11 Tips for Optimal Health

Balance is something that everyone takes for granted until they lose it. It is important in more ways than some people may think. 

It is important to try and make time for the things that matter to us. Spending time with our loved ones, enjoying a meal together, allowing ourselves the luxury of sitting quietly savoring our surroundings, reading a book or getting creative. At times these things may all feel like distant memories.

Knowing what to eat before and after exercise can be a minefield. We are all individuals and what makes us thrive is dependent on our many unique factors. Trying different options, listening to our bodies and finding what is right for us is key to feeling energized and getting the most out of our workouts.

Vitamin D has been considered an important nutrient for many years. Recently, there has been a lot of research into it due to its possible role in protecting people from the effects of COVID-19. 

How do we know if we are overtraining and what are the dangers associated with it?

Which type of yogurt is your family’s “go-to”? Even with so many flavor, texture and brand choices, one thing is clear – yogurt is good for you!

How are your Brain and Your Heart Connected?

With hot weather here and everyone trying to spend more time outdoors before school starts, we felt it was a good time for a water safety reminder. 

The added sugars in the foods we are eating can turn a normally healthy food into a not so healthy food! Added sugars are different than sugars from fruits and dairy products, because added sugars are added to our food and come with calories, but minimal nutrition. The nutrition facts label is changing, and the new label will list total sugars and added sugars, so you know how much is natural versus added. 

 They can help us lower our calorie intake and reduce our risk of heart disease, stroke and protect us from certain cancers when eaten as part of an overall healthy diet. It is important to find fruits and vegetables we enjoy and eat a variety, because each fruit and vegetable has a unique nutritional profile.

Why eat whole grains? Whole grains are packed with nutrients like protein, fiber, B vitamins, antioxidants, phytochemicals and minerals. 

Why meal plan? Meal planning is a great place to start improving your food choices. When we plan out our week and make healthy foods and recipes available and ready to eat when we are hungry, it can help us avoid the fast-food line, and it can improve our overall diet quality. 

It is summertime, so you know what that means? A fruit favorite is back in stores and comes with a lot of benefits of consuming it. What is this fruit you might ask?

The pandemic has caused changes in the lifestyles of people worldwide. With the influx of questions has come a surge of funding and research opportunities to find answers. One area of focus has been the severity and recovery of those who have survived COVID in respect to their exercise habits.  

Whether you are young or old, overweight or fit, yoga has the power to calm the mind and strengthen the body. Come join us.

Our Schererville location has been a part of the Northwest Indiana community for over 40 years. Reaching back almost as far is the Schererville Club’s 41+ Luncheon whether named as such because the Club is on Rt. 41 or because the attendees had to be over the age of 41, has been lost in the lore.

Fruit and vegetables have been in our diet for the entirety of human history. We eat them raw, cooked, chilled and frozen – in ever increasingly creative combinations. And we're always trying to find new ways to incorporate more fruits and veggies into our daily diet.

Gym etiquette is nothing more than respect. Respect for the equipment, others, and yourself in the gym. Everybody's there for the same reason, and nobody wants to be distracted or held up. 

Wearable three ways, you can simply switch between the chest belt, wrist strap and arm band, depending on your choice of physical activity.

Whether you have been recently diagnosed or are currently living with diabetes mellitus,it is important that you understand how you can live a healthier life. 

Meditation is a mind and body practice that has a long history of use for increasing calmness and physical relaxation, improving psychological balance, coping with illness and enhancing overall health and well-being. 

This past year has given our Community many opportunities to come together and support each other. One-way the Duneland Community has demonstrated this was it’s continuing dedication to donate blood.

There is something to be said about the power of working out in a group, but what is it about exercising with others that motivates us? Exercising With A Group Can Take Your Workouts Up A Notch.

Daylight saving time begins at 2 a.m. this Sunday, March 14th.

So how does caffeine affect exercise? Caffeine is a very commonly used stimulant during exercise.

If you have yet to try the rapidly growing fitness phenomenon Barre (pronounced BAR), you are probably in for a big surprise.  

Trainers are always talking about the importance of core strength. Here is what you need to know about why core strength is so important.

Cardiovascular exercise or "cardio" is the most important physical activity you can do to keep your heart, lungs, and circulatory system healthy while also improving your overall fitness. 

The greatest escape you can take without leaving the room

Of all the lifestyle changes that have been studied, regular physical exercise appears to be one of the best things that you can do to reduce your risk of getting dementia.

Being aware of your risk factors and making healthy choices puts your future in your own hands.

Every year there plenty of opportunities to help the less fortunate and 2020 is no different. Here are just a few ways you can easily contribute to your community.

What you do in the morning contributes greatly to the tone of your day.

Don’t Let the Pandemic Stop You! Working up a sweat and staying healthy.

Joseph Pilates, the creator of the worldly popular Pilates exercises once stated, “Developing minor muscles naturally helps to strengthen major muscles.” 

How much water is enough? Drinking water before you exercise or go out into the sun is an important first step.

As more of us continue to work from home, we're likely to find ourseves sitting for prolonged periods of times. Take 30 seconds to feel better. Avoid the health risks of sedentary behavior. 

Have you ever noticed how music affects not only your mood but also the pace at which you do things? What music can help you do isn’t just in your head – there’s scientific proof of what it does for your workout. 

Do you know the signs and risks of having AFib? Here is what to look for and what occurs with AFib.  September is National Atrial Fibrillation Month 

According to the American College of Sports Medicine, the minimum amount of exercise you need is 150 minutes per week and it should include Cardio, Strength and Flexibility training.

UV radiation are invisible rays that are a part of the energy that is emitted by the sun. Read tips to protect your skin from the sun.  

What’s all the excitement? Have you seen our Myzone Leader board? It is a ranking of the Top 20 participants for the most MEPs earned in the month. Are you on the board? 

The first wealth is health according to Ralph Waldo Emerson. Regular exercise is one of the foundations of healthy living. Just like a healthy diet, exercise adds to good health and to a healthy immune system.

The best form of exercise is one you can do regularly. Adding interest to boring cardio is as easy as adding intervals! Interval training is simply adding alternating bursts of more intense activity with intervals of less intense activity (recovery). 

Awareness. Prevention. Education. Health Information for You and Your Loved One. We strive to be the leading wellness resource for individuals looking to live a healthy lifestyle.

If you are an older adult looking to establish an exercise routine, you should, ideally, be able to incorporate 150 minutes of moderate endurance activity into your week.

There may be a lot of unknown currently in the world, however what is known is that practicing these 7 tips can help you stay healthy during quarantine. Be sure to check the website for updates! 

Stay active while staying protected at home. One of those being our Group Exercise Class at Home Workouts that have been recorded with our Franciscan Health Fitness Centers certified instructors! 

This great workout video will lengthen and strengthen your muscles and as well as your core. This home workout for women will improve your posture and your flexibility.

A variety of equipment will be used to tone and tighten the abs and lower body and will tighten all those trouble spots. Exercise wherever you are, on any device.

Join this fast-paced cardio class that includes simple step exercises along with weights, intervals, and calisthenics. This workout video will get your heart rate up and your body in gear.

Here is a low impact workout video designed for the young at heart who are wanting to workout at home. It includes exercises to improve aerobic fitness and burn body fat.

This workout video will improve your strength, balance, flexibility and even help the way you walk. Elevate your endurance & stability in the comfort of your own home on any device.

This high energy dance class uses motivating music with unique moves that let you leave your worries behind. Zumba’s exciting, easy to follow dance video can be enjoyed anywhere, on any device.

As our lifestyles and daily habits change during the COVID-19 Shelter-in-Place, kindness to each other is not only easy to practice, it’s even more important than ever. 

March is National Nutrition Month but your body needs good eating habits year-round. Try to incorporate these healthy eating tips so you can lead by example when it comes to your family’s nutrition.

Massage helps alleviate stress and the symptoms of many health conditions. Whether you need a Deep Tissue, Hot Stone or Ashiatsu Massage, we are here with options. Appointments are available in our Chesterton Club. 

We want to help you “Know your numbers” with a free fitness assessment for all members. This is the first step to a results-oriented program that will get you on the road to better health! 

Wearable Technology provides accountability and motivation. Rewards effort rather than level of fitness. 

It never gets easier; You just keep getting better! Having a workout partner can mean the difference between success and failure when it comes to your fitness goals.

Studies that examined motivation to exercise or to lose weight have shown that the most enduring source of behavior change is internal motivation.  

We have heard the healthcare professionals tell us that we need to “know our numbers”. If someone told you that four basic numbers give you a snapshot of your health, and a road map for improving it, would you believe it? It's true, they do!

Changing your attitude about exercise will be the key to beginning your exercise program. While on the Biggest Loser Ranch, Courtney, my daughter and partner on the show, said something to me I will never forget…