Silicon Valley Fitness

Bob Green's healthy Chocolate French Toast

2013-03-26T12:24:00.000-07:00

Yum! I'm currently gluten free, so I can't test this healthy version of a classic brunch food, but the folks at TheBestLife.com recommended it for a healthy alternative at Easter brunch and it sounds terrific. It's from Bob Greene, Oprah’s diet and fitness expert, author of the bestselling The Best Life Diet and founder of TheBestLife.com, where he shares some favorite recipes.

The connection: Seasons, sleep, weight loss

2013-03-07T18:47:00.002-08:00

How cool is this! The folks at BodyMedia (an armband that tracks calorie burn and sleep patterns) drew data from its thousands of users and found some interesting stats. It shows how much people sleep in different months. Since this is from BodyMedia users, most of these people are engaged in weight loss programs. I've never personally used the BodyMedia, but seen it in use with

Really cool health advances thanks to high tech products

2013-02-05T14:48:00.000-08:00

Covering everything from cancer to organ donation, Reader’s Digest has compiled a list of the most promising solutions to prevent, detect, and treat our annoying, debilitating, and deadly ills. I loved reading that in the future we may be able to “print” out replacement body parts. And did you know that a step stool can provide the “boost” medical professionals need in order to perform

Best workouts: Surf-inspired SURFSET now at Western Athletic Clubs

2013-01-23T19:42:00.003-08:00

It's no secret that I like the Western Athletic Clubs (WAC) with their upscale fitness clubs here in Northern California and I like the folks I've met from there too. In general, they just seem to be smart, forward-thinking people who do things right. As an organization, they promote from within, they seem to spot trends early, and they just seem to have their act together when it comes to

How to keep your fitness resolutions and get the most out of your gym membership

2013-01-10T15:08:00.000-08:00

Here's a great infographic from 24 Hour Fitness, with tips on how to make your 2013 fitness resolutions a hit. I especially like their tips for how to get the most out of your gym membership.

Men lie about yearly goals. So do women.

2012-12-29T13:33:00.001-08:00

Don't you love the new year? So many polls on what was, what is, and what will be. The information today comes from Mindbloom, which issued its annual Life Improvement Pulse Report and discovered that men are projecting that their careers (31%) followed by relationships (20%) and health (17%)will be the most important life areas in 2013. For 2013 women are projecting it will be their health

Really easy tips for cutting fat but leaving in the flavor

2012-12-29T11:10:00.002-08:00

It's no secret to anyone who reads this column or San Jose Fitness Examiner that I'm a big fan of the American Council on Exercise (ACE). As we head into the new year, ACE has developed a quick, healthy holiday cooking video to help you prepare seasonal favorites and avoid those two extra pounds. Here are some of ACE’s recipes and cooking tips for compromising fat and not flavor:

Stress: deal with it or pay for decades

2012-12-29T11:07:00.002-08:00

A recent situation caused me so much stress that I was almost incapacitated. I came across this transcript of a podcast from U.S. Department of Health & Human Services HealthBeat which served as an important reminder. I'm passing it along for others who may be in the same situation. We all experience stress at some point. There are interpersonal stressors, like arguments. There are overloads.

Angeles Burke shares 3 great anywhere, anytime exercises

2012-12-17T20:47:00.000-08:00

Quick, effective workout: Anytime, anywhere exercises to fight the holiday bulge Angeles Burke, who is one of those incredible-bodied bikini fitness goddesses, a member of the National Physique Committee, a certified fitness instructor through Aerobics and Fitness Association of America and a Celsius sponsored

Didn’t your trainer teach you any manners? A guide to the unwritten rules of working out in a public gym

2012-12-17T20:31:00.000-08:00

I'm not much for recommending books I haven't even read yet, but we're headed to the most dreaded month for gym rats: January. Gyms across the country are swarmed with newcomers each January. As any regular gym-goer can attest, the first few months of the year bring out all kinds of newly inspired fitness fanatics, many of whom could use a lesson in gym etiquette. The following

Fitness Gift Guide: Galactic Romance dance-themed apparel

2012-12-10T21:10:00.000-08:00

You don't have to be local to San Jose to enjoy the dance-themed fitness apparel made by a small Silicon Valley firm. Galactic Romance apparel was inspired by owner Brandie Schweizer's love of dance and...(read more on San Jose Fitness Examiner)

Longing for a trip to Hawaii? Win one.

2012-12-10T20:36:00.000-08:00

There's still time to enter the Eat Well, Be Well Holiday Giveaway presented by Spa Week and famed nutritionist, Keri Glassman. Running on SpaWeek.com until the end of the year, this exclusive giveaway will gift a lucky winner with the perfect post-holiday package that will aid in creating a smooth healthy diet and lifestyle transformation. Seriously, isn't that what we're all

Javorskie Lane's inspiring weight loss transformation

2012-12-05T14:33:00.000-08:00

As part of its continuing series "Outside The Game," Yahoo! Sports recently spotlighted Miami Dolphins' rookie fullback Jorvorskie Lane, whose decision to get healthier has not only given him a second chance at his dream, but has also made him a role model for his family. Thanks to Yahoo! for allowing the story to be shared here. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. A standout running

Athleta opens in Silicon Valley - preview event Tue Dec 4. 2012

2012-11-29T17:50:00.001-08:00

Athleta is opening a store in Valley Fair - whew, just in time for Christmas. The store is located near Sephora, on the first floor of the massive shopping center. According to the company, the store will feature a broad assortment of apparel for run, yoga, gym/training, swim, hike/explore and everything in between. The Valley Fair store will offer a personalized styling service,

Telling people to exercise isn't working. So why does the fitness community just do it louder and more often?

2012-11-20T14:31:00.001-08:00

According to a terrific article in today's New York Times by Tara Parker-Pope, "Only 3.5 percent of Americans between the ages of 18 and 59 do the minimum amount of physical activity recommended by the Department of Health and Human Services: 150 minutes a week of moderate activity." Wow. She also says that when it comes to self-reporting, about 40 percent of Americans say they never exercise,

Heart attack or holiday indigestion? Two apps and a short code to keep on hand.

2012-11-20T13:58:00.000-08:00

Here's a note that came over the wires from ERtexting.com. The info seems appropriate as we head into Thanksgiving and the holiday season. It recommends three apps that can help aid choking dinner guests, decipher if overindulgent guests require emergency medical attention or find the nearest ER with the shortest wait time: iTriage Health: Created by two ER

Ali Vincent to compete in her first IRONMAN

2012-11-20T11:59:00.001-08:00

It's one thing to lose weight and get fit, and another to stay there and continue to improve. The following announcement crossed my email today, and I have to say, "Way to go" to Ali Vincent, the winner of "The Biggest Loser" season five and the competition's first female winner. Now, five years later, she's making good on the promise she made to herself and fans across America. At the time

Fitness with your dog made better: Dog-E-Glow and Thank Dog iPhone app

2012-11-17T18:11:00.002-08:00

Two fitness products for people and their dogs have come my way that are worth a mention - Dog-E-Glow and Thank Dog! Bootcamp (a mobile app). I'll likely be including them in holiday articles on San Jose Fitness Examiner, but space constraints and format there make it easier for me to tell the longer story here. Cardio with your dog: Thank Dog! iPhone app Thank Dog! Mobile is an app developed

Drinking cold water for better workout performance

2012-11-16T18:34:00.000-08:00

An article published in the Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition presents interesting information about a study conducted by Athletes’ Performance in Phoenix, Arizona. The upshot is that there are significant benefits to drinking cold water during an intense workout compared to room-temperature water. One example of superior workout results in the study: nearly 50% of

Holiday fitness gifts recommended by American Council on Exercise

2012-11-15T14:23:00.003-08:00

It's unusual to me that trade and professional associations would make product recommendations, but such it is in a world where media, content and marketing have all become important in the social eco-system. ACE, the American Council on Exercise sent out the following holiday gift ideas for people who love fitness. I respect ACE a lot, and if they say these are good fitness products, it's

Choices for top celebs to have sex with if the world is ending

2012-11-13T22:08:00.003-08:00

Ok, I know it's not strictly a fitness issue, but ... Personally, I was surprised by the stats National Geographic Channel came up with in their recent research about how people view catastrophes and the end times. Here is the article I posted on Examiner.com: George Clooney, Jen Aniston top fantasy sex list in doomsday scenario Go over to the article to see the pics of the celebs chosen for

Check out the World Pole Dancing Championships

2012-11-13T21:58:00.001-08:00

Did you catch the article over on Examiner.com about the World Pole Dancing Championships? There are great photos there, so if you didn't see the article go on over. And while you're there, if you are in the Bay Area, click on the link to Twirly Girls - a pole dancing studio here in Silicon Valley. I really must get up there to interview them at length one day. I've had email exchanges

Girls night out: Low cal cocktails fit the bill

2012-11-09T11:06:00.000-08:00

Over the holidays, showers, book clubs and girls night out take on special festivity. If you're hunting for some low calorie ideas for cocktails, take a look at these from Voli Light Vodka. CosLOWpolitan 1 ½ oz Voli Lyte Vodka 1 oz fresh lime juice 1 oz Cranberry Juice Glass: Martini Garnish: Sugar / Orange peel Method: Shake and strain Approx. Calories: 82 LIME LYTE 1 ½ oz

Low-calorie entertaining for the holidays: Cocktails

2012-11-09T11:02:00.001-08:00

If you're looking for light, low calorie ways to entertain over the holidays, the dilemma of what to serve for drinks come to mind. The folks at Voli Light Vodkas, which has about 1/3 fewer calories than other vodkas, sent along these recipes for cocktails that fit the bill and are elegant to boost! RASPBERRY GODDESS 1 1/z oz Voli Raspberry Cocoa 2 oz

How to turn Black Friday shopping into a mini-workout

2012-11-05T11:30:00.000-08:00

Sure, you can sit at home and shop online over the holidays, but for many of us, it's all about the fun of mixing it up with the crowds and finding on-the-spot specials in the malls. With that in mind, the team from online training portal FitOrbit.com put together fitness tips from trainer Ilyse Baker for your shopping adventure. Black Friday Workout tips to keep you fit while you shop: