Stepfanie Romine is a writer, recipe developer, published author and certified yoga teacher who has lived--and cooked--on three continents. She currently calls Asheville, North Carolina home. 
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Habits of Healthy People: Stick with It, Especially When Life Gets Stressful
This last month has been perhaps one of the busiest and most fun of my life. Since late August, I've traveled to Detroit to help my grandparents move, spent a long weekend in Chicago, signed a lease for a new apartment with my boyfriend, packed up and cleaned our old place, moved and unpacked. We moved the same day as the Spark Your Life Convention, which meant I missed most of the heavy lifting. The next day, I ran my first 5K with several SparkPeople, then I ran another one last weekend. Now I'm in Vancouver on a quick business trip.
Despite all that activity--and most of it was fun and exciting--I stuck with my healthy habits. I tend to get stressed out rather easily, but I survived with only one minor meltdown. I very easily could have relied on takeout, pulled all-nighters and skipped workouts to free up more time for everything else I had to do, but I knew that in the long run, it wouldn't be a good choice. Looking back, I realized that a few simple steps saved me from letting stress get the best of me. Here's how I stuck with it when the going got tough.
Posted 10/7/2009 11:34:49 AM By: : 88 comments 27,120 views
I'm Leaving on a Jet Plane… Let's Stay in Touch
Hello, dailySpark readers! I'm about to leave you for awhile. I'll be spending the next couple of days in Vancouver at the Nike Women's Media Summit. Nike is treating a bunch of writers and bloggers to a two-day seminar complete with workouts and interviews with Olympic hopefuls. Needless to say, when we were presented with the offer, the dailySpark jumped at the chance. (Keep your passport updated and nearby at all times just in case cool opportunities arise!)
I wish I could bring you all along, but I can do the next best thing. While I won't have time to blog throughout the trip (though expect a full update when I return and several related blog posts over the next few weeks), I will be updating my Twitter feed.
Posted 10/5/2009 6:00:00 PM By: : 55 comments 15,023 views
I'm Going Meatless for World Vegetarian Day--Are You?
Today is World Vegetarian Day! And while most of us have already eaten at least two meals and maybe a snack or two, there's still one meal left to go meat-free.
While a 100% vegetarian lifestyle might not be for you, we can all benefit from going meat-free a few meals a week. Chances are, you probably only eat meat one or two meals a day as it is.
Forgoing meat can really benefit your health. According to the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, vegetarians have lower rates of cancer, heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, and asthma. In the world's "Blue Zones," where people reach age 100 at higher-than-normal rates and live longer, meat is often used as a side dish or condiment.
So will you go meat-free for the rest of today (and perhaps a few more meals each week)?
I've gathered some of SparkPeople's best meat-free resources to help you get ideas:
Posted 10/1/2009 3:43:30 PM By: : 194 comments 25,286 views
An Uphill Battle to Cross the Finish Line, But I Wasn't Alone
If you've been following my blogs for awhile, then you know that I started running about seven months ago. I began by running a mile just to see whether I could, which, for someone who formerly ran only when chased (and how often do you think I was chased? Um, never!), this was quite a feat.
I kept running not so much because I liked it, but because it was an effective form of cardio that, on weekends, allowed me to work out without driving to the gym. (My gym is convenient because it's close to work, but it's 12 miles from home, and I prefer to walk and bike on the weekends.)
So on Saturday mornings, I would wake up at 7, run around downtown Cincinnati for about 2 miles, then run to the farmers market. I'd arrive, sweaty and red-faced, buy my fruits and vegetables and walk home (getting a strength workout in as well--I buy A LOT of produce each week!). I covered about 4 miles, 3 of which were spent running. I am usually busy from Friday night through Sunday night, so any time I can multitask, I do.
Then, I had a change in plans one week and needed to miss my favorite Spinning class. Instead of skipping cardio for the day, I rose early and ran. I had so much energy that day, and I decided to keep running a couple of times a week.
I had no intention of running hills (painful and no fun, I thought), and though I had vaguely set a goal to run a 5K "sometime," I wasn't training for one.
Enter, our resident running coach, Nancy, who could sell milk to a dairy farmer. And now read the story of how I ran my first 5K, with the company and support of SparkPeople to guide me!
Posted 9/30/2009 3:21:22 PM By: : 123 comments 26,945 views
Stoking the Fire, Bursting with Spark: Reflections on the Spark Your Life Convention
UPDATE: Thanks to everyone who shared their blog links... keep them coming! I love featuring member stories on the dailySpark, so send me a SparkMail if you'd like to share yours! As you know, the second Spark Your Life Convention was Saturday in Greater Cincinnati, otherwise known as the birthplace of SparkPeople! I was fortunate enough to be a part of this life-changing weekend, and I blogged about it at lunchtime that day. Well, that was only a small part of the story. There's so much more!
From the speeches to the questions to the casual conversations between sessions and throughout the weekend, I felt more positive energy, experienced more optimism and witness more life-changing events than I ever have. The "Spark" was so strong, it was almost tangible. Though I've "had the Spark" since before I started working here, this weekend reignited my fire.
Both the members and employees I talked to felt the same way. They all felt more motivated than usual, and I can attest that that energy stayed with us--on Monday, though most of us really only had one day away from "work," we were upbeat, chipper and unusually outgoing for the start of a new week. It felt more like a Friday than a Monday. You could tell that we all felt closer after sharing that powerful experience.
Though I'm usually the one telling stories, I decided to let others share their experiences from the weekend. Below are photos and anecdotes from the SparkPeople employees, and I encourage you to share stories, links to blogs and photos and memories in the comments section!
Posted 9/29/2009 5:00:41 PM By: : 45 comments 13,180 views
Learn How to Preorder the SparkPeople Book
Early this year, SparkPeople announced our biggest news ever--we signed a major book deal with Hay House!
Well, we're happy to announce that as of today, you can preorder your copy of "The Spark: The 28-Day Breakthrough Plan for Losing Weight, Getting Fit, and Transforming Your Life," which connects the dots between health, fitness, weight loss and goal-setting in a whole new way.
It reveals, for the first time ever, the top 27 secrets of success of members who have achieved their goals and/or lost 100 pounds or more. This one-of-a-kind book leads you to understand what you CAN do to make your life healthier and increase your odds of being more successful in all aspects of your life! Plus, you'll get to read about the complete history of SparkPeople and the man who made it all possible--Chris "SparkGuy" Downie. (Note: As a SparkPeople employee, I've heard Chris' story several times, but reading it in the book actually brought me to tears--happy ones!)
The book officially launches on Jan. 5, 2010, but as exciting as it will be to see "The Spark" on the shelves of your favorite store, don't wait until then.
There are plenty of reasons to order your copy ahead of time:
Posted 9/28/2009 6:07:12 AM By: : 144 comments 27,139 views
LIVE from the Spark Your Life Convention
Greetings, everyone! I'm blogging LIVE from the Northern Kentucky Convention Center, known today as the site of the Spark Your Life Convention!
So far, it has been a pretty great day! I got here really early to deliver the mini muffins for Chef Meg's cooking demonstration.
Then I headed to the registration table to help Tanya check people in. It was SO much fun to actually put names and faces to usernames!
I've spent much of the morning meeting members, watching incredibly inspiration presentations from SparkGuy and others, and basically just moving around nonstop.
Posted 9/26/2009 1:23:31 PM By: : 85 comments 16,981 views
The Most Inspiring Women of 2009--Who's Your Pick?
Around here, we're a big fans of strong and powerful women. We like women who stand up and take charge, who know when to lead and when to follow, who set goals and achieve them. (Of course, we also think men who do those things are pretty cool, too!)
So when SELF magazine sent us a list of their Most Inspiring Women for 2009, we were excited to read it. We love reading about people who have achieved success and continue to give back to those around them (kind of like Spreading the Spark while you reach your goals and beyond)!
So who made the list?
Posted 9/25/2009 11:29:07 AM By: : 126 comments 19,155 views
The (Surprising) First Step to Getting Fit
NFL star Terrell Owens recently wrote a book on fitness, which was published by Simon & Schuster. Here is a guest blog post about taking the first step toward getting fit from "T.O.’s Finding Fitness."
Changing your thinking about what it takes to be fit is more important than the whys, whens, and wheres of how you’re going to do it. Here, how to get started and stay motivated.
Everything starts with the mind. Everything! If you set your mind on high things, you’ll achieve high goals. Of course, the opposite is true as well. Lack of ambition and negative thoughts will delivery negative results in every area of your life.
Once you overcome your mental weaknesses, affirm that your body can do remarkable things, and tap into the spirit within yourself, you will be one step closer to making a complete transformation that will lead you to a lifestyle of fitness forever.
Posted 9/23/2009 12:38:12 PM By: : 42 comments 19,789 views
Why Women in Other Countries Live Longer than We Do
I've been quite fortunate to have traveled quite a bit throughout my 20s. I studied French in the Loire Valley, where I learned to appreciate good wine and fine food. I was an English teacher in South Korea, where I taught junior high students how to write essays for standardized tests. My best friend and I visited Japan together, and I've taken several weeklong trips to Europe. (Next up is a trip to Turkey to visit a dear friend who's slowly circumnavigating the globe, but I digress!)
I brought back trinkets and photos, but I also brought back some healthy habits as well. These vacations abroad are not only a chance to see places and cultures unlike my own, they're also a great way for me to observe how other people balance the good life and daily life.
My host mother in France, Colette, frequently told me, "Il faut profiter de la vie." Basically, it means that you have to take advantage of all that life gives you.
Oh I profited from life, all right.
Living in France was the first time I gained weight. Her endless portions, free-flowing wine and nightly multi-course meals were definitely "the good life" for a sheltered 19-year-old from the Midwest, but I returned home in tight pants with an affinity for strong cheese and red wine.
Unfortunately, I hadn't yet learned the delicate art of balance and moderation. (Those seeds were planted during my time in Korea.)
This week, I came across an interesting article in Women's Health: Secrets of the World's Healthiest Women.
It had some pretty good tips, some of which I've learned through experience and others that were new to me.
Posted 9/18/2009 11:45:15 AM By: : 87 comments 24,629 views
Readers' Healthy Finds: All Whites, Wasa and Lemon Pepper Pasta
The votes have been cast, the surveys have been tallied, and we're listening to what you said. You like food, especially cheap, good and healthy food. You don't have time, energy or money to waste on food that doesn't taste good, so we're asking readers to share their favorite healthy finds. Today we bring you three foods submitted by readers. These are staples in their kitchen, and soon they might be staples in your own!
ROHEIS: Wasa Crackerbreads ($3.59)
Please spread the word about Wasa Crackerbreads--they are awesome! They are in most grocery stores, in either the cracker aisle or the gourmet food aisle. There are many varieties, so the nutrition info varies. But all are versatile and make a great addition to most diets.
As an example, Wasa Crisp'N Light 7 Grain Crackerbreads are 60 calories a serving (that is 3 crackerbreads, each a little smaller than an index card), 0 Fat, 0 Cholesterol, 95 mg Sodium, and 2g of Fiber, plus 8g of whole grains!
Posted 9/17/2009 3:45:31 PM By: : 61 comments 19,644 views
An In-Depth Talk with the Author of 'The End of Overeating'
Each time you turn around your box of cereal to read the nutrition label, you have Dr. David Kessler to thank. When your orange juice carton says "fresh," you can trust that it wasn't made from concentrate, thanks to Dr. Kessler. And now, when you open a restaurant menu and see those endless pages of fat-, sugar- and salt-laden concoctions, you can also thank him.
Kessler isn't responsible for the recipes at chain restaurants, and if he had his way, you'd know straight-away exactly what's in them. But thanks to his new book, "The End of Overeating," you know that restaurants are not fighting fairly when it comes to those over-the-top creations. And, after reading the book, you'll know how to fight back.
As a doctor, researcher and former commissioner of the United States Food and Drug Administration, Kessler knew there were certain foods are irresistible to different people.
We can all think of a food that, as the Pringles jingle goes, "once you pop, you can't stop."
For one of his patients, it's M&M's. This man is a journalist who has covered some of the most dangerous conflicts on Earth, and he breaks out into a sweat and falls to his knees at the site of melt-in-your-mouth chocolate candies.
Kessler discovered that there is a biological reason that we're compelled to overeat cheese fries but not celery: Foods high in sugar, fat and salt alter our brains' chemistry.
Posted 9/16/2009 4:21:06 PM By: : 103 comments 25,004 views
How to Stay on Track When Eating is Your Job, and Other Tips from a TV Chef
Aïda Mollenkamp is a former ballerina, Le Cordon Bleu-trained chef, editor of the food website Chow.com and Food Network star (her Q & A cooking show, "Ask Aïda" is in its second season). Now she has teamed up with Yoplait to promote their 100-calorie Delights Parfaits. (We tried them a few weeks ago. Read our review.)
Aïda and I recently chatted on the phone about healthy snacking, motivation and simple suppers. Here are some of the highlights from our interview!
Posted 9/15/2009 2:35:08 PM By: : 47 comments 18,995 views
Yoga Can Break the Cycle of Overeating
Sure, yoga is good for your health. It can alleviate back pain and stress, help you sleep better, increase your flexibility and help you build confidence in yourself. Yoga can even help you learn to accept your body.
Now, research shows that yoga can also help you learn to recognize when enough is enough, thus preventing weight gain and aiding in weight loss.
Posted 9/10/2009 12:24:24 PM By: : 110 comments 35,459 views
How A Healthy Lifestyle Helped Alleviate My PMS
I'm a sane, rational human being three weeks out of every month. But that one week--and boy, do those around me know when that one week is--each month, I morph into a beast. Incessant cravings, mood swings, fatigue and mild depression--it's no fun at all.
Though people think it's funny to blame emotional outbursts from a female* on PMS, it's no fun for any woman who deals with it each month.
According to Harvard Medical School, 75% of all menstruating women experience premenstrual discomfort in some form, though only about 3% to 8% of those women have symptoms that are severe enough to disrupt their lives. If you're in that symptom-free 25%, consider yourself lucky. I'm in that smaller subset.
Since adolescence, I've been plagued by mood swings, depression and cravings just before "that time of the month." My symptoms were worse in my early 20s, and I've found that the older I get, the more I am able to control my body. (I actually was diagnosed with PMDD, or premenstrual dysphoric disorder, a few years ago but seem to have outgrown the more severe symptoms.)
I eat vegetables like they're going out of style, won't touch white bread and limit my intake of sweets. However, I start raging for anything processed, sugary and salty at the same time each month. I'm strong and healthy enough now that I can usually resist them or make smart substitutes (a homemade vegetable pizza, portion-controlled squares of really dark chocolate and baked kettle chips). Still I do have my moments of weakness.
Just before I started my healthy living journey back in 2005, my symptoms were at their worst. I felt like a giant raw ball of emotions, cried for one week every month and snapped at even the smallest comments. I was miserable, and I wasn't a pleasure to be around.
I didn't know it at the time, but exercising regularly, eating right and practicing yoga--all steps I was taking to lose the 40 pounds I put on during and after college--were all helping alleviate my PMS symptoms as well.
Posted 9/9/2009 6:15:01 AM By: : 76 comments 27,991 views
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