Welcome to the category of my blog simply called ‘Healthy Tips.’ Many times, when I write articles for various publications, I need to find sources for the story as seen in Yahoo Shine (click here) or PBS (click here) about staying healthy. I was looking for experts and non-experts to chime in and give their favorite ‘tips’ to help kids and adults lead a healthy lifestyle.

The feedback for various stories was amazing. The sources had some fantastic points of view that could not be ignored, and I thought their opinions should be viewed on the Your Health Journal web site.

So, enjoy my new series, with some ‘great’ insight from some ‘great’ people giving exceptional and educational points of view.

Any good well-rounded workout plan needs to have three components to it: strength, cardio and flexibility. Exercises like running cover cardio and yoga covers flexibility. You can get strength training by lifting weights at the gym, working out to a strength DVD, doing a circuit workout that requires your body weight or trying a special workout for 2013, which gives you cardio and strength training in just 20 minutes. If three types of workouts seem like a lot to handle, it doesn’t have to. An example of a great workout routine is 30 minutes of running on Monday, 30 minutes of yoga on Tuesday, 30 minutes of strength training on Wednesday, 30 minutes of yoga on Thursday and Friday, 30 minutes of strength training and running or cross-training on Saturday and Sunday as a rest day. Just remember that no matter how you structure a weekly exercise schedule, there should be one to two days off a week for the body to recover. It is important to not lift weights on back-to-back days—and always listen to your body! Follow these general guidelines and you’re less likely to get injured, be stronger overall and even improve your running workouts.

– Jenn Walters, Co-founder and editor of the popular lifestyle health & wellness site, Fit Bottomed Girls