L-R:   Reebok EasyTone S/S Top, CamelBak Better Bottle Insulated 6L ,Ecco Performance Tao

It seems like every five seconds we’re inundated by commercials and pop up ads promising the ultimate secret to a thinner, leaner, healthier you. “Lose 10 pounds in 10 minutes!”, “Eat cookies, lose weight!”…the promises go on and on.

Being healthy for the long haul really takes lifestyle changes. They don’t always have to be drastic ones either; there are lots of small yet impactful habits that you can incorporate into your life that will help you on your goal to becoming healthier. Here are just a few simple ones to try:

1.       Walk the walk: Don’t take shortcuts; take the stairs instead of the elevator, park farther in the parking lot, take a brisk 30-minute walk in the evenings. Got a dog? Make the most of those daily walks by adding ankle weights and wearing performance walking shoes with specialized outsoles to work more key muscles. Ones to try are Skechers Shape Ups, Reebok EasyTone and Ecco Performance Tao.

2.       Drink lots of water: This one may seem obvious, but a lot of people don’t drink enough water. Try breaking up your day in segments: wake up time to noon, noon to 4 p.m., 4 p.m. to bedtime; aim for three 8-ounce glasses per time segment to get the optimum hydration. Water is also the ultimate detoxifier and is essential in every bodily function.

3.       Don’t skip breakfast: They don’t call it “the most important meal of the day” for nothing! Nearly 40 percent of women admit to skipping breakfast. This can cause you to make poor lunch choices and wreak havoc on your metabolism. Opt for fiber-rich, protein-rich options like granola bar with nuts, peanut butter and banana, nonfat Greek yogurt or a low-sugar ceral. Soy or almond milk are also great breakfast drinks if you’re in a hurry.

4.       Get your zzzs!: Sleep is a very essential part of a healthy, balanced life. While there is no real “magic number” to how many hours of sleep each individual needs, on average, a normal adult needs anywhere from 7-9 hours of restful sleep every night. Creating a relaxing nighttime ritual like a candlelit bath, soothing music or meditation before bedtime will help ease your mind and body into sleep mode.

5.       Snack healthy: Keep healthy options such as fresh fruit, nuts, and low-fat yogurt close at hand. Almonds are also a great way to fill you up in between meals. They’re high in protein and low in saturated fat, plus they’re easy to stow in your bag for on-the-go snacking.

We all know the great benefits of regular cardio workout, but sometimes, the treadmill can be a real drag. A great way to switch up your cardio routine is through swimming. Not only is it a great way to burn some serious calories (up to 400 calories in one 30 minute breaststroke session), but there’s no impact on your joints, so it’s a great workout to supplement more high imapct cardio activities like running.

For swimming laps, we recommend a good one-piece swimsuit , like the ingenious Spanx Chic Deep V Trim One Piece. This not only offers maximum shape control, it offers comfortable style that moves with you.  It offers the tummy control compression that Spanx is known for, so it’s equally as great at the beach or just lounging by the pool.

Check out the rest of the Spanx Swimwear collection on Zappos.com.

A couple of weekends ago, a few Zapponians represented in the Corporate Challenge 5K race, taking home first place in the Group A division. A handful others are also running 5Ks and 10Ks as part of their personal Fitness Challenge. With all this enthusiasm for fitness and running going around at Zappos HQ, we thought it would be cool to talk to one of our Corporate Challenge 5K runners, Jay, to find out a little about how he started getting into running and how he prepped for Corporate Challenge.

H: What made you decide to run a 5K?

J: For fun!  My wife (Rowena) and I have been training for awhile for this and thought it’d be nice to run it together for fun.  We had a little change of plans when I found out I made it on the scoring team (first 5 in any age bracket scores points) and had to run a competitive time.  I actually had to run hard to try and score a point for us.  Plus, Rowena never got to run since they (the officials) didn’t let anyone else on the course, only the competitors.

H: How long have you been a runner?

J:  On and off since high school…so about 17 years. I’ve never been a long distance runner.  This body’s not very aerodynamic and not built for long distances, but I like to run regularly for cardio purposes.

H: What was your time in the Corporate Challenge 5K?

J: A paltry 00:26:54.  Again, I'm not built for the long haul!  But I am aiming for under 24 mins next time.

H: What was your main motivation during training?

J: Getting my daily cardio and doing something athletically challenging with my wife.

H: What were some of your favorite running gear to use during training?

J: I like the Nike Pro Core Long Compression Shorts and my Zappos Corporate Challenge t-shirt of course! I also liked the K-Swiss Tubes Run 100.

H: How did you prepare the day before the race?

J:  I ran a brisk mile and a half, went to sleep early, and had a light breakfast (cereal bar) I also drank Gatorade throughout the day to stay hydrated. 

H: Are you planning on running more 5Ks?

J: Sure! A lot of people here in the office are doing various 5Ks and 10Ks, so it’ll be easy to stay motivated.

H: Any advice to people who are considering running their first 5K?

J:   Train right, train regularly, eat right and always stretch before each run.  And don’t get caught up in the competitiveness of it all, run your own race and have fun!

Want to keep up on all things running at Zappos? Click the LIKE button below to be a fan of the Zappos Running Facebook page!

True athletes never stop training – regardless of the elements. Before you go for your morning jog or evening cross-training, get yourself a comfy hoodie from Puma or Adidas to say warm while you get your workout on.

Hit the gym in a versatile Adidas Graphic Fleece Hoodie. This cotton poly fabrication makes for a comfortable, durable top that features flatlock seams, front kangaroo pocket and v-neck design that can be worn anywhere. If you need something a little bulkier, the Puma Promo Zip will add some style to your fitness wardrobe and keep you cozy through your workout. The men’s Contrast Hoody matches the Promo Zip perfectly, great for the athletic couple. We also recommend the Adidas Pro Hoodie for the competitive man in your life.

You don’t have to wait until next year to start on your New Year’s resolution. Don’t let the weather be a factor and look great while getting your pump on this Fall. Head over to Zappos.com for all of your fitness needs.

It may be over 20 years old but a great 80s workout video that will have you sweating is the "29 Minute Beginners Workout." The "29 Minute Workout" has several different videos that were released in the series, but the beginner's workout will definitely give you an awesome workout.

When you first start the video you may have to get past the cheesy workout clothes and 80s hair, but if you pay attention to the exercises being done you'll find you are working up a sweat in no time! The workout features aerobic exercises that work to whittle away the pounds and fat in under 30 minutes.

If you are short on time, the "29 Minute Beginners Workout" is still a great choice for a workout video. Performing this video will get you a full body workout that you will feel the next day in under 30 minutes. Best of all, since it is geared toward beginners and intermediates, there are no tricky exercises or moves to catch on to. Everything is very straightforward and easy to learn.

This 80s workout video is led by Deborah Lee who is an accredited fitness instructor that had quite a resume of fitness experience before instructing this video. She does a good job of taking the workout slow enough so that beginners can catch on, but still keeping a pace that will get your heart rate up.

The workout starts with a short warm up, as every workout video should. It then goes into a program of low impact aerobics and calisthenics to get the body burning fat and those pounds melting off. The workout ends with a cool down segment so that you don't pull any muscles and cool down the right way.

The "29 Minute Beginners Workout" is not for everybody. If you have been exercising for quite some time and you consider yourself pretty advanced then this workout is not for you. However, if you are a beginner to the workout scene, or only workout every once in awhile, although this tape is old, it is definitely a good one to add into your workout rotation!

Starting any exercise plan, even for a person used to working out, may seem simple on the surface, but there are some pitfalls you need to avoid. Enter your workout each day with a plan, and always, above all else, listen to your body. It will tell you when you’re overdoing it, and it will tell you if you aren’t doing enough. Relying solely upon a weightlifting book or some cardio plan may not be the smartest decision. Each person is different, so give yourself some flexibility and listen closely to how your body feels and reacts.

Keeping this idea in mind, check out the exercise “do” and “don’t” tips for the week. Each involves knowing your body, and each will make your workouts more successful in the long run.

The Do
Before you begin to workout, whether it be lifting weights or doing a long run, a comprehensive cardio warm-up is a necessity. Spending five to ten minutes doing kinetic, dynamic warm-up movements, jogging on a treadmill, riding the stationary bike, or hoping on the elliptical will let your blood flow and muscles begin to loosen up. Only after you have started moving and sweating should you stretch. Never stretch cold muscles. You’re asking for injury if you do. Then, once you have broken a sweat and stretched, start the routine you want.

The Don’t
Leave your ego in the locker room, and don’t think you need to impress people with how much weight you can press on the bench. Overdoing it with the amount of weight when lifting could end your workouts rather quickly. Even if your goal is to get big, lifting more than you are physically capable of makes no sense. If you do, you risk serious injury, as weights can fall on you or you can tear muscles. If either happens, you are out of luck. You’ll wind up injured and out of commission for a while, and completely unable to workout. Keep the weights moderate and within your range. Don’t worry, you’ll see progress over time.

Let’s face it. When it comes to working out and getting in shape, most of us hit the gym for the treadmill or elliptical trainer to get that sweat-inducing workout that promises to burn mega calories.

As exhilarating as these workouts are, the reality is most of us also adapt to the cardio routine within a few short weeks, which means the effects will diminish over time and it gets harder and harder to burn more calories in less time. If your goal is to get in shape or lose weight, you’ll need a strategy to get out of “cardio crazy” mode.

Signs that you’re going cardio crazy include:

• Spending more than one hour on the cardio machines during each workout session
• Dreading your trip to the gym each day because the cardio workouts aren’t fun anymore

• Obsessing about how many calories you’ve burned with each step on the stair stepper and every round of spinning classes

The best way to get out of a cardio rut is to add resistance training, weight lifting and different types of aerobic exercises into the weekly routine.

You can:
Hit the outdoors for a change of scenery and get started on a trail running program. Just strap on some super-grip running shoes and head off to the nearest state park or nature trail for a running route with resistance.

Take a deep breath and hit the yoga circuit. Pick up some comfy yoga capri pants and try Bikram yoga, which is guaranteed to make you sweat away your cares, or head outdoors for a sunrise yoga session to embrace the day. If you’ve been hitting the cardio machines a little too much lately, yoga can help bring your body into balance and give you a much needed stretch session.

Dive into swimming and water aerobics. Pick up a swimsuit and hit the diving board for a change of pace. Swimming is a great aerobic workout and burns several hundred calories per hour. You can also start training a number of core muscle groups with lap swimming or water aerobics. Pool routines will give your body a much-needed break from the usual cardio circuit.