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.

The BIOM Project is an innovative running and walking concept developed by ECCO®. The design behind its products is based on the principle of allowing the foot to move as nature intended it to. The forward motion of running and walking is something that our bodies have become accustomed to over hundreds of thousands of years.

The human foot is made up of bones, ligaments, tendons and muscles that are especially designed to support us when we run and walk. Both of these activities however, place increased strain on the foot, which is why ECCO developed BIOM running and walking shoes. They believe in adding support only where the foot needs it, so as not in impede its natural motion. All BIOM shoes are built on an anatomical last to provide a better fit and more natural flexion. As their aim is natural movement, they do not follow the design standards of overprotection, excessive cushioning, or motion control.

Professor Dr. Bruggemann, a leading scientist in running biomechanics, Torbjorn Sindballe, world-class triathlon pro-athlete, and ECCO have all worked in conjunction to make the BIOM Project what it has become today. The best thing about BIOM products is that whether you’re a walker, the occasional runner, the fitness runner, or the serious runner, they have a shoe to fit your needs.

Camelbak has kept the active hydrated for many years but they are always looking for ways to improve upon their iconic bladder systems. Their newest bladder, the Antidote, will change the face of hydration for many years to come. The Antidote can be filled quickly with its quarter-turn cap and is even more comfortable to use with its air-light fill-port that will lighten your load. Enjoy a 26% slimmer profile for tight situations. The Quick Link System allows you to change out hoses as needed and specially designed dryer arms help you air it out even faster. 

If you don’t have a Camelbak backpack to put the Antidote in, it’s ok. At the Outdoor Shop on Zappos.com, you can pick up the CamelBak Octane 24™, the perfect ultra-light pack for an entire day of racing or light and fast adventures. The HydroGuard™ Anti-Microbial Technology eliminates up to 99.99% of common bacteria and fungi. The Independent Suspension™ harness helps stabilize pack on your shoulders. Weighing in at just 16 ounces, the CamelBak Octane 24™ is ideal for a hydrating daypack. Check out the full line of Camelbak products at the Outdoor Shop on Zappos.com and don’t forget to stay hydrated.

This year, on Dec. 6, Zappos will be sponsoring the Rock ‘n’ Roll Las Vegas Marathon!

We hope to have many Zapponians running the marathon and the half marathon, as well as volunteering in many different areas to help the event to be successful.

We are hoping to encourage as many people at Zappos to participate as we can, and in a meeting earlier this week, we were trying to decide who would be the most unlikely candidate to train hard, eat right and get in shape for a marathon, and Brett H. began to sink into his chair a bit. And then a lot. At one point he might have actually been under the table in the fetal position in a wild, fearful panic.

It slowly dawned on everyone that he would be the perfect candidate to inspire people to train….because he’s widely regarded as ‘un-trainable’. Tom E. and Rebecca L. pointed out that the motto should be: “If Brett can do it, why can’t you?”

So, after a bit of prodding and poking, laughing and joking, tears, fears and a deep desire for beers…....Brett said yes, yes, yes, he would begin training next week and run the Las Vegas Marathon. (Pending a Physical:)

We will be following his progress on Zappos Blogs, Facebook and Myspace.com

We’ll let him explain and let some of his friends at Zappos fill him with confidence…............

Check back next week to see Brett’s progress, and please comment below with any suggestions to help him out or with any words of encouragement!

It’s another week of looming deadlines and the calendar’s chock full of to-do items, which means getting to the gym might not be high on the priority list for yet another seven days. If you want to stay in shape, you do have some options outside of the usual gym circuit. A few tweaks to your morning routine, and modifying your daily activities ever so slightly, might just be all you need to keep that metabolism revved up and keep you in shape.

Start things off with a power walk in the early morning. As soon as you get up, throw on your workout gear and head outside for a brisk 15 to 20 minute walk around the block. This will get your blood circulation going and help you enjoy some fresh air before your all-day-indoors agenda the rest of the day. Walking is a great aerobic activity that will keep your heart strong, and give your total body a much-needed workout. Don’t forget to stretch before and after the session to avoid injury and pain.

Your next get-fit opportunity rolls around at lunch hour. Instead of brown-bagging it in the company cafeteria, you can eat your lunch on a picnic table outside, then take a brief walk around the building or up and down some of the large hallways around the office. Anything physical will do; climb up a few sets of stairs, give your calf muscles a good stretch outside, and just re-energize your muscles after those back-to-back meetings.

When you finally make it back home, get into the habit of doing a brief 10 to 20 minute yoga routine to elongate and flex all of those muscles that didn’t experience the joy of movement as you hunched over your desk all day. Yoga and deep breathing exercises will let the oxygen flow throughout your body, and will help you feel lighter and limber. You can do these right before dinner to give your metabolism a boost before the meal ahead.

Getting and staying in shape doesn’t require a commitment to the body-pump workouts at the gym, or even going to the fitness center. Plan your day around some simple exercises so you can keep your body in great shape whether you’re hitting the gym, or not!

Indoor walking is becoming a major part of my fitness life.

Walking bores me and I’m not an outdoors person. Where I live right now the weather is freezing cold, and windy with an astonishing lack of sidewalks.

But walking is good for the heart and body. Plus, I want to do a lot of traveling, and it is hard to go abroad when you hate walking up the block.

I found a solution – indoor walking videos by people like Leslie Sansone. No matter how cold it is or how annoyed I am, I can put on my sneakers, put in a DVD and walk, walk, walk!

What I like about indoor walking DVDs is that I can walk a mile in 14 minutes, feel like I worked out, but i’m not bored to death, and I don’t have the “is it over yet” feeling, I have when trying to walk around outside. Plus, it’s a lot safer. People drive crazier and crazier every day, especially in the country towns like the one I live in, and it would be a lot better for my fitness and health to not dodge a vehicle every time I am walking.

My uncle, however, still swears by outdoor walking and tries to do five miles in the country every single day. I don’t know how he does it.

However, both Indoor and outdoor walking are great ways to relieve stress and frustration, without taking it out on other people, pets, on the road or furniture. The other day I was particularly frustrated and literally stomped it out by doing a fast, advanced Leslie Sansone mile. I used to think she was nuts for saying, “Walking puts you in a better mood,” but it’s true.

So whether you are walking for fitness or stress relief, indoor walking might be a safe and fun way to go.

As New Year’s resolutions fade into the distance and you get back into the rhythm of work, play and errand-running, sticking with the fitness mantra may become a challenge. Even the most determined can have an ‘off’ day, which soon turns into two, then three, then an entire week of ‘just couldn’t make it to the gym .’ This is why you need a plan that helps you sneak in some fitness activities without the formal trip to the gym.

A few simple changes to your daily routine can help you burn extra calories; by the end of the day, you could have burned off the equivalent of a mini-workout – and all without breaking a sweat. Here are some easy ways to get that metabolism going and keep up with your fitness resolutions in those busy weeks ahead:

Socialize on the go
If you need 10-15 minutes to catch up with a coworker or associate, consider taking it outside. Walking will ease stress and tension and give you both a chance to enjoy the great outdoors. Put on your walking shoes if you’re heading out on icy streets or on a rainy day; you’ll be well on your way to quick calorie burn.

Go on a Coffee run, Literally
Choose a coffee shop that’s at least a 10-minute walk from the office and speed walk or jog your way to the counter. The quick break in the middle of the day will give your body a chance to shift gears, and the fresh air will do you good. Just make sure you stick with that no-fat, no-whip, sugar-free latte to avoid negating your hard work.

Shoot Hoops Before Dinner
Remember when shooting some hoops or playing tennis against the wall at home was your usual routine before dinner? Relive those childhood memories as you transition from the work day to the evening. To challenge your body, get out of the rut of sitting in your office and then sitting at the dinner table. You’ll also burn up some extra calories as you de-stress after your busy day.

Baby boomers that have started new walking programs should be aware and knowledgeable about raising the heart rate when walking. It is important that a fitness walking program does not turn into a series of slow saunters. When you begin a walking program, there will of course be a curve to advancing to power walking; however, creating awareness of one’s heart rate and paying attention to when the heart rate has been raised is ultimately the fitness goal.

There are several pieces of equipment that allow one to check the heart rate when exercising. One of the most convenient methods is by using a watch that offers such features. There are several styles from which to select. However, it is important to find the piece of equipment with which one is comfortable, so that the importance and awareness of raising the heart rate when walking is easily recognizable.
The Timex 30-Lap Ironman Triathlon Heart Rate Monitor is an ideal choice. Features of the monitor include the following; waterproof, preset feature for desired heart rate, alarm notification when the rate is not met, easy to read display of average heart rate, display of the time spent in the desired heart rate zone, calories burned, recovery heart rate timer, maximum heart rate zone calculation, digital transmission, 30-lap memory and more. The retail price for the Timex 30-Lap Ironman Triathlon Heart Rate Monitor is approximately $79.99.

If you’re looking for a piece of equipment that is a little bit more sophisticated, a great suggestion is the Timex Ironman Bodylink System , which provides a 100-lap memory recall of system data. Other features include digital transmission, a heart rate feature inclusive of average heart rate, time in zone, four linked interval timers, recovery rate, max heart rate display and calculation. There are many more extensive features such as alarms, summary mode and interval timers. The retail price for the Timex Ironman Bodylink System is $300.

No matter how simple or complicated the piece of equipment, the key is in purchasing equipment that provides the necessary information regarding one’s heart rate when walking.