Fitness PR Division

High-fiber whole grains may help dieters lose weight while making gains in some nutrients, new research suggests.

In a six-month study of 180 overweight adults, researchers found that whole-grain cereals helped people lose weight while boosting their consumption of fiber, magnesium and vitamin B-6.

Their intake of these nutrients was higher than that of dieters who cut calories but did not eat whole-grain cereal. The implication, say researchers, is that fiber-rich cereals can help people cut calories while maintaining or improving the quality of their diet.

The study, which received funding from Kraft Foods, Inc., is published in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association.

We all lead busy lives and time going to a weight loss meeting could easily be time spent at the gym. Convenience is a hot commodity and with obesity on the rise, more people looking to lose weight and implement a fitness program around their lifestyle are turning to the internet for support and inspiration, and these online programs are capturing the attention of a determined market.

Many states are beginning their own diet and fitness programs and featuring them online for residents to participate in such as INShape Indiana’s 10 in 10 Challenge. Where I live, Blue Cross of Northeastern PA has collaborated with local television affiliates WBRE (NBC) and WYOU (CBS) to create a program called, “The Million Pound Meltdown.” Residents sign up online and follow tips for better eating and fitness habits. By committing to the program, you feel you are part of a collaborative effort to reach the goal of one million pounds lost in the region. The goal is to make you feel like a team player and keep you on track with a diet and fitness plan that is right for you.

Other online programs include Weight Watchers online, e-diets, Changing Shape, Fitness Online and even The Biggest Loser based on the television series. My girlfriend and her husband chose to commit to Weight Watchers online and implemented a fitness routine that included jogging and swimming laps. In 10 months time her husband lost 110 pounds and she lost her goal of 30 pounds. Now that she feels healthy and physically fit, she is training to run a Triathalon this June in Philadelphia through the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Team in Training.

Everyone knows that exercise is good for your health, but did you know that it is also beneficial to your memory and functions of the brain, as well? A recent study done at Columbia University Medical Center in New York first did the research on how exercise affects brain function in mice and then compared it to a sampling of 11 research participants that revealed the results to be the same.

As we age, cells within our brains die off, but the research done on the mice and human participants found that each time a person exercised it stimulated new cell growth in the areas of the brain that are affected by memory and memory loss. Another benefit was the increased blood flow thus delivering more oxygen to the brain.

While this is only one study done on 11 people, it proves intriguing that the brain function of mice after exercise was mimicked by the human participants showing that there are many more health benefits than we realize than just keeping physically fit with exercise.

You can read the full report of this study on CNN Health.

The David E. Grange Jr. Best Ranger Competition began in 1982, when the Ranger Training Department designed a "Ranger Olympics" to identify the best two-man team in the Army. Over the years it has expanded to include members from other services such as the Marines and occasionally members from foreign military units. Best Ranger Competition is the original Amazing Race and Survivor where teams definitely have to “Out Last” each other in this grueling fitness and skill competition.

In 1986 my husband, an Army Ranger, competed in this competition and is still something he watches religiously on The Military Channel, however in the past it could be seen on ESPN and The Outdoor Life Network. The conditioning of the men who compete in this competition is compared to that of world-class athletes. Besides testing the participant’s military skills, it also tests endurance, strength and mental fortitude. The competition is done over 60 hours, day and night, of non-stop events where the participants get little rest or food.

Best Ranger Competition involves running, swimming, push-ups, pull-ups and navigating grueling obstacle courses among many other events that you often find in the Iron Man competition. The intensity and duration of the event sequences pushes even the most elite Special Operations troops, who are at the peak of physical fitness, to the point of physical exhaustion. One such event, that is also a crowd favorite, is the Helo Cast. The Helo Cast involves jumping from a helicopter over water in full uniform and with all of your equipment keeping it afloat and swimming to shore, which is immediately followed up by the next event.

Participating in a charitable event always makes your heart feel good, but when the charitable event is fitness related it could be beneficial to your heart in more ways than one. Charitable fitness events can be as simple as walking or as involved as a triathlon.

Many of us want to commit to a fitness routine and have goals we wish to achieve, but for the majority we often fall behind and eventually give up. When you make the decision to participate in a charitable fitness event, it helps achieve the following:

+ It makes exercise a commitment
+ It makes exercise easier
+ It makes exercise feel less selfish
+ It makes exercise a reunion

When you commit to an event, such as The Relay For Life, exercise is no longer just about you. This helps takes that focus and pressure off of what your personal goals are and help you to focus on what your exercise habits will be achieving in the long run. Knowing in January that you need to get ready for the big race in June, helps to keep you on task with an exercise schedule in mind. Making your fitness schedule about the people benefiting from this charitable event will contribute to making you feel good about that very time consuming and exhaustive workout, making it feel like much less of a chore and more of a good deed. If it is an event you have participated in the past, then there is also that sense of community and meeting up with other participants that you have met at previous years events.

In the process of all of this training and working out, you become more physically fit and able to meet your weight loss goals. Keeping to your fitness routine for the event helps you to develop healthy habits, whether it be regarding food or exercise or both. Even if you only train 3 months before the event, chances are that you will continue to keep in shape out of habit once the event has taken place.

When you think of running, do you envision pushing your body to the limit of exhaustion or even that Boston Marathon winner who is basically crawling across the finish line? Whatever happened to running just as a relaxing way to exercise? Reebok has decided to try to bring back the fun to running with their new Run Easy campaign.

Run Easy is about reminding us that running doesn’t have to be a competitive sport. There was a time when it was deemed exercise that was open to anyone; from running solo on the beach to an enjoyment of social time with a running buddy, running was easy at one point and not something that you had to be competitive at.

One of the Reebok Run Easy ad campaigns states: Run + Puke + Run = Crazy. A little over the top, a little gross when you think about it, but isn’t that the point? Running shouldn’t have to be exercise to push us to our limits, and honestly, it really doesn’t need to be involved in the “No pain no gain” theory of fitness. Running should be fitness that is open to people of all athletic abilities.

This polar opposite approach to the fitness gear industry involves many well known athletes such as Allen Iverson, Vince Young, Chad Johnson and Nicole Vaidisova, among many others.

The main question Reebok asks consumers is, “What are you just doing?” which is obviously a stab and/or take on Nike’s “Just Do It” motto. The campaign began this week with Reebok’s launch of the website GoRunEasy.com and will begin with digital advertising and print ads in select major cities, by the end of the month we will see the commercials beginning to air.

So will it work? Tell us what you think in the comments.

Each time that I am pregnant, my husband mysteriously develops Shingles. It’s something that no one can quite understand and has baffled us each time, as it is very rare to develop Shingles more than once in your lifetime. Shingles is a painful skin rash, most often only surfacing on one half of your body, and occurs in people who have had the chicken pox. Although I don’t plan on having any more children (4 is enough thank you), I found interest in a new study that has surfaced that indicates the possibility that tai chi may help in warding off Shingles.

The study was geared at those 50 years and older since Shingles is usually most common in this age demographic (although my husband is an exception since he began developing it at age 35). Tai chi is a low impact exercise that anyone can participate in at any age. To do tai chi, you perform a defined series of postures or movements in a slow, graceful manner. Each movement or posture flows into the next without pausing. Many see tai chi as a way to tackle many physical and mental conditions such as stress, reducing high blood pressure, increasing stamina, and muscle strengthening and definition.

This recent study was done by UCLA and involved 112 healthy adults, ages 59 to 86, who have had previous cases of chickenpox. The study was split into two groups with one group taking tai chi classes three times a week for three months and the second group attending health education classes where they were taught good diet habits and stress management. Both groups were vaccinated against chicken pox.

After 6 months, the tai chi group showed nearly twice the level of immunity than did the health education group and the study found that tai chi paired with vaccination showed a 40% increase in immunity against Shingles. It is definitely interesting to say the least and something that should promote further study regarding tai chi’s affects on physical and mental health.

Just as the Leapster gave children fitness for the mind, some of the latest video games for your console have video games geared towards getting your couch potatoes up and moving. One of the most popular being Dance Dance Revolution, which made its way from the arcade into living rooms and now even gym classes across the country.

With child obesity rates rising, it is games like Dance Dance Revolution that can make fitness fun for kids. Schools are taking note of the benefits of incorporating this video game into the gym class curriculum. It gives the children the best of both worlds, incorporating the technology of video games in with physical fitness to keep them active and healthy.

PowerGrid Fitness is another innovator when it comes to video games and fitness. They designed the KiloWatt in 2004, which was very large and very expensive. They have now come out with the Exer-station which is little less expensive than the original KiloWatt and geared towards home use. The Exer-station is a full body video game controller made to work with just about any game. So if you are playing a race car game, the harder you push, the faster your car goes. The Exer-station utilizes their ISOCOR technology, which allows isometric muscle contractions to control computer and video games. While you never have to get up and put any pressure on your joints, you still endure a muscle strengthening work out.

The Sony Playstation EyeToy is another video game component meant to be a fitness-related game. The EyeToy is a camera you attach to your television and Sony Playstation 2 while you use your body to play the games such as Play, which incorporates Kung Fu and dancing; Play2 which has 12 different physical games such as blocking soccer balls and hitting homeruns. There are several other games in the series, all meant to be interactive, fun and worthy of being deemed exercise.

As gaming continues to be part of our culture, it seems only natural to allow the transition from sedentary game play into one that can become part of your child’s daily exercise routine.

I’ll never forget the day several years ago when Curves arrived around the corner from my house. My membership at Bally’s Total Fitness was coming to an end and I was unsure if I wanted to renew it. The advertisement for Curves was intriguing: 30-minute workout, no men, no mirrors, no makeup. The price for membership was about the same as the one I had at Bally’s, but the idea of a convenient workout without worrying about my insecurity over my body in front of men at the gym is what drove me to finally go check out the facility for myself.

Pace is another facility that offers a 30-minute workout on hydraulic equipment otherwise known as circuit training. Pace was the original circuit training center, however, Curves for Women’s star has shown much brighter through all of their advertising campaigns and PR. These 30 minute circuit training fitness centers are becoming very attractive to those of all walks of life, from the business woman with a hectic schedule to the senior looking to keep in shape without a strenuous fitness regimen, Curves and Pace are becoming their fitness clubs of choice.

30-minute fitness centers offer many benefits both mentally and physically. Many women are intimidated by all of the different exercise equipment the typical gym has to offer. With circuit training, there are only approximately 10 pieces of equipment which offer strength training and sustained cardiovascular activity through safe and effective hydraulic resistance. There is no wondering which piece of equipment you need to use for what, you simply begin on one machine and make your way around the circle in 30 second timed intervals. The guesswork is taken out of the equation with a “follow the leader” type workout.

30-minute fitness centers make exercise convenient and easy to fit into a busy schedule. With Curves, there are 10,000 fitness centers worldwide, adding to the convenience of the business traveler looking to stay fit even when on a business trip. While you won’t get that muscle definition or body builder look that you would at gyms like Bally’s and Gold’s, a 30 minute fitness center is ideal for those who are already in shape looking to maintain it and for those looking to lose weight and inches and build stamina in order to divulge in a more rigorous workout at the gym.

If you love the relaxation that a cruise can bring, but also love fitness, Carnival Cruise lines has another great annual cruise put together for this year's fitness Mind/Body Cruise.

Via PR Newswire MIAMI (April, 2007) - Carnival Cruise Lines, Shape and Men's Fitness magazine have partnered to sponsor the fourth annual "Mind/Body Cruise" to be held aboard the Carnival Conquest, December 2- 9, 2007. The seven-day cruise aboard the 2,974-passenger "Fun Ship" will operate round-trip from Galveston, Texas, and call at Montego Bay, Grand Cayman and Cozumel, and offer guests a rejuvenating experience through a variety of fitness, nutritional, and wellness classes and seminars.

In addition to fitness and relaxation classes that include an energetic aerobic workout to the sound of live drums or a daily sunset meditation session on the ship's Lido Deck, the "Mind/Body Cruise" offers interesting and informative cooking demonstrations and nutritional workshops, all hosted by renowned personal trainers, and nutrition and health experts.

"We are excited to team up with Shape and Men's Fitness magazine for the fourth 'Mind/Body Cruise' which provides guests the opportunity to experience creative fitness classes and learn about new and different ways to improve their fitness levels, all in a fun relaxing environment," said Bob Dickinson, Carnival president and CEO.

"It's easy to understand why consumers today would want a vacation that allows them to feel good while having a good time," said John Balen, Promotion Director for Shape and Men's Fitness. "We are thrilled to partner with Carnival once again to continue to provide this unique health and wellness program that brings the magazine pages to life."

Classes and other programming for the "Mind/Body Cruise" will be conducted by leading experts who will also be on hand for personal, one-on-one consultations and Q&A sessions. Participating experts include:

Jacqui Stafford- Recognized as a leading authority on beauty, style and fashion, Stafford is an executive director at Shape magazine where she writes a monthly fashion column and has made countless TV appearances on such shows as NBC's "Today" show, ABC's "The View" and "The Tyra Banks Show."

Teri Hanson- a personal trainer and group fitness instructor for more than 20 years, Hanson is assistant fitness editor for Weider Publications, contributing to such magazines as "Shape," "Natural Health" and "Fit Pregnancy." She is also the star of Shape's soon-to-be released Yoga DVD "Long Lean and Strong."

Jon Giswold- is best known for his work in the country's most prominent fitness clubs. He currently teaches group exercise classes at Reebok/Sports Club New York and other locations.

Jeffrey Scott- A Reebok University global master trainer and an international fitness presenter, Scott is known for his creative choreography and a strong athletic influence. He has starred in more than 20 fitness videos and has made numerous television appearances including NBC's "Today" show.

Kent and Maria Burden- Authors of the award-winning book, "Yin Yang Fitness: The Whole Package of Health" and creators of a series of mind and body DVDs, the Burdens have made numerous appearances on television programs both in the U.S. and U.K.

Misty Tripoli- Tripoli is a Nike Elite Instructor and one of the world's most innovative and engaging fitness instructors, dance choreographers and personal trainers. She is known for her revolutionary and energetic fitness classes, and has been featured in several fitness magazines and television programs.

Jim Stoppani, Ph.D. - Stoppani received his doctorate in exercise physiology from the University of Connecticut. He currently serves as senior science editor for Muscle & Fitness, Muscle & Fitness Hers and Flex magazine.

Carnival is currently accepting reservations for the upcoming "Mind/Body Cruise" aboard Carnival Conquest. Prices begin at $659 per person based on double occupancy and include all "Mind/Body Cruise" activities.

Participants must reference fare code CSSH when making the reservation.

For additional information and reservations, contact any travel agent, call 1-800-CARNIVAL or visit carnival.com

I had never heard of Pilates until I was up late one night several years ago unable to sleep and began watching infomercials. On came the famous Daisy Fuentes endorsed Winsor Pilates. It looked easy enough and was much different from the exercise routines I was following at the time that were rendering little results, so I hopped online and ordered the complete Winsor Pilates set of DVD’s.

Much to my surprise, Pilates was not as easy as it seemed on the infomercial at 2am, in fact it was pretty challenging. However the thing I noticed most was that it worked my entire body and left me energized afterwards (and a little sore). After two weeks I noticed that each move was easier to do and soon enough I dropped 10 pounds and the tone to my muscles had a leaner appearance.

Some of the great benefits of Pilates are:

* Gives more support to your spine and creates more mobility.
* It puts no stress on your joints, doesn’t wear down the ligaments and cartilage around your    joints and never overstresses your muscles.
* You only need to do Pilates 3x a week consistently to see results.
* Promotes better balance and better coordination.
* Improves your mental outlook and creates a feeling of calmness, balance and rejuvenation.
* Builds strength without bulking up.

Dieting is something all of us have done at one point or another in our lives, or at least something we have thought about doing. However, many diets fail and for a variety of reasons. Many times it is the human factor, which includes eating to satiate a need, a love and overabundance of certain foods, or the inability to understand portion control. Other times it is the diet program we choose, which might alienate a specific food group, have super strict guidelines or just don’t fit into our lifestyle.

Some of the top reasons that diets, especially “trend” diets fail are:

* Diets deprive us creating a battle of “will power.” Many diets involve eliminating certain foods or even whole food groups. This is not only unhealthy but also unrealistic for the long term.
* Diets often don't fit into our day-to-day lives. Weighing, measuring food and counting points may help you lose weight, but aren't practical as long-term strategies for most people.
* Diets can be costly. Buying special foods or into special diet programs can rack up a big bill quickly. When the money runs out, it may lead you to quitting the program.
* Diets can actually lower your metabolism. When you drastically cut back on calories, your metabolism tends to slow down and goes into “starvation mode.” If your body feels it is at risk for starving, it will burn calories slower and store fat as a way to protect itself.
* Diet only plays a small part in weight loss. Long term weight loss and management is not just about what you eat, it requires incorporating exercise into your daily life, as well. Experts recommend 60-90 minutes a day most days of the week.

Many times we gain weight for one reason or another and feel that dieting is a quick fix. Many times we do lose the weight, but often gain back the pounds within the next few years because we did not utilize dieting as a lifestyle change or even look deeper into why we were overeating in the first place. If you eat when you are depressed, stressed or for comfort, those issues will still arise—dieting or not. It’s best to deal with those issues head on so that you use different healthy coping skills when the need to fill a void arises, otherwise you will continue to fall back on what is most comfortable and easy for you.

Creating a lifestyle modification that leads to permanent changes in eating habits and exercise are what will make your ability to lose weight and keep it off a success. Diets are simply a temporary fix to a long-term problem. Some of the ways you can be successful at losing weight are:

Oftentimes when we are ready to take the plunge into a fitness program, we forget the basic do's and don'ts to working out. Below are some simple tips to keep in mind, as put together by Penn State University:

DO Start Off Moderately
Work your way into a routine. Going overboard after a long respite from exercise may result in injury, or at least disappointment. Your workout shouldn't do either, so build up from a moderate beginning.

DON'T Over-Exercise
For maximum benefit at minimum injury risk, the body needs to rest and recover. At least a 24-hour rest after heavy muscle strain is advised. Stagger workouts between heavy and light strain. For example, you can alternate a weight training routine with biking.

DO Warm Up and Cool Down
A low-impact warm-up before any exercise is essential. It warms the muscles, makes them more limber and easier to stretch, which results in a better workout. It also helps to prevent injury. Cooling down after exercising is also important as it relaxes the muscles, lowers the heart rate, and helps the body to recover from the stress of a workout. It'll make you feel better immediately after the workout, and the next morning.

DO Stretch
Flexibility is one of the most important factors of fitness. Stretching before, during and after a workout will result in better performance, good posture, fewer injuries, and overall better fitness.

DON'T Push an Injury
Listen to your body. If you feel pain, stop. Muscle and joint pain can mean many things -- pushing a small hurt can lead to big problems later on. If pain persists more than a few days, see a doctor.

DO Consult a Trainer
If you belong to a gym, you may have the opportunity to consult a certified trainer. He or she can help you craft a reasonable workout plan, tailored for your goals. A trainer can also teach proper form with exercise equipment. Even if you are experienced, bad habits can be developed.

DON'T Get Bored
Don't get bored with your workout. New exercises can break the monotony, and the excitement of perfecting new skills can help motivate. Since different exercises work different parts of the body, a diverse workout will aid overall fitness.

DO Find a Workout Partner
If motivation is your problem, a workout partner might be the solution. A partner can motivate you to workout when you normally might not, and can help improve your workout by watching form, encouraging extra effort, and pacing. Try to pick a partner with abilities equal to your own.

DON'T Lose Concentration
Preoccupation with outside situations can counteract the benefits of a workout. For example, you might decrease intensity as you lose concentration. And not paying attention to a workout can lead to sloppy style and potential injury. Instead, use the time to concentrate on proper form and control. It will lead to a better workout, greater benefits, and a more relaxing experience.

DO Watch What You Eat
Diet is just as much a part of fitness as exercise, and what you eat will affect every aspect of your workout. A proper diet also influences the results of you fitness plan, since it helps build muscle and decrease the percentage of fat in your overall body weight.

DON'T Dehydrate Yourself
When exercising, the body needs four to eight ounces of water every 20 minutes to replace water loss. If you become thirsty during a workout, you've already passed out of a "safe" stage of hydration. Take fluids immediately. If you are working out for more than an hour, you may want to consider sports drinks, as the extra carbohydrates help retain body water. But try them out first, as not all work, and some may cause unwanted reactions. Always avoid caffeine or alcohol when exercising, both of which further dehydrate your body.

DO Have Fun!
The benefits to working out don't pay off if you don't enjoy yourself. This isn't an excuse for not exercising, as it's still vital to your health. But finding a workout that you enjoy will make the difference when setting a workout schedule that will stick.

January 1st is the big day we all make that fitness pledge, "A new year, a new you." Thanksgiving through New Year's Eve we forgive ourselves from the over eating and over indulgence and promise ou bodies we'll make amends on the first day of the new year. So when I came across Fitness Journal's, "Reverse New Year's Challenge," I was intrigued.

What exactly is a reverse New Year's challenge? It's when you make your New Year's resolution to be in shape by January 1st not on it. That's a pretty tough challenge considering all of the holiday parties you'll be attending this month whose hostesses are most likely not thinking about your waistline. This is the time of year for fruit cakes, baklava, cookies and other fattening treats, not to mention the high carb alcohol that's likely to be making appearances at festivities everywhere.

However, I think the idea is genius. What a great way to really test your will power and be ahead of everyone else come New Year's Day. You'll no longer sound so cliche making the same promises as millions of other people, resolving to exercise more and eat healthier. In fact, I'm sure you'll raise a few eyebrows when complimented on how great you look as you proudly tell them it's due to your reverse New Year's resolution. Imagine having the figure you want now and not waiting to get started weeks from now?

I think it's a pretty interesting concept, but will it catch on? We'd love to here what you think in the comments.

Cycling enthusiasts everywhere are awaiting Garmin's newest line of fitness tracking computers, Edge. Catering uniquely to both recreational and competitive cyclists, these handy little GPS-enabled devices will quickly become your personal trainer, helping you to achieve optimum results from your cycling routine.

The Edge has four devices to choose from Edge 205 and 605 for recreational cyclists and Edge 305 and 705 for competitive cyclists. Regardless of the Edge device you choose, it is sure to bring you to the next level assisting you to achieve your personal best each time you head out on your bike.

Edge 205 ($269): Attaches to the handlebars of your bike, GPS-enabled, automatically measures your speed, distance, time, calories burned and altitude, and records this data for your review.

Edge 605 ($430): Built in basemap and microSD card slot for adding map detail and storing workouts, courses and saved rides. Add preloaded street map data with MapSource City Navigator and get turn-by-turn directions on a sunlight-readable, color display. Edge 605 also automatically measures your speed, distance, time, calories burned and altitude.

Edge 305 ($379): This GPS-enabled device automatically measures your speed, distance, time, calories burned, altitude, climb and descent with barometric altimeter to pinpoint changes in elevation, and records this data for your review.

Edge 705 ($541-$709): This device comes in 3 versions: With heart rate; with heart rate, speed and cadence; and with heart rate, speed/cadence and data card with street maps. The built in receiver is strong enough to receive and hold a satelite signal under trees and near tall buildings. It also automatically measures your speed, distance, time, calories burned, altitude, climb and descent, pin-points a change in elevation and records this data for your review.

All four Garmin Edge devices mentioned above will be available in January 2008; see the Garmin website for further details on each product.