That's Fit http://www.thatsfit.com That's Fit http://www.thatsfit.com/media/feedlogo.gif That's Fit http://www.thatsfit.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/5 Tips to Keep Kids in Shapehttp://www.thatsfit.com/2008/11/17/5-tips-to-keep-kids-in-shape/http://www.thatsfit.com/2008/11/17/5-tips-to-keep-kids-in-shape/http://www.thatsfit.com/2008/11/17/5-tips-to-keep-kids-in-shape/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Last week, the Houston Wellness Association is holding their 2008 Wellness Symposium at Minute Maid Park in Houston, Texas. This two-day health care event was designed to bring together wellness experts from across the country, to talk about how to tackle healthcare and the problem of obesity in American children. At the event, William J. Clish M.D., a professor of pediatrics at Baylor College of Medicine, said, "Of all the mothers I see, the majority argue with me about their kids' right to be obese ... to be 'what they are.' I argue they have the right to be their very best."

Well put.

His presentation included several tips on how to help keep your kids in shape:

Continue reading 5 Tips to Keep Kids in Shape

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]]>Houston Wellness AssociationHouston Wellness SymposiumHoustonWellnessAssociationHoustonWellnessSymposiumKaren WalrondMon, 17 Nov 2008 10:30:00 ESTFit Hits: Friday, August 25thhttp://www.thatsfit.com/2006/08/25/fit-hits-friday-august-25th/http://www.thatsfit.com/2006/08/25/fit-hits-friday-august-25th/http://www.thatsfit.com/2006/08/25/fit-hits-friday-august-25th/#commentsFiled under: , ,

As fabulous as we at That's Fit think this blog is, the truth is there are hundreds of wonderful blogs on healthy living to be seen all over the blogosphere. So in this feature, Fit Hits, we're going to introduce you to some which have caught our eye.

Luckily for me, finding clever blogs was easy -- who knew health blogs had such great titles! A few of my favourites:
  • The Amazing Adventures of Dietgirl -- Doesn't dieting sometimes feel like a task requiring superpowers? Follow Shauna's adventures as she trims down (she's already lost over 170 pounds!).
  • Too Sexy for My Hair -- This is the brave words of 29-year-old Lori Miller, who is currently battling Adenocarcinoma Stage IV cancer. Amazing woman.
  • Run, Lucy, Run -- A beautiful blog written by a relatively new runner, and a would-be marathoner -- "would be," that is, until she became pregnant. Still, it's a goal she plans on achieving. And in case you were wondering, Lucy is the author's dog and running partner.
  • No Show Mo -- A blog written by a former extravert who's trying to keep her sense of humour while battling chronic illness and complications therefrom.
  • Greener Miami -- Written by Rebecca Carter, who uses this blog to document her own path to living a greener life, as well as to providing a meeting place for like-minded locals to help place Miami among the top "green" cities in the United States.
Wonderful writing, all. Enjoy!

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]]>Karen WalrondFri, 25 Aug 2006 18:36:00 ESTHIV drug may help stop cervical cancerhttp://www.thatsfit.com/2006/08/25/hiv-drug-may-help-stop-cervical-cancer/http://www.thatsfit.com/2006/08/25/hiv-drug-may-help-stop-cervical-cancer/http://www.thatsfit.com/2006/08/25/hiv-drug-may-help-stop-cervical-cancer/#commentsFiled under: , ,

From BBC.co.uk: The University of Manchester have conducted early laboratory tests which indicate that the antiviral drug lopinavir attacks the virus that causes cervical cancer -- HPV -- as well as HIV. The research team believes that the oral drug could be made into a cream which could be applied to the cervix.

Dr. Ian Hampson, who led the research, explained: "The drug works as a selective proteosome inhibitor. It allows cellular proteins that are detrimental to the virus to persist." He said that normally, HPV would remove these from the cell so it could flourish. He further explained, "At the moment, we can't really offer anything to women with HPV and low-grade cervical disease. We are talking about 200,000 women in the UK alone. This treatment, if it works, could provide an alternative."

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]]>Karen WalrondFri, 25 Aug 2006 16:03:00 ESTLime's Meditation Roomshttp://www.thatsfit.com/2006/08/25/limes-meditation-rooms/http://www.thatsfit.com/2006/08/25/limes-meditation-rooms/http://www.thatsfit.com/2006/08/25/limes-meditation-rooms/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Oh, how I wish I had access to this when I was still slaving away in Corporate America: you know how sometimes when you're at work, somebody does or says something that sends you right through the ceiling, and you just really need to take a moment to chill? Well, Lime.com to the rescue: if you haven't already, be sure to check out their Meditation rooms -- a series of "rooms" where you can listen to sounds and look at images designed to help you relax and focus. And if you're so angry you actually need to take the chill-out with you, you can download the "rooms" to your iPod, or subscribe to them at iTunes as well.

And by the way, for those of you who are moms or dads: these work really well after a long day of parenting as well.

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]]>Karen WalrondFri, 25 Aug 2006 15:05:00 ESTWant to live longer? Try cold showershttp://www.thatsfit.com/2006/08/25/want-to-live-longer-try-cold-showers/http://www.thatsfit.com/2006/08/25/want-to-live-longer-try-cold-showers/http://www.thatsfit.com/2006/08/25/want-to-live-longer-try-cold-showers/#commentsFiled under: , ,

When it comes to tips on living a long healthy life, it's hard to argue with someone who's at least a century and livin' large. Take, for example, Edward Rondthaler: at his ripe old age of 100, he still writes a weekly column for his local newspaper, walks a half-mile every morning and drives himself on errands around his hometown.

His secret for a long healthy life? Cold showers.

"When my brother in 1918 came home from the army, he said, 'Ed, whenever you take a hot shower, end it with an ice cold one and count to 100.' When your older brother tells you to do something, you do it," Rondthaler says.

Hmm ... Yeaaaah.

I really can't stand cold showers, so this probably won't work for me. However, my grandmother, who celebrated her 100th birthday this past June, told me the secret to her long life was, and I quote:

"Rum."

I like her idea much better.

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]]>Karen WalrondFri, 25 Aug 2006 14:04:00 ESTTurns out, in the US, kids might be being left behind ... in physical educationhttp://www.thatsfit.com/2006/08/25/turns-out-in-the-us-kids-might-be-being-left-behind-in-physi/http://www.thatsfit.com/2006/08/25/turns-out-in-the-us-kids-might-be-being-left-behind-in-physi/http://www.thatsfit.com/2006/08/25/turns-out-in-the-us-kids-might-be-being-left-behind-in-physi/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

From CNN.com: As children in America become more and more overweight, physical education programs in public schools are fighting for their life -- and the "No Child Left Behind" academic policies might be to blame.

According to a 2006 study called "Shape of the Nation" (conducted by the American Heart Association and the National Association for Sport and Physical Education), most states' public schools are failing to provide enough physical education for their children. And according to the Center for Disease Control, the number of overweight children has tripled since 1980.

"With the obesity rates going up and it's in our face, why are we cutting P.E. time? I don't get it," says Garrett Lydic, a physical education teacher at North Laurel Elementary School in Laurel, Delaware and his state's Teacher of the Year in 2006. "The focus right now is on testing," he said, referring to a series of academic tests now mandated by federal law. "The result is that there's less time to get kids more active."

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]]>No Child Left BehindNoChildLeftBehindPEphysical educationPhysicalEducationKaren WalrondFri, 25 Aug 2006 11:05:00 ESTGeorge Clooney buys a green roadsterhttp://www.thatsfit.com/2006/08/24/george-clooney-buys-a-green-roadster/http://www.thatsfit.com/2006/08/24/george-clooney-buys-a-green-roadster/http://www.thatsfit.com/2006/08/24/george-clooney-buys-a-green-roadster/#commentsFiled under:

George Clooney has already made a name for himself in the "eco-sphere" -- he was featured in Vanity Fair's "Green" issue a few months ago, posing with his little 2-seater Tango, a skinny little electric car. "You gotta walk the walk," he says, referring to his commitment to caring for the environment.

Well, it's apparently a pretty expensive walk: Ecorazzi is reporting that Clooney has already plunked down another US $100,000 for a Tesla Roadster, a pretty sexy little number that is 100% electric. Tesla has apparently already sold out of the first 100 of these beauties -- I'm sure with Clooney's name attached, they'll sell a lot more.

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]]>George ClooneyGeorgeClooneyKaren WalrondThu, 24 Aug 2006 16:28:00 ESTDepressed? Try Marriagehttp://www.thatsfit.com/2006/08/23/depressed-try-marriage/http://www.thatsfit.com/2006/08/23/depressed-try-marriage/http://www.thatsfit.com/2006/08/23/depressed-try-marriage/#commentsFiled under:

From United Press International: Feeling a bit down? Turns out that marriage might be a viable cure -- researchers have recently found that "depressed singles receive greater psychological benefits from getting married than do those who are not depressed."

Adrianne Frech, co-author of the study and a doctoral student in sociology at Ohio State University, said "We thought depressed people would be less likely to benefit from marriage because the depression of one spouse can put a strain on the marriage and undermine marital quality. We actually found the opposite of what we expected."

Hmm. Looks like I officially have an argument for all my single friends who cite "marriage is depressing" as their top reason for not settling down.

(Via Lime.)

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]]>Karen WalrondWed, 23 Aug 2006 16:00:00 ESTThe argument for going veg just one day a weekhttp://www.thatsfit.com/2006/07/20/the-argument-for-going-veg-just-one-day-a-week/http://www.thatsfit.com/2006/07/20/the-argument-for-going-veg-just-one-day-a-week/http://www.thatsfit.com/2006/07/20/the-argument-for-going-veg-just-one-day-a-week/#commentsFiled under: , ,

In May, Vanity Fair magazine published their "Green Issue" -- their first issue devoted to issues of eco-living and the environment. It was a great issue, featuring some of the more prominent individuals involved in saving the environment (the minds behind Treehugger and Ideal Bite among them), and laid out beautifully the case for living a more green life.

One of the really interesting articles in this issue was the piece entitled "Fifty Ways to Save the Planet," describing different ways you can change your life to make a difference. Some require more commitment than others, but one that really stuck out for me was the suggestion of going vegetarian one day a week -- for surprisingly non-animal-friendly reasons:

To produce one pound of beef requires 2,500 gallons of water-that's 40 times more water than is used to produce a pound of potatoes.

Continue reading The argument for going veg just one day a week

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]]>Vanity Fair green issueVanityFairGreenIssuevegetarianvegetarianismKaren WalrondThu, 20 Jul 2006 18:59:00 ESTEcotourism: Is it a good thing, or a bad thing?http://www.thatsfit.com/2006/07/20/ecotourism-is-it-a-good-thing-or-a-bad-thing/http://www.thatsfit.com/2006/07/20/ecotourism-is-it-a-good-thing-or-a-bad-thing/http://www.thatsfit.com/2006/07/20/ecotourism-is-it-a-good-thing-or-a-bad-thing/#commentsFiled under:

Recently, my husband, daughter, our friend Dan and I visited Grand Riviere, Trinidad, to watch the nesting of the giant leatherback turtles. We stayed at Acajou, an "eco-chic" resort -- and indeed, it was simple, but lovely.

On the way back from Grand Riviere (a three-hour drive home), Dan mentioned he had mixed feelings about the whole "eco-tourism" thing -- questioning how good for the environment eco-tourism could possibly be, since in theory, the environment is impacted by the presence of a resort in the first place. Besides, he continued, the resort would probably attract people who don't necessarily care about the environment -- they'd just visit because it is the "cool" thing to do.

I assured Dan that this wasn't the case at Grand Riviere -- the little village had made great strides in protecting the nesting grounds of the endangered giant leatherbacks, by restricting the beach at night to only those who are accompanied by a licensed guide (the services of which can be had via a modest fee to the conservation society). As a result, the population of nesting turtles at Grand Riviere is one of the only such ones experiencing a growth, rather than a decline. Furthermore, the hotel itself was very concerned with sustainable development, hiring only people from the local village and training them in the hospitality industry, using foods in their restaurant that were found locally, and were mindful of the footprint they left on the area.

Continue reading Ecotourism: Is it a good thing, or a bad thing?

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]]>eco-tourismGrand RiviereGrandRiviereleatherback turtleLeatherbackTurtleTrinidadKaren WalrondThu, 20 Jul 2006 16:37:00 ESTIt's actually not that hard being greenhttp://www.thatsfit.com/2006/07/20/its-actually-not-that-hard-being-green/http://www.thatsfit.com/2006/07/20/its-actually-not-that-hard-being-green/http://www.thatsfit.com/2006/07/20/its-actually-not-that-hard-being-green/#commentsFiled under: ,

Until recently, I truly believed that eco-friendly living was something that Other People did. Let those Other People have their tie-dyed organic clothing, nibble on wheat roast, and swaddle their children in cloth diapers. Not me, baby. Steak? Oh yes, please. Tie-dye? Heavens, no -- that fashion is so decades-ago. And "Huggies or Die," man -- that was my mantra when my baby girl was born.

But then, things slowly began to change. After becoming a parent, I began to wonder how the food I was feeding my daughter might be affecting her health. I started reading articles about global warming, the destruction of rainforests, dependence on petroleum and petroleum products, and what that means for our future. And frankly, I got a little nervous.

However, there's good news: living green is actually a lot easier than you think. There are tons of little things that we can all do in our everyday lives that actually can make a difference -- not just to the planet, but to our own, personal health. And these small moves, small commitments are easy -- no immediate radical life change required. I'm talking about small, tiny steps that are easy to incorporate into your daily life, perhaps inspire you to make even bigger steps, and ultimately, will help make the world a greener place.

Continue reading It's actually not that hard being green

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]]>Karen WalrondThu, 20 Jul 2006 15:45:00 ESTCoconut water -- nature's Gatorade?http://www.thatsfit.com/2006/07/08/coconut-water-natures-gatorade/http://www.thatsfit.com/2006/07/08/coconut-water-natures-gatorade/http://www.thatsfit.com/2006/07/08/coconut-water-natures-gatorade/#commentsFiled under:

Having grown up here on the Caribbean island of Trinidad, the restorative properties of coconut water aren't new to me: my family believes in coconut water. Fighting a cold? Drink some coconut water. Trying to lose weight? Be sure to have coconut water every day. Feeling a bit hungover? A cold glass of coconut water will clear that right up. And while these "remedies" might be questionable, I must admit that I feel a certain cultural satisfaction every time I go to the coconut vendor at the side of the road, and have him cut the top off of a not-quite-ripe coconut with a large machete so I can drink the water straight from the nut.

Well, as it turns out, coconuts are going mainstream: According to Lime, Zico has begun packaging coconut water in handy 11-oz. boxes, ostensibly to be chugged as an after-workout refresher. According to the article, "Naturally occurring electrolytes make young green coconut water especially suited to post-workout hydration. One container of Zico contains five essential electrolytes -- potassium, sodium, magnesium, calcium, and phosphorus. Even better, coconut water infuses the body with necessary electrolytes without added sugar or artificial coloring. Zico also boasts a 4.8 pH level, which clocks it in with significantly less acid than the average sports drink."

You might want to give it a try -- it comes in its natural flavour, or enhanced with mango or passion fruit and orange peel. And even if you choose not to use it after your workout, at the very least, drinking it may send you into a daydream of tropical skies and sandy beaches.

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]]>coconutKaren WalrondSat, 08 Jul 2006 12:32:00 ESTPaul Newman and celebrity chef Michel Nischan to open an organic restauranthttp://www.thatsfit.com/2006/07/08/paul-newman-and-celebrity-chef-michel-nischan-to-open-an-organic/http://www.thatsfit.com/2006/07/08/paul-newman-and-celebrity-chef-michel-nischan-to-open-an-organic/http://www.thatsfit.com/2006/07/08/paul-newman-and-celebrity-chef-michel-nischan-to-open-an-organic/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Headed to Connecticut anytime soon? If so, you might want to check out a new restaurant that's coming to town: sometime this summer, veteran actor (and spaghetti sauce mogul) Paul Newman will be opening a restaurant with celebrity chef Michel Nishan. Treehugger.com describes Michel Nischan as being "to cuisine what Danny Seo is to home décor -- a public figure dedicated to bringing green ideas to mainstream America." With his efforts, combined with Paul Newman's commitment to organic food, chances are this restaurant is sure to be a hit.

The locally-grown organic establishment, to be named The Dressing Room, is planned to be located next door to the Westport Country Playhouse in Connecticut. Sounds like the perfect place for a healthy-dinner-and-a-show date.

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]]>Michel NischanMichelNischanPaul NewmanPaulNewmanKaren WalrondSat, 08 Jul 2006 11:26:00 ESTZaadz -- a whole new kind of communityhttp://www.thatsfit.com/2006/07/08/zaadz-a-whole-new-kind-of-community/http://www.thatsfit.com/2006/07/08/zaadz-a-whole-new-kind-of-community/http://www.thatsfit.com/2006/07/08/zaadz-a-whole-new-kind-of-community/#commentsFiled under: ,

By now, I'm sure we've all heard of MySpace.com, or Friendster -- which, I suppose, are cool enough sites for what they are. But what if you're interested in a community of healthy and eco-conscious like-minded souls, who are as interested in maintaining as authentic a lifestyle as you do?

Well, m'dears, never fear: Zaadz to the rescue. Derived from the Dutch word meaning "seed," Zaadz is a new community site which, in its own words, "plans to change the world" by helping you reach your goals of living authentically. Once you're a member (for free, of course), you have access to create your own blog and comment on other members' blogs. Further, there's a quote library, and discussion boards, and pretty much every resource you'll need to network with people as committed to changing the world as you are.

Definitely worth a look. My application is pending approval as we speak!

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]]>Karen WalrondSat, 08 Jul 2006 10:00:00 ESTHealthy breakfasts to go, courtesy Real Simple Magazinehttp://www.thatsfit.com/2006/07/05/healthy-breakfasts-to-go-courtesy-real-simple-magazine/http://www.thatsfit.com/2006/07/05/healthy-breakfasts-to-go-courtesy-real-simple-magazine/http://www.thatsfit.com/2006/07/05/healthy-breakfasts-to-go-courtesy-real-simple-magazine/#commentsFiled under: , ,

"They" tell you over and over again that breakfast is the most important meal of the day -- but who the heck has time for breakfast? Real Simple magazine to the rescue: the current issue is featuring some great healthy breakfast ideas that you can grab as you're heading out the door. And get this -- one of the suggestions includes a donut! And an Egg McMuffin (modified, of course)!

Be sure to check this out. But be warned: the descriptions may make you hungry.

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]]>healthy breakfastHealthyBreakfastReal Simple magazineRealSimpleMagazineKaren WalrondWed, 05 Jul 2006 07:54:00 ESTPlanning your summer vacation? Consider somewhere greenhttp://www.thatsfit.com/2006/07/03/planning-your-summer-vacation-consider-somewhere-green/http://www.thatsfit.com/2006/07/03/planning-your-summer-vacation-consider-somewhere-green/http://www.thatsfit.com/2006/07/03/planning-your-summer-vacation-consider-somewhere-green/#commentsFiled under: ,

'Tis the season -- the kids are out of school, the weather's nice and warm, and the first itches of wanderlust are starting to make you scratch. If you haven't decided where you're going to take your family for a little R&R, why not consider taking them somewhere that's good, good for you and good for the environment?

Greenlight magazine's online summer issue is currently featuring 8 eco-savvy vacation options in the United States that you might want to take a look at -- for example, how about visiting a quiet and beautiful Alaskan lodge, offering kayaking and hiking, and which relies solely on wind and water power? Or an eco-friendly B&B in Wisconsin where breakfast comes straight from the organic garden?

Definitely worth a look. Because nothing makes a vacation feel great like knowing you're taking care of yourself ... AND the environment.

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]]>eco-savvy vacationsEco-savvyVacationseco-vacationKaren WalrondMon, 03 Jul 2006 16:00:00 ESTGreenlight Magazine: your free(!) guide to earth-friendly livinghttp://www.thatsfit.com/2006/07/01/greenlight-magazine-your-free-guide-to-earth-friendly-livin/http://www.thatsfit.com/2006/07/01/greenlight-magazine-your-free-guide-to-earth-friendly-livin/http://www.thatsfit.com/2006/07/01/greenlight-magazine-your-free-guide-to-earth-friendly-livin/#commentsFiled under: ,

One of the highlights of my day is when the new issue of Greenlight magazine comes out. Greenlight Magazine, designed to be "your guide to earth-friendly living," is chock-full of ideas ranging from making a difference in your community, to health & fitness, to food & drink to style -- and the best part? The magazine is online (no killing of trees here), and subscriptions are absolutely free.

The new summer issue has just been published, and as usual, it promises not to disappoint: there are articles ranging from how to make a delicious summer salad to earth-friendly ways to block the sun. So be sure to take a look, and consider registering for a free subscription -- I suspect you'll be thrilled you did.

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]]>earth-friendly livingEarth-friendlyLivingGreenlight MagazineGreenlightMagazineKaren WalrondSat, 01 Jul 2006 13:30:00 ESTLaptop Lunches: Bento-ware for everywherehttp://www.thatsfit.com/2006/06/30/laptop-lunches-bento-ware-for-everywhere/http://www.thatsfit.com/2006/06/30/laptop-lunches-bento-ware-for-everywhere/http://www.thatsfit.com/2006/06/30/laptop-lunches-bento-ware-for-everywhere/#commentsFiled under: ,

One of the tricks that people tell you when you're trying to watch your weight or eat healthy is to bring your own lunch to work. The truth is, I never could do it: I always had visions of the lunches my mother used to pack for me -- often something smelly, like a tuna fish sandwich -- and by the time I got it to school, the lunch paper bag was soggy, often sat-on, and a general mess. The thought of going through that again as an adult horrifies me.

So, hooray for bento: Tammy Pelstring and Amy Hemmert have created the Laptop Lunch system, a bento-box style compartmentalized lunch box, designed to promote better nutrition and waste reduction. The compartments allow you to pack your healthy lunches so that they won't get crushed, and it all comes in a neat carrying case. Plus, the handy case means that you're less likely to use processed foods like Lunchables, and carry more healthful snacks. Not only that, by having the bentoware, no need for icky paper bags and plastic sandwich bags which create waste.

Just think about it ... healthy meals at work ... healthy meals on an airplane ...

US $33.99, and delivery is available in the United States and Canada.

(Via MightyGoods.)

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]]>Karen WalrondFri, 30 Jun 2006 15:23:00 EST