Karen Leaphart started 2019 unhappy and unhealthy. After a few years of steady weight increase, she found herself at the doctor with an ultimatum: Lose weight in six months or begin medication for high cholesterol. Karen needed serious help. Nothing she had been doing was working to get the weight off, and she wanted lasting weight-loss success for a healthier future.

Basically, cross training involves regularly incorporating a form of exercise other than your sport of choice to strengthen your muscles and decrease your risk of injury. Cross training gives your body a break from the repetitiveness of your usual sport and creates muscular balance. Danielle Pape, certified personal trainer with the Lake Health Integrative Medicine team, gives her best advice on how runners can use cross training to improve their fitness levels: 

When it’s cold and dark outside, you might be tempted to snuggle up inside where it’s warm and cozy instead of venturing out to exercise. But staying active all year is important for your health and well-being. If you have children, it also sets a good example for them, especially if you do activities together.

Lake Health athletic trainers with Lake Health Sports Medicine team give these top tips for staying active during the winter:

Weight loss surgery patients find that success comes from not only the surgery, but from lifestyle changes that their bariatric surgery center help them achieve. Exercise is an important component of healthy living and weight management after bariatric surgery. How soon can you start exercising after weight loss surgery? Bariatric surgeon Dr. Aviv Ben-Meir shares what he recommends for his patients. 

Running can be both challenging and exhilarating at the same time. Brad Morgan, MEd, AT, ATC, with Lake Health Sports Medicine, offers some important tips to ensure your runs are also safe: 

When it's cold out, you might not feel thirsty. You sweat less in cooler temps as well. So how much water do you need to drink in the winter months? John Smith, MBA, MSEd, ATC, LAT, director of Lake Health Sports Medicine, explains: 

If you have osteoporosis-or are at risk for developing it-you may wonder what types of exercise are beneficial for you. Following your doctor’s advice for medication, nutrition and exercise can help strengthen your bones and prevent fractures. 

Anne Owens, BSN, MA, ERYT, a registered yoga teacher with Lake Health, explains how yoga can be safe and improve bone density:

Barre is one fitness trend we're betting is here to stay. While barre can seem intimidating (you may start to picture a ballet class), it is a great workout that you can do without any prior dance experience. It can even be modified for different fitness levels.

We all look forward to the warm days of summer! Sunshine, longer days and warmer weather make spending time outside extra enjoyable. However, for those who like to exercise or work outside, it is important to realize the possible risks.