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:
I'm Not Raising My Hand for Chocolate Milk
I'm not a big fan of the taste of milk, but I drink it because I think it's good for you. Add some chocolate syrup to it, and of course I like it even more. But at that point, is the milk becoming more like a dessert? A new campaign is trying to keep chocolate milk as a choice in school cafeterias, saying that taking it away will do more harm than good.
Posted 11/27/2009 6:00:00 AM By: : 254 comments 36,781 views
Giving Thanks For My Body
I have so many things in my life to be thankful for. I have great kids, a supportive husband, good friends, a job I love- the list could go on and on. But I don't always take the time to think about those things because it's easy to get caught up in the negatives. I didn't get enough sleep last night, the kids were cranky today or my pre-pregnancy pants don't fit. Those are a few of the most recent "complaints". That's why I was glad to have the opportunity to do this blog, because it made me stop and think about some of the things I should be thankful for that I often overlook.
Posted 11/24/2009 12:19:50 PM By: : 78 comments 21,970 views
Research Says Wii Fit Won't Make You Fit
Wii Fit has become a hot trend over the past couple of years. In fact, Wii Fit is now the third best-selling video game of all time. Many people use Wii Fit as a way to get active and have fun. But is it really a workout? Can Wii Fit be used as a substitute for traditional exercise? A new study from ACE (American Council on Exercise), says "no."
Posted 11/20/2009 10:21:17 AM By: : 315 comments 41,284 views
Runnin' Down A Dream--With A Stroller
When my daughter was about 6 months old, I started taking her for runs in the jogging stroller. In the beginning, I was nervous. Would she be comfortable? Would she be content to ride along? My dad and I would go to the park and take turns pushing her, and it ended up being enjoyable for all of us. After my son was born, we got a double jogger. He's almost one, and it took until a few weeks ago for me to get the courage to attempt pushing both of them.
Posted 11/17/2009 6:11:08 AM By: : 54 comments 19,700 views
Kids Get on the Ball to Stay Fit and Focused
Stability balls are a common piece of workout equipment- whether at the gym or at home. Some people even use them in place of a chair while sitting at work, because they help with posture and core strengthening. But what about kids who are sitting in a classroom for hours each day? Surprisingly, the benefits aren't just physical, but mental as well.
Posted 11/13/2009 2:36:20 PM By: : 129 comments 22,663 views
Mom's Dieting Leads to Daughters' Eating Disorders
Growing up, my mom was always on (or off) of a diet. I always knew she was "back on the wagon" when the grocery bags were filled with frozen diet meals, meal replacement bars and diet "cookies". Notice I did not say the bags were filled with lots of fresh fruits and veggies, but that's another story. Although she never commented about my weight and always encouraged me to be happy with my body, I can't say that her behaviors didn't influence me. I saw the struggles she went through- losing weight, trying to keep it off, and eventually gaining it back. I swore I would never go through the same thing, and although I haven't had to, I've always been very conscious of my weight because of it.
Posted 11/10/2009 5:43:27 AM By: : 163 comments 29,938 views
Spending Big Dollars to Market Cocoa Puffs to Kids
Growing up, the two cereal choices in our house were Cheerios and Rice Krispies. The only time I got to try the cereals I saw advertised on Saturday morning cartoons was when I spent the night at a friend's house. I always dreamed about what Cookie Crisp and Cocoa Puffs might taste like, and to this day, I've still never tried them (although I don't think I'm missing much anymore).
My parents had a rule in our house: No sugar cereals. I guess my sister and I were already full of energy as the day began, and they didn't want the extra sugar to get us even more wired. That was a wise decision. You'd think that these days, the cereal commercials directed toward children would have a healthier spin. But a new study shows that's not the case.
Posted 11/6/2009 6:08:30 PM By: : 121 comments 22,753 views
Would You Like a Muffin Top With that Coffee?
The mid-afternoon coffee break. For some, it's enjoyment. For others, it's a necessity in order to function until the end of the day. A plain cup of coffee or tea won't break the bank when it comes to calories (less than 10 calories per cup). But the more "fancy" your order becomes, the faster the calories and fat can skyrocket. A recent study looked at what kinds of drinks people opt for during their afternoon visit to the local Starbucks or Dunkin' Donuts.
Posted 10/30/2009 11:12:57 AM By: : 116 comments 30,769 views
One More Reason To Drink Your Water
I'm routinely asked why SparkPeople focuses so much on drinking water. The idea that you need to drink 8 glasses a day is a myth, right? Although the amount of water you should consume varies from person to person, there are a lot of reasons to make sure you're getting enough. If you're looking for a few, a new study confirms that water drinkers tend to have better diets.
Posted 10/27/2009 6:02:52 AM By: : 195 comments 31,188 views
Should Bigger Babies Be Denied Insurance Coverage?
My son weighed 7.0 lbs at birth, which was an average size. He was (and still is) a good eater who grew very quickly. At his 4 month checkup, he weighed over 16 pounds and was in the 95th percentile for both height and weight. I never worried about his size because he was a breastfed baby who just happened to grow early. Our pediatrician never worried either. "Some kids grow quickly right away and then level off, while others hit a growth spurt later on. Every child is different," she told me. That's why I was shocked to hear a story from Colorado, where a 4-month old was denied insurance coverage because he was considered "obese".
Posted 10/23/2009 3:59:42 PM By: : 287 comments 25,705 views
Exercise Reduces Sick Time Better Than Drugs
As cold and flu season quickly approaches (or has already arrived if you live in my house), questions arise about exercise and illness. Is it okay to exercise if I have a cold? How soon after an illness can I return to regular activity? A lot of us are going to get sick this year, so it's good to know what to do if it happens to you. But what about preventing illness in the first place? We take our vitamins and eat our fruits and vegetables, but can exercise help protect you from getting a cold? Research says "yes."
Posted 10/20/2009 1:00:00 PM By: : 126 comments 55,970 views
Can You Be a Success Without Reaching a Goal? I Am
As many of you know, I ran the Chicago Marathon this past Sunday. Although it wasn't the race I hoped it would be, it was an experience I'll remember forever. I set an aggressive goal for myself, but wasn't able to run quite fast enough to meet it. So does that mean I failed? Not at all.
Posted 10/16/2009 10:26:17 AM By: : 121 comments 23,794 views
Do Working Moms Have Unhealthy Kids?
I like to think that overall, I'm a good mom. Some days are better than others, but in general, I try to provide a good example for my kids. We eat healthy, engage in physical activity like playing on the swing set or going to the park, they don't watch TV, etc. Another way I think I'm a good example is by showing them that you can be a good mom and have a career at the same time--if that's something you want. But is that a bad choice? A new British study concludes that children whose mothers work are less likely to eat healthy or exercise.
Posted 10/13/2009 9:41:22 AM By: : 222 comments 23,934 views
The Surprising Benefits of Group Workouts
Working out with a buddy is a great way to keep you moving toward your goals. A buddy can provide motivation when you're down, a "woo hoo" when you're up and keep you accountable on the days when you'd rather stay in bed instead of getting up to exercise. But did you know that working out with a buddy or group can also push you to work harder and increase your tolerance for pain?
Posted 10/9/2009 6:08:13 AM By: : 138 comments 26,034 views
My Pity-Party Is Over--It's Time To Get Serious
My brief interaction with a fellow runner a few weeks ago has changed my attitude about running, at a time when I needed it the most.
Posted 10/6/2009 4:14:24 PM By: : 132 comments 27,531 views
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