Week 8 News: Working Together!

March 29, 2010

Dear Friends,

Now that we are more than halfway through the Shape Up challenge, have you discovered how working together is helping you reach your goals? Have you gone to a fitness class with a teammate or been invited by someone to walk at lunch? Exercising together makes wellness fun.

There are other social benefits of exercise. Your newfound exercise might be especially enjoyable because you like the camaraderie of your team or the chance to get to know people whom you didn’t know before. You might enjoy it because you like looking at the stars when you take a walk at night to get the extra steps to meet your goal. You might like having an incentive to try out your area’s walking trails or discover a pond or a stream that you never knew was there.

These can also lead to even more social connections. One participant said she’s been trying out various classes at her local gym, thanks to the Shape Up RI calendar of events, and she’s surprised at how many of the same people she sees later around town. For her, exercise is enhancing her sense of community.

As you continue in Shape Up RI, think about what you really like about the exercise you’re doing, because that’s what will keep you motivated. Michelle Segar, a motivational psychologist at the University of Michigan, recently said in The New York Times, “We’ve made exercise feel like a chore to most people, not like a gift we give ourselves.”

In the same article, health writer Jane Brody talks about the emotional benefits of exercise. Give it a read and think about what can make exercise feel like a gift to you: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/09/health/09brod.html?ref=health
 
Keep up the good work!

Yours In Health,

Rajiv Kumar

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Wednesday Walk and More!

Wednesday Walk
Join Shape Up RI for a walk on Wednesday March 31 at 12:00 p.m. Meet us at South County Hospital in the volunteer parking lot which is located at the West Drive entrance of the hospital. We will walk around the neighboring streets and back for a 1 mile walk. That is 2000 steps during your lunch break! All are welcome. Everyone is entered to win a Shape Up RI tee-shirt. RAIN DATE is Thursday, April 1. Wednesday Walk page

Saturday: Jai Ho Dance Routine!
This Saturday, 4/3, from 10 – 11a.m. at the Roger Williams National Memorial at 282 North Main Street, Providence, Adopt a Doctor is hosting a filmed "Jai Ho" dance routine, modeled after the Slumdog Millionaire dance. This event is an engaging celebration of local diversity for anyone to participate in this exciting dance. The practice will begin at 10am, and the dance will be at 11am. Put on your dancing shoes and get some pedometer steps at this fun community event!
Contact Devin Finzer at devin_finzer@brown.edu or visit the Shape Up RI calendar

Goodwill Rednose Run free for Shape Up RI participants
On Saturday, April 17th, Goodwill Industries of Rhode Island is hosting a 5K in Roger Williams Park Zoo Called the Red Nose Run /Walk for Work.  This event typically has a registration fee, but Shape Up RI has partnered with this Goodwill to offer the run/walk for FREE to all Shape Up RI Participants. Th is is a team or individual event, and when you register you will also receive a free tee shirt!
To register for this race, please print out the following form and be sure to check off the box that states you are a participant in Shape Up RI Registration Form

Calendar of Freebies: Never Say Never

Never thought of swimming as your form of exercise? Take a free Lap Swimming class – swimming works every muscle without stress or strain – and reward yourself with a sauna afterwards. Never tried Kickboxing? The instructor will modify classes for Shape Up beginners. Never tried yoga? Sign up for Yoga For All, which emphasizes no experience is needed. Explore more fun fitness at our calendar of events.

How many calories are in...?

...half an avocado? About 135. Avocados contain oleic acid, a monounsaturated fat, or a “good” fat, that may help lower cholesterol, says the American Heart Association. Avocados are a good source of potassium (helps regulate blood pressure) and folate (good for heart health). They also help the body absorb more fat-soluble nutrients, such as alpha and beta-carotene and lutein, in food that are eaten with the fruit. One idea is to use a couple of slices of avocado on a sandwich instead of mayonnaise.

Recipe: Carrots by way of Morocco

Carrots are carrots are carrots, right? Not when you change up the spices you cook them with. This recipe from Coastal Living magazine uses cinnamon, ginger, honey and cilantro to whisk you into the exotic flavors of the Marrakesh market.
http://www.coastalliving.com/food/seafood-basics/five-classic-moroccan-dishes-00400000065542/page2.html

Rethink what you drink

People trying to cut down on calories usually focus on food, but a truly productive way to cut calories may be to think about what you drink. Here’s ideas on reducing beverage calories on everything from coffee to smoothies.
http://www.cdc.gov/healthyweight/healthy_eating/drinks.html

Can your team go out for sushi without guilt?

With sushi so popular now, you might be wondering whether it fits into a moderate-calorie lifestyle. Here’s what the Mayo Clinic experts have to say
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/calories-in-sushi/AN01858

Walk of the Week: The Easter Stroll

Sunday is Easter, a day when kids get exercise hunting down eggs, but what about the adults? If you celebrate Easter, invite your family and friends to take a walk after Easter brunch or dinner. Show them your pedometer, how it measures your steps, and how many steps it takes to be considered “active”. Tell them about Shape Up, and how it’s fighting diabetes and heart disease. Take a hint from one team captain, who last year gave everyone in her family a pedometer in a little Easter basket!

Ordering Pedometers and t-shirts

Getting a t-shirt or an additional or replacement pedometer is easy. Visit our Shop to Support page. Questions? Give us a call at 401 421-0608.

Important: The information provided by Shape Up RI is not intended as medical advice, diagnosis or treatment and should not be used as a substitute for the care and advice of a professional health care provider. Before beginning any physical activity and/or weight loss program you should consult your physician. Shape Up RI provides health information meant for people in generally good health. If you have an underlying medical concern, please consult your physician about how this information affects your specific medical conditions.