Snack Time

I usually eat what I want and when I want.  That is very easy to do during the school year with all the treats that are dumped off in the teacher's lounge.  Usually these consist of cake, cookies, chips, donuts.....lots of foods that contain high fructose corn syrup.  So why is high fructose corn syrup bad for you and what types of snacks will eliminate this from your diet?

High fructose corn syrup (HFCS) is not a natural sweetener, like fruits which are naturally sweet.  It is injected into our foods in very high doses. It has been linked to problems with obesity, liver damage, diabetes, and may contribute to tumor growth.  High doses of mercury have been found in foods with HFCS which can interfere with the brain or nervous system.  One of the most interesting findings about HFCS was that when it is consumed it can actually alter your brain's ability to memorize and learn new information.  Not good if you are working on your graduate degree, like me!

Avoiding HFCS is not easy because so many of our processed foods contain it.  I was surprised by the amount of foods I was eating that contain HFCS!  Health is about having long term goals for myself and not just about losing weight.  I have provided a list of foods to avoid snacking on that contain HFCS and that do not contain HFCS.  Check out the links below for more information.

Good Snacks to Try

1. Vegetables
2. Fruits
3. Canned fruit (check the label first)
4. Meats
5. Nuts and Seeds
6. Some breads (Pepperidge Farm wheat)
7. Goldfish crackers
8. Cheerios
9. Kashi
10. Triscuits
11. Peanut Butter (check the label first)
12. Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream (avoid ones that add bits of candy)
13. Nesquick Chocolate Syrup
14. Maple Syrup
15. Special K Waffles

Snacks to Avoid

1. Some lunchmeats (check the label first)
2. BBQ Sauce and Ketchup (unless it says organic)
3. Honey Mustard (although regular mustard does not have HFCS)
4. Pancake Syrup
5. Most soda pop
6. Pickles
7. Breakfast cereals and bars
8. Processed snacks.

6 Popular Foods with High-Fructose Corn Syrup
7 Alarming Reasons to Avoid High-Fructose Corn Syrup
List of Foods With No HFCS
List of Products With No HFCS

Golfing: Stressful or Stress Free

I have lived on the golf course a year and a half and have barely made an appearance on the course.  I always watch the golfers walking by and swinging their clubs, sending the ball soaring over the tree tops and eventually coming to rest on the fairway.  Easy, right?  I invited my friend, Josh, who just got a new set of clubs to come golfing with me and my son, Caleb.  We went and took some practice swings on the driving range and set out for hole one.  Josh said that I spent more time in the sand than David Hasselhoff on BayWatch.  Very funny...  I managed to send the sand flying further than the ball.  Frustrated, I decided to go to an expert for some online golf help from Joe Beck.  He makes it seem so easy!  Golf, when played with the right friend, can be stress free and fun as long as everyone remembers it is just a game.  The only stressful part was spending so much time in the sand. 

Namaste

I tried something I have never really showed interest in.  YOGA.  I hate stretching.  I refuse to stretch before I run and I avoid stretching routines when I teach Jazzercise class.  A friend invited me to go with her so I decided to give it a shot.  Downward dog, cobra, pigeon poses...is this exercise or a zoo.  We started off with a lot of breathing. Inhale. Exhale. Inhale. Exhale. Ok, you get it, right.  Then we went right into some downward dog work to stretch out our legs. Plank, in, out, up, downward dog.  Repeat over and over.  My unstretched body was starting to feel things it had never felt before.  Then off the floor into SUPER hard lunges and warrior poses.  Push those hips down is what I heard again and again form the instructor who was surprisingly a mix of zen and drill sergeant.  The end was beautiful.  Inhale your mind and heart, exhale your stress and negativity.  Keep your palms up on the floor so they can soak in the good energy.  Felt amazingly peaceful after this experience.  We all said namaste at the end of the class. I looked up this ancient Hindu word and here is the beautiful message that I found. 

 
www.healing.about.com

Shoe Shopping

It was time to buy a new pair of running shoes.  I knew it was time because my big toe joints were cramping up after I would run.  I was limping around the house and was worried about the 10K that I was running in just THREE days.  I asked an avid runner, Joseph, to come along with me to pick out my new pair of running shoes.  I was currently wearing a cute pair of Saucony shoes that has served their time very well.  They were light on my feet and a beautiful pink and orange color that always received compliments.  I tried on several pairs of Asics based on the advice from Joseph.  

 

This is the Gel DS Trainer.  This shoe was very comfortable and hugged my heel correctly.  It just felt a little to heavy to run in.  That is why I liked my Saucony's, because they were light and airy when I ran.  Even though this shoe would last a long time I decided to move on to the next shoe.

 
Meet the Gel Noosa Tri 8.  This shoe is designed for triathlon athletes so it is light. Almost an ounce lighter than the Gel DS Trainer even!  It is very breathable and even glow in the dark for those night runs I guess.  I wore my new shoes to the 10K and came in 4th place.  Guess they are a winner!  And I owe Joe for his assistance. 

Here is the Asics page to compare the shoes.  Happy Shopping! 

It isn't easy...

Fit to Be Healthy is a place for me to organize all of the information that I find about being healthy-mind, soul, and body.  I currently teach Jazzercise classes and run outside, but don't focus a lot on other ways to be healthy.  This would include healthy recipes, mind and body exercises, motivational quotes, and anything that could make you happier and healthier.  This is a spot for me to organize and share information about my personal journey to being healthier.