All calories come from four places in our diets: carbohydrates, fat, protein and alcohol. In the 1990s, low-fat diets and foods were everywhere you turned and, more recently, carbs have come under fire. Protein never seems to get much negative attention and is often proudly boasted on many food labels. Some coffee and smoothie shops even offer the option of…
I’ve never been known for my stellar budgeting skills (my husband can confirm this). But during a time when watching our dollars spent feels more critical than ever, I’m slowly learning to be more mindful of how much I’m spending and where. One area that continues to be a work in progress is my food and grocery budget. To help…
If you’ve dropped by this blog before, you may have noticed that I love animals. I’ve featured dogs, more dogs and even goats. 2020 has given me a deeper appreciation for my pets and all of the comfort they bring, even in the toughest of times. Research finds that four-legged friends can lower levels of cortisol (the “stress hormone”) as…
Earlier this month, I had the opportunity to moderate a webinar all about the immune system with TOPS Medical Editor Dr. Vidya Kidambi. She tackled the topic of supplements and gave a refreshing reality check on whether or not these pills actually do what they claim to do. Without giving too much away, I encourage all members to cozy up…
This past weekend was a painful reminder of how important it is to always have basic first aid supplies on hand. While pulling weeds in my garden, I accidentally rolled off of a loose landscaping block and tumbled to the pavement below. Fortunately, I didn’t break anything and didn’t require stitches (plus it got me out of doing additional yard…
After being apart for nearly a year, I’m excited to finally visit my sister and celebrate her birthday. As we anxiously plan for the safest way to celebrate, my mind is filled with questions like, should we hug? Will other people around? Will everyone respect the six-feet-apart rule? I don’t want my constant swirl of thoughts to overshadow the happiness…
After a long hiatus, it feels good to be back writing Wellness Wednesday. But I have to admit that it also feels, for lack of a better way to put it, a little weird. Normally, I’m eager to share tips for adding more vegetables or finding fun ways to get active, but I find myself struggling with what to say…
This week, I’m excited to once again have TOPS Publication Specialist Taylor Patton as my special guest blogger. National Nutrition Month® is back! Created by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, this annual campaign keeps nutrition top of mind by helping people make healthy and informed food choices. The 2020 theme, “Eat Right, Bite by Bite,” promotes the message that…
A friend convinced me to join her for my first indoor power cycling class this past weekend. I’m always up for trying a new class (even after a painfully-awkward Zumba experience where my lack of rhythm was on full display) and decided to give it a shot. I was a little intimidated at first; many of the riders had special…