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:
Kid Snacking: How Much Is Too Much?
I have a feeling that one day very soon, I’m going to become the complaining parent at my 3-year old's preschool. I've always been conscientious about her diet (I prefer that term over "strict" or "crazy") so I knew that I'd have a hard time sending her to school where she gets a snack that's not approved by me. I've tried to relax a little, looking at the bigger picture and telling myself that she's got to learn to make her own healthy choices at some point. She's only 3, so she's not really making those choices yet. But its good practice for the future, right?
Posted 2/2/2010 10:00:55 AM By: : 229 comments 33,835 views
Obesity Rates Level Off, But Can We Really Celebrate?
More than two-thirds of adults and almost one third of children in the United States are overweight. As the upward trend continued, people started taking action. The government, schools and community organizations launched large campaigns to fight the battle of the bulge. Now some new figures from the Centers for Disease Control show the rates of obesity have leveled off over the last decade. So is it time to celebrate? Not really.
Posted 1/29/2010 6:00:00 AM By: : 72 comments 22,006 views
When Does Plastic Surgery Go Too Far?
Heidi Montag is an MTV reality star who has been in the news recently. She's on the cover of People magazine, discussing the 10 plastic surgery procedures she had (all in one day) a few months ago. She's been flooded with negative feedback from people who think it's excessive, unnecessary and even potentially dangerous. My opinion has always been that people should do what makes them happy. But is there a point where it becomes too much?
In the People issue, Montag defends her decision, saying "I just want to be as beautiful as I can be, inside and out." She feels she basically looks the same, but is just an improved version of herself. Montag doesn't think this should set an example for other young people to follow, since they aren't in the entertainment industry where appearance is such a big part of success.
Posted 1/26/2010 5:07:48 PM By: : 288 comments 30,795 views
Could Your Weight-Loss Expenses Be Tax Deductible?
Obesity and its medical complications are an expensive problem in the United States. Because the costs continue to rise, the government is offering tax incentives to entice people to lose weight. At this time of year when you're thinking about improving your health and also filing tax returns, why not do something that can benefit both?
Posted 1/22/2010 10:10:04 AM By: : 69 comments 33,004 views
Is It Time To Relax When It Comes To Your Health?
I see this scenario pretty frequently at this time of the year: A person decides it's time to get healthy. So they start reading about all of the foods they should and shouldn't eat, all of the habits they should and shouldn't have, and they are ready to completely change their life. There are so many different things they could focus on, so why choose just one? Right away they start drinking more water, eating lots of fruits and veggies, tracking how much fat they are consuming (and what kind it is), getting more sleep, burning exactly 325 calories per day through exercise, wearing sunscreen daily- whew! The list goes on and on….
A week later, they are totally stressed out and ready to throw in the towel because it's too many things to think about. Does this sound familiar? Have you ever fallen into the trap of feeling like you have to become perfectly healthy and do everything exactly the way the experts tell you to? With so much information out there, it's easy to get overwhelmed with what you should and shouldn't be doing when it comes to your health.
Posted 1/19/2010 5:41:03 AM By: : 116 comments 24,718 views
Turn Up Your Activity By Turning Off The TV
The topic of TV is a constant battle in my house. I would be happy if we got rid of the TV completely (okay, except when it's the middle of a season of Top Chef.) My husband, on the other hand, was a little too excited when we got our new flat-screen, big-screen, too much-screen TV. There are lots of good reasons to watch less TV, especially since the average American spends 5 hours a DAY in front of the TV. It's easy to assume that less TV might lead to healthier habits, since you'd have more time to exercise or cook a healthy meal. A new study shows that less TV might not change your diet or increase your exercise, but it could lead to an increase in overall activity levels.
Posted 1/15/2010 6:21:55 PM By: : 149 comments 24,384 views
Would You Take Medical Advice From A Celebrity?
We are a society that is fascinated with the lives of celebrities. We like to know what they eat for dinner, where they shop for toothpaste and the details of their medical history. Many celebrities have been very open about their struggles with various diseases, in the hopes that they can inspire and educate others through their experiences. But when does it cross the line from sharing experiences, to giving medical advice that they aren't qualified to be dispensing?
Posted 1/12/2010 1:52:13 PM By: : 228 comments 27,097 views
Improve Your Diet By Getting More Sleep
Do you find that it's easier to stick to your diet when you're well-rested? Is it difficult to stay on track when you're not? New research shows that not getting enough sleep can affect the food choices you make when you're awake. That's just one more reason to make sure you're getting enough shut-eye!
Posted 1/8/2010 10:25:41 AM By: : 123 comments 25,271 views
A Review Of My 2009 Resolutions
Happy New Year!
As 2010 begins and I start to think about my resolutions for this year, I thought it would be good to take a look at how I did with last year's resolutions. I might not have done as well as I'd hoped, but hopefully the experiences of the past year will help me make a plan to be more successful this year.
Posted 1/1/2010 5:00:00 AM By: : 41 comments 13,959 views
Biggest Loser Contestants Run a Marathon: Inspirational or Irresponsible?
On a recent episode of NBC's "The Biggest Loser", the 4 remaining contestants were given their final challenge: run a marathon. They had 60 days to train, and although the episode doesn't discuss the details of their training program, we assume that they did most of the training on their own. Maybe some people found inspiration by watching the contestants struggle through the 26.2 mile race. But as I watched the episode, I just became more and more frustrated. Am I the only one?
Posted 12/29/2009 2:08:49 PM By: : 566 comments 45,278 views
A Younger Look May Mean Living Longer
Have you ever had someone ask your age, and then be shocked at your response? "You look so young! I never would have guessed it!" I used to hear those comments all the time before I had kids, but I think the lack of sleep and stress of children has aged me a little. It's definitely been worth the tradeoff, but now a new study reveals that looking younger may mean you live longer.
Posted 12/22/2009 1:42:33 PM By: : 111 comments 25,405 views
When It Comes To Holiday Gifts, Don't Forget About Yourself!
If you're like me, you've got a Christmas shopping list that you're slowly chipping away at as the 25th approaches. My planner has a list names with notes next to each one- what I've gotten already, what I still need to get, and a few with question marks (which means I have no clue what to get them.) But one person that's missing from the list is myself. It's easy to get so busy that we forget that we deserve a treat now and then, too.
Posted 12/18/2009 6:14:30 AM By: : 69 comments 18,830 views
Are You Too Competitive With Yourself?
Last week, I was talking to my co-workers about the 10K race I ran on Thanksgiving. Until recently, I always enjoyed races--the crowds cheering, meeting new people along the course, feeling good about my accomplishments, etc. But all of a sudden, I'm not experiencing those same positive feelings. I think I need to change my attitude about racing, but I'm just not sure how to go about it.
Posted 12/11/2009 1:57:48 PM By: : 122 comments 29,957 views
Improve Your Shut-Eye With Physical Activity
We've often heard that being more physically active improves sleep patterns. For a lot of people, better sleep is one of the more immediate benefits of an active lifestyle. Have you found that it's easier to fall asleep if you've had a good workout earlier in the day? A new study of school-age children confirms that the greater the daytime activity level, the easier it is to fall asleep at night. And now they are measuring just how significant the benefit might be.
Posted 12/8/2009 1:56:39 PM By: : 65 comments 16,513 views
What to Do When a Loved One Struggles with Weight Loss?
I've blogged in the past about my mom's struggle with weight loss and how she's been on and off diets for most of my life. She never put pressure on me to look a certain way. In fact, she always encouraged me to accept myself for who I was. But I saw her weight fluctuate as she tried one diet or another, only to slide back into her old habits after a while. And now I'm wondering if this yo-yo cycle will ever end.
Posted 12/4/2009 10:14:54 AM By: : 200 comments 34,995 views
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