Ever Heard of GymPact?

In the US this week, we reached the highest Mega Millions Lottery Jackpot ever - about $500 million. As of this post, no one has won it yet. But that has caused everyone to start thinking about throwing in their own hat for the lottery. You would think that a bigger win somehow means better odds.

Well, all the hullabaloo about gambling and the lottery got me thinking about gambling with our health. Not in the sense of actually playing with our health, but putting down money on us succeeding with our workouts. 

So in natural fashion, I went looking, and I found a few sites and apps where you can actually bet on yourself. One in particular stood out: GymPact. It is both an app and a website.

How does it work? Well, you start with a Pact. This pact is basically you saying how many times you'll go to the gym in a week. And then you earn money per week if you meet your goal. If you don't meet your goal, you lose money.

While I think this is a great idea, the only part I have not yet been able to figure out is how they verify if you are lying when you say you actually did meet your target. Why would anyone say they didn't go to the gym when money is on the line? Well, maybe folks are just that honest.

I will try it out, and let you guys know if it truly works.

Cheers Eights & Weights!

Burpees!

Burpees are a great way to work out your whole body (I know I say this all the time). But since I think visual cues are awesome, I found a great video of how to do a burpee. Try it today!

Cheers Eights & Weights!

Video credit: Exercise.com

Box Step Exercise

I found this great video that I wanted to share. Have you ever heard of the box step? There are different variations, but the one in the video below is great because you keep moving even though you are getting your squats in midway (and we all know how I love my squats). Enjoy!

Cheers Eights & Weights!

Video credit: Exercise.com

Eating at Work

Ever think that your colleagues are trying to make you fat? Seriously, how else do goodies just automatically appear at the office all the time? And why else do people always want to go out to these great places for lunch? Okay, I know I’m being dramatic, but you get my point. It’s difficult to eat healthy at the office.

Then there is the other end of the spectrum. The days when you are rushing from meeting to meeting and probably don’t get to eat lunch at all. Or you get so busy and you have to eat lunch at your desk. And then you find yourself snacking on the cookies your colleagues brought. Because again, we have established that they are trying to make you fat.

The problem is that when you are at work, you are usually stressed, and stress-eating always seems to go the overboard way. But being aware of what you put in your mouth, and being prepared to face the food challenges of the week could be just what you need to get you back on track. Here are just a few quick tricks:

1. Pack your own homemade lunch
2. Always plan your meals ahead
3. Try to walk around when you start thinking of food
4. If you are going out with your colleagues for lunch, decide exactly what you want to get before you get to the restaurant
5. Always keep a cup of water at your desk to take a sip every time you see or smell goodies

I know this is not all-encompassing, but you’d be surprised how much these little things can help push your work diet in the right direction.

Cheers Eights & Weights!

Photo credit: Munfitnessblog.com

Hike Away the Fat

I love to hike. So a couple of friends and I spent most of Saturday on a little hiking excursion. Apart from the jabs I got on Twitter about how black people don’t hike, I had a lot of fun as usual. All I can say is after 5 hours in the woods, I certainly burned hundreds of calories more than the folks who told me I’m not black enough. So I win!

But seriously, why do we have a problem with hiking? The dictionary defines a hike as simply a long walk, especially for pleasure or exercise. Is it that we don’t like walks or we don’t like exercise? Does this have something to do with our rate of obesity?

Sometimes, our health is not based on how much we do the intense exercises, but how well we can incorporate the little things into our daily schedule, like taking the stairs, parking a little distance from the main entrance at Walmart, or taking a hike.

Yes, there are different levels of terrain, but if you walk on relatively flat trails, a hike should not be the most difficult thing in the world. You go at an easy pace, spend some time out with the fresh air, and burn some calories in the process. And if you are with your friends, you get in some good quality time as well. So it’s all a win-win.

I would challenge you all to try a hike for a couple of hours somewhere near you. There is an app called AllTrails that you can use to find hiking trails around you, especially if you are a beginner. It tells you how far the trail is, what kind of terrain it is, and how many miles long it is. Remember to pack some water and take your friends with you. Let me know how you feel after. Refreshed?

Cheers Eights & Weights!

Photo credit: howtolose10poundsfastblog.com

Managing Allergies this Season

Spring and Autumn are the two dreaded seasons for allergies. While most people are anticipating the warmth this Spring, others are tearing up, itching, sneezing, and sniffling away. If you are one of these, what can you do to keep the sniffles away?

Educate yourself: You may not know you have allergies because you developed it at a later age. However, about 20 percent of allergy sufferers did not grow up with allergies. So the fact that you never had allergies should not make you ignorant to the symptoms. Have your eyes started tearing up in the Spring? See a doctor. Seasonal allergies are usually caused by pollen, and people can develop pollen allergies at any age.

Limit outdoor activity: I mean, it’s simple, right? Pollen is outside, so as long as it is outside, limit your outdoor activity during the daytime when the pollen count is high. Additionally, limit the pollen that gets back into your home by dusting off your clothes and shoes before you walk in the door, and wash your pets regularly. I know it’s sad because you’ve just gotten over your winter hibernation mode, but short of wearing a mask, this is probably the best way to go. This includes your workouts too, so if you are an allergy sufferer who runs outside and gets miserable after, it may be time to get a treadmill or join a gym.

Talk to your doctor: Many people assume they have one type of allergy or the other and just treat themselves. Just like any other disease, it is best to consult a doctor to test you for allergies before you start to treat yourself. There are over-the-counter drugs you can take as well, but it is much more effective, and probably cheaper too, to just see a doctor before assuming anything, especially if you take other drugs. Do not mix medication without consulting a doctor.

Dress for the season: Synthetic fibers attract pollen, and so during the allergy months, try to wear more natural fibers like cotton. If you do wear synthetic fibers, reduce the contact between your clothes and your face.

I wish you an allergy-free Spring!

Cheers Eights & Weights!

Photo credit: BlackHealthZone.com

Mangoes: A Healthy Treat?

Where I come from, the mango is probably the most available fruit. There are hundreds of different kinds of mangoes around the world, and each one has its own unique flavor and look. If you are trying to stay healthy in a tropical environment, rather than reach for expensive unavailable items, why not reach for the regular everyday stuff available to you?

Well, I’m sure you were wondering “What are the health benefits of mangoes?” They are not as popular as oranges in places like the US and the UK, and so people don’t talk about the health benefits as much. Fret not, we are here to help!

King of Fruits: First of all, did you know the mango was called the king of fruits? This is because it is rich in so many nutrients like amino acids, vitamin C and E, calcium, iron, magnesium and potassium. The mango does contain more calories than say an apple or a peach (about 110 for a medium sized mango) so it is important to make sure you note this as you add it to your diet.

Anti-disease qualities: Mangoes have been known to help assist in treating diseases like diabetes, anemia, gastric reflux, diseases around the eye, and even cancer.

• Diabetes – A recent study at the University of Queensland, Australia indicates that components within mangoes operate in a similar manner to some diabetes and cholesterol drugs by helping to regulate insulin levels.

• Anemia – Mangoes contain a large amount of iron, which helps people who suffer from an iron deficiency, like people with anemia. It would also benefit women right after their periods who have lost a lot of blood, and women going through menopause.

• Gastric reflux – Many fruits are good for acidity, and the mango is one of them. It is high in fiber, which helps regulate the digestive system, but it also contains enzymes that act as an anti-inflammatory agent for the stomach lining.

• Eye diseases – It is rich in vitamin A! And we all know what that means. Great eye health!

• Cancer – As we know we don’t exactly know the causes of cancer or what prevents it (or we’d all be doing it), but people who eat certain foods seem to have less likelihood of getting cancer. The mango is one of those foods.

Retention: Mangoes do make you smarter! Well, maybe not smarter, but they help with memory retention and concentration.

Healthy skin: Mangoes are also known to give skin a certain shine by providing moisture and restoring elasticity. Maybe this is one of the reasons why why people in tropical regions tend to look younger than their counterparts in other parts of the world. Hmmm…

Sex drive: So I know you’ve all been waiting for this one. But did you know mangoes help to increase your libido and regulate your sex hormones? Erm… in that case, maybe I should not be suggesting this fruit to all you innocent children out there. I mean, I do know that Eights & Weights readers are innocent. *as we all adjust our halos together*

Cheers Eights & Weights!

Photo credit: Democraticunderground.com