jueves, 1 de marzo de 2012

lunes, 20 de febrero de 2012

Sarah Reinertsen IRONMAN FINISHER

Sarah Reinertsen (born May 22, 1975) is an American athlete. She was the first female legamputee to complete the Ironman Triathlon World Championship in Kona, Hawaii. She first attempted to finish the race in 2004, but was disqualified when she failed to meet the qualifying time for the bike leg by 15 minutes. She returned in 2005 and completed the race in just over 15 hours. Besides marathons and triathlons, Sarah has also competed in bicycle races. She was born with proximal femoral focal deficiency, a bone-growth disorder which eventually led to her becoming an above-the-knee amputee at the age of seven. After the amputation, she began to run track and broke the 100-meter world record for female above-the-knee amputees at the age of 13. She was formerly the marketing coordinator for Ossur and spokesperson for theChallenged Athletes Foundation. She was featured on the cover of Runner's World and was named one of the first eight "Heroes of Running" in the magazine. She has also appeared on the cover of Triathlete magazine and Max Sports & Fitness magazine. Since 1991, she has recorded a number of athletic accomplishments:
  • Setting world records in the 100 m, 200 m, 400 m in her division (T42);
  • Becoming the youngest member of the 1992 U.S. Paralympic Team to go to Barcelona;
  • Conquering seven marathons (NYC 1997, 1998; LA 1998, 1999; Millennium New Zealand 2000; London 2002; and Boston 2004);
  • Holding the world record in the half marathon (2:12) and the marathon (5:27) for above-knee amputee women.

sábado, 18 de febrero de 2012

WOMENS FEATS OF STRENGTH (YOU ALL CAN)


PULL UPS
SOME OF THE MOST POWERFUL WOMEN ON EARTH 
OLYMPIC WEIGHT LIFTING
TURKISH GETUPS
TIER FLIPPING 500LB TIRE
“Anyone can give up, it's the easiest thing in the world to do. But to hold it together when everyone else would understand if you fell apart, that's true strength.”

BORN WITHOUT LEGS

During his time at Penn State, Murphy began participating in Paralympic weightlifting events. In May 2006, Murphy won a Bronze medal in the 56 kg Junior Division of the 2006 IPC World Powerlifting Championships in Busan, Korea. Murphy lifted 281.1 pounds (127.5 kg), breaking the previous U.S. paralympic record of 270 pounds for the 56 kg division, which he set earlier this year at the Southeast Regional  Murphy’s feat grabbed the attention of Nike and Murphy was subsequently featured in Nike’s “No Excuses” campaign. “No Excuses” was a New Year’s campaign that sought to motivate people to create a work out plan and stick to it. Murphy is currently training for the 2012 Summer Paralympic Games which are set to be held in London starting August 29, 2012. Currently, Rohan Murphy is a professional motivational speaker. Murphy speaks on a wide variety of subjects, most notably overcoming adversity and accepting the differences of yourself and others. He also teaches Krankcycle classes at Gold’s Gym in Islip, New York.
This is the second Nike commercial featuring a Paralympic athlete. Rohan Murphy, a Paralympic powerlifter and student at Penn State Univ.


“I accept my disability as a gift.” – Rohan Murphy

miércoles, 8 de febrero de 2012

Childhood Obesity NOT THE WAY TO GO!!!!

Read a newspaper, watch the nightly news, or go to your physician, and you'll hear the same thing: Childhood obesity is reaching epidemic proportions with far-reaching consequences. From diabetes to future heart disease, childhood obesity puts children in harm's way on a daily basis.

 #1: Understanding

No, childhood obesity isn't about kids walking around with leftover baby fat. It's not about toddlers with those wonderfully cute, chunky legs. Rather, childhood obesity is when a child is greatly overweight for his or her age. The causes of obesity in children are the same as in adults. Most children who battle obesity live in an environment where overeating is made easy and exercise is rarely encouraged.

#2: Perspective

Believe it or not, today's kid's meal was at one point an adult portion. That means when you stop at a fast food restaurant, your child is being served an adult-sized meal. With this in mind, it's no wonder our children are growing larger than ever before.
What has happened over the years to bring about this change? There are as many theories as there are fast food restaurants, but it's likely due to people simply wanting more. Americans have ready access to foods of all sorts and have grown accustomed to thinking more is better. With this mentality, many feel there is no reason to not eat as much as you can. Unfortunately, many children are learning the hard way that there are a number of reasons to not eat as much as possible, as they suffer from diseases once confined to adults.
Childhood obesity has doubled for children ages 6 to 11 in the past 20 years, making it one of the most common and dangerous conditions today's youth face. What are you doing to keep your children from becoming a statistic?

#3: Sweat

Only two decades ago, seeing children play outside was the norm. It didn't matter if it was hot, cold, rainy, or snowy, kids were outside playing. They rode their bikes, played tag, and sprinted through the sprinklers. When kids played, they weren't out to exercise. They just wanted to have fun! Being able to stay fit and thin was an added perk that most kids didn't even acknowledge.
Today's parents can learn a lot from the days of old by building a barrier against obesity with a solid wall of fun and sweat. Parents should also remember that exercise for kids doesn't mean going to the gym. It's unstructured play, and it's something most kids love when given the opportunity.

#4: Family Focus

Have a child on the verge of obesity? Putting your child on a special diet and forcing him or her to perform activities no one else in the family has to do is an exercise in futility. If you want to see change in one member of the family, the entire family has to be involved. That means from dietary changes to regular exercise, mom, dad, sisters, and brothers should all be involved.

#5: Perseverance

There is no quick-fix to being obese. Losing weight requires patience, dedication, and being content with small changes over a long period of time. Parents should note and celebrate small victories in their children to encourage them to continue newly established healthy lifestyles.


Once it's time to celebrate, choose wisely. While you may want to indulge your child with a three-scoop sundae, shoot for something a little more moderate, like a single-scoop cone. It'll be more than enough to fulfill your child's sweet tooth without leading down the path to overeating.

lunes, 6 de febrero de 2012

WHAT ARENT IN FOOD LABELS FUNNY


Are you seduced by packaging proclaiming something yummy-looking is low in fat or sugar? Susan Low reminds us that, in the world of food, the adage ‘all that glitters is not gold’ still very much applies.


Food labels are funny things. The big, glossy picture on the front of the packet is there to entice, but the small print is the reality check. Health-conscious shoppers are encouraged to read food labels to get to grips with how healthy (or otherwise) particular foods are, and those labels are meant to inform. European law requires that ‘the labelling and presentation of food should not mislead the consumer’. Yet confusion still reigns in the UK’s supermarket aisles, and the words on food labels aren’t always as clear as they seem. Here are a few frequently used terms – and our verdict on how useful they really are.
LOW FAT, REDUCED FAT, LIGHT OR ‘LITE’
The hope These are some of the most alluring terms to consumers who want to eat more healthily by cutting down on fat. But a ‘low-fat’ label may not be all it seems.The facts Manufacturers can use these terms only in certain circumstances. They must explain on the label what’s been reduced (such as fat or calories), and the product must be 30% lower in either calories or fat than the standard product.
So far, so good. But lower-fat foods, such as yogurts or ready-made foods, can be higher in sugar and salt than an equivalent product that makes no such claims. And although some reduced-fat foods (such as crisps) may have less fat than the standard sort, they can still be quite high in fat.
Our verdict: This signposting is a step in the right direction, but tread carefully. If you’re concerned about your fat intake, take the time to read the label. Foods marked low-fat ought to have no more than 3g (or less) of fat per 100g and 1.5g (or less) of saturated fat per 100g to be classed as low in saturated fats. Saturated fats are firm at room temperature; these include butter, lard, ghee, coconut oil and palm oil, all of which can increase the risk of heart disease. Also, think hard about labels that say things such as ’80% fat-free’. ‘20%’ doesn’t sound quite so alluring – but that’s what it means.

NO ADDED SUGAR
The hope Sugar is associated with high-calorie food, so it’s another of the ingredients health-conscious shoppers tend to avoid. The facts Foods that don’t have added sugar aren’t necessarily any more healthy. Soft drinks, for example, may have artificial sweeteners such as sorbitol or aspartame added instead (which some people choose to avoid),
as do some ‘diet’ versions of prepared sweets and puddings.
Our verdict: If you have a sweet tooth, don’t try to cut out foods with sugar in them; eat them in moderation. Or go for ripe, in-season fruits, which may have high amounts of naturally occurring sugars but are also high in fibre and essential nutrients such as vitamin C.
HEALTHIER OPTIONS
The hope Who wouldn’t want to choose healthy food over a less healthy alternative? The distinction, though, isn’t always clear-cut.The facts Until the summer of 2007, food manufacturers were allowed to make health claims (such as ‘helps maintain a healthy heart’ or ‘good for your gut’) on food labels, even when evidence about such claims was scanty. The rules are now clearer (thankfully); manufacturers must back up health claims made with clear explanations. The results of this rule are still coming into effect, however, in order to give manufacturers the chance to change their labelling, so don’t believe everything you read just yet.
Our verdict: Scepticism is healthy. Approach health claims with caution. If a claim sounds too good to be true, it probably is. The healthiest foods are those that come without a label, such as fresh, unprocessed fruit, vegetables and grains. American food writer Michael Pollan, author of The Omnivore’s Dilemma, wrote these sage words: “Don’t eat anything your great-grandmother wouldn’t recognise as food.” We’d happily eat to that.
SALT, SODIUM – CAN YOU TELL?
It’s generally accepted that Britons consume too much salt, which can lead to high blood pressure. But have you ever tried reading the label to see how much salt is in your food? It’s not as obvious as it could be because some food makers list sodium instead of salt. Sodium is a component of salt – to get the salt content of a portion, you need to multiply the number of grams of sodium by 2.5. It also helps to know that the recommended daily salt intake for adults is a maximum of 6g (2.4g for sodium), but that’s not always found on the label either.
FRESH, PURE AND NATURAL?
Such words may sound fantastic – but they mean nothing at all. Consumers’ association Which? has carried out research that suggests consumers are as confused as ever about these terms. The Food Standards Agency (FSA) publishes guidance about how such terms should be used, but the advice isn’t legally binding and some companies continue to mislead. Although rules are due to be tightened, don’t be sucked in without reading the label to find out what the information really means.

domingo, 5 de febrero de 2012

The Alison McWeeny Story - Amputee Returns to Powerlifting

 She was told by doctors that she would never lift again.  Fortunately, Ali refused to listen and has returned to the platform.
You create your own faith, just follow your heart