Take the stairs and increase your longevity!

Taking the stairs is undoubtedly the most convenient way for all of us to fit a little fitness into our busy days.  Athletes  have been using  stair climbing  for decades as part of their intense training programs,  but the message of "take the stairs instead of the elevator or escalator" is finally sinking in with everyone else.

Taking the stairs is a free and easy way to get from point A to B while providing you with an intense workout that can be done in a short period of time. Start with a few steps or 10 steps from the bottom and add more as your core strength improves. If you work on the 12th floor of your office building get off the elevator on the 10th floor and walk the rest of the way up. Keep adding more flights of stairs as you get stronger and your endurance increases.

Here are a few reasons to climb:

- Just two flights of stairs climbed every day can lead to a 2.7-kilogram (5.9 pound) weight loss over one year.

- Active stair climbers are more fit and have a higher aerobic capacity.

- Studies have found people who climb more than 55 flights of stairs every week live longer.

-  Stair climbing can maintain and promote healthy bone density in post-menopausal women.

- Stair-climbing  can help  improve the amount of HDL -- good cholesterol -- in the blood.

- Stair climbing increases leg power , tightens your glutes, and helps develop good core stability.

Need I say more? Take the stairs at every opportunity!

Hocus Pocus - The Magic Pill you've been waiting for!

 We all come to an age when we realise that magic is all smoke and mirrors. No more Santa Claus, tooth fairy or Easter bunny to bring us treats just for having reasonable behaviour or getting mediocre grades.

We must accept the plain hard truth and realities of our existence. It is rather sobering to accept the fact that there is no magic pill or bean that will solve all our problems and make everything in life easy breezy fun. Sometimes it takes work, perseverance and determination. More often than not you get back what you put in. The same rules apply to your health. Look, I am just like everyone else. If I could magically get  into great shape by going for a leisurely stroll once in a while to the Gelato shop I'd say "count me in!" Who wouldn't want to develop rock star abs and a cute little apple bum by sitting around lunching with friends and eating bon bons .  The reality is there are no quick fixes. There are no magic pills, and my thigh master is not going to solve my chafing issue in minutes a day!  
To be honest, I actually like working out most of the time because it makes me a much nicer person to be around. It is truly an anti-depressant. I rely on the serotonin and endorphins to flow through my veins to reduce my stress and boost my energy. Not to mention exercise is really the  best preventative medicine for everything that could potentially ail you.  The key to living a healthy fit life is care and consistency. You have to care about yourself and be consistent in your caring. Our fairy godmothers are on an extended vacation from now until eternity and it's up to you to take care of your own well being. 
 There is one little secret to taking care of your self that does help every minute of your day. Just move more and eat less. It seems so simple and yet most of us are sitting and eating more than ever. It's as close to a magic as you are going to get, because the instant you start to move some crazy wonderful things happen within minutes. You start to feel energised, your focus improves, your mood gets a boost and suddenly you are happily present in your environment. 

The magic is within you to make healthful decisions throughout your day, everyday.  Do yourself a favour, stop waiting for the right time to present itself to start caring. Stop making excuses.

Making changes in your daily routine can be the magic pill that you have been hoping for. 
Take it with water!