This past September subway billboards was the media of choice in a highly aggressive campaign warning against the danger of sugary drinks; a major factor in our current obesity epidemic.

This time around the New York City Health Department is utilizing YouTube for its anti-obesity campaign.

Love them or hate them, these campaigns definitely stir up emotion as can be seen from the hundreds of comments rolling in across the web and social media. Comments range from “It got me…I’ll? never drink soda again. ” to “Nothing like spending millions of tax dollars on this silliness.”

[Sources: YouTube and NY Daily News.com, respectively]

Some folks believe that shock-advertising grabs your attention and makes you think, while others believe it can be downright insulting.

What’s your opinion?

Train hard; stay strong.

Susan

Yet another friend of mine fell victim to the flu this week.

The good news is that according to the Center for Disease Control (CDC) during the week of November 22-28, 2009, influenza activity continued to decrease in the U.S.

Hopefully we’ll see an end to this years flu season sooner rather than later.

In the meantime, go to the store, buy yourself a bag of apples and start munching! Yes,and apple a day may actually keep the doctor away as apples are a great source of quercetin, a flavanoid that may help to protect the body against influenza. It is chemically related to resveratrol, a compound that has also been shown to have some antiviral benefits in laboratory studies.

Other benefits of quercetin include reducing high blood pressure, minimizing the risk of heart disease and potentially minimizing the risk of developing some forms of cancer.

In addition to apples, good sources of quercetin include onions, raspberries and green and black tea.

Train hard; stay strong; stay healthy!

Peace.

Susan

I have always really struggled to keep up with my fitness goals when it comes to the month of December. Not only is there all of the holiday hoopla going on, but my birthday also falls in December so the month feels like one long party.

We all know that our schedules are going to be hectic this time of year. We’re shopping, cooking, visiting with family and friends and joining in the holiday cheer.

With all of those other activities it’s easy to find yourself missing a workout or two (or three, or four) along the way. Guess what? The more workouts you miss, the more pounds you are likely to pack on.

Staying on top of your training routine will take some planning and serious time management skills.

What works for me is keeping a printed calendar of all of my workouts for the month. I actually plan the time of day I will be working out and jot that on the calendar so that I can make certain not to schedule a conflicting event.

It’s important to be detailed. ‘Winging’ it is when we get ourselves in to trouble – especially this month when there never seems to be enough time in the day to get everything done.

What are your tips for staying on track with your fitness goals during the holidays?

Train hard; stay strong.

Peace.

Susan

Happy December everyone!

Did you see those lines at the mall this past weekend? Crazy. I honestly have never been a post-Thanksgiving weekend shopper and for the past few years I’ve done about 90% of my holiday shopping online. Over the next couple of weeks most of my shopping will take place over my morning cup of coffee or after 11 pm and my holiday gifts will arrive (many beautifully gift-wrapped) at my doorstep.

On that note, I thought I would share some of my best buy/low cost gifts I’m handing out this holiday season to my fitness friends. My goal – finding real value for not alot of money!

In no particular order …

The Gymboss Interval Timer. No kidding, I think this gadget is just an incredible value for the money. Cost – $19.95 + shipping (shipping is under $3 per order). You can check out the full review I wrote on the Gymboss HERE.

Jillian Michaels – 30 Day Shred. I was kind of surprised to see this on my list, but here it is! I’ve given out a bunch of the 30-Day Shred DVDs over the past year to family and friends. At $9.49 the price can’t be beat to have Jillian Michaels whip you in to shape. And yes, I personally go back to this particular workout several times over the course of the year.

A Turbulence Training Workout. I say it time and time again. To gain the most benefit from a workout you have to have a plan. The individual Turbulence Training workouts are a great way to get family and friends on the right path come January 1, and at $9.95 apiece (no shipping fee since it’s a digital download!), you can get them workouts for both January and February and still be under $20.

A Foam Roller. Myofascial release not only helps to limit injury but it has an incredibly positive impact on recovering from workouts. Any fitness buff from cycling enthusiasts to powerlifters can benefit from the use of a foam roller and the $19.95 price tag is a heck of alot cheaper than a visit to a massage therapist!

A Jump Rope. There’s a reason why jumping rope is a staple in every boxer’s conditioning program – it works! You can find a good jump rope for well under $10 (the Valeo Deluxe Speed Rope I’m linking to costs $6.30) and there is no better conditioning tool for the money. Another bonus, you can pack it up and take it with you anywhere you go.

Items such as the Jump Rope, Foam Roller and the 30 Day Shred DVD are all available from Amazon.com and eligible for Free Super Saver Shipping. If you have at least $25 of eligible items in your shopping cart when checking out, shipping is free so no harm, no foul in not fighting the crowds at the mall

What did I miss? There’s still plenty of shopping days to go and cyber-space is open 24/7! What fitness gifts will you be buying for family and friends this holiday season?

Train hard; stay strong.

Peace.

Susan