Attitude is everything. It's one of my favorite lines from the LIVESTRONG Manifesto.
And it's become particularly relevant and special to me over the last few weeks as I embark on a new personal and professional journey.
Very soon, there will be a new face of LIVESTRONG.COM editorial, alongside the very talented, passionate and knowledgable Adam Bornstein.
As I prepare for an impending long distance move and myriad of new adventures, I've had the opportunity to reflect on what it's meant to be part of LIVESTRONG.COM.
In short, I am humbled.
Working alongside the LIVESTRONG.COM team has been one of the most fulfilling experience I've had to date. This team embodies the greatest of virtues: incredible work ethic, innovation, kindness and unending passion. This team cares about each and every member and works tirelessy to create resources and utility that are unrivaled.
And then there's you. Each day, thousands upon thousands of you make the often tough choice to better yourself and those around you. It's getting up at the crack of dawn to get in a run. Or spending that extra 30 minutes to make your family a healthy meal. Or coaching soccer practice for the kids in your community. Or starting a healthy weight club at your place of work. Your commitment to challenge yourself each day has inspired me to the do the same.
It's stories like Scott's, Glenda's and Ortaega's that have the power to create a real, lasting movement in the way we all think about health and life challenges in general.
Of course there's the LIVESTRONG brand that started it all. And the 28 million cancer survivors the LIVESTRONG organization fights tenaciously to support. I've had the good fortune of sitting with a number of LIVESTRONG survivors who have shared their harrowing experiences. I hope and trust that we will continue to look to these individuals as true testaments to the power of attitude.
Three years ago I was lucky enough to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, Africa. The below picture has always been a favorite of mine because it embodies one of the most important lessons I learned from that experience and it happens to be a lesson that's been mirrored during my time with LIVESTRONG.COM.
When this photo was taken, we were about 45 minutes away from the summit. At 19,341 feet in the air, oxygen is scarce and your body is ravished. Every step feels like a battle all it's own. Our guides were determined to keep us moving forward and so kept telling us that the summit was "right around the corner." I can remember being furious at the untruth!
But sure enough, eventually it was right around the corner--and it was that moving target that got us to the top (and that divine feeling of accomplishment).
During the last year and a half at LIVESTRONG.COM, I've learned just how important that moving summit is off the mountain. In our healthy living pursuits, in work and in life, we should always be seeking that moving target. There's always something greater, higher and harder to seek and each day is a new opportunity to get after it.
That, to me, is the LIVESTRONG.COM attitude.
Thank you, LIVESTRONG.COM members, for imparting this to me. I can only hope to live each day with this intention and the actions to support it.
I'm so impressed by our collective altitude and the integrity of the foundation upon which we currently stand.
And even better, I can't wait to see where we're headed next.
Sincerely,
Sarah Metzger (@SarahKMetz)
Dear LIVESTRONG.COM Members,
Last month we made an exciting announcement about the success of the LIVESTRONG.COM MyQuit Coach ™ application.
Over 10,000 people have reached their goal of becoming smoking free using the mobile application.
Many of these members are active in the Dare to Quit Smoking forum, where you'll see members post their progress and encourage each other on.
As part of our continued effort to provide the best in quit smoking resources, we are reaching out to members who have used the application to get their feedback.
We've compiled a brief survey (it only takes 2-5 minutes to complete) which poses questions about the application functionality and ease of use.
If you've used the application, we encourage you to take the survey here.
The results of the survey are confidential: we will only be sharing aggregate results.
Thank you in advance for taking the time to share your feedback as your responses will help us help thousands more who are ready to live smoke free.
-The LIVESTRONG.COM Team
The LIVESTRONG.COM Best Post Workout Food Challenge asked a simple question: What is your favorite post workout food? We asked you to upload photos to our Best Post Workout Challenge Group, share your secret ingredients and why your submission was the best option. In the end, only one winner could be selected to receive a $50 American Express gift card and a LIVESTRONG.COM t-shirt.
Thank you to all members who posted images of their foods. We had so many great submissions, and it was difficult to choose a winner.
We based our choices on the quality of the photo (both the image and if it made us hungry), and whether the submitted photo fit the nutritional requirements for a post-workout meal. There was a close battle for first place, however, our grand prize winner was Katherine (aka Jezebel) with her Peanut Butter Oatmeal Shake. Having this shake post workout is the best way to refuel your body with a perfect blend of protein and carbs. Thanks again for all your submissions. We created a slide-show of the best submissions, click here to see the images.
Stay tuned. We will be running challenges every two weeks starting this coming Monday, August 22nd with more incredible prizes! Who knows, maybe you will be our big winner.
-Susy
By most accounts, a molten chocolate cake with ice cream would not pass as health food. That type of dessert creates images of gluttony, calories and deliciousness. And yet, last weekend you could have found me eating that exact cake in all my fit glory. And the ice cream…and much more alcohol than I typically consume.
Sometimes, health takes on a weird form. Chocolate, cheesecake (another favorite) and booze will not appear in a diet book any time soon. And, admittedly, none of those foods are part of a good eating plan. But my weekend binge was exactly what my body needed and completely healthy.
Don’t confuse my message for some crazy rant. I still believe in eating your standard fare of whole, non-processed foods. And this isn't an excuse for “fit” people who can cheat the system and eat bad foods without any repercussions. Quite the opposite: I’ve spent my adulthood trying to overcome an overweight childhood that was represented by swimming in T-shirts to hide my fat, and specially tailored pants for my Bar Mitzvah (they didn’t make a suit for a boy who was as vertically challenged as me, and yet so pleasantly wide). But during my transformation from the overweight to fit, and throughout my ongoing process of practicing healthy strategies, I’ve learned that even the most obsessive beahviors require a break. Being inflexible is unhealthy. And when you understand that cheating on your diet can be as healthy as going to the doctor or eating your vegetables, you start to gain a better understanding of how the human body works.
Health is diverse and multi-faceted. As I discussed last week, there isn’t one
standardized lifestyle approach. And that shouldn’t be a frustrating experience. Yes—there’s a lot of health information and much of it is bad or confusing. But here’s a truth that isn’t shared enough: Living healthy doesn’t have to be constraining, uncomfortable, and even painful. I know plenty of people who look great but hate the way they live. And many others that hate the way they look and love the way they live. Being fit is finding the middle ground where you look the way you want, enjoy the way you live, and still remain healthy. To find that holy grail you need to ask yourself, what do
you want?
If you just want to be healthy, your mission is relatively simple. There’s tons of information on this site to help you get started, and
the best guide for balancing your diet. But if your goal is more specific, like having a six-pack, you’ll need to work harder and do more research. After all, what is healthy isn’t always what will make you lean. This is a lesson that few people ever understand, but represents exactly why you need to understand your goals before you can plan your diet.
Regardless of your long term vision, it’s important to remember that any diet can include an allowance for dessert. Here are four strategies that will help you find an effective way to indulge:
The percentage rule: Some people go by 90:10 and others 80:20. Either way, the concept is simple: 10 (or 20) percent of your daily calories are “free” for whatever you want to eat. So if you’re on a 2,000 calorie/day diet, you can eat 100 calories of whatever you want, whether it’s ice cream, candy, or cake. If you choose this route, just make sure you’re aware of portion sizes and don’t overeat.
The cheat meal: If you have trouble counting calories or keeping an eye on your meal size, this might be your preferred option. In this strategy, you choose 1 (or maybe 2) meals per week when you can eat whatever you want. No rules. No restrictions. Just enjoy. I’ve seen this approach work great for many people. But, if you have a lot of weight to lose, I recommend avoiding this in the early process of your transformation. Oftentimes it increases cravings for the bad foods that you’re trying to remove, and can make your eating changes more difficult.
The post-workout approach: If you’re a macro person (track your carbs, proteins, and fats), this is a wonderful option. When you’re aware of how many proteins/carbs/fats you consume, it’s easy to make food substitutions and eat “bad” foods without a negative consequence. And there’s no better time for a small indulgence than after a workout. I’ve made a habit of enjoying sugary cereals, fast food, or my favorite breakfast foods (think pancakes) as part of my “healthy” post-workout routine. And if you really want to understand the importance of eating during the post-workout window, check out
leangains.com for the science behind the approach.
The random: I guess you could call this the Born. It’s the strategy that I’ve followed for years, and it seems to work best for my goals. Here’s how it goes: I eat healthy year round. I don’t plan daily or weekly cheat meals. Most times I won’t even have dessert for months at a time. I know what’s good for me (fruits, vegetables, lean sources of protein, whole foods), and that’s all I eat. And I love my diet. I understand that this is a struggle for people, but when you learn to eat healthy, you find that most options taste delicious. But sometimes, life calls for an indulgence—like last weekend. So I ate and drank and didn’t worry about the consequences. Why? Because I knew that come Monday, my healthy behaviors would return and I would be back on track.
Regardless of what you chose (or if you even eat dessert), make sure you approve of your approach to diet and fitness. We’ve filled this newsletter with numerous strategies to make the process easier, so that being healthy is never uncomfortable.
This week we celebrate Katherine D. aka Jezebel as our Member of the Week. She receives this accolade because of her winning Post Workout Food. She also receives a $50 gift card and a LIVESTRONG. COM t-shirt!
Her Peanut Butter Banana Oatmeal Shake takes top place in our Best Post Workout Food Challenge. This shake is not only delicious, it also has all the nutrients your body needs post workout.
Here is how she describes this delicious shake that had our team instantly hungry.
"I've been taking an intense boot camp style exercise class in the mornings - and I'm from Texas so our mornings are quite hot! By the time I get home I'm worn out, so the less fuss for my post workout food the better. I really love this shake because it requires very little effort to toss together and keeps me full until lunch time. It packed with protein, whole grain, and tastes amazing to boot."
Congratulations again Katherine!
Stay tuned for more LIVESTRONG.COM Challenges, who knows, maybe you will be our winner.
-Susy
Healthy. The word is as loaded as they come. It describes what you eat, how you exercise, and your lifestyle behavior. It's abs, muscles, skinny, fat and weight loss—all in one. We all strive to be healthy and yet there's one problem: There's no consensus on the best way to improve your health.
Sure, people have similar ideas: Being active, eating the right foods, and not engaging in "unhealthy" decisions. But the details are usually different. One person's dietary savior is another's scraps. Which leads to the question: Do we need a standardized approach in order to become a healthier nation?
The question occurred to me on Saturday as I engaged in a regrettable argument. I was trying to defend my belief that eating eggs is good for you and does not pose a threat to your health or cholesterol. Understand this: I love eggs. After my fiancé, my family, and the University of Colorado, eggs might be my fourth biggest love (I’m kidding…kind of).
But what started as an opportunity to share information turned into a digital battle. (ok, I admit—the argument took place on
Twitter. Don’t judge me). I shared the reasons for my beliefs (there’s plenty of research that shows eggs don’t affect your cholesterol, you can read some of them
here,
here, and
here), while my counterpart questioned the funding of the studies and my educational background. In all honesty, I didn’t mind the opposing viewpoint. But at some point I realized that this argument—like most on health—was futile. After all, I’m not trying to convert people to eat as many eggs as I do. I simply wanted to share information. I let my counterpart continue taking shots, as I walked way. After all, debates are great but there's nothing healthy about pointless fighting.
After the dusted settled, the bigger question still remained: How do we handle all of the diverse opinions in nutrition and fitness? And do we need one platform for health?
The truth is, health always has been—and always will be—an open-ended conversation. That’s because your health is an intimate topic. It’s your choices, your life, and your body. We can all agree that some behaviors are healthier than others. I tend to base most of my decisions on scientific fact and published research, and it’s the way we’re trying to approach information at LIVESTRONG.COM. We strive to provide the most accurate and up-to-date information on health, fitness, and nutrition, while understanding that some viewpoints might be contradictory. That’s because we view our site as a health buffet: We offer up the best information and you choose what works best for you.
Some might say this is means we don’t understand health. I’d argue that this approach is a more realistic approach to healthy living. Just think about it: There’s more than one way to be fit. You can run, lift weights, cycle, swim, or walk—and still be active. You can eat protein, avoid carbs, or indulge in fat—and find your dietary balance. The specifics don’t matter as much as the intent and the basis of your decision making.
Rather than telling people what is right, we need to do a better job of informing people what is wrong. Call them myths, wives-tales, or lies. Remove those, and no matter how many different opinions you find, we’ll end up with a nation that is uniformly making healthier decisions. And that’s an outcome that won’t start any arguments.
This week we celebrate Andy aka BigSargeofSC as our Member of the Week.
Andy joined our site in October of 2009 and has made steady progress in his goal to lose 100 pounds.
Andy Before
AndyToday
Here is what Nira J. wrote in her submission email to us:
I want to recommend the following person - Andy A., aka BigSargeofSC.
He is optimism personified. I've known him for some time on the lose weight dare. You will be able to see him quite regularly, cheering people on, giving great words of encouragement, and just inspiring others by his presence. He has suffered a surgery for his back, and works out like a maniac despite the several restrictions he has due to his surgery. He says, "Walls are not a reason to stop, but a cause to find new direction."
He has lost 50 lbs so far, and he just keeps going. I know I look forward to hearing from him, because it is always filled with enthusiasm, and optimism, and hope.
It would truly be fitting to honor him with a 'member of the week'.
Below are Andy's words of encouragement and motiviation in the Dare to Lose Weight.
In Andy’s own words:
I would like to express how humbled I am to have been nominated for Member of the Week.
In October of 2009, while attending an Oktoberfest party in Myrtle Beach, I woke up one morning with a mind-splitting headache. My face was red and I felt hot. My wife checked my blood pressure to find it at 198/97. I was a heart attack about to happen. I knew it was way past time for me to get serious about getting my weight under control and start a healthier lifestyle. My weight peeked somewhere over 350 pounds. The exact weight is not known because we had no scale available to weigh me that could measure such a heavy weight. I could hardly walk any distance without having to stop and rest or having bad back pain. I began a workout program, made changes to my diet, and made a choice that I would no long be the obese man that I had become. In December of 2010, still battling away with weight loss, I began to lose control of my left leg due to a sever disc herniation between the T-11 and T-12 disc. But, I would not be stopped in my journey. I had surgery on January 14, 2011. Prior to surgery, I told the members of my weight loss dare that I would not give up. By the end of March 2011, I was back in the gym with a vengeance against an unhealthy diet and an unhealthy lifestyle.
My sheer determination caught the attention of the members of my weight loss dare group. People began to follow my progress and became inspired to step up their determination. I make it a point, each day, to offer words of encouragement, hope, and motivation in the hopes that someone, that day, needed to read what I had posted. Perhaps no other statement I've made has had more of an impact than this one: Walls are not a reason to stop, but a cause to seek new direction. Today, August 2011, I've dropped more than 50 pounds and lost more than 14 inches from my waist. I am in much better physical shape and getting healthier and stronger. I could not have made this progress without the support of friends and the valuable information on LIVESTRONG.COM
Thank you to my LIVESTRONG.COM friends for nominating me for Member of the Week. It is an honor I will continue to strive to be found worthy by always offering support, encouragement, and motivation to those who dare to take this journey.
ROCK HARD!! LIVE STRONG!!
Congratulations Andy, you inspire us to be better.
-Susy
Liz Claman is best known as an anchor on the Fox Business Network. But despite her busy day job, and her responsibility as a mother of two, Claman has transformed herself into an avid runner—despite the fact that she was born with scoliosis and was told she could never run for distance. On Sunday, August 7th, Claman will participate in her third Nautica New York City Triathlon. We spoke with Claman to learn about her inspiring story, and discover how she overcame fear and doubt to reach her potential.
LIVESTRONG.COM: You have a pretty interesting story. You were diagnosed with scoliosis as a child, right?
Liz Claman: Some people are born great athletes. Others overcome hardship, channel their energy, and a find a way to overcome the odds and achieve something great. I definitely fall into the latter category.
My father was a surgeon, and had nothing to do with backs and the spine. But when I was younger, he noticed that something was off with the way I was walking and running. I’m the traditional “runs like a girl, girl.” I was about 6 or 7 when he first noticed. So I went to a specialist and was diagnosed with mild scoliosis. At the time, I was told that I could do everything—except for run long distances. Those types of messages germinate in your mind. So I spent my whole life thinking I’d never be an athlete or ever compete in anything. I never thought of doing anything like a triathlon or marathon.
LS: So what happened? What changed?
LC: It’s funny. I couldn’t tell you why it happened, but in 2004 I woke up and thought, “I need to make a change.” I felt like I was in a rut, both professionally and mentally. And I needed to find something to get me out of that rut. I wanted a challenge that very few people in the planet would do. So I started training for the New York City Marathon. And my motivation was simple. I spent the entire time thinking back to the doctor who told me I can’t run. And I told myself that I was going to prove him wrong.
LS: What was the experience like? What about the pain? Marathons will challenge anyone’s body. How did you deal with it?
LC: If you look at me, it’s so obvious that I’m not symmetrical. Everything on my right side is slightly off. And it’s fine when you’re just sitting around at work. But when you run long distance and train hard, you feel that difference. So in the beginning it was very hard. I had to overcome lifetime of doubts. And deal with the pain the training caused. But then I read “First Time Marathon,” which completely changed my life. It’s a book about people from all walks of life explaining their first marathon experience. And I thought, “Why not me?”
It made a big difference. I had this mental block that went back to when I was 7. It was in cement. But I ended up attacking my situation like I would attack a story. I went to the smartest people who could help me. At my gym, I met a trainer who trained with Navy Seals. And he explained that it was really 90 percent mental. He trained me for the marathon and ran with me as my buddy.
I won’t lie and say it was easy. I went in hurt and hurt with each pace. But I had this amazing moment during the race. At one point while I was running an Iraq vet with no legs passed me. And it just hit me. I was thinking about my pain, and here’s this guy who wishes he had my type of pain. But watching him go was inspiring. I thought, “Who am I if I stop? What am I if I stop.” And I didn’t. I just kept going till I made it to the finish line.
LS: So how’d you make it to triathlons?
LC: After I finished NYC (the marathon) I told myself I was done with marathons. But in 2008 we decided to bring together a team for the Nautica Triathlon. I’d never researched triathlons before and had no idea what I was doing, but I wanted the challenge.
Once I learned about the race I realized that triathlon’s are brilliant. They are little chunks of 3 different sports that we can all do. You can wrap your mind around each one. If someone tossed you in the pool and said swim for a mile, you could do it if you had to. And if you had to ride a bike up west side highway for 26 miles? You could do it. And then run 10K. It’s stringing all 3 together that scares people. It’s the unknown that scares people. But once you do it, you start to believe so much more in yourself and what’s possible. I knew that I wasn’t going to win the race, but that I was going to achieve something for myself. And I could show my kids that you should take on challenges and face your fears. When someone says you can’t do it. That’s when you go out and do.
LS: What about the training? It couldn’t be easy with a job and a family, so how did you approach your preparation?
LC: Everyone can find the time. But you have to make it a commitment. I thought with 2 little kids, I want to train in the morning. My kids up at 7. I have to be at work by 9. And by the time I’m home, it’s late. I know myself. I can’t work out at night. I’m too tired. The only time was 5 am. So I set the alarm one day, it was snowing, I got up and I figured it out. It wasn’t easy, but I made it happen.
People say they can’t find time, but you have to find a mental chisel and hammer and carve out time, even if it’s being creative. I started doing pushups in my office. I’d do 60 pushups every day, split up into sets of 20.
LS: As you approach this year’s race, what’s your motivation? It’s not like you need to prove that you can finish a triathlon.
LC: This year I needed more of a driver to push me. I’m competing to raise money for
Building Homes For Heroes. It helps provide homes for severely disables soldiers. The homes are fully equipped with ramps and elevators. Whatever they need. The cause is designed so that the troops can come home and live a normal life like the rest of us. I love the cause, so I decided to do this for them and raise some money.
To me, it’s all about the prism through which you choose to view your life. You could go through life and never take on the challenge. That’s fine. But that’s not what works for me. This is, and it makes me feel alive. In the end, there’s no excuse. Are you in this game to cross the finish line? Then do the right things to get you there. Don’t abuse the one thing that’ll get you there, and that’s your body.
This week we celebrate Bernadette aka Jacsmombern as our Member of the Week. Bernadette joined our site January 3rd of this year and hit the ground running!
Bernadette before
Bernadette today
Here is what Christine B. wrote in her submission email to us:
I'd like to nominate Jacsmombern for the Member of the Week. She has lost about 60 pounds in 8 months and has been doing it the healthy way. She is always on the 'More than 50 pounds to lose!' group giving good advice and great encouragement. She always has something positive to say, even when people are feeling down about their progress. During this journey she has also influenced her family to start eating healthier too. She has inspired many people - online and off!
Bernadette being supportive in the More than 50 pounds to lose group!
In Bernadette’s own words:
When I first started going to the Y all I could do was walk on the treadmill. Over the weeks and months I have lost weight and gotten stronger. I have gradually increased my workouts. Now I lift free weights, do various crunches and I jog. I am now a jogger. It is all because of the group. Several of them jogged and did the couch to 5K program. It encouraged me to try and I have been able to increase my endurance. The key is returning to what you were doing.
When I get tired I remind myself I’m just tired eating is not going to help me. My group helped me navigate the struggles of stress eating and “office parties.”
My eating has drastically changed. I not only tracking my food I eat healthier food. I eat more fruits and vegetables and am currently learning more about nutrition so I can be at my optimal health. I have cut out sweets and mainly eat fish, whole grains and fruit. (I do still have occasional tastes of something I want.) I believe in gradual changes to diet and exercise. To many changes at one time is a recipe for failure.
My biggest cheerleaders are my husband, daughter, and my mother. They support me and cheer me on. They all say how great I look. I have influenced my husband’s and daughter’s eating habits. My husband eats like me now. He joined the Y with me and has lost 25 lbs. My daughter eats great for a nine year old. She is expanding her tastes.
I am not finished. I now weigh 182 and have lost almost 60lbs. My goal weight is 160. My focus has changed. I am not just concerned about getting to my goal weight. I desire to live each day with health in mind and not just get to my goal weight. This is truly becoming a lifestyle.
Keep it up Bernadette you are a true inspiration to our Team!
-Susy
We're starting another wonderful week at the height of summer--it's a time to be energized about (hopefully) great weather, travel plans and gatherings with friends and family. But--I'll admit it--I'm exhausted.
Amidst a slew of personal commitments, a busy workload and planning for the fall, I sometimes don't know how I'll fit it all in. I look at some of the busy mothers I know and think to myself, "If I'm this tired, how the heck do they do it?"
Feeling tired and stacked with engagements is one thing--but what it does to my healthy living priorities is another. When I'm looking through my daily checklist and have to cut some things off, what's the first thing to go? You guessed it, working out. I'm reminded of that great Edward Stanley quote, "Those who think they have no time for exercise will sooner or later have to find time for illness." How dead on is that?
One of the most profound things I've heard again and again from our members with incredible success stories is the importance of prioritizing your fitness time. Many who have experienced weight loss success have sworn by the power of treating your workouts like any other appointment on the calendar. You'd never ditch a business meeting or stand up a lunch date with a friend--why would you stand up yourself?
-- View from my morning workout at the Santa Monica stairs.
So, with that in mind, I'm committing to keeping those fitness appointments with myself this week. Sure, things will get crazy. And it will be easier to forego that 30 minutes on the treadmill or that quick morning run. But I don't want to take the easy way out when it comes to my health. Staying strong and healthy so that I can accomplish all I want to accomplish and enjoy all the things that should be enjoyed is worth fighting for.
I invite you to join me in committing to that this week. And if you have any tips of your own, please share them with the group (and me!) here. Together we can inspire each other to do the small things each day that will help ensure our health and ultimate happiness. And what could be more important than that?
In good health,
-- Sarah
