Follow Exercise is Medicine on Twitter.  Here’s their vision:

To make physical activity and exercise a standard part of a disease prevention and treatment medical paradigm in the United States.

For physical activity to be considered by all health care providers as a vital sign in every patient visit, and that patients are effectively counseled and referred as to their physical activity and health needs, thus leading to overall improvement in the public’s health and long-term reduction in health care cost.

Check them out. 

[”Dr. Oz’s Fat-Blasting Smoothie!”]

One of my favorite things to do lately in the grocery store checkout line is to read the headlines on all those magazines.  Yes, you know the ones… the alleged “health” magazines.  They’re right next to the celebrity gossip magazines (sometimes they are the celebrity mags). 

Found this little beauty the other day.  Note: Just by slapping a celebrity doc’s name on something doesn’t automatically make it do the things it claims to.  Now, I will admit that I didn’t even bother looking at what this magic smoothie is, but I’m sure it’s better than eating a lot of things.  I’m sure it can complement regular healthy eating habits and regular exercise.  But don’t think a smoothie can solve all of your health problems. 

I think today we get so caught up into thinking that just one thing (be it a nutrient, a specific exercise move, a product, etc.) will solve all of our health problems, help us lose weight, and help us get more fit.  It’s not just one thing.  It’s making consistent and smarter small decisions that can add up to create a healthier lifestyle for us.

Ok, it’s late.  I’m done.  Excuse me while I go have Dr. Oz’s fat-blasting smoothie.  Hmm… wonder where they got that “add 15 years to your life” claim…

It’s pretty interesting to see the food that the schools serve and to see the comments this teacher makes.  She is experiencing what the kids eat everyday during school lunch. 

I don’t know much about elementary schools and their policies, but from what I’ve read and heard, recess is becoming a thing of the past.  I bring this up because it was mentioned in the above FAQs.  At this particular school, the kids have 20 mins for lunch and no recess. 

When I was in elementary school (I’m 27, to give you a reference point) we had 3 recesses each day: a 15 min recess in the morning, a 40-50 min lunch/recess in the middle of the day, and a 15 min recess in the afternoon.  That was awesome.  I remember playing soccer, basketball, and even jumping rope sometimes.  What is happening in today’s world? 

I know it’s a complicated issue that I don’t really understand, but really?  No recess for kids at school?  That’s a shame. 

Sorry about that tangent, but check out Fed Up with Lunch: The School Lunch Project.  It’s pretty interesting. 

[Image from here via @YoniFreedhoff].

We might want to go easy on the sugar-drinks.  Maybe help our kids avoid them too?

“Failure is not falling down but refusing to get up.”

– Chinese Proverb

Happy Monday.  Have a great day and a great week. 

Then it starts pounding snow yesterday and continuing through today.  Sometimes I hate this Utah weather.  I’m itching to get on the bike for an outside ride and get runs in early in the morning outside without freezing to death. 

We’re finally getting settled at our new place and the wife and I are getting back to eating healthy foods at home and exercising more.  Gonna try and run 10 miles tomorrow to see if I still can. 

Found my daughter sleeping like this the other day.  Looks like she fell asleep while sitting up and then just bent over.  Pretty funny. 

Don’t forget that sleep is an important part of a healthy lifestyle.  The body needs rest. 

“Sleep is no different from diet or exercise.”

– Carol Ash, D.O., sleep specialist, via this article.

“If I feel antsy during the day, or feel like misbehaving, I ask if I can use the treadmill or the bike.  I have so much energy built up in my body and I’m letting it out without being rude or obnoxious.”

– Altyn, 12, a student in the behavioural class at Etobicoke elementary school

“Some kids, I’m not kidding you, I could not get them to sit still for 15 minutes, and some of them were focused for four hours after doing this [exercise].”

– Allison Cameron, 8th grade teach who put treadmills in her classroom

Pretty cool stuff.  It turns out exercise is great medicine for a lot of things.  Read the complete article here. 

I like that quote from Lance Armstrong.  Motivates me to work harder.