Merritt Clubs Blog

Setting rewards for reaching your short term and long term weight loss goals is a good idea to boost your esteem and keep you on track. The problem is that you may not know what to give yourself as a reward once the prospect of food and food related products are removed from the equation. If this sounds like the predicament you are in, consider the following three rewards to use to stay on track with your health goals.

Cooking at home is a great way to incorporate healthy foods into your diet; however, reviewing recipe ingredients and instructions can have you questioning what is actually healthy and what is in need of a health makeover.  Here are six tips to aid your search for healthy recipes.

We all know exercise is important, but we've also seen how it can result in serious injuries. From novices to casual runners, competitive sports enthusiasts to body builders, everyone has a story about an injury that came about in some way, shape, or form. An injury can sideline you for a couple days or weeks, or can be more severe, requiring surgery and taking months to overcome. Although some injuries can't be prevented, there are some steps we can all take to avoid injury as well as help us heal quicker.

National Ice Cream Month

It’s mid-July and finally, FINALLY, you’re on vacation! You’ve planned, prepped, saved, and worked hard all year and now it’s time for that much-anticipated get-away. Whether you’re planning on complete relaxation with family or friends, an active vacation with a lot of walking and sightseeing, or a little bit of both, your workouts and fitness don’t have to suffer. Here are a couple of tips on how to stay fit and active while away.

Ahhh summer! That time of tranquil mornings, long days, and warm nights that stretch seamlessly from June to the start of the next school year. While summer is relaxed, oftentimes parents are at a loss as to how to keep kids engaged and entertained. Below we’ve provided some ideas to help keep the entire family happy during the long break.

Everyone has heard how important breakfast is. But for some reason many people still refuse to eat it. And believe us, we have heard all of the excuses. Some people say they aren't hungry in the morning. Other people say it makes them nauseous to eat too early. We've heard that some would rather sleep in or that they just don't have time. However, if you hear a few of the facts below, these excuses may start to disappear:

If you're reading this, chances are you care deeply about your health and well-being. You've either been consistently following a healthy, balanced diet or you've reached a point in life where you're ready to start. Good for you! Your body will love you for it.

When people talk about health and wellness, the conversation generally turns to diet and exercise. And yes, what you put into your body and how you move your body are important. But have you ever considered how important sleep is to your overall well-being? We spend about a third of our lives sleeping, and sleep is vital to overall body health, regulation, and restoration. Lack of sleep not only affects mood, productivity, and performance, but also can increase your risk for high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, irregular hormonal function, and obesity.

Frequently, parents sign their kids up for swim classes just to give them something to do, expend energy, and keep them busy. Swimming lessons are a great way to make kids safer around the water and prepare them for involvement in water sports and recreation. However, one of the most important benefits that swimming can offer to kids is boosting confidence and self-esteem.