Category Archives: Featured Topic

Bantering Blonde Headed to Atlanta for Race Relax Weekend

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Bantering Blonde (thats me!) WON the Run With Wifey Race & Relax Contest!!

Here is what I Won!

  • Race & Relax Event Registration (which includes the Virginia Highlands Summerfest 5K run/walk; post-race brunch sponsored by Walt Disney World Resort; a Get Moving! Race & Relax “Powered By Red” race-day T-Shirt, train to manage your pain Red Recovery Routine and bottle of tart cherry juice sponsored by the Cherry Marketing Institute; and other goodies)
  • Round Trip Airfare
  • Hotel accommodations for Friday (6/4) and Saturday (6/5) night
  • Transportation to airport and Race & Relax event activities.

I’m so excited to run this race and it is a perfect distance and date to fit right into our current training schedule for the MomActive Training Schedule!  If you’d like to run a 5k in your city and be my virtual race buddy I’d love to connect.  You can email me at fiona.bryan @ MomActive . com

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Preparing for Phase I of The MomActive Challenge

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We are so glad you are here!  Reading this post is the first step in what promises to be a fun journey.  Phase I: Week 1 kicks off on Monday May 3rd!

Walk/Run – As we mentioned last week our main goal right now is to just get out there and walk or jog for at least 30 minutes at least 3 times this week.  Start to get a feel for what the most convenient days for running are.  Also pay attention to the day or days that would work best for longer runs.  Keep in mind that we’ll be increasing the distance/time of our one day a week longer distance runs all way through to October. The days that you do not run experiment with other recreational fun activities like biking, hiking, Wii Fit, etc.

Ideally, you should be able to run for at least 30 minutes without stopping by the end of this week.  More advanced runners, take it easy and just do your thang.

Shoes/Feet

Whether you plan to run or walk with us you’ll need a good pair of shoes.  If you have a running (or walking) specialty store close by this is your best bet in finding the right shoe.  Most stores have a treadmill that you can test shoes out on and many now have video and computer analysis that will analyze your stride.  To read more about choosing a shoe and the terms pronate and supenate you can read this Runner’s World article, The Best Shoe For You.

A quick word about your feet.  Running or walking distances does not pretty feet make!  Prepare to build tough calluses and be sure to monitor and stave off any cracking or peeling.  You’ll want to keep your toe nails short, although I will say that I have lost many toenails despite keeping them short. We’ll likely talk more about different remedies and foot related products as we build our time/distance, but it is worth a quick mention before we get started.

Clothing (and a word about sports bras)

You don’t need fancy clothes or any special gear to get started running.  An old t-shirt and comfortable shorts or sweats will do.  Ok, the sports bra conversation is an important one.  WEAR A PROPER SPORTS BRA – no matter what your size you need to have good support in order to be comfortable and if you can imagine the what having kids did to them … just imagine the damage from bouncing and jiggling out of control for long periods of time.  If you are blessed, as I am, with ample bosom I want you to know that I am livin’ it right there with you and we will be devoting an entire article and MomTV program to The Sports Bra very soon.  Not all sports bras are created equally and the right bra can will be crucial when we start racking up the miles.

Nutrition

This is also a topic that we’ll be covering in detail over the entire 21-ish weeks.  Here are few tips to get you started:

  • Write down what you eat – I know it seems like a pain but we’ll use this information when we start analyzing our diets to be sure that we are fueling our bodies to do what we are asking them to do!
  • Drink lots of water – uber important girls, just find a water bottle you can fall in love with and keep it with you all day long.  Another topic that will be published as a full article very soon.
  • Take a multi-vitamin – I’m the worst at this – I make my kids take vitamins but I never take them myself.  The fact is most of us do not get the proper amount of vitamins and mineral solely from our food intake.  We’ll work on this but let’s just consider the multi-vitamin our insurance policy to fill in the gabs.

That’s it!  No fancy diets here – we’ll talk common sense and best practices for now and as we learn more we’ll begin to incorporate and eliminate foods as needed/desired.

Any questions? Ask away  ~ you can email or leave a comment!

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You’ve got to move it move it ~ Get Moving

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walk-exerciseThe MomActive mission is to motivate and inspire women to take an active role in modeling positive behaviors for their children.  There is no way around it, an integral part of your wellness is movement. You must move to be healthy.  Your children must move to be healthy.  Movement is natural and how you move and the way you move is up to you.

HOW WILL YOU MOVE?

Start where you are.  If you haven’t exercised since high school, you probably shouldn’t head out and sign up to run an 8 mile race this weekend.  If you plan to follow along with our Get Moving series, you may be surprised to see that Beginner Track for Week 1 simply asks you to get up and walk.  That’s it. Walk three times this week and then try to take a longer walk at the weekend.  Where and how far?  That is up to you, but shoot for 20 minutes and see how you feel.  Experiment with how fast you walk.  Pay attention to your posture and pull your shoulders back, soak up the sun or whatever kind of day it is.  If you are already an active runner I challenge you to experience your body as you run.  Take note of your posture and stride.  How is your body moving?  Think about this because I’ll be sharing some amazingly powerful tips that will help you run faster and farther with less exertion.  This will come in handy if you are going to run the Inaugural Disney Wine and Dine Half Marathon with Team MomActive in October (or any of the many other fall half marathons around the country).

WIPE THE SLATE CLEAN

Michele and I are social media geeks, freaks, enthusiasts, however you want to label it, we believe in the power of communication.  We know that there are others like us that feed off of the energy and inspiration of others.  Today, I propose that you allow yourselves to step back and clear the slate. Forget failed diets, past attempts at fitness programs and all the other mind trash.  Regardless of your health or fitness level you can always benefit from taking a look inward.  Our lives and our bodies are not static, open your mind to the possibility that there is better and that it is attainable.

SET A GOAL

Goal setting is an incredibly powerful and motivating tool.  We speak about goals but how many of us have outlined our goals and plotted exactly what needed to happen in order to reach those goals?  The floating goal may make you feel good but without a plan it is just an empty intention.  I happen to enjoy running and I enjoy racing because I set a goal for each race and then create a plan with how I will achieve that goal.  If you have never run before and set a goal of running in a 5k race or local walk, you’ll need a plan.  The plan will take shape around what your goal in running/walking the race is.  If you are a new runner you might simply want to finish, and your training plan will take that into consideration.  If you are an avid runner you’ll likely have a different goal, perhaps to improve your time.  I often run a 5k race as part of training for a longer race.  No matter your goal you will need a plan.  Lucky for you MomActive can help you with that! You can follow along behind the scenes or you can make the leap and join our growing group of women.  We will help you identify races in your local area and set realistic goals.  MomActive Run/Walk clubs are already starting to form in Denver, CO and the DC Metro area where organizers will plan occasional meet-ups for longer runs. This is really exciting for me because I’m always looking for a buddy on those longer training runs!  Let us know if you’d like to start a club in your area and we’ll help you pull it all together.  Be sure to sign up for our Newsletter to receive more information.

Think you might want to get moving?  It can be hard to make that first step but we’ll be here, and we’ll be ready when you are!

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MomActive announces partnership with Michele McGraw

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Today, I am excited to announce the formation of a new editorial partnership with Michele McGraw, who will bring her real life experience with healthy lifestyle change to MomActive.  In addition to the introduction of a 3 part running series that will begin this week and culminate with the Oct 2nd Inaugural Disney Wine and Dine Half Marathon (watch for more details tomorrow morning), we will join forces to offer support for our mutual goal of living a MomActive lifestyle. Whether you join us in running a half marathon, run a 5k or begin a new healthy lifestyle, we will offer full support along the way.

blogher_smile_300Michele McGraw ~ Partner/Editor

Michele has spent her life yo-yo dieting until 5 years ago when she lost 75 lbs and began a new healthy lifestyle for both her and her family. She has also spent the last 13+ years helping women find support online for their hobbies and lifestyles. MomActive is the perfect blend of new healthy lifestyle and her passion for offering online support. Michele is CEO of Mom Geek Media and creator of ScrapsofMyGeekLife.com, offering daily commentary, advice, reviews and shared experiences of how her real life and the digital domain connect. She is the host of the Digital Soul Hour, a technology webcast on MomTV on Wednesdays at 10pm ET. Michele is a work at home Mom of 4 kids ages 13, 11, 7 and 5. Her hobbies include digital scrapbooking, reading social media books, collecting gadgets, researching anything and dreaming about laying on the beach. She loves running, yoga and EA SPORTS Active

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Omega-3 Power Boosts Health

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By Stacey Colino for Live Right Live Well

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There’s something fishy going on. Omega-3 fatty acids, once found primarily in fatty fish, are being added to all sorts of foods, including fruit juices, soy milk, eggs, nutrition bars, cereal, yogurt — even infant formula. In fact, they’ve become the wonder nutrient du jour, largely because researchers are discovering more and more health benefits associated with them.


Health Benefits from Head to Toe

Long known for their heart-protective powers, omega-3 fatty acids lower blood pressure, reduce triglyceride levels, decrease the buildup of artery-clogging plaque and lower the risk of heart arrhythmia. In addition, researchers are now finding that omega-3s may be helpful in a wide range of conditions including acne, age-related cognitive decline, Alzheimer’s disease, asthma, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), bipolar disorder, depression, diabetes, macular degeneration (a leading cause of blindness), Parkinson’s disease and rheumatoid arthritis.

How to Get Your Omega-3s

There are a few different types of omega-3 fatty acids, but the real powerhouses are EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid). The American Heart Association (AHA) recommends that most people eat fish, particularly fatty fish, at least twice per week. The best choices: fatty cold-water fish, such as salmon, tuna, herring, lake trout, sardines, mackerel and anchovies. The AHA also recommends that people who have heart disease consume about one gram of EPA and DHA per day, possibly in supplement form. Those who need to lower their triglycerides are advised to ingest two to four grams of EPA and DHA per day from capsules.

But some experts go beyond the AHA recommendation, believing that even more people should be taking these supplements. “Those who consume less than the equivalent of two to three fish meals per week and no other sources of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids, such as omega-3 eggs, should consider supplements,” says J. Thomas Brenna, a professor of human nutrition at Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y. And if you’re worried about contaminants associated with fish, you’ll be happy to hear that omega-3 supplements have been found to be free of heavy metals that have been a concern with fish.

So eat more fish and
consider omega-3-fortified foods and supplements. Says Barry Swanson, a fellow
of the Institute of Food Technologists and professor of food science at
Washington State University in Pullman: It doesn’t matter how you get your
omega-3s — “as long as you get these nutrients in your body, it’s better than
not consuming them at all.”

Stacey Colino

Stacey Colino has written for The Washington Post Health section and many national magazines, including Newsweek, Real Simple, Woman’s Day, Self, Marie Claire, Cosmopolitan, Glamour, Parenting, Sports Illustrated and Ladies’ Home Journal.

Copyright © 2010 Studio One Networks. All rights reserved.

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Youthful Skin Forever

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By Elizabeth Parker for Live Right Live Well

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Cleopatra was known for soaking her skin in a rose petal and milk bath to keep it soft. The ancient Greeks used honey and the Romans olive oil as natural skin moisturizers. So what’s the real deal? Here, eight skin care essentials from the experts to increase your chances of having great-looking skin:

1. Protect your skin from the sun “The absolute most important thing you can do is protect your skin from the sun,” says Dr. Jennifer Reichel of the Pacific Dermatology and Cosmetic Center in Seattle. Repeated exposure to the sun — at any time of year, not just summer — can cause wrinkles and age spots and give skin a leathery look. Fortunately, “most skin care products have an SPF in them,” says Reichel. “Use ones that have an SPF of 15 or higher.”

2. Don’t smoke Smoking can be ruinous for your skin. The constant puckering of the lips creates lines around the mouth, and years of smoking can eventually give skin an unattractive yellowish cast, according to Reichel.

3. Nourish your skin from within Eat a balanced diet rich in antioxidants, such as vitamins A, B and C, as well as green tea and soy extracts. This will help nourish your skin from the inside out and can be particularly beneficial to people who are concerned about wrinkles, according to Dr. Diane S. Berson, spokesperson for the American Academy of Dermatology and assistant professor of dermatology at Cornell University.

4. Keep clean Regular cleansing and moisturizing is a must. But you don’t have to go crazy, notes Reichel. Just wash your face once a day, more often if you’ve been especially active. Mild soap and water are fine, used with a washcloth. “I don’t advocate scrubbing,” Reichel adds, as this can irritate skin. After patting your face dry with a towel, apply a moisturizer that suits your skin type. Look for products that contain poly hydroxy acids (PHA), which can help skin retain moisture and thus look less dry.

5. Exfoliate! Dead cells on the surface of your skin can give your face a dull look. Exfoliants are rich cleansers that contain sand-like granules and chemicals, such as glycolic or salicylic acids, which remove dead cells from the skin’s surface. Once or twice a week works well for most women, less if it causes skin irritation or redness.

6. Stick with what works If you’ve found skin care products that you like, stick with them, advises Reichel. Changing brands too often can cause skin irritation. Also keep in mind that expensive products are not necessarily better than cheaper ones, adds Berson. And be wary of too-good-to-be-true claims.

7. Consider Retin A If your skin has already suffered from sun damage or has some wrinkles, talk to your doctor about Retin A, which has been shown in studies to reduce wrinkles and brown pigmentation, says Reichel.

8. Include a dermatologist in your skin care routine “Every woman should have a yearly check-up with her dermatologist,” says Dr. Peter Goldman, an associate clinical professor of dermatology at the University of California, Los Angeles. A dermatologist can offer the best guidance for maintaining youthful-looking skin and the most up-to-date treatments for sun-damaged or aging skin, such as light chemical peels or treatments with intense pulse light (IPL) and fraxel repair lasers. But even more important, a dermatologist will help safeguard your health by checking for pre-cancers and skin cancers.

So permission granted
to pamper your skin. With a little special care, skin care products you love
and a dermatologist you trust, you can keep a healthy glow no matter your age.

Elizabeth Parker

Elizabeth Parker is a Los Angeles-based writer who has written for numerous national publications.

Copyright © 2010 Studio One Networks. All rights reserved.

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Michele Obama Launches “Let’s Move” Initiative

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Michele Obama’s initiative to combat the childhood obesity epidemic launches today. The effort, pegged “Let’s Move“, will focus on “four key pillars”: Educating parents about nutrition and exercise, improving the quality of food in schools, making healthy foods more affordable and accessible for families and an increased focus on physical education.  Whether you agree on the extent to which she has used her own children in as an example or not, you have to admit that this is a good thing.  Our kids are growing up eating junk food, watching TV that encourages them to eat junk food , and they are also getting outside to play far less often than they did while you and I were growing up.  Drive down any street, anywhere in the country, and the number and variety of fast food joints, where half of the food options contain more fat and calories than most of us need in an entire day, is overwhelming.  I’m not a “Big Government” fan but I do think that convenience has become the norm and it will be interesting to see what impact this initiative will have.

I couldn’t help but laugh when reading the following excerpt from ABCnews.com:

To help parents, the first lady said she’s working with the Food and Drug Administration and major food manufacturers and retailers to make it easier for parents to identify healthier foods by placing nutrition labeling on the front of the package.

Did we not have that earlier last year with the Smart Choices Campaign, in which Froot Loops donned the fabulously attractive and trendy green Smart Choices check mark?  I wrote several fiery posts here and on momactive.com blasting the program and the greedy scoundrels behind it.  If you missed it you can read about it right HERE and HERE. The quacks behind this ridiculous marketing effort have since stopped labeling foods with the Smart Choices check mark because the guidelines were so laughable that the FDA announced that it was looking into the “scientific criteria” used to designate foods that manufacturers who participated (read PAID) to take part in the labeling program.  The uproar surrounding the whole thing created a massive PR disaster for all involved and served as a lesson putting the big corporations on notice that consumers aren’t as stupid as they’d like to think we are.  I would love to hear what Michele Obama thought about Smart Choices.

What Michele Obama is trying to do isn’t exactly new.  I grew up with the Kennedy era President’s Council on Physical Fitness (which was actually just a renaming of the President’s Council on Youth Fitness started by Eisenhowerin 1956).  Remember the test?  The one where you have to try to touch your toes and where they measure your arm fat with the calipers?  I remember very clearly that I outran every boy in my class but I didn’t like the arm fat thing…  In any case, “Let’s Move” is similar to past government efforts, but perhaps the effort to increase nutritional education and improve the availability and cost of healthier foods will achieve a reduction in our country’s obesity rates.  Those of you that watch the show on MomTv will remember our discussion last week about a study that showed people responded more positively, and as a result purchased a greater amount of healthier foods more often, when given access to a reduction in the cost of healthy food choices in addition to nutrition education, versus those who only received the nutritional information.

Will “Lets Move” make a difference?  Let’s us know what you think!

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The Penny Experiment

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penny art create change
“See a penny, pick it up, all day long you’ll have good luck.”
Most people don’t pay any attention to all those pennies! Those shiny tokens that have gathered in the bottom of her purse or the change dish collecting dust sitting on his dresser. Once we’ve tossed them to the side, we forget about them and yank out the bank card when it comes time to pay for our next purchase.
Well, someone is about to make you realize what all those pennies are truly worth. The simple penny may not be worth much to you, but it means food for those that can not afford food for themselves.
Welcome to the Penny Experiment.
Walking to a local coffee shop in November 2009, Jeffrey Strain woke up all at the touch of a penny. Picking up a lone penny off of the sidewalk, Jeffrey wondered about the true value a penny holds and what could possibly be achieved by one penny. From that one quick thought Jeffrey launched his website to help local food banks stock their selves with much needed food.
From the Penny Experiment website: Money spent: $73.56; Food Donated: $759.02
So how does it all work?
It would be best explained from the man himself, but a quick overview… from the sale of penny postcards, the money is used to expense coupon bloggers finding the best local deals for the least amount of money, and all product purchased is donated to the blogger’s local food bank. Many of the “couponers” are so frugal that finding the best deals is second nature. Many spend little to no money purchasing non-perishable food for their local food banks.
Check out this example!
The newest addition to the coupon bloggers for the Penny Experiment is La Vida Cheapo and I’m amazed at her success for purchasing $42.16 worth of food for her local food bank for only $0.59. WOW! Check out her mention on the Penny Experiment, as well as her website for exactly what she was able to donate to Second Harvest Food Bank.
It is amazing to really see the true worth of a penny.
Interested in participating in the Penny Experiment? Reach out to Jeffrey -
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Healthy Eating for a Good Mood!

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Recent Research shows that processed or junk food, such as fast food, sweets and chips contribute to depression. Data related to food and mood was collected from 3,486 men and women in the UK over 5 years. The processed food pattern of eating more sweets, fried food, high fat diary and refined grains was associated with a higher chance of being depressed. Compared to a diet rich in fruits and vegetables, fish and whole grains.

The study researchers offer some tips for optimal physical and mental health:

  1. Have breakfast because breakfast eaters consume more fiber calcium and micronutrients and are healthier
  2. Eat sweets on occasion, focus on a diet rich in fruits and vegetables and healthy snacks.
  3. Snack on apple, cheese, carrot sticks and nuts, this was the choice of the folks with a better mood.
  4. Read Food labels and limit high fat/sugar foods.
  5. Limit salt intake, use spices and herbs to season your food.
  6. Make eating together as a family a top priority, meal times are a time of nourishment both physically and emotionally.

Source:

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Growing Relationships and Keeping in Touch With Your Children

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michele horne picWhen we had our second daughter, my husband and I quickly realized that we needed to continue to spend one on one time with each child to assure that they both felt engaged and important to us. After baby girl number three, we still hold this philosophy, but when the children outnumber the adults, it becomes very hard to attain this goal.

But we still work at it… every day. It is not that we need to make time with each of them big events. We don’t need to take them to an amusement park or to the zoo. But we do need to give each of them a few minutes separately every day. For instance, my husband reads the bedtime story to the four year old every night. That is 15 minutes of dedicated daddy time that she is guaranteed and look forward to.

Other dedicated times might be to sit with the nine year old as she practices her piano, encouraging her and giving her undivided attention. We make puzzles with them, color, dance, let one of them prepare dinner with me or breakfast with Daddy.

We do also take time to make dates with each of them also. Again, it need not be elaborate or expensive, but just some time away from the house and the other sisters. It might be a daddy/daughter movie date or a mommmy/daughter picnic. Really, even when they get to ride in the car without two other screaming kids, they feel much more attended to and special.

The other day, as my nine year old sat on the edge of the tub keeping me company while I scrubbed the floor, she said, “Mommy, I really like this.”

“What?”

“Just sittin’ here talking to you.”

Awww, she filled my heart. But that proves that it really is the little things, those few stole moments here and there that will make the difference in your child’s life and grow that bond that every parents wants with their children. Hey, maybe you can even get them to scrub the toilet while you are talking!

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