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:
Is Diet the Most Important Factor for Senior Health? Maybe Not.
Healthy habits are important at any age, but it can be easier to get away with poor habits in your 20’s than in your 50’s and 60’s. As we age, it becomes even more obvious that a balanced diet, regular exercise and taking good care of our bodies will help us live a longer, higher-quality life. There are many factors to consider when it comes to good health, so which are the most important? According to a recent survey, there are consistent habits those seniors who consider themselves in “great” health have in common.
Posted 7/3/2012 2:00:00 PM By: : 56 comments 49,779 views
Do You Know What the Average Woman's Body Really Looks Like?
I've blogged before about my struggles with a post-baby body. Even though that was in February and my son is now 6 months old, I continue to have body image issues. The tradeoff is worth it, but it's still hard for me to accept that my body will probably never again look like it did before I had 2 children.
Posted 6/23/2012 2:00:00 PM By: : 297 comments 707,338 views
Could Exercise be Bad For Your Health?
It seems that the crazier a headline sounds, the more likely people are to click on it. Even though I knew a recent story couldn’t possibly be what it seemed, I had to check it out for myself. “Exercise Could Hurt Heart Health”, “Exercise May Be Bad for Some” and “Is Exercise Bad for You? A New Study Says Yes!” were just some of the titles about a recent study that caught my attention. Could everything I’ve learned through school, work experience, professional certifications and personal experience really be wrong? After review, I don’t think there is cause for alarm just yet.
Posted 6/19/2012 6:00:00 AM By: : 55 comments 33,889 views
I Have a Permanent Case of Mommy Brain
I used to have a great memory. I was the one my friends asked when they couldn’t remember the name of a high school classmate or a song they played at our Senior prom. These days, I feel lucky if I can remember what day it is and whether or not I ate lunch. I blame my three children for the decline. My mind is now filled with feeding times, where the kids need to be this afternoon and whether or not they got a bath yet today. Parts of my past are a total blur, and if I think about it, parts of my present are kind of a blur too. Good thing my husband still has a great memory to remind me of the things I forget.
Posted 6/12/2012 6:00:00 PM By: : 31 comments 25,968 views
It Pays to be a Label Reader
I often get teased by friends and family when they offer my children new foods. My kids always look to me first to see if its okay, and many times I like to read the label before telling them they can dig in. Whether it’s a treat, a snack or something else, I just like to know what my kids are eating. I’m not crazy about it and they try new foods frequently, but I do work hard to make sure they have a healthy, balanced diet most of the time.
Posted 6/5/2012 2:00:00 PM By: : 105 comments 44,634 views
If You're Waiting for the Perfect Moment, You'll Just Keep Waiting
Often, I hear people talk about their desire to change their lifestyle and adopt healthier habits.
“I’m ready to do it, but I’m just going to wait until after vacation to start.”
“I really want to lose weight, so after things slow down at work in a few weeks, then I’ll get to it.”
For most of us, life is hectic. We’ve got jobs that keep us busy, family, social events, and lots of other things that can make it challenging to focus on ourselves. I can see why people want to wait until the time is right, so that they have the greatest chance of success. But I don’t necessarily think that’s a good idea for a number of reasons. Interested in knowing why?
Posted 5/29/2012 10:00:00 AM By: : 74 comments 56,698 views
If Your Child Was Overweight, Would You Want to Know?
If there’s one thing I’ve learned about parenting, it’s how hard it is to feel judged by others. When you have kids, your whole life changes and most (if not all) of the decisions you make in life take another little person (or people) into consideration. I spend most of my day caring for my kids, trying to make sure their needs are met and they are growing up to be good individuals. So the last thing I want to hear is that I’m doing something wrong that’s going to negatively impact them for the rest of their lives. It’s hard to take criticism about your parenting skills, but that’s what a lot of people feel when their child’s weight comes into question.
Posted 5/22/2012 6:00:00 AM By: : 34 comments 19,273 views
Changing My Corner of the World, One Sidewalk at a Time
One of my biggest pet peeves has always been people who complain about things, but never do anything to change them. For example, it’s hard for me to bite my tongue when friends complain about our political system, but never take the time to go out and vote. If you’re unhappy about something, I think you should speak up and do something to make it better instead of always just grumbling about how it’s not right. That’s why I’ve decided to do something that makes me slightly uncomfortable, but is important to me and my family.
Posted 5/15/2012 6:00:00 PM By: : 150 comments 37,313 views
Is Climate Change Causing Our Allergies?
I’m lucky that I’ve never had to deal with seasonal allergies, but I know a lot of people who do. When springtime hits and there’s a thick layer of pollen on the open windowsills in my house, it’s only a matter of time before some of my family members are affected. My husband has trouble cutting the grass without fits of sneezing for hours afterward, and my daughter always has a runny nose when she comes in from playing. This year we experienced a very mild winter in my area and spring seemed to come earlier than usual. As a result, their symptoms showed up earlier as well.
Posted 5/8/2012 10:00:00 AM By: : 22 comments 17,090 views
The Best Diet for Weight Loss
We’re a society that tends to love quick fixes. Even though you know deep down that a diet promising you’ll “lose 30 pounds in 30 days” is too good to be true, it’s still tempting to try. When your hard work doesn’t show immediate results on the scale, it’s easy to get discouraged. But what’s worse: losing a bunch of weight quickly, only to gain it all back? Or losing weight slowly in a healthy way that’s going to help you keep it off for good? A new study validates the idea that those who succeed in keeping the weight off do it by eating less and exercising more.
Posted 5/1/2012 10:00:00 AM By: : 92 comments 76,026 views
Regular Exercise Benefits a Senior's Mind and Body
My grandma was a regular walker in the later years of her life. She never wanted to walk near her Florida condominium because she didn’t want her neighbors to see what she was up to. So she’d drive to a private beach a few miles away and walk in their parking lot. (You couldn’t actually see the beach from the parking lot, but that’s another story.) I remember she looked forward to those walks because they made her feel good. Eventually she stopped walking, which was right around the time that both her physical and mental health started to decline. New research validates the idea that regular exercise for seniors has more than just physical benefits.
Posted 4/27/2012 6:00:00 AM By: : 47 comments 41,586 views
Confession: My Motivation Just Isn't What It Used to Be
I used to feel like running was a big part of who I was. I was always looking forward to the next race and training for something. Even though I had days where the run was rough, I didn’t feel good or I was tired and didn’t want to go, I always felt good when it was over. That feeling is what kept me going and what kept me motivated to continue challenging myself through the sport.
Recently, I’ve been struggling to remember what it was like to love running. I’m still a regular runner, but going out for a run just isn’t what it used to be. I’m currently training for a half-marathon so I feel like I need to stick to the schedule. But most of the time I don’t really want to go, which is unusual for me. I don’t know if it’s because I’m so busy, I’m tired (3 young kids will do that to you), or because I miss training for events with a group (which I just haven’t had time to do since baby #3 arrived.) Maybe it’s a combination of those things.
Posted 4/24/2012 6:00:00 PM By: : 77 comments 40,952 views
Why Should I Warm Up Before a Workout?
On those days when time is at a premium, it can be tempting to skip your warm-up and jump right into your workout. Is that a smart use of your time, or is it asking for trouble? Even though the warming up won't burn hundreds of calories or get you those six-pack abs you've always wanted, it still has a very important place in your workout routine. Why warm up? Here are 10 good reasons.
Posted 4/23/2012 5:00:00 AM By: : 66 comments 227,621 views
You Asked: ''Is It Okay to Exercise When You Have a Cold?''
Great question! When you are sick, you need to pay careful attention to what your body is telling you. If the cold is primarily in your head, it's okay to exercise, just at a lower intensity (provided you feel okay and have enough energy). Once you are feeling 100% again, then you can slowly increase your activity back to your pre-illness level. If you're feeling sluggish or the workout isn't going well, don't push it. When you push too much, the sickness can end up hanging around longer.
Posted 4/21/2012 6:00:00 AM By: : 26 comments 42,456 views
Raising Strong Daughters
Grade school was tough for me. I got picked on a lot, mostly because I got good grades and didn’t like to get in trouble. I think a lot of my insecurities as an adult began on the school playground as a 9-year-old who just wanted to fit in. Because of those experiences, I’ve become super-sensitive to how I’m raising my daughters. I want them to be strong young women who don’t let the opinions of others determine their self-worth. I know some of that is inevitable (I see it already in preschool when my daughter gets her feelings hurt because a girl in her class doesn’t want to play with her), but hopefully they will be able to avoid at least some of the negativity that I experienced so long ago.
Posted 4/20/2012 2:00:00 PM By: : 39 comments 28,430 views
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