Healthy Dining Finder

Based on how little conversation there is at our meetings about food choices.......I almost typed that with a straight face! So, seriously I found a link to this cool resource on Au Bon Pain's website called healthy dining finder, and it is AWESOME! Although I know we all agree that eating out all the time is not the ideal way to live the BTWG Project, it is clear that we all need to find a way to make Lemonade out of Lemons. As we look for the best options this is an awesome tool! You put in your zip code, or for the Road Warriors the zip code you are in and the price range you are looking for and it comes back with LOTS of choices. Even healthy things you can have at generally unhealthy places. So, when it is just you against the world you need all the help you can get, check it out and give me your thoughts!



http://www.healthydiningfinder.com/



Namaste!

Ahhhh, Yoga!

So, as the round two Project BTWG group nears the end of the first month and the recovery week starts, I thought we could all use some humor. One of the most enjoyable parts of my fitness journey, outside of the project and the immediate circle of Chris and my Fellow BTWG'ers, is the time Margaret and I have spent with my Aunt Sarah and Uncle Harold. From Yoga sessions & Fitness runs on Football tailgate weekends in Lexington, to being our running partners at the first ever Fallin Family Turkey Trot Thanksgiving Day.

So, on the recommendation of Margaret and I and with a little nudge from Chris, Sarah has added Yoga to her very formidable workout routine. Her routine has always included a lot of running, a admitted Cardio Junkie, and the routine has started to result in some nagging pains! So, this January she started her first formal Yoga class as did her friend a very talented artist and Comic Strip Author, Kenn Minter. Below is his characters take on learning the various positions of Yoga! Did any of you new Yogi's feel that way at your first class with Chris? Enjoy and when you are done be sure to check out Kenn's website via the link below.

http://www.kennminter.com/

From Family Time to Crazy Time

I wanted to take a moment to let you all know that I am still on my Project journey and looking forward to mentoring the next Group of pilots. I took the last two weeks of the year off from work and hardly touched my computer, and the first two weeks back have been INSANE! I will have much more to say when things slow down, but I wanted to let all the "New" test pilots know that I truly enjoyed meeting all of you and seeing those of you that I already know at Eagle Creek for evaluations. I look forward to getting to know all of you a little better. Please let me know if I can provide any assistance or guidance along your journey and I will be glad to help. Best of luck and have a Great Journey as you start the first days of the rest of your life!

When I started my journey one of my big weaknesses was coffee and I still struggle with it, but Green Tea has filled the gap nicely. I know that many of you may struggle with Diet Sodas, below is an article I received today with some great reasons to reduce or eliminate sodas. Enjoy!


Say No to Soda, Yes to Healthy Drinks
Five reasons why soda is bad for you and five healthy drinks better for quenching your thirst
By Dennis Thompson Jr.
Medically reviewed by Pat F. Bass III, MD, MS, MPH

Sodas are sweet, sparkling and tasty — but don't confuse them with a healthy drink. Doctors have discovered a ton of health risks connected with drinking soda pop. Worse, you're robbing yourself of a healthy drink alternative brimming with needed vitamins and minerals every time you chug down a soft drink.

"If you're choosing a soda, chances are you aren't choosing a healthy beverage," says Keri M. Gans, a nutrition consultant in New York City and a spokeswoman for the American Dietetic Association. There are a number of healthy drink choices you can make instead.

Why Say No to Soda?

Soda is truly worthless to your body. "In my opinion, there's really one major reason to not drink soda," Gans says. "It has absolutely no nutritional value. Soda is filled with sugar and calories and nothing else." Even diet sodas — low to no calories and sugar — don’t have any redeeming virtues, nutritionally. Healthy drinks, on the other hand, have vitamins and minerals the body can use. Even plain water can rehydrate your body without adding extra calories to your diet.

Sugary sodas contribute to obesity and diabetes. Soda is loaded with high-fructose corn syrup, a sweetener that has been linked to obesity. Soda consumption also has been linked to the development of type 2 diabetes, both due to its sugar content and its effects on the body's hormones And diet soda? It may not be any better. At least one study has linked artificial sweeteners, such as those used in diet sodas, to increased appetite, greater difficulty losing weight, and a harder time maintaining weight loss.

Soda damages your teeth. The sugar in soda coats your teeth, combining with bacteria in your mouth to form acid. Both regular and diet soda also contain carbolic acid through carbonation. These acids work to weaken tooth enamel, causing cavities and tooth decay.

Drinking soda can weaken your bones. Most sodas contain phosphorous and caffeine, agents that are believed to contribute to osteoporosis. Experts also worry that people consume soda in place of milk or other healthy drinks, depriving the bones of calcium.

Soda can harm your major organs. Research has demonstrated that increased soft drink consumption may be linked to chronic kidney disease, development of metabolic syndrome (a group of symptoms that add up to increased heart risk), and fatty liver, a chronic liver disease.
Healthy Drink Alternatives

Luckily, there are limitless options when choosing a healthy drink over a soda pop. Some alternatives include:

Water. It is the ultimate healthy drink. "It's free in every sense of the word," Gans says. "It has no calories and it comes straight from your tap."

Fruit juice. Gans urges you not to drink straight fruit juice, which contains a lot of sugar. "Drink some seltzer with a splash of juice for a little flavoring," she says. "Rather than drinking juice, eat a piece of whole fruit. You're also getting the fiber in the fruit."

Milk. This is another essential healthy drink, particularly for kids. "An 8-ounce glass of nonfat milk has 80 calories and nine essential nutrients," Gans says. "You get a lot of bang for your buck."

Tea. Whatever teas you prefer — green, black, herbal — they all have been shown to contain high levels of antioxidants, which are believed to protect the body from damage.

Powdered drink mixes. They contain no tooth-rotting carbonation, and come in sugar-free varieties. They give your sweet tooth a fix without harming your overall nutrition.

And remember that you can always cut up some fresh fruit and pop a little into a tall glass of water for an extra flavor kick. Choosing healthy drinks over soda: Give it a try. Your body will thank you.

Last Updated: 12/29/2008
This section created and produced exclusively by the editorial staff of EverydayHealth.com. © 2008 EverydayHealth.com; all rights reserved.

http://www.everydayhealth.com/diet-nutrition/say-no-to-soda.aspx?xid=nl_EverydayHealthDietandNutrition_20090113

Turkey Trot a Success!

Margaret, Me, Aunt Sarah & Uncle Harold at the Vastwood Park Marker

Well, I think with such short notice, the 1st Annual Fallin Family Turkey Trot was a Huge Success. The Picture above is of the Running Crew (Shame on Me for not getting pictures of the two other walking crews). I just sent out the invite early in the week and we had a strong response! My Uncle Mike and Aunt Cindy who always host the Turkey Day Dinner could not be there at 9:00 AM because they had to start cooking Turkeys, so they went out a 7:30 AM and walked 3 or 4 laps around the lake. At 9:00 AM, my Dad, my Aunt Rita, my cousins Fallin, Grace & Daymond made up the walking Crew. They did awesome!

The Running and Fitness Station crew was made up of Me & Margaret and My Aunt Sarah and Uncle Harold (they have been the shining examples of Wellness in my family for years).

Aunt Sarah & Uncle Harold (That is Love, cause I am sure Sarah wasn't, but Harold was four miles of FUNKY!)

Sarah and Harold have run Marathons and the like in the past, however as I went to them for support in my wellness journey they looked to me for ideas as well. Diet Tips, Yoga info, creative ways to strength train. I guess that just goes to show if you are always learning, you will stay with for ever!

Margaret & Sarah off and Running

We were not the only Crazies out on Thanksgiving Day. Here are a couple of the people we saw out!

I plan on doing this again Next year, it was a BLAST! What a great way to get your metabolism moving! Sarah also had the GREAT idea to infuse Healthy Food into our tradition. A few of us brought some extra healthy dishes along with our traditional favorites! We are hoping that as the years go by, they will become some of the traditional favorites! Margaret has already established the 100 Calorie Tiramisu as a family MUST. I added a Broccoli and Cauliflower Au Gratin made with Gruyere cheese and some Roasted Diced Potatoes that were both low Calorie.

Back to the Turkey Trot! For the running group we started with the wooded hilly part of the Off Road Trail, my idea and maybe not the best idea. It got Margaret's Asthma going, but those of you who know Margaret know that a little thing like breathing was NO EXCUSE to quit. She worked through it! After we completed that full lap(about 1.5 miles with the wooded extension) we then did the lake lap with the 20 or so fitness stations (about 1.3 Miles).

Harold at the Fitness Trail Starter

Me at the Fitness Trail Starter

One of the Fitness Stations

After that lap, we did one more lap around the Lake of just Running (another 1.3 Miles) for a total of about 4.1 miles if my guesstimates are accurate. No Matter what we burned more calories than a Biscuit breakfast in front of the tube watching the Macy's Parade! It was an awesome way to share the Holiday with my Family in a positive and Healthy way and we still ate too much at dinner, but I know for me personally I ate a little less than in the past and I looked at things differently! On my final picture I want to pay tribute to the true Mastermind behind the First Annual Fallin Turkey Trot, my first and foremost weapon against obesity, my lovely wife Margaret. She came home Saturday from the BTWG breakfast round table (I missed because I was at church helping the Holy Name Society, the Church Men's Group, with Turkey Day deliveries to the needy) inspired to incorporate wellness into our traditions. From that, the Fallin Family Turkey Trot was born! I would not be where I am today in many facets of my life without her support!

Me (smelling Four Miles of Funky) and Margaret (the Love of My Life!)

First Annual Fallin Family Turkey Trot

Talk about looking at life through different eyes, look what Margaret and I are planning for Thanksgiving Day Morning! Several of my family has responded that they will be there! Probably a lot of Walkers and a few Fool Hearty Runners, but it is better than lying around on the sofa!

First Annual Fallin Family Turkey Trot

Have you have ever wanted to enjoy your Thanksgiving Dinner without feeling too guilty afterwards? Or, have you ever just wanted a good excuse to eat a little bit more? Join Margaret and I at Vastwood Park (Hawesville, KY) at 9:00 AM on Thanksgiving Morning for a Fitness Trail Walk/Run. Margaret and I will lead the running group and I am looking for a volunteer to lead the Walking Tour. Plan on a hour plus or minus visiting time and a little stretching time. We look forward to seeing you there and burning off a few pounds or making room for an extra piece of Pie (Harold). Please forward this invite to anyone in the friends and family circle that you see I have left out and please feel free to bring friends. Drop me a line and let me know if you plan on coming, thanks and Happy Turkey Day!

Thought of the Week from My Aunt Sarah's Trainer

Every Friday I look forward to receiving Urban Fit Facts from my Aunt Sarah. It feeds the mind with good and inspirational thoughts and ideas on how to live a wellness lifestyle. Her trainer always ends with a saying of the week and I thought this one was quite applicable to how this Project is so successful. It is as follows:

Collaborate

Be the light that others can come to with their ideas, visions and dreams! Never doubt that blending your talents with those of others can change the world!

I know that my collaboration with Chris and my fellow test pilots has changed the way I see the World, and that is good enough!

Namaste!~

Grant Park and Random Thoughts!

I know that my blog is supposed to be about my project, but I had an incredible experience a couple of weeks ago and I just had to share. As many of you know my candidate won the presidential election and I was so Happy! But I could not have imagined how crazy my election day was going to be when I got up! Before I left Indianapolis on Monday I was trying to figure out a way to get off my connecting plane on Tuesday night and stay in Chicago for the "potential" acceptance speech, but I thought it was a pipe dream. I was meeting with Michigan State on Tuesday Morning (I had voted three weeks earlier) and was scheduled to fly back to Chicago on my way to Indianapolis at 5:50 PM. In the meantime, Aquinas College had asked me to stop by Grand Rapids while I was in Michigan, so I pushed my flight back to 7:50 PM. As I am in East Lansing I get an e-mail from mt Aunt Sarah and it it is a picture from Grant Park that simply says, "Guess where I am?". I responded with the message, got room in your hotel room for me. She told me she did, but she was concerned about me being able to get in to the hotel because the President-Elect was in her hotel! I decided I have to find a way to do this with out costing my Company ANY extra and without costing me a fortune! I called American Airlines and they wanted nearly $350 to allow me to switch my connecting flight to the next day! I knew I could not justify that expense, but I thought speaking to someone in person is more effective! So I flew to Chicago on my 7:50 PM flight and with the time change I landed at about the same time. I walked through the airport and looked for an American Airlines employee that I thought had a good spirit, I found two people that were the right people. They switched my connection at NO cost! I grabbed a ticket for the Train and headed downtown. I got to my Aunt's hotel and security is everywhere and entertainment tonight is out front trying to catch someone famous. I meet my Aunt Sarah and her co-worker Barry Russell who were both in Chicago for the National Association of College Auxiliary Services. I grabbed a Salad, changed clothes and the only Project Related thing was, I ran the mile and half to Grant Park and made it just in time to hear the beginning of the speech. It was INCREDIBLE! I stood among hundreds of thousands of people in Grant Park and there was so much joy and fellowship that it was Awesome! As a Political Science major that comes from a family that has always been in Politics, I have often been envious of people that have lived in the times of some of the Great Leaders in US history! I have waited most of my life to be inspired by someone! To hear someone that reminded me of Lincoln, or FDR, or JFK or Martin Luther King, Jr. and at that moment I knew I was at that point! The most amazing thing occurred as we all walked out of Grant Park shoulder to shoulder. People chanted his name, and sang the National Anthem together, it was incredible! I promise to blog soon about the Project, but I had to share my incredible experience!