Dream Careers For Those Who Love Fitness!

It feels like a bit of magic when you find a career path that suits you. But, if you are a generally active and sporty person, and your interests span a few sectors - how do you know which one is for you? If you are interested in fitness careers that pay well first, and the style of training second, then the chances are you won’t have too much trouble finding something to match your personality.

Here is a list of some great careers that you can choose from that will combine your passion and the need to pay bills.

Photo by bruce mars on Unsplash

Health & Wellness Coach

This one is pretty cool because it combines knowledge of training different body types, nutritional information, but combines it with a slightly more holistic approach. This isn’t about strict fitness and getting those muscles ripped, it’s about the overall wellness of you. Health and Wellness coaches help you create attainable goals, form health habits, signpost people to other sources like trainers and physiotherapists - should they be needed. If you chose this path, you would be helping people towards a healthier lifestyle.

Kinesiologist

A what now? Kinesiology is the study of physical activity. As a kinesiologist, you’ll have a wealth of knowledge in leisure, recreation and exercise physiology. The main aim here is to work alongside athletes to get them into absolute peak performance. Your in-depth knowledge of biomechanics will help them navigate through anything that they might feel is holding them back. This isn’t just about watching highly trained athletes run on treadmills though. You can go on to help in the manufacturing process of athletic equipment, or work in academia.

Physical Therapist

This is an incredibly rewarding role. It isn’t about building big muscles or breaking personal best times on the track. This career is about helping people rebuild their lives. It might be something simple like a tight ankle after injury, but it could also be helping people to walk again after a severe injury.  There is a deep sense of purpose that comes with being able to study the body and bring someone back to their former capabilities. This role comes with a lot of stability, as you’ll likely work in a hospital setting or in a private practice.

Yoga Teacher

This role is as much about mindfulness and finding calm and relaxation as it is about the movements. If you’re going to teach yoga, then you probably already have a lot of experience from attending classes yourself. You’ll likely work in yoga centers, health centers, local sports halls, or maybe your own studio one day. You’ll be able to lead a group of people who are all looking to relaxing, unwind, and stretch out the stress of the day. You’ll be a master at keeping people relaxed, and your active listening skills will be super sharp. There are many different types of yoga, so you’ll need to choose which one suits your lifestyle and career path moving forward before you decide.

Physical Education Teacher

There is nothing as satisfying as shaping and inspiring young minds. There is often a group of children who don’t love P.E, but there will be a few that shine. Studies show that the more physically active students are, the better that they perform academically too. Teaching P.E isn’t always the most natural thing as you get into the high school ages, the kids are full of energy, but if you know how to channel it in a positive and purpose-filled way, this can be a great career choice.

Nutritionist

What is an exercise program without the right eating habits? While most fitness trainers and even health and wellness coaches have some of the relevant skills, a nutritionist is at the top of their game. They have all the knowledge to help people lose or gain weight in a healthy way, the ability to curate and eating program for a perfect ‘gains’ schedule too. A Nutritionist will help their clients make smart decisions around their food at all times. You might be self-employed in this role or work at a spa or in a hospital, depending on your qualifications.

Strength and Conditioning

If you are eyeing up this role, the chances are you have a pretty strict gym ritual. You know what to eat and when to eat it, how many reps you’re doing before you even start and a passion for protein. A Strength and Conditioning Specialist will help athletes and weight lifters improve their performance through specific testing. You will have an in-depth knowledge of how the body works, and which muscle groups are best used to complete a particular task. You’ll be able to coach professional athletes be faster, stronger, improve their power and agility too - all while preventing injuries and meeting their personal goals.

Fitness Magazine Editor

Of contributor. If you have a passion for fitness, the chances are you can find an excellent publication that would love to have your input. You’ll be combining creative flair with knowledge. Keeping up to date with new scientific discoveries that make an impact on the health and fitness word it a must. You’ll interview experts, head to conventions, and maybe even test some new products out yourself.

Gym Owner

This one might seem like taking a dive off the deep end, but really it’s just logical. You have a passion for helping people achieve their goals, as well as reaching your own. It makes sense that you would want to have a space to do that. Of course, this requires a little more knowledge in business, but with the right support, you would be able to create a popular and successful gym.

When it comes to a career in fitness, there are a lot of options. For the most part, you will always be working with people to help them make improvements to their lives - and that always matters.

Thrift Store Shopping After the Orthodontist Appointment

This morning I took my 14-year-old daughter to the orthodontist. The purpose of the visit was to take pictures of her teeth/bite with a digital camera, as well as X-rays, so we could get a treatment plan going and figure out financials. You see, this is going to be our family's fourth turn on the Braces Merry-go-Round.

Almost-18-year-old Joel is on his second round of braces (I think he started when he was like 11 or 12). (fun fact: did you know you can't join the military if you have braces? I might bribe the orthodontist to keep those braces on past Joel's 19th birthday LOL)

Michael is 16 and got his braces on fairly recently … last fall maybe.

Callie should get hers put on late June after a baby tooth is pulled or falls out on its own and we get the down payment together.

*Sidenote: payments start soon for my own double tooth-pulling situation by an oral surgeon and subsequent bone grafts and coming implants.

Callie had been begging me to go to our thrift store "in town" … which means 10 minutes away when you live in the country-ish. I said, "Hey, we are in this fancy part of town, so why don't we go to the Fancy Goodwill!" She agreed.

It was just okay. She found a three shirts and a cardigan for about $20, and she spent her own money. I bought her some barely used shoes for $9 and found myself a huge black bag for $15 (would've been $40 at Target, and my other one is falling apart; if the straps hold on this new bag from the weight I like to put into my bags, we are good to go).

We had a nice time together … some alone time like a little mother/daughter date. I hunted for a massive slow cooker, a hair dryer, dish drainer and a Waterpik to no avail. I have this ongoing thrift store list. It would be a garage sale list if I ever went to garage sales anymore. I probably need to start so we can save money.

So I ask you: do you go thrifting? Yes, it's a verb.

Do you do it for the hunt aspect or for the money-saving aspect? I for one am addicted to my Amazon and Target lifestyle where I can quickly and easily get anything I want but at a price. I should have checked the book section at the thrift store today; might have found some books we are planning on reading in our homeschool in the coming years.

**Callie likes the hunt aspect. I like the saving money part of it.

Hidden Treasures In Downtown Los Angeles

Downtown Los Angeles isn't celebrated in the way that, say, downtown New York or Cincinnati are. People imagine that the urban center of LA is a gang-dominated wasteland where tourists are escorted around in armored vehicles. But, that is actually a long way from the truth. After all, some of the largest businesses in America have chosen downtown LA to locate their offices.

Because downtown LA has such a bad rap, and because other locations, like Hollywood and Beverly Hills, have stolen its thunder, it's now full of hidden treasures for those intrepid enough to go looking for them. Check out these fantastic places you would never guess were located right at the heart of the City of Angels.

LA Boulders

LA Boulders is a company located in downtown LA which runs an indoor climbing facility. It is, therefore, the perfect way to work off a few calories if you visit one of the areas many fast food joints for lunch.

Pixabay

LA Boulder wants to appeal to as broad an audience as possible, and so it offers people the opportunity to try out climbing walls of varying difficulty. The beginner climbing walls are still hard if you're not used to heaving your body up vertically, and you'll quickly start to feel the burn in your arms. But it's still a fun day out and one that you don't want to miss if you're in the area.

Velveteria

Did you know that you could paint in velvet? Probably not. But that's the whole point of LA's Velveteria, a gallery dedicated to velvet-based art.

It's not a small place either. The venue is home to some 3,000 original paintings - enough to keep you occupied for a full afternoon. The Velveteria is open all days except Tuesday.

LA Broadway

If you've ever searched for cheap theater tickets, you will no doubt have come across LA's very own Broadway. LA's Broadway is a knock-off version of the real thing in New York, right? Wrong. It turns out that LA has had its own theater district for just as long as New York, but like so much else in downtown LA, it's been overshadowed by other parts of the city.

Nickel Diner

Flickr

If you're on a diet, you might want to stop reading now. The Nickel Diner is not a diet-friendly place. It is, however, just the sort of dive you want to find when you're on holiday and treating yourself to pleasant culinary experiences.

Top items on the menu include strawberry crumble donuts, pulled pork sandwiches and homemade biscuits with jam. Is maple-glazed bacon more your thing? Fear not: you can get that here too.

Biddy Mason Park

Geograph

L.A. doesn't have an equivalent of New York's Central Park, but it does have the Biddy Mason Park, located just off Broadway. The park is a tribute to Biddy Mason, a courageous woman who fought for equal rights for African Americans in the nineteenth century. You can find out more about her life and struggles inscribed on murals in the park.

4 small ways in which can improve your overall health

Make sure you get enough sleep, wherever that may be ;-)

We all have those moments when we decide to make grand and sweeping changes to our lifestyles. That Monday morning when after gouging on pizza all weekend, we vow to lose 20 pounds in the next month. That point three days after payday when we’ve already spent half our pay cheque on cigarettes and decide to quit smoking with immediate effect. That afternoon when we see a celebrity in a photo shoot rocking abs made of granite and decree that is what we want to look like.


The trouble with these huge targets is that sometimes, they just aren’t achievable. What can be more beneficial in terms of improving your health can be to set much smaller goals that are easier to incorporate into your daily routine and will improve a broad range of aspects of your health.


Here are four small ways in which you can improve your overall health.


De-stress on a regular basis

One of the biggest dangers to our health is stress, and that is why we should try and combat it every day of our lives. There are many different methods with which you can combat stress, but sometimes, the best ways are the simplest. Finding just 10 minutes in your day to do an activity you enjoy will make you happier and prevent stress levels building. Failing that, you can use various herbs and plants to de-stress. A cup of chamomile tea a day will help you relax while other herbs that can be used as de-stressing aids include kava, lemon balm, and kratom which is available from the San Francisco kratom store.


Hide the salt

When you sit down at the dinner table, what’s the first thing you reach for? If the answer is the salt shaker, then you could be one of the 90 percent of Americans who consumes too much salt. An excess of salt can lead to serious health complications later in life, largely arising from increased blood pressure. Hiding the salt at mealtimes can help you avoid sprinkling it all over your dinner. If you think you can’t live without salt, then try tasting your food before you salt it – you might realize that actually, it doesn’t need anything extra on top.


Get an early night

Not many people manage to get the seven or more hours of sleep that is recommended for an adult to remain healthy. Over time, not hitting the target can increase your risk of suffering a heart attack or stroke. Treat yourself to an early night every now and again to give your body the proper rest it needs to fix and repair itself. Even going to bed 15 minutes earlier than you normally do can over the course of the month give you 17 hours more sleep, which can make a huge difference.


Take the stairs

Next time you are faced with the choice of elevator or stairs, don’t take the easy option. Climbing stairs will get your heart rate rising, your blood pumping and give you a priceless cardiovascular workout as part of a journey you would have had to make anyway. Some medical experts recommend that you take 10,000 steps a day and shunning the elevator can make a big difference to your chances of reaching that target.

3 Common Newborn Baby Conditions To Look Out For

Image source

As a new mom, the chances are that you spend hours every single day just staring at your little one when they are sleeping, just keeping a check on their breathing, watching their little chest go up and down, and marveling at this tiny human being that you have created. Being a new parent is wonderful, yet daunting and scary. While you know that they will be fine in their crib as you put them to bed, you still go in and check on them every hour when they first come home. This is entirely normal. The unconditional love that you feel for your little darling is indescribable. It’s vital that when you do look after your little bundle of joy that you are always checking them over and keeping an eye out for common conditions that a lot of newborns have. By discovering them early, you can lessen their impact and keep your little one healthy and comfortable.

Skin

Your baby’s skin will be delicate when they first arrive into the world. After all, they have been used to the comfy environment of your tummy for nine months. Because it is so fragile, the harsh world can be a little harmful to it. Newborn babies can suffer from a little eczema or peeling skin. The latter is rarely painful but you can prevent the skin from becoming dry by using Mustela newborn skin peeling moisturizers and baby oil to keep the skin hydrated and soft. For eczema, the skin may need a more medicated approach, so a visit to the doctor is usually in order. This condition may itch, and you want to keep your baby as comfortable as possible. Ensure that you give them short baths, pat them dry rather than rub, and apply an oil to lock in moisture.

Colic

Colic is often a term used to describe times when a baby cries a lot, but there is no immediate cause. You may have fed, winded and comforted your baby but to no avail. It can be traumatic as a new parent to see your baby wailing, clenching their fists, going red and getting hot. Colic usually rectifies itself by six months old, but you will still want to do anything in your power to ensure that you can lessen the occurrences. Always rock your baby gently, keep them close to comfort them, wind them after every feeding and consider trying colic drops as a soother. Colic is no reflection on you as a parent, and doctors themselves are confused by the condition.

Diaper Rash

Common in little ones, diaper rash appears on your little one’s bottom. Newborn babies have to come into contact with many different materials when they enter the world, but sometimes diapers can be a little snug, or the material is a little chafing. Ensure that you moisturize every time you change your baby’s diaper. Consider a little aloe vera as a natural substitute if your baby has sensitive skin, and look into more eco-friendly washing powders and reusable diapers. This can lessen the symptoms and prevent further irritation.

Welcoming your little cherub into your home is a joyous occasion. Being a new mom, while overwhelming, is wonderful. Take some time to enjoy your baby while always being vigilant and on the lookout for any potential health problems.