Lead a Fit and Healthy Life
News to Note
How Bad Do You Want It?
02 months ago
Yesterday, I read this NYT article: It’s the Sugar, Folks
Sugar is indeed toxic. It may not be the only problem with the Standard American Diet, but it’s fast becoming clear that it’s the major one.
A study published in the Feb. 27 issue of the journal PLoS One links increased consumption of sugar with increased rates of diabetes by examining the data on sugar availability and the rate of diabetes in 175 countries over the past decade. And after accounting for many other factors, the researchers found that increased sugar in a population’s food supply was linked to higher diabetes rates independent of rates of obesity.
In other words, according to this study, obesity doesn’t cause diabetes: sugar does.
There are more problems that we need to address of course, but sugar definitely plays a large role in creating our obese society. And we already know that diet is 80% of the health and wellness equation. The other 20% – exercise! You have got to move your body, challenge your body –and when I say body, that means your mind too. Challenges that tax you physically and mentally are key to maintaining a quality of life well into your older years. Muscles are meant to be used –and when we all sit around on computers or on the couch or at our work desks for hours on end — it contributes to many of the problems we all suffer from.
The other day my friend and coach Colleen adjusted her own schedule to set up a special intro session at CrossFit for a prospective customer that had so many issues with making any of the normal times we offer these sessions. It took weeks to find a day and time that worked for her but they finally did. The day came and five minutes before the scheduled intro, the person called and cancelled. I looked at Colleen and said “if it was that difficult to schedule, that person doesn’t want it bad enough and it was never going to work out. She wasn’t ready.”
If you are into something and really want it to happen – you will go to the ends of the earth to make it happen. It takes work, focus, vision and most of all a commitment. I hear quite often how amazing people think my dedication to working out is and they could never do it. Well, first off – that’s not true. I am not any more capable than most people. It’s also not amazing –i made a commitment almost five years ago and have remained steadfast and focused on it. Occasionally I do stray, but by doing it for the last five years –it’s so ingrained in me now, I don’t think I could stop without it driving me crazy. My point is, it didn’t happen overnight but by doing it over and over again without fail – it is now a part of who I am. I redefined myself by staying committed, focused and determined. You have got to want that for yourself.
When I start to feel less focused, I try to think of things that could happen if I let it all go. We all have seen those older folks, hunched over, in those motorized scooters at Target -wherever. Some of them have legit reasons for being impaired, but many of them, simply do not keep moving into their elder years! I NEVER want to be like that –and this is the surest path to avoid it. This, healthy eating and FISH OIL! BOOM!
Grabbing for Stomach Share
03 months ago
I came across a few really interesting things on the web yesterday:
Interesting information about companies and the quest for“stomach share” — the amount of digestive space that any one company’s brand can grab from the competition.
Today, one in three adults is considered clinically obese, along with one in five kids, and 24 million Americans are afflicted by type 2 diabetes, often caused by poor diet, with another 79 million people having pre-diabetes. Even gout, a painful form of arthritis once known as “the rich man’s disease” for its associations with gluttony, now afflicts eight million Americans.
What I found, over four years of research and reporting, was a conscious effort — taking place in labs and marketing meetings and grocery-store aisles — to get people hooked on foods that are convenient and inexpensive.
Never forget that it’s a business folks! They are making products that make them money, not looking out for your best health interests!
- Cut the Processed Foods! Diet And Acne: For A Clearer Complexion, Cut The Empty Carbs
I am always amazed when I see a teenager with bad acne and their doctors prescribe meds instead of first having them try to modify their diet! I know when I start eating junk, my face breaks out. Plain and simple –it’s not rocket science.
- Seriously, if you are having a bad day – visit this link. I promise it will make you feel better! Guaranteed! 13 Simple Steps To Get You Through A Rough Day
warmup
3 Rounds
- 3 wall walks
- 3 burpees
- 6 mountain climbers
- DROM
skill
split jerk
WOD
3-2-2-2-1-1-1-1
- Split Jerk
made it to 130# but it wasn’t pretty.
Wise Words from the Community
03 months ago
Im still down and out with a pulled muscle in my neck/shoulder so no workout this AM for me. But I will share some wise words that I have read recently:
Relax! You’ll Be More Productive
More and more of us find ourselves unable to juggle overwhelming demands and maintain a seemingly unsustainable pace. Paradoxically, the best way to get more done may be to spend more time doing less. A new and growing body of multidisciplinary research shows that strategic renewal — including daytime workouts, short afternoon naps, longer sleep hours, more time away from the office and longer, more frequent vacations — boosts productivity, job performance and, of course, health.
“I’m not trying to be that diesel”
Somehow, with everything going on in the world, development of strength, muscle and physical competency has become something that has risen to the status of being fear-worthy. I mean, what are these crazy girls going to do next, try to grow beards!? (Not likely because beards are vile and germ infested. If you don’t know about this you must read The Twits.)
And finally:
“Eat Like A Predator, Not Like Prey”: Paleo In Six Easy Steps, A Motivational Guide
Here it is: a step-by-step guide, roughly in order of importance. Make progress at whatever pace you can. Don’t stress about perfect adherence, or obsess about making it all the way down the list: any progress you make will most likely improve your health, mood, and physical fitness.
Expand your Vocabulary
07 months ago
Cirque du Soleil: Totem at The Plateau at National Harbor Aug 15 – Oct 7th
08 months ago
Today is shaping up to be a much better day than earlier this week! Life is about ebbs and flows, peaks and valleys — you know the drill. The turnaround started yesterday when a friend at work asked if I wanted to take a walk. The weather is beautiful right now in the DC area, so it was sunny, high eighties. This friend is the person at work you just love –infectious energy, always smiling, sees everyone in the best light, and has the sunniest disposition. He’s alot like Scotty — the nicest guy you will ever meet. As many of you know, I don’t think anyone would consider my disposition sunny. Honest, blunt, witty – yes. Sunny? I would say I have more of a Partly-Sunny disposition!
We were chatting in the hall and he said – do you have some time? Let’s go for a walk. So, i paused what I was doing and took him up on his offer. Turns out there is a path around the Corporate complex I have worked at for the past six years that I had no idea existed!! He he told me if we had walked further, there is a pond. A FREAKIN’ Pond! How did I not know this? We had a great conversation, laughed a lot, commiserated on some shared experiences – it was seriously just what I needed to get my head straight. I know he had no idea the week I had been having, because as shocking as it is, he’s not one of my blog readers! See how funny the universe is? It sends you what you need if you are open enough to see it….
Cirque du Soleil: Totem – at The Plateau at National Harbor
A week from Saturday, I am heading to the National Harbor to see Cirque du Soleil. I was asked if I was interested in going to see the show and get a tour backstage by their touring company’s press group. The show is called Totem - a fascinating journey into the evolution of mankind. The show is in the DC area Aug 15 – Oct 7th. If you have never seen Cirque du Soleil you have to go. Scott and I first saw one of their shows in Las Vegas – Le Mystere before we were married. We have seen them many times since then and have seen their staged shows in Vegas and in Downtown Disney – La Nouba.
According to the website:
Written and directed by Robert Lepage, TOTEM traces the fascinating journey of the human species from its original amphibian state to its ultimate desire to fly. The characters evolve on a stage evoking a giant turtle, the symbol of origin for many ancient civilizations.
Inspired by many founding myths, TOTEM illustrates through a visual and acrobatic language, the evolutionary progress of species. Somewhere between science and legend TOTEM explores the ties that bind Man to other species, his dreams and his infinite potential.
Cirque du Soleil started in 1984 with a group of 20 street performers. I’m not kidding when I say that the shows are like nothing you have seen — amazing displays of athletism, amazing music, and just seriously things that you can’t even figure out. It’s an explosion of sights and sounds in the most creative and innovative ways. They may call it a Cirque but it’s nothing like a traditional circus!
Buy Tickets to Cirque du Soleil’s Totem
You can see a preview of the show or buy your tickets now!
*Disclaimer: I will be sharing information and a review of Cirque du Soleil’s performance of Totem in exchange for complimentary tickets and a backstage tour. My thoughts & opinions will be unbiased & honest as always.
Kids and Health: The Decline of Good Nutrition and Fitness Programs in Schools
108 months ago
Kids: Get them Moving & Eating Healthier. They will Learn More. Guaranteed!
Physical Activity
During my training as a CrossFit Kids coach, we really dived into how much research is available regarding how exercise and physical fitness helps kids learn. Getting kids to move throughout their day is vital to their learning. So when I hear about schools cutting or lessening recess and gym time in schools it makes no sense at all. it’s PROVEN that having kids move will help them learn, which is why they are at school in the first place. We want them to do better, learn what they are supposed learn, develop the important skills to help them succeed in life. We know that the two biggest health threats to our kids today are Type 2 Diabetes and Obesity – and we know that both can be lessened and managed with proper diet and exercise –but yet we don’t put an emphasis on either of these in our schools. It’s the #thingsthatmakeyousayhmmm….
Here are some articles that go into some of the harm that comes out of cutting recess and gym time:
- Decline of Physical Activity
- Despite Obesity Concerns, Gym Classes Are Cut
- What Ever Happened to Gym Class? Budget Cuts and the Rise of Childhood Obesity
Nutrition standards
They are starting to make changes in the lunch offerings at the schools – but there is no concerted national effort to really make changes. When I do a Google search, I see articles about specific schools pushing through changes but nothing that sweeps the nation. From time to time, I meet my kids for lunch at their cafeteria and man –what they call a salad – iceberg lettuce, a few shreds of lettuce and maybe, a non-appetizing tomato. That’s a salad!?? In the tinest bowl and of course rich, high fat, high caloric dressings available in abundance.
Both my kids bring their lunch — Nate is gluten free so I really don’t have a choice and HB prefers what I offer. Its not strict Paleo but it’s definitely healthier than what they can get there.
Reading this article about food workers attending the School Nutrition Association conference in Denver this summer — they offer some good tips and advice.
A Colorado State University professor studied the dining habits of kids in Loveland, with an eye toward measuring ways to get them to choose healthier foods. Leslie Cunningham-Sabo, who photographed “before” and “after” pictures of kids’ lunch trays, found that kids eat more fruits and vegetables if they have lunch after recess, instead of before recess. She found that corn consumption went up when generic “corn” labels were replaced with colorful cards describing the vegetable as “mellow yellow corn.”
“Don’t put veggies in opaque containers or give them boring labels like ‘corn,’” Cunningham-Sabo told the lunch workers, showing diagrams of how to lay out a service line to encourage trips to the salad bar.
Another trick — just like supermarkets place impulse buys like candy and chewing gum by the checkout, lunch lines should place easy-to-grab fruits and veggies by their own cash registers. Her study saw cafeterias double their sales of fresh fruit when they placed it colorful bowls in a convenient place.
Think about the local school cafeterias – they certainly don’t spend a lot of time on presentation or marketing. Kids love marketing –hence it’s a multi-billion dollar industry and our kids want that sugary cereal or latest toy that breaks weeks after you buy it. If you make an effort, it shows. Those cafeteria’s don’t scream Fun to me!
Whenever we go to a potluck or party, without fail –the stuff that is eaten & finished first is the homemade food. People appreciate that it was made and not store bought. A little effort goes a long way and our kids’ nutrition and health is more than worth the effort.
Here are some related articles to get you thinking about ways to approach this with your own kids:
- Rethinking The Kid-Veggie Relationship
- Why school lunch gets some kids sick
- Healthier lunches for Brockton-area students, but what’s the cost?
- Healthier Lunches Will be Part of Back to School This Year
My workout this AM was about Sumo Deadlift High Pulls! Some people love em, some don’t. I’m in the middle — when I have my form great, they are great! I had a lot of issues with catching my breath this morning. This humid air is killing my lungs!
Warmup
- 800m jog
- DROM
- Drills
- Shuttle Run
- 10 Pass Thrus x2
- 10 Good Mornings x2
Skill
SDHP
K2E
WOD
20,15,10
- SDHP (65#)
- KTE
5:54 – I had to stop and breathe more than I would have liked!
Hanging with Some Wimpy Kids
09 months ago
The family with Jeff Kinney, author of Diary of a Wimpy Kid
Today we went and saw the new Wimpy Kid Movie before it’s released in the theaters thanks to a connection through CrossFit. The people I get to meet and become friends with spans far and wide! It was such a cute movie. It reminded me of my parents and me parenting. The perfect combo. It’s such a cute story. Go see it when it comes out. You won’t regret it!!
Afterwards I caught on the laundry that has been multiplying in my house and most of it is mine. Life has been so busy there has been no time to do laundry. I know it’s a dire situation when I have no more clean workout pants left. I have A LOT of workout pants!!!
I read a few interesting articles out there that I wanted to share today:
- The Insane Junk-Food Diets Of High-Endurance Olympians
- PAIN VS. INJURY
- Team sports help teens stay fit
Live like Steve Jobs — Love what you do.
01 year ago
Live Like Steve Jobs, Stay Hungry, Stay Foolish
Sometimes life hits you in the head with a brick. Don’t lose faith. I’m convinced that the only thing that kept me going was that I loved what I did. You’ve got to find what you love. And that is as true for your work as it is for your lovers. Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don’t settle. As with all matters of the heart, you’ll know when you find it. And, like any great relationship, it just gets better and better as the years roll on. So keep looking until you find it. Don’t settle.
Be a Superhero
11 year ago
by Stephy
in News to Note
Want a superhero physique? Here’s how
Actors have the time and money to look like Thor and Green Lantern. For the average guy, finding the right motivation to stay in shape is a good start.
Perhaps you’ve been to the multiplex to see Ryan Reynolds‘ Green Lantern save the universe from the evil Parallax or to witness Chris Hemsworth’s Thor hurl his magical hammer at invading Frost Giants.
Perhaps you’ve wondered how those actors achieved the chiseled abdominals, powerful pecs and bulging biceps — and whether you could manage to get them yourself without their superhero powers.
The short answer: Probably not. But we can still do pretty well for ourselves even when fitting fitness into a mere mortal’s existence that involves going to work, taking care of kids, preparing family meals, changing toxic diapers and waking in the night to be regaled with tales of the slime monster in Junior’s closet.
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