youtube-related stories
Single Ladies - Shake It Like Beyonce
Fitness, Celebs & Entertainment
I just love Beyonce's Single Ladies video. And I'm not alone. The video has more than 30 million hits on YouTube, it's inspired an amazing number of home-videoed spoofs and one of the best ever Saturday Night Live skits, thanks to Justin Timberlake (who looks surprisingly good in a leotard). If the song gets you moving, then you might as well learn to shake it like Beyonce. Dance instructor Michelle Hillier of fit2dance breaks down the six main moves in the video. Learn the steps and you can follow along with Beyonce and the Single Ladies.
Dancing is a great way to get fit while having fun. In the time it takes you to learn the moves, master the choreography and dance along with Beyonce, you'll have burned a lot of calories. And who knows? If you are a single lady, seeing your sexy moves might inspire your man to "put a ring on it" after all.
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.
Video showing dangers of cell phone use popped
HealthWatch, Diet & Weight Loss, Celebs & Entertainment, Reviews & Products, Nutrition & Supplements
Could it be? Is there truly enough radiation and heat given off by a cell phone to pop kernels of popcorn? And if so, what implications does that have on our health?
Not much, say researchers. As a physicist interviewed on the popular techie site Wired states, "The videos are cute ... but that's never going to happen." Still, you have to admit that if it's a hoax, it's a pretty good one.
Check it out for yourself.
Try disconnecting
Stress Reduction, Womens Health, Diet & Weight Loss, Motivation, Nutrition & Supplements, Men's Health
I'm too connected. I'll admit it. I'm texting, emailing, calling, and IMing waaaaaay too much these days. Entire hours often go by in which I don't have a face-to-face conversation with anyone. I would say I have a problem, but if a quote-unquote problem is designated by comparing an aberrant behavior against what has been deemed normative behavior, I can safely say that I don't have a problem at all. Everyone's plugged in these days. Even yesterday, as I collapsed into a chair at the airport -- after lugging my laptop, iPod, and camera through security, I struggled to find a plug socket to plug in my laptop. The difficulty did not come from finding the plug; rather, it came from finding a plug that wasn't already being used by other people with THEIR laptops. So, at least it would seem, we are all too connected these days.
This connectivity issue was studied by researchers at King's College in London, who found that almost two out of three people check email and/or text messages during their off-hours; meaning, either after they've left the office or even when on vacation. And, they also discovered that 20 percent of people answer a text message during a business or social engagement.
All this email checking, text message writing (BTW, calling text messages "writing" is a bit of a stretch), IMing, and every mode of electronic communication in between is making our workday 24 hours long and demanding a relentless commitment to every whim, desire, YouTube clip, and stupid question our friends and relatives can possibly dream up. In short, it's stressing us out. Finding quiet is near impossible when you're constantly interrupted by your annoying cell phone ring or the "Ba-Doop" sound it makes whenever you get a new IM. Do yourself a favor, turn everything off -- for at least a half an hour a day. Even longer if you can pull it off. Regroup and decompress a little. Enjoy a little Me Time. Disconnect. No message or phone call -- no matter how important it may seem -- compares to the importance of your health and wellness.
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!"
The 5: Laugh away stress this holiday season
Why is that the holidays are supposed to be some of the most festive and joyous times of the year, yet they more often than not end up being some of the most stressful? Obligations, commitments, travel, gift buying, gift returning, and trying to be everything to everyone can sometimes drive you up a wall. Thankfully, there are dozens of simple ways to reduce your stress levels, many of which can be done without taking your eyes off this screen (except for when you laugh so hard that you fall off your chair).
In her book, 10 Solutions to Stress, Dr. Claire Michael Wheeler explains that laughing can lower such stress hormones and cortisol and epinephrine. Moreover, there are studies that point to the immune-boosting power of laughter, validating the old adage behind its supposed healing power.
To that end, I've compiled 5 great YouTube clips that are sure to at least make you chuckle. Laugh it up!!
1. Wake Up Cat. In this animated skit, a guy can't seem to get a good night's sleep thanks to his hungry cat.
2. David Blaine Street Magic Parody. This is one of the funniest skits on YouTube, which is why so many people have watched it. Just a word of caution, however; if you find R-rated language to be offensive, don't watch this one. Otherwise, enjoy.
3. Miss Teen USA. I'm sure most of you have already seen this one, but it's always worth watching again. Poor girl ... she'll never, ever live this down.
4. House of 1000 Muppets. A parody of Rob Zombie's slasher pic House of 1000 Corpses, featuring characters from the Muppet Show and movies. Very, very well done and funny.
5. Eddie Izzard on Star Wars. Extremely funny British comedian Eddie Izzard talks about the cafeteria in the Death Start. Again, there are a few F-bombs here and there, but the comedy is top notch.
Feeling any less stressed now?
Helpful fitness websites
Womens Health, Diet & Weight Loss, Fitness, Men's Health
Surfing a wave - an exercise. Surfing the web - an exercise in futility. Most of the time, anyway. I'll be the first to
admit that I spend far too much time jumping from page-to-page, never really having a destination in mind. Fortunately, there are some cool websites that can help you turn your exercise in futility into exercise utility (I'm not sure that even makes sense, but I'm keeping it).
If you're looking for some inspiration, or just want a few new fitness ideas, the internet may not be such a bad place after all. Here are a few suggestions I found in Fitness Magazine:
Google Earth. Aside from finding your own house on this amazing Google feature, you can also use it to locate and plot hiking trails. To use it, click the Layers list -- which will then bring up Featured Content. Select the Trimble Outdoors Trips Finder. Lastly, type in the city in which you wish to go hiking. You can even download the trail info. into your cell phone or GPS.
GoRunEasy.com. If you're an avid runner, you either already know about this site or will be sure to visit it often from here on in. Site visitors can plot their running paths, post photos of sites to seen on those paths, share iPod playlists, and even connect with local running clubs.
YouTube.com. Yes, yes, yes ... you can find some of the most asinine videos imaginable on YouTube, but you can also find some pretty useful workout videos. If you're ever wondering how to perform a certain exercise, chances are there is a video on this site that will show you. In addition, there are entire exercise videos that you can watch, such as 8 Minute Abs, entire pilates routines, and cardio-boxing lessons.
Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to get back to wasting time online.
Health at work is great, but try not to annoy your coworkers...
For the weekly Workplace Fitness feature here at That's Fit I've covered all kinds of ways to be healthy and get some exercise while at work, including everything from moves you can do at your desk to cardio you can do if you have a more private office. But something that's important to remember (and why the above clip is so hilarious!) is that you really need to keep your coworkers in mind and not let yourself become a distraction or annoyance to them. Yes, health is important, but huffing and puffing next to a coworker on this gadget (or on an exercise ball either for that matter!) is so not cool.






















