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:
Consider the Source: Could McDonald's Be Good For Your Kids?
McDonald's has launched a new kind of ad campaign, this time targeting moms . The idea is to promote some of the more positive aspects of foods like French fries and Egg McMuffins. Skeptical? I know I was……
Posted 11/28/2008 4:46:42 PM By: : 173 comments 17,022 views
Where is the Healthiest City in America?
According to a recent report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Burlington, Vermont, is the healthiest city in America. Ninety-two percent of Burlington residents report that they are in good or great health. Outdoor activities are common, with lots of people biking and hiking, and neighborhood groups focused on improving parks, sidewalks, etc. With a culture focused on health, there are also more food options. Grass-fed beef is offered in finer restaurants, vegans have a variety of food choices, and the downtown supermarket is run by a co-op that sells healthy choices to low-income residents. Sounds like a nice place to live, huh?
Posted 11/21/2008 11:00:00 AM By: : 58 comments 11,475 views
How Long Should You Really Rest Between Workouts?
We always talk about the importance of rest when it comes to your exercise routine. Your body needs that time to recover, and your overall health and fitness level will benefit from non-exercise days. But how much rest is too much? Research from the University of Missouri at Columbia found that only two days of inactivity are enough to cause the size of fat cells to increase by 25%! Surprised? Although this research was done on animals, the same could be true for people.
Posted 11/14/2008 2:12:31 PM By: : 179 comments 247,325 views
You Asked: Is It OK to Run Every Day?
One of our readers recently asked this question: "I just finished the Couch to 5K program. I want to know if/when it is a good idea to run daily. I'm trying really hard to avoid injuries and burnout."
Posted 11/12/2008 3:06:38 PM By: : 72 comments 125,330 views
Boost Your Metabolism the Natural Way
Need another reason to get fit? New research shows that endurance-trained athletes have a higher resting metabolism than those who don't exercise. This suggests that they burn energy faster than sedentary people even without exercising--and the different is pretty significant. So while your fit friend is sitting on the couch watching TV, she's likely burning a lot more calories than you (the non-exerciser) are.
Posted 11/7/2008 5:29:06 PM By: : 70 comments 19,967 views
Will a Tough Economy Expand Your Waistline?
There's no doubt about it. Times are tough, and more people that ever are struggling to make ends meet. Recent studies show that a shrinking wallet might actually have the opposite effect on your waistline. Obesity rates could continue to climb as people rely more on cheap and unhealthy sources of food like fast-food meals and processed junk.
Posted 10/31/2008 3:28:18 PM By: : 96 comments 11,765 views
Slow Down to Slim Down!
I know I'm guilty of it: I'm short on time, my 2-year old is pulling at my leg to go outside and play, so I'll scarf down my lunch as fast as I can chew instead of taking the time to sit down and eat at a reasonable pace. But did you know that how you eat your food could be just as important as how much you're eating?
Posted 10/29/2008 3:00:40 PM By: : 86 comments 16,125 views
High School Football Players: Is Bigger Really Better?
The pressure on high school athletes to compete and perform has never been higher than it is now. As college tuition rates continue to rise, many student athletes rely on scholarships to help them get a higher education. But in some sports, kids are paying a price for trying to stay competitive. Is it worth it?
Posted 10/22/2008 3:00:07 PM By: : 19 comments 11,905 views
How Does Your Body Image Affect Your Child?
A number of studies in recent years have analyzed at the attitudes of parents towards their weight and looks, and how those attitudes influence their children. A new study of 4-year olds in Australia found that many have already picked up the message from their parents that fat is "bad" and muscle is "good". You might think that a preschooler is too young to be influenced by their parent's struggles with weight or their latest fad diet. But think again.
Posted 10/17/2008 12:35:05 PM By: : 54 comments 14,632 views
Inspiring Stories: Overcoming Obstacles to Achieve Your Dreams
I'd never heard the name Amy Palmiero-Winters until a co-worker of mine sent me a video about her. Although you've probably never heard of her either, she's someone we can all learn a lot from.
Posted 10/3/2008 4:35:00 PM By: : 46 comments 30,908 views
The Great Debate Over Plastic Water Bottles
Plastic water bottles and their potential health risks are a hot topic in the news these days. How do you know if you’re at risk? Is it really something to be concerned about?
Posted 10/1/2008 4:39:33 PM By: : 108 comments 22,140 views
Even Regular Exercisers Should Turn Off the T.V.
Even if you’re active and exercise regularly, watching a lot of T.V. could still be negatively impacting your health. A recent study in the journal Medicine and Exercise in Sports and Science found that spending too much time in front of the T.V. could increase your risk of heart disease. The study analyzed subjects who exercised moderately or vigorously for at least 2.5 hours each week. Those women who watched 43 to 86 minutes of television each day had higher blood pressure and triglyceride levels than those who watched less.
Posted 9/24/2008 2:00:00 PM By: : 73 comments 9,586 views
Is Combining Your Workout Better For Your Diet?
I get questions like this all the time: “Is it better to do my strength training and cardio workouts on different days, or can I do both on the same day?” Typically, my response is that it really doesn’t matter in the long run. I recommend doing whatever works best for your schedule. But a recent study in the Journal of Sports Science and Medicine shows that when it comes to your diet, it might be better to combine your workouts.
Posted 9/20/2008 6:23:37 AM By: : 92 comments 16,026 views
Got The Munchies? Your Brain Could Be To Blame!
Ever wondered why you get the munchies after working on a challenging project at the office or taking a tough exam? A new study shows that intellectual activities tend to make people eat more than just resting.
Posted 9/17/2008 7:08:25 AM By: : 53 comments 11,352 views
Can Taking the Stairs Really Prolong Your Life? You Bet!
A study at the University of Geneva has shown how something as small as taking the stairs instead of the elevator can have a big impact on your health. The study started with 69 participants who had a sedentary lifestyle, meaning they did less than two hours of exercise each week and climbed fewer than 10 flights of stairs each day. Over the 12 weeks of the study, participants were asked to take the stairs instead of the elevator, increasing their average number of flights from five to 23.
Posted 9/10/2008 7:14:46 AM By: : 54 comments 20,084 views
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