ParentDishhttp://www.parentdish.comParentDishhttp://www.parentdish.com/media/feedlogo.gifParentDishhttp://www.parentdish.comen-usCopyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only.Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/The Jacksons, That's All Folks! We're Ready, So Bring on Tomorrowhttp://www.parentdish.com/2011/05/31/the-jacksons-thats-all-folks-were-ready-so-bring-on-tomorro/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/05/31/the-jacksons-thats-all-folks-were-ready-so-bring-on-tomorro/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/05/31/the-jacksons-thats-all-folks-were-ready-so-bring-on-tomorro/#commentsFiled under:

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I'm craving roasted-garlic hummus with toasted pita chips right now.

I mean, I really want some. Longing for pulverized garbanzo beans, lemon juice and various spices is a far cry from some of the more horrifically calorific foods I used to yearn for -- and later succumb to. Not too long ago I would have been wanting kettle-cooked barbecue potato chips, sweet tea, chocolate-chip cookies crumbled in natural vanilla bean ice cream, rib-eye steaks, pepperoni pizzas, double cheeseburgers, etc., etc., etc.

But eight months ago was then, and this is now.

My son, Jackson, and I are a better family, a better team and better people -- physically and emotionally -- for having taken on the Healthy Families Challenge.

The HFC promised to provide the experts who would volunteer their time and services to help us four families achieve our health and fitness goals; in turn, we agreed to document our journey through words and video. Back then, we Jacksons were game, but a bit unsure of what we'd really be able to pull off. At the very least, we said our main goals were to lose some weight (me), and gain some muscle (Jack).

Well, we both reached our goals and then some.

The numbers tell us we did well. Both Jack and I took turns last week sitting in the egg-shaped Bod Pod, which measured our body compositions. Housed in the University of Mississippi's Department of Nutrition and Hospitality Management, the machine confirmed my weight lost (a total of 20 pounds) and Jack's weight gain (17 pounds), but it also told us more: Both of us had indeed increased our lean muscle, meaning that, in my case, some of the weight that did not fall off had actually converted from unwanted fat to desired muscle mass.

jackson family picture

Eight months later, we've never felt better. Thank you, Healthy Families Challenge. Credit: Deidra Jackson

In addition, I learned that I improved my resting metabolic rate -- the percentage of calories that I burn at rest. In other words, I burn more calories now -- doing nothing -- than I did eight months ago. Blame it on the muscles I gained and the weight I lost slowly, which, in the end, helps speed metabolism. That keeps the fat off longer, the experts tell me. More important than BMI (which I did decrease by more than two points) or what you weigh is body composition.

Quite simply, mentally and physically, Jack and I feel better. Taking this journey together has been a tremendous test and a huge boost for us both. We won't look at rutabagas or Slim Jims, or approach cross-court lunges or parry-ripostes, in quite the same way again.

Today, without even having to think about it much, we both eat healthier, exercise more often than we used to, and think twice before we make certain food and drink selections.

Representing the South, I began this blog on Oct. 5, 2010, by writing, The last time I checked, Mississippi was still the fattest state in the nation .... Sadly, the same continues to be true. If a recent NPR news story is to be believed, "Mississippi is losing the war with obesity." If our home state is still losing this tough battle, it's not because people and influential forces in this state aren't trying. Turning these numbers around is going to take undoing a historical mindset that has lasted -- and has been claiming victims -- for generations.

We want to thank our phenomenal health and fitness experts who were so giving of their time and expertise in helping us reach our goals. They include:
* Jenn Hall, personal trainer, UM Department of Campus Recreation
* Emmy Parkes, instructor, registered dietitian, certified diabetes educator, UM Department of Nutrition and Hospitality Management
* Melinda Valliant, UM assistant professor of nutrition
* Mary Amanda Haskins, certified health-education specialist, UM employee health program project coordinator
* Doc Matthews, Sean and Marguerite of the Oxford Fencers Club
* Dan O'Sullivan, Tai Chi instructor, UM

To Carole, Susan, Damon, Paige and the other talented HFC facilitators, you were quite literally our lifesavers. Thank you, forever.

Although we're saying our goodbyes, Jackson and I aren't nervous about tomorrow or the day after as we continue our journey. As a matter of fact, I'll be meeting Jenn tomorrow to resume my workouts. And I'll continue to chronicle our journey on my own website at http://www.deidrajackson.com. Please join me!

When it comes to our health, I think Jack and I will be more accountable to each other. Now, when we go out to eat, we've agreed that at any point necessary, one of us may randomly say, "...Healthy Families Challenge!" -- which is code for "Do you really think you should eat/drink that?" That usually means no luscious chocolate or cream-filled dessert for us, this time.

To our dear followers, including those of you who also are struggling with weight or routine fitness -- you've got this. Here's what I learned:

* I urge you to stay committed to a plan. If you fall, get back up, but don't give up.

* Keep healthy foods in your cupboards and refrigerator to avoid last-minute unhealthy runs to restaurants. Before you say there's nothing to eat at home, think about whether you can throw together something that's nutritionally better for you; keep that money in your wallet for something you really need.

* And, most importantly (if you can remember to do this, I will, too): Always love yourself even when you don't always feel passionate about whom you see in the mirror.

Who's the rest of the competition? Check out all the challengers' latest updates here.


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]]>Deidra JacksonTue, 31 May 2011 09:00:00 ESTThe Drevitches, That's All Folks! We End Our Year Smaller and Wiserhttp://www.parentdish.com/2011/05/30/the-drevitches-thats-all-folks-we-end-our-year-smaller-and-wi/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/05/30/the-drevitches-thats-all-folks-we-end-our-year-smaller-and-wi/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/05/30/the-drevitches-thats-all-folks-we-end-our-year-smaller-and-wi/#commentsFiled under:

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It's the phone call that changed my life.

My ParentDish editor rang me late one day last summer to tell me that the site was launching something called the Healthy Families Challenge, and that I should consider getting involved as one of a quartet of writers/guinea pigs.

My response? Thanks, but no thanks.

The last thing I wanted to do was spend a year thinking, much less writing, about trying to live more healthfully, and the last thing America wanted to do, I imagined, was to read about it.

Two weeks later, she asked again, and this time I mentioned the offer to my wife, Lynn, who immediately said I should do it. After some debate with her, I realized I had no good answer to the obvious question: Why wouldn't you want to get some expert help to lose weight, and to get the kids more active? So I begrudgingly signed on.

Best decision I've made in years.

Farewell from Manhattan! Courtesy Gary Drevitch

I'd gradually fallen out of shape over the course of about nine years, but it turned out I really was ready to commit to undoing the damage. I took the advice of nutritionist Marissa Lippert of Nourish -- not a diet plan, but ideas for eating and snacking healthier every day -- and turned my workout over to New York Sports Clubs master trainer Victoria Gallagher. The result? Forty-eight pounds gone -- from 211 down to 163, a weight I last saw in 1986. A good seven inches came off my waistline as well.

Now the size 36 pants I bought in December when my old 38s became too large sit in the back of my closet, and I pull my belts to the final loop around my size 34 pants, which have been almost fully replaced by 32s.

Meanwhile, at the gym, lazy afternoons on the recumbent bike followed by a few barbell and dumbbell lifts have been replaced by dynamic workouts, starting with cardio on the rowing machine, a cross-trainer, or a flight of stairs before a mix of pec flies, seated rows, BOSU ball pushups, reverse crunches, jackknifes, pull-ups, chin-ups, Battle Rope routines, squats, walking lunges, or step-ups -- always pushing, always keeping the heart rate up. The sessions are exhausting and satisfying, and I know they're having an impact.

And now, people are asking me for weightloss advice and fitness tips. Mostly, though, they ask if I feel different. I do, but not in the ways you might think. It's the little things: Those small towels the gym provides in the locker room fit around my waist now, for example. I'm more comfortable roughhousing and squeezing into the backs of cabs with the kids. And I'm wearing my shirts tucked in a lot more often.

The Challenge has been exciting, validating and gratifying for me, and positive for the family all around. Lynn lost seven pounds and a dress size, and took advantage of some opportunities to learn new cooking techniques to make healthier versions of foods the kids already like, such as Indian meals. In her training sessions at the Jewish Community Center here in Manhattan, she picked up some lessons about moving beyond the treadmill and having a more balanced workout. She fell in love with a weekend boxing class there, and did her best to put into practice Marissa's advice for getting the children to eat healthier.

Ah, yes, the kids. Benjamin, 10, Natalie, 8, and Adam, 4, certainly feel that they met their primary collective Healthy Family Challenge goal -- that is, not letting Mom and Dad's lifestyle changes affect them. But, really, they did. The kids are all now much more engaged in sports or physical activity year round. Benjamin added winter basketball to spring and fall Little League. Natalie moved up into a twice-a-week gymnastics program at the New York Kids Club, and was chosen for her elementary-school's track team. And Adam has been taking sports classes all year long with the gifted children's coaches at the JCC.

None of the children idled during cold winter weeks, either, as they took part in a weekend skating program at Chelsea Piers, and spent their vacation barreling down the hills at Vermont's Stratton Mountain, while their alpine-challenged dad raced through the forest in snowshoes.

Do the kids eat healthier? Well, thanks to our lifestyle change, the snacks available to them are less fattening; their homemade meals include more fish and veggies (even if a disturbing portion still remain untouched); and, thanks to the forward-thinking administration at their public school, their school lunches underwent a major overhaul, ditching salty, fatty, starchy foods and replacing them with more whole grains and non-nuggetized chicken.

It's somewhat overwhelming to consider how much has changed for us over the past several months. Thanks to all of you who have come along for the ride as readers. I've tried to keep the goal of the program in mind -- to share with other families the things we've learned on our journey. I hope we've passed on some good ideas here.

And to anyone out there who is truly ready for a lifestyle change, for themselves and their kids, just know that if you commit yourself to it, there's no reason you can't do what we did.

And I'm fairly confident you'll be as happy as we are for having done it.

Who's the rest of the competition? Check out all the challengers' latest updates here.


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]]>Gary DrevitchMon, 30 May 2011 09:00:00 ESTThe Hatch-Palucks, That's All Folks! It's Not Goodbye, It's So Longhttp://www.parentdish.com/2011/05/26/hatch-palucks-its-not-goodbye-its-so-l/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/05/26/hatch-palucks-its-not-goodbye-its-so-l/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/05/26/hatch-palucks-its-not-goodbye-its-so-l/#commentsFiled under:

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Can I admit that I'm a little verklempt?

It's the last time I'll be writing here about our Healthy Families Challenge. Yes, that's right -- it's been eight months of food, exercise and attitude rehab for our merry band of four, and now we have to say so long.

We are so grateful to the amazing professionals who helped us get off the couch, clean out our fridge and basically change our entire lifestyle.

This journey has been one we never could have anticipated. For me, my husband, Channing, and our two children, Emmeline and Henry, it really has been life-altering.

When we started the Challenge in October 2010, I was still 10 pounds over my goal weight of 130, and my closet was filled with clothes sized in the double-digits. Channing was fretting over his heart health (heart disease and early death run in his family) and I was concerned about diabetes and cancer, being at risk for both.

Our kids -- especially our oldest -- were couch potatoes who preferred sedentary pursuits and, as their parents, we did not set a good example. There was very little physical activity happening in our household, and our pantry was stocked with fatty convenience foods we could grab on the run as we pursued professional goals that compromised our schedules to the extreme.

But today?

Today, I am wearing size 8 jeans, and I've lost six of those 10 pounds, going from 142 to 136. I hit the treadmill three times a week at the Activities and Recreation Center at the University of Illinois, while Channing swims. He's lost 13 pounds since October, and he even suggested we take up yoga as a way to up the ante on our physical and mental well-being.

Who is this person? Do I even know him?

I've changed my entire thought-process, when it comes to food, especially. I've had a fraught relationship with eating over the years, but a long, hard look in the mirror helped me realize that my attitudes toward food were influencing not just the scale but also our kids, and, to some extent, my husband.

amy hatch family picture

We've come a long way, baby, but we still have a long way to go. Credit: Kathleen Nealon

I failed to look at cooking as a means to an end -- and that end was health. Instead, it was a chore for me, something I dreaded and associated very closely with failure. When our daughter, Emmie, started to exhibit signs of food neophobia (she panics when she has to try a new food and severely limits the number of foods she will eat), I took it as my own failure.

Internalizing that (and using it as an excuse), I stopped trying to feed our family healthy meals. Our hectic schedules didn't help. Soon, I was wearily heating up the same frozen menu items night after night.

Thanks to some "therapy" in the form of writing about Emmie's issues and some good advice and insights from our team at the Family Resiliency Center at the University of Illinois, we've taken great strides in helping Emmie overcome her fears.

We've taken a new tack, and we talk about foods and exercise only positively. While we can't say that is entirely responsible for Emmie's progress, we can say that she has tried several new menu items, including homemade whole-wheat bread, applesauce and potatoes that aren't in french-fried form.

This is a huge step in the right direction.

Emmie is also a lot more active and is now a four-sport athlete -- swimming, basketball, soccer and T-ball.

Henry is the same active little man he always was, and he is our happy herbivore, devouring fresh fruits and veggies by the pound. He has begun to exhibit some age-appropriate pickiness, but thanks to the lessons we learned about Emmie, we aren't catering to his culinary whims. Instead, he gets the same food we all eat and we don't make a fuss.

This all sounds like it can be wrapped up in a nice little bow, doesn't it? But I'm cynical enough to know how easy it would be to slowly slink off the wagon.

But while I don't think we'll ever go back to our old ways of snacking and waiting for a magic wand to make us healthy, I do think we'll do our best to stay on track, with a few detours here and there.

Today, just before I wrote this, we made a hefty financial commitment and renewed our gym membership for the next six months -- and we are also committed to using it.

And that is as happy an ending as I ever hoped for.

Who's the rest of the competition? Check out all the challengers' latest updates here.


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]]>fitnesshealthy familiesweight lossAmy HatchThu, 26 May 2011 10:00:00 ESTThe Quintanas, That's All Folks! But the End Is Really the Beginninghttp://www.parentdish.com/2011/05/25/the-quintanas-thats-all-folks-but-the-end-is-really-the-begin/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/05/25/the-quintanas-thats-all-folks-but-the-end-is-really-the-begin/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/05/25/the-quintanas-thats-all-folks-but-the-end-is-really-the-begin/#commentsFiled under:

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Typically, saying goodbye can be depressing, but with all the endorphins flowing through this house, all we can do is feel the good.

Here in our very last week of the Healthy Families Challenge, we find we've accumulated a whole lot of high-powered life lessons that we can appy to anything.

Lesson #1: We have only ourselves to answer to.

David, now nearly 60 pounds lighter, and I, down 10 pounds myself, have already picked days and planned workout routines to keep us on the ball. Not to mention that I will be continuing my Monday-night boot camp class with Michelle Christie at the Doral Vineyard, along with occasional yoga visits to Pranoga, to keep my focus and stress levels where they should be.

And thanks, America, for all your backup over the last eight months! Your holding us accountable every week really helped us stick to our guns. Now we're on our own.

Lesson #2: Change will keep us moving.

Christian, my youngest son, has already found a new rock-climbing class that caught his attention, but that will not stand in the way of his Brazilian Jiu Jitsu classes at American Top Team Doral, which he wholeheartedly plans on continuing.

He's learned that just because he is choosing to add other activities besides skateboarding, doesn't mean that his favorites will be left behind.

quintana family picture

That's a wrap! Credit: Nory Garcia

Lesson #3: Observe, listen and chow down.

As Aaron, my oldest son, prepares for the next running season, he's thankful for the discipline he learned in Jiu Jitsu at ATT Doral: He always gives his all, and never underestimates the competition, in a 5k or anywhere else.

Aaron has also learned from Su-Nui Escobar, our HFC nutritionist (who shares his love of long-distance running), that what you put into your body is the fuel that keeps it going. Aaron knows that, to prepare for a race, he should take care to put good stuff in his tank.

Lesson #4: Confidence gets you everywhere.

Chloe, my youngest child, has learned through her confidence-building exercises at the Little Gym of Doral, that faith in yourself can change your whole outlook. For Chloe, P.E. was always a tough subject in school, but this year she managed to pass with flying colors.

Her new, high-energy Hip Hop class, also taught by Michelle Christie at the Doral Vineyard, is like the kid-confidence power hour. Since she started dancing, Chloe is practically a different child -- miles from that shy and timid girl we once knew.

Lesson #5: Endorphins will make or break you.

Elizabeth, my oldest daughter, learned the hard way that when the body stops moving, it lacks the energy to keep cheery. After a mid-Challenge bummer brought on by a slowly healing broken thumb, she found herself down-and-out.

After worrying whether or not Beth would get her mojo back, we decided to consult with the experts as to why she was so sad. Yup, we went straight to the movie "Legally Blonde." It told us everything we needed to know -- that, as Elle Woods says, "Exercise gives you endorphins. Endorphins make people happy, and happy people just don't shoot their husbands. They just don't." With Beth's thumb healed up and her getting back into the flow of things (she's loving that Hip-Hop class, too!), her mojo is more than happy once again -- and we all feel a lot safer around her.

Lesson #6: A family that fights together also bonds together.

As I kept explaining throughout HFC, my kids could not be any more different. It was amazing to see the way they teamed up when they all found something they loved doing together. Their Jiu Jitsu classes at ATT Doral have bonded us all in a special way. Those of us who can continue attending -- and those of me who can't -- are so proud to be cheering them on in what is (and possibly might permanently be) my favorite sport.

Personally, I think if people were to take our little lessons and apply them to life, they would be surprised at the fun, yet impacting, difference each and every one could make.

Now, go out and practice what I preach, America. See what positive things the overflow of endorphins will bring to you and your family! We'll be right here, doing it too.

Who's the rest of the competition? Check out all the challengers' latest updates here.


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]]>Victoria Michelle QuintanaWed, 25 May 2011 09:00:00 ESTThe Jacksons, Week 33: Mother and Son, 2.0http://www.parentdish.com/2011/05/24/the-jacksons-week-33-mother-and-son-2-0/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/05/24/the-jacksons-week-33-mother-and-son-2-0/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/05/24/the-jacksons-week-33-mother-and-son-2-0/#commentsFiled under:

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deidra jackson picture

A Japanese steakhouse chef has a grilled egg to throw? Jackson's there to catch it. He enjoyed a friends' wild dinner birthday party at Kabuki' Sushi Bar and Steak House in Oxford, Miss. recently. Credit: Deidra Jackson

I like to tell people who see the new me that I'm an upgrade of my former self.

I've shed more than 20 pounds, shaved some 10 inches from my waist, minimized my dreadful body mass index (stay tuned for the new BMI next week!), and increased my stamina and strength. Thanks to the Healthy Families Challenge, all these landmarks were possible -- with a good measure of personal determination and commitment, along with the guidance of University of Mississippi health and fitness experts who volunteered their services to help Jackson and me reach our goals and improve our physical and mental wellness.

But as I've achieved some grand milestones, Jackson, my 12-year-old son, has undergone his own transformation.

It seems that when we began this journey last October, he was just 11, a child. Now, he'll be 13 in December. I may be a changed woman, but Jackson is a young man.

As he inches toward adolescence, I've stepped back and noticed how he's changed since we began this very public voyage. He's visibly taller (I've still got a couple of inches on him, though, as I like to remind him); his voice is significantly deeper (you can hear it for yourself; compare our older videos with our newer ones); and he's more mature.

My boy still needs his mom nearby for guidance, no doubt; but as I continue to take care of him and steer him along the right paths, he also leads me. We have thought-provoking discussions, and now they come with a real give-and-take.

I love that.

How is the Jackson family doing? Check in on their progress!


Deep in the throes of trying to slim down, I only recently considered how my own self-image might be affecting him, and, most importantly, his impression of himself. You remember at the beginning stages of this Challenge, how I brazenly affirmed those times when I still dodged my eyes in bathroom mirrors because "I hate whom I see"?

When -- or if -- I project those feelings around my son, how must he feel about himself?

Honestly, he rarely reads these online musings, and would rather catch the videos each month. But I wonder what he thinks about me making such judgments about myself.

"Mom, stop being so hard on yourself," Jack responded recently when I talked negatively about my appearance. "It doesn't matter how you look, Mom. . .," he's said during my mad scrambles to apply makeup before we head out the door.

How can I make sure that Jackson has a good body image, even if I struggle with my own?
That was one question addressed in the "Weight Watchers Eat! Move! Play!," a parental guidebook I've raved about that encourages nutritious eating habits and active lifestyles among children and youth. In a chat with WeightWatchers.com, Dr. Lisa Thornton, a pediatrician and Lifetime member of Weight Watchers, says one strategy is to stop the self-hate.

Immediately.

"If you're constantly complaining about your weight or your love handles, you're communicating a world of negative information to your child," she says. "We really need to change our language when we're talking about our bodies. An accusatory tone doesn't work..."

Instead, talk to your son about how you can promote healthier living, Dr. Thornton would tell me.

Thankfully, during these past several months, Jackson and I have done much more of just that.

Ever growing, Jack's gained additional weight -- 17 pounds -- as he's shot up in height during these months. I'd like to think that he's put on more muscle, which was his primary goal from the start. So far, I don't see any reasons to be worried about Jack having any poor body- or self-image issues. Even as a youngster, he's always been instinctively personable and self-assured, holding his head up, looking people in the eye and exuding self-confidence, as you can see from my photo of him taken on a night out with his friends.

I know that along the way to adolescence, Jack will feel the inevitable bumps in the road. But -- if he'll let me -- I'll be there to help him persevere and press on.

Physically and mentally, already, we're both different people, new and improved.

Who's the rest of the competition? Check out all the challengers' latest updates here.


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]]>Deidra JacksonTue, 24 May 2011 09:00:00 ESTThe Drevitches, Week 33: The Now Normalhttp://www.parentdish.com/2011/05/23/the-drevitches-week-33-the-now-normal/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/05/23/the-drevitches-week-33-the-now-normal/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/05/23/the-drevitches-week-33-the-now-normal/#commentsFiled under:

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gary drevitch exercise picture

The Battle Rope is exhausting, but kind of fun, too. Credit: Victoria Gallagher, YouTube

We're nearing the end, but we're not slowing down.

Our Healthy Families Challenge finish line is within sight, but we're not easing up on our goals. Why would we? We intend for the changes we've made to become permanent.

I've dropped 49 pounds since Labor Day 2010, and continue to consciously consider my food choices as I downshift from diet mode to maintenance mode, keeping the guidelines I got from nutritionist Marissa Lippert of Nourish in mind. These days, instead of denying myself starches, snacks and desserts, I've learned to find satisfaction in small portions, to find the right thing -- instead of the closest -- to satisfy my hunger, and to shop for the new me, not the old.

The other day, I had a big bowl of strawberries and low-fat cottage cheese on rice cakes for lunch at the office and it was great. And then, for dinner, Lynn, my wife, made lamb chops, carrots and Israeli couscous with raisins and leeks. Delicious.

And as I spooned out scoops of all-natural Breyer's ice cream for the kids, I took and savored a couple of small spoonfuls for myself. And that was all I needed. Days like that are increasingly the status quo, and having healthy be the norm was the goal when we started all this back in October.

Lynn, while maintaining her own weight loss and exercise regimen, is still working to get the kids eating healthier, homemade meals. She just took a one-evening cooking course at the Jewish Community Center in Manhattan called "Salmon Six Ways." Among the ways: salmon cakes with lemon mayonnaise; poached salmon with dill creme fraiche; and salmon fillets with honey-mustard sauce, all recipes that our children should enjoy.

How is the Drevitch family doing? Check in on their progress!


In fact, our kids have all been eating heart-healthy fish dishes lately. Natalie, 8, has developed a taste for bluefish prepared with fennel seeds -- she's a sophisticated girl with a palate to match.

Meanwhile, I continue to work out at New York Sports Club with Master Trainer Victoria Gallagher. We've been working together for months, but like any good trainer, Victoria keeps things fresh, and has gradually been introducing me to more of the toys that the gym staff keeps on hand.

Last week, for example, I used the Battle Rope for the first time. This is a 30-foot-long, heavy, thick rope that you stretch out (with its middle turned around a metal gym bench for anchoring) and hold with one end in each hand. And then, for 30 seconds or more, you stand in a squatting position and raise and lower the rope ends, as fast and hard as you can, making sure to use enough strength to cause the rope to make waves. It is a tough, hard-core 30 seconds (we did four sets), but it's also kind of addictive.

With new wrinkles in the gym, new recipes at home, and a new attitude all around, this family might just be able to keep our momentum going all summer long.

Who's the rest of the competition? Check out all the challengers' latest updates here.


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]]>Gary DrevitchMon, 23 May 2011 09:00:00 ESTThe Hatch-Palucks, Week 32: Just Say 'Om'http://www.parentdish.com/2011/05/19/the-hatch-palucks-week-32-just-say-om/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/05/19/the-hatch-palucks-week-32-just-say-om/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/05/19/the-hatch-palucks-week-32-just-say-om/#commentsFiled under:

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amy hatch living room picture

This mess would make anyone need to meditate. Credit: Amy Hatch

When my husband suggested recently that we take yoga classes, I literally snorted.

In fact, I snorted so hard that I almost inhaled my laptop. We were working together in his office after our thrice-weekly workout at the Activities and Recreation Center at the University of Illinois when these amazing words fell from his lips.

"I need to find a place to do yoga," Channing said, as he got up from his desk to stretch. "I know you're going to think I'm crazy, but I think it will help me get centered."

I did, at first, think he was joking. My husband is a world champion scoffer, the kind of guy who thinks every meal should be served with two kinds of carbohydrates, preferably both potato-based. He is the least New Age-y person on the planet.

So, yeah, I was shocked to hear him suggest that we take up an exercise regime that includes meditation. He was, however, totally serious. It's a grand testament, indeed, to the Healthy Families Challenge that a man such as my spouse would even consider yoga.

I'm game, and I said as much -- but I'm a little skeptical. The idea of gentle, low-impact exercise is appealing to me (considering my arthritic knees and pelvis, which are complaining in the suddenly very humid weather here in Urbana, Illinois). I also love the idea of learning how to get centered, and to meditate.

Our lives are hectic, and will only get more so as I take on more and more freelance clients (I'm a self-employed writer and social media consultant), and as Channing gets further along in writing his dissertation at UIUC. We both chose professional lives that take us far off the beaten path, which is great for us, but our paths can be ones of stress and uncertainty.

We tend to be anxious people, anyways, my husband and I, and I know that our kids pick up on that. When our 6-year-old, Emmeline, was diagnosed with anxiety, it really came as no surprise to either of us. Emmie has come a long way recently, though, in taming her fears, and I'd really like to support her by doing the same myself.

How is the Hatch-Paluck family doing? Check in on their progress!


Vigorous exercise (like the treadmill for me and swimming for Channing) helps, but I'm curious to see how yoga could complement what we're achieving at the gym. I knew that fellow Challenger Victoria Michelle Quintana, took a yoga class, and so I asked her what she thought of her experience.

She told me that she had also been skeptical, wondering to herself, "How hard can this be?" She also had her doubts about what it could do for her body. But, she found that she went from zero flexibility to literally bending over backwards.

Thanks to that flexibility, she told me, "I am more balanced now, and can participate in higher-impact exercise." The benefits of yoga didn't end there, though, Michi says. She also learned some meditation techniques.

"The first two classes I tried really focused on meditating on (the) gods...(but the instructor) let me know that I could meditate on the god of my choice, which I appreciated," she says. "I always came out of class really relaxed and able to focus on what my body was letting me know it needed. We are taught that yoga means union of the body, mind and soul, and that our bodies speak to us if we would just listen."

That sounds like just what the doctor ordered for the Hatch-Paluck family, although I'm not entirely sure I want to hear what my body has to say -- I have to listen to enough complaints as the mother of two, thank you very much.

The first time I tried yoga was a bust: I threw out my back so badly that I was in bed for a week. That's one of the hazards of my arthritis -- my pelvis goes out of joint very easily, throwing my spine out of alignment and popping my disc.

But, I'm willing to give it another go, this time in private, one-on-one lessons with my husband. I hear that hot yoga is really, well, hot, and so maybe that will be our next date night!

In the meantime, I'll practice saying, "Om" with a straight face.

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]]>Amy HatchThu, 19 May 2011 09:00:00 ESTThe Quintanas, Week 32: When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Get to the Gymhttp://www.parentdish.com/2011/05/18/the-quintanas-week-32-when-the-going-gets-tough-the-tough-get/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/05/18/the-quintanas-week-32-when-the-going-gets-tough-the-tough-get/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/05/18/the-quintanas-week-32-when-the-going-gets-tough-the-tough-get/#commentsFiled under:

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Not doing nothing. Credit: Elizabeth Roman

Has anyone else ever noticed that when you are just lying around doing nothing, well, you are just lying around doing nothing?

How accomplished does that make you feel? I know it doesn't do a lick for me! I have often thought, "If I could just get one full day of rest I will feel better."

I have gotten that full day of rest and all I did was rest. I then had nothing to show for it.

I was so proud when I saw that, David, my husband, was not going to take life's punches lying down.

I've shared this fact with you before: Prior to the Healthy Families Challenge, we were not exactly the most productive family when dealing with stressful situations. OK, I retract that statement. We were definitely productive ...at putting on extra pounds every time a stressful situation came up.

Throughout the HFC, America has watched us go through some of the toughest times in our lives, and thankfully, through the wonderful teaching of Su-Nui Escobar, our nutritionist, we have learned that food is fuel for our bodies. If we put the wrong foods in, especially in stressful times, our bodies will not perform the way they should. It's kind of like putting diesel into a gasoline-engine Camaro and trying to run a race with it. It's not going to go very far.

There was a window where I thought we should all throw in the towel. Too many things were happening, one after the other. Elizabeth, my oldest daughter, broke her thumb; my dad had suffered yet another heart attack; and, of course, in February, we lost David's mom.

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It felt like we were in the third round of a boxing match with barely a leg to stand on, and although I never said it, I was ready to give up. I was tired of seeing everyone around me hurting. I did not see how exercise and eating could matter right now.

So it was a huge surprise to me when David, right then, decided to start going to the gym six days a week, no excuses. He has lost over 60 pounds, all tolled, and his fear of all of that lost weight leaving him floppy encouraged him to get to work at toning up. He started a regimen of tightening exercises, alternating body parts and allowing himself to rest in between.

If he was sad, he hit the gym. If he was angry, he hit the gym. If he was happy, he hit the gym.

Guess what? The Gym hit back, and apparently, in all the right places.

There are these things coming out of his arms that I've never seen before. I think they're called muscles. I can also feel abs tightening under what we all used to refer to as "the belly."

David's example has done wonders for me, and I have attempted to follow suit. As I recently shared, David's new passion is to help other people achieve their health goals, and he's been taking me to the gym and pushing me to new levels in my workout three times a week. When I am on my last few minutes of the Elliptical machine in my neighborhood gym, and I think I cannot go another step, I apply the "David Principle." I just think about how angry I am that he made me get on that thing, and stay on it for so long. All of a sudden, I get a second wind.

Here we are, a few weeks away from ending the Challenge, and I have been working out five days a week. Me. The one who never exercised. Now, I crave the adrenaline produced by the movement, and by knowing I can accomplish something I never thought possible. That propels me to yoga at Pranoga twice a week, as well as to boot camp at Doral Vineyard once a week, and down to the gym with David the other three days.

We are feeling the burn and the burn feels good.

Though not quite as good as those new muscles on my husband.

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]]>Victoria Michelle QuintanaWed, 18 May 2011 09:00:00 ESTThe Jacksons, Week 32: Spinning Poultry, Waiting Familyhttp://www.parentdish.com/2011/05/17/the-jacksons-week-32-spinning-poultry-waiting-family/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/05/17/the-jacksons-week-32-spinning-poultry-waiting-family/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/05/17/the-jacksons-week-32-spinning-poultry-waiting-family/#commentsFiled under:

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Jackson: Maybe if I stare at them they'll cook faster! Credit: Deidra Jackson

Go ahead and say something negative about rotisserie bird. I dare you.

Is it really possible to utter a hurtful word about honest-to-goodness, juicy domesticated fowl that's not -- dare I say it -- breaded, floured or fried? In the worlds of health, fitness and vegetarianism, I'm sure it is denigrated in more than a few circles. But today, right here? Nein.

More to the point, we, the Jacksons, spent a Saturday mesmerized by five rotating skinless Cornish hens-on-a-spit on the patio at my parents' house. My son, Jack, and I drove two hours to see those other Jacksons, in reality, so that I could enjoy a lazy Mother's Day weekend filled with pampering and relaxation. Dad decided to break out his tabletop rotisserie to roast the hens that I had marinated several hours before. My signature seasonings for these birdies were simple: a little Kraft Light Asian Toasted Sesame Reduced Fat salad dressing and assorted spices -- salt and black pepper, garlic and onion powder, celery seed and parsley.

The dressing added a delightful zing of flavors to the mix: toasted sesame seeds, roasted garlic and ginger. It's also my new favorite dressing on an actual salad. At 50 calories and 2.5 grams of fat per two-tablespoon serving, it's no rich, fat-laden sauce, nutritionally speaking, especially in comparison to other dressings, like spicy ranch, which weighs in at a hefty 150 calories and 16 fat grams.

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Yes, I know that depending on how you prepare certain "healthy" foods, you can add insult to injury by adding too much butter, oil or other fats. Remember, our hens were skinless and I purposely held back on the dressing; instead, I seasoned the meat liberally with the spices.

Our hearts were set on enjoying something a little different and simpler this weekend, a nourishing and delicious meal that wouldn't leave our Healthy Families Challenge followers shaking their heads in shame.

chicken rotisserie picture

Skinless, juicy and good! Credit: Deidra Jackson

After dad made sure the temperature inside the meat was near 180 degrees, he pried them off the spit and transferred them into a nearby roasting pan. To accompany the ultimately bronzed Cornish hens, my mom (who was unable to totally escape the kitchen) steamed some Brussels sprouts and baked some yeast rolls.

We enjoyed a nice dinner. It was delicious. And it was healthful -- all things considered.

I can already hear some of our more involved and nutritionally astute HFC devotees. Yes, you're right, it's been proven that rotisserie chicken can have as many calories as fried chicken. Some damning evidence based on one person's journey from husky to fit can be found on his "chicken nutrition" page, which includes the following quote: "Rotisserie chicken is perhaps the most dangerous of all. . . rotisserie chicken is cooked using oil, and the fat from the chicken itself continuously bastes the lean chicken meat as it turns on the spit."

Ouch.

I say, the dripping juices seal the deal. Isn't that the point of watching those bad boys get all-succulent?

Look at the numbers: Three ounces of rotisserie Cornish hen or rotisserie chicken have the same calorie count, 160, according to the LiveStrong.com blog, a site featuring content pertaining to fitness and healthy lifestyles. But when it comes to the other figures, including fat grams (8 vs. 12, respectively), protein (21 vs. 16), and sodium (40 vs. 280), the numbers vary, in favor of the hens.

For variation, maybe I'll try Bobby Flay's recipe for Tandoori Marinated Cornish Hens on the Rotisserie, which, of course, calls for a whole host of ingredients, including several I've never kept in my pantry. Saffron threads? That's a pricey item.

So, in light of the alternative belt-busting meal we could have eaten on this day, I think the tender hens that I marinated and that my father cooked outside on the patio, along with fresh vegetables and baked rolls, were a good choice. And that's a positive note.

They tasted great, too.

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]]>Deidra JacksonTue, 17 May 2011 09:00:00 ESTThe Drevitches, Week 32: On the Road, Can a Diet Survive?http://www.parentdish.com/2011/05/16/the-drevitches-week-32-on-the-road-can-a-diet-survive/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/05/16/the-drevitches-week-32-on-the-road-can-a-diet-survive/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/05/16/the-drevitches-week-32-on-the-road-can-a-diet-survive/#commentsFiled under:

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Our school's chess players reveled in their victories -- and hamburgers. Photo by Mark Gurevich

Travel is a challenge to any diet. But some trips are more dangerous than others.

I recently flew to Dallas with my 10-year-old son, Benjamin, for the U.S. Chess Federation's National Elementary Championships. The chess team at our school, P.S. 166 of Manhattan, is one of the strongest in the country, and sent 32 players to the event, including my fellow, who competed this year against the nation's best elementary-school players.

The nationals -- this was Benjamin's fourth -- is an exciting time, but nerve-wracking for parents and players alike. The demands of the four-day tournament give families scant opportunity to leave the convention-center hotel and explore the host cities. Parents typically roam the hotel lobby, waiting for our kids to return from matches that can run as long as four hours. We tend to discuss one thing above all -- where to find decent, reasonably priced food.

As we took off from New York, I was concerned that event pressure, not to mention the airport and hotel time, would torpedo my weight-loss progress. I'd plateaued at 47 pounds below my Healthy Families Challenge starting weight, and that was fine, but I didn't want to regress.

Benjamin? He was just hoping to find a lot of Texas-sized hamburgers.


maple motor burgers and beer texas picture

Despite eating at places like this, it was a healthy weekend in Dallas. Credit: Gary Drevitch

Here's how it went:

Thursday. We left home early for our flight. I had a bagel ready to toast for Benjamin, but he vetoed it, preferring airport snacks. As we waited for our delayed flight, we found a breakfast bar where he ordered waffles and eggs. He ate just the waffles. This will become a trend.

I'd packed snacks for the trip, including an oversized bag of raisins, which I munched on in the air, along with miniscule packs of airline peanuts. Those raisins would last me most of the long weekend. At our connecting airport, Benjamin got a hamburger, but I passed, seeing nothing I'd feel good about eating. That night, after the national blitz (speed chess) championship -- Benjamin's team finished second -- we joined friends for dinner in the hotel's upscale restaurant. Benjamin had another hamburger. I went for salmon and green beans.

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Friday. Once upon a time, hotel breakfast buffets were among my favorite things. All you can eat for a flat fee? How could you beat that? Now it struck me as expensive for my current, downsized portion of eggs and fruit. Benjamin grabbed, yes, a few waffles. For the price, that was definitely not good value. Benjamin's lunch -- a snack-bar hot dog -- was of equally poor nutritional value. The team ordered in pizza for the kids that night, but I was fortunate enough to grab a delicious plate of kosher chicken ordered in by another New York City team using the conference room next to ours.

Saturday. The tournament gets tougher on Day Two, and the kids get more particular about food. Benjamin's breakfast? Hotel buffet waffles. I passed -- hello, raisins -- but when Benjamin emerged from a three-hour-forty-five-minute game at midday, a crushing loss as it turned out, friends from Dallas were waiting to whisk us away to Maple and Motor, an authentic biker-burger joint. Benjamin recharged with a giant hamburger. Feeling good about my choices to that point -- including a workout in the hotel gym on Friday -- I devoured a delicious fishburger with remoulade called a Salmwich. That night, the team ordered Chick-Fil-A, which -- sorry, Southerners -- did nothing for either Benjamin or myself. He instead scarfed down a half-dozen chocolate-chip granola bars. For me: raisins, cashews and a beer. (Someone had made a run.)

Sunday. After going 0-for-Saturday to leave himself with a 2-3 record, I didn't have the heart to discourage Benjamin from another buffet-waffle breakfast, or his lunch demand -- another burger from the hotel restaurant. (I should note that Benjamin and friends spent every moment not committed to chess or meals swimming in the pool, or playing football or Frisbee. When the kids emerge from that library-quiet tournament room, we all support them running off their pent-up energy.)

After the final game -- happily, a win for Benjamin, as his team clinched seventh-place -- we hailed a cab for another Dallas institution -- Sonny Bryan's Smokehouse, where Benjamin had yet another hamburger (to avoid any suspense right now, he had two more the next day, as we traveled back to New York). I ate a brisket sandwich, turning it open-faced and ditching the buttery bun.

Was it a healthy weekend? Not for Benjamin, though it could have been worse, as his constant requests for candy were (mostly) refused. For me, though, it was. After taking advantage of limited free time to work out twice, and successfully avoiding airport and hotel food while indulging in the best local fare I could find, I actually lost a pound-and-a-half. New total: 48.

But what I'll remember most from the weekend is playing Frisbee with my son on the hotel lawn as night fell, wrestling with him in our hotel room and seeing him burst onto the stage with his friends at the trophy ceremony, exulting in the culmination of five-plus years committed to a championship team.

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]]>Gary DrevitchMon, 16 May 2011 09:00:00 ESTThe Hatch-Palucks, Week 31: A Locavore's Dreamhttp://www.parentdish.com/2011/05/12/the-hatch-palucks-week-31-a-locavores-dream/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/05/12/the-hatch-palucks-week-31-a-locavores-dream/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/05/12/the-hatch-palucks-week-31-a-locavores-dream/#commentsFiled under:

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We get fresh berries at least a month earlier in Illinois than we did back east, and we can barely get them home from the farmer's market without eating them all. Credit: Amy Hatch

It's the most wonderful time of the year.

And no, not Christmas. The most wonderful time of the year in Urbana, Illinois, is May, when the Market at the Square opens for the season.

I've always been a fan of the open-air market, and Rochester, N.Y., the city I was born in and left behind to relocate in Illinois, just happens to have the oldest public market in the nation. I loved walking through the aisles and aisles of vendors at the Rochester Public Market every weekend, and I knew I would miss it dearly when we settled here on the prairie.

Then, shortly after we moved into our house in August 2006, I discovered the Market at the Square and thus began a love affair that lasts from May to November, with a lot of unrequited longing happening during the months in between. For me these days, the Rochester Public Market, while still a beloved memory, pales in comparison.

We always tend to eat better in the warmer months to begin with, but the market makes it even easier for us to consume copious amounts of whole foods -- as opposed to the heavy, processed meals that we gravitate toward during the winter months (not to mention all the road food we consume when we're on our crazy holiday trip).

Urbana's Market at the Square is a locavore's dream. The fresh food sold there comes from within a 100-mile radius, and ranges from greens and lettuces to the most incredible goat cheese you've ever tasted. I have to make sure my son, Henry's, stroller is more than an arm's length away from the table belonging to one vendor who sells gorgeous, plump heirloom tomatoes -- more than once my child has grabbed one and helped himself to a great, big bite!


We visit the market every Saturday during the season and come home with bags bulging with berries, green beans picked that same morning and those tomatoes Henry finds so irresistible. While I still occasionally grumble about missing the northeast, my complaints are less likely to be heard during late May and early June, when I'm eating fresh blueberries and strawberries by the fistful while the my family back east waits for picking season to arrive in July.

This year, the market opened on May 7, and while a lot of produce isn't available yet due to the fickle spring weather here in Illinois, we are able to get some kale, which I've been wanting to try out. I hear that roasted kale chips make a great snack, and we're in dire need of something healthy to crunch on that also satisfies our Pringles craving.

We can also get great whole-grain breads and pastas made with whole-wheat flour, as well as Amish jams and jellies made without high-fructose corn syrup. I know there is a grand debate going on about the fact that HFCS may be exactly the same as cane sugar when it comes to our health, but the mom in me feels better about feeding my kids foods that don't come out of a machine.

We can even get treats for the kids that are healthier -- a vendor at the market sells plastic-bag cones of chewy candy bears, made with fruit juice instead of sugar. "Juicy Bears" are a highlight of our trip each week, and one bag (for just $1!) lasts the whole week.

Even without trying, I tend to shed at least three pounds every summer, between being more active outdoors and eating better, thanks to our grill and the Market at the Square. This summer?

I bet I double that.

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]]>Amy HatchThu, 12 May 2011 09:00:00 ESTThe Quintanas, Week 31: Hip-Hop Happy!http://www.parentdish.com/2011/05/11/the-quintanas-week-31-hip-hop-happy/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/05/11/the-quintanas-week-31-hip-hop-happy/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/05/11/the-quintanas-week-31-hip-hop-happy/#commentsFiled under:

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Footloose and fancy free! Credit: Michelle Quintana

There are certain things in life that you know your children have inherited directly from you. And there are those you know your genes had nothing to do with.

When it comes to dancing, my daughter Chloe, 10, is a strange mix of my husband David and me. She got my love of dancing, although I never had the coordination to put it into practice. And then she received David's coordination to make it look like actual dancing, rather than some sort of strange ritual.

When we began the Healthy Families Challenge, I knew about that coordination -- I was jealous of it! -- but I also knew that Chloe was lacking a major asset that her natural ability to move could not make up for. Chloe didn't have much confidence.

Her experience at the Little Gym of Doral has given her a lot of that in the last months. I've watched her grow and do things she did not think herself capable of. The team at the Little Gym encourages kids to try new things, whether they think they can do it or not. When Chloe started her gymnastics classes there, she had never considered attempting a cartwheel, and never dreamed she could do it. Chloe now flips and turns so much, she makes our heads spin! Most importantly, she does it all with a self-assured smile on her face.

The coaches at American Top Team Doral instilled discipline in Chloe. Under the incredible training of Leo Lerner, her main coach in the children's Brazilian Jiu Jitsu class, Chloe learned to listen to instructions and follow them. There, she has learned a lesson that can help in every aspect of life. Without focus, the enemy will always catch you off guard and take you down.



Which leads me to the dancing genes. The gymnastics and mixed martial arts teachings combined and led Chloe to stomp her way into an incredible Kids' Hip-Hop class on Monday nights, led by Michelle Christie at The Doral Vineyard. Michelle has an incredible passion for keeping the body in the best condition possible, and finding creative ways to do so. When Chloe heard about the children's class beginning, it was all I heard about until they started.

The class is fantastic. Michelle starts out by warming up the kids so that they won't get hurt, and then teaches them high-energy choreography. I know Chloe's body is loving it! I thought it would be fun to sit down and look into her brain to see what it thinks. This is the result of my very candid interview with her about the Healthy Families Challenge and her latest endeavor.

Mom: What has been your favorite part of the HFC, and why?
Chloe: Su-Nui's (Su-Nui Escobar, our nutritionist) burgers, because she tricked me into eating a burger with vegetables -- and it was good.

Mom: What do you feel you have learned throughout the project?
Chloe: I have gotten healthier than I used to be.

Mom: What does healthy mean to you?
Chloe: Exercising and eating fruits and vegetables.

Mom: Do you think that learning how to eat healthy helps with all of the activities you're doing?
Chloe: Yes. The fruits and vegetables carry extra energy for when you want to dance.

Mom: What is your favorite activity at the moment?
Chloe: Hip-Hop class, because you get to dance, and dancing is my favorite sport.

Mom: How do you feel about getting your body moving and your heart pumping?
Chloe:It gives me more energy! [Mom is not sure if this is a positive result come bedtime.]

Mom: What does dancing make you feel like?
Chloe: Excited! I can do hip-hop dancing, or any kind of dancing, all day and night without getting tired.

Mom: Do you think you will keep dancing?
Chloe: YES!

Mom: When you grow up and have your own kids, what would you like to share with them from this experience?
Chloe: Eating more fruits and vegetables gets you healthier, and exercising is not as bad as you think it is.

I find it amazing how the simple logic of a kid can really put things into perspective, and even make you feel kind of dumb in the process.

Pick your child's brain about health. She or he may teach you a thing or two!

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]]>Victoria Michelle QuintanaWed, 11 May 2011 09:00:00 ESTThe Jacksons, Week 31: Running for My Lifehttp://www.parentdish.com/2011/05/10/the-jacksons-week-31-running-for-my-life/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/05/10/the-jacksons-week-31-running-for-my-life/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/05/10/the-jacksons-week-31-running-for-my-life/#commentsFiled under:

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I have arrived. Credit: Deidra Jackson

What makes me think I can run a 10k?

I mean, I just finished my first-ever race, a 5k, a little more than two months ago. My personal trainer, Jenn Hall of the University of Mississippi campus rec department, was the first to urge me to go for it. After months of working out with her, she said she knew I was up for it.

So, slowly, I began to believe that I really could do it. And soon I was telling my family and a few friends that I was going to tackle the 10k, one of the featured events in the Double Decker Spring Run, in Oxford, Miss.

So, now it was public. It was on record. I had to run it.

In the days leading up to the big event, I began to feel insecure about my ability to pull this off, but I knew, eventually, that I had to push myself to conquer this big feat.

But... run 6.2 miles?

Done! Hello, 10k victory!

I pushed myself and won the race -- metaphorically speaking, that is. I crossed the pad, standing erect (well, maybe a little hunched over from exhaustion) and on both feet. That peeps, is a major win for me! Thinking back to the days before the Healthy Families Challenge -- me, running in the first two races of my life within months of each other?

Are you kidding me?


On race day, I actually felt lithe. I'm not exactly a picture of agility and nimbleness, but when most of my doubts cleared, I was ready to conquer the awaiting hills and growing exhaustion that would test my will. We would run through Oxford neighborhoods, downtown, the UM campus, and past Rowan Oak, novelist William Faulkner's childhood home.

It was ethereal.

Quite the throng of racers was poised at the start as we all waited for the go-ahead. Next to me and other runners and walkers stood a small squad of local firefighters in full gear, including some with oxygen tanks strapped to their backs, also waiting to begin what would be an even greater challenge for them. Showoffs!

Among this relatively fast group of runners, I finished near the bottom bunch of my age group, which was comprised of more than 350 runners. But I wasn't last, an achievement my ego enjoys.

I discovered how you can tell when you're rounding out the bend during a race:

* When volunteers posted along the path ask you if, "You know if there's anyone else behind you?" Ummm, no. I'm not keeping track of their times, sirs.

* If random homeowners and residents stand at curbs to cheer you on, saying things like, "You're keeping a good pace. You're almost there." What a very nice and supportive touch.

* When the tables that presumably used to hold cups of water and Gatorade along the way now are devoid of refreshments. Random homeowner, can I have a glass of water, please?

If a late runner crosses the pad and hardly anyone is around to see it, did she really finish the race? It's an age-old question. Hours later, it was a relief finally to see my name among the race results.

The thought of stopping -- but not ever quitting -- did permeate my thoughts. About halfway through the race, it was the extended version of Depeche Mode's "Personal Jesus" filtering through my ear buds, courtesy of Pandora, that gave me the extra push I needed to drive my body up the hills and soldier on along the endless pavement.

What made me think I could run a 10k? My body is a much better version of itself now than it was before the HFC, thanks to better eating habits, increased rigorous fitness and a renewed commitment to health.

Once the body's about there, the heart and mind will follow.

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]]>Deidra JacksonTue, 10 May 2011 09:00:00 ESTThe Drevitches, Week 31: We Are What We Packhttp://www.parentdish.com/2011/05/09/the-drevitches-week-31-we-are-what-we-pack/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/05/09/the-drevitches-week-31-we-are-what-we-pack/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/05/09/the-drevitches-week-31-we-are-what-we-pack/#commentsFiled under:

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Have lunchboxes, will eat healthy. Credit: Gary Drevitch

When I was a kid, lunch was easy.

I brought my meal from home every day, first in my Adam-12 lunchbox, then in my Six Million Dollar Man lunchbox, and then in my King Kong lunchbox. It was, most often, American cheese on pumpernickel bread (sometimes we'd splurge on bologna or salami), with a snack-size box of raisins. I never even considered getting school lunch until I was in high school.

But, as with so many things, my kids expect better. Benjamin, 10, and Natalie, 8, bring lunch from home about half the time, and get school lunch on other days. (Happily, we don't have to worry about the nutrition of those meals anymore, since our public school scrapped its old high-sodium, high-fat, high-carb menu for healthier meals from Wellness in the Schools, an organization committed to improving children's eating and fitness here in New York City and elsewhere.) Adam, 4, brings lunch from home daily, except on his pre-K's once-a-week pizza day.

Our mainstay packed-lunch sandwich is hummus on multigrain bread. Muenster cheese is second-most-common. And, once a week, there is tunafish, which I make with a conservative dollop of mayo and a bold scoop of Grey Poupon. The kids would eat it every day, but we follow federal guidelines and limit them to tuna fish (and its inherent mercury) once a week.

Whether they plan to get their lunch entrée from school or not, the kids take lunchboxes to school each day, stocked with snacks. So there's pressure on us to make those snacks healthy.

We certainly try.

Every day, each child takes a Trader Joe's organic cinnamon apple sauce cup to school -- Benjamin and Adam tote Red Sox lunchboxes, by the way; Natalie carries a Hello Kitty design, although she now feels she's outgrown it. Each kid also gets a fruit or granola bar: a Trader Joe's blueberry bar for Adam and a fig bar for Benjamin, and a Kashi TLC almond crunch granola bar for Natalie. And they bring a small sandwich bag containing a handful of cookies, usually something like Trader Joe's organic letter-shaped Schoolbox variety, or the market's chocolate cat-shaped cookies. Sometimes, when we have them around the house -- after Halloween or Valentine's Day, for example -- we'll throw a few candies in the boxes as well.

How is the Drevitch family doing? Check in on their progress!

As much effort as we put into packing healthy lunches and snacks at the kitchen counter at 7 a.m., unfortunately, we can't control what the children do with that food in the cafeteria at noon. This is the reality all parents face. If a CSI team were to bring the kids' lunchboxes back to the crime lab most days, they'd probably discover by analyzing the scattered crumbs that the cookies went first; that the sandwich, if it was finished at all, went next; and that the fruit bar was eaten at a later time, and perhaps in a different place. And those lab boys could dust Benjamin and Natalie's apple sauce cups for prints for a week -- they wouldn't find anything.

When I spoke to our school's Wellness in the Schools chef Stefanie Devic recently, she talked about what she sees kids carry to school -- a lot of sugary, fattening, juice drinks (which my kids don't drink, because we don't offer them, and because they simply don't like them much); a lot of candy; a lot of peanut butter; and, in some cases, some healthy soups in thermoses or bento-box-style lunches. Her advice was to mix things up and go beyond sandwiches, to pack containers of healthy pasta salads with vegetables, say, or hummus on a wrap, or soups without meat or cheese that can remain good even as they cool down after going in a thermos. These seemed like good ideas for my kids' lunches, which are pretty routinized.

But the tip that really struck home was to be more creative with leftovers when packing lunchboxes. Our dinners are healthy here, with fresh home-cooked chicken or fish, usually with rice and broccoli or carrots. Why not chop some of that up and send it to school?

In the few weeks left in the school year, we'll give it a shot -- and be prepared to send the lunchboxes back to the CSI lab to find out for sure what got eaten, and when.

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]]>Gary DrevitchMon, 09 May 2011 09:00:00 ESTThe Hatch-Palucks, Week 30: A Bitter Pillhttp://www.parentdish.com/2011/05/05/the-hatch-palucks-week-30-a-bitter-pill/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/05/05/the-hatch-palucks-week-30-a-bitter-pill/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/05/05/the-hatch-palucks-week-30-a-bitter-pill/#commentsFiled under:

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Emmie and Henry make our lives complete. Credit: Amy Hatch

My two children are the light of my life.

Both of them were wanted, although one was a surprise and one was planned (and no, I won't tell you which, I plead the fifth). When Henry was born in 2008, it felt very much like our little family was complete with the four of us.

No kidding: We're definitely done having kids.

Famous last words, I know, but as far as planned pregnancies go, there aren't any new babies on the horizon for us. I knew this for sure when a friend recently handed me her newborn daughter to hold when I visited her in the hospital, and I was more than happy to hand the baby back when she started to fuss.

I've never been a fan of the newborn stage -- I like sleeping too much -- and it's really nice to have two children I can communicate with. Not to mention that my pregnancy with Henry was rather perilous for us both. I had anemia so severe that my doctor administered an intravenous iron treatment. I went into allergic shock, requiring two shots of epinephrine at 36 weeks gestation, which caused both Channing and I to worry about him tremendously until he was born and we could see with our own eyes that he was OK.

Additionally, I had terrible gestational diabetes and had to inject myself with insulin twice a day and watch my carbohydrate intake like a hawk. When a pal saw me about six weeks after Henry was born, she remarked, "Wow! You look so good! Now I can tell how terrible you looked when you were pregnant!"

So, there you have it.

The last two years have been a bit of a struggle, though, when it comes to birth control. The pill is rendered ineffective by the medicine I've had to take on occasion for my psoriatic arthritis, and so I explored a number of other options -- including an IUD, which was a disaster due to a number of uterine fibroids I developed during pregnancy. See? Pregnancy is bad for my body.


Now, however, my arthritis is under control and the failure of the IUD has led me full circle back to the pill, because surgical options are too expensive and the pill is easy. I think it's a great invention, indeed, and I've been taking it on and off since the age of 18, to help keep ovarian cysts at bay. But the thing about the pill is that it makes me put on weight.

I'm not the only woman to ever voice this complaint. All my female friends who take the pill have shared that they gain between 5 and 10 pounds when they are taking it. My doctor admitted as much to me, without really telling me what makes the pounds pack on. My guess is that it's the hormones, which trick your body into thinking it's pregnant so it won't ovulate.

I'm concerned. It's been a long road to get where I am today, down to 138 pounds (I've gained back two pounds I lost when we had the flu), and I don't want to balloon up to 143. That doesn't sound like a lot, but it is the difference, for me, between a size 8 and 10. Of course, given the choice between birth control and baby weight, I'm totally OK with that five pounds!

Still, they make a big difference in how I feel. I am so much more energetic when I'm lighter, and I have more self-esteem. I don't avoid the mirror as often as I would at a higher weight.

There isn't much of an alternative for me, though, beyond a surgical one. So, the pill it is.

The plus side is that it helps keep my periods under control, including cramps and PMS (and heaven knows that's healthier for the entire family). That means I'll more likely keep working out even when my lady time comes to visit. I'm also more resistant to my Little Debbie cravings.

My plan? To attack the treadmill with all the ferocity that bathing-suit season inspires in me. After coming this far in creating a healthy lifestyle for myself and our family, I'm determined not to let contraception derail me. Besides which, I just bought a whole closetful of skinny clothes and donated everything that didn't fit me to charity. I don't plan on scouring Goodwill for my fat pants.

The other good news is that now, I'm hooked on endorphins. I've made it to the gym three times a week for the last two weeks, and I know that's keeping my weight in check. I guess I'm just going to have to work that much harder on the treadmill to maintain or lose.

Like Charlie Sheen, I will be winning.

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]]>Amy HatchThu, 05 May 2011 09:00:00 ESTThe Quintanas, Week 30: Christian and the Menhttp://www.parentdish.com/2011/05/04/the-quintanas-week-30-christian-and-the-men/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/05/04/the-quintanas-week-30-christian-and-the-men/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/05/04/the-quintanas-week-30-christian-and-the-men/#commentsFiled under:

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Don't underestimate me. Credit: Aaron Roman

You know how, when you were a kid, you just wanted to do grown-up stuff? Christian, my youngest son, is no different.

You cannot imagine his excitement when, on his 14th birthday, Christian was invited to join the Adult No Gi Brazillian Jiu Jitsu class at American Top Team Doral.

I am unsure what I got more of a kick out of: The childlike look on his face that said, "Mommy, I get to play with the big boys!" or the fact that he had to tell them not to go easy on him.

When Christian began the Healthy Families Challenge, he had a one-track mind. He was not interested in many things that did not revolve around skateboarding. He wanted to dress in skate clothes, grow his hair and carry the newest skateboard. Even if he could not master the latest trick, he would look cool trying. He was all things skating.

Mixed Martial Arts has for a while been a spectator obsession for us as a family. We have many times purchased a big fight on Pay-Per-View, and had a bunch of people over to watch. The sport had caught Christian's eye as something that was fun to watch, but it was not something that had crossed his mind as an activity he would be good at.

Within a few weeks of Christian starting his training at ATT last fall, he was like a new person. He still skated every chance he got, but he learned he could be interested in other things, too.



Unfortunately, it was nothing any less dangerous: Skating can (and has) equaled stitches and broken bones, and Jiu Jitsu can equal muscle sprains and tears. But we were excited to see him focus on something other than skating.

Christian's birthday brought two brand new skateboards from friends and family members, but I think that one of his favorite gifts really was being invited to the adult class. He's been doing well from the beginning in the kids' class, when he was bumped up a full belt almost immediately, but he was too young for the adult class. Now he'll take the Kids' Gi class right before the Adult No Gi class. The adult class provides him a new opportunity to challenge himself -- but he wants to continue the uniformed classes, because they are the only ones where he can move up in belts, because the belt goes with the uniform. The color of your belt is what measures your level of expertise, and Christian is currently a yellow belt, and will take another test soon. His goal is to move up in belts and be able to go up against anyone, anytime.

I don't think there's anything unrealistic about that. He made it through the cardio portion of the adult class like a champ. The warm-up exercises were far more intense than those in the kids' class, and add to that the fact that there is only a five-minute break between the two one-hour classes. Everyone was pretty amazed at how well he handled it.

After warm up, the participants learn a new technique, then transition into grappling. Grappling consists of five-minute sessions where two people go toe-to-toe, putting into practice the techniques they've learned, until somebody taps out, a.k.a. gives in, or the bell rings and the coaches make a decision as to who will stay for the next round.

After two slightly more advanced students tapped out, Christian pecked the second gentleman on the shoulder, kicked in the intellect and politely explained that he was hurting the learning process by giving in. Christian is not quite five feet tall and weighs 84 pounds, and in this class he is going up against 20-somethings, all well over him in height, and well over 150 pounds. After realizing that they were going easy on him, he let his competitors know that he was there to learn, and asked them not to underestimate him.

Where did this land him? Not on the sidelines. Christian held his own! He tapped out a few times, but also made it through a few rounds among the men. I'm sure it has a lot to do with his strategic approach -- he studies his opponent, trying to anticipate the next move.

Not only is Christian a threat on the ramps with his skateboard, but if he keeps training, not even the big boys are going to keep him down.

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]]>Victoria Michelle QuintanaWed, 04 May 2011 09:00:00 ESTThe Jacksons, Week 30: Knowledge Is Blisshttp://www.parentdish.com/2011/05/03/the-jacksons-week-30-knowledge-is-bliss/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/05/03/the-jacksons-week-30-knowledge-is-bliss/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/05/03/the-jacksons-week-30-knowledge-is-bliss/#commentsFiled under:

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Look at how happy I am in my healthy state! Credit: Jenn Hall

How do I know I've reached a sort of health and fitness nirvana? I have absolutely no regrets about eating, period.

I mean, I no longer have misgivings about eating right -- worrying that consuming too much healthy food will cause me to put on weight; or eating wrong -- fretting that devouring too much unhealthy food will cause me to put on weight.

The opportunity to kick into gear new goals -- smarter and more reachable ones, that is -- thanks to the Healthy Families Challenge, has taught me that, yes, I can make mistakes, and then make corrections and get back on track if I have to.

If I eat an extra chocolate-chip cookie one day, the day after can be the time to atone. Tomorrow, I have learned to calmly tell myself, I'll eat healthier, resume my exercise regimen and choose not to splurge for awhile.

Revelations such as this figure into all the steps forward that Jack and I have made during this journey. We're still making good progress and are taking to heart the effective health-and-fitness tips we're learning from the personal trainer, dietician and other counselors who have been advising us throughout this trip.

Maybe I've been worn down enough by years of occasional yo-yo dieting, intermittent fasting, binge eating and other bad eating habits, to reach the point where I've finally had enough. It's a pleasure to arrive at this stage of the challenge, or any worthwhile journey for that matter. I have yet to reach my goal weight, but I know I'm getting there, and tomorrow, in this case, too, is another day.

I touched base this week with Mary-Amanda Haskins, the project coordinator of "New Beginnings," the University of Mississippi employee health-and-fitness program of which I'm a participant. She was pleased with my progress and said that I was on the right track. We agreed -- and many of you know -- that the real challenge comes in trying to incorporate all this health and fitness into your regular lifestyle; I mean, really making it a routine part of life, instead of doing it in fits and starts.

For instance, those temporary weight-loss plans, such as two-week, grapefruit, high-carb, fasting and other crash diets, -- I could go on -- don't work in the long run. Mary-Amanda gave me a few of the reasons why in the form of a pamphlet provided by Nutritious Ways, a company created to help people overcome food problems and to prevent the development of eating disorders:

* You go on a diet only to go off it later -- this doesn't teach you how to live for life.
* You don't learn how to include your favorite foods into your everyday existence -- you don't learn balance and moderation.
* You lose muscle, not fat, when you severely limit your calories.

But here are some examples of what does work:

* Strength training -- lifting weights at least twice a week -- will toughen your muscles and bones, and boost your metabolism, helping weight to fall off your frame naturally.
* Actually eating! Regularly consume, and enjoy, an adequate amount of food.
* Switch to lower-fat and whole-grain foods and prepare more high-fiber home-cooked meals at home.
* Moving! Get physical with a cardio-friendly activity several times a week: walk, play tennis, go for a bike ride, etc.
* Ever hold a soccer ball above your head and bring it down to make contact with alternating raised knees across your driveway, yard or living room? Try that for several reps. Why not? Encourage new activities to prevent exercise boredom and burnout.

I'm going to tell you the same thing I tell myself: Come on, you can do this, and stay committed to it.

That's what it will actually take to achieve our goals. And to experience that feeling of pure satisfaction? That's bliss.

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]]>Deidra JacksonTue, 03 May 2011 09:00:00 ESTThe Drevitches, Week 30: Cafeteria Lunch Takes a Healthy Challenge of Its Ownhttp://www.parentdish.com/2011/05/02/the-drevitches-week-30-can-cafeteria-lunch-be-healthier/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/05/02/the-drevitches-week-30-can-cafeteria-lunch-be-healthier/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/05/02/the-drevitches-week-30-can-cafeteria-lunch-be-healthier/#commentsFiled under:

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Chef Stefanie Jonathan Waxman

Chef Stefanie with special guest celebrity chef Jonathan Waxman. Credit: Courtesy Stefanie Devic

In the beginning, the kids brought lunch to school every day. And it was good.

Well, it was usually good.

But as Benjamin, now 10, and Natalie, now 8, got older, and more comfortable with their public school's cafeteria options, they started choosing school lunch more often. At some point last year, as they lined up for helpings of mac-and-cheese, hamburgers, chicken patties, chicken nuggets and, of course, Friday pizza, my wife, Lynn, and I began to worry about these high-sodium, high-fat, carb-loaded meals.

By the time we signed up for the Healthy Families Challenge this past fall, we had targeted school lunches as an area to improve for the kids, by encouraging them to take more and different lunches from home.

As it happened, we didn't have to do anything -- our school's principal and PTA shared our concerns and made the bold move of scrapping the old school lunch menu for a new one, devised in partnership with Wellness in the Schools, an organization committed to improving children's nutrition and fitness. I give real credit to the people that made this happen -- no doubt a challenge since all school meals and ingredients must reach certain protein and calorie targets, as well as come in within the cafeteria's food budget of about $1 per day, per child.

When the new menu came to the school, Benjamin, in his role as a Healthy Families participant, got himself a spot on the student committee charged with surveying peers and consulting with WITS visiting chef Stefanie Devic on new menu items.

"We're not trying to change everything," Devic said, "but our goal is to take out the bulk of the processed food." The school kitchen had been stocked with frozen meatballs, chicken nuggets and canned ravioli, as well as sugary, syrupy fruit cocktail. Now the cupboards hold fresh, whole fruit and, for protein, chicken on the bone, black beans and chickpeas -- which are generally cheaper options than frozen meat, too. Pasta pesto with chickpeas and black-bean-and-cheese quesadillas have been popular entrees, Devic says -- pesto is Benjamin's favorite -- and fresh chicken every Thursday, prepared Latin, Asian, barbecue or cacciatore style, has also been a hit. My kids never miss it.

Some changes are more subtle, and open to revision. For example, sacred pizza Fridays remain on the calendar, but the pizzas are now prepared on flatbread. And, borrowing a recipe from Rachael Ray, the kitchen changed its old mac-and-cheese recipe, and put broccoli in the dish. My kids hated it, and they weren't alone. So Devic moved the broccoli to the side of the plate, and now everyone's happy.

How is the Drevitch family doing? Check in on their progress!

The school has also dropped chocolate milk, a move that has raised controversy in other cafeterias across the country this year, but not in ours. The kids are now nudged to drink more water with lunch, and encouraged to bring refillable bottles to their tables. Parent volunteers sometimes help with refills.

There have also been changes to the salad bar. Cooked cauliflower and broccoli pieces have replaced raw broccoli bits -- "I don't even like raw broccoli," Devic says -- and kids can grab cups of specialty items like corn-and-bean salad or hummus, as well as ever-popular cucumbers and red peppers.

And, once a month, the cafeteria introduces new entrees during special Café Days, which have featured consultation and cooking from celebrity chef Jonathan Waxman of Manhattan's Barbuto restaurant. You may have seen him on Bravo's recent Top Chef Masters series.

Those Cafe Days are major topics at the student panel meetings. Devic told me, first of all, that Benjamin has been a diligent committee member, regularly surveying classmates about what they like and don't like about the new menu. The bottom line: They miss the old standbys, Stefanie said, and that's no surprise, but it doesn't mean they've rejected her new approaches.

"When they tell me, 'We want chicken patties back,' or hamburgers, I try to remind them why we don't have that here, and that those things are fine once in a while, but our school food is every day," and needs to be healthy, she said. She also talks to kids about concerns about how meats are processed, and about how whole pieces are "what chicken is supposed to look like," not nuggets.

One thing that hasn't changed -- chef Stefanie admits it can be a challenge for the kids to dig into a piece of chicken with their little plastic "sporks."

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]]>Gary DrevitchMon, 02 May 2011 09:00:00 ESTThe Hatch-Palucks, Week 29: Happiness Is a Hot Grillhttp://www.parentdish.com/2011/04/28/the-hatch-palucks-week-29-happiness-is-a-hot-grill/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/04/28/the-hatch-palucks-week-29-happiness-is-a-hot-grill/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/04/28/the-hatch-palucks-week-29-happiness-is-a-hot-grill/#commentsFiled under:

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Springtime is hard to come by in the Midwest.

Here in Urbana, Ill., we get just a fleeting few weeks -- or days, even -- of the temperate weather one longs for during the winter months. You know, the kind of sunshine-y days that require just a light jacket, and during which you can blow bubbles in the backyard and ride bikes to the park.

We tend to go from frigid to furnace here on the prairie, so when we get that rare 65-degree afternoon, we make the most of it. Last weekend, we caught a case of spring fever so bad that we even spent the morning at a home-improvement store, eyeing tulips that were begging to be replanted in our flower beds, and finding a replacement model for our bird feeder.

I was on a mission, too -- I needed to replace the grate on our gas grill and get a new tank of propane. In our house, when it comes to cooking on an open flame, I'm the go-to girl.

We don't pay too much mind to traditional gender roles in our household. Channing, my husband, doesn't bat an eyelash when it comes to cleaning the toilet or changing diapers, and I'm not afraid to take out the garbage or cook a steak on the barbie.

The occasional slab of red meat aside, one of the best things about springtime (and summer, too) is that we naturally tend to eat lighter. I hate to make a mess in the kitchen -- it feels almost punitive to come home and make a meal and then have to clean it all up, too. Channing does the dishes most nights, but if we can keep washing up to the bare minimum, I'm all for it.

While I'm a bit of a dunce when it comes to cooking meat on the stove or in the oven (although I do make a mean roast chicken), I'm pretty good at grilling out. We do a lot of grilled chicken, veggies and corn (we even have our own local hybrid variety of corn, Illini Sweet, developed at the University of Illinois) in the warmer months, and I try to keep cooking outside well into the fall -- while we're cursed with a short spring, we're also blessed here in Central Illinois with a protracted, mild autumn.

It's so much easier for us to eat healthfully when we can grill. Lean cuts of meat taste great cooked over the coals, and I'm an ace when it comes to making homemade barbecue sauce. I prefer to make my own so I know what's in it and I can keep the sugar to a minimum. Last year, I even tried out some Thai-style chicken satay with peanut sauce, and it was a hit.

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Getting the grill in shape is a sure sign of spring on the prairie. Credit: Amy Hatch

One of the best things about grilling is how easy it is to make more than one main dish at the same time. Often, I'll grill a turkey burger for Channing, a portabella mushroom with balsamic vinegar for myself and a hot dog for Henry, and everything is ready at the same time with minimal mess. I toss together a salad and it's a complete meal.

Spring and summer are generally more healthy for us -- and, I imagine, for plenty of other folks. The urge to get outside and run off that cabin fever leftover from wintertime helps burn off energy and calories, not to mention the extra padding we added during the cold season.

Spring also brings the opening of our farmer's market. We are blessed to have a truly fabulous open-air market here in Urbana, and soon we'll be carting home pounds of fresh, locally grown asparagus, berries and tomatoes. In the summer months, we buy nearly all of our produce there every Saturday, and it's not only delicious and local, it's also way cheaper than it would be at the supermarket.

Last weekend, when we fired up the barbecue for the first time (we had grilled chicken breasts, simple and yummy), I was more optimistic than ever. With all the lessons we've learned over the past several months of the Healthy Families Challenge, I'm certain that we're ripe to reach our goals as we get close to the finish line.

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]]>Amy HatchThu, 28 Apr 2011 09:00:00 ESTThe Quintanas, Week 29: Bodies Move, Hearts Followhttp://www.parentdish.com/2011/04/27/the-quintanas-week-29-bodies-move-hearts-follow/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/04/27/the-quintanas-week-29-bodies-move-hearts-follow/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/04/27/the-quintanas-week-29-bodies-move-hearts-follow/#commentsFiled under:

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Who knew that inflicting pain could be a career calling for my husband, David?

For the last week, I have been training at our subdivision's humble -- yet brutal -- gym. Standing beside me, pushing me to finish the exercises that will firm up my floppy parts, David's face lit up like a Christmas tree. Later that evening, he shared that his newfound ability to motivate somebody to do what they thought was impossible has really put a career opportunity on the horizon. He's considering a second life as a personal trainer.

Here I was, thinking he was impressed that I'd survived all that cardio.

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Woman vs. machine. Credit: David Quintana

David pushed me to do at least 45 minutes of heart-pumping exercise every day this week, while alternating toning movements among different body parts. He got me working my arms one day, abs and legs two days later, and finally, two days after that, my chest.

David is enjoying it so much, he's now looking into enrolling in a class in August that will certify him as a trainer. He says that once he reaches his weight goal, and can show people the awesome before and after pictures, he will start advertising for clients. He would love to one day own his own gym!

At the beginning of the Healthy Families Challenge, I mentioned that due to health concerns, I would be sticking to low-impact exercises. As I practiced yoga with guru Aditya Gir at Pranoga, I felt my body become stronger and healthier from the inside out.

Aditya's class is focused on the fact that physical well-being has to evolve from emotional and mental wellness. He has challenged my body to perform at new levels, and helped me with my balance and vertigo issues by leading me to perfect different yoga poses, such as the Warrior series. These poses really focus on the good balance that hides within every body.

Since I've found my balance, I am able to accomplish a lot more physically. Exercises that would have knocked me off of my feet before, like working the triceps bar at the gym, are no match for me. Cardio training that would have previously made me feel like my lungs and heart were going to explode are less painful, thanks to the breathing techniques I've learned in yoga.

Even the Elliptical machine and I have become rather friendly in the last week, and I no longer dislike it as I used to. Yes, I still dislike it -- but not as much.

It's not only the changes in me that amaze me, but the ones in those around me. We Quintanas started HFC as a fun project, with the extra perk that we could get in shape together as a family. We had no idea that it could possibly lead David not only to a much healthier lifestyle, but down a possible new career path.

We also had no idea that we would find passion for these things we were once so disgusted by. Yes, I am talking about the torture machines! The sweatmakers! (Also know as the treadmill, stationary bike and elliptical machine.)

I am going on two weeks of attempting to contain my excitement during workday afternoons, until I can head to the gym or whatever exercise class I am due for.

I used to think it was a crock that exercise produced energy, but guess what? It's true!

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]]>Victoria Michelle QuintanaWed, 27 Apr 2011 09:00:00 EST