You Can Make It If You Try...

Last week we talked about not procrastinating. But....you went back to work after the holidays and you’re trying to catch up and you have laundry to do and presents to return and you’re not really in the groove yet and it’s cold and......YOU fill in the blank.
Without belaboring the obvious, you need to stop just thinking about it and do it. Get in the gym or on a cardio machine and get moving. You don’t have to start by running five miles or going full blast in an hour-long spinning class. You can always perfect things as you go, but without doing it at all, you won’t get anywhere. When you feel like you don’t have much time to devote to your workout, avoid the urge to simply skip working out all together and instead condense the workout sessions you used to do. Start with 15 minute intervals of cardio and strength training and repeat the circuit two or three times as you ease back into your fitness routine. Or, try to add small bouts of activity in a short time, like switching machines every ten minutes to work up to a longer cardio session. Realize that doing some exercise is better than doing nothing. If you get in 10-15 minutes on your first day back, it’s more than not going at all!
Also, think about rewarding yourself for a job well done. I don’t mean run 10 minutes and then eat a triple cheeseburger, though. IDEA Fitness recommends the following “presents” you can give yourself that won’t compromise your fitness goals:
• Give yourself an extra ten minutes. At the end of your workout, use that extra time to sit in the hot tub, take an extra long shower, pick up some coffee from your favorite establishment, stretch, nap or whatever makes you feel good.
• Reward yourself every week. At the end of each week, plan something fun you'll do if you've completed all your workouts. A movie, a massage, a shopping trip, an afternoon in front of the fire, etc.
• Reward yourself every month. Plan bigger rewards for completing all your workouts in one month. A weekend trip, a new pair of running shoes, a day at the spa...choose something that makes you smile when you think about it and get moving.
• Reward yourself at the end of a season. Another way to stay motivated is to plan something like a vacation. Knowing you have a trip to look forward to (even for a weekend) will motivate you to get/stay in shape so you're strong and healthy (not to mention, looking good in a swimsuit!).
These little and big rewards can make a huge difference. I’ve seen little changes turn into major lifestyle shifts in my own household. My husband used to dread working out until we joined a gym with a steam and hot tub. His “reward’ after a difficult workout was time in the steam room. He’s gone from dreading one or two short workouts a week to getting up at 5 AM, four mornings a week to workout out for an hour or longer! He was not a happy camper when that steam room was closed for repairs!
It’s worked for my daughter, too. She knew her 21st birthday was coming up and a vacation in Mexico with her friends was how she rewarded her food changes and exercise efforts. It has since become a commitment of five times a week in the gym and a healthy eating program.
The small steps and little rewards you give yourself end up turning into the biggest reward of all; good health and fitness. But until then, make a deal with yourself. What’s on your “shopping” list? A mani/pedi? Noise blocking headphones? New UGGS? A massage? 60” flat screen TV at Best Buy? Get back on track and give yourself a reason to keep going!

If you need a little more inspiration, download the following songs for about a 15-20 minute soundtrack for your workout:(I picked songs for inspiration and BPMs; not exactly current hits)
Wake Me Up Before You Go Go-3:51-Wham!(Better than your alarm clock)
Blame It-4:50-Jamie Foxx (Because isn't the a-a-a-a-alcohol one of the reasons you haven't been to the gym anyway?)
Fun Fun Fun-2:21-Beach Boys (At least pretend it is!)
Them Changes-4:00-Jimi Hendrix (Because that's what you'll see if you just start)
What I Like About You-2:55-Romantics (Aren't you going to be proud of yourself for working out?)
Hard Day's Night-2:33-The Beatles (Enough said)
Cheeseburger In Paradise-2:52-Jimmy Buffet (Since you can't eat one as a reward, why not just sing about it?)
Send me the names of songs you use to crank up your workouts. I'll post them next week.

We Can Work It Out...

It’s almost 2010. The gyms are starting to fill up and the pressure is on. You’ve given yourself leeway because of the holidays and now they’re almost over. You really think you might need a little more time. Are you going to push the deadline until Valentine’s Day? or maybe Easter? If you haven’t thought specifically about what you are going to do to a) lose weight, b) get stronger, c) tone your body, d) lower your cholesterol and blood pressure, e) all of the above, then you probably won’t be able to actually accomplish any of these goals.
Wishing and hoping are great because they don’t require any effort on our part. If we are going to see a change, we need to get some direction. You can go to a doctor, a trainer, Weight Watchers, a nutritionist, use a magazine or book. But at least know how much food and what types of food you should be eating to best fuel your body and accomplish your weight loss, muscle building or health goals.
Once you know the basic overview, make sure you plan to have these foods, measuring tools and nutritional information BEFORE you begin. Grocery shop with a list and research restaurant web sites so you can plan out meal basics for the first week. The plan doesn’t have to be elaborate, in fact, you can eat the same thing for breakfast and lunch every day and vary the proteins and vegetables for dinner. Once you have an idea of portion size and a better sense of the nutritional value of foods, you can get a little more creative. What you DON’T want to do is leave yourself vulnerable; meaning don’t go to the grocery store at 7PM after a stressful day at work and try to figure out what to make for dinner. Chances are it’s gonna be frozen pizza and HoHos!
The exercise component is just as important, but if you haven’t done much moving lately, ease into it. Again, have a plan. It might start with a 5-10 minute walk on the treadmill that increases over time. And, as with your eating, get some help from the experts. Work with a trainer, follow a routine from a fitness magazine (make sure it’s a routine for your current level of fitness), do an exercise video. Most importantly, plan a specific time of day to devote to your workout and commit to it.
This commitment can only come from you. No one can do it for you and it’s not someone else’s fault if you deviate from that commitment. Own up to being responsible for your own body and have what you need to succeed before you start the journey. You wouldn’t go on vacation without the right clothes, so pack the right tools and foods, and check the guide books before you start your trip.

Taking Care of Business....

It’s 7:30 PM. You had planned to leave the office at 5:00, head to the gym and be home in time to make dinner and relax. You’ve been sitting at your desk for the past 10 hours staring at a computer and talking on the phone. You’re stressed and sore from sitting all day. But…it’s cold; you’re hungry, and really tired! You head toward the gym, look at your watch and yawn. Your stomach rumbles and suddenly you’re opening your front door with an unused gym bag in your hands.
We all have good intentions when we start out, but sometimes after a long day at work, we just can’t muster the energy to get to the gym or even work out at home. However, studies have shown that frequent short bouts of exercise have cumulative effects, and a number of fitness bursts throughout the day can have health and weight-loss benefits similar to longer sessions.

So your solution? Work out while you’re working!

Before you attempt this though, try to gauge the formality of your office. Not every workplace will take kindly to wall push-ups and jumping jacks at your desk, but you can recruit fellow employees and convince your boss of the benefits. Benefits like increased energy throughout the day that will help everyone stay focused and more productive and reduce stress.
Try to work each muscle group at least once or twice during the workday. Aim for about 2-3 sets of around 10-12 repetitions.

Biceps-This is probably the easiest group of muscles to work from your desk. Be careful though because once everyone sees those “guns” popping out, they’re gonna get suspicious.
Curls-Keep your arms at your sides and a make fist with each hand. With your palms up, bend at the elbows and curl up with upper arms at your side or on your desk. Contract the biceps and slowly and bring the arms back down to starting position. You can also do a set of curls with your palms facing in.
You can also add a weighted ball to increase the intensity. Hold the ball with both hands, keeping your hands underneath or alternate one arm curls holding the ball. Contract and return to start.
Or, place a resistance band under your feet about shoulder width apart and hold handles at your sides. Contract and return to start.

Triceps- It might be a little more evident to your co-workers when you are doing these exercises, but hey, when they see that your upper arms are no longer flapping in the wind when you wave at them, they’ll want to join in!
Dips-Sit with the heels of your hands on the edge of a sturdy chair seat. Slide your butt off the seat, and support your weight with your hands. Your legs should be bent at about a 90-degree angle Bend your elbows back, and slowly lower your butt toward the floor. Keep your elbows tucked in. Your body should just clear the seat. Push back up until your arms are straight; don't use your feet for help. You can increase the resistance by straightening one or both legs as you lower and lift.
Overhead press-Using a weighted ball, hold ball over your head with elbows by your ears and raise it straight above your head.
Bend arms and slowly lower the ball behind your head. Return to start. Or perform this movement with a resistance band.

Legs-You can easily work your legs all day long in both standing and sitting positions. Plus, the more you get up and down, the busier you’ll look!
One-legged squats- Hold onto a wall or table for support and lift one leg off of the floor. Bend and squat while waiting for a web page to load, the copier to spit your reports, or faxes to print.
Butt kicks-Stand with one leg straight and try to kick your buttocks with the other.
Leg extensions-Sitting in your chair, lift one leg off the seat, extend it out straight, hold for 2 seconds; then lower your foot (stop short of the floor) and hold for several seconds. Switch; Add ankle weights for more intensity if desire
Inner thighs-While seated, put heels on the floor and point toes toward the ceiling. Legs should be shoulder-width apart. Bring knees together only and contract inner thighs. For outer thighs- Repeat, except keep legs slightly apart with feet flat on the floor and push knees outward. You can wrap a resistance band around your legs to make it more challenging.
Calves-Sit on the edge of your seat with feet six inches apart on the floor. Raise heels two to three inches off the ground and bring back down.

Chest-Whether you want pecs like the Incredible Hulk or simply want to keep the “girls” from sagging, these moves can get you started.
Flyes- Sit up straight and keep your stomach tight. Raise arms out to the side and keep aligned with shoulders. Bring both elbows together towards your chest and then away
Presses-Sit on a ball or chair, back straight and abs in. Hold a medicine ball (or any other type of ball) at chest level and squeeze the ball to contract the chest. While continuing to squeeze the ball, slowly push the ball out in front of you at chest level until elbows are almost straight. Continuing the pressure with your hands, bend the elbows and pull the ball back to chest.
Desk pushups-can be a good strengthener. (First, make sure your desk is solid enough to support your weight.) Standing, put your hands on the desk. Walk backward, and then do push-ups against the desk.
Wall Push-Off- Stand about three feet from a wall, and place your hands flush against the wall, about shoulder-width apart. Slowly lower your body toward the wall by flexing your elbows. When your elbows are aligned with your torso, push back up. Do 10 repetitions. Make this exercise more challenging by using your desk: Stand several feet away and position your hands on the edge of the desk, shoulder-width apart. Then repeat the raising and lowering of your body by flexing your elbows.
To work both your chest and shoulders, try this exercise my son used to do while sitting at the dinner table! I kid you not. He used to be able to hold this pose for 5 or 6 minutes at a time. I can hardly lift myself more than ¼ inch, but it really builds upper body strength.
Place both hands on your chair arms (or seat) and slowly lift your bottom off the chair. Lower yourself back down but stop short of the seat, hold for a few seconds.

Shoulders-This is where most people feel tension and pain as a rule, so these movements can help loosen and de-stress muscles.
Forward raise-Raise arms forward with palms down to shoulder level. Lower.
Bent arm shoulder raise-Sit up straight with no weight or holding light-medium dumbbells at your sides. Keeping the elbows slightly bent and wrists straight, lift the arms up to shoulder level (palms face the floor). Lower back down.
Overhead Press-Sit up with no weight or holding light-medium dumbbells in both hands. Begin the move with arms bent to 90 degrees, weights next to the ears (arms should look like a goal post). Press the weights overhead and lower back down.
Shrugs-Just like the name implies.
Back- Back pain is the number one biggest complaint from people who work at a desk or computer all day. Again, loosen and strengthen tight, weak back muscles with these moves.
Rows-Extend arm or arms to the front and pull back as if rowing. Arms should be close to your sides and fists tight.
Lat pulls-While seated, hold a medium-tension band in both hands up above and slightly in front of your head. The distance between your hands will determine the intensity of the exercise (closer together is harder, further apart is easier). Contract the back and pull the right elbow down toward the ribcage. Release and switch sides
To stretch your back (and strengthen your biceps), place your hands on the desk and hang on. Slowly push your chair back until your head is between your arms and you're looking at the floor. Then slowly pull yourself back in.

Abdominals-How cool will it be when you can work the - pack while you’re working!
Torso twists-Sit or stand holding a medium dumbbell in front of your chest. Keeping the abs contracted, rotate the torso to the right while keeping the hips and legs facing forward. Contract the abs to bring the weight back to center and then rotate to the left.
Seated isometric crunches-Sit upright on the edge of your chair, grasping the arm rests or the edges of the seat pad. You can also stand with your hands on your hips, feet shoulder-width apart. Next, pull your stomach up and in as far as possible -- think of pulling your belly button toward your spine. Hold that position for the count of five to ten, then release.
Side Bend-Reach your arms above your head. Keep your back straight, and interlace your fingers with your palms facing away from you. Lean to the left from the waist and hold. Next, lean to the right and hold.

Cardio-In addition to pacing furiously while you are on the phone, here are a few more ways to work in cardio during your work day!
Rip off a minute's worth of jumping jacks. If you're a beginner, try the low-impact version (raise your right arm and tap your left toe to the side while keeping your right foot on the floor; alternate sides)
Do a football-like drill of running in place for 60 seconds. Get those knees up! (Beginners, march in place.)
Simulate jumping rope for a minute: Hop on alternate feet or on both feet at once. An easier version is to simulate the arm motion of turning a rope, while alternately tapping the toes of each leg in front. Or, actually jump rope if you have a conference room or open space. Or, actually DO jump rope (make sure you have ceiling clearance, though).
While seated, pump both arms over your head for 30 seconds, and then rapidly tap your feet on the floor, football-drill style, for 30 seconds. Repeat 3-5 times.
Or do walking lunges in your office or a vacant room. No conference room? Take to the stairs -- two at a time if you need a harder workout! Do this 5-7 times a day.

Don't let fear of embarrassment keep you from exercising at work. Chances are, your co-workers will admire your efforts rather than be amused. You might even get them to join you on a lunchtime walk or stair run! And what better team builder is there than that?

I Will Survive....

You knew it was coming. It’s almost Thanksgiving and either:
a) you still haven’t started your fitness and eating program and you’re afraid the holiday eating is going to completely destroy any chance of fitting into your dress for New Years Eve (or jeans or suit or Speedo…), or
b) you’ve been working really hard at the gym and sticking to a smart eating plan and you know the “saboteurs” are lurking everywhere to try and undo all of your efforts!
Well, you’re PROBABLY right. Getting together with family and friends, especially those we haven’t seen for a while, can wreak havoc with our motivation, self esteem, and will power. Couple that with a holiday devoted to eating and it would seem that you’ve got a recipe for disaster.
Well-meaning gyms, magazines, newspapers and TV stations offer ways to “Pre-burn the 5000 calories you’ll consume during Thanksgiving dinner” or “Recipes that eliminate carbs, fats and calories (but let’s be honest; what’s eliminated is “taste”) from Thanksgiving dishes”. While these are well-intentioned ideas, they aren’t realistic for most people. You’ll either feel that you deserve to eat the full 5000 calories you pre-burned, or eat the faux Thanksgiving meal and go home so starved that later and you’ll eat two full bags of potato chips and a gallon of ice cream before you go to bed!
So, what to do? First of all, approach it as you would any other meal, but realize that there will be a bigger variety of foods to choose from and many of the foods will have been prepared with more than high calorie ingredients; there’s also an added cup of guilt included.
"But I made it because I know it's your favorite",
"Just a little bit won't hurt" And so on.
OK… make them happy, but do it on your terms. Fill one plate with tastes of the dishes you love and take your time savoring each one. Wait about an hour and then SHARE a serving of dessert. Gorging yourself is NOT really satisfying in the long run. You’re uncomfortable (no one should have to unzip their pant or loosen a belt after a meal) and you’ve consumed so much food, that you really can’t even differentiate between the flavors.
Then, while everyone snoozes on the couch in a tryptophan coma watching football on TV, get out for a walk, take your cousins bowling, or run the bleachers or steps of a nearby school or building. You’ll be back before the game’s over and you’ll still be able to button your pants.
No matter where you spend your holiday, moderation and balance are the key!!!

Jump On It....

In my last posting, I suggested we all quit procrastinating and change things up. An easy change is the addition of a jump rope to your routine:
Back in the day; many, many, many years ago, I could happily hop my way through recess, jumping and twirling with the best of them. The pressures of elementary school were quickly forgotten during the 20 minute break. Jumping rope seemed effortless and fun back then but as I get older, I see that it isn’t kid stuff anymore. Jumping rope is an incredible cardiovascular conditioning tool that can burn fat, tone muscles, and even improve athletic performance.
Because your heart rate elevates rapidly, even just a few minutes of jumping can take your breath away. It’s different from a treadmill or bike because the act of jumping recruits muscle fibers from your entire body. Instead of simulating an activity on a machine, it orchestrates endurance and coordination in a real activity, using your own body weight to train.
Jumping also works your entire body, utilizing the large leg muscles (glutes, quads, hamstrings, & calves) and torso on both the “takeoff’ and “landing” phases. Along with these muscles, you train your upper body (back, shoulders, biceps, & triceps) by the constant movement as you turn the rope. You also use your lower back and abdominals to stabilize your movement, and jumping can help improve your timing, dexterity, and balance. If your not convinced yet, consider the following:
It’s inexpensive. Most ropes cost less than $10, while higher-quality ropes are around $20-$25. Even on Craigslist, you’d have trouble finding a treadmill at that price.
You can do it practically anywhere. A jumping surface like hardwood, rubberized flooring, or very thin carpet is preferred, but any hard surface works fine. Outside, inside, at the gym, your hotel room; they all work well.
It burns tons of calories in a short time. About 10 minutes of jumping rope (at 120 turns per minute) has the same benefit as jogging for 30 minutes. Those are great numbers when you’re pressed for time.
It’s compact. You can take it with you to the gym, pack it in your suitcase and store it in a drawer.
You’ll see improvements. Jumping rope helps build agility, speed, balance, and coordination, while improving your overall fitness level. The significant number of calories burned quickly contributes to a noticeable loss of body fat.
It improves your mental focus. Instead of mindlessly walking on the treadmill, you have to create an intense focus and not miss a beat while jumping. It forces you to really concentrate on your rhythm and types of movement.
Start by making sure your rope is the right length. When you stand at the center, the handles should reach to your armpits. Then, warm up for at least 5 minutes before jumping. (light jogging, walking).
Hold the rope handles with a firm grip, with elbows close to your sides.
Make small circles with your wrists while turning the rope.
Keep your shoulders and torso relaxed, head lifted, and gaze ahead for balance.
At the most, jump only high enough to clear the rope, with light ankle-knee motion, and always land softly on the balls of your feet.
Never sacrifice good jumping form for speed.
Make sure you stretch after jumping, especially your calves.
From a beginner’s basic bounce, you can add different types of footwork to your jumping. Start with about 5 minutes of jumping intervals and work your way up to longer periods of continuous jumps.
At this point, I’m lucky if I can get through the initial 5 minutes (this doesn’t include the time I spend tripping over the rope and hitting myself in the face with the handles), but I see the additional calorie burn on my heart rate monitor and I can feel my glutes and calves working. I don’t think I’m quite ready for the Boxer’s Shuffle, Side Straddles or Side to Side Skier’s jumps, but I’m getting close to matching my former playground conditioning

A Change is Gonna Come...

Some of us are born procrastinators. I realize this every time I see a load of laundry still sitting in the basket, a pile of receipts to enter in my checkbook and half-written articles that I’ll “get to” tomorrow. It’s November 4th and my last post was written on September 30th. Have I been really busy? Well, kind of. But too busy to sit down for an hour and post an entry? I don’t think so! We procrastinators tell lies to ourselves like, "I'll feel more like doing this tomorrow." We avoid failure or even success by simply NOT doing something. We procrastinators would rather have others think we lack effort than ability. It sounds less malignant.

I can see how my procrastination is affecting all areas of my life, even (Omigod, say it isn’t so!), my workouts! So I’m starting to see what’s behind the excuses people make to dodge working out. Talking about exercising, but not making a decision to actually do it absolves the procrastinators of responsibility for the outcome of events. Exercise takes commitment and procrastinators actively look for distractions, particularly ones that don't take a lot of dedication on their part.
Sometimes, we need to just get ourselves motivated enough to simply start working out. Sometimes we need to shake up a complacent attitude toward our current workouts.
Whatever the case, there are a few things you can do to set in motion what you’ve been avoiding:
Change The Environment- If you normally work out at home, join a gym (or vice versa). If you’ve been logging miles on cardio machines, get outside and burn some calories in a different way. Take a fitness class or classes that you’ve never tried before (I normally love a fast pace, but ended up loving a Pilates class I took on a whim). If you always walk the same sidewalk route in your neighborhood, walk a different way or drive to a park and hike the trails for new terrain and view.

Change The Routine- I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, “There is always a new exercise to try!” It may be a variation of something you’ve done before, but it can challenge your muscles in a unique way. Only doing cardio can burn some calories, but adding weight training shapes your body and works you in different ways. If you’ve done the same bicep and tricep routine religiously for the past 12 months, changing the angle of a curl or using dumbbells or cables instead of a Nautilus machine can produce dramatic results. Plus, it gets you motivated to work at something new and interesting. If you don’t have a notebook full of exercises, consult a trainer or flip through some fitness magazines for a new routine. (I recommend Oxygen, Muscle and Fitness, Muscle and Fitness for Women, Fitness Rx and Men’s Health/Women’s Health for monthly ideas.

Change Your Look- Some people wear the same oversized t-shirt and shorts (leggings, sweat pants, you fill in the blank) day after day to work out, and keep their workout shoes until there’s no tread left on the bottom. They rationalize their attire by saying “I don’t care how I look; I’m just here to sweat” which is fine, but it gets boring. A new workout shirt that actually fits can help you see what you need to work on, and best of all, your progress!!! The new materials used in workout clothes keep the sweat away from your body so you’re not alternately sweating and freezing in the gym. Adding some new workout gloves, an armband for your IPOD, or even better socks can make even the toughest workouts a little more effortless.

Whatever you decide, just get out there and do it. If your plan is working for you, keep at it. If not, quit procrastinating and make some changes. Whether it’s big bucks for personal training or $5.99 for a fitness magazine, don’t wait!

"Like My Sugar with Coffee and Cream..."

For years my motto has been “Who needs sleep when you’ve got coffee?” People warned me of the perils of caffeine. They told me my moods, my heart and my outlook on life would suffer from drinking the wicked brew. Guess what? Now doctors are saying that coffee is actually BENEFICIAL to our health! So “nyah na nyah” to all the naysayers over the years; If you wait long enough, some study will prove true what you’ve known all along!
Stanley Segall, Ph.D., professor emeritus of nutrition and food sciences at Drexel University in Philadelphia has revealed that caffeine provides “a number of beneficial effects on a laundry list of conditions”. Caffeine can increase both mental focus and alertness, and improve memory. It can cure a headache, and even help guard against diseases that cause cognitive decline.
The researchers have even found that a blast of caffeine can temporarily enhance athletic performance, especially when it comes to stamina and endurance by keeping muscle and heart rate-stimulating compounds active longer. Along with all of this, a 2007 University of Illinois (Urbana-Champaign) study reported that caffeine can also reduce muscle pain.
Of course this doesn’t mean you can buzz through 2 or 3 pots on a daily basis. Stick with a limit of 300 milligrams of caffeine per day. An 8-ounce serving of coffee contains about 150 mg of caffeine, while the same size serving of tea has 40 to 120 mg. Cola has about 50 mg, and a 1 and 1/2-ounce serving of dark chocolate has 31 mg.
And while we’re discussing foods that were initially thought to be detrimental to our health, let’s talk about wine. Red wine, specifically. Studies supporting the benefits of red wine suggest antioxidants in red wine called polyphenols help protect the lining of blood vessels in your heart. Red wine has higher levels of these flavonoids and nonflavonoids and the antioxidants found in red wine appear to help prevent arteries from becoming clogged with fatty blockages.
The nonflavonoid that has received the most attention from researchers is Resveratol. The resveratrol in red wine comes from the skin of grapes used to make wine and because red wine is fermented with grape skins longer than is white wine, red wine contains more resveratrol.
In these studies they have also found that moderate amounts of alcohol raise HDL cholesterol (the "good" cholesterol), reduce the formation of blood clots, and help prevent artery damage caused by high levels of LDL cholesterol (the "bad" cholesterol). So, do as my friend Alan does; drink the Merlot for “medicinal purposes”!
Guess what else is good for us? All women who have ever had PMS, rejoice; it’s chocolate!! In support of chocolate’s health benefits, a study published in the March 2007 issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that the women who consumed the most flavonoid-rich foods, (with chocolate being ranked as one of the top flavonoid-rich foods) had a 22 per cent lower risk of developing coronary heart disease.
In the July 4, 2007 edition of the Journal of the American Medical Association, researchers found that a little bit of dark chocolate helps lower blood pressure. Researchers followed two groups of people with untreated high blood pressure for 18 weeks. Half got a bit of dark chocolate every day while the other half received white chocolate. In the end, those eating the dark chocolate saw a drop in their blood pressure with no change for group that ate white chocolate.
So, Hershey Bars and Hershey's Kisses won’t cut it for health benefits, but a daily dark chocolate Dove candy might just help us live longer.
As researchers continue to discover the value of foods like nuts, olive oils, dairy and eggs, previously thought to be “bad” for us, we can only hope that the benefits of French Fries and donuts will soon be discovered.
So, down that Starbuck’s before your workout tomorrow and enjoy your favorite vintage with dinner. Toast to your good health and stash the chocolate in your dresser drawer for the additional benefits.