Alicia graduated from Northwestern University with a Bachelor of Science in journalism with a minor in film and media studies. Prior to joining SparkPeople, she worked in marketing and public relations and once left it all behind to backpack through South America. Alicia enjoys practicing yoga outside on sunny days, farmers markets, planning trips to practically every country and cheering aggressively for her beloved Cincinnati Reds and New Orleans Saints. She can also make a mean guacamole on toast.
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Breaking up With Brad, My Food Delivery Guy
I can list the number of meals I can cook on one hand: calzones (with pre-made dough), roasted Brussels sprouts, kale chips, banana bread and orzo with olive oil, mozzarella, grape tomatoes and basil. Once I called my college-aged brother to ask if water would boil without a lid on the pot. I'm the girl who buys a can of bruschetta at Trader Joe's, slaps it on a crostini and brings it to the potluck. Anything you can burn, I've burnt. When I see "better than takeout" promises in magazines or attached to online recipes, I scoff and think "Yeah, sure." Every boyfriend I've ever had displayed an above-average interest in cooking. I think they call that a survival instinct.
Posted 4/13/2016 12:00:00 AM By: : 69 comments 44,743 views
Home Is Where the Half Marathon Is
"I always considered myself chubby in high school," "After a pregnancy in my early 20s, my weight ballooned," "I yo-yo'd between 140 and 210 pounds more times than I care to admit," "I worked a stressful job and my activity level was minimal," "When I was on a healthy eating plan I considered it a 'diet' rather than an ongoing lifestyle."
Rhonda Wills' (GOING-STRONG) reasons for suffering from weight gain read like a top five list for why people fall off the healthy living wagon. Despite having a healthy BMI in high school, life, as it often does, got in the way of her health. Before she knew it, she was 215 pounds and knew she needed a change.
Posted 4/4/2016 12:00:00 AM By: : 23 comments 43,072 views
Home Is Where the Triathlon Is
At 258 pounds, Monty Seidler (MIRAGE727) saw people who worked out regularly as obsessive, so when a physical therapist suggested that he look into triathlons it seemed crazy. Soon, though, he would find that the triathlon life was the only life for him.
Posted 3/7/2016 12:00:00 AM By: : 35 comments 30,857 views
'Shark Tank' Products That Help You Live Healthier
If you ever felt strongly that your garage-based hobby could be a billion-dollar company if someone would just give you a chance, ABC's "Shark Tank" is the show for you. The two-time Emmy award-winner has been a platform for new companies looking to take their business to the next level for the past seven years. Each episode, the "sharks," successful entrepreneurs who have built their own multimillion-dollar businesses, hear pitches from business owners and decide if the product or company is worth an investment.
The show has seen its fair share of booms, busts and unlikely heroes (Squatty Potty, anyone?) in its 142 episodes, but are there any products that are relevant to you on your journey to healthy living? In fact, yes. With the popularity of health and wellness showing no signs of slowing down, entrepreneurs looking to capitalize are often front and center. You might be surprised which products made their television debut in the tank. Check out these 10 products—one might just be the missing piece in your fit and fabulous lifestyle.
Posted 3/3/2016 12:00:00 AM By: : 26 comments 68,600 views
29 Ways to Make the Most of This February 29th
Once every four years, magic happens—a leap year. When the Earth's orbit needs a little more time to realign itself with our calendar, we're granted a precious extra 24 hours to enjoy however we so choose. It's an extra day of living, an extra day to work towards your goals and an extra day of being excellent. It is our duty, nay our responsibility, as people of this world to take full advantage of this bonus day, gifted to us by Pope Gregory XIII's "Gregorian Calendar." Right?
Posted 2/26/2016 12:00:00 AM By: : 20 comments 19,565 views
Do Standing Desks Improve Your Health?
In his book "Get Up! Why Your Chair is Killing You and What You Can Do About It," health expert and inventor of the treadmill desk Dr. James Levine calls out the dangers of sitting in no uncertain terms, writing, "We all have a capacity of happiness. Sitting somehow suppresses it. Sitting is more dangerous than smoking, kills more people than HIV and is more treacherous than parachuting. We are sitting ourselves to death." Article after study after article agree that the average American sits too much and needs to incorporate more movement into their day-to-day tasks. But what's a nine-to-fiver supposed to do?
Posted 2/8/2016 12:00:00 AM By: : 83 comments 49,276 views
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Home Is Where the Swimming Is
When a back injury prompted her to head to the gym at age 40, it took Lucy Parsons (CRAZYMAMA46) 20 minutes to get from the car to the front door at her local YMCA. At more than 400 pounds, Parsons had been struggling with a sciatic nerve issue that caused a loss of feeling and movement in her left leg. Back surgery and feelings of depression and anger followed, leaving her feeling like she didn't have any options.
Posted 2/1/2016 12:00:00 AM By: : 37 comments 35,734 views
Beats That Inspired Us to Move in 2015
From a song that got every man, woman and child to embrace the funk and a new anthem that had everyone shutting up to dance, to Adele's much-anticipated and oh-so evocative return to the spotlight, high-energy, jive-worthy songs were in no short supply this year. No matter if you're staying the course in 2016 or getting off to a fresh and healthy start, a bumping playlist is a must. Which is why SparkPeople teamed up with Yes! Fitness Music to create a remixed playlist featuring all the best 2015 had to offer on the music charts.
Posted 1/1/2016 12:00:00 AM By: : 7 comments 31,623 views
Holiday Gifts for the Hostess with the Mostess
You've picked a show-stopping dress and the hubby's got his perfect tie ready to go, but have you put any thought into what kind of gift you can offer the host or hostess of your next holiday party? Cookies or holiday sweets might be the quick and easy go-to throughout December, but the key to wowing your host or hostess with the perfect sign of your appreciation isn't necessarily through his or her sweet tooth. There are a number of small, thoughtful gifts you can bring along to all of your upcoming holiday parties as a show of good cheer. Grab one of these nine sweet gifts and solidify your status as the holiday season's most-wanted guest.
Posted 12/17/2015 12:00:00 AM By: : 14 comments 33,915 views
Will Hollywood Ever Learn to Stop Worrying and Love Real Bodies?
Oh, the times they are a chang…wait, not so fast.
Hollywood has long been criticized for putting tremendous pressure on women to stay petite as can be. (See: her and her and these two. Oh, and her.) But recently, there seems to be a rise in young actresses standing up and saying, "I am woman and these are my curves and these are my muscles, hear me roar!" Hunger Games star Jennifer Lawrence has, perhaps, been the most vocal on her refusal to conform to a particular body type for roles. The public has applauded her for her confidence and quick wit when it comes to defending her body, but is anyone in Hollywood—or the world for that matter—actually listening?
Posted 12/4/2015 12:00:00 AM By: : 24 comments 36,778 views
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SparkPeople Gives Thanks
Here at SparkPeople, we like to sweat--really, really sweat. Whether it's a quick sprint up the stairs after lunch to get the heart pumping, a long run beside the river or a jump-rope-slash-strength-training circuit that results in puddles on the floor, working a bit of exercise into every day is a huge part of our lives and helps keep us feeling healthy and empowered all year long. With Thanksgiving right around the corner, we wanted to tell you what we are thankful for and take a moment to recognize all the inventive ways we workout and the people and things that motivate us to sweat.
Posted 11/23/2015 12:00:00 AM By: : 17 comments 19,265 views
12 Chicken Meals You Can Prep in 15 Minutes or Less
Whether it's the holiday season sneaking around the corner, summer activities, school functions or the busy time at work, schedules have a way of becoming a carefully balanced juggling act. As a result, getting a healthy dinner on the table often takes a back seat to social events, the kids' extracurricular activities, shopping or baking. With the help of a trusty slow cooker and a long list of recipes, though, healthy meals can still be incorporated into your evening plans in almost no time and with very little effort. Slow cooker recipes require only a few minutes of your attention—just prep, go about your day and come home to a finished, nutritious meal.
Posted 11/20/2015 12:00:00 AM By: : 30 comments 57,588 views
10 Restaurant Meals Get a Healthy Makeover
One of the more difficult parts of sticking to a healthy eating plan is knowing that many old favorites and fast-food standbys can no longer be on the menu. Outrageous calorie counts, sodium levels that are through the roof and processed ingredients you can’t even pronounce put a lot of ooey, gooey, sugary and sweet foods on the no-no list. But you’re in luck, because with a few modifications and healthy substitutions, many favorite restaurant meals and sweet treats can easily find their way into your new meal plan.
Posted 11/11/2015 12:00:00 AM By: : 293 comments 97,722 views
12 Recipes for Little Chefs in Training
If your kid’s idea of cooking involves a three-step process of opening, toasting and eating a Pop-Tart, then National Kids Take Over the Kitchen Day (September 13th) was probably invented with your family in mind. If you don’t already involve your child in cooking, getting him or her started at a young age is a great way to instill healthy eating habits that can last a lifetime (looking at you, college years!). When kids learn to cook healthy meals for themselves, they will likely be less inclined to rely on fast food, delivery or frozen meals as they age. Whether your child is four or fourteen, there is a job he or she can help perform. Little ones can help with washing fresh veggies or scooping ingredients into measuring cups, while older kids can assist with more prep work and even man the stovetop, with supervision, of course.
Posted 9/8/2015 12:00:00 AM By: : 18 comments 36,415 views
The Best Running Songs of All Time (Volume Two!)
A great running song needs three elements: Lyrics that bring out the champion diva inside, infectious beats that propel you forward every time the bass drops and that little extra something that makes you look forward to--or distracts you from--all those miles ahead. Now, imagine a playlist comprised of a mix of songs, all containing these three important elements. Imagine what a playlist like that could do for your workout.
Imagine no more! We teamed up with Yes! Fitness Music to create "The Best Running Songs of All Time (Volume 2)" playlist, just for you. After hundreds of fitness fans shared their favorite running songs with us, Yes! Fitness Music combined the top choices with their diverse music library to develop an all-new playlist that is sure to make your run more enjoyable and keep your pace competitive, too. The list has something for everyone, whether you like to have a little dance in your step with Bruno Mars and Taylor Swift, prefer jamming with The Boss or need a bit of rock 'n roll to keep you moving.
Posted 8/28/2015 12:00:00 AM By: : 16 comments 52,071 views
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