That's Fit

Home Sweet Toxic Home doesn't sound to comfy or cozy, does it? Unfortunately, certain areas of your home can be toxic. Here are some of the most toxic places in your home, according to MSNBC.

From the insecticides/herbicides you spread on your lawn, lead in your kid's toy box, mothballs and dry-cleaning chemicals in your closet, carcinogens in the kitty litter box and chemicals and gases hanging out in your home office, you're surrounded by more dangerous chemicals than you might realize.

Beyond choosing non-chemical alternatives, you can also start collecting houseplants. Here are three popular plants to naturally purify the air in your home:

• Areca Palm: removes xylene commonly found in permanent markers and rubber cement.
• Boston Fern: removes formaldehyde found in permanent press fabrics, glues/adhesives and even cheap fiberboard furniture.
• English Ivy: removes benzene found in oven cleaners, detergents, furniture polish and spot cleaners.

Here's a list of seven more healthy houseplants to consider -- it's recommended you place two to three plants in an average-sized domestic living space of about 20 to 25 square yards.

Regular tennis players are constantly faced with the question -- what do I do with all those out-of-bounce, used tennis balls? Your dog can only chew on so many. Turns out there are 50+ creative ideas shared by Lifehackery. Here are a few health and fitness ones highlighted at Julie's Health blog:

• Juggle! Works your hand-eye coordination and mental acuity.
• If you snore, sew a pouch on the back of your pajamas and slip in a tennis ball. It'll keep you from sleeping on your back -- a prime position for snoring.
• Roll your feet on a couple tennis balls while you're sitting down for a tickly massage or slip a couple balls in a sock, tie it off and place it between your back and and a chair for a pressure massage.
• Rock climbers, listen up! If you're having trouble pulling off that 5.10 rated climb, try squeezing a tennis ball for a week, alternating equal time between each hand. Greater hand strength can make all the difference in making that crux move on the big wall.
• Here are a few from me -- play fetch with your pooch, catch with your kids or squeeze one between your knees and say hello to those inner thigh/adductor muscles.

Check out the full list by Lifehackery, and if you think of any other tennis ball tips for health and fitness, do share!

Grocery prices are getting out of hand -- I bypassed a $2.49 box of frozen, multigrain waffles today to buy two boxes of the less healthy/not whole-grain variety because they were a buck a box. I'll sprinkle some flax on top of them before sliding the plates over to the kids, but I'm still having waffle-purchase regret. My kids eat a lot of waffles -- we're missing out on a golden whole-grain opportunity here.

If you're into frozen waffles, a group of five San Francisco-area food aficionados from Taster's Choice have analyzed the whole-grain variety. Here are the Top Three:

• 1st Place: Scoring a 75 out of 100, Van's multi-grain waffles are eggless, dairy-free and the tasters reported a "good crunch." Unfortunately, they are outrageously expensive at $3.29 for six waffles at Whole Foods. How come the good stuff is out of reach for the average middle-class family? Maybe we need to re-prioritize our waffle budget.
• 2nd Place: Scoring a 59 (much lower than Van's), Safeway's Eating Right had a nice texture and a nutty taste. Cost: $2.75 for 10 waffles -- now we're talkin'!
• 3rd Place: Eggo whole-wheat waffles garnered 57 points. Tasters commented it was crispy and even looked homemade. 10 L'Eggo-My-Whole-Wheat-Eggos cost $3.49, a bit pricey.

Lifestream and Kashi also make multi-grain frozen waffles, but they didn't make the Top Three.

After you start your day with a whole-grain frozen waffle, head on over to AOL Body's America Takes It Off!: Summer Quick Fix weight loss program and accept the challenge to drop a few pounds. You'll find a bunch of tips to help you get started, even how to stock your fridge! Focusing on whole-grains is a good start.

Cancer sticks are out, smoke-free restaurant air is in. At least that's the trend in 23 states instituting statewide restaurant smoking bans. I live in one of those states, and also work one evening in a restaurant. I love no more smokey haze. Other than a few complaining patrons as the 2008 ban neared in Illinois, I haven't heard one complaint since.

An intriguing new study adds even more justification to restaurant smoking bans -- they keeps a whole bunch of teens from developing the habit. Researchers tracked 2,791 kids aged 12 to 17 who lived throughout Massachusetts. When the study began in 2001 no statewide restrictions existed, however approximately 100 cities/towns had varying kinds of smoking bans. After following the teens for four years, researchers determined in the towns without bans or where smoking was only allowed in a designated smoking area, nearly 10 percent became smokers. In towns with restaurant smoking bans, just under 8 percent of the teens developed the habit.

Strong bans make a big difference to teens. In this study, the chances of an experimental-smoking teen turning into a smoker was reduced by 40 percent. Also, since Massachusetts' statewide restaurant smoking ban was instituted in mid-2004, high school smoking rates have dropped from 21 percent of students in 2005 to 18 percent in 2007. May smoking bans be here to stay.

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!

Gallery: George Hood breaks World Record

I'm stoked. Around 6:00 am Monday morning George Hood is expected to break the Guinness Book of World Records for consecutive hours cycling on a stationary-bike. He's attempting this 176+ hour feat close to my home, at the Heritage Group YMCA's Fry Family YMCA in Naperville, Illinois. Beyond seeking the World Record, Hood is raising thousands of dollars to support Y membership and programs for kids and families in need.

Last night I joined a Midnight Spin class to provide Hood a little energy boost. While I was working today, my husband and kids headed over to the Y to see Hood in person. The kids loved spinning alongside this Cycling Superman! I know my six-year-old son left amazed, he immediately announced upon arriving home that he was off to the backyard to seek a World Record by hanging 20 seconds on the monkey bars. He did nail the record, but it hasn't been confirmed by Guinness, yet.

You're probably not alone in wondering what kind of spin bike can deliver the high-tech durability and comfort required of a quest like Hood's. He's riding the bright yellow LeMond RevMaster, which sports nifty features such as a Kevlar belt, incredibly strong cranks, new loop handlebars to accommodate a variety of hand positions and an anatomically-designed comfy saddle. If you have $1,195.00, you can purchase a RevMaster for your own home spin gym and crank out a few personal spinning records.

Signing off until tomorrow morning, gotta hit the pillow as I'm heading over to the Y around 4:00 am Monday to spin and witness Hood make history. You can too -- watch live via Webcam!

Beyond going to the gym and eating right, we also need to stoke and stroke our body confidence. According to Judith Beck, author of The Beck Diet Solution, feeling great about your body -- no matter its size -- can provide the motivation and energy to actually head to the gym and reach for healthier foods.

In today's Parade, Beck offers four tips to give our negative body-esteem a jolt of positive:

• Don't tie your self-worth to results on the scale: Do I ever need this advice -- sometimes my entire morning mood is controlled by the number that pops up on that blinking digital screen. A heavier daily weigh-in inspires me to reach for more fruits/veggies and go for a jog, but I should not simultaneously allow the scale to spark feelings of self-loathing.
• Stop putting your life on hold: Don't wait to lose the weight before joining the gym or buying new clothes. Stepping out on a 20-minute walk today can jumpstart a host of positive body chemicals to keep you moving toward your dream weight.
• Release the pressure valve: You do not have to workout like Lance Armstrong all the time. I've gotten much better at accepting my occasional bouts of aches and pains and taking a leisurely stroll instead of pounding the pavement on those tough days. Be more forgiving, but modify as needed to keep moving -- safely.
• Congratulations are in order: Okay, maybe like me, you've only lost a couple of measly pounds since your spring shape-up began. Celebrate your progress, whether it's eating less ice cream or losing just a fraction of your body weight. If you're changing diet and exercise behaviors for the better, even on the lazy days when the only good news is you're slurping down water instead of soda while running errands, give yourself credit. It's like throwing a bunch of mini-parties to honor your oft forgotten body confidence!

I reported yesterday U.S. ultra-athlete George Hood is attempting to make the Guinness Book of World Records for consecutive hours cycling on a stationary bike -- he has to beat 175.5 hours to be exact. Just happens Hood has been cycling since last Sunday night at the Heritage YMCA Group's Fry Family YMCA near my home. In addition to trying to break the World Record, Hood is raising big bucks for the YMCA's Strong Kids Campaign which provides YMCA programs and membership for kids and families in need.

I just returned from a Midnight Spin class to support Hood. Even though my hair is wet with sweat and it's 3:00 a.m. CST as I'm writing this, I'm pumped and inspired. Watching Hood and team try and break a Guinness Record is a sight to behold. From the painstaking record-keeping, motivational coaching, supporters carrying him off the bike for allowed rest breaks, and smiling friends and strangers stopping by, it's an exciting fitness circus of fun. One moment during the spin class the entire room was clapping in rhythm to spark Hood's pace -- unforgettable! If I didn't have to work this morning, I would have stayed all night to cheer him on -- nighttime is Hood's roughest time in the saddle.

I did get a chance to speak with Hood and asked him what was more satisfying, raising the money or beating the record? Now this guy's in his eighth day on the bike, yet he didn't miss a beat and replied, "They're both simultaneous endeavors, but the World Record certificate pales in comparison to the looks on the faces of the kids [receiving YMCA scholarships]. Colorful "Go George" posters designed by YMCA kids adorn the cycling room.

U.S. ultra-athlete George Hood made the Guinness Book of World Records for 111+ consecutive hours on a stationary bicycle in 2007 before being surpassed by a rival from Tasmania clocking in 132 hours two weeks later. Now he's nearing the end of a ride to top the record.

Fifty-year-old Hood started cycling last Sunday evening at the Fry Family YMCA in Naperville, Illinois with a goal of 150 hours. But this past Friday, Guinness informed him the new record he needs to break is 175.5 hours, not 132. I just spoke to Judy Ellertson, Executive Director of Fry Family YMCA, and it turns out another U.S. cyclist established the new 175.5 hour record in the midst of Hood's current attempt. Records are commonly traded back and forth this time of year as it's the end of the Guinness publishing cycle. But the news has not extinguished his flame, Hood's still cycling, expected to shatter the new goal sometime past midnight on Monday morning.

Fortuitously, I live a half hour from the Fry Family YMCA. I'm stopping by tonight to hopefully land a slot in their Midnight Spin class to inspire Hood's quest. He can't lose steam, Guinness requires a minimum speed of 12 m.p.h.

Hood is allowed a five minute break each hour to stretch, visit the potty and sleep. He can stockpile breaks to cash in on longer stretches of sleep, typically 10 to 12 minutes at most. On primarily a liquid diet, volunteers lift Hood off the bike each break and carry him to a table to stretch. Paramedics check in every four hours. A man seeking more than a world record, Hood's attempts over the years have raised over $75,000 for various charities. No doubt Hood has the mental fortitude to finish the feat.

Many thanks to Judy Ellertson for the update on Hood's attempt. She is a good friend and a highly respected, former Executive Director of another Chicago suburban YMCA I worked for from 1999-2001. Hands down, she's the best boss I ever had.

I have not stepped foot in a Sam's Club wholesale food warehouse in at least three years. We don't have much shelf space for 30 rolls of toilet paper. But when a neighbor called today and invited me along on her Sam's Club adventure, curiosity bit.

Beyond the row of plasma TVs awaiting the eyes of entering customers -- the cheapest was $999, there goes half the tax stimulus -- everything appeared the same. I was already facing the fact a trip to Sam's Club meant walking in with money and walking out with no money and a cart piled with junk food. Today proved me wrong.

Here are the heart-healthier items I picked up at Sam's. Food I felt proud to buy for my family:

• A bag of frozen tilapia fillets. Physically I feel like a winner when I eat grilled or baked fish.
• A double box of Kashi Go Lean Crunch cereal -- I was excited to see Kashi products at Sam's!
• 34 Go-Gurts which will probably last the kids a month.
• A plastic barrel of Snyder Snap pretzels -- we can use that barrel for arts and crafts post-snacking.
• Parmesan-encrusted chicken breasts -- higher in fat than I prefer (9 g per breast), but not bad if served up with a double portion of fresh veggies or a salad.
• One 48 oz whoppin' bag of trail mix -- 10 g of fat per serving is high, but a preferred snack over that big box of chocolatey granola bars I nearly pulled the trigger on.

Warehouse shopping is not as scary as I remember, just stick to the healthier items and try and avoid the pastry creme puff sample lady if at all possible. If you can't resist, pop the puff in whole or the creme will squirt on your shirt. Just ask my neighbor. Also, don't miss AOL Body's Diet Basics to learn a few nutritional tips. Armed with healthy diet information, march on over and join AOL Body's America Takes It Off weight loss challenge today!

Arthritis impacts 27 percent of the general population, but people with diabetes are even more at risk. Fifty-two percent of diabetics have arthritis -- about twice the rate of the general population.

Using approximately 800,000 phone surveys collected between 2005-2007, researchers at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report the evidence does not suggest diabetes and arthritis are causal of one another, but both conditions do share key risk factors such as obesity. Surprisingly, both young and old diabetics were just as likely to have high rates of arthritis. While exercise can help regulate blood glucose levels in diabetics and relieve arthritic joint pain, CDC researchers learned about 30 percent of adults with diabetes and arthritis are inactive -- a real conundrum. This is significantly higher than those inactive with a single condition -- 21 percent of people with diabetes alone and 17 percent of people with solely arthritis.

As a fan of everything fitness, and as a sister and daughter of two brothers and both parents with type 1 diabetes, this new study is concerning. Arthritis can prove a major barrier to regular exercise. However it's not all bad news -- there are specific exercise programs/protocols designed to benefit people with arthritis. A couple years ago I wrote a non-profit grant application highlighting spectacular participant results thanks to an arthritis swim program at a local YMCA in my area. Stay tuned for a more comprehensive report on the general exercise philosophy for arthritis sufferers in a future post. Here's a link to order an informative Arthritis and Diabetes publication (pictured) available through the Arthritis Foundation.

Did you know there are two kinds of cravings? A biological craving occurs when you're physiologically hungry -- it doesn't go away. I suppose that's where the term "gnawing hunger" derives from. An emotional craving is temporary -- you can distract yourself from this type of craving. Hmmm ... I guess munching on that three-pound bag of peanut M&Ms in between swigs from a bottle of cold 7UP at the drive-thru movie as a kid was satisfying an emotional craving, not a true biological need. I start wishing for that three-pound bag whenever we pull into a drive-thru theatre.

One diet expert recommends you should go ahead and satisfy those cravings, however try and shore up the nutritional content of the desired food. For crave-instance:

• Can't stop thinking about a Fluffernutter marshmallow sandwich? Choose whole-grain bread, spread one side with all natural peanut butter, the other with a thin coating of the sticky white stuff and sprinkle on wheat germ.
• Just gotta have cookies? Make a batch of oatmeal raisins with a mix of rolled grains, a handful of dried cherries and some flaxseed.
• No need to lug that bright yellow, three-pound bag of peanut M&Ms to the movies, I can pick up a bag of dark covered chocolate soy nuts instead. Disclaimer: there's no way my mom would go for this!
• Want to cradle a mug of hot chocolate? Try mixing hot skim milk with Ovaltine.

How about making this Sunday's Mother's Day an active one? If you like to run or walk, snag a last minute spot on one of the many Mother's Day races around the country.

Active.com has a great Mother's Day race locator -- just pop in your zip code, find a race and see if you can still enroll. If online registration is over, give a call to race officials to confirm you'll be able to register right on race day. Just think of it, a stellar early morning workout on Mother's Day with a t-shirt and racer goody bag to boot. Don't forget to invite your family to run or walk by your side or cheer you on at the finish.

Then be sure to return home to those flowers and a healthy Mother's Day brunch!

How do you feel after a deep, long belly laugh? You know, the kind of laugh that has you rolling around on the floor, banging your arms Tickle Me Elmo-style. I don't know about you, but I feel relaxed and relieved.

According to certified laughter yoga leader Barb Fisher, we adults need to be laughing more often. We're only laughing 15 times a day compared to kids who laugh around 400 times daily. Not fair! Does the fun end with the right to vote? We may be laughing less, but maybe you'll plug into humor more often when you realize a good laugh is equivalent to three minutes on the rowing machine. We need some cardio machines telling jokes during the cool down -- or maybe comedy should be the main feature in fitness TV programming and cardio theatres.

Fisher is clear to stress laughter yoga cannot replace aerobic and weight-bearing fitness, however laughing games and exercises offer many health benefits such as:

• Stress reduction
• Immune boost
• Improved circulation, oxygenation, muscle tone and digestion

You suddenly cannot recall your phone number. You find the phone in the fridge. Your new sandals are sitting in your kids' shoe tree. You're starting to Google the key phrases "early dementia" and "early Alzheimer's."

It's a frightening concept, losing your marbles. Many Boomers have faithfully been married to physical fitness for years, but as they gray around the temples they're starting to worry their noggin' may someday ask for a divorce. According to a recent study of older Boomers (born 1946-1955), a growing number believe in the plasticity of the brain -- calisthenics for the mind, if you will.

Beyond $1,000 genetic tests to examine risk factors such as Alzheimer's by 23andMe and deCODE genetics, there are also brain health products such as Posit Science's $395 computer cognitive exercises, MindFit's $149 assessment/personalized cognitive training software and Nintendo's $19.99 Brain Age 2 video game offering math/memory exercises. As I reported earlier, brain fitness is a young industry poised for big growth.

I can see it now, Boomers Aerobics where the instructor shouts cognitive training directives from the podium. How about a Cardio/Cranium Theatre challenging your memory from the big screen? Don't forget the monthly brain massage.