Be Fit as a Family!

Health Tip of the Day
"Getting Fit. . . One Step at a Time"

Make getting fit a family activity. Sign up for a 1
or 3.1 mile fun run and train as a family. This will
get everyone motivated to exercise and have a fun event
to look forward to doing together.

Do Calories Count?

Yes, as a matter of fact, they do. And the amount one consumes, as opposed to the amount of exercise one does, determines whether one is losing or gaining weight. Just for fun, look at the calories in the list below and think of how much exercise you would have to do to get rid of them!
By the numbers
New York City now requires chain restaurants to post calorie information on their menus. Here are the counts for a few popular fast foods:
Food Calories
McDonald's Big Mac 1,130
Burger King Whopper with cheese 770
McDonald's Big Mac 540
Medium Coke Classic (21 ounces) 210
Taco Bell beef soft taco supreme 250
Dunkin' Donuts sausage, egg
and cheese croissant 630
Starbucks blueberry muffin 320
Domino's Pizza slice, with cheese & pepperoni 210

Why Avoid Junk Food?

Health Tip of the Day
"Getting Fit. . . One Step at a Time"

Dyes and chemicals used to flavor and preserve junk
food, require a lot of extra vitamins and minerals
from the body just to metabolize and detoxify them.
Because junk food has no nutrients in it, the body
must use its precious stores of nutrients to digest
junk food.

More About Raw Fruits and Veggies

Health Tip of the Day
"Getting Fit. . . One Step at a Time"

A great way to be healthier, recover from illness faster,
have more energy and slow the aging process is to eat more
fresh, raw vegetables and fruit and avoid junk food.

That being the case, doesn't it make sense that someone who only eats raw fruits and veggies is the healthiest?

WHY LIMIT YOUR TEEN'S ENERGY DRINK USE? READ THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE!

Energy drink banned after Colorado teens sickened
By CHASE SQUIRES The Associated Press
DENVER — A high school banned a caffeine-packed energy drink and 7-Eleven pulled it from Colorado stores after some students said it made them sick and shaky and caused their hearts to race.
About six students became sick in the past two weeks and two were hospitalized after drinking Spike Shooter, made by Biotest Laboratories. All recovered within hours, said Dennis Vigil, assistant principal at Doherty High School in Colorado Springs.
A warning on the can says the drink isn't meant for anyone younger than 18, said Biotest spokesman Tom DeNardin. The drink contains roughly the same amount of caffeine as two to three five-ounce cups of coffee. "It's not targeted at all toward high school [students]," DeNardin said.
7-Eleven pulled the drink from all 222 of its company-owned stores in Colorado after the school asked nearby stores to limit sales to students, spokeswoman Margaret Chabris said. The corporation had never recommended Spike Shooter to its stores and it was not distributed by the company's approved suppliers.
A company Web site says Spike Shooter contains 300 milligrams of caffeine per 8.4 ounces. A five-ounce cup of coffee contains 80 to 115 milligrams of caffeine, according to the London-based International Coffee Organization.
The Web site carries a warning suggesting consumers "Begin use with one-half can to determine tolerance." At the top of the cans a warning says consumers should "Read label before drinking."
The Web site says Spike Shooter should not be consumed by people taking certain other medications or if they have high blood pressure or a number of other conditions. It adds, "Keep out of reach of children."
Copyright © 2007 The Seattle Times Company