http://blogs.fitconnect.com FitConnect.com -- It's OK To Brag! Copyright 2007-2008 FitConnect LLC runningbear on 11/17/2008 (4 comments)

We all know our bodies need calcium for bones, vitamin C to fend off colds, and chocolate to save relationships. But when it comes to losing weight, the nutritional information is a little more confusing. The mighty trilogy of nutrients — protein, carbohydrates, and fat — garners most of the diet industry's attention, but it's becoming much more clear that fiber needs to be the fourth leg of the dietary table. Study after study shows that not only does fiber help lower your risk of cancer, heart...]]> Mon, 17 Nov 2008 19:58:01 GMT runningbear on 11/17/2008 (4 comments)

Next Thursday  is Thanksgiving in the U.S. For most people, Thanksgiving conjures up visions of pumpkin pie, turkey and high school football. But for runners, Thanksgiving morning usually begins with a race.  It's a great way to burn calories BEFORE the big Thanksgiving feast.

Thanksgiving rivals the Fourth of July as the busiest race day of the year. In Massachusetts, there are dozens of races planned across the state. Ironically Plymouth, Massachusetts, the home of ...]]> Mon, 17 Nov 2008 17:56:25 GMT runningbear on 11/12/2008 (4 comments)

Vitamin C is a celebrity among vitamins. It is necessary for human life, and many people endow it with almost magical powers. The most casual search of the Internet or your local library will tell you that claims and controversy about vitamin C are never ending.

Some facts are not in dispute: Vitamin C prevents and cures scurvy, a disease that, because of improvements in diet worldwide, is hardly seen anymore. It is a powerful antioxidant, meaning that it neutralizes potentially ha...]]> Wed, 12 Nov 2008 06:22:04 GMT runningbear on 11/11/2008 (6 comments)

I'm sure you've heard the saying "You are what you eat." Maybe that sounds ridiculous, but have you ever been in a really bad mood and wondered if maybe it was something you ate? Chances are it really WAS! Foods really do play a role in how we're feeling, mentally as well as physically. Here are some mood-enhancing foods you may wish to consider.

Your Mood: Anxious
You need to stay sharp through a grueling job interview.

Your Meal: Half a grilled-chicken wr...]]> Tue, 11 Nov 2008 17:12:25 GMT runningbear on 11/11/2008 (6 comments)



What comes to mind when you hear the word “trainer?” Do you think of Burgess Meredith shouting at Sylvester Stallone in the corner of the boxing ring? Or perhaps “trainer” conjures an image of a person leading a dog obedience class. It could also be someone who trains you to use a computer. But most likely you think of a fitness professional– someone who works with individuals to lose weight or improve their strength and flexibility. Further, you might think “athletic trainer” and ...]]> Tue, 11 Nov 2008 16:55:47 GMT runningbear on 11/6/2008 (8 comments)

If you're lucky enough to live in a mild climate, well....maybe I'm a little jealous. But most of the time I love living in a place that has 4 distinct seasons. I don't let a change in the weather affect my workout routine. I just dress accordingly and run all winter. You can run through the worst of winter if you take the proper precautions.

Cold Weather Running

The body generates waste heat during heavy exertion, so running in the winter cold is actually less difficul...]]> Thu, 06 Nov 2008 21:34:44 GMT runningbear on 10/30/2008 (2 comments)

Sorry OBG. SInce all the blog posts this week seem to be along a humorous vein, well, who am I to buck the trend?!

Dear Diary,

For my birthday this year, my daughter (the dear) purchased a week of personal training at the local health club for me.

Although I am still in great shape since being a high school football cheerleader 43 years ago, I decided it would be a good idea to go ahead and give it a try.

I called the club and made my reservati...]]> Thu, 30 Oct 2008 19:28:07 GMT runningbear on 10/23/2008 (6 comments)

Like many runners, you probably run a number of races throughout the year, but of those races, only a few are really "big". Those are the races on which you focus your training for months in advance, and where you hope to run a PR (Personal Record).



When you're down to a week to go before a "big" race, what sort of running do you do? Let's assume it's a 10-mile race and that you are serious about your finishing time, in which case you have probably considered tapering...]]> Thu, 23 Oct 2008 16:16:15 GMT runningbear on 10/22/2008 (0 comments)

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/10/22/BACI13MAIT.DTL

Nike concedes it was wrong. Sort of. Nike contacted the woman with the fastest time, Arien O' Connell, to tell her she would in fact be given a trophy and be declared "a winner" though not THE WINNER. Come on Nike. You screwed up. Admit it. Don't feign concern for the true winner or try to placate her. Declare her the true winner. Just do it!!!]]> Wed, 22 Oct 2008 22:39:43 GMT runningbear on 10/22/2008 (10 comments)

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/10/20/BAUC13L3GQ.DTL

This past weekend Nike held its annual women's marathon and half marathon. What should serve as an event that encourages all women to do their best instead penalizes the skilled but inexperienced runner. The woman who, though starting 20 minutes behind the elite pack, breezed past the favorites and recorded the fastest time to achieve what should have been a celebrated victory, was instead snubbed b...]]> Wed, 22 Oct 2008 15:13:34 GMT runningbear on 10/22/2008 (20 comments)



There is no fitness goal which you can achieve without first cleaning up your diet. Changing your diet is one of the biggest challenges when faced with improving ones health. A majority of people are used to eating highly processed foods on a regular basis and breaking away from that can be difficult. The good news is, it isn’t impossible and once you make it a habit to eat clean, it becomes a part of your life.

In a nutshell, eating clean is the practice of eating who...]]> Wed, 22 Oct 2008 14:47:05 GMT runningbear on 10/21/2008 (10 comments)

It may, in fact, be possible to outrun death -- and even the creeping ravages of time -- at least for a while.

Research spanning two decades has found that older runners live longer and suffer fewer disabilities than healthy non-runners.
And the findings probably apply to a variety of aerobic exercises, including walking.

"This is telling you that being a runner, being active is going to reduce your disability, and it's going to increase your survival," said Marc...]]> Tue, 21 Oct 2008 00:01:56 GMT runningbear on 10/15/2008 (6 comments)

Restaurants have one major purpose: to stuff you with as much food as they possibly can. If they do that, they achieve their primary business goal, which is to lighten your wallet.

But while they’re doing that, they’re also using their best marketing tricks, craftiest numerical switcheroos, and most dastardly dietary stratagems to swap unhealthy, cheap ingredients for more expensive, wholesome ones. The result: bloated bottom lines — for their budgets, and for their customers. Wed, 15 Oct 2008 00:37:33 GMT runningbear on 10/6/2008 (18 comments)


Want to help your kids do better in school ? Get them moving. That’s the message from a growing field of research linking physical activity with better academic performance.

At a time when many schools have reduced or eliminated gym classes and recess, experts say the worry goes beyond the childhood obesity epidemic. 

The concern is no longer JUST that kids face obesity and health risks down the road.. Research indicates that inactive kids might not do...]]> Mon, 06 Oct 2008 16:20:39 GMT runningbear on 10/5/2008 (16 comments)

I use a Nike+ shoe chip to track my running progress, and today I passed the 500 mile mark! I got my chip about mid-April of this year. In the past 6  months I've logged 93 runs, 77 hours of running time, and 34,834 calories burned. I've actually surpassed this. I didn't take my chip on vacation to log my beach running, I don't use it with my treadmill, and I wear my old running shoes (with no chip) when it's wet outside. Theoretically I shouild be able to run 1,000 mile...]]> Sun, 05 Oct 2008 23:14:33 GMT runningbear on 10/2/2008 (12 comments)

The beginning of autumn means that we're entering apple season.  Apples have been a staple of healthy eating for many years, and the often-repeated line of an apple a day keeping the doctor away is far from a myth. Apples really do have a wonderful variety of nutritional benefits, and are a tasty addition to any diet of good health and longevity.

Of all of the fruits we eat, apples are the best source of pectin, a natural fiber that has several health benefits. Apples also cont...]]> Thu, 02 Oct 2008 20:31:16 GMT runningbear on 10/2/2008 (2 comments)

We've heard it since we were kids, "Breakfast is the most important meal of the day." And studied do in fact support that no matter what we eat, having breakfast revs up our metabolism for the rest of the day. Kids who eat something, ANYTHING, outperform the kids who are sent to school with empty stomaches. Still, WHAT they eat IS important. Breakfast cereal manufacturers have led us to believe that their cerals are high in vitimins and minerals. What they DON'T want parents to know, is that the...]]> Thu, 02 Oct 2008 15:01:42 GMT runningbear on 9/30/2008 (10 comments)

There isn't a better time of year to do this than right now. Local farmer's markets have an amazing selection of fresh fruits and vegetables, most organically grown, to choose from. I feel giddy the minute I enter the farmer's market; the colors are amazing! I'm almost overwhelmed, and I always wish I had more money and more space in my refrigerator so I wouldn't have to restrain myself ; )

Crave a meal that's bursting with satisfying flavor yet easy to cook and light in calories? &...]]> Tue, 30 Sep 2008 16:17:23 GMT runningbear on 9/24/2008 (4 comments)

I pride myself on being a cautious runner. Yes, I run with my iPod, but I keep the volume down. Yes, I road run with far greater frequency than I do trail running, but I always cross at marked intersections with the traffic light, rarely run at dusk (I'd like to say never, but I'd be lying. My schedule dictates when I can fit in a workout.). I learned the hard way to carry water when running in extreme heat. And I THOUGHT I always made sure to make eye contact with drivers before proceeding. Tha...]]> Wed, 24 Sep 2008 19:57:20 GMT runningbear on 9/24/2008 (6 comments)

My son came home from school with a bottle of soda he'd purchased in a school vending machine. I went into my usual rant about the availability of junk food in schools. His response surprised me. "The label says it's caffeine-free."  I asked him why that mattered given the high sugar content. "At least it's sort of healthy." YIKES!!
This prompted me to think about how easily consumers are duped into believing something is healthy or at least healthier by a company's carefull...]]> Wed, 24 Sep 2008 19:18:25 GMT runningbear on 9/24/2008 (2 comments)

I'm so not kidding.  I have a friend who actually gave me that nickname because of my love of all things cinnamon, from altoids to Cinnamon Dolce lattes, candles to body butter, I surround myself with the spicy sweet scent of this heavenly bark.

Of course, not all things laced with cinnamon are good for you. We're all familiar with its most common use, combined with sugar and baked into high caloric treats. The fatty results: cinnamon buns, cinnamon sugar toast , cinnamon swirl...]]> Wed, 24 Sep 2008 16:24:50 GMT runningbear on 9/23/2008 (4 comments)

Walnuts are one of the best plant sources of protein. They are rich in fiber, B vitamins, magnesium, and antioxidants such as Vitamin E. Nuts in general are also high in plant sterols and fat - but mostly monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats (omega 3 fatty acids - the good fats) that have been shown to lower LDL cholesterol. Walnuts, in particular, have significantly higher amounts of omega 3 fatty acids as compared to other nuts.

More than a decade of scientific evidence shows ...]]> Tue, 23 Sep 2008 21:02:00 GMT runningbear on 9/12/2008 (4 comments)

Have you noticed that abdominal muscles adapt quickly to traditional abdominal exercises such as crunches and lifts? You may discover after maintaining your program for several weeks that a once-challenging workout is dull and easy. This rut, known as adaptation syndrome, will halt further muscle development. As strength gains diminish, new exercises must be introduced.
Frequently overlooked, static abdominal training, or "holding," may stimulate deeper muscle fibers and increase core str...]]> Fri, 12 Sep 2008 05:03:40 GMT runningbear on 9/7/2008 (2 comments)

There's something about climbing. That rush you get from defying gravity and other laws of nature, the surge of strength you feel from pulling yourself up a vertical surface and hanging like a spider.

It may be more down to earth than mountain climbing, but bouldering, the art of traversing a large rock as opposed to climbing up a cliff, will give you the same top-of-the-world feeling of accomplishment -- and a heart-pounding, muscle-pumping workout, to boot.

It doesn't...]]> Sun, 07 Sep 2008 20:52:42 GMT runningbear on 9/2/2008 (2 comments)

I hate being sick! It's not just for the obvious reasons, either. Of course I hate all the uncomfortable physical symptoms that plague me when I'm ill. But even worse is the havoc it wreaks on my exercise regimen. I want so badly to grab my running shoes or my speedo and hit the gym. But as much as I want to, it may not be what's best for my body at that moment.

It's inevitable. If you exercise on a consistent basis, life will almost always interfere in one way or another and, often...]]> Tue, 02 Sep 2008 20:52:02 GMT