That's Fit

All those energy drinks, shots, and even beans seem to be all the rage these days. Need a shot of energy? Eat this. Want a pick me up? Down a couple cans of these. And so on and so forth. But, if you're looking for a real boost of energy and aren't a big fan of artificial sweeteners, coloring, and questionable sources of energy, you may already have a box of what you want in your cupboard right now.

The Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research reports that raisins have the same effect on performance as energy gels. As an added bonus, unlike most other energy boosters - Red Bull, Amp, etc., raisins supply a good amount of vitamins and minerals.

Because raisins are high in fiber, the carbs they contain will digest slowly, thereby providing you with a long, steady stream of energy. Heading out for an early morning run tomorrow before you pack Junior's lunch? Grab two boxes of raisins from the cupboard; one for him and one for you!!

George Hood pulled it off earlier this morning -- he broke the Guinness Book of World Records previous mark of 175.5 consecutive hours riding a stationary-bike around 5:45 a.m. CST. When the on-site Guinness ajudicator, Danny Girton, Jr., presented Hood with a certificate, a roomful of fans at the Chicago suburban Fry Family YMCA roared with applause.

I set the alarm early this morning to head over and witness Hood's record-breaking moment. After tacking on ten more minutes to the previous record, Hood was planning to head to the hospital for a check-up and labs, and begin his body's healing process. He's been pedaling about nine days since the attempt's start on Sunday, May 4.

At the end of Hour 162 on the bike, Hood had accrued the following unbelievable stats:

• Ridden 1,991 miles, averaging 12.3 mph (overall he covered more than 2,600 miles)
• Burned a total of 46,087 calories
• Taken 57 Guinness-allowed bathroom/stretch/short sleep breaks, totaling 12 hours and 40 minutes
• Slept a total of 9 hours and 36 minutes -- typically 10 minute naps

I took a bunch of pics the last couple days -- check out my photo gallery for a glimpse of Hood, his support team and excited fans. Beyond making Guinness, Hood has raised nearly $30,000 thus far for the YMCA Strong Kids Campaign to provide Y fee assistance for kids and families -- a goal he told me was more gratifying than any World Record certificate. Thanks George for the great ride!

Peanut allergies have become pretty popular. And what causes them remains a bit confusing.

When my now almost three-year-old daughter was a baby, our pediatrician told us the American Academy of Pediatrics recommended peanut consumption be delayed until age three because the allergy was believed to be developed due to repeated exposure at a very young age. But new studies suggest no relation between allergies to peanuts and when a child began eating them. This is what AAP had to say. Since the cause is still clear as mud, study authors recommend more research on the cause of early allergic reactions to peanuts, as well as successful prevention efforts.

Meanwhile, we're still eating sunflower seed butter in our house. This web page touts its similarity to peanut butter in consistency, taste and price and offers a nutritional breakdown (it does contain a bit more sugar than some peanut butters). We started when the pediatrician gave us the nitty gritty on nut allergies and we have no plans to stop. It's really tasty. I like it better than peanut butter. We pick up a couple jars every time we go to Trader Joe's. But it's also available in other local markets.

So until researchers come up with some more news on peanuts, consider sunflower seed butter as a tasty alternative that you don't have to worry about.

Last fall, my son played soccer. Week after week I was disappointed in the snacks that parents brought for the kids. Now it's baseball season and I'm seeing the same trend. My son has been given sugary juices, "sports" drinks that are loaded with sugar, cookies, chips, and snack cakes. I'm not completely opposed to kids having treats from time to time. But I think that, after being active, kids need some decent nutrition.

While adult and competitive athletes may need nutritional programs designed specifically to boost performance, kids don't need anything that rigid. All kids need is good nutrition to get the most out of their activities. Here are a few tips:

• Eating a healthy diet with lots of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, beneficial fats, and lean protein will give your young athletes all the fuel they need. A daily multi-vitamin is also a good idea. Sports bars, protein gels, and other specialized foods aren't necessary.
• It's important to keep your young athlete hydrated. Young children, in particular, are prone to dehydration because their bodies produce more heat yet sweat less. But water is sufficient for youth sports. Unless the activity is constant and extends beyond one hour, drinks with added electrolytes just aren't necessary. Besides, many sports drinks offer nothing more than artificial coloring, artificial flavors, sodium, and high fructose corn syrup.
• While it's not an issue with boys my son's age, I know high-school and college-age athletes may be tempted by the powders and drinks guaranteed to pump them up. The problem is that dietary supplements (which is what those sports aids are considered) aren't screened by the FDA so their efficacy and safety aren't monitored. While many may be harmless and some might even be effective, there's risk involved.
  

Good nutrition and consistent exercise are all any young athlete needs to stay at the top of their game.

Dick Hoyt, 67, and his son Rick, 46, have accomplished more than many of us could imagine. They've climbed mountains, completed 224 triathlons (including six Ironmans), 66 marathons, a 45-day cross-country bike ride, and more. Obviously, that's inspiring in and of itself.

What makes it AMAZING is that Rick is a quadriplegic and cannot walk or talk -- he was born with cerebral palsy, which kept him from ever being able to control his muscles and limbs, including his vocal chords.

Dick started participating in races and endurance events with his son when Rick was just 11, and the duo hasn't taken more than two weeks off since. Dick continues to train and compete because Rick gets so much joy out of it, and it makes him happy to see his son happy.

Moms: Pat yourselves on the back this Mother's Day for your ability to influence your kids in the healthiest of ways. Did you know you have the power to nurture your kids in a manner that might change their nature? You can also boost your little ones' IQs, conquer their stress, and ensure they get sick less often? You are a force to be reckoned with. Scientifically speaking anyway.

It's the strong mom-and-baby bond science is linking to smarter, healthier, happier children. Consider this: Nurturing mommy mice can actually change their pups' genes for the better with a whole lot of nurturing. Chances are human moms can do the same thing. Dads play a part too, but it's mom who generally has a more lifelong effect on kids, Mice studies also tell us that nurtured babies outsmart babes who are neglected by their moms, and pups who are snuggled by momma grow into less anxious, more self-assured adults.

Studies of moms and babies conclude that kids of very attentive mothers make friends more easily and get sick much less often.

I often ask moms of happy, well-behaved teenagers for advice. I figure if I stock up on strategies for the next few years, by the time my boys tumble in teen-hood, I'll know just what to do. Most moms feed me the same line: They love their kids unconditionally, they say, and they spend as much time with them as possible. Seems like a solid plan to me. I'm glad science agrees.

My kid got a cavity. Just had it filled recently. It cost me a bundle and makes me rethink getting dental insurance. It also makes me rethink what I need to do to ensure my two little guys do the very best they can with their pearly whites.

Of course, they need to brush. If I had it my way, they'd brush after eating, every time they eat. But this is hard since they spend a few hours each week day in school and I can't realistically mandate classroom brushing after snacks and lunch. I can be vigilant at home, though. I can hover like a helicopter over them, judging their respective techniques. Let's face it: Kids left to their own brushing devices will cheat, even if unaware their form is not exactly right.

My boys can floss -- and they do -- but as a team, we can do better. We can also swirl around a little mouthwash. And use this cool pink solution the dentist gave us (well, sold us) that marks the hiding places of food bits. And my favorite: We can cut down on sugary, sticky, sweet treats. We've got them down to a pretty good minimum but there's always room for improvement.

What can you do to treasure your kids' teeth? Visit this American Dental Association site for age-appropriate practices.

How long does it take McDonald's to make a hamburger? My guess is around 30 or 40 seconds. How long does it take to make a healthy meal at home? Much longer, right? Not quite, says Keri Glassman, registered dietitian and part of the Women's Health magazine team. Glassman suggests the following ten easy food flips to help you prepare healthier meals in a jiffy.

1. SWAP THE MAYO (or the sour cream). Instead use nonfat Greek yogurt as a much healthier, low-fat substitution. In addition to being much lighter in the calorie department, nonfat Greek yogurt is high in protein, calcium, and also contains digestion-aiding probiotics.

2. PUREE. Freeze your favorite fruits and vegetables and then days or even months later you can puree them in large batches. In a matter of seconds you can have a healthy and tasty snack. For kids, Glassman suggests purchasing the containers that ice cream manufacturers usually use to make push-pops and filling it with a fruit puree.

3. INCREASE VOLUME. Make your meals bigger without adding any calories. Trust me, it's easier than it sounds. For some easy ways to do this, click here.

4. GO FOR CHICKEN STOCK. Using the low-sodium version, add chicken stock to mashed potatoes or mashed cauliflower instead of butter or cream. You can also use chicken stock when you steam vegetables for added flavor rather than using butter or oil.

5. CONDIMENTS. Steer clear of those high in fat and sugar and instead opt for herbs, spices, and even low-sodium soy sauce, lemon juice, brown mustard, vinegars, and salsa.

Revolution Health has a new interactive tool, momScore, that ranks states based on the accessibility and quality of maternal health care. To determine the score, a team of health experts compared state-to-state criteria including:

• Access to prenatal care
• Maternal mortality
• Risk of pregnancy complications
• Childcare availability per capita
• Infant mortality
• Air quality
• Violent crime rate
• Access to health insurance
• Affordability of children's health insurance
• Mandatory paid leave policy
  

You can check your state's score overall or by specific health topic. My state ranked roughly in the middle, which was what I expected to see. Where does your state rank?

The Dove Campaign For Real Beauty has been based upon the idea that, while our bodies might have flaws (real or perceived), we're all beautiful. It's a good message, and they're looking to boost the self-esteem of females of all ages, starting with young girls. I'm all for it -- it's important that women realize that they don't need to be able to trade clothes with their favorite actress or be stalked by paparazzi in order to be beautiful.

However, some discussion has recently surfaced saying that the women in the Real Beauty ads were retouched. Premiere retoucher, Pascal Dangin, told The New Yorker that there was a great deal of retouching done on those ads, "But it was great to do, a challenge, to keep everyone's skin and faces showing the mileage but not looking unattractive."

What do you think about this development? I can't say I'm surprised -- I appreciate the fact that Dove still used women of different shapes and sizes. I mean, these are regular women being photographed and filmed in their undies! I can't say I would object to a little digital help were I in their position. But, others feel that it destroys the message -- they're not showing "real" beauty if there's retouching. What do you think?

This week I've been sampling Dannon's Light & Fit 0% Plus Yogurt, and I absolutely love it. Before I go any further though, let me tell you how I feel about yogurt. I like it, but only if I feel like I'm getting a high in calcium, low in sugar, legitimately fruit-filled snack. Now, there is always yogurt stacked up in my fridge, because I have two little children. But, rarely do I even open up a cup for myself. Not that I would ever buy my babies anything "bad"... cause I don't. But I regularly expect perfection of the things I put in my mouth. I'm simply not willing to waste 100 calories on a teeny cup of yogurt. I'd rather have two big pieces of fruit.

So! I was thrilled instantly by the calorie count on Dannon's new Light & Fit 0% Plus Yogurt. Each cup boasts only 50 or 60 calories, depending on the flavor. That I can do! The fruity varieties are also full of real fruit chunks. Fresh and healthy fruit chunks, not the icky stuff dumped in from a can. On top of all that, each flavor has proven to be delicious to both my children and me, and then a few of my personal training clients as well.

Before you go give Dannon's Light & Fit 0% Plus Yogurt a try, I encourage you to do a side-by-side comparison of it's nutritional content versus that of other yogurts. I did this a few days ago and couldn't find anything as good. This is the type of thing you want to put in your fridge if you're trying to lose weight. It's a great fix for your sweet tooth, while providing a decent amount of protein, calcium, vitamin D and other important nutrients.

Curious to know how celebrities squeeze fitness into their daily lives? Want to know the secrets of the stars? Bi-weekly our That's Fit fitness expert Fitz sits down with the celebs we want to know more about, and digs out their great and not-so-great methods to staying healthy.

I recently had the opportunity to spend time with Shane "Scooter" Christensen of the World Famous Harlem Globetrotters. Now, when handed the opportunity to pick the brain of a Globetrotter....I had to learn some skills! Cause quite frankly, when it comes to basketball....I have none. Well, I had none until I met Scooter. Now I know how to dunk.

Did you ever see the movie Lorenzo's Oil? If you haven't, I highly recommend it. In short, it's about a young boy diagnosed with a rare disease. Ultimately, it's found that a special diet with certain fats helped him. I just stumbled across a news story that reminds me so much of that movie.

Ella, a six-year-old girl from the UK, was recently part of a clinical trial to test the effects of a ketogenic diet on epilepsy. Ella was healthy until her first birthday when she contracted pneumococcal meningitis. The severe infection left her with both hearing and learning difficulties. Later, after experiencing seizures, she was also diagnosed with epilepsy.

There was a brief, few months after her fourth birthday when Ella was free of seizures. The reprieve didn't last long, but it gave Ella's parents a chance to glimpse their daughter free of the debilitating seizures. That was the impetus for signing her up for the clinical trial.

We are certifiable health food freaks and have been since long before we had a child. One of my husband's biggest concerns about being a healthy eating household was that none of our son's friends would ever want to eat over and subject themselves to vegetables and such.

Well, now that our little guy is three, we've been having some of his friends for dinner. How did it go, you ask? Here are two cases in point.

Our next door neighbor's six-year-old plays here almost every day after school and has recently begun to eat dinner here about once a week. She now asks every day what we are having for dinner because she has her favorites:

• taco salad made with homemade taco seasoning
• Applegate Farms hot dogs and Trader Joe's Organic Baked Beans and salad
• brown rice pasta with homemade red sauce, spinach, chicken sausage and zucchini chunks
• organic chicken burgers with avocado and salad

Pimples. They leave teens devastated, certain their social life is over. And for many, they don't stop when puberty does, continuing to plague men and women alike into their twenties, thirties, and beyond. You might be tempted to treat those pimples with a home remedy, but just the thought of you putting toothpaste on your pimples is enough to make a dermatologist shudder.

Newsweek recently covered the four worst home acne cures, and they include:

• picking at it or popping it
• applying an antibacterial ointment, like Neosporin
• covering it with toothpaste
• avoiding grease, chocolate, or spicy foods

Avoiding certain foods won't harm your acne situation, of course, but it doesn't help either. (Though, this is a health and fitness website, so we'll tell you to avoid greasy and sugary foods anyway).

So what should you do to alleviate your pimple problem?

• Reduce stress.
• Balance your hormones (See your doctor for this one, of course).
• Try over-the-counter washes with benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid (2% or less), or Retin-A Micro.
• Visit a dermatologist.