Is the Dragon's Back Race the toughest

Five days, 200 miles, 8½ miles of ascent – the gruelling Dragon's Back Race, which started on Monday 3 September, crosses the length of Wales, from Conwy Castle in the north to Carreg Cennen Castle in the south. One of the world's most challenging races, it fills even the hardest runners with awe

Why most of us should eat fewer calories

Many of us are eating too much, and not being active enough. That’s why nearly two thirds of the adult population in England is overweight or obese.

Find out how much you should be eating, and how to cut the calories.

Recipe: Baked Apples

Baked apples are a great individual-sized dessert that come out of the oven looking
beautiful, and almost too good to eat. This lightened-up version combines oats,
chopped pecans, cinnamon, and maple syrup, and makes the perfect ending for a fall
dinner party or Thanksgiving dinner.

Recipe: Baked Apples

Why We Overeat

Maybe it was that fifth handful of sour cream and cheddar chips, or the third trip to the buffet line. Regardless, many of us have had experience with overeating. So what causes this uncontrollable urge to stuff our faces? With one-third of the U.S. adult population suffering from obesity, people are flocking to the next fad diet or fat-busting fitness program. But that can’t solve the problem for everyone in the long run. Instead, lets dig a little deeper to discover why we overeat (and how to stop).

The Stuffing — The Need-to-Know

21 Health and Fitness Resources You May Have Missed

This week, Sandy whirled in with a vengeance, affected millions of people, and knocked out the power at Greatist HQ. Halloween carried on (check out our oral health info after all that sugar). Many of us relocated to friends’ apartments for internet access to continue to bring you the best in health, fitness, and happiness. Thankfully, we have all sorts of snack recipes (88 of them under 100 calories!) for those still cooped up at home. All the best to everyone affected by the hurricane. — Nicole McDermott

Health

Photo by Jordan Shakeshaft

30 Healthy Snacks to Celebrate Fall
Need more ways to fit fall flavors into your daily diet? Here are 30 snacks that will do just that (without breaking the calorie bank).

Medicinal Munchies: Medical Marijuana Fully Explained
On Election Day, voters across the country will decide whether to legalize medicalmarijuana. But we’re not talking just munchies and Pink Floyd — weed can be a legitimate treatment for medical ailments ranging from nausea to chronic pain.

The Ultimate Guide to Oral Health [Infographic]
Good oral health goes far beyond brushing. Here’s everything you need to know to keep your mouth clean, healthy, and pearly white.

How to Stay Healthy and Safe in a Hurricane
Howdy, Hurricane Sandy! We’re ready for you. Greatist rounds up the best tips for staying safe, full, and healthy during a hurricane — or any inclement weather!

MOM'S HARD BODY WORKOUT

MOM'S HARD BODY WORKOUT

As new moms, we become pretty familiar with fairytales and bedtime stories. So try this one on for size: Once upon a time in a magical land far away, there was a princess who could stay skinny just by a wave of her hand, and healthy meals were prepared by singing birds…

While these fairytales may have worked for fictional characters, the harsh reality is that losing weight, especially postpartum weight, is no magical task. It takes discipline, dedication and some serious time management.

Best Health and Fitness Culb Today magazine

HEALTHY AND AGING AT 50

Aging. It happens to all of us. Some fear it with every year that passes, worrying about increasing risk of health issues, or the loss of youthful vitality. But as Dana LeConey can attest, aging isn’t a negative process. In fact, healthy aging can actually help one feel younger as the years go by.

At 50, LeConey admits that she feels better now than she ever did before. Not only that, but she’s in great shape, doesn’t have any health issues, and is virtually wrinkle-free. And it’s all due to one simple habit: maintaining a healthy balance of life, work and play.

Training While Sick

 Training While Sick

Nothing can bring progress to a halt more than when you are sick.

We are often asked the question, should I train while I am sick? The answer to that question really depends on what you mean by sick.

Is it a cold? The flu? Allergies? Most people confuse the common cold for the flu. However, these are different types of illnesses.

The flu is caused by viruses known as Influenza A or Influenza B, while the common cold is caused by viruses called corona viruses and rhinoviruses.

There are over 200 different types of corona viruses and rhinoviruses. If one of them hits you, your immune system builds a lifelong immunity to it (therefore, the same virus will never hit you twice).

However, you have the rest of the viruses that have not yet affected you to worry about; and there are enough to last a lifetime.

How to get rid of bad breath

 

 

 

Bad breath or halitosis is one of the biggest turn-offs, and with Valentine's Day just around the corner, why not give your mouth an MOT? Here's how.
What causes bad breath?
It's a common misconception that bad breath originates in the stomach. Not so, says Dr Katz - one of the world's leading experts on bad breath.
"It's actually caused by anaerobic sulphur-producing bacteria that breed beneath the surface of the tongue and in the throat and tonsils. These bacteria produce nasty smelling chemicals called volatile sulphur compounds, some of which are known as hydrogen sulphide (the rotten egg smell chemical), and other chemicals known as putrescine and cadaverine (the odours found in rotting foods and dead bodies).
"In the mouth, bad breath is more prevalent when the mouth is dry. This is because nature's way of keeping one's breath fresh is saliva, which contains several natural 'anti-halitosis' compounds one of which is oxygen. The bacteria that lead to bad breath are classified as 'anaerobes', which means that they cannot survive in the presence of oxygen, so people who have plenty of saliva always have fresh breath - that's why babies always smell so great - they have plenty of saliva."

A Rundown on Nutrition Bars 

 

Maintaining a sensible eating pattern throughout life, combined with regular physical activity, can help a woman maintain a healthy weight with which she feels comfortable. This might seem easy to read, but with today's hush and rush of life, women have been left with a lesser time to think about their nutrition.

Result being an increasing use of ready-to-eat nutrition bars (Energy Bars, Protein Bars, Diet Bars, and Meal-Replacement Bars) to provide the body with much needed nutrition. The best part about these bars is the convenience -- after all, they're neat, they're small, and you can grab one during a work break.

Nutrition bars go by many names including:

• Meal-replacement bars- contain proportionally higher amounts of carbohydrates, proteins and fats.
• Energy bars- contain more carbohydrates,
• Protein bars- are simply higher in protein, and
• Diet or weight loss bars- claim to contain fewer carbohydrates.

 

10 Everyday Things that help you Diet Easily

10 Everyday Things that help you Diet Easily

Temptations surround us every day just to make our dieting harder. Whether it’s the chocolate TV ads, a new Haagen Dazs flavor, or freshly baked home-made cookies, resisting temptations gets harder by the minute. But despite all the temptations, we are surrounded by little things that help you stick to your diet plan and lose that extra weight. For example:
1. Your iPod: music makes you jog that extra mile. It helps you with those last 10 minutes of your work out and it motivates you to push yourself to the limit.
2.The TV: although eating infront of the TV isn’t really diet friendly but there are very encouraging TV shows you can watch that will inspire you to carry on like “The Biggest Loser” and “Oprah”.
3.Pals: if you show your friends how sincere you are this time, they’ll help you order next time you’re out with them. You can even tell your best friend to warn you when you’ve had too much to eat.
4.Your smart phone: BlackBerrys and iPhones are a way to distract you and keep you from munching on snacks all day. There are also smart phone apps you can download to calculate your calorie intake and to help you keep a diet diary.
5.The super market: yes! Despite having all the junk food one can imagine, the super market is actually the best place to make you feel full. When shopping at the supermarket, try to avoid the “junk aisles” and stock up on healthy fruits and vegetables then head to the cashier ASAP.
6.A good doctor: your doctor’s advice and diet plans are usually depressing, but with the right doctor he’ll know how to reward you every week. Look for a doctor with good rapport rather than shorter waiting lines. Express your feelings to your nutritionist and worries so they’ll fortify your plan with “happy food”.
7.Man’s best friend: having a dog can make you get out of the house faster. They're very helpful when it comes to running on the beach or going for an early morning jog. If you don't have a dog; offer your neighbor to walk theirs, they’ll never say no.
8.House work: AKA exercise. Getting stuff done around the house burns more calories than you think so get in your track suit and start cleaning.
9.Avoiding the elevator: taking the stairs everyday instead of the elevator will at least revive your heart and get that blood pumping. Try to take the stairs all the time, especially when climbing up.
10.A good book: whenever you get a food craving, grab a good book and start reading that craving away. Most of the time, food cravings are a result of boredom.