SparkPeople Members in 'Runner's World'

Remember the group of SparkPeople members who ran the Ragnar Relay together as a part of the documentary From Fat to Finish Line? Last year we shared their story with you after they appeared on the Today show.

Now that same group of runners, who were chosen to participate in the documentary based on their mutual interest in running and 50+ pound weight loss, is featured in the April issue of Runner's World.

13 Annoying Gym Pet Peeves

A round-up of the most interesting and thought-provoking stories of the week.

13 Annoying Gym Pet Peeves That Make You Just Want to Quit Working Out
Peeves are just part of the workout process, especially when you go to a gym. Here are 13 of the most annoying habits. (Our top picks: People who talk or text while hogging cardio equipment, and people who wear heavy perfume/cologne.) What's your gym pet peeve? Huffington Post Healthy Living

Hark! There Is a Brand-New Menu Item at Chipotle and It Looks Delicious
Great news, vegetarians: Chipotle is launching tofu nationwide. Yum! Time

4 Suspension Training Sins
Do you use the TRX or other suspension equipment? Are you using it properly? Find out! ACE Fitness

Eat Plants And Prosper: For Longevity, Go Easy On The Meat, Study Says
You don't have to cut out meat and cheese entirely, but to lower your risk of dying of cancer and other causes, you should limit it during middle age, according to a new study. NPR

10 Unhealthy Foods to Give Up For Lent — and the Calories You'll Save
Did you commit to give up certain foods for Lent? See how many calories you'll save by making these small changes. (Not participating in Lent? You could still tackle these goals and improve your health.) Fit Sugar

A Yoga-Tabata Mashup Workout
Like yoga? Like HIIT and Tabata training? You'll love this short mashup of the two. It's a not as intense as most Tabata intervals, but it is a quick whole-body workout and stretch session. Shape

Birth by C-Section May Raise Obesity Risk
According to a large review of studies, birth by C-section has been linked to adult weight issues. NYT

Dr. Yogi: Physicians Integrate Yoga Into Medical Practice
Doctors are learning how to use yoga instead of drugs to treat various health issues. NPR

Cellulite, Stretch Marks, and a Love Your Body Challenge
Fitness expert Molly Galbraith, a regular contributor to SparkPeople's blog, challenges you to learn to love your body. She starts by sharing real photos of what fitness experts really look like. Molly Galbraith blog
 
 
The Food That Helped One Woman Live to 116 
The oldest person in the world just turned 116! Find out what she credits for her longevity. Women's Health

Which stories topped your "must-read" list this week?
 

New FDA Nutrition Labels Would Be Easier to Read

A round-up of the most interesting and thought-provoking stories of the week.

Child obesity rates drop 43% in past decade USA Today
Good news: Far fewer kids ages two to five are obese today compared with eight years ago. Bad news: Experts warn the numbers might be misleading.

New F.D.A. Nutrition Labels Would Make ‘Serving Sizes’ Reflect Actual Servings NYT
Confused by nutrition labels? You're not alone. Thankfully, new regulations, which will include larger type for calorie counts and easier-to-understand serving sizes, could be coming soon.

Maybe That BPA In Your Canned Food Isn't So Bad After All NPR
Remember how eliminating BPA from the linings of canned foods was a hot topic just a couple of years ago? Now, some experts say it's not such a big deal after all. Do you agree?

The Cast of Gym Characters Fit Bottomed Girls
We giggled at this roundup of the interesting characters at FBG Erin's gym. Do you people watch at the gym?  

3 Delicious No-Fuss Dinners

Between work and home obligations, plus all those healthy changes we're trying to make into lasting habits, sometimes cooking dinner gets moved to the back burner.

The good news is that delicious, nutritious meals don't need to require a lot of work. Today we're sharing three no-fuss meals that require just 10 minutes of hands-on prep work, along with our best tips for getting dinner on the table faster!

Don't Just Sit There! It Could Lead to Disability Later in Life

A round-up of the most interesting and thought-provoking stories of the week.

7 Things Only People Who Are Trying To Lose Weight Understand Huffington Post Healthy Living
When you're trying to get healthy, life changes. Sometimes, only those who are also trying to lose weight can understand where you're coming from. You'll love this roundup of truths from others in your (gym) shoes!

How Not to Look Stupid on a Rower SELF
The rowing machine is one of the most underused pieces of equipment at the gym, but it's also one of the most effective… and the most intimidating. Here's how to use it correctly.

Sit More, And You're More Likely To Be Disabled After Age 60 NPR
Stand up and take notice to this story: No matter how much exercise you get, sitting will increase your risk of becoming disabled, after age 60, according to new research. (Did you also know that older women are inactive for about two-thirds of the day?)

SparkPeople Radio is Back--Meet the New Host

Great news! SparkPeople Radio is back and better than ever. (Click here to listen to the latest show!) Starting today, get an hour of motivation, tips, and advice to keep you healthy and happy from our new host, Bettina Bush, plus special guests like Chris “SparkGuy” Downie, SparkPeople members, experts and more.

Over the last few weeks while the show was on hiatus, we've been working to make SparkPeople Radio better--and more motivating than ever. If you were a regular listener, we think you'll continue to love the show! If you didn't listen or stopped listening to the previous version, we invite you to give us another chance. We think you'll LOVE Bettina as much as we do. (Remember, you can earn three SparkPoints a day for listening!)

Bettina is a SparkPeople member as well as our radio host, and she definitely is an example of healthy living. Bettina and her husband have an adorable son and daughter, and they're committed to keeping their family healthy and happy--by getting the kids in the kitchen, being active as a family, and setting a good example by eating right and exercising regularly. Bettina is passionate about making healthy living fun and accessible.

9 Surprising Foods With More Sugar Than a Krispy Kreme

A round-up of the most interesting and thought-provoking stories of the week.

9 Surprising Foods With More Sugar Than a Krispy Kreme Doughnut Mother Jones
You know that added sugar lurks in unsuspecting places. But you'll never believe which foods have more sugar than a doughnut!  

5 Secrets From the Pros to a Stress-Free Life Huffington Post Healthy Living
Find out how mind-body experts stay stress free and in the moment.

Do You REALLY Need to Shower Post-Workout? Women's Health
Kinda gross, yes, but we've all asked ourselves this question post-workout, haven't we? So… do we?

Healthy Tips for Night Shift Workers U.S. News Health
Not a 9-to-5 worker? Here's how to stay healthy if you go to work when the rest of the world is going to bed.  

Did 'The Biggest Loser' Winner Drop Too Much Weight?

A round-up of the most interesting and thought-provoking stories of the week.

Eating too much added sugar may be killing you USA Today
According to a new study--the largest ever of its kind--eating added sugar exponentially increases your risks of cardiovascular disease. Could your sweet tooth kill you some day?

Did this ‘Biggest Loser’ contestant lose too much weight? Washington Post
The biggest story of the week is whether the winner of the popular weight-loss TV show has gone too far. Winning contestant Rachel now weighs 105 pounds and is considered underweight. Is she too skinny? Does it matter? Should the show set limits for contestants' weight loss?

Do You Have Caffeine Use Disorder? Women's Health
Coffee lovers, perk up: New research shows that a lot of us might be overly caffeinated. But what does that mean? And do we have to swap our full-caf to decaf?

31 Healthy Cooking Tips You Need to Know

A round-up of the most interesting and thought-provoking stories of the week.

Caramel color: The health risk that may be in your soda Consumer Reports
Set down your soda and read this: The most common coloring in foods is a potential carcinogen. Is it in your favorite drink--and does it matter?  

Exercise to Age Well, Whatever Your Age NYT
Think it's too late to start exercising? Think again! A new study found that even after years of a sedentary lifestyle, middle-age adults can benefit from exercise. So get up and get moving!

Watch and Burn: The Best Workout DVDs and Games of 2014 Fitness magazine
Looking for a few good workout DVDs? Fitness magazine reviews the best new ones. Whether you want yoga or HIIT, you're a beginner or a pro, you'll find one for you.  

How to Tell If You're Over-Exfoliating This Winter, Plus Tips on How to Keep Skin Smooth Self
This time of year, our skin is not always in tip-top shape. Learn how to keep it smooth--without over-exfoliating it.

31 Healthy Cooking Tips You Need to Know Fit Sugar
Whether you're new to cooking entirely or just you're starting to learn how to make your favorite recipes healthier, you'll learn a lot from this roundup of healthy cooking tips.

How the Polar Vortex Might Help You Lose Weight

A round-up of the most interesting and thought-provoking stories of the week.

How A Little Chill In The Air Could Help You Lose Weight NPR Shots blog
There might be a silver lining to this "polar vortex" after all: Experts say that keeping our environments slightly colder can actually help us lose weight. (As a contributing factor when combined with plenty of exercise and healthy eats, of course!)

Media Focus on Obesity May Backfire for Some Women U.S. News Health
According to a new study, women who are overweight were less likely to be able to control their eating after reading stories that portrayed overweight people in a negative way.

Google's Contact Lens and Other News You Need to Know Mashable
Watch how Google is developing a contact lens that might someday be able to help fight diabetes.

8 Ingredients for the Perfect Super Bowl Party

Hosting the Super Bowl bash this year? Beyond wings, beer, and plenty of chips and dip, there are a few more things you'll need to ensure your game-day festivities don’t commit any party fouls. Keep reading for eight ingredients for the perfect Super Bowl party!

Body Proud: 'What I Love About My Body'

A round-up of the most interesting and thought-provoking stories of the week.

Body Proud: "What I Love About My Body" Fitness magazine
Love this! Real women share what they love most about their bodies--and why.


Jillian Michaels's Top Get-Fit Tips Self
The celeb trainer shares her best tips for losing weight, shaping up, and staying that way.

Reforming a Picky Eater, Step One: Children Don’t Control the Family Meal NYT Motherlode blog
Dealing with a picky eater can be tough, but experts say the first step is to not let the kid reign supreme at the supper table.

5 New Ways to Use Brown Rice

Brown rice is one of the most versatile whole grains; nutty yet mild in flavor, it pairs well with sweet and savory ingredients alike. While brown rice is thought of as the go-to side dish for Asian stir-fries, Tex-Mex stews and Indian curries, we found five other, more inventive ways to use our favorite whole grain.

75 Snacks Under 200 Calories

A round-up of the most interesting and thought-provoking stories of the week.

75 Snacks Under 200 Calories Self
Snacks are an important part of a healthy eating plan, but they can also lead to calorie overload. Here are 75 that will fill you up for 200 calories or less!
 
Food Firms Trim Trillions Of Calories From Packaged Treats NPR
Since 2007, major food companies have trimmed more than 6.4 trillion calories from packaged foods as a way to combat childhood obesity.  But can it have any noticeable effect?

5 Fitness Feats that are Worth the Training Fit Bottomed Girls
The ever-positive Fit Bottomed Girls share five fitness goals that are within reach and worth setting for 2014.

How Being Heavy or Lean Shapes Our View of Exercise NYT Well blog

The Secret Ingredient for Easy, Healthy Meals (Any Time of Day)

I love this simple ingredient and eat it several times a week.

It's easy to cook, tasty to eat, and one of the most versatile foods in the healthy cook's pantry.

In my house, the secret to getting any meal off to a better start is...