FitSugar

COOL News! Food Labeling Law Goes Into Effect

FitSugar — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 12:00:00 -0700

Do you know where your avocado is from? That question is easier to answer now as the new food labeling law goes into effect this week. The so-called COOL law requires producers of fresh meats, many fruits and vegetables, and assorted other products to state clearly on packages where the food originates.

As part of the Obama administration's efforts to improve food safety, labels on meat products will even state where the animal was born, raised, and slaughtered. However, the law doesn't apply to many foods that are considered "processed," including roasted nuts, bacon, breaded chicken, and bags of veggies containing more than one variety.

Still, the COOL indicator will help us know if produce hails from a place where food safety has come into question, such as when we were told to avoid hot peppers from Mexico and certain states' tomatoes amid last year's salmonella outbreaks. I hope it's just the first step in revamping our faulty food-safety system. Are you looking forward to seeing the new labels?

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Cool or NOT Cool?

FitSugar — Sun, 17 Jun 2007 02:30:00 -0700

I recently took a trip to Canada to see the Body Worlds exhibit (a MUST see by the way), and happened to notice that they have these really bold messages on their cigarette packs. I've never seen anything like them! They're really graphic warnings meant to discourage people from smoking, and get this - they're government-funded!

These warnings aren't just on one brand of cigarettes - they're on EVERY brand. The government is hoping to encourage smokers to quit smoking. Here are some of the warnings:

Over the Counter Alli: Cool or Not?

FitSugar — Thu, 17 May 2007 04:00:00 -0700

Do you guys remember me telling you about Alli the first OTC Diet pill approved by the FDA? The one that causes anal leakage? Remember?

Personally, I was hoping it would never really happen, but it has been announced the pills will go on sale on June 15th, 2007 at drugstores nationwide. I am curious if I am the only one that thinks the FDA should focus a little more on tainted foods hitting shelves in grocery stores than giving us another reason not to exercise and eat healthy. Oh wait; Alli claims that it’s only for you if you can commit to eating more sensibly and getting more physically active. Why can't we commit to doing that without anal leakage? Maybe I am a cynic, but what do you guys think about it?

Athleta Yoga Jeans: Cool or Not?

FitSugar — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 13:30:41 -0800

Sporty and causal clothes retailer Athleta usually hits the fashion mark, but I am not sure about the Bettona Bermuda, now $35 marked down from $54. Styled to look like jeans, rivets and all, these long shorts are intended for yoga practice. Made from stretchy fabric to ease into yoga poses, these shorts even have a faux fly. While I am fine, with black cotton leggings for my practice I wonder what you all think.

Share tales of your favorite yoga gear in the Yoga Stretch and Tell group.

If You Want to Graduate, Lose the Weight: Cool or Not?

FitSugar — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 11:30:12 -0800

After years of midterms, finals, and all-nighters, a group of students at Lincoln University in Pennsylvania are being told they are too fat to graduate. The private college's core curriculum states that students must have a body mass index (BMI) that falls below 30 to graduate. If not, they must take steps to lose the weight by enrolling in a physical education class that meets three times a week for one semester - a requirement that has been part of the school's curriculum for the last three years.

While some students are upset over the school's judgment call on their weight and say it's discriminatory, school officials say that "no student should ever be able to leave Lincoln and not know the risks of obesity." Because Lincoln University is a private college, it is wholly within its rights to develop its curriculum in this manner.

What do you think of Lincoln University's policy?

Ziploc 100-Calorie Snack Bags: Cool or Not?

FitSugar — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 12:00:31 -0800

I was over at my friend's house and saw a case of Ziploc snack bags in her kitchen. They're sort of like regular plastic sandwich bags, except about half the size. I asked her what the deal was with her bulk buy and she said that she couldn't resist after seeing "Perfect For 100 Calorie Snacks" scrawled across the box. Prior to this my friend had never touched a snack bag in her life.

100 calorie snack packs of chips and cookies are big sellers in stores, but a lot of these offerings are empty carbs. My friend says these bags are a great way for her to pack her own healthy snacks while adhering to portion control. I'm not sure I buy it, though. She could opt for reusable containers that are way less wasteful than these bags, and many 100-calorie snacks wouldn't even fit in these hacked versions of sandwich bags.

Ziploc got it right though, and has positioned itself nicely within the 100-calorie snack market. What do you think of the Ziploc snack bags - a waste of money, or a successful tool for portion control?

In Cooler Temps, Do You Prefer Indoor or Outdoor Workouts?

FitSugar — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 03:47:10 -0800

Now that the weather is changing and getting much chillier, some of us may be moving our workouts indoors, while others may love to sweat it out in the cool temps. Which do you prefer?

5 Things: The Cool Down

FitSugar — Mon, 01 Oct 2007 08:30:00 -0700

The post-workout cool down is just as important as the pre-workout warm up, but many of us skip it - especially if we are short on time. Read the following five things and hopefully they will inspire you to make the time.

Cool down by walking or jogging for five to ten minutes. This slowing down helps to cool your body temperature and allows the body to remove the waste products from muscles that were worked.
Stretching is an essential component of the cool down. Not only does stretching muscles post workout help increase the range of motion of your joints, but it also continues the cooling down of your hot body.
The cool down helps prevent delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS), the nemesis of fitness freaks. Post-workout pain often discourages fitness newbies and they lose their drive. So if you are new to the fitness world, don't cut your cool down short.
Cooling down decreases your chances of fainting in the locker room. Abruptly ending a cardio workout can cause blood to pool in your extremities leaving you dizzy and light headed or causing you to faint. It also helps your heart rate gradually return to normal.
A cool down helps you end on a calm note by decreasing the adrenaline in your blood stream.

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Cool Weather Tip: Warm Up and Cool Down

FitSugar — Thu, 11 Oct 2007 14:30:00 -0700

Temperatures are cooling down, and if you work out outside, you are going to need to lengthen your warm up time. It seems obvious, but our muscles and joints take more time to warm up in the cooler weather.

So you need to factor in the temperature when warming up. The cooler the weather, the longer the warm up. Especially if you are running in the morning and it is cold, add at least five minutes to your warm up pace before kicking into high gear. Also, save intervals for the latter part of a run to decrease your chance of pulling a muscle.

Also, since it is cool outside you may not feel the need to cool down, but I am here to remind you not to skip this important part of your workout. You need to give your heart time to slowly lower. You should pay attention to your heart rate, not your body temperature. You are cooled down when your heart rate and breathing rate have returned to normal.

Want to know more about the importance of the cool down? Then be sure to check out 5 Things: The Cool Down.

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Beat the Heat: Cooling Foods

FitSugar — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 08:00:55 -0700

As temperatures rise, you can always try noshing on some foods to help you keep your cool. Along with heat and humidity, Summer brings an abundance of fruits and veggies considered cooling foods.

While working toward meeting your five daily servings of produce, try these foods to help you beat the heat from the inside out.

cucumbers
celery
broccoli
lettuces
radishes
melons
mint tea (try it iced and mixed with lemonade)
grilled fish

Smoothies and cool soups like gazpacho are also great to beat the heat.