THE RIGHT TIME TO EXERCISE

 

IS IT BETTER TO EXERCISE AT DAWN’S EARLY LIGHT OR AT TWILIGHT’S LAST GLEAMING? HI, THIS IS ELLEN LEVINE WITH GOOD ADVICE FROM GOOD HOUSEKEEPING. 

 

IF A WORKOUT IS PART OF YOUR REGULAR ROUTINE, IT HELPS TO PICK THE RIGHT TIME OF DAY TO GET IT DONE. IF YOU PUMP IRON, FOR EXAMPLE, MORNING IS BEST. THAT’S BECAUSE THE NECK AND LOWER-BACK WORK ALL DAY HOLDING UP YOUR HEAD AND TORSO, LEAVING MUSCLES FATIGUED. SO AT THE END OF THE DAY, YOU HAVE TO USE LESS RESISTANCE TO AVOID INJURY.

 

AEROBIC ACTIVITY ON THE OTHER HAND, WHETHER IT’S JOGGING, SWIMMING OR BIKING, IS BEST DONE BETWEEN FOUR AND SEVEN P-M, WHEN THE HEART AND LUNGS ARE STRONGEST AND YOUR METABOLIC RATE IS HIGHEST, HELPING YOU BURN OFF MORE CALORIES.

 

WORKING OUT LATER THAN THAT CAN DISTURB SLEEP.  AND IF YOU’VE ALREADY EATEN, YOUR HEART HAS TO WORK HARDER TO PUMP BLOOD NEEDED FOR DIGESTION.

 

IF THESE IDEAS DON’T FIT INTO YOUR BUSY SCHEDULE, DON’T THINK YOU’RE OFF THE HOOK. WORKING OUT AT ANY TIME IS FAR BETTER THAN SKIPPING THE GYM ENTIRELY. THIS IS ELLEN LEVINE.

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THE FAMILY PEACEMAKER

 

SOMEBODY HAS TO KEEP AUNT ELMA FROM CHOKING COUSIN ALBERT DURING THE HOLIDAY VISIT. HI, THIS IS ELLEN LEVINE WITH GOOD ADVICE FROM GOOD HOUSEKEEPING.

 

EVERY FAMILY HAS ONE...MAYBE IT'S YOU...A PEACEMAKER WHO STAYS CALM, MEDIATES TRUCES AMONG WARING SIBLINGS, AND MAKES RATIONAL DECISIONS AMID THE CHAOS. THESE SKILLS ARE REALLY IN DEMAND DURING THE HOLIDAYS, WHEN SELF-ASSURED ADULTS CAN TURN INTO SULKING, SQUABBLING YOUNGSTERS ALL OVER AGAIN.

 

IF PLAYING PEACEMAKER LEAVES YOU EXHAUSTED, YOU CAN TRY TO RELINQUISH THE ROLE. BUT IT WON'T BE EASY. YOU MAY THINK PEOPLE WILL SHATTER LIKE GLASS ORNAMENTS IF ANYTHING GOES WRONG. THEY WON'T. ALMOST EVERYONE CAN SURVIVE A ROUGH PATCH.

 

KEEP IN MIND THAT YOU'LL NEVER MAKE THE HATFIELDS AND MCCOYS LOOK LIKE THE WALTONS. INSTEAD OF DREADING CONFLICT, EXPECT IT, AND DON'T TAKE IT TOO SERIOUSLY.

 

IF THE TENSION IS STILL TOO MUCH TO BEAR, ENLIST ANOTHER FAMILY MEMBER TO HANDLE THE TROOPS. OR JUST ENJOY BEING THE FAMILY PEACEMAKER. JUST DON'T LEAVE AUNT ELMA AND COUSIN ALBERT ALONE IN THE SAME ROOM. I'M ELLEN LEVINE.

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FRUIT SNACKS

 

RELYING ON SNACK FOODS FOR YOUR BERRIES AND BANANAS MAY BE FRUITLESS. HI, THIS IS ELLEN LEVINE WITH GOOD ADVICE FROM GOOD HOUSEKEEPING.

 

MANY FRUIT-FLAVORED PRODUCTS ARE TASTY BUT DON'T EXPECT TO GET A LOT OF NUTRITIONAL BENEFITS FROM THEM. TAKE THOSE MULTI-GRAIN CEREAL-FRUIT BARS. WITH AN AVERAGE 140 CALORIES, THREE GRAMS OF FAT AND MINIMAL FIBER, IT'S MORE LIKE AN ENGLISH MUFFIN AND JAM.

 

THE GOOD HOUSEKEEPING INSTITUTE NOTES THAT A BOWL OF WHOLE-GRAIN CEREAL WITH MILK AND FRUIT SUPPLIES FAR MORE FIBER, CALCIUM AND OTHER NUTRIENTS.

 

FRUIT-FLAVORED YOGURTS TYPICALLY HAVE ABOUT 200 SUGAR-PACKED CALORIES, WITH NO VITAMIN C OR FIBER. PLAIN YOGURT TOPPED WITH FRESH STRAWBERRIES AND A SPOONFUL OF HONEY HAS A MUCH MORE HEALTHFUL

130 CALORIES.

 

WHILE FRUIT-LEATHER TREATS, MEANWHILE, MAY BE ALL FRUIT, THEY'RE MORE LIKE CANDY. AND WHAT ABOUT SPARKLING WATER WITH A TOUCH OF FRUIT JUICE? FORGET IT. SOME JUICES HAVE AS MANY CALORIES AS A CAN OF COKE, AND THERE'S NO SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF VITAMINS.

 

SO IF YOU WANT TO HAVE ONE OF THOSE FRUIT-FLAVORED TREATS, GO AHEAD. BUT HAVE IT FOR THE TASTE, NOT THE NUTRITION. I'M ELLEN LEVINE.
 

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