Self Challenge

I've been reading Self magazine--cover to cover--for the last several years. It took about 3 years of reading before I got around to doing anything, but it's been a great source for information, ideas and motivation.

Every March, they launch the Self Challenge--a 3 month exercise & nutrition program. It's got options to amp the exercise up or down based on your fitness level, and there are lots of online resources to keep you motivated.

Click HERE to take the Self Challenge (in case the link didn't work, paste http://www.self.com/challenge/welcome into your browser)

Another thing I love about Self is their online archive of exercises--there are some great all-over workouts using dumbells and exercise bands. I travel with a set of bands so I can do them anywhere.

The Dirty Dozen: Top 12 Foods to Eat Organic

If you eat any of the following foods: Beef, Milk, Coffee, Peaches, Apples, Sweet Bell Peppers, Celery, Strawberries, Lettuces, Grapes, Potatoes, and/or Tomatoes , PLEASE read this article! Click HERE for the details on the 12 foods you should buy organic whenever possible.

Quod: How careful are YOU about the foods you eat when it comes to knowing about pesticides, growth hormones, and other toxins used by farmers? Do you buy organic? Why or why not?

Results of my Nike+ running challenge

Well, after 30 LONG days of running more frequently and much further than I ever have in my entire life, the challenge is over and I won (!!). This was no easy task, let me tell you! Congrats to Smythmeister for being an outstanding competitor and super motivator! Here's the results:

I'm up to ~12 miles now!!

You ever have one of those days when you feel like you can do anything? Today, although it was freeeezing outside (27 degrees), it was gorgeous: nice and sunny, bright blue skies with no clouds and only a light breeze. I started out with the intention of running 16k but when I hit that mark, I felt like I had a little more in me yet. Had my face not felt numb and my ears not been stinging (and had I not started feeling a little light-headed from dehydration), I might have run a true half marathon! I gotta admit, a BIG part of my motivation is to beat this guy (who goes by the screen name of smythmeister) in this virtual challenge of who can run the most miles/kilometers in 30 days. It's posted on the Nike+ site and he and I have been the two leaders (in a group of 9 or 10) for the entire challenge so far, which ends tomorrow, 2/17/08 at midnight. It's still a very close race and either one of us could win it. I'll keep y'all posted on who wins tomorrow. Here's my run:

Why Chocolate is GOOD for you

Happy Valentine's Day, everyone! This story is especially for all you chocolate lovers out there (you know who you are!): You try to forget it -- that chocolate bar stashed in your desk drawer -- the "food of the gods" once considered more valuable than gold by ancient Aztecs and Mayans. But it's just too good to resist. Slowly, your resolve wavers. "Just a taste," you think, "Just one bite." And suddenly, you devour the entire thing. Click HERE to read why chocolate can actually be good for you.

QuoD: Are you a chocoholic?

Fitness Fact vs. Fiction: A quiz to see how much you know.

Should you work out in the fat-burning zone? If there’s no pain is there no gain? And what’s the best way to lose those love handles? Find out how your exercise knowledge shapes up with this true/false quiz. Click HERE to see if you can separate fact from fiction!

QuoD: How well did YOU do on the quiz?

Crunching numbers at the gym: Should you worry about target heart rate, the 'fat-burning zone'?

Is it OK to exercise beyond your target heart rate? Should you work out in the "fat-burning zone" to lose more weight? Here's some great advice from MSN's health & fitness experts: click HERE.

QuoD: How hard to you push yourself when working out?

Check your mindless eating

Happened upon an article in the NY Times featuring a book called "Mindless Eating" by Brian Wansink. Fascinating research that reveals that we eat untold amounts of food mindlessly by using wide glasses, large plates and keeping snacks at eye level in the cabinet. Click HERE to check it out.

The Runner's Body: Prevent and Treat Your Injuries

This is a great site for all you runners out there and even for anyone who ever has various injuries related to over-exertion or strain. There are a number of videos and great resources. Check it out! Click HERE for the link to the site and click HERE for the link to the "injury prevention" tool. Please vote in this week's survey!

QuoD: What's your "problem area" or most consistent source of pain?

Six Gym Health Hazards

They offer great health benefits, but gyms are also breeding grounds for germs. Here's how to avoid getting a virus along with those toned abs. Click HERE for more info.

QuoD: What's your biggest gym pet-peeve?

My Farthest Run Yet!!

Hey all,
I just want to share something I'm pretty proud of: I just ran roughly 10 miles!! I never thought I'd ever be able to run a half-marathon but now that I'm just 3 miles short of doing it, I've got a new goal for myself! Anyhoo, I'm really happy right now (and exhausted!! : )

Get Flat, Sexy Abs in 5 Moves

Tired of pinching an inch (or two)? Target your abs in a whole new way to get your leanest, firmest torso ever! A whittled-down waistline plays harder-to-get with age because, even if you don’t gain more weight, more fat is stored in your middle compared to elsewhere in your body. But you can't fight the flab sitting down. Flattening your abs takes a two-pronged approach: You need to firm up weak muscles and reduce the fat that surrounds them. Check out these five core exercises that will tighten your torso. Click HERE for the moves!

QuoD: What's YOUR favorite ab exercise?

Learning to Recharge

How you plan the activities of your day can either break you down and wear you out or build you up and encourage renewal and repair. Being in constant motion and driven to meet all obligations (even those that are joyous), you may unwisely forgo rest and relaxation. If you're not careful, this can lead to imbalance, particularly if you are ignoring signals communicated by the body--such as dry skin, indigestion, constipation, headaches, depression, insomnia, anxiety, nervousness and increased susceptibility to illnesses. The mind has to learn to respect the signals the body is giving in terms of rest, balanced activity, diet and daily routines. Click HERE to learn more about the importance of recharging.

QuoD: Are YOU guilty of failing to listen to your body and not taking time to recharge?

Benefits of a work-out partner

After at least a month of no working out due to lack of motivation, a two week sinus infection, submitting postdoctoral applications, and the ever present dissertation I finally went to the gym yesterday. I think I worked out much too hard as I felt nauseated after working out, but I did notice something...my thighs no longer were rubbing together and I am now about 10 pounds from the healthy weight I would like to maintain. So, I am now starting to see benefits of my workout from 2007 and the significant change in my eating habits (e.g. eating only when I am hungry)....

But, on to the topic of this post. A special THANK YOU goes out to pam for encouraging me to workout yesterday. I was bogged down in dissertation data analysis and I walked over to pam's office to take a break from the data crunch. I mentioned to pam that i was considering working out but i had missed the "off-peak" time that allows me to workout in the gym in my office building (as this was not my "home" gym)...pam did not take this as an excuse as I had not missed the "off-peak" time and I could indeed work out. Pam was also considering not working out...but then as we both said our reasons out loud they no longer had much power. I tell this story to illustrate how important it is to get the "i don't feel like working out/I don't have time to work out" voice out of your head and challenged by a work-out partner. Thanks pam...

Garmin Forerunner 405 Sports Watch

Ok fellow technogeeks! Check out the world's coolest watch! This thing wirelessly connects to your computer to upload fitness data, it has gps, it can connect to other devices such as a heartrate monitor, and much more: