods near you.  In fact, this tool will help you find fresh, wholesome food all around the U.S. and Canada.

Enjoy!

→ Read the article

WebMD posted an article called Spring’s 10 Most Fattening Foods that I thought I should bring to your attention.  Sure, most of the foods are no-brainers, and we know to steer clear of them; however, there are some that you may need to note (for example grilled foods, salads….)  The entire list is mentioned below, and you can click here to read the original article.

• Ice Cream

• Hot Dogs

• Chocolates

• Brunch

• Toppings, Dressings, and Sauces

• Seasonal Beverages

• Passover Desserts

• Salads

• Grilled Foods

• Coconut

Beware of these foods!

→ Read the article

If you want to keep track of your calories burned and consumed, look no further than the Calories per Hour website which offers all sorts of calculators to keep you informed.  The site includes a food and nutrition calculator with all the nutritional information you need, a calculator to determine how many calories you burned during exercise and another to show your Body Mass Index, a calculator to help you find out how to best reach your weight loss goals, and more.  The best part of it all is that it is free!  You can’t beat that.  With this resource at your fingertips, you are sure to achieve your weight-related goals!

Cheers,

→ Read the article

I have been battling a bit of a sickness for the better part of two months.  It’s nothing serious but enough to keep me feeling less energetic than usual.  I think I will try eboost which is a daily health booster that comes in the form of a tablet or powder and is to be added to a glass or bottle of water.  eboost contains a special blend of vitamins and minerals that work to hone your energy, immunity, recovery, and focus. 

If you try it and really like it, join eboost elite which gives you automatic supplies, free shipping, and exclusive offers!

To your health!

→ Read the article

I was notified that the link to my menu planner was not working, and I apologize for that inconvenience.  It’s fixed now!  You can click below to access it, and/or read the entire post about planning and other healthy habits here. 

lushhus-menu-planner.pdf

Cheers,

→ Read the article

I read a great article here about 13 habits to improve your life.  I’ll give you a quick rundown of the 13 habits, and then I want to elaborate on the last one. 

1. Eat breakfast every morning.
2. Add fish and Omega-3 fatty acids to your diet.
3. Get enough sleep.
4. Make social connections.
5. Exercise for better health.
6. Practice good dental hygiene.
7. Take up a hobby.
8. Protect your skin.
9. Snack the healthy way.
10. Drink water and eat dairy.
11. Drink tea.
12. Take a daily walk.
13. Plan.

I could not agree more about the positive effects planning can have on your health and overall well-being.  Just a few minutes of planning each day or each week can mean better health for you and everyone in your family.  One tool I use to facilitate my planning is a menu planner.  Not only does this ensure we are eating nutritiously, the menu planner also helps keep my grocery shopping in check so that I don’t spend too much on unnecessary items.  Click below to print out your own menu planner and start planning your meals and your good health now!

lushhus-menu-planner.pdf

Cheers,

→ Read the article

There are plenty of health bars on the market, but none of them really include the exact ingredients you want.  Until now.  Check out the You Bar.   You get to pick all the ingredients: the base, the dried fruits or berries, the seasonings, the proteins powders, the nuts and seeds, the grains and cereals and more!  And you even get to name the bar when it’s all said and done. 

Perhaps the task of totally inventing a fresh, handmade, nutrition bar is too daunting.  Then check out the most popular bars which include: honey cashew, great date with chocolate, and breakfast bar. 

Cheers!

→ Read the article