Do Not Count Calories in the Gym

Myth: I need to burn 300 calories each workout to lose fat.

Truth: Possibly one of the worst inventions for fat loss was the calorie-counting monitor on treadmills, elliptical machines, and stairmasters. Because of these, millions of men and women now obsess about the number of calories burned per session. You've probably even been one of those people, watching it creep up ever so slowly during a slow-cardio session. All the while knowing that you can wipe out a 30-minute, 300-calorie treadmill session with one fell swoop of the Krispy Kreme hand.

Too many people are brainwashed into thinking that if they don't burn 300-500 calories per session, then they won't lose fat. After all, that is what you've been told time and time again in those fluffy fitness/fashion magazines. The problems with this approach to fat loss are numerous. First off, it's difficult to say if the calorie counters are even accurate. A story on CBS news showed that cardio machines overestimate calorie burning by up to 20%.

Next, depending on slow cardio for advanced fat loss is relatively useless and at the very least, inefficient. It takes a long time for you to burn a lot of calories and one study showed that men who only used cardio training for weight loss ended up with a reduced resting metabolism. You are basically undoing the calorie burning by depending only on cardio. On the other hand, guys in the same study that used strength training didn't suffer a reduced metabolic rate.

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Contributed by Gabrielle Dougherty

I am not a fan of reality TV but I do have to admit that I am in love with HGTV programs. A new HGTV show debuted this past week called Cash & Cari.  It's all about antiques and collectibles.  The premise of the show is simple;  Cameras follow treasure hunter and broker, Cari Cucksey each week as she finds, restores and sells hidden treasures for homeowners or for herself.

The Fighter

Story: A look at the early years of boxer "Irish" Micky Ward and his brother who helped train him before going pro in the mid 1980s. This looks like a great movie.  I'm going to see it this weekend for sure!

New Town Gives Back Day

Saturday, December 18
Noon-5 PM

In New Town, we're all so thankful for wonderful patrons and guests like you! We cordially invite the Williamsburg community and beyond to join us this Saturday as we give back!

Aromas named one of the City of Williamsburg's Green Business Challenge Honorees

This year businesses in the the City of Williamsburg participated in the City's first Green Business Challenge. Aromas Coffeehouse and Bakeshop was one of 17 businesses participating to make Williamsburg a greener community.

To qualify Aromas had to check off at least 12 items covering a range of activities in the following areas: Waste Reduction; Water Conservation; Energy Conservation; Transportation; Recycling; and General/Staff Education. Participants were given the opportunity to illustrate the creative ways they're lessening their carbon footprint in our community. So, what are some of the things Aromas did to make their business more green?

Tips for Cutting Costs This Holiday Season from Paula Deen

This is a cute clip one of our readers shared with us this morning from the morning show Fox & Friends featuring Paula Deen from Kingsmill Resort in Williamsburg, Va.

Watch Paula get into the holiday spirit with an early morning cocktail!