That's Fit

I used to be vigilant about exercising every morning... and it felt great. I started my day out with energy and a sense of accomplishment. After adopting my son, however, my schedule has changed and my morning exercise has become sporadic at best. I've vowed to get back on the bandwagon when he returns to school next week, though. Our schedule will be changing naturally -- so it's a good time for me to get my morning self in gear again.

Divine Caroline offers some great inspiration with five reasons to start the day with a workout:

• Better performance at work.
  
• A metabolism boost throughout the day.
• A better night's sleep.
• Increased likelihood to stick with it.
• A happier outlook.

Check out the original article for details. Then, set that alarm clock a little bit earlier and get your move on in the am.

Check out your fingers. Is your ring finger longer than your index finger? Mine is. Uh Oh. That means I have nearly double the chance of developing osteoarthritis, according to a recent study.

Size differences between ring fingers and index fingers have already been linked to sexual and physical ability and performance in university exams, but researchers have now discovered that arthritis might also be connected to the size of fingers.

Type 3 Finger Pattern is what it's called when people have the common male trait of a shorter index finger, and it's now been linked to arthritis of the hips and knees. More common in women than men, the mechanism that accounts for this finding -- and one linking this finger pattern with early onset menopause -- is unknown.

Sounds like I could be headed for future health issues. How about you?

If you're about to make a pitch to your boss about a much-needed raise, Health.com recommends you consume lean protein and whole grains, plus a little caffeine.

Why?

Because you want to be alert and upbeat, and protein foods contain the stuff to increase mental alertness. Whole grains also improve energy and so does caffeine for a bit -- but more important, it can improve your attention and short-term memory. How about this menu to rev you up: An egg-white and spinach omelet, a whole-wheat bagel with low-fat cream cheese, and one or two cups of coffee? If you don't get the raise, you'll at least be primed for a spunky day.

Health.com has you covered in all sorts of scenarios. Speaking to a large crowd? A high-protein, low-fat meal is best. Trying to get pregnant? Complex carbs, protein, and folic acid are your essentials. Before a workout: A light snack with carbs and water.

There's more. Learn exactly how to eat for performance right here.

My favorite group from my elementary school days, New Kids on the Block, performed on the Today Show. This was the first time in 15 years the boys were on stage together, and it wasn't under the greatest conditions (it was pouring rain and the acoustics were not good). However, as soon I heard Hangin' Tough, I was right back in fifth grade and busting out moves that haven't been seen in years (perhaps with good reason, but I had a great time anyway).

It got me thinking about music and motivation -- not that we haven't written about playlists and what songs pump you up before, but what music makes you get off the couch and dance alone in your living room? Or in the grocery store? Or wherever you happen to be?

We tend to save our most motivating music for workout playlists, but why not play it at home when you're cooking, or cleaning up, or playing with the kids? Busting a move will help you burn calories and lift your spirits, and I want to know -- will NKOTB get you grooving again?

Raisins are the perfect pre-workout snack, reports a study in the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research. They taste better than commercial sports gels and have the same effect on performance. Raisins also help athletes meet their daily needs for vitamins, minerals, and fiber, says lead researcher Mark Kern, Ph.D. of San Diego State University.

Kern's research, gathered from a group of male and female cyclists, was designed to examine potential differences in metabolism and cycling performance after consumption of moderate glycemic raisins vs. a high glycemic sports gel. Through blood samples taken before and after exercise, performance was deemed no different between the raisin and gel trials. Minor differences in metabolism were detected.

The bottom line: Raisins appear to be a cost-effective source of carbohydrate for pre-exercise snacking in comparison to sports gels for short-term exercise sessions.

I was plugging along on my treadmill today when I decided to focus on the training zones that light up on my machine as I exert myself. My zones are: Warm Up/Cool Down, Fat Burn, Endurance, and Performance. I'm a definite Fat Burn girl and today, I consistently lit up this entire area. When I ran, I hit Endurance and when I transitioned into an incline workout, I moved with force into Performance mode. This is a hard one to maintain so I made only a brief appearance here.

So these training modes got me thinking about my overall exercise routine. I started considering just how hard I push myself when it comes to physical fitness. Obviously, the more rigorous the activity, the better it is for my heart, my muscles, my whole body. Am I rigorous about my workouts? Am I strenuously putting forth effort? Or am I mostly warming up and cooling down?

After giving some thought to my questions, I've determined that what I saw on the treadmill today pretty accurately portrays my daily exercise output. I do more than warm up and cool down. And while I occasionally endure and perform, I typically stay quite firm in the fat burn mode. I'm sure this is fine. But I like a challenge every now and then. So tomorrow, I'm shooting for better. I'm going to light up that Endurance bar, and I'm going to keep it shining bright for as long as I can stand it. I'm going to endure. Yes, I am. And maybe one day, when this becomes old hat, I'll start performing. That's my goal.

What's your training zone?

Sometimes, going it alone has great value. Sometimes, being part of a group has a certain appeal. According to those involved with AthletiCamps -- home to cycling camps designed to help riders enhance their performance -- one of the most splendid attractions of road cycling is the feel of rolling down the road in a big collective pack.

What do you think -- ride with the group or go it alone? Before deciding, you may want to better understand the anatomy of a group ride.

A typical group ride consists of any number of riders -- maybe three, maybe 150 -- and typically lasts between two and four hours. Common to group rides is a psychological factor. There's usually at least one person in the group more aggressive than the others, a person who either inhibits or inspires riders.

There are two types of rides, neither of which are races, both of which prepare riders for races. There are training rides, where riders work together on a skill. And there are club rides, where it's not clear who will show up and where a lack of focus can present a challenge.

There's so much more to consider about group rides, and you can learn more here. But the bottom line is this: each athlete's fitness level and goals are unique. For those new to race preparation, it may be wise to avoid unstructured group rides. For those with a little training under their belts, the group ride may be in order. If you're up for it, give it a go -- see how you feel when you're rolling the down the road in that collective pack. I can only imagine it must feel exhilarating.

I used to work at a shop where approximately half of the employees were smokers and half were not. The smokers used to take extra breaks and longer breaks in order to get their fixes and it used to drive the rest of us crazy. Why should they get to work less because they smoke?

According to this article, that sort of thing might be a regular occurance. A study conducted by U.S. Navy showed that, on the job, smokers were generally less productive, took more sick leave and tended to have a higher instance of personality disorders. The study, which followed the careers of women in the Navy, also found that non-smokers often made more money than those who lit up daily.

The piece is quick to point out that so far there is no direct correlation between job performance and smoking, and a doctor from San Diego State University comments in the article that those who smoke might also have other personality traits, such as non-conformity and higher risk taking, that would lead to the results observed in the study.

In what is being billed as the longest, most intensive study on the school performance of kids with ADHD, the conclusion was that kids on ADHD drugs achieve academic success more than untreated kids.

The data seems solid: the researchers apparently had access to medical and school records in complete fashion for an entire school district in Minnesota, an were able to track all these information from birth until age 18 for this student population. How access to sensitive material like this happened is unknown, and for me, it raises a question mark. Maybe parents from an entire school district gave consent?

The researchers found that kids with ADHD had poorer long-term academic outcomes, lower reading scores and more absenteeism compared to kids that had not been diagnosed with ADHD. Common drugs like Ritalin were found to lower the risk of all three conclusions -- even long after treatments ceased.

There's been a lot of talk about Britney's Performance at the VMAs, but no matter how much we might criticize her performance, evidently her worst critic is the person who she can't escape: herself. According to Us Weekly Magazine, Britney called herself a 'fat pig' after the performance and 'was inconsolable'.

I'm not a huge Britney fan, but I think the term fat pig is a bit extreme. Sure, she's not as buff as she used to be, and perhaps she should have covered up a bit more on stage, but I'm sure she is a healthy weight right now (though whether or not she is actually living a healthy lifestyle is a whole other story.) Her personal issues are evidently numerous and it's a shame that her poor body image is such a huge part of that.

Still, I hope this doesn't inspire other women and teens with a normal weight to declare themselves fat pigs too. What do you think?

Why is it that we feel guilty for taking naps? Ever been sound asleep during the daylight hours when a ringing phone jolts you out of your slumber? I have. And when my caller asks after hearing my groggy voice, "Were you sleeping?" I'm ever so quick to announce, "Sleeping? No, I'm not sleeping."

It's too bad naps are not more socially acceptable. Because they sure are beneficial.

"Napping should not be frowned upon at the office or make you feel guilty at home," says Dr. James B. Maas, psychologist and sleep expert at Cornell. "It should have the status of daily exercise."

Ahhhh. What a bummer. This is no celeb blog, of course. But after I tucked my kiddies into bed tonight, I was looking forward to sitting down and watching some sort of blow me away performance from what used to be the Princess of Pop. She was the 'big deal' opening act for the MTV Video Music Awards. Britney Spears was a big disappointment. She turned out to be the Princess of Plain tonight.

Obviously the girl is no Celine Dion. Never has been, never will be. But! I can admit to thinking she's been a bit entertaining (in a good way) in the past. Decent voice, great dancer, AMAZING physique. Curvy, strong, slim, but not too skinny.

Tonight.....her lip syncing was off, her dancing was dull, she looked bored and her body just didn't impress as it used to. She's got two beautiful little boys, and that certainly takes it's toll. I suppose I just expect more from this chic famous for her abs. I'd love to get my hands on her; put her through a bit of Fitzness training. Maybe before next year's VMAs she'll give me a call.

Women runners out there, this article is for you! Men may have the edge with aging when it comes to sex appeal (why can't wrinkles make women look sexier?) but women seem to have the edge in athletics, specifically running. In this article in the New York Times one woman shares her observations about how men in races seem to consistently run longer times as they age, versus women who are "all over the place" and are often faster in their 30s and 40s than they were in their 20s.

Experts surmise it's not so much about physiology but more mental instead. Women don't often learn to assert themselves and really set challenges until they get older and more confident -- suddenly they realize what they're really capable of.

Watch out guys, here we come.

Professional athletes have been doing it for years, but now kids are getting into it too: seeing a psychologist. At the highest competitive levels, when they want every edge they can get, using a psychologist to overcome fears and deal with the pressure and stress can make a huge difference. As an example, in the story there's a young gymnast who vastly improved her scores after talking to a psychologist about her fear of jumping from one uneven bar to another -- turns out she had a mild phobia that needed to be dealt with.

So whether it's for you or for your kids, do you think a psychologist can help athletic performance? And even if it can, is it worth the outrageous expense?