SNEWS best fitness reads from around the web

What did the SNEWS team read this week that other fitness insiders might find interesting? Read on to find out.

• According to a recent Forbes story, SNEWS’ home base of Boulder, Colo. was rated the unhappiest city to work in. Perhaps our fellow Boulderites could use a boost from the inspirational and motivational quotes included in this Livestrong slide show. The quotes come from famous personal trainers like Jackie Werner and Richard Simmons.

• Some athletes in Boulder have vowed to stay away from processed energy drinks and packaged meal bars in 2013. This Daily Camera story said more athletes have vowed to take time to prepare healthy, real meals to supplement their training, versus tearing open a package.

• As many times a year as we travel, we’d love to have the option of in-room exercise equipment available. Who wants to suit up and hunt for the fitness center when you can order a workout program to your room? According to this United Press International story, that’s the new trend among luxury hotels: In lieu of alcohol and fatty snacks, hotels are offering healthy snacks and workout channels.

• Improving physical fitness is a common New Year’s resolution, but how can you improve something you haven’t yet measured? This Foster’s Daily Democrat story provides links to fitness requirements and tests for things like the President’s Challenge Adult Fitness and the Army’s Fitness Requirements to see how you measure up. Plus, the article gives tips on how to get fit in the new year. 

• Whatever your opinion of beauty pageants, there is something we can agree on: The contestants are fit. Maybe sometimes a bit too skinny, but obviously they have some secrets that the rest of us mere mortals don’t. Check out this Latinos Post article to learn diet and exercise tips from some of the most beautiful women in the world.

• Time after time in 2012, articles appeared warning us all that we’re slowly killing ourselves by sitting in front of a computer all day. Turns out the chair isn’t always the enemy. According to this Boston Globe story, a chair could very well be our ticket to fitness, as long as we’re taking a Hot Seat dance class, which bases a workout around a chair. 

• Once you’re addicted to smoking it’s so hard to quit. But that predisposition to habit and addiction we all have within us is the best thing for establishing fitness routines. According to this Chicago Tribune story, it’s hard to start a fitness routine, but once it becomes a habit it gets about as hard to quit as smoking.

• Yet sometimes routine can be detrimental. This Best of New Orleans story discusses what dangers are presented when your exercise routine becomes too predictable and boring. As fitness professionals, you probably know that switching things up is the best thing for your body, so share this information with your clients who might need a jolt out of their exercise comfort zone.

• The new trend of outdoor fitness has some in Santa Monica fighting for space in outdoor areas. Now the city council is getting involved. The concern is that many personal trainers are operating outdoor fitness classes without insurance, possibly putting the city at risk for liability.

• We’re at the height of cold and flu season and there’s no cure in sight for either one. That doesn’t seem like such a big deal after reading this Dallas Morning News story that says exercise is a great way to boost immunity and ward off colds the flu. But remember to warn your customers and clients that if they’re feeling any symptoms below the neck, like chest pain or body aches, rest is best.

Read anything interesting? We’d like to read it too! Send us an email with the link and we’ll check it out.

–Compiled by Ana Trujillo