Chances are you or someone you know has provided TMI by way of Facebook’s 25 Random Facts About Me. Given that most people don’t actually know every one of their Facebook “friends,” it’s pretty amazing what people will share. Facts like “sometimes my pee smells like Cheerios.” Really???? Thanks for that. Cheerios used to be a part of my healthy breakfast.
Maybe the people who started this chain letter of over-sharing are on to something. Over 5 million posts went up in ONE week! In that spirit, I’ve come up with my own list. 25 things you should know. Hopefully, this one will be informative (but not too informative) and it won’t get you fired or divorced.
1. A kick-ass iPod mix makes exercising a lot more fun. This one was voted on by 1000 readers of Self Magazine. This one is totally awesome too!
2. You can make happy hour healthier by adding anti-oxidant rich fresh fruit or fruit juice to your cocktail. And limiting your intake to two. Better for your health and it will prevent you from over sharing. Or kissing that married guy in the next cubicle. Again.
3. According to the American Journal of Public Health, woman who are happy with their appearance regardless of their weight, are sick 30% less often than those pining away for an unrealistically skinny body. Focus on how you feel, not how you look. Looking like a celebrity is a full time job. So unless you can quit your’s and pay some guy in spandex to tell you what to do all day, it’s time to surrender the fantasy.
4. A dog is a great motivator. A puppy will not let you be lazy. You will walk every day. Walking is a great way to start exercising. And you’ll walk. A lot. Whether you want to or not. And sometimes at night. In the middle of the night. Anyway, you won’t be lazy. Ever.
5. Looking up at a television while running on a treadmill shifts your weight making it harder to run. Load up an iPod with kick ass tunes instead. Listening to music while running can help distract you from how tired you are. Most people exercise 15% longer when they are listening to music.
6. Tanning and tanning beds can cause skin cancer, but the Journal Cancer found that aesthetic issues were scarier for most people. Fear of wrinkles and brown spots reduce tanning bed use by about 35%. Kind of troubling that people are more worried about their looks than the big C. Whatever works I guess. Embrace your pale already people! Orange isn’t pretty.
7. Your running shoes need to be replaced every 350-500 miles. Treat yourself to a new pair.
8. Not enjoying your workout? Try something new. Biking is a great workout. Need a bike? Visit Kona Africa Bikes. For every 2 bikes sold, one is donated to a health care worker in Africa. It will be used to carry supplies to HIV/AIDS patients.
9. You can join FitFiend.com for free. Post questions, browse products and network with other people who are talking about fitness. Finally, you can use your computer for something other than stalking your ex.
10. Pressed for time? Try Crossfit. It takes less than 20 minutes. Your workout is their warmup… not for the faint of heart.
11. Remember how your mother always told you to sit still and quit fidgeting? Well, you probably didn’t listen to her then and you shouldn’t now. A study by the Mayo Clinic found that lean people spent up to two hours a day fidgeting…. you can burn up to 350 calories a day with that shaky foot that is driving everyone around you nuts.
12. Sun exposure and lack of antioxidants can contribute to macular degeneration. Up your intake of antioxidant rich foods like leafy greens, pomegranates and oranges.
13. Kissing is good for you! Who knew? It can help prevent tooth decay and aging and even burns some calories. Now maybe overdoing #2 won’t be all bad.
14. You should be eating several times a day. An apple, yogurt… something small & healthy. Not only will it keep you from becoming so hungry that you pig out at dinner, but it also keeps your metabolism at a higher rate.
15. You probably know that organic produce is healthier for you and the planet, but maybe you can’t always afford the higher prices. A good rule of thumb if you want to save money is to skip organic for anything that you peel like an orange or banana. Organic is much more important for things like greens or apples.
16. Eating just 20 almonds a day may cut the risk of lung cancer by 53%, in both smokers and nonsmokers. How easy is that?
17. Catechins, an antioxidant found in tea, may help increase fat burn. Green and white tea contain the most. Another reason to give up that $6 drink from Starbucks that has more calories than you need in a whole day. Mocha-chocha-latte-no-no :(
18. One of the best ways to increase your metabolism is by working your lower body. Your legs and butt have a big muscle mass and working this mass increases energy, raising your metabolism post-workout. So, stop saving for that butt implant and get moving!
19. Want to get in shape and do a good deed? Sign up for the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer today. Money raised goes to the uninsured and under-insured for screenings and treatment. It also helps fund research.
20. Marijuana is being used to treat anxiety. Sounds a lot better than the multitude of side effects that come along with pharmaceutical “cures.” Of course, I’m not encouraging you to do anything illegal ;)
21. Your body is made up of 60 to 70% water. Water helps regulate your body temperature, transports oxygen throughout your body, removes waste and cushions your joints. To get an idea how much you should be drinking, divide your body weight in half. That number is the number of ounces you should be consuming. Add 8 more ounces for every 20 minutes of activity. And if you drink alcohol, drink at least the same amount of water. And, no, the ice in your cocktail doesn’t count.
22. Do you keep telling yourself, “I’ll start that new workout program soon” or “I’ll start eating better next week?” You could have “Someday Syndrome.” The name is a little silly, but the tips for getting past it are clever and totally doable.
23. One of the best things you can do for yourself at work is to bring your own lunch. Sandwiches and salads (dressing on the side) travel pretty well. And you can avoid the mid-day drive through run and the late afternoon vending machine assault.
24. Soda is terrible for you. Even diet soda. I’ll have the double bacon cheese burger, large fry and diet soda. C’mon, who are you kidding? You should be drinking water, but if that isn’t strong enough for you, here are some healthier alternatives.
25. Sometimes it’s important to give yourself a break. Don’t push too hard. Which is what I’m doing with this lame excuse for a 25th Random Thing.
March 2, 2009 at 8:58 pm
Carlie, this post was awesome. The girls with the orange spray on tans is good shit.
March 3, 2009 at 7:00 am
Thanks Justin. Those girls are hot…. I would probably look like that myself if I wasn’t so afraid of wrinkles!
March 15, 2010 at 8:53 am
I love your articles really often because they are spelled in an understandable style. So I can study them although I come from Austria and get any problems to understand English stories.