Megan Lane Patrick has been a professional writer and editor for the past 16 years, and was a chronic dieter for at least 30. A combination of weight-loss surgery, mindful eating and daily exercise finally allowed her to maintain a weight loss of more than 100 pounds. When she's not lifting weights at the gym, you can find her walking shelter dogs as a volunteer for the SPCA.
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Contest Closed: Exclusive 'Trick or Track' Step Challenge for October
We're taking a big step in helping you get fit! SparkPeople has just released the Spark, our very own activity tracker that integrates perfectly with the rest of SparkPeople's online tools. The Spark Activity Tracker requires no charging, determines the specific type of workout you're doing (walking vs. running vs. elliptical) and automatically logs your fitness minutes directly to your SparkPeople Fitness Tracker!
The new Spark Activity Tracker is just one more way to get you motivated and moving toward your goals—and we're here to help you along the way. Everyone who uses a Spark is eligible to participate in monthly fitness challenges that will motivate you to get out there and walk, run or bike your way to reaching your goals each month. Our very first challenge, the Trick or Track Halloween Challenge, starts on October 1 and offers some BIG prizes!
Posted 10/3/2013 12:00:00 PM By: : 18,549 views
Plus-Size Workout Wear for Fall
Since I started working at SparkPeople this April, I've gotten into the habit of wearing workout clothes to work on most days of the week. It helps me fit in fitness breaks throughout the day without having to spend time changing clothes. But because I'm wearing fitness gear so much, my old ratty yoga pants and oversized T-shirts just aren't cutting it anymore. If this is what I'm going to wear every day, I want to look cute, too! Luckily, it's getting easier and easier to find cute workout clothes in extended sizes. (I wear a 14 or 16 depending on the brand.)
Fall is a tricky season for exercise clothes. It can be quite cool in the mornings but then warm up throughout the day. There are also sometimes weeks of lingering summer heat or sudden, overnight cold snaps. At least that's what it's like here in Ohio. If you don't like the weather, just wait 24 hours and you'll get something completely different! My strategy is to dress in layers and to always keep some of my summer clothes in the rotation until the first freeze of the season. Here are some of my current favorites and some things I'm putting on my list for fall shopping.
Posted 9/15/2013 8:00:00 AM By: : 38 comments 49,188 views
Should Obesity Be Classified as a Disease?
Yesterday, at their annual meeting, the American Medical Association decided to classify obesity as a disease. They hope this change will help doctors to better treat the complex condition and aid in the fight against type 2 diabetes and heart disease. While The New York Times reports that the AMA's decision has no legal authority, some medical professionals think the outcome will result in sweeping changes.
Posted 6/19/2013 6:00:00 PM By: : 144 comments 36,865 views
Do Packaged Diet Foods Really Result in Better Weight Loss?
A recent study published in the April 2013 issue of the International Journal of Obesity examined whether people would lose more weight on their own (sticking to a prescribed calorie goal) or by eating pre-packaged diet foods that totaled the same number of daily calories. The story was picked up by news outlets with eye-catching headlines like "Packaged diet foods may spur more weight loss," (Reuters).
Sounds pretty good, right? We thought so, too. So we dug a little deeper to bring out the real truth.
Posted 5/11/2013 12:00:00 PM By: : 67 comments 52,759 views
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