'I Lost 150 Pounds with SparkPeople!'*

Meet Raul Robles, a loving husband and father who has lost 150 pounds with SparkPeople! Find out how he stays motivated on his journey to healthy living.   

What is your age?: 53
 
How long have you been a SparkPeople member? How did you find SparkPeople?: I have been a member for over two and a half years (since December 2009). I was introduced to SparkPeople.com by a person I was taking a pre-bariatric surgery health class with. We were discussing the concept of tracking calories and this person suggested your site. I was intrigued by the name and signed up later that evening. THE BEST DECISION I HAVE EVER MADE!
 
What is your favorite feature on SparkPeople?: I love the food tracker, the fitness tracker, and most of all, the community support the site offers. The vast majority of your members are extremely positive and helpful!

How much weight have you lost?: 150 pounds! I would like to lose another 10-15 pounds, but am more concerned with building up muscle and working away the flab I still have.
 
How long did it take to lose the weight?: Approximately 14 months
 
What was your ''light bulb'' moment that made you decide to lose weight?: The moment I decided to lose weight was when my wife told me she was scared that I was on the road to an early death. My wife has always supported me, and never badgered me about the weight that I slowly put on. When she shared that fear with me, I knew that I needed to make a change. I want to be with my wife for many more years, and I want to see my daughter and son grow up, marry and provide us with grandchildren!
 
What was your biggest obstacle while trying to lose weight?:

Grocery Shopping for Healthy Cooking at Home

Between work, exercise and a busy social life, sometimes I find it difficult to prepare myself meals during the week. It’s time consuming and after a long day in meetings the last thing I want to do is cook a meal for myself. It’s usually easier to heat up a frozen meal or to stop and grab a sandwich on my way home. So what’s the problem with this?

Well I’m spending money that could be saved and I’m also not 100% sure of what additives or hidden calories are in my food. Okay and I’ll admit: I’m a firm believer that cooking at home is a creative energy that should be explored by all. 

Meet One of SparkPeople's Best Problem-Solvers!

Editor's Note: By popular demand, our Behind the Scenes at SparkPeople feature has returned.

Name: Jeff Rezer (MRRERE)

Position at SparkPeople: Ad Operations

Age: 42

Family: Wife Sarah, son Ethan (6), two adopted ex-racer greyhounds
 
How long have you worked for SparkPeople? 1 year

Tell us your proudest accomplishment at SparkPeople or a fun fact about your job: As part of the Ad Operations team, I often get a chance to interact directly with SparkPeople members who might be experiencing problems with the website. When I’m able to help them solve their particular issue, whatever it might be, it really makes my day!

How do you stay in shape? Lots of treadmill – and I like to get out and take walks with my son when I can. When the weather’s nasty, I use my Wii Fit Plus in our basement…

What's your favorite food? There are so many things I like, so this is a hard one… but I guess it’s probably fresh seafood since I don’t get a chance to have it all that often now that I’m not living on the East Coast.

What's your favorite indulgence?

Rainy Days Become a Chance for Mom to Relax the Rules

In Florida, so afternoon thunderstorms are a daily part of summer.
 
Some days, we need this break from all the running around in the heat. My boys stay busy with baseball and the sandbox, bikes and jump ropes. But other days, days when the clouds roll in early or we've been cooped up in a car running errands all morning, my boys need to burn off energy, not nap or sit in front of the television.
 
So, I let go. I let go of my need to have the house tidy. I loosen up some of the house rules, the ones about not shouting or running. And I let my boys – and myself – get a little bit crazy.

7 Super-Powered Food Pairings

It’s not exactly a news flash that milk can give you strong bones and carrots help sharpen your eyesight. But what you may not know is that you can get more disease-fighting bang by eating certain foods together. Think Simon and Garfunkel, Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers—one’s good, but together they’re even better. Here, seven power couples.


1. Calcium + Inulin = Healthy Tummy, Strong Bones

If you’ve ever had a bout of tummy trouble, you should know about inulin (a type of fiber), which helps balance the levels of “good” bacteria in your digestive system. Inulin also benefits your bones by enhancing calcium absorption. You’re most likely to run across it as a fiber supplement (Fibersure) or added to foods like yogurt (Yo-Plus, Activia Fiber), but there are a few good natural food options.

Good Sources of Calcium: Milk, yogurt, cheese (all kinds), broccoli, kale, canned-with-bones salmon and sardines, tofu made with calcium chloride or calcium sulfate, almonds, fortified orange juice; fortified soy, rice or almond milk.

Good Sources of Inulin: Artichokes, dandelion greens, onions, garlic, leeks, chicory, bananas, whole-wheat flour, asparagus.

Combo Ideas
• Bananas in cereal with skim milk
• Grilled asparagus with shaved Parmesan
 

Have You Tried: Kefir?

A "cultured milk product" may sound foreign, but if you've ever eaten yogurt, you're closer to kefir than you thought. Find out what makes it just a little more special.

What Is Kefir?

Kefir has the mild tang of  yogurt, only with a thinner and more drinkable consistency. Plain is the traditional variety but its increasing popularity has caused manufacturers to produce flavors like cherry, strawberry, chocolate, cappuccino and pomegranate. Low-carb flavors are also available but are sweetened with artificial sweeteners.

Kefir is available in non-fat, low-fat and whole milk forms.  Brands such as Lifeway also offer frozen, scoop-able versions, with a texture similar to frozen yogurt. 

Veggie Chips: Are They Healthy?

These potato chip-alternatives have been cropping up on market shelves everywhere. But are veggie chips a healthier pick? Here's a look at the crunchy details.

YES?

Some of the more popular brands of veggie chips are much lower in sodium than traditional varieties. One ounce of Original Terra Chips contains 50 milligrams of sodium while an ounce (about 15 chips) of traditional potato chips contains over three times that amount (180 milligrams). The amount of salt, however isn't always lower in veggie chips. Some brands contain even more than potato chips and other snack foods.

Both potato and veggie chips usually contain 10 percent of your daily dose of vitamin C, but some varieties of veggie chips (like sweet potato) also contain 50 percent of your recommended amount of vitamin A. 

Improve Your Sun Smarts

10 More Healthy Foods Under $3

Our original top 10 list was so popular, Healthy Eats readers asked for more. Here are 10 more healthy foods that won’t break the bank.

#1: Carrots
Cost: $0.89 per 1 pound bag (about 9 carrots)
The benefits of carrots, “They give you healthy eyes, mom” they always tell me. But beta-carotene has more benefits than meets the eyes. It also helps promote healthy bones, skin and hair. Make carrot soup, add to a stir-fry, or slice into strips for an easy kids snack.

#2: Low fat cottage cheese
Cost: $2.75 per 16-ounce container
This perfect combo of protein, carbs and fat will help keep you satisfied. It’ll also give you a boost of calcium with 10% of your daily recommended dosage in every ½ cup serving. If you’ve been passing this underappreciated food in your dairy aisle, check out more reasons why we love it. 

7 Ways to Make Applying Sunscreen Easier and More Fun for Kids

Living in Southern Florida, I've become something of a sunscreen aficionado.
 
There are bottles in my purses, tubes in our cars, more in our medicine cabinets and in the garage cabinet where the outdoor toys are stored. I put on an SPF-laden moisturizer every morning as soon as I get out of the shower and my two sons are lotioned up before they head to daycare most days. It's just part of our routine.
 
Getting the kids to hold still long enough to get fully covered in sun protection hasn't always been easy. Most toddlers seem to feel like you're putting molten lava on their skin when you smear on the sunscreen. To get my boys – ages 2 and 4 – used to it, I let them “help” by lotioning up a spot I'd already done or smearing a bit on my face while I rubbed sunscreen into theirs. I waited until they were trapped in their carseats to smear sunscreen on their faces, the body part that seemed to elicit the most rage. I pretended I was a monster chasing them, swiping sunscreen on them when they were captured.
 
I bribed them with treats. I threatened with time-outs. I sang silly songs while I rubbed. But mostly, I just did it until eventually they got used to it.
 
Everyday sunscreen is a good idea – at least on faces, which get daily sun exposure – and will help make applying sunscreen on your pool or beach days easier. Here are a few more ideas for making sure you and your kids are well-protected when you play in the sun:

10 Ways to Fit Exercise In

What's the No. 1 excuse for not working out? Lack of time. Sure, we're all busy handling multiple priorities and rushing around from here and there every day. However, I promise that no matter how busy you are, someone even busier than you are is working out right now. If you look closer, you'll discover that you do have the time to work out—and you deserve to use that time for yourself.

Squeezing in just a few minutes of physical exercise a day has huge benefits on your health, gives you energy and perks up your mood. In fact, a new study published by The Lancet found that if inactive people increased their physical activity by just 15 minutes per day, they could reduce their risk of premature death by 14% and increase their life expectancy by three years. Also, remember that "working out" doesn't have to happen in the gym or last for an hour! Short 10-minute bursts of exercise, accumulated over the course of the day, can add up to big fitness and health gains, too.

Still not convinced that you have the time to exercise? Here's how to start fitting fitness into your busy life today!

9 More 'Healthy' Foods To Skip

We're saying "healthy" because there's a lot more to making nutritious choices than meets the eye. Lots of foods present themselves as healthy when they're anything but. On the other hand, eating too much of some good-for-you foods can get you into trouble, too. We started off with an original list of 9, but there are plenty more foods to watch out for.

Whole-Grain Bagels 
It's still a high-calorie bagel, even if it's made with whole-grain ingredients. Plus, some bagels advertise "whole grain," but are only made with a small fraction of whole-grain flour, so they're lacking the healthy nutrients whole grains are known for. A whole-wheat bagel on occasion is fine, but if you’re watching those calories you’re better off with a slice of bread – you'll save more than 300 calories!

High Fiber Yogurt 
Yogurt doesn't naturally contain fiber, no matter what the clever commercials say. Companies add synthetic versions that up the fiber count and these imposters don’t have the same health benefits as the good old real stuff.  

End Digestive Problems for Good

Between gas, constipation and acid reflux, digestive issues are among the most unpleasant ailments—and the touchiest topics to broach. But getting to the root of your problems can ease discomfort and allay embarrassing symptoms. Learn how to tame your tummy with these eight astounding facts about your digestive tract.



We really are what we eat.

Bacteria from our intestines influence our digestive tract’s health, according to Gerard Mullin, MD, professor at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and author of The Inside Tract: Your Good Gut Guide to Great Digestive Health. These friendly organisms break down hard-to-digest foods, produce nutrients and help keep harmful bacteria in check. When the balance of good guys versus bad falls out of whack—because of antibiotics, too much junk food or even stress—you can develop gas, bloating, constipation and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Too much bad bacteria is even linked to obesity, according to some research. Why? They stop the stomach from telling the brain it’s full. To keep your belly’s ecosystem thriving, eat plenty of fruit, vegetables and whole grains. These soluble fiber–rich foods stimulate good bacteria growth as they move through your intestines, giving you a healthy gut and immune system, says Dr. Mullin. Yogurt and probiotic supplements can also fortify your defenses.

'I Lost 103 Pounds with SparkPeople!'

When Joyce Anderson (HPLANDER) realized that her weight was preventing her from having a comfortable social life, she set out to get healthy. Find out how she danced her way thin over at Woman's Day magazine!

Food Labeling 101: Understanding Label Claims

The supermarket aisles are flooded with health claims from "healthy, all-natural" frozen dinners to "cholesterol-lowering" granola bars. We're constantly getting conflicting messages on what to what to eat — from organic produce to free-range or grass-fed meat — and what to avoid — from trans fats to high fructose corn syrup. It's not surprising that most consumers are left wondering what to believe and what it all means.

When it comes to making your selection it can be simple. Leading nutritionist and author of What to Eat, Marion Nestle, Ph.D, MPH advises
"Never buy anything that has more than five ingredients, any ingredients you can't pronounce, anything artificial, with a health claim, or with a cartoon on the package."

The goal of this article is break down the information on the front of the packaging so you can make a more informed decision on the quality and content of the product you are purchasing. Words like organic and free-range may not be what you thought; can you trust these terms on labels or is it a marketing ploy? While certain labels are regulated, others are not. We have offered you a reliable list to follow when making your selections.  The outcome: more conscious food choices that will benefit your body and the planet.