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Thoughts & Tips from The Doctor of Fitness: Fitness Trainer, Nutrition Expert, & Sports Medicine Physician

We write informally on topics we're passionate at Doctor Of Fitness - fitness, strength and conditioning, sports nutrition, sports medicine, and edge fitness and nutrition news. If you'd like to reach us directly, you can contact us here. For more information, you're invited to read Dr. Mancini's C.V. and informal bio.

Celebrate World Kindness Day

on Tuesday, 07 November 2023. Posted in Doctor of Fitness

The World Kindness Movement started World Kindness Day in 1998, intending to spread kindness around the globe. The Global Kindness Movement observes World Kindness Day on November 13 every year. This Day offers us the chance to think about three of the most significant and common human values: empathy, compassion, and kindness.

How To Spread Kindness This World Kindness Day

On this day, we welcome anything that is rooted in genuine kindness. Here are a few ways ideas on how you can celebrate this special day.

Do random acts of kindness

The world could be a better place if you take the time to do something kind for a stranger. Leave more tips than usual. Donate to an animal shelter. Maybe leave a thank-you note to a teacher or neighbor.

Share a smile with someone

It is only natural to smile back at someone who has smiled at you. Smiles are contagious just like yawns, and receiving them has a favorable impact on your mental health. Why not repay the favor while you go about your day's activities?

Pick up litter

These days, trash is everywhere. Though not usually, some of it is purposely left behind. Bring a bag with you that will allow you to dispose of the items. Even a small amount of picking up can help to make the world a better place.

Give yourself a little kindness, too

You cannot give from an empty cup. Be kind to yourself by allowing yourself more downtime to rest and take care of yourself. That is an act of love for both you and those around you.

Let's work together to spread this important trait that unites people of all backgrounds on a day, honoring the great possibilities of tiny and large acts of kindness.

Healthier Halloween Treats

on Tuesday, 31 October 2023. Posted in Doctor of Fitness

Are you ready to experience a truly frightful Halloween? Examine the list of ingredients in your favorite sweets. Other than sugar, sugar, and more sugar, not much is present. It is challenging to encourage the family to eat well around Halloween. And the onslaught of candies and sweet treats makes it even more difficult to add a bit of protein or something nutritious to their plates.

Is it possible to stay in the macabre mood of the holiday while keeping the sweets in small amounts and making sure everyone in the family loves the food?

Healthy Halloween Treats For The Whole Family

Are you feeling scared of all the Halloween candy you are eating? Don't worry! Here are some healthy tips for party snacks and trick-or-treats that are so good, they're scary!

Banana Mummies. Use white chocolate for the bandages and matching candies for the eyes.

Spiderweb Pancakes. Create spooky webs with chocolate syrup and elevate this breakfast food into one fit for Halloween.

Orange Snack-o'-Lantern Fruit Cups. It's easier than you might think to turn an orange into a fruit-filled Halloween treat. Carve it as you would with a pumpkin and fill it with sliced fruits.

Candy Corn Gelatin Cups. Opt for low-sugar gelatin with colors similar to candy corn. Pour them in a cup and top with whipped toppings.

Spiced Warm Apple Cider. All you need are apples, oranges, and aromatic spices like nutmeg, cinnamon, and cloves mixed and cooked in a slow cooker.

Roasted Halloween Vegetables. Use your creativity and cut up potatoes, carrots, and other vegetables into Halloween symbols. Bake with garlic, rosemary, balsamic vinegar, and honey for a sweet and savory flavor.

Now you’re all set for Halloween with these delicious and healthy snack ideas!

Choose Happiness

on Tuesday, 24 October 2023. Posted in Doctor of Fitness

Why does happiness sometimes seem so far away, pointless, and unobtainable? How can we truly be joyful in a world that is so full of instability, uncertainty, hardship, and injustice? What concept of happiness might encompass all of that? What will make us happy?

There are so many questions about happiness, from how to define it to what it takes to experience it. But once we stop seeking the happiness that the world defines, we start to realize that the choice to feel happiness has always been available to us. We should not leave our happiness to fate. It is in our hands; a decision we should make.

How To Choose Happiness Everyday

It is not enough to simply recognize that happiness is a choice. Choosing happiness still requires a conscious decision. It might come easy to some, but more challenging for others. You’ll need to practice and try to choose happiness every time. How?

Meditate. Schedule some alone time to meditate. The capacity to disengage is even more important as our environment becomes faster and noisier.

Surround yourself with the right people. Spend time with people that represent the person you aspire to be. Time spent with the wrong group of friends will drain your happiness.

Embrace daily affirmations. Affirmations can reduce stress, boost self-esteem, and alter perspective. Daily affirmations should be carefully crafted, rooted in truth, and focused on present needs for the maximum effect.

Eat healthy. The state of our physical well-being will always affect our emotional and mental wellness. Taking good care of our physical health can significantly improve our mental state.

Help others when you can. Our sense of happiness increases as our sense of purpose grows. Do your best to increase and sustain this by performing acts of kindness, compassion, and service to others.

It is crucial to start small when pursuing happiness every day. You won’t constantly feel happy and will still experience negative emotions which are necessary for us to appreciate happiness more.

Latest and Greatest Halloween Costume Ideas

on Tuesday, 17 October 2023. Posted in Doctor of Fitness

Halloween can bring out the best of our creativity. It’s amazing how many inventive Halloween costumes individuals come up with. If you have time on your hands, you can go for a DIY Halloween costume, otherwise, opt for store-bought outfits that still look pretty impressive and deserve to take home the prize for the best Halloween costume at any gathering.

The unique and creative costume ideas originate from pop culture allusions, even though many people may stick to traditional concepts like a black cat, a witch, a ghost, or some other form of a ghoul.

If you’re running out of ideas for a witty and creative costume, that’s so scarily good it’ll leave everyone wide-eyed or laughing, we got you! Check out these ideas:

Wednesday Addams Many missed the timing to be the iconic Wednesday Addams on Halloween last year. This year is the year!

Barbie With the hit movie comes a wide variety of custom ideas. You can be the trending ‘80s roller skater Barbie or recreate Margot Robbie's look at the press tours!

Queen Charlotte From Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story Bridgerton fans will surely love the idea of being Queen Charlotte for Halloween from the Georgian dress to the hair, crown, and grandeur.

Ariel From The Little Mermaid Channel your inner mermaid princess, whether you’re the one with the fins or after she got her legs. Both can work with the right outfit.

Janine From Abbott Elementary Anyone will recognize Janine’s style from the most popular television show at present. Don’t forget to exude a positive can-do attitude.

Mario and Luigi From The Super Mario Bros. Movie Bring a friend and dress up together as Mario and Luigi. Putting together the costume is easy and perfect for last-minute prep!

Rihanna At Super Bowl LVII Who will forget the all-red look during Rihanna’s return performance that shocked the world? Complete this look in minutes!

The best Halloween costume may not be the best for everyone, and that's okay. Go for the one that you like best and rock it with confidence!

Apple Harvest Time

on Tuesday, 10 October 2023. Posted in Doctor of Fitness

In the midst of fall, as the weather turns cooler, the excitement over apple picking season is also picking up. This classic fall treat brings families together in a festive spirit. If you are interested in participating in apple picking but are a first-timer, then you’ll find the following information useful.

Apple Picking Season Guide

Early-picked apples are tiny and acidic. Late-picked apples are more likely to be softer, taste floury, and deteriorate quickly, so it is crucial to find the right time to pick them. Apples mature at different rates depending on the variety such as early, mid, and late types. Apples are typically harvested between late summer and late October, with September being the preferred month.

Avoid being influenced when choosing apples by their visual appeal. Some apples ripen externally before they begin to ripen within. Even though the apple's rich crimson exterior shows ripeness, the fruit's interior is still transitioning from tart and starchy to sweet and crunchy.

The best tips to determine ripeness is to look at the following:

  • Gently tug, it should not need a lot of force to pluck from the tree.
  • The flesh is cream or white
  • Seeds are brown
  • Yellow peel inside the stem indentation
  • The taste should be crisp and juicy
  • Firm and not soft

After harvesting, you can store the apples for several weeks with proper storage. However, any apples that are bruised or damaged should first be set aside since they may deteriorate more quickly.

For lengthy storage, keep apples in the refrigerator at 34 to 40°F. To enhance the humidity around the fruit while still allowing for airflow, put it in plastic bags with perforations. Have a basin of water on the fruit crates to keep the apples from drying out and prevent them from losing moisture. Storage areas like garages and cellars are preferable.

Now, are you ready for your apple picking season? These tips will make sure that you are well-equipped and can enjoy your apples!

Quick Fall Weekend Vacation Ideas

on Tuesday, 03 October 2023. Posted in Doctor of Fitness

Autumn is the time of year when people wind down after the summer, return to work and school, and make holiday plans. A fall getaway offers just the right kind of restorative break to help you get ready for the long winter days ahead.

Check this list of some family-friendly destinations and activities you can do this fall.

1. Visit upstate New York to pick pumpkins

Get your pumpkins ready for Halloween! Visit the Aurora Village in New York and bask in the beauty of the fall colors and their reflection on the adjacent river. You can also sample some great-tasting wines.

2. Take a glamping trip in the Great Smokey Mountains

Summer is over which means the crowds are pretty much gone. You can glamp just a few miles from Gatlinburg, Tennessee, near the entrance to the Great Smokey Mountains National Park. The pricing is also more affordable at this time at the well-renowned Under Canvas Resort.

3. A rafting and kayaking trip in Sedona

The mild temperature is perfect for kayaking or rafting down the Verde River in Sedona. Experience the thrill of these activities while admiring the red rock formations and the vibrant sceneries of fall. Go to a wine-tasting event or to the thriving art in the city.

4. Extend your summer in Florida

Catch the last of the summer on the warm beaches of Florida. Experience summer without the crowd since it is practically off-season. It is also turtle nesting season which means you might get a chance to watch hatchlings race towards the sea.

5. Take a walk in Central Park

If you simply want a family-friendly and chill activity, stroll around Central Park. appreciate the magnificent colors and explore what’s nearby from statues to the zoo.

It is the best season for travel because of the crisp, chilly air and vividly colored scenery. Whether you wish to travel to the mountains to see the turning leaves or swarm to warm coasts to enjoy a few more beach days before winter arrives, autumn is the perfect time.

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