Mevio Women

Stong, sturdy, muscular, sleek, sexy and crucial – Amy Mac talks about building a fit back on this episode of Fit Life.

So many people struggle with back pain, and so much of it is preventable with proper exercises and stretching. If people gave equal attention to the back as they do the abs, they could save themselves a lot of misery.

Here are a few exercises to help you keep your upper and lower back in shape.

The Cobra or Reverse Crunch works to strengthen and stretch the upper back muscles.

The Deadlift strengthens the lower back, a source of instability and pain for a lot of people.

The Bent Over Row is a great way to work the back muscles. It can be done by people at any level with the size weight of their choosing.

Adding any or all of these back exercises to your workout routine will help to strengthen your back and increase flexibility, ensuring better posture and alignment, and help to prevent injuries. Watch the video for demonstrations.

Obviously, it’s a good idea to check with your health care practitioner before starting any new exercise program even if you’re young and healthy. It’s doubly important if you have any existing conditions, particularly with your back.

Get more tips and ideas on living the fit life at WithAmyMac.com.

Mevio Movies has the trailer for The Lucky One, starring Zac Efron and Taylor Schilling.

The Lucky One is based on the novel of the same name by Nicholas Sparks. Zac Efron plays a U.S. Marine named Logan Thibault who returns home to Colorado from his third tour of duty in Iraq, bringing along the one thing that he believes kept him alive through it all – a photograph that he found of a woman he doesn’t even know. Carrying the picture, good luck seems to follow him wherever he goes and keeps him safe through near death experiences.

After coming home, Thibault decides to walk to Louisiana from Colorado to find the woman in the picture. He finds Beth (played by Taylor Schilling) in a small town and shows up at her door. He takes a job at her family-run kennel, with she not knowing that he has the photograph of her. Their budding romance is complicated by an ex-husband who does everything he can to break them up.

Cast:

• Zac Efron as Lt. Colonel Logan Thibault
• Taylor Schilling as Beth Clayton
• Blythe Danner as Nana
• Jay R. Ferguson as Keith Clayton
• Riley Thomas Stewart as Ben Clayton
• Joe Chrest as Deputy Moore
• Jillian Batherson as Amanda
• Whitney Forsythe as Logan’s Sister
• Russell Durham Comegys as Roger Lyle
• Robert Hayes as Victor Miles
• Cameron Banfield as Younger Marine

Rated PG-13 for some sexuality and violence.

The Lucky One Official Site

Something I recently discovered has changed my life forever. Ginger Chews by The Ginger People is an amazing candy and therapy for the soul. These “sweet-hot ginger” candies are so delicious and soothing for the throat. I first got them when I had the flu, and they really helped calm the burning sensation in my throat. But I realized I loved the taste so much, I kept eating them even after I became healthy. They help with tummy aches too! If you’re a ginger fan, you HAVE to get your hands on these!

Jesse McCartney is my favorite all around celebrity– he sings, he writes and he even acts! He is starring in a brand new horror film called “Chernobyl Diaries“. It’s from the same guy who did Paranormal Activity, Oren Peli. The movie is about a group of friends who travel to Europe and decide to visit the site of the Chernobyl disaster. Needless to say, they encounter some crazy phenomenons when they get trapped. If you’re into horror movies, this is sure to be a must-see! Check out the intense trailer below! In theaters May 25th!

Lucia is back with another BE tip of the week. This time it’s all about complaining, and how to stop doing it.

It’s really easy sometimes to look at all of the things in your life that are not perfect, but if you dwell on those imperfections sometimes you miss the best parts of life. Lucia gives the example of someone who focuses on the negative and annoying things about her spouse, so she doesn’t even notice the kind and sweet things he’s doing.

We’ve all fallen into the cycle of negativity occasionally, and some of us are more prone to it than others. Here are five tips to help break the habit of chronic complaining.

Don’t say it. Even if you’re thinking it. Take a three day break from stating any complaint aloud. Just three days. You’ll be surprised at how much better you’ll feel about things, and at how much better you’ll cope – finding ways to actually solve important problems rather than kvetch about them.

Make a list of good things. It may sound silly, but it really does work. Get out a note pad and a pen, and write down the positive things about your life, and about the person or the situation that is aggravating you. This simple practice helps you see the reality more clearly and in balance.

Get active. Sometimes negativity and complaining can be brought on or exaggerated by stress. Take a break, go for a walk, get out in the fresh air, pet your dog, play with a kid, smell some flowers. Life is good, yes?

Do something nice for yourself. If you find yourself complaining about others, it may be that you’re secretly envious or comparing yourself to them. Do something nice for yourself. Maybe it’s a treat of some sort, or taking time for a favorite activity, or maybe some retail therapy. Remember that you’ve actually got it pretty good.

Do something to change things. Here’s the most important thing to remember when it comes to complaining. It’s a waste of time. If there’s something wrong that’s truly worth complaining about, then maybe it’s time to actually do something about it. Keep in mind the words of the serenity prayer. “Grant me the serenity to accept the things I can’t change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.”

Do you have tips on how to quit complaining and start living? Share them in a comment.

Amy Mac shares her favorite exercises for sexy shoulders on this episode of Fit Life.

Amy says that when it’s time to go strapless with dresses and shirts the key to pulling it off is sexy shoulders. Though many women ignore this area while exercising for fear of bulking up, there’s nothing to fear. Although any of these exercises would be fine for men as well, they’re perfect for getting a women’s shoulders into shape for swimsuits and strapless tops or dresses. Watch the video to see Amy demonstrate each of the three exercises below.

Standard Shoulder (Military) Press - The oldest and simplest exercise for working your shoulders, but it still works. If you really want to challenge yourself, you could sit on a stability ball while doing it.

Modified Side Raise - If your elbows tend to bother you while doing regular side raises, then modifying the move just a bit makes it easier, but still effective on working your shoulders.

The Arnold Press - It’s a great way to strengthen your shoulders. Keep the move controlled and steady, and you’re sure to see results.

Just a few minutes a day, a few days a week with these three gems will have your shoulders turning heads all Summer long.

For more tips and information on how to live the fit life, visit WithAmyMac.com.

Though it’s not widely observed in Mexico outside of Puebla, it’s become one of the more popular holidays in the United States in recent decades, and an opportunity for all Americans to celebrate the rich Latino culture and heritage. Here are some easy recipes to add a little spice to your Cinco de Mayo celebration.

Let’s start with the libation. Why not dress up the brew (and lighten up on the alcohol) by making Micheladas? Rim a glass with lime and kosher salt. Fill with ice, then add some lime juice, worcestershire sauce, and Mexican hot sauce. Top it off with your favorite beer or NA.

The flavor is somewhere between a Margarita and a Bloody Mary – bright, tart, a little sweet, a little salty, a little spicy. This delicious concoction is a nice departure from same old same old, plus the addition of the ice will help your guests pace themselves and avoid any lingering Sunday morning aftereffects.

The Michelada is a perfect accompaniment to the rest of our recipes too.

Next, a chip’n'dip classic. For those who love to chow down on something salty and crunchy with a South-of-the-Border flavor profile, you can’t go wrong with Velveeta Rotel dip. Though there’s nothing “authentic” about this “chili con queso” it’s a tried and true Texas favorite. Melt a pound of the Velveeta in a crock pot, add a can of the diced tomato/green-chili mix and stir it up. Serve with your favorite corn chips. The diet-conscious will feel better if you have some crunchy veggies available for dipping too.

If you want something hearty on hand, here’s another crock-pot favorite that’s sure to please – three bean chili. Start with a chopped onion and a couple cloves of minced garlic sautéed in a couple teaspoons of olive oil. Put those in your crock pot with two cans of dark red kidney beans, a can of black beans and a can of pintos (all 15-ounce cans). Add two 28-ounce cans of chopped tomatoes, a chopped green pepper, 1 cup of picante sauce, 2 Tablespoons of unsweetened cocoa, and a package of chili seasoning. Sometimes we’ll add a can of beer, some dried cayenne peppers and smoke seasoning as well. Salt and pepper to taste. Again, you have to let it cook all day, or it’s fine to start it on low the night before. You can toss in some rolled oats toward the end of the cooking time for additional texture.

We serve this with plain yogurt and cilantro when we’re keeping it healthy, or shredded cheddar and a dollop of sour cream when we’re not. Tabasco or Cholula? Yes, please.

That leaves dessert. This year we’re going out on a limb and keeping it spicy, with Jalepeño brownies. Use your favorite brownie recipe (or even boxed mix) and add a little cinnamon. Fold in some chopped walnuts and the diced peppers (no seeds) and bake per usual.

Bring on the Vicente Fernández playlist, and mucho gusto!

What are you doing for the Cinco de Mayo? Do you have favorite recipes to share? Be sure to leave a comment.

It’s help with the fight against fat on this episode of Fit Life with Amy Mac.

Each year, kids become heavier and unhealthier, many kids are even dealing with health issues like Type 2 Diabetes and chronic knee and back pain. We can’t change the situation over night but there are things we can do to get kids moving and make fitness fun.

Here are just 3 ways that we can get kids moving and on the right track to fight obesity and avoid health issues.

Make learning a physical activity. Learning doesn’t have to mean sitting at a desk or in front of a computer screen. Physical learning games, such as reciting the alphabet or practicing multiplication tables while jumping rope, can be a great way to get kids moving while they learn.

Make playtime fun again. By allowing kids to earn outside play points, rewarding them with hikes, etc., shows them that physical activities are desirable and fun. Grownups can lead by example, by getting excited about family walks and other time spent outdoors together.

Educate yourself and your kids about physical activity and eating healthy. There are some great resources available, including ChooseMyPlate.gov to help with this. Knowledge concerning healthy lifestyles is the key to changing bad habits, developing good ones and getting children off to a good start toward lifelong fitness.

Find more health and fitness tips and exercise videos at WithAmyMac.com.

Mevio Movies has the trailer for The Raven, starring John Cusack as Edgar Allan Poe.

What if a series of grisly murders were being committed that were patterned, in excruciating detail, on the stories of Poe? What if these murders were happening in Baltimore, in Poe’s own era? What if investigators enlisted Poe’s aid to help them solve the cases and prevent any further bloodshed? That’s the premise of The Raven, which opens in the U.S. this Friday, April 27th.

In the 19th century, a serial killer begins murdering victims using methods from Edgar Allan Poe’s stories. Poe himself teams up with a young Baltimore detective to get inside the murder’s mind and try and stop more of his fictional works becoming grizzly fact. As the hunt intensifies, Poe’s own love, Emily Hamilton, becomes a target for the killer.

Cast:

• John Cusack as Edgar Allan Poe
• Alice Eve as Emily Hamilton
• Oliver Jackson-Cohen as PC Cantrell
• Luke Evans as Inspector Emmett Fields
• Brendan Gleeson as Colonel Hamilton
• Kevin McNally as Reynolds
• Sam Hazeldine as Ivan
• Pam Ferris as Mrs. Bradley
• Sergej Trifunović
• Ian Virgo
• Brendan Coyle as Reagan
• M. Emmet Walsh as Geselbracht

Tagline: The only one who can stop a serial killer is the man who inspired him.

Rated R for bloody violence and grisly images.

But hey, at least it’s a Cusack movie, right?