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:
What if the 'Unattainable' Really Was Within Reach?
When setting goals, it's easy to put limits on ourselves. "I can lose 10 pounds, but there's no way I could lose 20." Or, "I can walk a mile, but I'd never be able to walk 5 miles." Sometimes we set limits because we want to be realistic (which isn't a bad thing), but sometimes it's because of fear of failure. If you don't set a goal that's pushing you further than you ever though possible, then you won't be disappointed if you don't reach it. But at the same time, what if it really is possible? What if, through hard work and determination, you could attain those goals that seem out of reach? After reading the story of Don McNelly and Norm Frank, I've learned that setting unbelievable goals might not be such a bad idea.
Posted 12/21/2010 2:03:12 PM By: : 72 comments 27,348 views
Confession: My Sugar Addiction has Returned
Back in May, I wrote a blog titled "Confession: I'm Breaking My Sugar Addiction". At that point I had significantly cut back on the amount of candy, cookies, cake, etc. that I was consuming. I felt better (both physically and mentally) and had more energy. I thought I had finally changed my eating habits, only eating treats now and then (instead of daily.) But since then, things haven't exactly gone as planned….
Posted 12/17/2010 11:00:00 AM By: : 313 comments 36,732 views
Jillian Michaels to Leave ‘Biggest Loser’; Will You Still Watch?
Jillian Michaels has become a household name from her role as a tough-talking trainer on NBC's "The Biggest Loser". Fans have come to expect the duo of Jillian and fellow trainer Bob Harper with each new season of the show. (She has appeared on every season except one.) But last week, Jillian revealed that the next season, Season 11, will be her last. Will you still tune in?
Posted 12/14/2010 9:28:18 AM By: : 149 comments 27,723 views
School Cupcake Ban: Good Idea or Too Extreme?
My daughter is in preschool, and I believe it's good for her. She's learning important social skills, and enjoys telling me all about the things they talk about at school each day. "What did you do today?" is a question I always ask on our way home. I don't always get to hear about what she's learning, but I do hear all about the games they played during playtime and of course, what she had to eat. It seems like at least once a week, someone has a birthday or they celebrate a holiday and she fills up on sugary foods. I try to relax about it a little, because I think occasional treats are fine. But inside I cringe when I hear about the junk that other parents bring for their kids to share, and how often it's happening. A school district in Michigan has recently put a ban on food as part of school celebrations. It might sound extreme to some, but I think it's a great idea.
Posted 11/30/2010 11:00:00 AM By: : 249 comments 29,564 views
Even the Fast Food Wrapper Could Be Bad for Your Health
We all know that if you’re trying to eat a healthy diet, you don’t eat most fast food items on a regular basis. It’s okay to enjoy those foods now and then, but all of the extra fat and calories aren’t so good for your health- or your waistline. But a new study says the food isn’t the only thing you have to worry about. The wrapper on your cheeseburger or even the bag for your microwave popcorn could also be bad for your health.
Posted 11/26/2010 6:08:53 AM By: : 38 comments 16,816 views
I'm Thankful for the Gift of Health
I’ve decided to make it an annual tradition to blog about what I’m thankful for at this time of the year. I feel like I do a pretty good job of being thankful year-round for a lot of things in my life: my family, my friends, a stable job that I enjoy, etc. But my health is something I easily take for granted.
Posted 11/23/2010 2:08:45 PM By: : 62 comments 39,366 views
Fast Food for Kids: They're Still Marketing and We're Still Buying
For most American children, fast food is a regular part of their day. Whether they are eating it or seeing ads for it on T.V., fast food part of the routine. And according to a new survey, children are seeing more ads and are eating it more than ever before. Although the fast food industry has vowed to promote healthier food options to kids, that’s not exactly what’s happening.
Posted 11/19/2010 10:14:37 AM By: : 48 comments 17,571 views
The Benefits of Cross-Training: Now I'm a Believer
A few weeks ago, I wrote a blog about my current running injury. I’ve got Achilies tendonitis, and have been doing weeks of physical therapy which will (hopefully) get me running again. When the therapist told me I wouldn’t be running for at least 6 to 8 weeks, I panicked for a few reasons.
First, I love to run and use it as a stress reliever. So I’d have to find a new hobby, at least temporarily. Second, I didn’t know what else I was going to do for exercise. Aside from a few days of strength training each week, running has been my only form of cardio for a very long time. I became a very fit runner and was proud of the fact that I could easily go out for a 6-8 mile run any day of the week. And because I liked it so much, I never saw much of a reason to try any other activities. That is, until I became injured.
Posted 11/16/2010 5:00:00 AM By: : 75 comments 30,928 views
Eating Peanuts While Pregnant: Bad Idea?
Although I love my children more than anything and wouldn’t trade them for the world, I can’t say that being pregnant was a particularly enjoyable experience. I wasn’t one of those women who felt great and full of energy once they got through the morning sickness of the first trimester. I was always jealous of them, because I was the one who felt like I was going to get sick, all day, every day. And that lasted for the majorities of my pregnancies.
Eating was a struggle for me. All of the foods I love while not pregnant seem repulsive for those 9 months. All foods, except for one: peanut butter. I love peanut butter, pregnant or not. When I got pregnant, one of the first questions I asked my Ob/Gyn was "Can I still eat peanut butter?" His response was "Yes, since you don’t have a history of food allergies in your family, I think it’s fine." Thank goodness, because I’m not sure what I would have eaten for those 9 months without it. But his answer might be considered controversial. Some doctors say pregnant women shouldn’t eat peanut butter, and others say it’s fine. A new study shows that pregnant moms who eat it might increase their baby’s risk of developing a peanut allergy.
Posted 11/12/2010 2:00:00 PM By: : 61 comments 40,909 views
You Might Shop Healthier if You Pay in Cash
I rarely pay for things with cash these days, mostly because it’s so convenient to use my debit card. There aren’t many places that don’t take cards, although I’ll admit that I’m a little embarrassed when I have to charge a $2.00 roll of paper towels because I’ve only got $0.50 in my wallet. Paying with a card is so easy that I know I don’t always think as much about what I’m putting in my cart. If I had to pay with cash, I have a feeling I’d be more careful. Research shows I’m not the only one.
Posted 11/9/2010 9:00:00 AM By: : 83 comments 24,555 views
Americans Walk Less and Gain More
My daughter’s preschool is less than ½ mile from our house, so most days (weather permitting), I push my son up in our double stroller to get her. I feel bad enough driving her to school (my kids don’t get up early enough to walk in the morning), but I usually try to combine it with other errands so that our environmental impact isn’t quite as terrible.
Posted 10/29/2010 10:05:21 AM By: : 80 comments 20,553 views
More Americans Experiencing the Debilitating Effects of Arthritis
Over 50 million Americans live with the painful and sometimes life-changing effects of arthritis. That number has remained constant over the past few years. According to a new report from the CDC, what has changed is the number of people reporting that their arthritis is limiting their daily activities. Of those diagnosed with the disease, the number who report trouble with daily activities rose from 8.5 to 9.4 percent over the past 4 years. But why?
Posted 10/26/2010 6:28:42 AM By: : 35 comments 18,299 views
I'm Injured. So Now What?
I’ve blogged many times about how running is an important part of my life and something I really enjoy. For the past 6 weeks or so, it’s been anything but enjoyable. I started having pain in my Achillies after a particularly hilly run. Instead of resting like I knew I should have (and like I would tell any SparkPeople member who asked for advice), I decided to just keep pushing through the pain. After a few weeks it was obvious that the pain wasn’t going away, so I made an appointment to see an orthopedic doctor. It took three weeks to get an appointment, so silly me kept running.
Posted 10/22/2010 3:06:52 PM By: : 110 comments 37,022 views
When They Grow It, They Eat It
Since moving into our house 18 months ago, I’ve been talking about starting a garden. I’ve come up with lots of excuses why I haven’t done it yet: no time, not sure if there’s a good spot in the yard to do it, too many animals around, not sure what to plant and when, etc. My daughter is very interested in helping, which is why I need to stop making excuses and just do it. She loves to help me cook and even seems more interested in eating the food when we prepare it together. So I know she’d be very excited to be involved in the whole process- from planting the seeds to putting the food on the plate.
Posted 10/19/2010 1:33:25 PM By: : 43 comments 20,553 views
An Easy Way to Battle the Common Cold
I don’t need to look at a calendar to know that cold season has arrived in my house. Runny noses, sneezing and coughing are the norm since my daughter recently started preschool again. I love this time of year for the cooler weather and changing leaves. But in some ways I dread it because at least one person in my family always seems to be sick from October through January.
Posted 10/15/2010 10:28:16 AM By: : 69 comments 30,396 views
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