animal-related stories
Paw Nation - Fit for Fans of Fur Everywhere
Maybe you have a fit Fido of your own, or, maybe you've got a furry bundle of joy who likes to lick you like crazy when you get back from the gym (you know, to reward you for all of your hard work). Or, perhaps you have a fluffball who likes nothing more than to cuddle on the couch, and thinks fitness is for the birds (heck, maybe you're a bird person -- I don't know your life!).
Whether you have pets or just love animals, there's a new site you need to check out -- our new sister site, Paw Nation, is live and it is fantastic. There are adorable slide shows, great tips and advice and, of course, some celebrity scoop (what site would be complete without it?). So, once you've checked out all the new diet and fitness news here at That's Fit, head on over to Paw Nation. Smiling and laughing burn calories, right?
Obese Pet? You Could Face Jail Time
Obesity, Diet & Weight Loss, Celebs & Entertainment
Overfeeding your child is fairly serious -- some even feel it's a form of abuse. Now animal rights groups are saying the same thing ... about your pets. And the government in the UK agrees -- according to the Daily Mail, new controversial rule under the animal welfare act could have serious consequences for pet owners who don't put their fat animals on a diet. Overfeeding pets is a 'serious welfare concern' and can lead to suffering, according to the new law. Therefore, people who allow their pets to become dangerously obese can face fines of around $30,000 or even up to a full year in jail. There's no word on whether similar laws could be adopted here in North America, but maybe they should be. After all, if you can't give your pet the necessary amount of exercise, maybe you shouldn't have one.
Too harsh? What do you think?
You're probably eating too much saturated fat
Diet & Weight Loss, Nutrition & Supplements
We all indulge in 'bad' foods from time to time, but what are the chances that most of us are indulging in bad things most of the time? Pretty high if you live in Britain. Recent studies out of the UK showed that in every region of the country, people were eating more than their recommended daily intake of saturated fat on a regular basis. In more urbanized parts of the country, the average person consumed 20% more saturated fat than they should have, while in more rural parts of the country, they were eating double the amount they should. Yikes.
Why should we care about what they're eating in England? I have a very good feeling that we North Americans aren't far off. Eating too much saturated fat can raise your cholesterol, up your chance of heart disease and shorten your lifespan, among other things.
You should be getting no more than 20 g - 30g of saturated fat a day. Lower your average intake by cutting out processed meats like bacon and sausages and cutting down on how much butter you consume.
Ask Fitz! Your Fitness Questions Answered -- Chubby Vegetarians
Healthy Aging, Healthy Habits, Organic, Vegetarian, Vitamins and Supplements, Womens Health, HealthWatch, Healthy Recipes, Ask Fitz!, Cellulite, Obesity, Diet & Weight Loss, Fitness, Celebs & Entertainment, Reviews & Products, Alternative & Green Health, Nutrition & Supplements, Men's Health
Have fitness questions? Fitz has your answer. Our ThatsFit.com fitness expert -- and now your own virtual personal trainer -- will help you get fit, increase your overall health and do it in a fun way. Drop your questions here in the Comments section below and we'll choose one per week to publish on That's Fit! Learn more about Fitz here.
Q. Hi Miss Fitzness, I'm a vegetarian, but still weigh 34 pounds more than I'd like to. What gives? I thought vegetarians were supposed to be skinny, and I hate being chubby! Meredith
A. Hello Meredith, Thanks for writing! Vegetarianism can have tons of benefits, and a trim physique can be one of them, if done right. Having said that ... it's very easy to go wrong as well. Here is the deal. Vegetarians don't necessarily eat all fruits and vegetables ... vegetarians just don't eat meat. There are tons of products that have no animal products in them, yet are still super high in calories and fat. Let's start with a short list of some vegetarian approved products:
- Flour
- Sugar
- Oil
- Frosting
- Gummy Bears
Monkeys from Heaven
Healthy Relationships, Stress Reduction, Womens Health, Celebrities and Entertainment, Diet & Weight Loss, Fitness, Celebs & Entertainment, Reviews & Products, Motivation, Alternative & Green Health, Nutrition & Supplements, Men's Health
This morning was a special day for the mommies in my playgroup and I. Today we donated over 150 stuffed monkeys to the children being cared for at North Florida Regional Medical Center (NFRMC) in honor of our Angel Odessa. Odessa Virginia Webster was born at NFRMC on February 24, 2003, and landed back at the same hospital on March 25, 2004 for care after a fatal head injury. At thirteen months old, Odessa was stolen from her parents Matt and Anita, her loving family, and our already tight playgroup family. It was devastating for all of us, and out of our grief came an intense drive to honor our "Angel O".
To back up a bit, our playgroup began when our infants met at a "new mommy" luncheon hosted at NFRMC when they were two weeks old. Well, the infants didn't exactly meet each other, but us moms did ... and we decided then and there that we wanted to stick together. That made ten families dealing with the insanity of newborns and leaning on each other for friendship, advice, stress relief, and fun. We literally have been getting together for "playgroup" every Tuesday since, and our children are all addicted to each other; the best of friends. At the start, we would have never imagined what would come for us, for her, the following year. I just remember checking my email one day and opening one from Anita with "Odessa Virginia Webster" as the title. I expected to see a new photo from a portrait studio. A portrait was included, but it went along with a letter written by Anita informing us that her daughter was gone. "Please don't call now. I'm not ready to talk" she wrote. I simply can't describe the agony that followed for all of us.
Ask Fitz! Your Fitness Questions Answered -- Vacation Weight Management
Healthy Aging, Healthy Habits, Healthy Places, Stress Reduction, Womens Health, Celebrities and Entertainment, Healthy Kids, Ask Fitz!, Cellulite, Obesity, Healthy Events, Diet & Weight Loss, Fitness, Celebs & Entertainment, Reviews & Products, Motivation, Alternative & Green Health, Nutrition & Supplements, Men's Health
Have fitness questions? Fitz has your answer. Our ThatsFit.com fitness expert -- and now your own virtual personal trainer -- will help you get fit, increase your overall health and do it in a fun way. Drop your questions here in the Comments section below and we'll choose one per week to publish on That's Fit! Learn more about Fitz here.
Q. Hello! I came across your trip reports from your Disney World vacation in June while searching the web for some advice on healthy eating at Disney. Very helpful posts -- thank you! Our family was there last summer and we are going back next week. However, since January I have lost around 55 lbs (with a few more pounds still to go). I wasn't that concerned about eating healthy last summer, but I am worried this summer that I will gain weight during vacation instead of maintaining or losing weight, as I am still trying to do. I know that Disney World is tons of walking (it's me, my husband, and our two boys, ages 7 and 5), but there is no nutrition/calorie information for any of the food from Disney's table or counter-service restaurants. The main way that I have lost weight is by counting calories and exercising. So I feel a little "lost" when it comes to what I will eat on vacation. Also, my husband and kids are fairly picky eaters and so we pretty much only eat at places that offer the standard "hamburgers, hot dogs, chicken nuggets, pizza", etc. Thanks for your trip report -- sounds like you and your family had a wonderful time at Disney World!!! Melody from Delaware
A. Hi Melody. Lucky you! I wish I were going back to Disney next week! Hopefully my answer will prove to be the simple reassurance you need to relax and enjoy the magic of Disney. Sweetie ... you've lost 55 pounds; you already know what you are doing! All I want you to do is to continue pursuing the same fabulous food you choose at home in Delaware. Disney has totally cleaned up its act in the healthy food department. I literally found healthier menu items at Disney's Magic Kingdom than I have ever found in my own home town!
Eating habits: Which 'atartian' are you?
Diet & Weight Loss, Alternative & Green Health, Nutrition & Supplements
Apparently, the term Pescatarian is now in the dictionary, according to our friends over at Fitsugar. 'Pescatarian' describes a vegetarian who eats fish, in case you didn't know. And then there's Flexitarians--people like me who are part-time vegetarians. But it got me thinking: What are the other types of vegetarians?
Here's a short list of some other types of veggies:
- Vegans don't eat any animal products, including dairy and honey
- Fruitarians eat only fruits and vegetables that are classified as fruits
- Lacto-ovo vegetarians stay away from meat but eat eggs and dairy
- Raw/Living foodists eat only raw foods
- Macrobiotics eat only unprocessed foods, but sometimes eat fish.
What 'atarian' are you?
Fitzness Food: Roasted Vegetable Cuban Sandwich
Healthy Habits, Healthy Home, Healthy Places, Vegetarian, Womens Health, Healthy Recipes, Celebrities and Entertainment, Healthy Kids, Healthy Products and Reviews, Recipe Rehab with Tanya Zuckerbrot, Cellulite, Diet & Weight Loss, Fitness, Celebs & Entertainment, Reviews & Products, Alternative & Green Health, Nutrition & Supplements, Men's Health
I actually screamed out loud when I found this recipe in the Delicious Disney, The Disney Chefs with Pam Brandon book. My husband and I shared SEVERAL of these last time we were at EPCOT Center in the Walt Disney World Resort, and have lusted for it since. It was served at the Sunshine Seasons in The Land. This Roasted Vegetable Cuban Sandwich is perfect for both carnivores and vegetarians alike. It's fairly simple to make and will leave you with a little streak of drool on the side of your face until you have one again! I've posted the recipe in my online Recipe Book at Fitness.com, page 41, for permanent access. Enjoy!
Monkey see, monkey eat
Good role modeling never goes out of style. It may even be the exact reason why people gobble down Goldfish crackers -- or animal crackers.In one study, cited in June's The Oprah Magazine, college students who watched a video of a colleague talking while eating Goldfish crackers chose Goldfish over animal crackers 71 percent of the time. Those watching someone eat animal crackers went for Goldfish only 44 percent of the time, despite a reported overall preference for Goldfish.
This Monkey See, Monkey Do phenomenon holds true for babies too.
Chow down on fruits and veggies while your baby is in the womb and while you're breastfeeding and your little one will be more likely to consume these items when offered them, say researchers mentioned in the May issue of Woman's Day magazine.
The lesson here: Think before you eat, because people, even babies, are likely to mimic your actions. And be careful about whose eating habits you watch, because you're likely to pick up the very snacks you see.
For some strategies and tips for healthy eating, check out AOL's America Takes It Off series.
Low-cal snack packs ... for your dog!
Diet & Weight Loss, Fitness, Nutrition & Supplements
Have you ever heard the old adage, "If your dog is fat, you're not getting enough exercise"? Well, that apparently isn't getting through to plenty of pet parents because in addition to new doggie diet drugs entering the market, we now have low-calorie snack options for our furry friends.Pup-Peroni is now offering 50 calorie snack packs so we can monitor how many snacks our pooches should get. They're portable, so you no longer need to worry about how to stuff all those treats in your pockets without making your jeans smell like meat for days. Just what I needed.
Your Turn: Meat, anyone?
Enough about me though - I want to know about you. Are you a meat eater? A vegan? Other? What are the reasons behind your decision?
What to do about fat, protein, carbs
Lash says the lower the fat the better, within reason. Twenty percent is a good goal but can be difficult to maintain over the long haul.
5 reasons why pets are so good for you
Healthy Home, Stress Reduction, Diet & Weight Loss, Motivation
Pets have been shown time and time again to benefit people's wellbeing by helping to lower stress, relieve anxiety, and even boost our immunity. In a nutshell, here are some of the great things our furry friends do for our health:- Dogs and cats are allergy fighters. Studies have shown that children who grow up in households with pets have a reduced risk of developing allergies and asthma.
- Dogs are date magnets. This is not one I would have guessed would be on this list, but it's true that dogs are natural conversation starters and can help people find new friendships and relationships.
- Pets greatly benefit the aged. Whether it's a dog getting an elderly person out for a short walk or a cat curling up on the lap of an Alzheimers patient, studies have shown that animals have a way of improving the quality of life (and sometimes the length of life!) for older adults.
- Pets are good for their owner's mental and spiritual health. People with debilitating diseases and high stress jobs have been shown to suffer less depression and lower blood pressure when they own and love a pet, and petting your cat or dog has been shown to release positive and calming brain chemicals such as dopamine and serotonin.
- Pets benefit your heart. Not only do pet owners generally have fewer symptoms and risk factors for heart disease (like cholesterol) but also people who do suffer heart attacks tend to survive longer afterwards if they're pet owners.
Pay attention to the facts
Healthy Habits, Healthy Home, Vitamins and Supplements, Womens Health, Healthy Kids, Diet & Weight Loss, Alternative & Green Health, Nutrition & Supplements, Men's Health
80 percent of all cancers are due to identified factors according to the National Cancer Institute. Which means a lot of cancers can be preventable. So why is the disease increasing and why don't Americans pay more attention to the facts?30 percent of cancers are due to smoking. Up to 50 percent of cancers are due to the foods we eat. Drinking excessive alcohol raises the risks for breast, mouth, pharynx, and esophagus cancers. Drinking alcohol and smoking makes cancer risks skyrocket as well as raises the risks for stomach, liver, and colon cancers.
In my humble opinion the following basic food facts should be taped to every refrigerator in this country.
Some vitamins in plant foods are known to be cancer inhibitors and dietary fat is known to be a promoter in cancer by helping the abnormal cells grow quickly. Especially animal fat. The best diet for cancer prevention points to a low fat, high fiber diet that includes a variety of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and beans and also minimizes or excludes alcohol and eliminates smoking. The best diets are pure vegetarian diets.
