Professionals, no matter how busy, always
take care of the essentials. There's enough gas in the car to get us to
work. Our clothes are clean and pressed. We make sure there's paper in
the printer. We tend to neglect one area only–the quality of the fuel
we put into our bodies.

We rely on coffee and pastries to get us through the day. We go for
sugar boosts instead of healthy snacks. We lunch on processed food and
fatty animal products. If we treated our cars this way, we'd be
walking. If we fed our dogs the stuff we eat, we'd be featured in cuffs
on "Animal Cops Detroit."

Our food choices have predictable and disastrous short- and
long-term consequences. Many of us are struggling to lose weight, and
fully 50% of all Americans will die prematurely from stroke or heart
disease. Some researchers have estimated that 75% of cancers are
preventable, and diet is the main defensive weapon. And the diabetes
epidemic has been well documented. And if we have kids, we know we're
passing our bad habits - and predisposition for disease - on to them.

Despite the conflicting studies that we read about, we all know
pretty well what to eat: fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains,
beans, raw nuts and seeds, and small amounts of animal products on the
side if we choose. Knowing is the easy part; it's the doing that's
hard.

So how can we make eating right a natural part of our day? Post your ideas and questions in the comments section below.

A blender smoothie with vegetables and fruit that tastes a heck of a lot better than it looks. Peter and Howie provide plenty of back and forth that some would even call "comedic."  Keep Reading…

We all can use a little help and guidance growing our Fit Family. Post your question about raising a healthy and fit family in a crazy world in the comments section below, and look for answers on this site and in the FitFam newsletter.

The single most important skill in dealing effectively with stress is the ability to turn on the relaxation response, a set of physiological changes that relax us, at will. But as the following story shows, there’s a nasty paradox at work: the more we need it, the harder it is to access.

The Most Wonderful Umbrella in the World

Just out of college, I spent a year in London, where it rained pretty much every day. I decided to buy a good umbrella, which translated for me into the most expensive umbrella I could find. 

And there it was, one day, in a very fancy little umbrella shop (yes, in London a merchant can apparently make a living selling nothing but umbrellas) across the road from the British Museum. It had a fancy folding mechanism which allowed it to expand greatly even though it could fit neatly in my backpack when closed. It sported 10 spokes, two more than your average umbrella.

And it cost 38 British Pounds, which in those days was about $60, which was a heck of a lot of money. But hey, I was single, I was carefree, and I was a dork - so I bought it.

Keep Reading…

You can help your family grow fit and healthy and happy - without confusion or guilt; without daily battles; without counting points or calories; without boring exercise routines.

Doesn't it seem sometimes that life is so hectic, we neglect the things that matter most - our own family's health and fitness? That we're trying to live fit and healthy lives, but feel we're at the mercy of junky school lunches, fast food commercials and video games?

That there are so many confusing and contradictory studies about healthy eating, exercise and stress that we just throw up our hands and give up?

If you want to grow a Fit Family in today's crazy world, you've come to the right website.

Hi. I'm Howie Jacobson, director of the Fit Family Institute in Durham, North Carolina. FitFam.com is our online community, where you'll receive guidance and support in mastering the three pillars of family health: Wheee!, Yummm!, and Ahhh! (Learn more about Wheee!, Yummm!, and Ahhh! here.)

To take advantage of the site, simply click here or on the Join FitFam.com button at the top (it's free, unlike a set of matching cherry wood napkin rings and candlesticks, and it's easy, unlike  a prostate self-exam) and enter your name and email.

You'll be able to check out the articles, recipes, products, and recommended reading. You can watch FitFam TV and listen to podcasted FitFam Radio. Ask questions and share stories, and receive discounts on FitFam.com courses (coming soon).

Congratulations in advance for taking this simple and massively meaningful step towards greater fitness, health, vibrancy, and joy - for yourself and your entire family. It's not only possible - it's the way we're meant to live!

To your health and happiness,

Howie Jacobson, PhD
Durham, NC

Life puts a lot of demands on us: the question is how to balance work, family, and our own desire to better ourselves. Eating right and exercising are both things we intend to do, but often we fall short on these goals. Whether we're unmotivated to work out, too busy to get to the gym on a regular basis, or reluctant to trade time with the family for 45 minutes on a treadmill, there are solutions.

The first principle of fitness is to "play out, not work out." Let's start by rediscovering the fun activities we enjoyed as kids: hiking, jump roping, dancing around the house to the radio, or playing tag with the dog. By modifying a few of your mental preconceptions, it's definitely possible to feel as lean and vital and strong as you did when you were a kid. It might even be fun.

Many of us confuse taking care of ourselves with selfishness - in fact it's just the opposite. If you want to provide service, you must be well and strong. If you want to show love to others, you must have a well of self-love to draw upon.

Sign up to read dozens of tips and principles for getting fabulous exercise in a short amount of time.