Banned Books - Healthy Reading

Ok, for those of you who know me as "Doris the fitness lady," there is also "Doris the reading teacher" who is not talking about fitness today. Today I thought I'd bring up Banned Book Week.

I am a firm believer in The Freedom to Read. Having sat on a few challenged book review committees, I know the books that some people want banned have meant the world to others. While I do feel that all people should be able to pick and choose what they read, or what your children read, I don't feel that anyone should make that choice for me.

I could write all day about ways to celebrate Banned Book Week, I've used my education blog to highlight certain books, and ask people to blog/vlog about their favorite banned book. You can check out my blog on The Leaky Cauldron if you are interested in helping us support The Right to Read.

For more information on Banned Book Week please check out these resources.

ALA's page on Banned Book Week
Top 100 Challenged Books of this Century

I'll be continuing my "ABC's of good nutrition in a couple of days. Thanks for letting me blog about something other then fitness for today.

Doris

Friday Night Lights

Tonight my son's high school football team won their game. While winning is incredible in itself since this is their first year as a Varsity team and they don't have seniors, what is even more incredible is that they played.

If you live in Texas, you know that Friday nights in the fall are about the game. The smell of pop corn and hot dogs, the sound of the band and screaming fans are all part of this thing we call high school football.

Our community was hit hard by Ike, and honestly, stadiums don't do well with high wind and water. We were unsure when our Friday nights would be filled with football again. Tonight, through the generosity of countless people who we'll never know, our boys boarded buses and drove over two hours, just to play their very first varsity football game.

They won! While winning our first varsity game was sweet, just playing our first varsity game tonight is even sweeter!

Tight Ass Tuesday - The Gym Reopens

Today the local gym reopened. After Ike it's been slow going down here in Galveston County, so the reopening of my gym can be seen as a HUGE event in the restarting of our lives.

First, the gym is a great hangout for young people who want to play basketball or swim, without the fuss of sunscreen and mosquitoes, but for me reopening of the gym gives me the opportunity to work out with equipment I don't have at my house. I also got to catch up with all of my gym friends that I had not seen since before the storm.

I started today with a 20 minute warm-up on an elliptical machine, alternating directions every five minutes. Normally I'll pop into a gym and have a pre-planned workout set in my mind, but today, not knowing what machinery would be available, I came in without a plan.

I keep a card catalog of my favorite workouts in my IPOD (Fondly named Gred in honor of Fred and George Weasley from the Harry Potter novels) so I pulled up one of my favorite butt workouts from Womens Health Magazine (WH) online. One of the things I love about WH is the free video downloads for IPOD.

This workout consists of (link to the PDF version if you are on dial-up and can't download the video here)

• Elvis Plie'
• Front Lunge Push-Off
• Lunge Reach Combo
• Sumo Squat and Leg Raise
• Curtsey Squat and Lift
• Raised Lunge with Balance
• Hip Bridge and Heel Drag

Most of my friends who do this workout don't use weights or the bench.

The best thing about these videos is you can see someone else doing the exercise to help assure you do it correctly. Of course, nothing can substitute for a great trainer. If you've not worked out before, you should check with your doctor and start with a trainer.

After my workout I was hoping to take a short Yoga class, but unfortunately no classes were offered today. Instead I stretched with a few friends and caught up on our post-storm stories.

I forgot how much I love gym workouts. It was really great to get back into my normal "Tight Ass Tuesday" routine.

What did you guys do today for your workouts?

Family Fitness Day - Bike Riding

I love Sundays. Sunday is family fitness day in our home. This weekly activity started when my oldest (now almost 20) was just a baby. We'd put aside several hours on Sunday afternoons to make sure we spent the day together.

Family fitness often revolves around group activities that are low key and enjoyable for all. At times we kayak, run, play tennis; but today we decided to ride bikes.

Bike riding is a real joy now that the weather is getting cooler and even though we have to fight off a mosquito or two down here in South Texas nothing can spoil a day we all spend together out doors.

I feel like I talk quite a bit about children and fitness. I think it's an offshoot of being a teacher, but by showing your child how to enjoy fitness you are giving them a lifetime of health and happiness. From a parent's perspective there is nothing better.

Just a couple of hints I've found help if you are going to take the kids out on a family bike ride.

• Helmets - No excuses, just do it!
• Hydration - Everyone needs a little extra water. Bottles that attach to bikes can be found at sporting good stores.
• Safe Paths - Depending on the age of your children, scout out a path before you take them on it.
  
• Start small - If this is your first family fitness outing, start small. If you over work your children then you take the fun out of it. Fitness is fun, it should not feel like "work."
• Enjoy - Now that my guys are older I realize that my happiest memories are some of our family fitness outings. Enjoy yourself. Take time to stop and explore the world around you.

Our ride today consisted of several miles on a track around a park close to home. I normally bring a few healthy snacks and we stop at a few spots here and there to enjoy the wild life. Investing in a few family fitness days helps bring your family a bit closer, and helps instill the fitness habit in your children.

Health Insurance (and not the kind you think)

I am constantly amazed at what is in the food we eat. Actually, I'm equally amazed at what is not in the food we eat! Recently I've started taking the best vitamin I've ever taken. How do I know it's the best vitamin I've ever taken? Read on my friend.

If you've read my blog before you know that I'm a hurricane Ike survivor. Living in South Texas is a great joy for my family and me, but this past week has been overly stressful. We're walking almost everywhere because of a shortage of gas, our diet is consisting of whatever we can eat out of a can and our homes and the homes around us are in a shamble. Sorry to be brutally honest, but you'd think I would feel like crap. But, I don't.

I've started taking pops. These are the first vitamins I've taken in a while because my diet is really pretty awesome. I started on pops a couple of days before the storm hit, and have taken them daily since. While many around me are tired, listeless and feeling run down, I'm energetic and ready to face every new challenge.

So, If you think to yourself " I Feel Like Crap" then there is a great program for you. (at the link) If you just want to try the best vitamins I've ever taken, then pop into Whole Foods and find out If your vitamins are safe. If you want to learn more about the vitamins I am taking then check out the Green Pops Page and the Purple Pops Page.

There are many other awesome things at Whole Food Nation. One of the best things you'll find is knowledge to help you be successful in your fitness journey.

Get Up and Move

As I've spent most of this month either preparing for Hurricane Gustav and working like crazy to pick up from Hurricane Ike, I realized I'd not mentioned the importance of this month's "America on the Move" campaign. With waistlines getting bigger, and budgets getting tighter, it is important that we find sensible ways to help us all beat the battle of the bulge. (Americans and Non-Americans alike)

To do this the America on the Move Foundation has created this handy "100 Ways to add 2000 Steps" brochure to help us all add in a few extra steps, and burn a few extra calories. (2000 steps is approximately one mile)

A few of the suggestions are great ideas that can be fun and enjoyable for all. For example, walking your children to school or to a friend's house is a great way to enjoy a beautiful day and add in a little social interaction with loved ones. You could listen to a book on an Ipod (Harry Potter is my favorite Ipod book) or you could listen to a fitness podcast.

Other suggestions include ...

• Walk around the block when checking your mail
• Walk around the halls at your office before you start work
• Get off the bus one or two stops early
  
• Start an office lunch break walking group
• Meet a friend for a walk and talk instead of using a phone

Due to the shortage of gas here in South Texas, I've added a great deal of walking into my daily routine. I can already see and feel my legs getting stronger and looking leaner.

It's really easy to add in a few extra steps everyday. Get out and make sure you add in those extra steps tomorrow. Your waistline and our heart will appreciate it!

Wordless Wednesday

My workouts this week have been more "real world" workouts. Consisting of cleaning up trash left on the streets and around my home after Hurricane Ike. Since we have not had gas I've found that I'm walking much more then normal, often over 15 miles in a day. (gotta love my pedometer)

Normally I try to post uplifting pics on Wednesday, with my workouts on Galveston Beach being some of my favorite pictures. Today the pics are much different. When we're allowed on the beach I'll snap some of the erosion an of what used to be some of my favorite hangouts.

Pre-Ike build up of water on Clear Lake


Walter Hall Park - Pre-Ike

Pre-Ike Nasa Road One

Pre-Ike Boarding of the House

Post Ike - cleaning up debris off of Bay Area Blvd
(Water is normally just a small ditch here)

Post-Ike - Clear Lake over its banks - clearing streets for work trucks

Post-Ike - The Hilton

Post-Ike - Buildings under water

Post-Ike - Boats in trees


Edited to Add:

A very special thanks to my friend Paul from PaulsHealthBlog for a link to these pictures from the storm.

Words can't express what this is like for those of us down here. I am happy that we have several gas stations within 10 miles from here opening up with electricity so they are able to finally get gaas in our cars. The generator I am using to power a few extras like this laptop, cellphones and my 'fridge was also running low on gas, now I don't have to give those up.

Ike Update

Today I learned a couple of things about myself. First, I learned I can eat a non-vegetarian MRE (Meal Ready to Eat) and not die; (Thankfully my purple pops didn't get washed away so I've got my nutrition safety blanket) I learned that we (as a society) really depend on electricity for just about everything and can't get along well without it; I learned that gas pumps need electricity (see item above); and I learned that when the times get tough, the tough get moving.

I thought about spending the day in deep despair, but instead I realized that I needed to get up and do something. I have a generator now, so I do have the refrigerator running, and a few fans. Since I had a way to cool water I put cold water bottles in a cooler and walked around our neighborhood passing them out. It made me feel good to see the smiles, even the wonderful volunteers that came to help us don't have water so right now we're all in need.

I also learned that it's best to help oneself and not depend on others. Luckily I was fit enough to be able to help remove limbs from the streets. My boys were able to help remove debris from the roadways to make it easier for the electric company to fix the power lines and busted transformers.

That which does not kill us makes us stronger.
Friedrich Nietzsche

I feel like this ordeal should leave us with super-powers! Thanks for the emails and the comments. It's nice to know I have friends thinking about us and praying for us.

Fit for Hurricane Ike

I usually love living within a few minutes of the beach, but every now and then something "hits" that makes living here stressful. Later today Hurricane Ike will come ashore with Galveston Island in its path. The places I love, the people I love and the home I adore all waiting and hoping for the best, but prepared for the worst.

First, for those of you who regularly read my blog, I might be without electricity for a while. Our local officials tell us to expect up to two weeks without electricity.

It's time like this I count my fitness as a blessing. Yesterday my neighbors could not get the windows of their home boarded. It only takes a few seconds to realize that my commitment to lifelong fitness gave me a huge advantage. Between the endless waiting in lines for gas, the shopping for weeks of food and water, moving furniture to the second floor to hopefully avoid flood water and boarding everything up I realized that my fitness commitment allowed me to do all of that successfully.

My children and I finally climbed the ladder to help our neighbors board-up their home. I felt badly for my neighbor who finally admitted his level of fitness kept him from being able to take care of his home and family. The up-and-downs on those ladders tires the knees, lifting the plywood is hard on the shoulders and anyone who is not in great shape would easily be worn out.

In the meantime my family and I are safe. Looking at the images on the local news channel I see that homes in Galveston are already flooding, the waves are crashing over the sea wall and the storm is still over 20 hours away; the storm surge is expected to be between 15 - 20 feet.

Now we just wait, but when it's time to clean the mess up, I'll be fit enough to do it.

Hot by the Holidays

Christie over at Baby Tea Leaves is sponsoring a fun, goal oriented fitness contest called "Hot for the holidays!" It starts on September 7th and ends December 5th. It looks like it will be a great way for anyone who wants to make sure they are "Hot by the holidays" can make that goal.

Groups help you stay on track, so if you are trying to shed a few pounds, please join us for some fun and make sure you are hot for Santa!

Promote lifelong fitness for kids

We all know there is a problem. Children in the U.S. seem to be getting fatter. According to The Alliance for a Healthier Generation 17.1% of children in the United States are obese.

"More and more kids are being diagnosed with adult diseases like high blood pressure and type II diabetes, but it doesn’t have to be that way."
Robert Eckel, MD, Immediate Past President of the American Heart Association

The Alliance sites the reasons for this childhood crisis is ..

At many schools kids can have soda, candy and fast food for lunch. They also have fewer opportunities to exercise and play. At home, kids are spending more inactive time in front of a TV, play station or computer. When kids eat out they are surrounded by foods and drink that taste good, but are often unhealthy. Portion sizes are also continuing to increase. Fast food is no longer a treat but a regular meal for many kids. The result is an increase in serious health problems earlier in life. High cholesterol, high blood pressure, stroke, type 2 diabetes and depression are now a part of more and more kids’ lives.

To help combat this growing problem many organizations have started initiatives to help us teach or kids the habit of lifelong fitness.

Nickelodeon has "Let's Just Play." Encouraging kids to get up and play seems like an easy solution, but when our kids are bombarded with activities that don't promote physical activity and with the growing concern on environmental factors like ozone in our atmosphere many kids just don't go out and play. Nickelodean has also set up the "World Day of Play" as a global movement to help kids pick on day to start their journey to lifelong fitness.

This article in The Houston Business Journal tells us about the National Football League's efforts to help educate America's kids about lifelong fitness. This program will help promote healthy eating habits for our kids.

KidsHealth.org offers wonderful activites for kids to help promote lifelong fitness.

I know that for all of us who have kids we can do our part to help promote lifelong fitness in our youth. Here are a few suggestions that I've found work for my kids.

• Make exercise an enjoyable routine.
  

Walks at a local park can be a low-key and fun way for you to connect with your kids and teach them that fitness is a habit. Bike rides, kayaking and running are all great ways to spend fun time with your kids while teaching them that fitness needs to be a routine.

As your child grows older, these fun times can also include short, informal discussion on the importance of health and fitness. Teaching children the importance of healthy exercise gives you another opportunity to improve your child's health for the rest of their lives.

My walks with my three boys are among the most happy moments of my life. I remember long walks along the beach with them pushing dump trucks or splashing in the water. Now that they are all teens we still enjoy a weekly walk along the Galveston sea wall. Of course they'd not be caught dead with a dump truck!

• Teach your child about nutrition

As a teacher I find that many of the kids I teach know very little about nutrition. As a parent I found that teaching my child about nutrition started very early. Now that my children are teens I see them making good food choices.

Make sure your child knows why they should eat fruits and vegtables. This can start when we take our toddlers to the grocery store. Even small kids can learn that oranges are high in vitamin C and help keep them from getting sick, or that broccoli gives them strong bones and helps them grow.

Teaching kids about portion control can be as simple as allowing them to set the table and showing them how much food to place on their plates while they learn to serve themselves. Starting this habit while they are young helps them later when they make choices on their own.

• Teach your child to read nutrition labels

As a reading teacher, I encourage all parents to read everything they can with their kids. As an advocate for good nutrition I think parents needs to spend time teaching children to read nutrition labels.

I found my youngest son (who celebrates his 15th birthday today) looking at a label in a grocery store last week and laughing. When I asked him what was funny he pointed out that the low-fat cereal bars he was looking at had more then 25% of a days worth of sugar in it. He was amused that people thought this was healthy.

With information comes great choices. Teaching your child to read nutrition labels helps them make smart nutrition choices.

My friend Lisa over at Iowa Nutrition let many of our fellow bloggers know about World Heart Day on September 28th. Since this is just around the corner, make a pledge to yourself and to any kids in your life to help celebrate the day by doing what you can to promote lifelong fitness for yourself and the children you love.

Just an update on my new supercool pedometer I posted on last week! I still love it, and not counting the steps I take during my daily workout, I am currently taking an average of 12,000 steps a day.

Walk a mile in my shoes - and blog about it

Today I got a cool new toy! Actually, it was delivered on Friday, but I just figured out how all the gadgets work. This Omron Pedometer helps me combine all of my favorite passions in one little fun thing.

I love this pedometer, because unlike other pedometers I've used this one can be in my purse and still work. I tested that at church today by carrying this one in my purse and my older one on me. It was very accurate.

So, anyway, why did I get this new techno-fitness gadget? Since it's my goal to be fit well into my old age, I wanted to keep track of how much I exercised daily. This new and cool gadget I'm able to keep track of my workouts via the enclosed software for a very long time.

I'm also able to make sure I get my walk everyday. According to thewalkingsite.com we should take 10,000 steps a day. (Which is approximately 5 miles) In one thirty day month, I should take 300,000 steps. (or just shy of 150 miles)

Since fitness is about making good choices, I know that using this pedometer will help me make sure I don't slip up. Since the stats will be on my computer I'm thinking about incorporating a step meter into my blog. (which will incorporate all of my favorite things - technology, blogging and fitness) I'm curious how many steps I take in a year.

I had to show of my new toy, and challenge you guys to make sure you take 10,000 steps everyday. I'll post my steps now and again so you guys can see how I'm doing, you can always comment with how many steps you are taking.

Today I've walked 10,286 steps.