The Fitness Maven

We all know that water is good for us – but it’s really good for us. It’s important to drink at least 6 cups of water a day, but it’s probably better to drink between 8 and 10. Water can clear your face of pimples and other issues; it can keep you more full so that you’ll eat less and it’s incredibly nourishing for the body. Here are a few of many articles about water and its many benefits. Drink up!

http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/clark2.htm

http://www.everydayhealth.com/water-health/water-body-health.aspx

http://www.nestle-waters.com/healthy-hydration/water-fonctions-in-human-body

When you’re ready to start a new exercise routine, you may not realize it, but picking a buddy can make all the difference. Research has found that people who are held accountable for their exercise (and diet) and find someone with whom to exercise will do much better. This makes sense because we all want to please other people and do well by them. If you find someone with whom to walk, you’re less likely to put off your plans or to say “I’ll just do this another day.” If you have someone calling you and saying, “Let’s go!” then you’ll be much more likely to get off the couch and take that walk that you wanted to commit to. Try it out for a week and see if it makes a difference. By the way – having a dog can have a similar influence on you. If the dog needs a walk, you can’t really say no to him!

Yes, we’ve all heard that it’s a good idea to get an exercise buddy. But now the research is backing up this idea. It’s not just about companionship, they are finding, but about rivalry.

Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania recruited 800 graduate and professional students to be part of an 11 week exercise program. The program included weekly exercise classes, fitness mentoring and nutrition advice.

Those who attended the most classes were given prizes. What the participants didn’t know, however, was that the researchers had actually split the group into four. They were being tested on individual competition, team competition, team support and a control.

What motivated this group this most? Competition. The attendance rates were 90% higher in this group than they were in the control group. As co-author Damon Centola explained, “Supportive groups can backfire because they draw attention to members who are less active, which can create a downward spiral of participation. Competitive groups frame relationships in terms of goal-setting by the most active members. These relationships help to motivate exercise because they give people higher expectations for their own levels of performance.”

The results were published in the journal Preventative Medicine Reports.