In the NY Times...

Published recently in the NY Times Fitness and Nutrition section is an article about running with a stroller! A few of my favorite keywords from the article...stroller, running, Stroller Strides ;), and last but certainly not least Texas A&M University (I'm an Aggie if you didn't know)!

A few excerpts from today's article:

Farel Hruska, the national fitness director of Stroller Strides who designed a 5K race training program with strollers, said that many runners feel compelled to keep both hands on the stroller handle, but that it’s not necessary.

“It’s fine to run with one hand on it, but alternate hands,” Ms. Hruska said. “Occasionally swing one arm to avoid shoulder and neck discomfort and to run more naturally.”

...and

A study of five male and five female runners done at Texas A&M University, published in 2005 in The Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness, found no increased injury because of stroller use while running. But some runners say that compromising form, pushing too much weight or increasing stroller mileage too quickly can cause problems.

Source: The NY Times, September 30th

You can read the entire article here.

I have been walking/running with my jogging stroller for a while now and I am at that point where I am completely uncoordinated without it. With a jogger in front I can run a straight line, no problem! Without it I feel like a train off the track and end up weaving all over the place! Obviously I need more practice and now that the weather is cooling off (well kind of) I have no excuses!

Thank you, Thank you for this article!

Having spent several years doing research for metabolic disorders I feel blessed to have had a "behind the scenes" look into diseases such as diabetes and obesity. I get so annoyed by information people give that is not only incorrect and misleading, but sometimes downright dangerous.

I heard a radio show the other day on my favorite Christian radio station where they had an "expert" in "holy health" and this woman started spouting some of the most ridiculous "facts" about sugars and fat. I've out of the research field for two years now, so I'll admit my information is not as sharp as it used to be, but my instant reaction to what this chic was saying was "What!". Luckily my hubby is also a researcher of metabolic disorders and was in the car with me. His response was the same! She had all of her data mixed up and was broadcasting it to live radio. Yikes! Please, please, please with a cherry on top do your homework and do some research! Don't read some fad diet book and then take it as medical truth. Most of the time it is crap!

So, on to the article!

I found this on the FitnessMagazine.com website (lots of good stuff there) and was so happy to find it! The article is called 9 Shocking Sugar Facts and does just that! The sad part is that the facts are shocking. They shouldn't be. They should be common knowledge. Here is an excerpt,

#1: It Doesn't Make You Fat

It only seems like those Girl Scout Cookies go straight to your thighs. Sugar doesn't automatically change into fat in your body, says Tara Gidus, RD, a spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association (ADA). In fact, too many calories cause weight gain -- whether they come from cookies or carrots. But when was the last time you OD'd on carrots? Sugary foods tend to be high-calorie and easy to overeat. They cause a spike in blood sugar, followed by a sudden drop that can leave you feeling depleted and hungry.

The Sweet Truth: Limit added sugars to less than 10 percent of your daily calories. If you eat 1,800 calories, that's 180 calories from sugar -- or 11 1/4 teaspoons.

Read the article, and get the facts straight! Bottom line, your body NEEDS sugar, as well as fat (and fat from various sources). That is how our bodies are designed. Taking in too much sugar and fat is what causes problems. You don't have to cut them completely out to lose weight or maintain health. Instead, regulate your intake.

OK, lecture over! On to the rest of Saturday!

I'm a Guest Blogger!

I was recently asked to do my first guest blog spot for a great website, DietsInReview.com! You can read my article "Creating Lasting Healthy Habits for Kids this Summer" in their blog section as part of their Healthy Kids Summer Series.

Head on over there and check it out along with the other great posts in the series!

This morning we put those words into practice! Me and all three kids headed up to the park for class. No one showed up! Come on people, the weather is not that bad! Still, I decided to do our class anyway. My 7 year old did tricep dip/push up combos with me and all three of us did some running! I wish I had brought my camera (I did, it but it was in the car)!

Hope everyone has a great weekend!

Where does your city rank?

Believe it or not, this is downtown Houston!

The results are in...Houston is not the fittest city in America! Like I didn't know that! Houston actually came in at #41 on the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) American Fitness Index (AFI). Considering that Houston was named America's Fattest City a few years ago, I'd say that is a jump in fitness rank! Hmmm...I wonder if a few fit mamas (wink, wink) helped to raise our stats! We still have long way to go though!

I knew when I started Stroller Strides that our city's lack of fitness motivation might be a factor in my success. I have to admit that it has been more difficult that I orginally expected. Lots of people like the idea of Stroller Strides and fitness in general...as long as it remains an idea! I am still happy to have started it up and feel very blessed for the many friendships and partnerships I have made, not to mention the 20+ lbs that I lost! ...plus time well spent with my kids "priceless"!

Where does your city rank? If you are low in the ranks like Houston maybe you and some fellow friends/moms can set the example by starting a workout group! You'll be amazed at what us moms can accomplish when we work together!

Check out your city's rank here!

Meet your Vitamins

It is common knowledge that your body needs a daily ration of various vitamins and minerals (at least I hope it is common knowledge) to maintain health and function! The problem is that most people don't know the specifics on these vitamins and minerals and so don't realize their significance, and ultimately the body's true nutritional needs are not fully met (if at all).

Here is a handy pdf found on Women's Running Magazine. This great article lists all the major vitamins and minerals and where to find them...in your food!

Download it, read it, and take it to the grocery store for your next shopping run!

A great article on Yahoo

One person who routinely sends me great article links related to fitness is my hubby! This is one he sent me earlier in the week.

The title of the article is "3 reasons your workouts aren't working". It lists 3 common reasons and solutions to the problem. I thought the article was very true and worth the read! Take a look and see if any of these apply to you!

Top 10 Fitness Trends for 2009...

...according to ACE Fitness.

I was referred to a link in a newsletter for an article from ACE Fitness outlining the top 10 fitness trends for 2009.

They are as follows:

1. Boot Camp-Style Workouts
2. Budget-Friendly Workouts
3. Specialty Classes
4. Getting Back to Basics
5. Circuit Training
6. Kettlebells
7. Boomer Fitness
8. Technology-Based Fitness
9. Event or Sport-Specific Exercises
10. Mixing It Up

It made me happy to see these as the top 10 as Stroller Strides fits into a number of them and there are some locations that do offer classes that fit into all of the trends!

How cool is that?!

NY Times Article: 6 Food Mistakes Parents Make

I found this article on another blog and thought it was post-worthy...

6 Food Mistakes Parents Make