Here are a handful of the latest wellness topics in the news, compliments of Michele Baker:

America’s Shrinking Food Wraps

June 30, 2008

Time

http://news.yahoo.com/s/time/20080630/us_time/americasshrinkingfoodwraps  

Mass. pioneering health plan turns 1

June 30, 2008

USA Today

http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2008-06-29-massreform_N.htm

 

On-the-Job Weight Loss: Worksite Programs Work

June 30, 2008

Health Behavior News Service

http://www.hbns.org/getDocument.cfm?documentID=1730

 

The 11 Best Foods You Aren’t Eating

June 30, 2008

New York Times

http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/06/30/the-11-best-foods-you-arent-eating/

 

For older adults, motivation to stay active comes in many forms

June 30, 2008

USA Today

http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/painter/2008-06-29-your-health_N.htm

 

Overindulgence in Small Packages

June 30, 2008

New York Times

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/30/business/30drill.html?ref=health

 

Some Poor Households Opt for Cigarettes Over Food

July 1, 2008

Health Behavior News Service

http://www.hbns.org/getDocument.cfm?documentID=1733

 

Diabetes: Underrated, Insidious and Deadly

July 1, 2008

New York Times

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/01/health/01well.html?_r=1&ref=health&oref=slogin

 

California Summit Focuses On Diabetes, Obesity In Minority Communities

July 2, 2008

Medical News Today

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/113657.php

 

Questioning Government Guidelines For Childhood Physical Activity And The Association With Childhood Obesity

July 3, 2008

Medical News Today

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/113762.php

Here’s one to try if you’re a triathlete facing a race with a big hill in the middle (such as Boulder Peak).  It’s to be performed on a trainer:

• 10 min warm-up
• 30 min at just below race pace in Aero position
• Stand up and go hard for 10-15 minutes (do not touch seat during this phase of the ride - even once)
• Back into Aero position for 30-40 minutes to equal total expected length of the bike portion of the ride
• Immediately change into running shoes and run just below race pace for 10 minutes
• 10 minute warm-down (running or cycling)

Go get ‘em!

Here’s a brief run-down on a workout the Masters team does 2+ times/month to mimic racing intensity and prep for a top-end performance on race day from 10K - half marathon distances.  To do this workout effectively, you’ll want to select a course that relatively flat or rolling hills.  If rolling hills, choose a direction that will make the “return” trip more difficult than the “out” trip. 

Peer interaction is incredibly effective with this workout.  If possible, perform this workout with a group of runners.  They do NOT need to be running a similar pace.  Rather, everyone starts together, turns around at an exact pre-planned time (ie, 30 minutes) and then finish together, with the faster runners trying to “catch” the others and the slower runners trying to hold off the rest of the group. 

There are few workouts that will more effectively prepare you for the big day than this one:

• 10 min warm-up
• Select an exact turn-around time based on the course.  If considerably more difficult on the return trip, you’ll select 28-29 minutes before turning around.  If relatively even, go with 30 minutes as the turn-around time.
• Everyone start together, but running at their own (generally half marathon) pace
• Turn around at the predetermined TIME (not distance)
• If done perfectly and everyone has an equal performance, the entire group will finish together.
• If you have a GPS available to track pace/mile, be sure to record your average round-trip pace in your journal for future reference (and motivation).

See you out there!