2013: The Year of Fit Moms

Bring it on MOMS!

From the Huffington Post

It seems the year 2013 is going down as the "year of super-fit moms."

In August a very fit Duchess Catherine gave birth, and within 10 weeks post-baby she showed off washboard abs during a volleyball game. In October, CrossFit-training mom Lea-Ann Ellison, nine months pregnant with her third baby, posted photos of herself lifting some very impressive weights, and Sacramento's Maria Kang, a mother of three small children, posted a photo of her super-fit physique next to her children with the headline, "What's your excuse?" Both of them went viral, getting some obviously jealous and nasty remarks, but both got a majority of supportive comments in addition to a lot of media attention.

Lea-Ann has delivered a full-term and very healthy baby boy via an easy, midwife-attended water home birth, and headed back to the gym three weeks post baby... so all comments on how she would lose her baby despite being a well-trained lifelong athlete have obviously been wrong, as I predicted.

And this December we saw yet another fit mom grace the media, Ms. Mary Helen Bowers, a professional ballerina, trainer to Victoria's Secret models and Natalie Portman for her role in Black Swan. At 39 weeks Mary is still dancing en pointe, to help her alleviate pregnancy's notorious effects like back pain and swelling.

I pray these fit moms will start a new movement of more women not only, not being afraid of exercise during pregnancy but more pregnant women actually working out more. And also a new general awareness that not only is fitness during pregnancy OK but is a necessity for both a healthier pregnancy and baby.

According the American College of Sports Medicine, research suggests that "fit moms" who exercise at a higher intensity and volume during pregnancy, do make children that are healthier physically, mentally AND achieve higher both academically and athletically by college age. Exercise can also prevent prematurity, diabetes and depression. This should be a worthy and sought after goal by every mom and dad.

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Dangerous Death Row Dog Saved by Love with a Goose

Yeah, even our animals does remind us of the wonders of life and what it can do. The title does seemed slightly ridiculous and outright silly but do take a chance to scroll through the pictures as they represent multiple meanings and feelings.

Thanks Life with Dogs :)

Rex the German shepherd came close to being put to sleep because of his overt aggression, but all it took was a little love from a goose to soften his heart and save his life.

Rex was so ferocious that two people were required to feed him – one person to cause a distraction and another to quickly slide a bowl of food into his kennel. He barked and fiercely growled at anyone or anything that walked past. He would try to get his head out of his run to eat wild rabbits that got too close.

But that all changed when Rex met Geraldine. The worst was feared when Geraldine strayed too near Rex’s enclosure, but the pair became surprisingly fast friends. Now they go for walks in the woods and cuddle to sleep in Rex’s bed every night.

Staff at the Puriton Horse and Animal Rescue in the UK are amazed at the transformations in the ornery bird and the vicious dog. They believe the two bring out the best in each other.

“It’s so comical to see them because they love each other to bits,” said Sheila Brislin, who runs the Puriton Horse. “She just runs around alongside him all day long and whenever we take him for a walk in the woods, she has to come, too.

“They are very affectionate and he’s always licking her head and kissing her. She snuggles into him and they sleep together every night. Normally any bird that crossed his path would have been eaten by now – he’s that kind of dog – but not Geraldine. I’ve been doing rescue work since 1997 and seen all kinds of strange animal behavior, but I’ve never seen anything like this.”

Eleven-year-old Rex arrived at the sanctuary after being found chained in a scrapyard when he was only three.

“They were going to give him a lethal injection to put him down because he had bitten everybody at his previous shelter and there was nothing they could do with him,” Sheila said. “They were so scared of him, one worker had to distract him at the front of the run while the other threw his food in at the back. He was the kind of dog that would put his head through the fence to try and bite the heads off rabbits.”

Geraldine was brought to the sanctuary three months ago after being saved from a family that couldn’t deal with her. She initially spent time with Donald the duck and other birds, but then she met Rex.

“At first we thought he was chasing her and they were fighting about who was boss, but she stood up for herself and that was that, they just fell for each other,” Sheila explained. “They snuggle down together and Rex puts his leg over her to protect her. In the morning they have breakfast together. It’s really sweet to see them.”

The only one who doesn’t like to see the new couple together is German shepherd Vera, Rex’s former gal pal.

“Geraldine doesn’t like Vera at all and makes it quite clear that Rex is hers,” said Sheila. “She goes on the attack if she comes anywhere near, and Vera is scared of her. We’ve had to give Vera lots of cuddles and attention so she doesn’t feel left out.”

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Use NEAT Activities to Burn More Calories

Alright, exercise can be pure SIMPLE and this article explains it all. We really don't need to much to feel better each day so try it :)

Thanks Lifehacker!

Going to the gym, running, and other intentional workout routines aren't the only ways to burn calories. Incorporating more NEAT activities into your day, also known as non-exercise activity, can also help.P

Photo by itchys.P

From wikiHow:P

Studies show that lean people fidget for about 150 minutes a day more than obese people do. That kind of low-grade activity (tapping feet and fingers, twirling hair, gesturing while speaking, etc.) can burn 350 calories a day, which translates into 10-30 pounds a year! It's called Non-Exercise Activity Thermogenesis (NEAT), which is basically any movement that isn't intended as exercise. You can burn an extra 100-150 calories an hour by increasing NEAT.P

Among the more effective NEAT exercises, wikiHow suggests pacing whenever it's feasible to do so. For example, if you're talking on the phone, try pacing instead of sitting. wikiHow says you can burn 90 more calories an hour pacing than if you just talk while sitting still. Or if you use public transportation and are waiting for the train, try pacing up and down the platform.P

Granted, we also understand the value of relaxing, and if pacing or fidgeting translates into stress for you, NEAT activities are probably best avoided.P

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Invariably these low-grade activities don't get close to the calorie burn that comes with a three-mile run or an hour spent in the gym, but every bit helps—like this 600-calorie/day burning treadputer.P

Have your own non-traditional methods of shaving a few extra calories here and there without stepping into your sweats? Hit up the comments and let us know all about it.P

How to Burn Calories [wikiHow]

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​Is It Bad If I Crack My Knuckles or Other Joints?

One of the many questions been asked through out. Well, here's a bit of a legitimate source that may help narrow the tracks down.

I kinda am in agreement with it too.

Thanks Lifehacker!

SExpand

Dear Lifehacker,
Every now and then I crack my knuckles and sometimes my other joints creak and pop too. I'm not even that old, really! Should I be concerned? Are my noisy joints bad?
Signed,
Creaky

Dear Creaky,
Cracking sounds on your joints can definitely sound—if not feel—alarming. It's probably happened to all of us, though, whether from cracking knuckles on purpose or just hearing popping sounds when stretching. I talked to a few medical experts to find out what's going on and whether or not all this noise is a sign of a medical issue. Here's what they said.

It's Usually Harmless

The common misconception that cracking your joints will cause arthritis is just that—a misconception. Dr. Levi Harrison, an orthopedic surgeon and the author of The Art of Fitness, says he's often asked this question. He explains:

Commonly, joints make an audible cracking sound when the joint is stretched or manipulated due to gas inside the joint fluid or synovial fluid. Common gases in the joint are O2 (Oxygen) and N (Nitrogen). When you flex and stretch your fingers in order to "crack your knuckles", the capsule around the joint which contains this gas filled fluid causes the bubbles to burst which causes that sound. The sound may be loud or dull. Often, you have to wait a period of time before the sound can be heard again, if you manipulate the joint. It takes time for the gas bubbles to reform in the joint.

Dr. Michael Haley, owner of Agape Chiropractic, offers a few more insights—and strange medical terms (joint mice? crepitus?!) that describe the issue:

Sometimes the sounds are coming from muscle bellies. Other times they are coming from the deeper joint structures - tendons, ligaments, and discs. Sometimes the sounds aren't "cracking sounds" at all, but rather, inflammation in the joints that is "squishing around" with movement. These are the noises someone might hear continuously when they turn their heads side to side. Ideally, turning your head does not make any noise. Joint mice may contribute to the sounds. These sounds are collectively usually referred to as "crepitus".
Based on clinical experience, it seems that tension builds up and allows for the joints to "crack" or release. Inactivity seems to increase the need... whereas frequent movement and stretching seems to not only decrease the need, but also even the possibility of of cracking the joints.
An interesting observation is that humans learn to disobey their need for movement. Cats and dogs seem to stretch out their bodies, with an emphasis on their spines, after every period of inactivity. Kids seem to stretch after inactivity too. But adults tend to get up and go about their sedentary days. No wonder their joints crack... or need cracking…

In other words, it's a good idea to fit more movement into your day, if you're not already doing so.

When You Might Want to Consult a Doctor

Those assurances aside, there are times cracking joints is more ominous. If you experience any pain with the cracking, it could be a sign of a medical problem. Dr. Harrison says:

Individuals who have painful grinding and creaking joints that started after an injury or trauma to their joints may have arthritis. This is not a good thing. Arthritis occurs when the protective cartilage lining of a joint has been damaged or eroded. This can occur from an injury, age, or an even inflammatory condition like rheumatoid arthritis.
If you have had an injury, for example to your hips or knee and experience significant hip and or knee pain, as well as popping of your joints, you may have arthritis in these areas. I recommend an evaluation by your healthcare practitioner. After an appropriate history and physical exam, they may order the necessary radiographic tests to evaluate the joint. Arthritis is common and pain with creaking and popping in any joint warrants proper evaluation by your doctor.

In the absence of pain, though, you probably don't have to worry (but can check with your doctor if you're still anxious about this). Dr. Harrison doesn't recommend cracking your knuckles, neck, or anything else, but it's still probably harmless. Consider this research noted by Dr. Amy Baxter, CEO of MMJ Labs (which makes a really cool pain blocker, Buzzy):

One really fun paper was what we call an "n of 1" study - some guy (Dr. DL Unger) decided to only crack one hand his whole life, and see what happened. He then published the result. Bottom line: the cracked knuckle was bigger, but none the worse for wear.

I also asked my sister, a family physician in Arizona, about this, and she said she gets this question a lot—strangely from young teenage patients. Her advice? It's probably nothing...but if it bothers you, stop cracking your knuckles or neck. So there you go.

Love,
Lifehacker

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She was called the ugliest woman in the world

And here was her response....

Her best advice:
What defines you
Turn that negativity to something positive and I can guarantee you...you will win

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MAN’S BEST FRIEND: A COLLECTION OF 18 PHOTOS DOG LOVERS WILL ENJOY

I just love dogs too

Thank you Arrows :)

A beautiful dog doing something amazing will warm even the darkest of hearts… Here’s a handful of awesome photos featuring man’s best friend.

Photo by Mircea Costina.

Photo by Unknown.

Photo by Tim Flach.

Photo by Bryant Scannell.

Photo by Nicci Faaborg.

Photo by Jessica Trinh.

Photo by Elya Malamooshi.

Photo by Ginko S.

Photo by Allen Normous.

Photo by U.S. Army.

Photo by Ingrid Brandt.

Photo by Peter Przybille.

Photo by Unknown.

Photo by Michael Schawel.

Photo by Tim Flach.

Photo by Manuel J. Martinez.

Photo by Linda Grouse Ridge.

Photo by Elena Shumilova.

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8 Things About Sushi

Which I never knew!

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