For those who want to take a step towards eating healthier without completely changing their diet, the following tips will help you find ways to make the foods you love healthier without compromising the taste you love:

The purpose of fitness clothing is to keep you comfortable, allow for correct freedom of movement and in some cases, help your performance. Wearing the correct clothing can help you get the most out of your workout.

Unless you swim, the basics of any fitness wardrobe are shorts, pants, tops and jackets. For runner and cyclists, Tighter fitting, but nonrestrictive pants are helpful. Fitness walkers or hikers may prefer looser fitting bottoms. If you lift weights, be mindful of how loose the shorts fit to avoid catching the edge of a dumbbell.

The fabric of your clothing should contain a small percentage of spandex to help them retain their shape between washings and during your workout. While you may enjoy wearing your favorite t-shirt, cotton workout apparel absorbs your body’s moisture directly onto your skin, while specially designed workout fabrics wick sweat away from your body, helping you feel cooler. Wool, fleece, and nylon are good for winter workouts.

Try and avoid 100% cotton socks when exercising. Choose a specialized fitness sock made from a blend of material that keeps blisters at bay while helping your feet stay dry. Also look for socks with an extra layer of padding in the ball of the foot and a supportive band around the arch of your foot.

If you are a woman, a sports bra is an essential piece of fitness clothing. Choose a sports bra that offers you support and minimizes breast bouncing and movement while running or working out to stay comfortable and help avoid breast injury.

There are several benefits to running on a machine as opposed to the outdoors.

1. No need to worry about the weather:

   Running on a treadmill means running inside a temperature controlled environment. You don’t need to check the weather forecast or worry if those clouds up ahead looks like rain. No need to force yourself to run through extremely hot and humid weather or through bone chilling wing in the winter. You don’t need to stress about what to wear on your run or if you put enough sunscreen on too.

2. Easier on your body

   Most running outdoors takes places on pavement. While the smooth surface is great since you don’t have to worry about tripping in a hole, pavement is incredibly cruel to your knees because it places a large amount of strain on them. Treadmills offer shock absorption, creating less stress for the knees. The extra cushioning and smooth surface also allows for easier runs.

3. Simulate a race course

   If you are training for a race course, you can create a similar version to it using a treadmill. Most of the Midwest is pretty flat, and running on an endless flat road can get rather repetitive. Try mixing up your workout by adding in some hills to your run on a treadmill program.

4. Running inside is safer

   Falling, cars, cyclists, dogs, getting lost, these are all hazards of running outside that can be avoided by running on a treadmill. You can also safely listen to music without having to worry about having to pay attention to your environment.

When hunger strikes and we open the fridge, there is a much greater chance that we will chow down on whatever we happen to see first rather than take the time to dig around in the back for something else. If you, like most people, have a lot of unhealthy food sitting front and center in your icebox, maybe it’s time to rotate some of the foods in there around to help make it easier for you and your family to live a healthy lifestyle.

Try pushing these healthy snacks to the front of your fridge so that the next time your tummy grumbles you reach for the good stuff:

Apples

Not only are apples good for us, but they are considered a great substitute for unhealthy sweets such as cakes, candies, and other calorie-rich snacks and desserts. Besides carrying cancer risk-reducing nutrients, apples can offer an energy boost that some say is stronger than coffee!

Veggies and Hummus

When you are craving something crunchy with zest, crispy vegetables like carrots and celery paired with tasty hummus can satisfy your craving. Try pre-cutting a bunch of veggies at the beginning of each week so you can easily grab and munch away without being deterred by the thought of having to prepare anything!

Cheese Sticks

Part-skim cheese sticks are a great snack – especially for those on the go! Eat one by itself or pair with some whole wheat crackers for a tasty and filling snack that will keep you satisfied and feed your need for a salty snack.

Greek Yogurt

This low fat snack has two times the protein of regular yogurt and much less sugar. This thick, creamy yogurt contains healthy probiotic cultures that are great for eliminating toxins from your system. Drizzle a half cup of this stuff with honey to make a treat that will make you think you are eating a decadent dessert!