That's Fit

Sea Shepherd Conservation Society (SSCS) has sailed into our living rooms thanks to Animal Planet's Whale Wars, a popular new series covering SSCS's controversial tactics opposing allegedly illegal Japanese whaling. I've been glued to each episode the past few weeks as SSCS crew sailed their ship, the Steve Irwin, to the Southern Oceans to fool with Japan's whaling fleet.

SSCS trys to foul props, they toss stink bombs on Japanese decks, they even put two SSCS volunteers onboard a Japanese whaler to deliver a personal message against whaling -- a publicity stunt that triggered buzz worldwide. Some call them pirates. If they are, then they're likely the first ever vegan pirates.

SSCS ships are vegan. Throw the last stink bomb, then head to the galley for mashed cauliflower and beans over brown rice. According to Captain Paul Watson, their vegan policy is not a PETA-thing (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals), it's all about marine conservation, not protesting what people eat. Overfishing to Watson is a major biological holocaust against ocean life. He explains that 50 percent of the fish netted from the sea are converted into animal feed. Cats eat more tuna than all the world's seals. The crew members are conservationist vegans, not PETA vegans. I get it. Can you believe they actually throw stink bombs? Pic from www.seashepherd.org.

Wasting food is a pretty common occurrence these days -- and for those of us trying to shed a few pounds, we tend to think that the extra food is better off in our garbage cans than our bellies. But wasted food has a disastrous effect on the environment, and according to the New York Times, America wastes enough food to fill Madison Square Garden ... each day!

When I was a kid, I went to an eco-friendly summer camp that policed food waste carefully. After every meal, those at each table had to dump wasted food into a bucket and weigh it, and the results would be reported to a guy called the 'food waste buster', who would reward and shame the best and worst teams. Guess what? It worked. We were careful to take only what we could eat, and we made sure we ate every last bite. Even today, I'm conscious of what I leave on my plate.

Weighing your family's food waste might not be the most practical solution, but you can -- and should -- take steps to eliminate the amount you waste. Here are some suggestions:

Nike is well-known for lots of reasons -- high-profile athletes as spokespersons, the swoosh, and possibly the catchiest catch phrase ever. But now, Nike Inc. is hoping to become known for something else -- eco-friendliness.

The company's initiative, Nike Considered Design, focuses on having all aspects of the business meet specific goals, starting with footwear, then apparel, and finally, by 2020, equipment. The Nike crew intends to cut waste and raise the use of environmentally-friendly materials, eventually recycling all used products. And, it will streamline the supply chain, which will reduce the amount of oil and other materials used.

As you probably guessed, the Nike Considered Design initiative won't just help Nike go green, but will also make a little green in the process. Using fewer materials will lower their costs -- something they've already learned since reducing their shoe production waste by 50 percent.

I just love Honey Crisp apples. Unfortunately, their deliciousness comes with a pretty big price tag. The other day I was checking out at the grocery store and I had a bag full of Honey Crisps. The cashier and I were lamenting over how costly they were. I mentioned that I had heard that apple growers in our state had planted some Honey Crisp trees, so hopefully the cost would go down when those trees were mature and bearing fruit. Then we looked at the label. Fortunately for the environment, but unfortunately for my wallet, the apples in question were from my state. And they were just as expensive as ever. Even though I was disappointed in the price, I was glad to see that my favorite fall treat is now locally grown.

Being able to see where food comes from is important for many reasons. Environmentally speaking, the fewer miles the food has to travel to arrive on your grocery store shelves, the better. Local food also helps to ensure freshness and it supports the local economy. Health-wise, knowing what country your food is from can help you avoid foods that are potentially exposed to unsanitary conditions and/or harmful chemicals.

The new law, which requires country of origin labeling as of September 30, is a bit confusing, however. Certain foods, such as roasted peanuts and bacon, don't have to be labeled. Any food that can be considered processed is exempt from the law.

[via FitSugar]

Most of us are adamant about keeping our bodies and minds healthy. But what about our surroundings? Doing your part and pitching in to help save our earth is just as important -- after all, what's the point of being fit if we don't have fresh air to breathe?

Now you can look good and save the earth at the same time. Prevention magazine recently assembled a list of their top eco-friendly fitness gear finds -- from wicking shirts made from coconut shells to shoes with recycled rubber soles, you're sure to find something that suits your workout and your budget. Check the list out over here.

I've been carrying my reusable water bottle around with me for quite some time now. I fill a pitcher with tap water and keep it in my refrigerator so I always have nice, cold water, and I really try to do my best to avoid drinking bottled water. However, a lot of people stick almost exclusively to water from a little plastic bottle, and while there are a multitude of reasons for this, a lot of these reasons don't have much basis in fact.

Marie Claire recently exposed six of the most common bottled water myths -- even if you're not a bottled water devotee, some of these busted myths might surprise you.

We can't ignore the fact that the economy is in a bit of a slump. And whether or not we recognize it, this affects nearly every aspect of our lives -- including our eating habits. During times of financial hardship, it's a natural reaction to stock up on foods that are processed and full of preservatives, but our healthy habits shouldn't be the first thing to go when things get a bit tough.

At least that's what nutritionist Jane Clarke says in her weekly column for The Daily Mail. She offers a few tips for reducing waste -- and ultimately cost -- when you're shopping for the family:

• Buy sliced, fresh whole wheat bread and freeze what you don't use right away.
• Add cheap, healthy ingredients like beans to your meat dishes to make the meat go further.
• Buy only as much fresh fruit as you know you can consume, and stock up on frozen fruit instead.
• In fruits do go limp, cook them (or freeze them) right away instead of throwing them out.

How do you stretch your grocery dollars?

Got some healthy leftovers to store? Something you can take to work and eat for lunch? Something that will make a great dinner a second time around? If so, you'll want to properly store your food in the greenest of ways, says Jessica Jensen, co-founder of Low Impact Living. Here's how.

• Use glass first. It can be used over and over and is easily recycled.
• Go for aluminum foil next since it too can be recycled.
• Opt for plastic containers before bags because they can be reused and some can be recycled. It's best to use as little plastic as possible, though, since it's made from petroleum, a nonrenewable resourse.
• Last choice: Plastic wrap. It's only good for one-time uses and can't be recycled.

As Labor Day weekend platters of hamburgers, hot dogs, bbq'd chicken, corn, chips 'n dip, jell-o molds and brownies are shortly devoured, most will have no clue where the various foods come from. Also, the feast will likely be inhaled quickly so family members can return to the baggo game.

However the 40-50,000 people gathered for Slow Food Nation '08 in San Francisco this Labor Day weekend are doing things quite differently. Slow Food is a non-profit, eco-gastronomic organization founded nearly 20 years ago to combat people's diminishing interest in the food they consume, where the ingredients come from, how food choices impact the globe, and even the disappearance of a slowly eaten, homemade meal around a sociable table.

Slow Food Nation '08 is the first-ever American gathering to support this nation's growing sustainable food movement, fostering the wider public's environmental connection to their food. Taste Pavilions feature food from across the country, leaders of the movement are sparking provocative learning and group discussion throughout the Food for Thought series and the Victory Garden is showcasing how World War II communities throughout America fed and supported themselves. Very cool. Here's the full schedule of eclectic events.

Our family's making a small contribution to the Slow Food movement -- my mom's making pesto right now with basil clipped from her garden as my niece tosses a salad with cherry tomatoes, peppers and green onions from our garden. I hope Michigan corn is on the menu tomorrow. Luckily we have no problem lingering forever tableside for colorful conversation, followed by a rousing game of midnight Monopoly ... after baggo, of course. Wishing you a memorable, perhaps slower Labor Day weekend everybody! Pic from slowfoodnation.org.

Women's Health magazine just sent me a release with some fun tips entailed, and I thought I'd share this one with you. Four fabulous moves useful for those of you guilty of missing morning workouts to sleep in late, and then missing the gym after work due to fatigue. As your online trainer I want to make this clear to you: skipping your workouts on a regular basis is detrimental to your health!

Of course, early morning workouts can be tough. They're also what keeps you full of the energy you need to get through each day with vigor! Check out this gallery, and next time you go to hit the snooze button ... get your fanny up and do the Cat Cow pose instead. (No moo-ing necessary!) These four easy moves will give you the energy to get to the gym and start your day off right!

Has anyone else noticed that TV and movies are providing us with more strong, kick-ass female characters? There's Yvonne Strahovski, who plays spy Sarah Walker on Chuck, and we had Angelina Jolie carrying Wanted. And, you might not have seen her yet, but Gabrielle Anwar is just as tough.

She plays the trigger happy ex-girlfriend to the lead character on USA's Burn Notice, and while I wouldn't go so far as to call her character a role model -- she's a little too good at making bombs for that -- she holds her own physically, especially considering she's quite petite. To get ready for her action-packed role, Gabriella adjusted her diet.

She said she cut out "foods with ingredients that I need a dictionary to define. I find that the less animal products I consume the better my general health; the less refined sugars, the less I feel the energy fall out; and the more organic fresh produce I eat, the lighter I feel."

Fitness isn't just about body fat and muscle mass. For many of us, being fit inside counts, too, which means trying to make the best possible choices from day to day -- best for ourselves, our families, and our planet. And it can get tiring sometimes, trying to determine whether you're better off purchasing sustainable Product X from Company A or slightly-used organic Product Y from Company B, but sustainable shopping just got a bit easier with WorldofGood.com.

WorldOfGood.com is an Ebay community that strives to be "your source for everything People Positive and Eco Positive." They want to provide a place where people can "create positive change through commerce, as part of a global community."

More and more people are interested in the effects their purchases make -- knowing you're buying items that meet your philosophical needs can bring you great peace of mind. If you want to see just how big an impact simple spending habits make on the world at large, check out the Smart Cart quiz. You'll be amazed (and slightly horrified, if you're anything like me!).

What's the lowdown on buying organic? It's pretty hard to tell, with the mixed messages we are getting as consumers these days. The definitive study, though, tells us that not only is organic more nutritious, but it is better for the ground water and soil.

A few facts on organic foods:

• they contain up to 90% more antioxidants than conventionally grown food
• they've got higher levels of minerals
• as cancer-fighters, they win the race

Seems as though we should always buy organic, with those stats. Due to availability -- and our budgets! -- buying everything organic may not be an option, and if we're looking to do a real service to the environment, buying what's available locally is a better choice.

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.

Nutrition expert, Elizabeth Somer, and I recently sat down in New York City at the Prilosec OTC round table event to chat about aging without feeling or looking OLD! She tosses out tons of great advice about living well, living long and looking hot while doing it. The interview was fun and her books are great!

View Elizabeth's books below:

Starting September 1, members of The Green Microgym in Portland, OR will jump on a spin bike for their health and the planet's.

This eco-friendly gym offers spin bikes capable of producing 200 to 600 watts of energy per hour. A handful of other spin bikes are wired to generators. This army of green pedal power feeds battery banks capable of delivering electricity to the building. Cool!

The Green Microgym didn't stop there. They sport low-energy ceiling fans, a yoga room with cork flooring and local artwork, and solar-panel awnings. Perhaps not the best marketing move, they purposely do not offers showers to save on water-heating costs. Ugh, no showers? I'd spin an extra half an hour for a hot shower!