Merritt Clubs Blog

We all want to have strong bodies -- strong legs, strong glutes, a strong core, a strong upper body, and strong arms – but what we also have to focus on is having a strong mind.  A healthy and strong mindset is what will ultimately help us strengthen our bodies in a sustainable manner. 

We all know the dreaded feeling when we can barely button our pants, our belly is so distended that we look far into our second trimester of pregnancy, and we’re terrified to leave the comforts of home in fear of gastrointestinal distress. I’m talking about belly bloating.

Whether we are conscious of it or not, our lives have rhythm. We hear the tick-tock of the clock on the wall. When we walk or run, our gait has a certain tempo. There’s rhythm in our daily patterns, the way we move, the changing colors of the traffic lights, the drip of a faucet. As many studies have shown, a certain rhythm can make people walk, run, swim, paddle, or pedal faster.

There are many ways that individuals can go about losing weight. To maintain health, it is important to follow a program that will keep you motivated both physically and mentally.  Below are ten do's and don'ts of losing weight:

If you’re feeling a little fuzzy and forgetful, and not as sharp as in the summer months, you may want to blame it on the colder weather. According to a 2018 study from Columbia University, for many people, especially older adults, the cold weather can create a significant enough effect on the brain that they go from scoring in the normal range on a cognitive test to qualifying for a dementia diagnosis. Study authors found that when cognitive tests were given during the winter, participants functioned as if they were more than four years older as compared to performance during the summer.

St. Patrick's Day, one of the biggest eating and drinking holidays in the US, has come and gone. But that doesn't mean we should stop the green eating! Instead, try some of our registered dietitian Charlotte Martin's favorite healthy green recipes below, which can be enjoyed year round.

Also, checkout this clip to watch Charlotte share these recipes on Baltimore's WJZ.

It's hard to believe that with the unpredictability of March’s weather, springtime is right around the corner. Regardless of what Punxsutawney Phil said a short month ago, spring officially begins on March 20^th.  In addition to the changing of the seasons, March is also National Nutrition Month. Started by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics in 1980, National Nutrition Month is “an annual nutrition education and information campaign focusing on the importance of making informed food choices and developing sound eating and physical activity habits,” which comes at the perfect time considering that winter is notorious for poor eating habits. During the cold and dark months, we typically hibernate to our couches and are warmed by hearty comfort foods and Netflix binge-fests to escape the harsh winter weather.

I remember the day exactly. It was St. Patrick’s Day 2010 and I was out with a group of friends. We had been drinking and enjoying ourselves. I started to notice when I would look down at the ground my legs would go numb.
Strange? Yes. Concerning? Not yet.