Lead a Fit and Healthy Life
Archive for March, 2010
Jamie Oliver Shows Kids What’s In A Chicken Nugget And It Ain’t Pretty : TreeHugger
12 years ago
by Stephy
in Health/Nutrition
Watch this clip from Jamie Oliver:
Jamie Oliver Shows Kids What’s In A Chicken Nugget And It Ain’t Pretty : TreeHugger.
Then join the Revolution:
Happy Birthday to my Bea
02 years ago
Happy Birthday to my beautiful Hannah Bea. It’s crazy to think it’s been 8 years since you were born — I am the luckiest Mommy in the world to have you.
I don’t know about you but I still can’t believe I am a Mother. Time stopped in my mind sometime in my 20s so when I stop and think about my daughter, first born, being 8 – it is almost unfathomable in one regard. In the other, I can’t imagine her not even being in my life. I don’t remember life without her.
She makes my life so much more fun – spontaneous – meaningful. I have learned so much from her and have gotten more frustrated from her than I can remember ever being. She is my daughter after all…she’s funny, precocious, sweet, smart, talented, inquisitive and full of wonder. She helped me realize how much I love being around kids. Her middle name was my Grandma Bea’s name and she was a firecracker — just like Hannah.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY HANNAH BEA!
Wake up, It’s Monday
02 years ago
by Stephy
in Fitness/Exercise
It was a very small group today at Plumbline. We had 8 campers show up — it is spring break around here, so a lot of folks are out of town. It really does change the energy of the workout — which brings to life how the right group clearly makes the difference.
warm-up
400m run.
General stretching
Core work: 2 rounds:
scissor kicks
83s
bicycles (moving your torso up and then just slightly towards the ground)
25 bottom up push-ups
Workout 3 rounds 1/min rounds
double box jumps
reverse grip backwards rows/push-ups using the barbell
push press 25lbs/squat thrusts
200m run
65lb back squats
Buying Organics
02 years ago
Running in the AM and then spending a whole day in DC wore me out. On the drive home – the lull of the road can put me right to sleep — and that carried over to our arrival back home. We got home and within 30 minutes, I snuck upstairs and went to bed – in my clothes, full make-up. I didn’t get up until almost 8a this morning. Over 12 hours of sleep — and it felt great.
I’m taking it easy today from working out — Spring Break is upon us here in Loudoun County!
I was talking to my brother this weekend about overall nutrition and food this weekend. One thing he advised me to do – buy Organic Strawberries! Because they do not have thick outer skin, strawberries should be something you don’t scrimp on — they are full of pesticides when you buy regular ones. So while they may be more expensive organic – health-wise it’s worth it.
Read about what foods you should ALWAYS buy Organic from Dr. Weil.
Also I found this really good article in the LATimes about Organics:
Some consumers are more than willing to pay higher prices for organically grown food and other products. But is the extra dollar worth it? The answer may depend upon personal priorities.
By definition, organically grown foods are produced without most conventional pesticides, fertilizers made with synthetic ingredients or sewage sludge. Livestock aren’t given antibiotics or growth hormones. And organic farmers emphasize renewable resources and conservation of soil and water.
via Organic: What it means on different products – latimes.com.
Cherry Blossoms have arrived!
02 years ago
My brother is in town from San Fran for a quick weekend visit before heading back to his lovely wife, Janine. So it was a great chance to head onto the WO&D trail for a nice run with him before we started our day. We managed to do about 5 miles in the crisp early spring weather.
Then we got ready to head to the first weekend of the Annual National Cherry Blossom Festival in Wash, DC. The city was super crowded and it was also the kite festival so that was really cool. We walked from the National History Museum all the way down to the Washington Monument, and the headed to the Jefferson Memorial. My brother had never see it, and with the cherry blossoms in full bloom – it was a gorgeous walk. We saw lots of families, bikes, kites and dogs. Nate kept asking to see a weiner dog — and finally we ran into one that was super friendly. We also stopped and met the cutest basset hound. I love when the city is in full swing – people are friendly and the weather is great.
Heading into the city is a great way to get the family out and exercise. We brought along a football so we stopped a lot along the way to throw around the ball and run around. The National Mall has a ton of open space — and the kids love it. Nate calls Washington Monument a big pencil and Hannah likes to rattle of random facts she has learned from school.
I am glad we got to see the Cherry Blossoms at the beginning of the season. It’s so beautiful to see the thousands of trees lining the city. The kids spent a lot of time climbing the trees – we snapped a ton of pictures. All in all a perfect family day!
Students’ physical fitness associated with academic achievement; organized physical activity linked to lower body fat in girls
12 years ago
Students’ physical fitness associated with academic achievement; organized physical activity linked to lower body fat in girls…
“The take-home message from this study is that we want our kids to be fit as long as possible and it will show in their academic performance,” Cottrell said. “But if we can intervene on those children who are not necessarily fit and get them to physically fit levels, we may also see their academic performance increase.”
Adidas: Sleek, Stylish and Super Sporty
02 years ago
This spring, fitness based fashion is all about color and function with vibrant hues, moisture-wicking technology, slimming silhouettes and comfortable fabrics you’ll want to wear all over – not just to work on your fitness!
Did you know that one of the newest trends is to have the hottest designers team up with sports apparel manufacturers to bring you high fashion work out wear? Right now, Adidas is the only company with collections that combine the latest advances in sports clothing and the latest fashion trends of a top designer.
Adidas by Stella McCartney is sleek, stylish and super sporty!
And of course don’t forget how Adidas is partnering with Star Wars to bring you Star Wars Original
Chinese Scientists Find First-Ever Colon Cancer Biomarkers
02 years ago
(March 22) — A blood test could soon offer an accurate diagnosis of colon cancer’s progression, according to Chinese researchers who say they’ve found two biomarkers that indicate the spread of the disease.
via Chinese Scientists Find First-Ever Colon Cancer Biomarkers – AOL News.
Know the risks and symptoms!
Colorectal cancer screening saves lives. However, many people who are at risk for the disease are not being screened according to national guidelines.
It is estimated that as many as 60% of colorectal cancer deaths could be prevented if all men and women aged 50 years or older were screened routinely. In most cases, colorectal cancer develops from precancerous polyps (abnormal growths) in the colon or rectum. Screening tests can find precancerous polyps, so that they can be removed before they turn into cancer. Screening tests also can find colorectal cancer early, when treatment works best.
The Eeyores of the World
02 years ago
by Stephy
in General Reflections
So what explains those men and women who repeatedly pursue a path that leads to pain and disappointment? Perhaps there is a hidden psychological reward.
via Mind – It’s Self-Defeating Behavior That Done Them Wrong – NYTimes.com.
You probably know at least one person in your life that is always pontificating on why bad things continually happen to them – from relationships, to personal endeavors – nothing goes right. They have a sad story about it all. The Eeyores of the world as I call them. They just don’t get why things happen to them – and if you try to give them advice or guidance – well let’s just say it’s a lost cause, you just can’t win.
This writing business. Pencils and what-not. Over-rated, if you ask me. Silly stuff. Nothing in it.
— Eeyore – Winnie the Pooh
It’s almost as if these Eeyores are happier being miserable, they just don’t see things rationally. I have run into quite a lot of people like this in my life and try to befriend them, offer help, be their voice of reason and I end up frustrated and down-right annoyed at them.
I decided a while ago, that having any sort of real relationship with Eeyores is futile. They look for ways you can hurt them with your actions. Seemingly mundane actions, which to any Joe would be forgettable, these people take to heart. I think their energy is toxic and contagious. You can feel them bring a room down. So – for me, when I realize that someone in my life fits the profile, I tend to keep them at arm’s length.
How about you? Do you know any Eeyores in your own life?
Coordination is the key?!
02 years ago
Plumbline Training boot camp:
warmup 2 rounds
backwards lunges
straight leg lifts (right leg, left leg)
high knees
tuck jumps
core 2 rounds/1 min each
crunches
ab twists going up and down on command
6 inches
50 push-ups
workout 3 rounds/1 min each station/AMRAP with 2 rest/active stations
heavy jump ropes
45lb bb snatch squats/OH squats /back to snatch squats
25lb db lunge squats/straddle hops w/ 25lb dumbells/back to lunge squats
power clean squats 25lb kettlebells
push-ups with your feet in rings/knees to elbows with your feet in the rings
So a few things today that helped me get a better workout. When I was doing the heavy jump ropes, I didn’t realize it then but I was letting the rope hit the ground each time – which actually makes it harder because I would imagine you are lifting & swinging the rope each time instead of just swinging it. So one of ladies, Lidia, clued me in and because of her, I was able to do a lot more reps. I have been doing those things for the longest time the WRONG way — so another example of there is always room to improve!
Michael also worked with me a bit on how I was doing the kettlebell power clean squats. I have mentioned before that I need to constantly work at my coordination. It seems I was just not given the gift of it being good — so we worked a bit on doing the kettlebell power clean squats so that I don’t hit those kbs on the sides of my arms anymore and can get into a squat in one swift move.
This session is a lot about coordination — Snatch Squats are all about doing it in one swift movement without any sort of press with your knees. That really takes concentration and coordination. I tend to think too much about what I am doing and don’t just let it flow…I can’t help it, I’m a thinker/processor — it takes time to change different aspects of how you see the world.. I am working at it every day.
During any session at Plumbline, we do push-ups. They are one of the best exercises you can do for overall strength and fitness training. I found this video about how to improve your push-ups, which may help some that find them really tough. Remember: The only way to improve your push-up is to do push-ups!
And you need no equipment and you can do them while you are watching TV!! No excuses right?
