City living is often equated with smog, cushy sedentary lifestyles, and processed food, but there are several places in the United States where health is of prime importance to residents. Recreational opportunities, easy-to-use bike lanes, and city health initiatives counteract conceived notions to help city dwellers make the most of their physical health.

In fact, Bloomberg announced just last year that city dwellers actually live longer than the average American. In New York City, America’s most quintessential city, residents outstrip average citizens by two-and-a-half years of life expectancy—that’s 80.6 years versus 78.2 years.

Here are five of America’s metropolises considered the most healthy cities in America.

1. Minneapolis, Minn.

Minneapolis tops many lists of healthy American cities for its success on many fronts. Not only does this Midwestern metropolis boast one of the highest percentages of city land devoted to parks, it also has the most farmers’ markets per capita in the nation.

Less people smoke in Minneapolis, and less residents are considered obese. Minneapolis was also one of the first U.S. cities to add bike trails.

2. Washington, D.C.

Washington, D.C. ranks on the healthiest cities in America list because of its attention to nutrition. In the nation’s capital, residents eat five or more servings of fruits and vegetables every day. They also have a variety of vegetarian options.

D.C. is one of the lowest rates of smoking as well, meaning healthy lungs and clean air, and residents go running more often than in other cities. Even the children benefit—Washington has some of the strictest requirements for physical education in the country.

3. Seattle, Wash.

The Pacific Northwest is known as being an environmentally conscious, clean place to live for a reason. Seattle leads the nation in low levels of pollution as well as heart health—Seattleites regularly take the opportunity to hike and climb nearby Mount Rainier, walk waterfront park paths, and bike to work.

Seattle has also ranked on the top lists for family- and vegetarian-friendly cities, making it a safe place to live as well as a nutritious one. And if you’re into fresh food, Pike Place Market offers an abundance of produce alongside their other unique wares.

4. Denver, Colo.

Nestled in the Rocky Mountains, Denver is an obvious choice for physical fitness because of the proximity to many great hiking trails. This is reflected in the city’s budget—Denver ranks among the top states in park-related expenditures per capita, meaning that residents have top-of-the-line recreational opportunities.

Because of this, Denver is less obese than most of the nation and has a higher percentage of residents who report being physically active. In this city, residents walk and run more often than most cities in America.

5. Portland, Ore.

Another Pacific Northwestern city, Portland matches Seattle in the percentage of residents that bicycle or walk to work. They also have a higher percent of citizens that report themselves as physically active. And as one of America’s wealthiest cities, they benefit from being able to afford organic foods and gym memberships.

There is also a lot of park land and farmers markets to be had in Portland, meaning recreation and good eating.

Keeping Healthy Wherever You Live

You don’t have to live in one of America’s healthiest cities to keep physically fit. While city ordinances banning smoking and public bike trails help, exercise and nutrition are choices that can have high benefits.

However, if you’re looking to move or take a vacation, you could definitely benefit by considering this list. You can find thousands of houses for rent at RentalAds.com, including vacation homes. Or you can simply book a trip and a hotel on Expedia.

Maybe you can learn something in these cities to take home to your own.

More and more, technology is becoming intertwined in all aspects of daily life. Don’t believe it? Try going a whole day without using technology and see how far you get.

Now even weight loss has caught the bug. Sure you can lose weight without the help of technology; but technology does make easy weight loss a possibility.

Instead of fighting the idea of technology assisted weight loss, take a look at what it has to offer you.

Exercise Ideas

Unless you majored in Exercise Science, or studied the topic on your own, chances are good that you’re not an exercise expert. In the past you would’ve had to school, or study, or fork over cash to hire a personal trainer.

Today, all you have to do is get on your computer or smartphone and access exercise ideas on the Internet. Keep in mind that not everything you read about easy weight loss and exercise is going to be accurate or helpful. So do your research and only trust reliable sources. With the help of technology, you can find great exercise tips, techniques, and ideas.

Weight Management

If you have a smartphone, weight management can be a piece of cake. There are hundreds, maybe thousands, of weight loss apps out there. If you’re trying to eat healthy, you can download a calorie counting app, or an app that give you nutritional facts about your food. Want help getting in shape? Just download a personal trainer app.

From pedometers to daily ab workouts to BMI calculators; you name it and there’s probably an app for that. Remember that your technology is supposed to help you, not hold you back. If you’re unable to get all apps that you want, you can do an iPhone jailbreak. This will give you access to hundreds more apps that make weight loss easy.

Mental Support

For some people, focus during their workout is critical. But for others, anything that distracts from their pain and discomfort is welcome. So they watch TV while biking or jogging at the gym. Some people still prefer the solitude of a running in nature, but others like to blast their favorite motivational tunes on speakers or headphones.

If you’re one of the people who needs a good distraction, technology in the form of a music player or TV can make your workout a lot easier.

Technology Makes It Easy

Technology makes communicating, traveling, and working so much easier and more convenient. Easy weight loss can also be made possible by technology.

Using the internet, you can access information about diets, weight loss tips, and diet pills. Smartphone apps can help you train, track your progress, and make healthy diet choices. If you need mental support during your workout, technology can up your motivation and provide distractions.

Weight loss isn’t easy; but it can be made easier with the help of technology.

Cardiovascular Benefits

Sulfurous compounds found in garlic aid in the production of hydrogen sulfide gas in your body. This gas is thought to expand your blood vessels and therefore can lower your blood pressure. Garlic has also been shown to lower your cholesterol and triglyceride levels. Garlic is also known to have anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-clotting properties as well.

Cancer Protection

Garlic has been tested and shown to prohibit the growth of cancer cells in labs. It is also said to help kill cancer cells and prevent blood vessels from forming in these deadly cells.

Iron and Zinc Bioavailability Improved

Both zinc and iron are essential nutrients in our diets. Zinc, among other things, plays a role in immune function, protein synthesis, would healing, enzyme production and activity, DNA synthesis and cell division. Iron is essential to oxygen transport in your body, cell growth, and cell differentiation.

Garlic is said to improve the bioavailability of both of these minerals – this means that garlic makes it easier for your body to absorb these nutrients.

Immune Function Effects

This benefit of garlic is still being researched, but there is evidence that garlic may be used as an antibiotic in cases of infection where current antibiotics do not work. Garlic may also be used to manage H.Pylori bacteria – this is the bacteria that is linked to stomach ulcers.

Pile it On

The next time you make a dish that requires a little garlic, don’t be afraid to add a little extra for a little extra health benefit. Be careful though, garlic is SUPER powerful and you may not get a good night’s kiss if you use too much.

Here are a few advertising tricks and things to look for next time you pull that “healthy snack” off the shelf.

Trans-Fat Free

The Food and Drug Administration allows nutrition companies to claim that there is zero trans-fat if the amount of trans-fat in the product is under a certain amount per serving size. This sounds somewhat harmless so far. However, food companies know that you will buy a product that says trans-fat free over one that doesn’t so they make their serving sizes smaller in order to allow themselves to label their product favorably.

Made With Whole Wheat

Eating whole wheat is definitely healthier that eating the “other stuff.” Products like to put whole wheat on their packaging so you will buy it – there may only be a tiny bit of wheat flower in the product. How you can tell whether the product is really made from mostly whole wheat flower if to look at the ingredient list. It the first ingredient is not whole wheat flower (usually it is white flower, then wheat flower), then it is made with more white flower than wheat. I guess a little is better than none though.

Only 100 Calories per Serving

The trick here is not the amount of calories per serving, it is the serving size. Don’t assume that the one serving size it the amount that a normal person would want to eat. If the serving size on that bag of cookies you just bought is only one-fourth of a cookie, you had better only eat one-fourth of that cookie. Many products make their serving sizes smaller so they can put lower numbers of fat content and such on their labels. How often do you just eat one-fourth of a cookie though?

Just because it is summer doesn’t mean that you get a break from working out, but how do you fit exercise into your busy schedule? Here are a few ways you can fit exercise into your busy day, without having to turn down that party invitation.

Walk

Rather than driving to your next pool party or barbeque, walk there. Is your destination not within walking distance? Drive most of the way to your destination and leave your car parked a few blocks away. That way you are guaranteed a walk before and after your social gathering.

Walking is a great form of exercise and depending on your pace, current fitness level, and weight, you will probably burn about 50 calories per mile. You will burn more if you pick up the pace. Just think, if you park two miles away from your destination, that’s almost 200 calories burned just like that! That may not seem like a whole lot, but if you make parking and walking a habit, those calories can sure add up quickly.

Pick Active Activities

There is nothing more comfortable than staying home on a Friday night, popping in a movie, and eating some popcorn. Instead of picking an activity that adds calories and possibly inches to your waistline, why not pick an activity that will help you burn calories.

Some great activities that you can do either as a couple or with some friends are:

• Rock climbing indoors or outdoors.
• Hiking. If you don’t live by any mountains, just going for a walk to a nearby destination can be enjoyable.
• Take a trip to the park and play a game of ultimate Frisbee, football/catch, or other games that get your heart rate up.
• Swimming. No, this doesn’t mean just going to the pool to lay in the sun. Play a game in the water, tread water, swim a couple lads, or walk around the pool (carefully) to get that heart rate up.

Try a Supplement

There are definitely going to be days that no matter what you do, there is no way to fit in any sort of exercise into your schedule. There is no need to get down on yourself though. Weight loss supplements can help increase the amount of calories burned throughout your day, whether you were active or not.

Weight loss supplements like Lipofuze, can help suppress your appetite, burn fat, and increase your metabolism. So on those days that activity doesn’t make the to-do list, you can be rest assured that you are still doing something to help you stay fit. For more information on Lipofuze, check out http://www.weightlosswand.com/reviews/lipofuze-reviews/.

Have Fun

The most important thing to remember is to have fun. Having fun with your fitness routine will ensure long term compliance and guaranteed health benefits. New outdoor activities are definitely not “traditional” ways to exercise, but they are may more fun.

Get Prenatal Care

Prenatal care is the most important thing you can do for you and your baby. Even if you do not have health insurance, there are ways to get care at cheaper prices. You can always call around to different OBGYN offices or insurance companies (like Medicaid) and ask if they can help you get the care that is so vital to you both.

Take Your Vitamin

Taking a prenatal vitamin can be vital to the health of your baby. You should ideally start a vitamin about three months before you start trying to conceive. Be sure that your vitamin at least has folic acid, calcium, and iron. Other ingredients to look for are vitamins D, C, B12, and E, zinc, niacin, riboflavin, and thiamine.

Which brand is best? The truth is that as long as the vitamin includes the right ingredients, there really isn’t a better or worse brand. Some brands may make you feel nauseous though, so done buy in bulk until you know you can take this pill risk free.

Exercise

If you are able, and you get the okay from your doctor, then exercise. Exercise can help alleviate stress, ease aches, pains and swelling, and keep your digestive system moving along regularly. Women who exercise during pregnancy often have easier pregnancies. You are not the only one getting benefits – your little one is also reaping what you have sown.

Stay Healthy

Staying healthy during your pregnancy is vital to you and your baby’s health. If you have any concerns, don’t hesitate to call your doctor. They will know your individual situation and be able to help you better than anyone.

Are you one of the overweight friends? It’s time for you to lose those extra pounds that you have been carrying around and disprove this statistic. Not sure how to lose weight effectively? Check out these slim down secrets for a start.

Switch out the Soda

A 12 ounce can of regular soda pop contains an average of 140-165 calories. That may not be a whole lot of calories added to your diet in one day. But think about having one can of pop every day for a month or even a year. That is a whole lot of empty calories. Then think about those people who have multiple cans of soda every day.

Think of the potential weight loss they would see if they switched out those empty calories in their soda pop to a calorie free drink like water.

Your body also doesn’t register calories from drinks like it does calories from food. Your body doesn’t get that “I’m full” feeling after a can of pop like it does after you eat a healthy snack.

Try a Supplement

No matter what you hear on the news or read on the internet, not all diet pills are bad. There are diet pills out there that are effective and safe.

One supplement that we recommend you try is Lipofuze. Lipofuze is a very effective diet pill that would dispel any negative rumors about diet pills. If you want to learn more abour Lipofuze, visit http://www.weightlosspills.net/lipofuze/.

Control Your Portions

Think of the last time you went out to eat and then think about how big your plate was. Most restaurants bring out entirely too much food on a huge plate. The huge plates and amounts of food on it make it very easy to over eat.

One way to help keep your portions down to a correct size is to imagine your plate divided up into quarters. Two of those quarters should be fruits and vegetables, one protein, and one carbohydrate. When is the last time that you saw a plate like this?

Get up and Move

One reason that many people are very overweight is that they are very inactive. In order to lose weight you have to burn calories. The best way to do this is to exercise.

Don’t have time to go to the gym? Incorporate exercise into your everyday routine – park at the far end of the parking lot and take the stairs when possible.

The Secret is Out

Ok, so maybe these weight loss tips weren’t secrets at all, but incorporating these things into your routine will help you lose weight. We recommend making one change to your routine at a time so you aren’t overwhelmed with new things to do. Don’t wait until your belly pops another button off of your old shirt – now is the time for you to slim down.

Did you know that the typical hair cell can stay on your head for three to five years? After that, it falls out and is usually replaced by another hair cell.

Because your hair can stay with you for so long, it is very important to take care of it. Here are some hair care tips to help you keep your great looking hair.

Check the Drain

It is natural to have some hair loss every day. On average you will lose between 50 and 200 hairs a day. It is normal to see a small clump of hair in the drain after you take a shower. Keep an eye on the amount of hair that you are losing though.

Losing an increasing amount of hair, especially suddenly, can mean a few things. You may be balding, you may have an infection somewhere in your body, or you may have a nutritional deficiency. Balding is most likely the cause of the hair loss though. Infection and nutritional deficiencies are somewhat rare.

Wrap, Don’t Rub

After your shower, just wrap your hair gently in a towel for a few minutes rather than rubbing your hair dry between your hands with your towel. The rough rubbing can increase the number of split ends you have.

Highlight Naturally

Rather than going to the salon and asking them to put harmful chemicals into your hair for some highlights, try this trick. Try squeezing some lemon juice on your hair, or use a shampoo with citrus ingredients, before going outside in the sun. This can help add highlights to your hair naturally, without damaging it.

Go For It

Don’t be afraid to try something new to help your hair. A little effort can go a long way. Towel wrapping, citrus, and supplements can be the difference between great looking hair, and hair that looks better under a hat.

Some people have tried every tactic under the sun. They have tried every fad diet out there and every new exercise method they can find. But for some people, their efforts aren’t quite enough. They have a hard time losing those last few stubborn pounds and that weight loss plateau seems insurmountable. Some people even stop trying to lose those last pounds. They let themselves think that they are just meant to be fat forever.

Are you at this point? Do you feel like you are at your wit’s end with diet and exercise? Is there anything else you can try?

One More Thing To Try

Don’t give up. There is always something more you can do. Maybe all you need is a little help along your weight loss journey. There are hundreds of weight loss pills out there – maybe one of them is the key for you to lose that spare tire.

Not all supplements are created equally. Some supplements may not work for you while they give others great results. Some supplements may not be effective for anyone. Rest assured there are reliable supplements out there that can help you achieve the results you want. Read more here to learn about the best weight loss supplements.

Benefits of Weight Loss Supplements

• Some weight loss supplements provide you with more energy. This is a wonderful benefit especially if one of your excuses for not exercising is that you are too tired. This extra burst of energy can make all the difference in your weight loss journey. Having more energy also makes you look better. This may also affect your self-esteem.

• Many weight loss supplements provide you with various vitamins and minerals. Most people have some sort of vitamin or mineral deficiency. These can create havoc on your body. Without certain vitamins and minerals, your body cannot function properly. With the right vitamins and minerals, your body works more effectively and may help that fat burn faster.

• Let’s not forget the most important benefit of taking a weight loss supplement – you can lose weight! Weight loss supplements help you lose weight in many different ways. Some suppress your appetite, others block fat absorption, and even others boost your metabolism. You can decide which kind of weight loss supplement will work best for you.

Summary

Don’t be afraid of taking a supplement. There are plenty of supplements out there that are safe and effective. Remember that you will see the best results when you combine exercise and healthy eating habits with your weight loss supplement. Be sure to research each supplement thoroughly and talk to your physician before you start taking any kind of supplement.

Oh how often this is not the case however. We begin with such good intentions. The ring goes on the finger and immediately our brains start ticking to decide how hard we’ll have to work to lose X amount of pounds in X amount of time. We hit the gym the next day and throw out the M&Ms from our pantries.

Then disaster strikes . . .

As we get closer to the big day the food-filled events are a plenty. We bounce from cake tastings, to caterer meetings, to bridal shower after bridal shower, to bachelorette parties, all to land at a fancy rehearsal dinner filled with expensive meats and sugary treats.

There’s Hope

Although it may seem like our fantasized figures will remain figments of our imaginations, all hope is not lost. Starting early and keeping the end goal in mind is the first key to success . . . among these 5 others:

1. Start Drinking Water

Most of us aren’t aware of how much water our bodies actually need to function at its peak. “Peak” doesn’t mean that we stay awake during the day and get thirsty on occasion, but rather “peak” should mean that you feel energized throughout the day, you never feel thirsty, and your body is burning calories at a regular, consistent pace.

The rule of thumb: drink half your weight in ounces of water. For a person weighing 140 pounds, this means at least 70 ounces of water daily.

Staying hydrated will help you drop bloat weight, will keep you energized, will suppress your appetite and fight hunger cravings, and will help flush out toxins that may be causing your body to hold onto excess body fat.

2. Pass on the Bread Basket

A blanket statement rule that can help you shed pounds quickly is to stop eating bread, cereal, and pasta at least 6-8 weeks before the big event. Because grains contain gluten (a protein that is often difficult to digest), the stomach can bloat, making you appear larger and softer than you actually are.

Additionally, high-carb foods like bread, cereal, etc. are often similarly high in calories. Cutting these items out altogether won’t give you opportunity to cheat and when the bread basket comes by at a restaurant, focus on drinking your water instead.

3. Up your Protein Intake

The last thing you want are flabby arms protruding from a strapless dress. Upping your protein content will help you improve your physique in two ways:

1. Protein builds muscle which tones and tightens your physique
2. The more lean muscle you have on your body the more calories you burn overall

Protein is a great diet filler because it takes longer to digest than carbs or fat and keeps the body feeling fuller for longer. Additionally, if protein consumption is incorporated into a regular exercise and lifting regimen, you can tone your body quickly in preparation for the big day.

4. Hit the Weights

While our brains are trained to believe that spending hours on the treadmill will lead us to the land of skinny waists and toned thighs, this is only partially true. While cardiovascular exercise does tone our bodies and burn calories, the minute you step off the treadmill your calorie burn diminishes.

This isn’t the case with weight training however. Contrary to popular believe, lifting weights is not going to cause you to “bulk up” or develop a masculine figure. Rather, lifting weights not only creates incredible tone as your muscles are sculpted and defined, lifting weights builds muscle, and the more muscle you have, the more calories you burn—even while you sleep!

While in wedding prep mode when time is of the essence, we recommend alternating regular cardio workouts with an equal amount of weight training sessions. This way, you’ll burn away body fat and tone the muscles hiding underneath at the same time.

Click here for a list of exercises perfect for the bride-to-be.

Try a Supplement

Although diet pills are often a topic of taboo and generally used to describe the unhealthy practices of waifish celebrities, there are diet supplements on the market that can truly help you reach your wedding dress goals.

One that we’ve found to work especially well for brides-to-be is called HydroxyStim and is manufactured by a trusted company, MuscleTech. HydroxyStim contains mild stimulant ingredients that will give you an instant boost in energy, will suppress your appetite, and will help you burn calories like never before.

When combined with a low-calorie balanced diet and regular exercise routine, HydroyStim can be a future bride’s best friend while battling the buldge to fit into that white dress.

To be sure you’re getting your money’s worth before the big day, you can read HydroxyStim reviews.

Walk Down the Aisle

If you’ve prepped correctly and paced yourself leading up to the big day then the occasional cupcake at a bridal shower or glass of champagne at a rehearsal is not going to ruin all of your hard work.

However, keep moderation in mind and don’t fall victim to the mentality: “It’s my special day so I’ll eat whatever I want leading up to it” mentality, because it will just leave you sad and not feeling as fit as you could feel when you walk down the aisle.

Your wedding day is a day that will forever ingrain itself in your mind and in photo-albums. Make the commitment now to looking and feeling your best when that day in white rolls around.