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Running in Sub Zero Temps and Cooking Quinoa - Why Does This Brit Do It?

That's Fit Club, Diet & Weight Loss, Fitness

thats fit club

That's Fit Club is our feature devoted to you, the reader! We have all learned so much on our paths to becoming more fit, and now it's time to learn from and inspire each other! That's Fit Club members are constantly working to better themselves. Some are perfect; some are not. But all have health on the mind.

Besides showing you off, we want to reward you for all of your hard work! Everlast and Everlast Woman are giving gorgeous workout T-shirts to each featured member! To join, please send Fitz your answers to these questions with a photo of yourself. Time for you to be the motivator!matt dunn

Name: Matt Dunn

Age: 31

Occupation: Software Engineer

How often do you exercise? Five times a week.

What type of exercise do you do? Mostly running -- I'm currently training for my first and second marathons this spring.

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Go Hard with Fast and Aggresive Music

Fitness, Motivation

I was recently interviewed for the website GoHealthyGoFit about my favorite training music. I'm the type of sport who loves to go all out when I train. Hitting the wall elates me, and music plays a vital role in helping get that far.

You can find my list here along with a few others. (The article follows the photo of me shown here on the right.)The music I list is both fast and aggressive, which is really perfect for the things I love to do. Kickboxing, running, weight training, and more.

"Scarred" is by far my favorite, because I always loved to listen to it before a fight. "Go Away," is awesome for tough training but also makes me giggle. The article includes links, so you can have a listen to each song on my list. "Go Away" will probably make you giggle too.

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Marathon Love

Fitness, Motivation

Boston Marathon signRunning a marathon is challenging under any circumstances. Running a marathon while pushing your spouse in a wheelchair is incredible. But doing so for many marathons and on daily runs that now total more than 12,000 miles ... that's just awe-inspiring.

In 1987, Lynn Parks was preparing for her wedding day when she was in a horrific car accident. Seven months later she awoke from a coma to see her fiancee, Jamie, by her side. During the years of therapy that followed, Jamie began taking Lynn on his many runs around the neighborhood and on races.

It was said Lynn would never stand or walk -- but seven years after her accident, she walked down the aisle and married Jamie. It was said she would never have children -- but in 2000, Jamie and Lynn welcomed their daughter into the world. Both Jamie and Lynn always dreamed of competing in the Boston Marathon and in 2008, they finally did.

Discovery Health channel is featuring Jamie and Lynn's inspiring story this Sunday. I'm going to be watching ... in fact, I've already got a reminder set on my TV. How about you?

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Jenna Vaught - Miss America Plus Elite 2007 Interview, Part Two

Diet & Weight Loss, Fitness, Nutrition & Supplements

Jenna VaughtI had the opportunity to speak with Jenna Vaught, Miss America Plus Elite 2007, regarding her inspiring weight loss story. You can read the first half of the interview here. But Jenna's story doesn't start and stop with weight loss. Jenna's views on body image and what makes a woman truly beautiful are inspirational for all of us -- whether we're a size two or a size 22.

It seems that you achieved not only better physical health, but better confidence through losing weight. What did the process teach you about yourself?

The process of losing weight and maintaining it has taught me that I have everything I could ever need in myself. When I was so heavy, I wanted so much for others to think I was good enough or worthy. Today, I know that I have all it takes to be a strong, successful, and beautiful woman. Literally, I found the real Jenna. Media, society, and others have no influence on the way I feel about myself externally or internally. Most days, when I am feeling great, it's because I know I am doing great things for myself and my life. There are days that really are hard, I have learned to just let that day happen and move forward. Perfect, I am far from it. Persistent, now that is a word I live by day to day!

Jenna Vaught(click thumbnails to view gallery)

Before and AfterBefore and AfterBefore and AfterJenna VaughtMiss Plus America Elite 2007

Jenna Vaught - Meet the Inspiring Miss America Plus Elite 2007

Diet & Weight Loss, Motivation

Jenna VaughtJenna Vaught is not your average beauty queen. She didn't grow up in a life filled with pretty dresses and perfect make-up. Instead, Jenna was an obese child and the accessories she wore were shame and self-loathing. In her young 20's, Jenna had her daughter and soon after reached her highest weight -- 427 pounds. Her mobility was affected as was her health. More importantly, Jenna realized she was caught in a vicious cycle -- her insecurities were the root cause of her weight gain and her weight gain was adding to her insecurities. Jenna went on a mission to lose the weight, rediscover herself, and reach her life goals. Jenna's weight loss is inspiring, but even more inspiring is the insight she now has regarding body image and learning how to love yourself. I had the wonderful opportunity to talk with Jenna so she could share her story with That's Fit readers. Read on for the first half of her interview.

Can you describe how life was for you when you were at your highest weight?

To live, a person must feel. Since I can remember, my days were all about pushing down "feelings" with food. I have been clinically obese since the age of four. By fourth grade, I was 150 pounds. Being a teenage and 300 pounds, wow that was tough. A year after having my daughter, I was 427 pounds. That's right, I was 24 years old, and I weighed 427 pounds. Life at that time was about just existing, just barely making it through the day. The point had come where I no longer fit in pants from Lane Bryant, walking was almost impossible without pain, all I could think about was how did I get here? How can I stop killing and abusing myself with food? How can I create a new life for myself?

Jenna Vaught(click thumbnails to view gallery)

Before and AfterBefore and AfterBefore and AfterJenna VaughtMiss Plus America Elite 2007

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Motivation - where do you get your drive to exercise?

Fitness, Motivation

Note saying Motivation is as critical to exercise as a good pair of workout shoes. I have to admit that my willpower for exercise fades from time to time. When it does, it's time to find a new source of motivation. Recently, my son and I came up with a plan so we can help motivate each other.

After my son's soccer season ended, he decided he wanted to take up running. Every day, he walks down to the high school track and then runs a mile. While I know a lot of my fellow writers at That's Fit enjoy running, for me it's just a form of slow torture. Instead, I'm opting to exercise with fitness DVDs in my living room. And here's how I'm keeping motivated: My son made punch cards for each of us -- he gets a punch for every mile, and I get a punch for every mile-equivalent. When we've both punched out a complete card, we get to go do something special. (Probably bowling ... my son loves to bowl.) Since we both have to finish our individual cards, we'll have to keep each other on track.

Health has an interesting article about five different women and their sources of motivation for exercise. Motivation can come in many forms -- how you feel after exercising, wanting to look good in that pair of skinny jeans, improving health, etc. What's your source of exercise motivation?

What's your motivation to exercise?

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Finding iron-spiration

Fitness, Motivation

Ironman athlete riding his bikeDo you have a fitness role model? Maybe a professional athlete that you look up to? I know I have a fitness role model, but it isn't anyone famous. My fitness role model is one of my best friends. She's a dedicated athlete who, for many years now, has participated in at least one Ironman competition a year.

I'll never forget the time I asked her how her trip to Florida was and after commenting on the weather and things her family did she casually said "Oh, and I placed well." I asked what she meant and she told me that she had run a marathon. I congratulated her and expressed my surprise because I hadn't known she was going to run a marathon while there. She nonchalantly said "It was only a marathon." Oh, to be so fit that a marathon is a non-event ... mere training for the real competition.

Elastic Waist posted about finding inspiration in these iron athletes. [via FitSugar] The author summed up the allure of the Ironman well: "It's about making a promise to yourself and then making it happen. It's about being, for one minute, something more than you are during your every day."

Who is your fitness role model?

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Randy Pausch of "The Last Lecture" gets recognized by the President

Healthy Habits, Healthy Relationships, Stress Reduction, Work/Home Balance, Womens Health, HealthWatch, Celebrities and Entertainment, Book Reviews, Healthy Events, Diet & Weight Loss, Fitness, Celebs & Entertainment, Reviews & Products, Motivation, Alternative & Green Health, Nutrition & Supplements, Men's Health

Although I will expand on Randy Pausch, I imagine you're already well aware of who he is. He's the unstoppable man, who has inspired millions and millions of people around the world by his passion for life while he fights an almost impossible battle with pancreatic cancer. I learned of Dr. Pausch many months ago as Diane Sawyer interviewed him on ABC. He blew me away with his humor, dedication to his family, and outrageous courage.

His journey since his diagnosis put him on stage at the University he was a professor at, Carnegie Mellon, for his Last Lecture. This Last Lecture made it to YouTube (embedded below) and then became a best selling book, The Last Lecture. His outlook on life and stories of his childhood and career have inspired other cancer patients to fight harder and regular people to just be better. Although he's truly only concerned with getting his message across to his three young children, he's positively affected millions of others as a side effect.

Recently, President Bush was compelled to write to Randy Pausch. This can't change Randy's fate with cancer, but as a representative of the American people ... it was a fantastic way to show our appreciation for Randy setting a new standard for 'goodness' and dedicating his life to teaching others.

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Get Fit with these specific text messages

Healthy Aging, Healthy Habits, Womens Health, Celebrities and Entertainment, Healthy Kids, Healthy Products and Reviews, Cellulite, Obesity, Diet & Weight Loss, Fitness, Celebs & Entertainment, Reviews & Products, Motivation, Nutrition & Supplements, Men's Health

Hooray! Fellow blogger,Jacki Donaldson just brought up a great subject. Using your phone to help you stay motivated works! I use text messages to harass my personal training clients, and I always receive feedback that they've inspired and kept the recipients in line when tempted to go to the dark (not-so-healthy) side.

Having said that, my brilliant colleague, Tracy Benham, is the mastermind behind TxtVox's Get Fit text messages. The girl is a sharp exercise physiologist and fitness trainer (we met getting our Master's Degrees in Exercise and Sports Sciences). Let her in your mind a couple of times a week ... and sooner rather than later ... your body will rockin'! The texts come twice a week, on Mondays and Thursdays, and are really just there to motivate, educate, and harass you like a personal trainer would.

Go to TxtVox.com. Find the All About Me section, and then check off the box Get Fit! And did I mention that it's free? Oh yes! It is. If you're someone who could use a bit of consistent motivation from a REAL-DEAL professional ... TxtVox.com Get Fit messages are the way to go.

Are you a Tigger or an Eeyore?

Healthy Aging, Healthy Home, Healthy Relationships, Stress Reduction, Womens Health, Celebrities and Entertainment, Healthy Products and Reviews, Healthy Events, Diet & Weight Loss, Fitness, Celebs & Entertainment, Reviews & Products, Motivation, Men's Health

I'm literally a sobbing crying mess as I write this. I fell in love with a dying man a few weeks ago when I caught wind of him giving an amazing gift to his students, colleagues, friends and family at Carnegie Mellon University. Randy Pausch, a computer science professor gave his Last Lecture now famous on YouTube, on September 18, 2007. Randy's lecture was called "Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams." Now, I have my own spectacular husband, but I imagine anyone who knows, or knows of Randy . . . would love him very much.

For a man whose pancreas is being destroyed by a cancer that could take his life within months . . . he was hysterical, energetic, inspirational, and relentless about the idea that life can be wonderful every day, and that his days still are. He told stories of his childhood and made one of the most insightful statements I've ever heard. "Are you a Tigger or an Eeyore? Choose!"

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Oprah to launch OWN network

Healthy Relationships, Stress Reduction, Womens Health, Celebrities and Entertainment, Diet & Weight Loss, Fitness, Celebs & Entertainment, Reviews & Products, Motivation, Nutrition & Supplements, Men's Health

That's right! The most powerful woman on television, Ms. Oprah Winfrey, will soon have even more power and presence on the tube. Teaming up with Discovery Communications who owns, Discovery, Animal Planet, TLC and more...OWN: The Oprah Winfrey Network. will launch in 2009.

A press release from Discovery Communications states, "The new multi-platform media venture will be designed to entertain, inform and inspire people to live their best lives. OWN will debut in 2009 in more than 70 million homes, on what is currently the Discovery Health Channel. The venture will also include the award-winning digital platform, Oprah.com."

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Jumpstart Your Fitness: 31 ways to get motivated

Motivation

Motivational problems: who doesn't have them? Nobody is really completely free of them because we all have days where we have to make ourselves get up and get moving. Now for some people getting (and staying) motivated is much worse than for others, and finding what works for you to get you moving can be quite a trick. Have you thought about what works for you? Is it rewarding yourself with something new? Or simply focusing on the satisfaction you get after a good workout?

The thing about motivation is that it's not something that can always be created in the same way -- different days need different inspiration. So even though you may have an idea or two of things that help get you in the mood for exercise, do those couple of things always work? If you're anything like me the answer is no, and what you really need is a whole list of ideas to run through every time you're having an off day because it's really hit and miss as far as what's gonna work and what isn't.


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Keep your new habits going!

Motivation

Starting to exercise is easy, it's the continuing to exercise that is so difficult. Making exercise a habit, a regular part of your life that you do without thinking, is not easy but it is possible. What makes it so hard? According to this writer it boils down to 3 things:
  • You have too many goals
  • You think it's too hard
  • You don't have enough motivation
And beating those 3 buzz-kills, or whatever other roadblocks you might be experiencing, can be done by following these 4 steps:
  • Set yourself just one goal that is easy and measurable
  • Log your efforts daily
  • Report to others
  • Add motivation as needed
These ideas make sense to me, and although they are all things we've heard before the trick is to actually do them consistently!

Via Lifehacker

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Jumpstart Your Fitness: By taking a new angle on goals

Motivation

Does your fitness or dieting plan need a jumpstart? Why? Obviously you've stalled, or hit a wall, or fallen into a rut, or whatever, but what is it that makes you want to break free and get moving again? What are you trying to achieve?

Considering your goal and refocusing yourself is one way to get motivated again, but if that isn't doing the trick try this slight variation: name 5 things your current weight or fitness level is preventing you from doing. Your goal may be to lose 25 pounds, but a list of things you'd like to do may have goals on it like wearing a certain size jeans, looking great for a specific event, or doing something physical like rock climbing or kayaking. By naming specific things that you want to do when you're thinner/healthier you can rejuvenate your spirit and inspiration, and get the focus shifted off the scale and more onto your life. So what are 5 things that you can (and will!) do when you reach your goal that you can't do now? And just how bad do you want those things?

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Encouraging healthy habits in others

Diet & Weight Loss, Motivation

I saw a great post on Fitsugar today about encouraging healthy habits in others. It's a topics that interests me because I'm always trying to inspire healthy living in my friends and family now that I know how great it feels to live healthfully. Jon might be a lost cause but I'm working on my friends

Here are some ways I (and you) can encourage healthy habits in friends:
  • Instead of heading to a restaurant, where you'll be tempted to order something unhealthy, have a potluck at your house and make something healthy. But if you must go to a restaurant, make it a healthy one ... like a sushi place.

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