The following workout uses only kettlebells, which could be substituted with dumbbells, and should be performed only if you have healthy knees, shoulders and back. First and foremost, always warm up before you start by doing any light cardio exercise. This allows for increased blood flow to those working muscles and allows joints to move…

Although the contestants in Florence’s Biggest Loser have only had two fitness training sessions and two nutrition classes so far, many have already started to make changes to their diet and physical activity that hopefully will stick with them for months and even years to come. Because of these changes, the contestants are beginning to…

BY LINDSAY FRASER It’s February: 30-plus days after Jan. 1, the New Year. Some of our New Year “eat-healthier-and-exercise-more” resolutions seem so long ago, part of a distant past, hastily made in a pair of tight pants and heightened optimism. And since Jan. 1, life has gotten back to its normal chaos, even with a…

BY LISA K. TOLBERT Aging is inevitable. How we age is largely a product of genetics and the day-to-day choices we make. Successful aging is defined as the absence of disease and disability, high cognitive and physical function and active engagement with life. Factors that affect optimal aging include aerobic exercise, resistance exercise, healthy nutrition,…

In some ways, losing weight and living healthier can be viewed as a solo journey. Only you can go to the gym and work out, or only you can ensure that you are eating healthy for your meals. Just because you are responsible for your decisions does not mean you have to go through a…

Florence’s Biggest Loser contestants met Monday evening for a third time with registered dietitian Lindsay Fraser for a healthy Grocery Store 101 event. The event, which took place at the Piggly Wiggly at Florence Mall, was created to help educate the contestants on how to determine which products best fit their healthy nutritional needs when…

BY JOY OWENS For people who do not have a lot of time in the gym, circuit training can be a great workout to use, because it alternates aerobic exercise with resistance training exercises. The full-body circuit workout provided below was created for people who are new to working out, but this can be modified…

As anyone who has been through, or is working through, a healthy journey knows, sticking to new healthy habits can be difficult. There will be days when it will feel like a battle to get yourself to the gym and days when the last thing you want to see is another vegetable. There might even…

February is National Heart Health month, and for a good reason. Heart disease is the No. 1 killer in the United States, taking close to 1 million lives each year, an estimated 1 in every 3 deaths in the United States. According to a 2017 health statistics report published by the American Heart Association, “Cardiovascular…

BY TORY ZWANZIGER \My training group for this year’s Florence’s Biggest Loser had a lot of fear when we started, but every member shared the commitment to change. This commitment meant they had to change not only their work schedule and eating habits but also their overall lifestyle. By having this common commitment and willingness…