Top 10 Ways to Practice Good Gym Hygiene & Etiquette

   Attending a local gym can be a great way to establish and maintain an exercise program. With many people coming and going throughout the facility in a day, it’s important to do your part in keeping it a safe and healthy environment. We’re going to take a closer look at the top 10 ways to practice good gym hygiene and etiquette. Wash Your Hands Wash your hands before and after your exercise session to avoid bringing germs in or out of the gym. Keep a bottle of hand sanitizer or wipes in your gym bag for when you’re in a pinch. Wipe Down Equipment The number one way you can avoid germs and be courteous to others is to wipe down your equipment with provided disinfectants before and after you use it. Be cautious when spraying disinfectant around electronic [...]

Move More Month-April

Did you know April is Move More Month? The American Heart Association (AHA) established this wellness campaign to raise awareness of the importance of physical activity. As nature is springing back to life this season, it’s time to relight our motivation for more movement.  How Much Exercise is Recommended? You might be wondering how much exercise is recommended. The American College of Sports Medicine and The Department of Health encourages adults to participate in at least 150 minutes of moderately intense aerobic activities along with at least two days of strength exercises each week. If you’re beginning, start small, then gradually work towards this amount. Even short bouts of activity can benefit your health! For more information on exercise recommendations for all ages and populations check out the Department of Health’s Guidelines HERE.  5 Ways to Sneak Movement into Your [...]

Easy Weeknight Meals

Make Time for Dinner Back to school brings the return of homework, weeknight sports practices, and very little time for much else. Although preparing dinner may feel like a chore, there are various strategies for making dinner both healthy and easy during a busy school week. If preparing a healthy meal comes at the expense of spending quality time with family, household chores, or squeezing in time to exercise, then these easy weeknight meal tips may be for you. Tip #1: Plan Creating a plan for weeknight dinners will prevent the dread from setting in when hearing “what are we having for dinner tonight?” Taking a small amount of time during the weekend to plan out each dinner will make sure you are ready for the week. Planning out meals also helps pull together your grocery list effortlessly. Fun meal [...]

Sleep Hygiene- Your Questions Answered

Had to finish the book, lost down the social media rabbit hole, or “I just can’t sleep”. Any of these sound familiar? People have so many things that occupy their time now, that sleep might be an afterthought for many.  But activity at the cost of sleep is a mistake.  Many people fail to realize that the 25-35% of each day we spend sleeping is productive, and crucial to living an energetic and successful life. Like our diet and exercise habits, it can be difficult to make sleep a priority. Sleep gives our body and mind the chance to repair, rebuild and recover from the events of our daily life. While you sleep, your body repairs itself from the stress of the day. A productive night’s sleep helps our body in several ways: Renews energy. Boosts the immune system and [...]

Natural Ways to Maximize Energy

Energy is both a physical and mental resource. If you use caffeine or another energy product on a daily basis, take a moment to understand the potential health effects of your daily habit. Also understand that there are many positive strategies that can help you boost energy, productivity and concentration. These lifestyle habits also allow you to minimize the use of artificial stimulants and reduce the potential for harmful side effects if they are used. Here are our Top 7 Caffeine-Free Energy Boosters: Fiber + Protein While simple carbohydrates found in energy bars and drinks boost blood sugar quickly, they often leave you feeling depleted shortly after the initial energy boost. Instead of buying these so-called energy products, eat whole foods for energy. Complex carbohydrates, also known as high fiber foods, are a better choice for sustained energy especially when [...]

Recipe- Creamy Mango Avocado Smoothie

What’s better than enjoying a nutritious fruit smoothie on a warm summer’s day? This recipe is loaded with in season fruit such as mango and avocados. Avocados are a nutrition powerhouse packed with heart healthy fatty acids that help brain function. Mangoes deliver antioxidants like vitamin A that help lower our risk of developing cancer.  Creamy Mango Avocado Smoothie  Prep time: 1 min Cook time: 2 min  Servings: 2 Ingredients:  ½ large Haas avocado ½ cup mango, diced ½ frozen banana 2 tbsp hemp seeds  1.5 cups skim milk  Dash of vanilla  Ice as needed Optional toppings: coconut flakes, chia seeds, granola Instructions:  Peel avocado and discard pit.  Blend all ingredients together in a blender.  Enjoy plain or in a bowl with toppings.  Calories 234 Total Carbohydrates 26grams, Protein 11grams,  Fat 11grams   This recipe is inspired by our very [...]

Plant-Based Red Meat Consideration

Plant-Based Red Meat Considerations You can now find ultra-realistic plant-based hamburgers at national fast-food chains, and soon, realistic replacements for chicken and seafood. These foods offer critical environmental benefits since their production requires up to 99% less water, 46% less energy, and 93% less land than an equal amount of animal-based protein, according to industry-funded research. Still, their swift introduction into the marketplace didn't give enough time for well-designed scientific studies to assess their impact on our long-term health. As registered dietitians, here's what we're considering about the new plant-based red meat alternatives. Lack of Research In contrast to diets high in red meat and processed meats, plant-based diets generally reduce the risk for heart disease, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, and certain types of cancers. But research that came to these conclusions only considered conventional plant-based diets—ones that [...]

Be Well Solutions named a Top Workplace for Fifth Consecutive Year

The Plain Dealer Names Be Well Solutions a Winner of the Northeast Ohio area 2018 Top Workplaces Award Cleveland, OH - June 18, 2018 – Be Well Solutions has been awarded a 2018 Top Workplaces honor by The Plain Dealer. The list is based solely on employee feedback gathered through a third-party survey administered by research partner Energage, LLC (formerly WorkplaceDynamics), a leading provider of technology-based employee engagement tools. The anonymous survey measures several aspects of workplace culture, including alignment, execution, and connection, just to name a few. “Top Workplaces is more than just recognition,” said Doug Claffey, CEO of Energage. “Our research shows organizations that earn the award attract better talent, experience lower turnover, and are better equipped to deliver bottom-line results. Their leaders prioritize and carefully craft a healthy workplace culture that supports employee engagement.” “Be Well Solutions [...]