September is National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month

"One of the greatest responsibilities we have as a Nation is to safeguard the health and well-being of our children. "  ~ President Barack Obama

This year, President Obama has declared September National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month, encouraging all Americans to take action by learning about and engaging in activities that promote health eating and greater physical activity for American children.

 For more information, check out the press release: Presidential Proclamation--National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month

Farmer's Markets at Your Fingertips - new search engine makes finding Famer's Markets easier!

Woo Hoo! I am SO excited about this new tool! Not often do government search engines interest me, typically, while the intent is good, they somehow miss the mark on what is truly needed and become more cumbersome than helpful. But this one is a definite winner. There’s been a lot of talk as of late, especially with the help of First Lady Michelle Obama and her Let’s Move campaign encouraging people to support local farmers by shopping at Farmer’s Markets. Many people have been taking up the banner and doing so, but for as many who have changed their shopping patterns to incorporate Farmer’s Markets, there are many who would like to but can’t because they just don’t know where or how to find one in their area. Well, the USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service has recently launched a new search engine to help consumers find local Farmer’s Markets in their listing more than 6,100 markets. A 2010 count showed that there are 6,132 listed Farmer’s Markets in the US. I wish this had been introduced earlier in the summer when many Farmer’s Markets started, but at least we have it now and can use it going forward. I’ve checked out the search engine and it’s pretty simple to use. You can search by state, city, county, and zip code.




According to the Let’s Move blog, “The search engine is a great tool for local growers and sellers, as market managers can provide the public with important information like hours of operations, acceptable forms of payment, or programs supported. Consumers can use the tool to become more informed shoppers by searching for locations, product availability and payment options”



What’s even more exciting is that this search engine does not limit itself to the 48 continental states, but includes ALL states and US territories. Curious to see how far reaching this search engine was, I checked for markets in Guam and Palau and there are no markets listed. But then again, everything there is so fresh there probably isn’t a need for Farmer’s Markets as we’re used to here on the mainland. That said, there are 4 listed in the US Virgin Islands. They’ve also included a feature to let you know what forms of payment are accepted and for those on fixed incomes, which programs are accepted such as the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) or the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Talking about making fresh food accessible to everyone. This is definitely a move in the right direction!


Check it out!

US Department of Agriculture Agricultural Marketing Service:
http://apps.ams.usda.gov/FarmersMarkets/Default.aspx

Body Beautiful Playlist – Week of September 1st, 2010

Alright everyone, it’s PLAYLIST WEDNESDAY again! Below we’re listing our Top 10 songs for this week that get us moving and grooving during our workouts. We’re feeling Old School this week and kicking of the list with Earth, Wind & Fire mixed w/ a little P-funk.  ;-)

September – Earth, Wind, & Fire
Flashlight – Parliament
Get Down On It- Kool & The Gang
Brickhouse – Commodores
Atomic Dog – Parliament
Let’s Groove – Earth, Wind & Fire
Boogie Oogie Oogie – Taste of Honey
Aqua Boogie – Parliament
Get Up Offa That thing – James Brown
Thank you ( Fallettin Me Be Myself) – Sly & The Family Stone

Live Your Life with Health & Purpose

Every Monday I’ve committed to posting an inspirational quote on our Facebook Page to motivate and empower friends of the Body Beautiful by Allegra to be their very best. Today’s quote comes from the early 20th century "Sleeping Prophet" Edgar Cayce. Mr. Cayce was known to go into trances and access the Akashic Records and through visions located portions of the lost city of Atlantis and saw advancements in treatments for cancer that are currently being used today. While reading his story, I came across the following statement that came as a result of one of his Akashic visions



‎"Do not worry as to whether you are fat or thin. Worry rather as to whether you use your body mentally and physically, as an expression of thy ideal."


This thought was very relevant to the purpose and mission of the Body Beautiful programs. In my workshops and classes, the emphasis is not on size, and fitness from an aesthetic perspective, but rather fitness from a mind, body, spirit perspective. It’s one that advocates health and a strong sense of self no matter your size. Not everyone was meant to be a size “2”, some were meant to be a size “16” and that’s okay. It’s our body types that dictate our size. As a woman in the fitness industry, I at one time was plagued by the fitness stereotypes. Although men could be muscular, the women needed to be “teeny tiny” Barbie-types who believe that all women should be teeny tiny and never lift more than 5lbs. I remember a few years back during a commercial casting, where I was being casted as a Personal Trainer, I was told that my arms were too muscular and that as an African-American woman with strong arms they would intimidate viewers especially in the Midwest. Although I was casted for the role, the wardrobe stylist nevertheless was required to find a loose fitting jacket for me with ¾ length sleeves to attempt to hide my arms. The ironic thing about that event was that, I was a personal trainer casted to play a personal trainer who was working with a client to strengthen and tone her arms. That was a very strange incident for me as many of my clients at that time, no matter the ethnicity, came to me because they wanted arms or a lower body sculpted like mine. What was even more ironic about that situation was that the casting director as well as the other women on her team hounded me for workout tips to sculpt their arms like mine during the commercial shoot. Go figure!


There were times when I would severely diet down and kill myself at the gym with grueling twice a day/7 days a week workouts to achieve a certain look that was more “media friendly”. Although certain advertisers loved it, I wasn’t happy because I was putting my body through extremes that weren’t sustainable. Reality hit me when a few of my students and clients asked me if I was feeling okay, and wondered if I was having any health issues, because to them, I no longer looked healthy and my disposition wasn’t as “sunny” as was typical for me. In truth I wasn’t. I have and have always had a naturally athletic build so this change was beginning to become a detriment to my overall health physically, spiritually and mentally. At one time I may have used my role in fitness as means to gain media spotlight from an ego standpoint, but over the years as I’ve matured, I realize that it’s not about me. The opportunity that I have is to empower people to be their VERY BEST with fitness being the medium that is used. It’s not about ego, it’s about purpose.


Many of us strive to reach high levels of success in our careers and chosen paths in life, but in the absence of a strong body, a strong mind and a strong spirit, that success is for naught. You won’t be around to really enjoy the fruits of your labor. Fitness is not about accomplishing a certain look to meet a societal ideal; it’s about being healthy and living a better quality of life.


Today I am very comfortable with my size, I continually fluctuate between a “6” and an “8”, but that’s what works well for ME. At a size 4, I’m no longer healthy. As long as people continue to question how old I really am, as long as medical professionals continue to take my vitals twice because they think they’ve made a mistake the first time around because my numbers are so low, as long as my body heals and recovers a rapid rates after an injury or surgery, and as long as my doctor and others tell me to continue what I’m doing to encourage others to live better because it makes their jobs easier ;-) I’m good. But the most important thing for me is when someone says, “thank you for teaching me how to live” The Body Beautiful by Allegra is about “creating, positive, realistic and healthy body images” It’s not about taking you from a size 22 to a size 2 in 30 days. It’s not about making you look like the starlets seen on the red carpet. It’s about helping to cultivate a strong sense of self and making you feel good about yourself from the inside out while being healthy in the process. It’s about transforming life and living your life’s purpose.


To your health and to your purpose!

Doctors warn that toning shoes can cause injuries

With manufactures of "toning shoes" touting record number sales and claims to tone the butt, legs and abs without hitting the gym, toning shoes have become the fastest and largest growing segment within the footwear industry. So popular has this type of shoe become with consumers, primarily among women, that the market leader, Sketchers, now wants to get men in on the excitement by hiring Pro Football Hall of Fame Quarterback Joe Montana to tout it's benefits.

But as the popularity of the shoe grows, so too does the criticism. Numerous doctors from varying fields of medicine, podiatrists, chiropractors etc. are warning that the shoes are nothing more than a gimmick and can potentially cause injuries to the wearer. Two common injuries to warn against are the rolling of the foot and also strained Achilles tendons citing that "people with balance problems or tight Achilles tendons should take a cautious approach". Interestingly enough, Nike, known in the industry for providing footwear and apparel that enhance overall performance, shuns the idea of the shoes and has no plans to get in the toning shoe game. Nike, through their spokesperson Derek Kent stated "Our focus is on creating performance products that really work. Unlike today's toning products, we won't ask the consumer to compromise on stability, flexibility or any other key performance characteristics as they train."

Although an advocate for most things that encourage people to get out and move more, I’m typically very skeptical of anything that makes overt end all be all claims. Avia’s shoe claims to be the “Personal Trainer in a box” while Reebok’s ads encourage you to “make your boobs jealous!” because the attention will be on your… ahem “assets”. I tend to agree with the sentiment stated that many of the benefits expressed by these companies can be obtained through a proper, balanced diet and integrated fitness programs involving increased cardio activity such as walking or running as well as resistance and flexibility training, and would be less expensive than shelling out $100 - $250 for a pair of shoes. But, if the mood hits and the desire to buy is there, do your research, be cautious of the claims and most importantly, recognize if there are physical limitations present in your own body that could potentially be exacerbated by the use of such products. Sometimes a quick fix for aesthetic benefits is not worth the marketing hype in the long run.


For the full article, check out: A revolutionary sneaker, or overhyped gimmick?

First Lady Launches President’s Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition

On Thursday, First Lady Michelle Obama joined kids from the Washington, DC area to launch the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition and introduce the 2010 Council co-chairs and members. In conjunction with the First Lady’s Let’s Move! initiative, this year President Obama has broadened the scope of the Council, formerly known as the President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports, to include a focus on healthy eating as well as active lifestyles. Yesterday, the President signed an Executive Order outlining the Council’s new emphasis on both good nutrition and physical fitness.

The President has named Drew Brees, quarterback for the New Orleans Saints, and Dominique Dawes, three-time Olympian and former U.S. national champion in women’s gymnastics, 2010 Council Co-Chairs. Dawes delivered remarks at the event and Brees recorded a video message that was shown there. Joining Dawes at the event were 2010 Council Members Dan Barber, Tedy Bruschi, Allyson Felix, Michelle Kwan, Curtis Pride, Donna Richardson Joyner, Dr. Ian Smith, Carl Edwards, Cornell McClellan and Dr. Stephen McDonough. Council Executive Director, Shellie Pfohl, was also in attendance. Following the announcement, the First Lady, Pfohl and the Council Members joined the kids in participating in a series of activity stations.

For more information on the council, visit: http://www.fitness.gov/about-us/who-we-are/council-members/

 

*Source:  press release from www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/first-lady-launches-president-s-council-fitness-sports-and-nutrition

Got Chocolate Milk?

For all of you chocolate lovers here’s another bit of good news for you. A new preliminary study presented at a conference held by the American College of Sports Medicine recently suggests that a low-fat chocolate milk treat after a workout is more beneficial to the body than engineered carbohydrate only sports drinks. According to the study, low-fat chocolate milk contains just the right amount of protein and carbohydrates to rebuild and refuel muscles. Now, before you go running out to order that post-workout chocolate shake, the key phrase here is “LOW-FAT”. It should also be noted that this is a preliminary study and has yet to go through peer reviews. But in the meantime, read up, stay tuned and get the dark chocolate chips ready for meltdown…

Click here for the full story...
http://www.webmd.com/fitness-exercise/news/20100604/chocolate-milk-refuels-muscles-after-workout