73 Year Old Female Bodybuilder – She is an Inspiration!

I really like coming across stories such as this one. You may have heard of Ernestine Shepherd before, but if you haven’t, she is a 73 year old grandmother who runs 80 miles a week and can bench press 150 lbs! All I can say is, wow! She proves that it is never too late to get and stay fit. She has won many awards to include one for a bodybuilding competition. She also gives back to her community by teaching exercise classes at her local church. Ernestine is truly an inspiration for people of all ages. Check out the video below to learn more about her. Have a great weekend!

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73 Year Old Female Bodybuilder – She is an Inspiration!

Too Good to Be Food: Genesis Today Veggie Blast

Filed under: Diet & Weight Loss , Too Good to Be Food Genesis Today Many veggie juices promise to fuel you with multiple servings of veggies in one little bottle and provide benefits similar to that of real produce. At the same time, many of them have too much sodium or added sugar . Veggie Blast is a fruit and veggie blend with a package that is plastered with all sorts of claims — that it supports heart health , eye health , and antioxidant levels ; is full of fiber , vitamins and minerals ; and contains two servings of fruits and veggies per eight ounces, all while keeping the sodium less than other brands. Is it Too Good to Be Food? Let’s check it out. What’s in It: Ingredients: 100 percent vegetable and goji juice blend (tomato juice, goji berry juice, sweet potato juice, yellow carrot juice, red bell pepper juice concentrates) with filtered water, inulin (fiber), citric acid, natural flavors and spices, sea salt, Veggie Blast antioxidant blend (celery, spirulina, jalapeno, kale, chlorella, blue-green algae, broccoli, garlic, spinach powders), xanthan gum, vinegar, vitamins [ascorbic acid (vitamin C), niacin (vitamin B3), pantothenic acid, vitamin B6, riboflavin (vitamin B2), thiamin (vitamin B1), folate, biotin, vitamin B12, beta-carotene], plant-derived minerals The first and thus most plentiful ingredient is tomato juice, which contains lycopene , an antioxidant-rich, cancer-protecting compound. Second is goji berry juice, a tangy superfruit from select parts of China, Tibet and Mongolia that is rich in vitamin A, which supports eye health. And it tastes delish! Third is sweet potato juice, another vitamin A-rich ingredient. Yellow carrot juice is next, a lutein-rich juice that may decrease macular degeneration — yet another eye benefit. Red bell pepper juice follows, an ingredient that is loaded with vitamin C and beta-carotene that may protect against cataracts — wowee, just when you though you had your eyes fully protected! Filtered water is next, which is an all-natural way to dilute the drink and create a smoother taste. After water comes inulin, a derivative of chicory root and a natural source of dietary fiber, which helps to support bacterial growth in your GI tract and aid bowel function. Great news! The following ingredient is citric acid, a natural preservative found in fruits and vegetables. The next ingredients are natural flavors and spices; while we do not know exactly what natural flavors are added, I have faith in this product so far and all spices get the thumbs-up by me. They not only add great flavor, but they boost the antioxidant level as well. Sea salt follows, which is not much different than table salt, but because of its intense flavor, you end up using less, which lowers the sodium content. Then comes the Veggie Blast antioxidant blend — powdered forms of vegetables that are just condensed forms of the real stuff. The first veggie in this blend is celery, which is rich in phthalide and thus may lower stress hormones — perhaps perfect for a 4 p.m. office snack? The subsequent ingredient is spirulina, a blue-green algae, that is packed with vitamins and beta-carotene. Next up is jalapeno, which contains capsaicin, an active ingredient that adds a small thermogenic effect — an added bonus to the blend. Then there is kale, a vitamin C antioxidant boost. Chlorella and blue-green algae follow, both of which contain high amounts of chlorophyll, adding more antioxidants and an energy boost! After that there is broccoli, another superhero in its efforts to fight cancer ; garlic, a great heart-healthy food that has been shown to reduce heart attacks and stroke ; and spinach, which may help support all three things Veggie Blast is promoting — heart health, eye health and antioxidant levels. After the veggies comes xanthan gum, a natural thickener. Then vinegar, which is rich in acetic acid, helping to absorb minerals such as calcium — a great plus when you have so many green vegetables in one drink. The final ingredients are vitamins and plant-derived minerals — as if the veggies are not already full of them? Bring it on! Bottom Line: This long ingredient list is actually a good thing! While the drink may not have the crunch that real vegetables have, it does have many of their superhero qualities. Compared to other vegetable blends, Veggie Blast has about half the amount of sodium; is beefed up with various vegetables; and even contains ingredients like chlorella and spirulina, which are usually found only at your local juice bar. In fact, this lower-sodium, natural, veggie-loaded beverage is an energy and antioxidant boost waiting to happen. Get drinking! But don’t forget: This slightly tangy, satisfying drink is a perfect between-meal pick-me-up or a great snack coupled with nuts such as pistachios, but don’t use it as an excuse to give up the real thing. Veggies are a low-cal way to pack in nutrients and fiber, and the water volume helps fill you up so you are less likely to overeat at your meal. Nutrition Info: [10 fl oz serving] Calories : 50 Fat : 0 Sat Fat : 0 Trans Fat : 0 Cholesterol : 0 Sodium : 195 Potassium : 385 Total Carbohydrate : 12 Fiber : 3 Sugar : 9 Protein : 2 Nationally recognized nutrition expert and published author of “The O2 Diet ,” Keri Glassman is the founder and president of Keri Glassman, Nutritious Life , a nutrition practice based in New York City. For years, Keri has been a leader in advancing a “whole person” approach to health and wellness. She has dedicated her career to creating services and promoting education through her Nutritious Life brand. You can be friends with Keri on Facebook or follow her on Twitter . Permalink | Email this | Comments

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Too Good to Be Food: Genesis Today Veggie Blast

Avoiding Gym Germs – There’s Some Nasty Stuff at the Gym!

When I was a member at the local gym, I did enjoy going. Although there were good points and bad points about the place, going did help to turn my attitude around about fitness. One thing that happened to me more often than not was getting sick. I would come down with a cold and while I will never know for certain it was due to touching the equipment at the gym, I have a strong feeling it was the cause of many of my colds. Get ready to be grossed out because the stuff you can catch at the gym is really nasty! What Holds the Most Germs? Handles - Any handles that you can touch will contain most of the germs. Also be aware of everything on the machines that you can touch, including the buttons. Showers - Don’t even think about using the shower without wearing shower shoes. You’re just asking for a case of athlete’s foot if you shower in your bear feet. Yoga mats - I can’t imagine that most people don’t bring their own yoga mats to the gym but if your gym supplies them and you have been using them, wipe them down well. The sweat from the previous user can leave bacteria that can transfer to your skin causing Folliculitis (inflammation of one or more hair follicles.) What You Can Do to Help Avoid the Germs Wash your hands - wash them before and after you use the equipment. Dry your hands with paper towels or air dry. Don’t dry with the towel you’re using for the machines. Antibacterial gel also helps if you want to use it in-between hand washing. Avoid touching your face - particularly your eyes, nose, and mouth. Use antibacterial wipes - hopefully your gym supplies them but if not, they are inexpensive. Carry them with you and wipe down everything before you use it - handles, buttons, seats, benches, etc. Also cover up any cuts or abrasions you may have on your hands. Most of all, don’t wipe down equipment with the same towel you’re using to wipe your own sweat. Your towel can carry fungal bacteria like ringworm. Water fountains - personally, I always brought my own water to the gym but if you must use a water fountain, let it run for 15 seconds or so before taking a drink. Do you have any tips to share? Resource: Don’t Let Germy Gyms Get You Sick

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Avoiding Gym Germs – There’s Some Nasty Stuff at the Gym!

The Best and Worst Multivitamins

Filed under: Diet & Weight Loss Getty With a culture that revolve around convenience, it’s not surprising that so many people rely on multivitamin pills to get their nutrients. Despite their popularity, more than half of the people popping vitamins are not confident that they’re just getting the good stuff. Recent surveys from Consumer Reports show that 56 percent of vitamin users are worried that their daily multi contains harmful ingredients, and 47 percent aren’t even sure they contain the nutrients they promise to. If we’re so concerned about our vitamins, why are we even taking them? Relax — it seems our fears are unfounded. Consumer Reports tested 21 different multivitamins, and in most cases, they do live up to their hype. None were found to contain harmful ingredients, and all but one of the brands tested had at least 90 percent of the ingredients listed. One Daily was the one that fell short. They also tested the pills to make sure they can dissolve in your stomach easily enough, and all the samples except One Daily and Whole Source Mature Adult did. There’s even more good news — you don’t have to throw money at expensive vitamins, because the reports found that store-brands were often as good or superior to name brands. Costco’s Kirkland Signature multivitamins were voted the best in all categories — for seniors, kids and adults — and were among the cheapest. As for those on the bottom of the rankings? Centrum was the lowest-rated vitamin pill for seniors, while those classic Flintstones vitamins were considered the worst for kids. But “worst” isn’t necessarily a bad thing, since none of the vitamins were a huge let-down in their nutritional content. All the same, Consumer Reports is also quick to point out that vitamins will never compete with a healthy diet. “Study after study of isolated, high doses of vitamins has found they failed to prevent cancer , dementia , heart disease , or type 2 diabetes , even though people who eat foods rich in those vitamins have lower rates of those diseases,” the report stated. For dieters who might be eating less nutrients than usual, multivitamins may be a healthy way to balance out you mineral intake. But vitamins should never replace a proper diet, and even if you took every known vitamin, it would never make it OK to not eat your vegetables. So instead of booking it to Costco or Walmart to load up on multivitamins, head to your local farmers market instead. Fresh summer produce is a much tastier (and healthier) way to get your nutrients. Not sure how to incorporate healthy produce into your everyday diet? Here’s are some tempting recipes that cut fat but not flavor . Permalink | Email this | Comments

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The Best and Worst Multivitamins

Do You Really Know When You’re Full?

Filed under: Diet & Weight Loss Getty In a super-sized world, it can be tough to monitor portion sizes . New research, however, found that it might not just be the big plate at your favorite restaurant. Instead, a team of researchers have found that some rat brains are naturally hardwired to be more vulnerable to obesity than others. In studies on lab rats, Professor Tamas Horvath and colleagues found that some rats gained weight more easily than others , despite being on identical high-fat diets. They determined that this was due to sluggish brain neurons, which in some rats were slower at alerting them to the fact that they were full, ultimately leading to habitual overeating and eventual obesity. “These observations add to the argument that it is less about personal will that makes a difference in becoming obese, and it is more related to the connections that emerge in our brain during development,” Horvath said in a statement . However, research done in rats does not always translate into humans, so don’t dive into a box of donuts just yet and blame your brain chemistry. Also, just because genetics play a role, it doesn’t mean your fate can’t be altered by your environment. If you have trouble feeling satiated even with large portions, there are many easy strategies to help your brain know that your stomach is getting full. We asked Andrea Giancoli , spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association , for her tips on helping your brain recognize fullness without consuming a bunch of extra calories. o. Start with a salad or soup. “Research has shown that high-water content foods — greens, cucumbers and tomatoes, for example — help fill us up so we eat fewer calories total at the meal,” Giancoli said. But make sure the dressing is low in fat and calories and the soup is broth based, not creamy. o. Take it slow. “If you suspect you’re one of those folks who has sluggish nerves, slow down your eating habits to give your stomach more time to feel full,” she noted. “Take a rest between bites, put down your utensils after every bite and don’t pick them back up again until you’ve finished chewing your last bite. o. Watch those portions. “Use smaller plates, serve yourself smaller portions and share meals when you go out to eat or put half of your restaurant meal in a to-go box right away,” she said. “Tell yourself you can always have seconds if you want, and if you really are still hungry, wait five to 10 minutes before you have more.” o. Eat the veggies on your plate before the meat or starches. Giancoli said there are two reasons for this: to fill you up and to make sure you eat them. o. Drink water . ” Having big sips between bites will fill your belly with water volume, which leaves less room for calories. Plus, it forces you to take a break between bites,” she pointed out. o. Focus on fiber. ” Fiber helps to fill you up so you eat less,” she insisted. You can get your fill of fiber from nutritious fruits and veggies, so make sure you’re eating lots of them. These tips are definitely something to chew on (slowly, of course). Got any tips of your own? Permalink | Email this | Comments

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Do You Really Know When You’re Full?

Do Toning Shoes Really Work?

Filed under: Fitness , Reviews & Products , Fit or Fiction , Walking New Balance Do toning shoes really work? - Sally, New York, N.Y. Toning shoes, which are all the rage these days, are a style of shoe with a curvy-convex sole reminiscent of your granny’s orthopedic footwear. Sketchers was the first mainstream shoe company to come out with a shoe in this category and to claim walking in them helps improve posture , ease back pain , sculpt the thighs and build a booty that Beyonce would envy, all without entering a gym or brushing past a dumbbell. MBT was the first unstable shoe on the market and there has been a range of studies on their effects on body mechanics, although much of the research does not focus on muscle strengthening. Other companies ( Reebok Easy Tone , Fit Flop , etc.) have followed along in MBT’s footsteps to cash in the trend. Now New Balance has entered the ring with The Rock & Tone and True Balance . Although a lot of sciencey-sounding data has been tossed around about this type of footwear, there’s actually little research either proving or disproving the claims about toning. New Balance, like other brands, announced it had performed extensive testing on its models and declared it had evidence to back up the assertions made in its advertisements and press releases. New Balance says it performed extensive consumer wear testing on The Rock & Tone and that consumers noted the toning effects in as little as one week. Furthermore, these results were supposedly substantiated in the lab by Dr. Joseph Hamill , a professor in the Department of Kinesiology at the University of Massachusetts and one of the world’s experts on lower-extremity biomechanics, along with the scientists at the New Balance Sports Research Laboratory . The combined team did a variety of tests including electromyography (muscle activity), VO2 (oxygen consumption) and “blind” human perception testing. The True Balance press release pretty much echoes the same. The problem with all of this? When asked repeatedly, New Balance would not — or could not — provide any real supporting data. Those of you who read this column on a regular basis know that when I discuss a topic, I often cite studies and nearly always link to abstracts or published investigations so you can see for yourself what sort of scientific evidence I am using to back up my arguments. Whether we are talking about shoes, calories or fossils, I would never pass off a press release as a source unless I specifically say so, and then explain why I am falling back on such a shallow snippet of information. When pushed, New Balance ultimately produced a three-slide PowerPoint presentation summarizing the investigation. It showed the shoes increased the activity in the muscles of the rear and back of the thighs by 16 percent, the front of the thighs by 29 percent and the lower legs by 14 percent; calorie burn was bumped up 10 percent. Of course, there is no way to verify the truth of these statements, so I take them with a grain of salt. And even if they are true, the presentation says that the tests were performed on a mere 12 subjects. There is some subjective information gleaned from questioning an additional 48 volunteers. Not exactly enough to fill a stadium or even a local road race. All of this comes on the heels of a newly released American Council on Exercise-commissioned study that looked at the toning shoe category, though not the New Balance models specifically. The investigation was performed by team of researchers from the Exercise and Health Program at the University of Wisconsin, La Crosse . Using what appear to be similar tests as the New Balance team (though again, it’s hard to know), the researchers found that toning shoes do not deliver the fitness or muscle toning benefits they claim and that they simply do not offer any benefits that people cannot reap through walking, running or exercising in traditional athletic shoes. Granted, this study also had only 12 subjects, so it’s difficult to draw any sweeping conclusions. But at least they’ve made their methods and conclusions readily available for all to see and evaluate. That’s Fit asked four women who are experienced toning shoe wearers to evaluate the New Balance shoes for themselves. All four gave both models high marks for comfort, though all said that any extra work, toning and calorie burn was “subtle at best.” Interestingly, New Balance is pushing both shoes for their “aesthetic superiority,” which is a fancy way of saying they look less orthopedic than the other toning brands, but all of our testers commented on how aesthetically inferior they felt the sneakers were. In other words, they thought the shoes were ugly. So there you go. Now it’s your turn to weigh in. Has anyone had success developing a bodacious butt from wearing these kicks? Lost some inches? Dropped a few pounds? Have you tried numerous brands and done your own comparison? Have you tried either type of the New Balance? I tried them both and thought they were comfy, but I, too, didn’t feel much extra work by wearing them. And I also thought they were kinda ugly, like all the other entries in this category. I’d just like to say that I am a big fan of New Balance shoes in general. As you can see from my previous review on minimalist shoe brands , they are one of my favorites in that category, and I continue to run in the New Balance 100s. Additionally, here is some more information on toning shoes . Post your comments here or tweet me . Permalink | Email this | Comments

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Fit Links: No More Excuses, Supermarket Splurges and More

Filed under: Diet & Weight Loss There are hundreds of wonderful sites on healthy living to be seen all over the blogosphere. Here at Fit Links, we’ll introduce you to some that have caught our eye. Before you start planning your weekend grocery list, take a look at Fitness Magazine’s top picks for the 55 healthiest foods available from your local supermarket . Eating on the run? Some convenience foods will actually help you lose weight — check out Health.com’s top suggestions . Before your check in for your flight, discover what Fit Bottomed Girls consider their top exercise-friendly travel tips . What’s your excuse for not getting fit? Too tired? Not enough time? That’s Fit Canada is sick of excuses, so they have some savvy advice on how to bust through them . You don’t have to eat bread that tastes like cardboard to get your share of fat-blasting fiber — here are some tasty foods from Shine that you didn’t know were packed with the good stuff . Read any good Tweets? Give us a shout on Twitter and let us know all about it! Permalink | Email this | Comments

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Tips For Finding an Exercise Buddy

Even though many of you prefer to work out alone , having a workout buddy is a great way to stay motivated. And since ditching out on a workout means you’re flaking on someone else, an exercise buddy is a great way to keep you accountable. It’s also like having your own personal cheering squad. Encouraging words are often all it takes to push a fitness routine further or try harder. If you want a workout buddy but don’t know how to find one, follow these tips. It won’t be long before you’re hitting the trail with a comrade in arms! Meet someone in a fitness class . Familiarity has a way of making people feel comfortable, so it won’t seem odd if you strike up a conversation with someone you see regularly in class. I used to go to the same yoga class every week and eventually became friends with a classmate. In no time, we were sharing rides to the studio and dinner afterwards. Join an exercise group . Most cities have running and cycling groups - guaranteed ways to meet people who like exercising with other folks. A simple Internet search should help you find a group, or, as an alternative, check with your local sports store. The sports stores in my areas host free weekly exercise events that include running, cycling, and yoga. Sign up for a partnered sport or group lessons . Some sports - like rock climbing - lend themselves to finding a partner because you can’t do the sport without one. You can use Internet forums to find a partner, or go to a specialized gym where they’ll help you. If you’re new to the sport sign up for group lessons. You’ll meet other people who want to learn the same activity as you, and who are also on the same skill level. Once you’ve found yourself a partner, make sure you make the most of it , and don’t feel like you have to limit yourself to one person. The more exercise buddies, the merrier!

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6 Superfoods of Summer

Summer officially starts this weekend, but at my local market the season has already begun. The produce aisle is loaded with summery superfoods. At the peak of the season, these fruits and veggies are affordable and full of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Start the slideshow to learn just how super these superfoods truly are. View Slideshow ›

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6 Superfoods of Summer

Tour of California Rolls Through San Francisco

One of the US’s biggest cycling races, the Tour of California , rolled through San Francisco this morning. Today’s stage, the third of the race, began out by the beach, and many fans rode their bikes to the event - just another great way to celebrate National Bike Month and Bike to Work Week . In my opinion, though, many of those cyclists were playing hooky from work and riding for the rest of the afternoon, and what a great day for it. Only in its fifth year, the eight-day Tour de of California covers more than 800 miles of California roads, including the scenic coastal highway between San Francisco and beach town Santa Cruz, which is the course for today. Nor Cal native Levi Leipheimer, Radio Shack teammate of Lance Armstrong , is the defending champion, having won the race the previous three years, and the crowd fave (he seems like such a nice guy, soft spoken but focused). Previously the race was held in February, the rainy season here in California, which helped our local racer. But race organizers pushed the race back to May, directly competing with renowned Italian race Tour de Giro. Even overlapping with a large European race, the Tour of Cali attracted big names in cycling this year, like superstar sprinter Mark Cavendish of HTC-Columbia and second-place finisher of last year’s Tour de France, Andy Schleck. Unfortunately, my fave American sprinter, Garmin-Transitions’ Tyler Farrah , is racing in Italy - and doing well, too! Racing teams have a deep bench and can send solid teams to two simultaneous races - who knew? I am still new to watching bike races, but the last two years my entire family has been watching bike races on Versus TV , and unlike other sports, cycling is more exciting on TV. For example, the cyclist pedaled out of sight in about 30 seconds this morning, and that was that. To learn more about the race, continue reading.

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