My good friend, Anne, has a sustainability and environment blog. She wrote this awesome article about genetically modified organisms in our food. Click the link to read about it!
http://sustainablefred.wordpress.com/2013/03/12/non-gmo-project/
Get Fit or Die Trying
A health and fitness blog based out of Fredonia, NY
Monthly Archives: March 2013
Judge throws out NYC’s ban on large sugary drinks
A New York state judge on Monday threw out a ban on large sugary drinks set to go into effect in New York City on Tuesday, calling the new regulation “arbitrary and capricious.”
The new regulation—which would have limited the sale of sugary beverages including nondiet sodas, fruit drinks, sweetened teas and other high-calorie drinks to just 16 ounces—was championed by Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who said Tuesday that the city would immediately appeal the verdict. Bloomberg saw the ban as a way to fight the city’s growing obesity epidemic.
But the American Beverage Association and other business groups representing bars, restaurants and bodegas had sued to stop the new law, arguing, in part, that it would create an uneven playing field for businesses. The law would have been enforced only on establishments regulated by the city’s Health Department, while stores like 7-Eleven, which is regulated as a market by the state of New York, would have been exempt.
In his ruling, New York Supreme Court Justice Milton Tingling agreed with that argument, calling the new regulation “fraught with arbitrary and capricious consequences.
“The simple reading of the rule leads to the earlier acknowledged uneven enforcement even within a particular city block, much less the city as a whole,” Tingling continued. “The loopholes in this rule effectively defeat the stated purpose of the rule.”
At a news conference, Bloomberg called the judge’s ruling “clearly in error.” He likened the city’s fight against obesity by curbing “empty calories to past regulatory hurdles, including the effort to ban lead paint and the fight to save Grand Central station from demolition in the 1970s.
Read the rest of the story here.
http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/ticket/judge-throws-nyc-ban-large-sugary-drinks-193247946–politics.html
What do you think about the ban? Good or bad idea?
Even though I am very much for fitness, I still think it is not a good idea. More an infringement on people’s rights, I think it would do more harm than good. People who love their large, sugary, corn-syrup filled drinks don’t want to be told they can’t do something-and I don’t think they should be forced to stop doing what they want. Let’s work the other way, and give options of other things people can drink as alternatives.
P.S.-Pop or soda?
Spring break beach bod
With spring break quickly approaching, my housemates and I all decided to get in shape for spring break. Though I am just staying home, most of them are headed to the beautiful Clearwater Beach, FL. I decided to talk with them and see what they were doing to get ready.
Firstly, I wanted to get their honest opinion of why they thought it was important to get in shape for spring break. While most of them explained how they wanted to look good on the beach, here are some of their more specific answers. (And yes, I live with three Courtneys.)
Courtney Lusk: It makes you feel self confident, and may also make you want to be living a healthy lifestyle for spring break.
Courtney Battaglia: It’s important to get in shape for spring break so you can eat or drink as much as you want when you’re there.
Sarah Lewandowski: Because you don’t want to be the only whale on the beach.
Thanks in part to the new gym, we have been extra motivated to workout. Here are some of the things my housemates have been doing (in terms of exercise) to get in shape.
SL: Body Sculpting. It’s a class from 9-10 MW and we make exercise programs and workout. I learned how to use the weight machines. With the new fitness center I’ve been trying all the cardio machines.
CB: Since I can’t run anymore because of a hip injury, I had to find other ways to exercise. I tried all the other machines, and I like the AMT machine the best. It’s like an elliptical mixed with a stepper. It’s the running movement but not on the belt.
And since we all know you can’t get into great shape with just exercising, most of them have been changing what they eat. Here is a look at what some of they said they are eating (or not) to get the spring break body they want.
SL: More vegetables and fruit. No more chicken finger subs.
CB: Lots of apples.
Courtney Martinic: I’m not eating fried foods. I cut out chips, and I’m only drinking water.
What are you doing to get your spring break body? Have you changed anything? What new exercises are you trying, what new foods are you eating? Comment below and let us know!
Help me out, vote!
Followers, help me out! I entered in TOMs One for One Giving Trip, and I want to be a winner! If chosen, I get to go on one of TOMs giving trip and actually hand out TOMs to kids who need them! This would be a really great opportunity for me, so I’d appreciate if you’d help me along. All you have to do is vote! Also, if you haven’t ever owned a pair of TOMs shoes, I highly recommend them. Comfortable and breathable, they work in almost (not snow) all seasons, and are great for the outdoors! Here is the link. Thank you guys!!
P.S. I took the above photos!
Weight lifting myths debunked
As a lifelong athlete, I have always incorporated weight-lifting into my regimen. It has made me strong; muscular and toned, defined and powerful. I’m proud of my muscles. In the summer I always had the most defined back muscles and impressive delts. And as a female athlete, I feel no shame. To be muscular is a beautiful thing, so I decided to post this list of common, silly myths that I often hear from people as responses (excuses) to why they don’t lift. Beyond its many health benefits, lifting weights will not only make you a better athlete at whatever sport you choose to do, but it will actually make you feel better. I will be posting proper weight lifting techniques in the future, so be sure to watch for that post! I listed the first myth, but please click on the link below for the rest of the article. Happy lifting!
Women’s Weight Training Myth #1-Weight training makes you bulky and masculine.
Due to the fact that women do not, and cannot, naturally produce as much testosterone (one of the main hormones responsible for increasing muscle size) as males do, it is impossible for a woman to gain huge amounts of muscle mass by merely touching some weights. Unfortunately, the image that may come to your mind is that of professional female bodybuilders. Most of these women, unfortunately, use anabolic steroids (synthetic testosterone) along with other drugs in order to achieve that high degree of muscularity. In addition, most also have good genetics coupled with an unbelievable work ethic that enable them to gain muscle quickly when they spend hours in the gym lifting very heavy weights. Believe me when I say that they do not look like that by accident. Women who conduct weight training without the use of steroids get the firm and fit cellulite-free looking body that you see in most fitness/figure shows these days.
Credit to Hugo Rivera, the author of this article on About.com, as well as the photo for the article on the page.
http://bodybuilding.about.com/od/womensfitnesstopics/a/womenmyths.htm
As you may or may not know, I’m a vegetarian. I couldn’t not reblog this!
Being that I have decided to follow a vegetarian diet for the month of March, I wanted to share the recipes. I am also trying to eat as healthy as possible, as to not just eat pizza and french fries. I found this recipe on Pintrest, and it’s so easy even the most inexperienced cook, can do it. Try to use Organic vegetables if possible.
Spicy Black Bean Peppers
(serves 2)
Ingredients:
- 2 small peppers (any kind you’d like)
- 1/2 medium-sized onion, diced
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1 TBSP olive oil
- 1, 15 oz can black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1/4 cup water
- 2 tsp cumin
- 2 tsp chili powder
- 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
- 1/2 tsp salt
- pinch cayenne pepper for a little heat
- 1/2 cup sweet corn
- 1/2 cup shredded Colby Jack cheese, or any cheese you like
- fresh cilantro, salsa, and sour cream for serving
- Preheat oven to…
View original post 157 more words
200 Calorie molten lava cakes
I love chocolate. I love dessert. I love sweets. I cannot go a day without at least one of these things. So naturally I was overjoyed when I came across this recipe for my favorite sweet, chocolate molten lava cakes! They are a mere 219 calories per cake, which is nothing for this type of dessert. I cannot wait to make them. Thanks to Fitness Magazine for this recipe. (See link below)
INGREDIENTS
- 1cup unbleached all-purpose flour
- 1/4cup sugar
- 1/2cup dark brown sugar
- 1/3cup unsweetened Dutch-process cocoa powder
- 1/2teaspoon baking soda
- 1egg
- 1/2cup 2% milk
- 1/2cup unsweetened applesauce
- 1/4cup vegetable oil, 3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1teaspoon fine sea salt
- 1ounce bittersweet chocolate
DIRECTIONS
1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees . Whisk together flour, sugar, cocoa powder and baking soda in a medium bowl. In another medium bowl, whisk together egg, milk, applesauce, vegetable oil, ground cinnamon, vanilla extract and sea salt. Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients and gradually whisk in egg mixture until smooth; divide batter among eight oven-safe mugs or ramekins. Break bittersweet chocolate into 8 pieces and press gently into the center of each mug. Bake 20 minutes or microwave one at a time until puffed and just set in the center, 35 to 40 seconds. Dust with powdered sugar if desired and serve warm.
http://www.fitnessmagazine.com/recipe/molten-chocolate-pudding-cakes/
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