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:
Defining Success When You Don’t Want to be the Best
I’ve blogged in the past about my love for running and why I do it. I’ll never be fast enough to run with the front of the pack- unless I’m still running when I’m 80 (which is when my marathon times will be fast enough to qualify me for Boston.) Although I do like challenging myself and want to stay in good shape, I don’t run to lose weight. I do it because I love it. Running is my stress reliever, and part of what makes me, me. When I’m going through a hard time or my day didn’t go as smoothly as planned, I can’t wait to get out and run. My runs aren’t always easy, and sometimes I just want to stop and go home. But then I think about the feeling I’ll have when I’m done, and that sense of accomplishment is enough to push me through to the finish.
Posted 10/12/2010 5:49:43 AM By: : 114 comments 28,229 views
One Celebrity Who's Happy to be a Healthy Size
It’s easy to think that a size 0 is the norm in Hollywood, when images of extremely thin celebrities fill the pages of every magazine. I’m so used to seeing such tiny women in the media, that when I see a celebrity with curves, I have to take a second look. My first thought is usually "Wow. She looks healthy. That’s a nice change."
Of course there are some women who are naturally thin. But to me, so many women in the public eye look dangerously small and unhealthy. I can’t imagine what kind of pressure they feel to look a certain way. I also can’t imagine what it’s like to look at pictures of these women and feel like that’s the standard I’d have to meet to be happy. So I’m always pleasantly surprised to hear about successful, famous women who look healthy and are confident about it.
Posted 10/8/2010 3:50:21 PM By: : 299 comments 154,954 views
Who Says Exercise Won’t Help You Lose Weight?
There are a number of factors that go into determining our size and shape. Although a significant portion is related to lifestyle choices, genetics also plays a part. You might have noticed that you tend to carry weight like your mother (or father), and that many of your family members have the same basic shape- although they may be different sizes based on their lifestyles and habits.
Of course your lifestyle choices have a huge impact on your health. But if you’re like me, at a certain point you recognized that you’re never going to be a size 0 supermodel because you’re just not built that way. But it’s not fair to blame your weight solely on your genes, and new research is analyzing the behaviors that can reduce the effect of genetics on weight loss.
Posted 10/5/2010 10:11:09 AM By: : 53 comments 24,765 views
Ditch the Dining Hall Tray to Stay Lean at College
I only spent a few years living away from home at college, but I distinctly remember the dining hall options. A new food court had opened right next to my freshman dorm, and it was pretty impressive. There were stations for all different types of cuisine- Italian food, Chinese food, deli selections, and just about anything else you could ask for. The choices and amounts of food you could take were endless.
Posted 9/24/2010 6:10:22 AM By: : 46 comments 16,967 views
You Are Never Too Old to Boost Brain Power with Exercise
Numerous studies have shown the intellectual benefits of exercise for children. Physical activity has been shown to increase test scores, improve concentration and improve overall academic achievement. As P.E. classes and recess time are being cut, parents have a greater responsibility to incorporate exercise into after-school activities. But kids aren’t the only ones whose brain power gets a boost from exercise. New research shows that adults can benefit as well.
Posted 9/21/2010 5:03:44 PM By: : 54 comments 21,484 views
Surprising Stats About Smoking in the U.S.
My 3-year old is a very perceptive (and somewhat nosey) little girl. She asks a lot of questions about people she sees when we go places. "Why is she doing that?" or "Why does he look like that?" are common kinds of questions. She’s not trying to be rude; she’s just curious about the world around her.
Posted 9/17/2010 10:20:34 AM By: : 176 comments 24,210 views
Short-Term Slip-Ups Could Lead to Long-Term Problems
I’m sure many people can relate to this scenario: You’re doing great with eating healthy and exercising regularly, and you’re steadily working toward your weight loss goals. Then your week-long tropical vacation arrives, and suddenly all of those newly formed habits are out the window. The most exercise you get all week is walking from your lounge chair to the refrigerator for another drink, and snacks and fried foods are a daily part of the menu. You arrive home a few pounds heavier than when the week began, but you figure its all part of the process. It takes some time, but eventually you get back on track and begin again. A new study says it might not be that simple, because short-term lapses of overeating could make long-term weight loss more difficult.
Posted 9/10/2010 1:04:21 PM By: : 162 comments 29,460 views
Maybe I Just Don’t Get It
A few weeks ago, I had an interesting conversation with two of my close family members. They are sisters who have both struggled with their weight for a number of years. Both have been able to lose weight and change their lifestyles temporarily, only to gain the weight back (and sometimes more) within a year or less.
Posted 9/7/2010 6:01:53 AM By: : 373 comments 42,731 views
A Magical Beverage That's Proven to Suppress Your Appetite
What if I told you there is something you can drink that is easily accessible, free, healthy, and can help you lose more weight? Does it sound too good to be true? For years, people have speculated that this drink helps with weight loss. But until now there hasn’t been much scientific evidence to back up that claim. So what is it?
Posted 9/3/2010 10:12:31 AM By: : 167 comments 126,260 views
Part-Time Vegetarianism is Gaining Ground
If I lived alone, I would probably be a vegetarian. I was a vegetarian for a year or two before I got pregnant with my first child, but started eating meat again because I craved it. That’s the only time in my life I would say that I "craved" meat. In general, I tend to gravitate to the vegetarian items on a restaurant menu and if I’m making a meal for just myself, it doesn’t usually have meat in it. But cooking for one is rare in my house. I have a husband who likes meat, and two children who need at least some of the protein that meat provides. My daughter is great about eating alternate protein sources like beans, but my son won’t touch them. In order to provide a balanced diet to my family, I make meat dishes at least a few times a week. And I’m slightly lazy, which means I’m not going to make one thing for them and something different for myself. So I end up eating meat whether I really want to or not.
Posted 8/27/2010 4:02:48 PM By: : 304 comments 40,208 views
Using Farmers Markets to Tackle Childhood Obesity
I’ve blogged in the past about my love for farmers’ markets. They have such a wide array of fruits and vegetables that I’ve been able to try things I might never have noticed otherwise. Now a unique program in Massachusetts is using farmers’ markets to expose low-income children to these foods and help combat childhood obesity.
Posted 8/24/2010 12:00:00 AM By: : 64 comments 28,520 views
Is My Child Destined to be a Worry-Wart Like Me?
There are lots of traits I hope to pass on to my kids, such as my strong work ethic and desire to succeed. But there are a few traits I hope they don’t inherit, and my tendency to worry is at the top of the list. My daughter (who is 3) has already started to exhibit some of those traits, being a little adult who wants to take care of everyone and everything. For a long time I’ve thought that it was in her genes, and maybe she’s just destined to be like me. But a new study is showing that environment might have an even bigger influence.
Posted 8/20/2010 10:21:46 AM By: : 39 comments 24,267 views
Could Your Weight Affect How You React to Food Cues?
Most people assume that individuals are overweight because they eat too much at every meal, or they are always making unhealthy choices. But as you probably know, that’s not always the case. New research is looking at how people react to food in different ways, and how that can have an affect on eating patterns and ultimately, weight.
Posted 8/17/2010 12:00:00 PM By: : 91 comments 41,812 views
Confession: My Posture is Horrible
Everyone has those things they don’t like about themselves. Feet that are too big or too small, a face that is too round or too long, etc. It’s easy to find flaws when we look in the mirror. Hands down, the thing that bothers me most about myself is my posture--something you’d think I could improve. I’ve tried various things over the years to help correct the problem, but so far, no luck.
Posted 8/10/2010 11:04:47 AM By: : 184 comments 37,026 views
Hands-Only CPR Can Save Lives
I’ve been CPR certified for a number of years. Thankfully I’ve never had to use the techniques I’ve learned, but it always makes me feel better knowing that I could attempt to save a life if it were needed. I’ll be honest; the thought of performing CPR on someone makes me very nervous. Would I remember the order of the steps? The right number of breaths to compressions? Could I stay calm enough to do what needed to be done? The American Heart Association is promoting new guidelines that will make it easier and safer for people to help during an emergency. Wouldn’t you like to learn how to help save a life?
Posted 8/6/2010 6:21:50 AM By: : 63 comments 27,832 views
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