According to a new study in the Journal of Obesity, women and men are more motivated to lose weight when their friends and family are motivated to lose weight, too. If none of your friends and family members are looking to get fit or lose weight, chances are you will not receive the encouragement you would like to meet your fitness goals. However, even if you lack the support you wish to have during your weight loss journey, you can get “tech-connected” with other fitness enthusiasts to keep your workouts fun, exciting, and challenging. In fact, researchers have found that when men and women seek support through social media, they have a more positive outlook on their diet and exercise regime. The following are some great ways to seek social support and enjoy every minute of your workouts:

1. Use www.mapmyfitness.com to track your daily workouts. You can then share them with your workout buddies on Facebook.
2. Search www.healthylivingblogs.com to find a fitness fanatic and blogger in your area. Follow her posts and ask her for healthy neighborhood routes, nearby parks, and hiking and biking trails.
3. Simply type in your zip code and interests into www.meetup.com to locate local groups, people, and events. For instance, you can type in “healthy cooking,” “mountain biking,” or “running.”

The world of health and fitness is filled with tons of misinformation.

Falling for some of these myths could have you confused, frustrated, and going nowhere instead of shaping up! We are all guilty of believing some of the popular fitness fables out in the media today, but the purpose of this article is to set some of them straight. Read the following myths below so that you can make the most of your exercise routine!

No Pain, No Gain- There is nothing good about experiencing joint and bone pain or muscle strains after exercising. Exercise may cause some muscle aches and soreness, but never pain.

There is One Best Way to Exercise- Not only is there not one single best way to exercise and get in shape, but there’s not one best way for each person individually. The recipe for success is to vary your exercise routine and tailor your routine to what you like to do. Try new things and see what happens!

More Sweat, Less Fat- The amount that you sweat is indicative of your body’s ability to maintain its normal body temperature. There is no correlation between how much you sweat and how many calories you expend.

Drinking Less Water Causes Cramps- Cramps are actually a symptom of dehydration, so drinking water to stay hydrated will ultimately reduce your risk of experiencing cramps while exercising.

You Can Target One Area of Your Body for Weight Loss- No matter how much exercise you complete for a specific region of the body, it’s physiologically impossible to “spot train” your body. You cannot lose body fat in one specific area. In fact, when you lose weight, fat is lost throughout the entire body.

Easy Ways to Exercise During the Holiday Season

The holiday season offers plenty of opportunities for extra eating and drinking. When busy schedules become even busier in the holiday rush, exercise is often a casualty. When energy consumed is much greater than energy expended throughout the holiday season, unwanted weight gain can occur. Here are a few simple ways to greet the New Year with energy and fitness to spare!

1. Set a specific and measurable fitness goal
   aim to walk a mile for every $10 you spend on gifts
2. Sign up for a race or event
   Turkey Trot or Jingle Bell Run/Ride are found in most cities. Make this an annual tradition with friends and family!
3. Bundle up
   Walk or bike around the neighborhood to view the display of Christmas lights instead of driving.
4. Leave your guilt at home
   Schedule a hard workout on a day when you’ll be attending a party later that night, so you won’t have to refuse treating yourself to a glass of wine or a holiday treat during the party.
5. Try a new sport
   Take a lesson for a sport you have never tried before, like snowboarding, snowshoeing, polar bear swimming, skiing, or ice hockey.
6. Stick with tradition
   Try ice skating, skiing, or sledding with your friends or family
7. Take it outside
   Instead of watching football inside, play flag football outside!
8. Be natural
   Cut down your own Christmas tree from a local tree farm! You will get plenty of activity while walking, chopping, and carrying your tree from the farm to your home.
9. Be a kid again
   Go Christmas caroling, create a snowman, or make snow angels around your neighborhood.
10. Shop until you drop
    Shop in an area where running errands will involve a lot of built-in walking in a festive atmosphere.
11. Plan an active get
    together
    When planning events with friends, suggest a walk in an area where you can look at holiday lights and displays before sitting down for a drink or coffee afterwards.
12. Plan ahead
    To fit in fitness during your holiday travels, find out if your hotel has an exercise room or pool, invest in portable exercise gear to pack in your suitcase, wear a pedometer, and pack a portable music player to motivate you through makeshift workouts.
13. Stay active on the road
    Take a brisk walk through airport terminals, perform yoga in your hotel room, body weight exercises in hotel room, aerobic exercise in room (jumping jacks, jump rope, march in place)
14. Involve your friends and families in your exercise routine
    Socialize during family walks, cycling trips, or an exercise video.
15. Diversify your routine
    It is okay if you cannot stick with your regular gym routine. Adding various resistance band exercises, bosu ball crunches, or stair climbing during your spare time can help keep off extra seasonal weight.

 Do you have any special fitness or nutrition tips that you use during the holidays to stay happy and healthy? If so, share them on our site for others to see!