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July 2007 - Posts
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Yesterday I provided some background on how the American Cancer Society and how the organization fights cancer – through research, education, service and advocacy. Today I thought I would provide some background on the disease itself. Prevalence of the Disease: Did you know that cancer is the second leading cause of death in the U.S. behind heart disease? According to statistics published by the American Cancer Society, in 2007 roughly 1.44 million people will be diagnosed with cancer. And as unfortunate...
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Just a quick reminder about the Live Chat, next Tuesday August 7 at 3pm Eastern to discuss Mindless Eating- Why We Eat More Than We Think. There's still time to read the book and join the discussion. When you participate in the Live Chat, you'll be entered into a random drawing and 5 lucky winners will receive a $20 gift certificate to Wholefoods.
See you all next week !
PS: The official Sweepstakes rules are attached.
Dell- a Lumen
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Every two weeks throughout Ignite-A-Thon we’ll be focusing on one of the six charities to which Ignite is donating $20,000. And the first charity that we will be spotlighting is the American Cancer Society . The work the American Cancer Society conducts is very personal to me. I recently lost my father to cancer and my mother is currently battling the disease. Over the next two weeks I’ll talk more about my personal ties to the fight against cancer, but first I thought it would be helpful to provide...
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Every two weeks throughout Ignite-A-Thon we’ll be focusing on one of the six charities to which Ignite is donating $20,000. And the first charity that we will be spotlighting is the American Cancer Society . The work the American Cancer Society conducts is very personal to me. I recently lost my father to cancer and my mother is currently battling the disease. Over the next two weeks I’ll talk more about my personal ties to the fight against cancer, but first I thought it would be helpful to provide...
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With all the scandal going on in the news (Lindsay Lohan’s multiple DUIs, Michael Vick’s dogfighting allegations, and the leader of the Tour De France getting ousted), it’s hard to believe that celebrities do anything worthwhile anymore. They seem to just make money and get busted by the cops.
But in doing some research, I found that many celebrities do a lot of good – by giving away large amounts to charity. The Giving Back Fund, a national public charity, compiled List of Largest Charitable Donations by Celebrities in 2006. I was really interested to see who the top donors were so I included the Top 11 below. The #1 donor wasn’t too surprising but the others I didn’t expect.
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Ranking |
Donor |
Amount
Donated or
Pledged |
Recipients |
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1 |
Oprah Winfrey |
$58,300,000 |
Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy, Oprah's Angel Network, and other groups |
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2 |
Geoffrey Beene |
$44,000,000
(bequest) |
Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center |
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3 |
Jack and Marie
Lord |
$40,000,000
(bequest) |
Hawaii Community Foundation |
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4 |
Barbra Streisand |
$11,750,000 |
Barbra Streisand Foundation, numerous civil liberties, environmental, and civil
rights organizations "dedicated to democratic values" |
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5 |
Tiger Woods |
$9,500,000 |
Tiger Woods Learning Center, Earl D. Woods Sr. Scholarship Fund, and other
Tiger Woods Foundation programs |
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6 |
Rosie O'Donnell |
$5,700,000 |
Katrina Relief efforts including Renaissance Village (a temporary shelter for Katrina victims), day care centers, a rehabilitation center in San Antonio, and a Habitat for Humanity sub division in Baton Rouge |
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7 |
Martha Stewart |
$5,000,000 |
New York's Mt. Sinai Hospital for a center on healthy aging |
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8 |
Carmelo Anthony |
$4,282,000 |
CAF Youth Center in Baltimore, AAU Basketball, Syracuse University
Recreational Center, and other charities |
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9 |
Pat and Shirley
Boone |
$3,000,000 |
Pepperdine University for the Graduate School of Education and Psychology
Center for the Family |
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10 |
LeRoy Neiman |
$3,000,000 |
The School of the Art Institute of Chicago to support a Master's class in figure drawing |
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11 |
Angelina Jolie
and Brad Pitt |
$2,415,000 |
School and Community Center in Swakopmund in Namibia, Daniel Pearl Foundation, Namibian hospitals, Doctors without Borders, Global Action for Children and others |
CLICK HERE to view the full list.
Justin – A Lumen
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We know that regular soda is bad for you, but did you know that diet soda may not be any better? A recent study by Dr. Vasan Ramachandran (Boston University School of Medicine) found that people who drank one or more diet sodas each day developed the same risks for heart disease as those who drank regular soda. When compared to people who drank sodas infrequently, the study found that people who drank one or more sodas a day – diet or regular – had an increased risk of “metabolic syndrome.” Metabolic...
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Don't forget to join the Ignite Live Chat with registered dietitian and certified personal trainer, Rebecca Mohning -- Tuesday, July 31 at 3:00 p.m. ET. You can ask any of your fitness questions live -- like how to get started with a new fitness routine, how to cross train and what foods you should eat to maximize your success. You can even just join to see what others are asking and the advice she's sharing. And it's free to all Ignite users.
To participate in the Live Chat, visit Ignite on Tuesday, July 31 at 3:00 p.m. ET and sign in to Ignite. Then, on the home page, click on the Live Chat button (top right corner).
And best of all, you might win a prize. Every Ignite user who posts a comment or question during the Live Chat will be entered into a Sweepstakes Drawing for one of five $20 gift cards to Sports Authority (see attached rules below).
Hope to see you there!
Kerry (a Lumen)
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Endurance events last over one hour and after the first hour of training, nutrition plays a vital role in sustaining energy levels. Here are the important guidelines for proper fueling before, during, and after training.
Before
Pre-exercise nutrition for an endurance event should include a meal of 300-400 calories. In the meal include mainly carbohydrate with moderate protein and minimal fat. Examples would include a bagel with peanut butter, cereal and skim milk with fruit, or a banana with fat-free yogurt and whole wheat toast.
During
Fuel needs during training include carbohydrate, electrolyte, and fluid replacement. The time to start replenishing is after the first 60 minutes of continuous training. After the first hour make sure to consume 8 oz of electrolyte replacement fluid every 15 minutes and roughly 65 grams of carbohydrate per hour. Electrolyte replacement beverages such as Gatorade also contain carbohydrates for energy as well as sodium and potassium to replace electrolytes lost in sweat. Do not rely just on water for fluid replacement – after 60 minutes of continuous exercise the needed electrolytes are not going to be supplied in the water. Other carbohydrate foods to include during exercise include energy gels and/or fruit. Make sure to try different carbohydrate snacks and drinks to find out what works best; not everything works the same for each person.
 
After
Recovery nutrition should include protein, carbohydrate, and fluids within the first hour after exercise. Muscles more efficiently utilize protein and carbohydrate within the first hour post exercise. Some good recovery foods include smoothies, chocolate milk, a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, or chicken noodle soup.
Remember to properly fuel your body all day long throughout the week to maximize energy levels and performance.
Rebecca
Rebecca Mohning M.S., R.D., L.D. is a registered dietitian and a certified personal trainer. She received her Bachelor’s degree in dietetics and her graduate degree in exercise and sports science from Iowa State University. She also has a personal training certification from the American College of Sports Medicine. Rebecca currently has her own private nutrition and fitness consulting business is the Washington DC area.
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Don't miss our upcoming Live Chat with Rebecca Mohning, registered dietitian and certified personal trainer. She'll be answering questions on how to prepare for any kind of fitness activity. And it's free and right here on Ignite! Want to know the best foods to eat before an event? Interested in specific types of exercise or other training tips for outdoor sports? Rebecca will be answering your questions online beginning at 3:00 p.m. ET on Tuesday, July 31 . And, if you are participating in Ignite...
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"The best diet is the one you don't know you're on". This is the basic theme of the book, Mindless Eating: Why We Eat More than we Think. In the book, Dr. Wansink gives us tips on how to cut about 200 calories per day, which over time, adds up to a few pounds per year. Eliminating 140 calories per day, which is about one regular soda, adds up to losing 14 pounds in a year. The whole idea is to reduce just a little bit per day, so that we don't notice or feel deprived. Throughout the book, Dr. Wansink offers these tips to help us shave off those few hundred calories each day:
- Dish out 20% less than you think you want. You probably won't notice that missing 20% at all.
- Increase your veggies by 20% per day
- Make sure you see everything you eat. You'll tend to eat less if you make sure you view all the food you are eating before you eat it. Don't eat directly out of the box or other container- make sure you use a plate, bowl or cup for what you consume.
- Design your tablescape to your advantage. Use smaller serving bowls, glasses and plates.
- During your meal, leave the serving dishes in the kitchen, not at the table. "De-convenience" tempting foods by putting them out of view.
- Be aware of your eating scripts, and redesign them. Distract yourself before you snack.
- Don't deprive yourself of comfort foods, just reduce the amount you allow yourself to have.
- Fill your plate up with half vegetables, 1/4 protein and 1/4 starch.
- When it comes to fast food, don't supersize. Get the smallest amount you can and enjoy it.
These tips seem to make sense to me - which ones might you be willing to adopt in order to eat more mindfully ?
We will be hosting a Live Chat to discuss Mindless Eating on Tuesday, August 7th at 3pm Eastern. Hope to see you all then !
Dell- A Lumen
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First, thank you to those of you who signed up for Ignite-A-Thon last week. As you all know we recently launched our new program -- Ignite-A-Thon. It's a way for you to earn additional money for nationally recognized health-related causes — while you have fun, get fit and share the experience with other Ignite users. We've selected six organizations that will be part of this program and will receive a donation on your behalf. All you have to do is sign up for an event held by these organizations between now and November 12.
Some of you have asked why we focused on just six organizations. Two reasons - one is that they represent a wide range of health-related issues that affect millions of Americans. Two, is that they all have local events in many communities around the country so nearly every Ignite user can find an eligible event close to their home. It's important to remember that signing up for Ignite-A-Thon is not enough. Make sure you first register for your local event before you sign up for Ignite-A-Thon.
What can you expect during the program?
Since Ignite is all about the community, we want to support Ignite-A-Thon participants all the way through to the finish line. We'll be looking to Ignite users and Ignite-A-Thon participants to join in and support all of you who are making a difference in your communities. To start, you can begin by sharing your thoughts on health-based causes that you are passionate about. We have a Channel dedicated to Ignite-A-Thon where you can share your input with others. At the end of the program, we'll ask each Ignite-A-Thon participant to post a photo of themselves at their event and pick three lucky random winners to receive a $1,000 prize. You don't have to wait until the end though...if your done with your event next week, go ahead and post your picture and you will be in the final drawing in November.
Coming up next week, you'll have the opportunity to chat with Rebecca, who is our registered dietician and nutritionist on Ignite. Rebecca, has been providing valuable insights on Ignite regarding food labels - how to read them and make healthy choices. She's now going to help Ignite-A-Thon participants better understand fitness and nutrition needs as they train for an event. Your first opportunity to chat with Rebecca will be on July 31, at 3 p.m. ET. So bring all your fitness questions and join us next week as we discuss how to get started on a training for your event!
We're just getting started and have many more training tips, prizes and fun activities that are lined up in the next weeks and months. But we need your help to make this happen and to build awareness around these health-related issues. So remember Ignite is your platform to share your ideas and passion around these causes. It's also a place to come to get support and encouragement to reach the finish line.
Reena (A Lumen)
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For this Fun Friday, I thought of two ways to give back to your community and have fun at the same time. The first is to volunteer for a charity that builds homes for the less fortunate. For example, Habitat for Humanity, gathers both volunteers and donations to build affordable new homes for low-income and disaster-stricken families. By volunteering for this worthy cause, you’ll have the ability to make a direct impact on another person or family, learn construction skills for the future, and make some new friends. And Habitat offers volunteer opportunities all across the United States and overseas. The best part is you do not need construction skills to volunteer.
Mentoring a child is another way to give back. Big Brothers Big Sisters is one of many charities that establish relationships between caring adults and children/young adults in need. The goal is that by tutoring a child, teaching them a sport or even taking them to the movies, you can make a positive impact on a child’s development and become a positive role model. Through your support and guidance, a child could build a better future for him or herself. And organizations like Big Brothers Big Sisters can be found in most major cities. Look for one in your area!
Personally, I have never volunteered to build a house or be a mentor to a child. But I would love to hear from someone who has. If you’ve participated in a similar program, please reply and tell us about your experience.
Justin – A Lumen
P.S. Don't forget that Ignite is sparking change in your community this summer through Ignite-A-Thon. Go to the Blogs section to get more details.
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Throughout Ignite-A-Thon we’ll be highlighting current news stories that relate to health, fitness and/or the six charities Ignite is supporting. In some cases the stories we cover will be informative and in others we hope they’ll spur debate. So I set off to find the first news story for this weekly blog. It didn’t take me long before I found a headline that caught my attention – Study predicts 75% overweight in U.S. by 2015 . I found this headline absolutely disturbing and just had to read on....
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If you are getting ready to start an exercise program, be sure to get your doctor’s ok before starting. The next step is to design your exercise program. Here are some things to consider while designing the exercise program: ● Make sure to consider your fitness goals and exercise likes and dislikes. Find exercises you enjoy so you’re more likely to keep doing them. ● Then schedule a time to exercise that works best in your schedule and mark it on the calendar. Finding a time can be tricky so to make...
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When training for an event shorter than one hour, nutrition should be part of your training program. It is a good idea to eat a small snack before the workout even if the workout takes place early in the morning.
Research shows that 15 grams of carbohydrate 30 minutes prior to exercise gives a person 30% more energy for their workout. Simply choose a high carbohydrate snack for less than 100 calories. High levels of protein and fat right before a workout can lead to an upset stomach and low energy for the workout, so avoid high protein shakes and bars. The best snacks prior to a workout include fruit, fruit juice, toast, crackers, or drinkable yogurt. If you have trouble eating in the morning, try the liquid options first.
  
Remember to stay hydrated during your training program. The fluid recommendation is to consume 1-2 cups of water prior to exercise. Don’t forget your water bottle for during and after the workout. For training events less than one hour, sports drinks such as Gatorade are unnecessary since electrolyte depletion is minimal.
After you have completed your exercise be sure to refuel the body. It is recommended to replenish the energy reserves within an hour after the workout for the best utilization of fuel for the muscles. The fuel should include both protein and carbohydrate. The protein repairs muscle tissues that have been torn during the workout and carbohydrate refuels muscle glycogen that has been used for fuel during the workout. Quick ideas for post workout include cereal with fat-free milk, yogurt and fruit, English muffin or toast with egg or peanut butter, or ½ cup cottage cheese with fruit.
Staying properly fueled this training season will lead to great performance. Best wishes to you this training season!
Rebecca
Rebecca Mohning M.S., R.D., L.D. is a registered dietitian and a certified personal trainer. She received her Bachelor’s degree in dietetics and her graduate degree in exercise and sports science from Iowa State University. She also has a personal training certification from the American College of Sports Medicine. Rebecca currently has her own private nutrition and fitness consulting business is the Washington DC area.
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