SparkPeople Community Director and Fitness Coach
Jen Mueller left her first career in corporate finance to earn a master's degree in health education. She is a busy mom of four and holds a number of fitness certifications (including ACE's Health Coach, Personal Trainer, Medical Exercise Specialist and Behavior Change Specialist). She is passionate about helping people reach their health and fitness goals. In her spare time, Jen loves running, kickboxing and spending time with her family. Jen enjoys blogging about raising healthy children and how small behavior changes can impact health and quality of life.
Read More of 's Blogs:
Family Fast Food: What Do You Think?
For the most part, my husband appreciates my efforts to give my children a healthy, balanced diet. He thinks it's great that I cook a wide variety of foods for them and make sure that vegetables are a part of every meal. But we do differ in our thinking when it comes to fast food.
I know that most fast food restaurants have healthier options available and that it's okay to eat at these restaurants now and then if you are pressed for time- or even if you just want to. Personally, I'm not a fan of fast food, which is why I don't give it to my children. I respect that other parents choose differently, so I hope that others can respect my point of view in return.
Posted 6/21/2011 6:00:00 AM By: : 69 comments 24,091 views
Medicine Cabinet Tips: Things Everyone Should Know
My family is generally healthy, and we don't get sick enough to need medication very often. But somehow I find that periodically, my medicine cabinet begins to overflow with little bottles and boxes of things that I may or may not ever use. I try to clean things out from time to time, but I'm never really sure what should stay and what should go. (I'll admit, I don't have a great excuse for that since I'm married to a pharmacist.) But recently I came across some helpful information that surprised me, so I thought it would be interesting to share with all of you.
Posted 6/16/2011 10:00:00 AM By: : 26 comments 13,433 views
Straighten Up for Better Health
I've blogged in the past about my battle with my posture, because I have been a sloucher since I was a kid. It's something that makes me cringe when I look at pictures of myself and think "Why doesn't anyone ever tell me to stand up straight?" Having a desk job doesn't help, because it's easy to slump down in my chair when working at a computer for hours at a time. According to new research, thousands of people are losing days of work due to posture-related aches and injuries.
Posted 6/14/2011 2:14:29 PM By: : 27 comments 19,035 views
5 Ways to Prevent Weight Gain at Work
There are many factors contributing to the obesity epidemic in the United States. Although increased calorie consumption is a big one, another is decreased levels of activity throughout the workday. Years ago, a higher percentage of people had active jobs like farming and factory work. As those numbers have decreased, our waistlines have consequently, increased. So are you doomed to have weight issues because you spend 8-plus hours each day behind a desk? Not necessarily, if you're smart about your choices and how you structure your day.
Posted 6/9/2011 6:00:00 AM By: : 61 comments 28,152 views
How Do You Live in the Moment?
I'm a planner. I like making lists, schedules and deciding things ahead of time. Most of the time, that works well for me. I'm able to get a lot of things done and I'm pretty organized. But sometimes, I wish I could just "go with the flow" a little more and live in the moment. There are times when I know I'm not enjoying what I'm doing right now because I'm thinking about what I need to do later.
Posted 6/7/2011 2:09:58 PM By: : 52 comments 20,306 views
Expensive Sunscreens Might Not Be Worth the Extra Money
We've blogged in the past about the importance of wearing sunscreen. I've even admitted that I'm good at putting it on my kids, but don't always take the time to protect myself. That's actually changing, especially as I notice I easily get brown spots on my face from too much sun that don't go away. Yuck.
When it comes to choosing a sunscreen for myself, I'm never quite sure which product to buy. Do I go with a trusted name-brand, or are the generic products just as good? Which is better: the lotion or spray-on variety? A new study ranks the best products on the market, and the findings might surprise you.
Posted 6/2/2011 10:00:00 AM By: : 29 comments 18,509 views
More Evidence that Small Bits of Activity Add Up
Whether you missed your workout today because you got stuck at the office, had to run kids to soccer practice or weren't feeling good yourself, we've all been there. Everyone has days where they planned a good workout, but for whatever reason, life got in the way. As long as your workouts aren't taking a backseat on a regular basis, try not to be too hard on yourself. Although activities of daily living aren't a replacement for consistent physical activity, a new study has examined the role of incidental physical activity and how those small amounts of extra activity throughout the day can positively impact your health.
Posted 5/31/2011 1:55:15 PM By: : 28 comments 17,311 views
'Toning' Shoes for Girls: What Do You Think?
I'll admit that I'm very conservative when it comes to what my daughter wears. You'll probably never see her wearing short shorts with writing on the backside (at least as long as I am buying her clothes). I'm not a fan of clothes that promote specific brands, whether it's Nike or the Disney Princesses. I don't look down on anyone who makes different choices for their children- I'm just doing what I think is best for mine.
One of the latest products to come on the market for young girls is Sketchers Shape-Ups. Sketchers CEO compares the shoes to Michelle Obama's "Let's Move" campaign for kids, saying they designed to encourage more childhood physical activity. He says the product is only promoting exercise, which is good for kids. Personally, I'm not completely buying that reasoning, and as you can already guess, I will not be buying the product.
Posted 5/26/2011 10:00:00 AM By: : 221 comments 29,479 views
Hard Workouts Might Boost Your Mood
I'm one of those people who likes to challenge my body with a tough workout. I'm not one to go until I get sick, but I do like that feeling of accomplishment when I finish a workout I knew would be strenuous. Even though it might be hard to get through and it takes a few minutes to recover, afterward I feel good about what I've done. My husband is always encouraging me to get out and exercise if I've had a rough day because he knows it will improve my mood. New research shows I'm not the only one who gets a mental boost from a tough workout.
Posted 5/24/2011 2:11:32 PM By: : 34 comments 18,411 views
Expanding Young Palates Now Might Prevent Picky Eating Later
One of my biggest pet peeves about eating out with my family are kids menus. Many times I end up ordering food for them off of the adult menu, because the variety of their menu leaves a lot to be desired. I have to bite my tongue to keep from telling the restaurant manager that buttered noodles and corn dogs aren't a staple of every young child's diet, and that it's okay to offer something other than French fries as a side item. I understand that not every parent wants to order food the way I do, but at least having more options would be nice.
My kids don't love every food I make them try, whether it's something at a restaurant or something I cook at home. I attempt to introduce them to a wide variety of foods because I want them to know that there's more to life than pizza and grilled cheese. Sometimes it works well. For example, my daughter loves black beans and my son willingly eats zucchini. (These aren't particularly strange foods, just things that some kids won't eat.) Sometimes my strategy doesn't work well. We've had nights where I make dinner, they take one look at it and say "I don't want to eat that." But I keep trying. Research shows that introducing young children to a wide variety of foods, and even eating a variety of foods during pregnancy, can make them willing to try more foods as they get older.
Posted 5/17/2011 6:00:00 PM By: : 58 comments 26,122 views
Liposuction Might Not Be the Solution
We all have parts of our bodies we wish we could change, especially woman, who seem to be particularly hard on themselves. I don't know anyone who thinks they look completely perfect. I'd love to have a flatter stomach and no cellulite on my thighs, but I've come to accept that those imperfections are part of who I am. As long as I'm living a healthy life, that's what matters most to me.
I know women who've hoped (through diet and exercise) to lose the fat from certain areas of their body, but it just doesn't seem to budge. Women often ask about their midsection, which is a common trouble spot. When the hard work doesn't seem to pay off and they still have a "pooch" that makes them unhappy, I know some who resort to plastic surgery- specifically, liposuction. But is that really going to give them the body they've always dreamed of? New research says it's not a permanent method of fat loss.
Posted 5/10/2011 2:00:00 PM By: : 50 comments 26,272 views
Both Diet and Exercise are Important for Weight Loss Success
In my experience with exercise and weight loss, you can't out-train a bad diet. If I wanted to lose weight, all of the exercise in the world didn't help if I wasn't paying attention to what I was eating. I know others who have chosen to lose weight through diet alone, instead of incorporating any exercise. They typically had more success than I did. But it seems that the most success (and the healthiest way to do it) is when you combine the two. New research analyzes these three methods of weight loss (exercise alone, diet alone, and a combo of the two) to compare the differences in progress.
Posted 5/5/2011 10:26:50 AM By: : 37 comments 18,524 views
You Can Teach an Old Body Fit Tricks
I've found that as I get older, making sure I take good care of my body and get enough rest is very important. I used to be able to do a hard workout and get up the next day and do it all over again. I never used to stretch after workouts (shame on me), but I've had some injuries in the recent past that reinforce the need to be kind to my body and give it what it needs. "I'm not a kid anymore," is the excuse I've always made, assuming that as I age, gains in fitness won't come as easily and I'll have to take even better care of myself. But according to some new research, part of my logic might be a little faulty.
Posted 4/28/2011 2:17:35 PM By: : 46 comments 36,749 views
Health Can Take a Backseat When New Baby Arrives
As it does for most women, becoming a mom totally changed my life. Before that, things were all about me. I exercised when I wanted, stayed out late on the weekends and slept in the next morning if I chose, and didn't have to think too much about anyone but my husband, my dog and myself on a day-to-day basis. Don't get me wrong- I've never been someone who likes to sit still for long, so I've always kept busy. But taking care of a newborn became a new kind of 24 hours-a-day, 7 days-a-week busy. It definitely took some getting used to.
Posted 4/21/2011 1:00:00 PM By: : 24 comments 24,324 views
Should Junk Food Carry a Warning Label?
If you're a label-reader like I am, you know how to spot the foods you should avoid and the ones that can easily be incorporated into a healthy diet. I try to avoid foods that have tons of ingredients on the label, especially when most of them are things I don't even know how to pronounce. But not everyone has the time or interest to investigate what is in the foods they are eating. They take a quick look at the label and if it sounds generally healthy ("made with whole grains", "natural"), then the package goes into their shopping cart. Do you think they'd be less-likely to eat unhealthy junk foods if they came with a warning label?
Posted 4/19/2011 10:12:41 AM By: : 122 comments 40,572 views
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