By: SparkPeople Guest Blogger, – Susie Crossland-Dwyer, Ultra-Endurance Runner
6/19/2013  12:00:00 PM   :  51 comments   :  15,218 views

Editor's Note (Nicole Nichols): When I learned my friend Susie was going to run a 50-mile ultramarathon, I was in shock and awe. Reading the recap of her race on her blog, which we're now sharing with you here, brought tears to my eyes. Her vivid, emotional and insightful journey from mile 1 to 50 is one that every person can learn from and relate to, even if you've never run a single mile.

After Saturday, September 15, 2012, I will never hear the words "50 miles" again and think about them in the same way. There are so many things, beyond the measure of mileage, that now describe 50 miles. Doubt, perseverance, deep friendship, dirt, overwhelming support, darkness, mental toughness, pain, family, hills, belief, tears, natural beauty, blisters, selflessness, labor, and VICTORY. Each one of these things played an important role in making my first official ultra-marathon a truly memorable, rewarding, yet unmistakably arduous day.

By: SparkPeople Guest Blogger, – Jessica Smith, Certified Personal Trainer
6/19/2013  6:00:00 AM   :  27 comments   :  3,228 views

Looking for more exercise resources and workouts? YouTube is a great source for fitness--but with so many options available, it can be overwhelming to figure out which ones to follow! Of course, I am a huge fan of SparkPeople’s channel, where Coach Nicole has created a wide variety of different workouts for various levels of exercisers. But since I figure you are all already familiar with SparkPeople's videos, here are some more of my favorite YouTube channels (by category) for fitness workouts and why they’re worth checking out. READ MORE
 
 
If you are interested in: Beginner-Focused Workouts
 
Try: Fitness Blender
 
While they offer a wide variety of different workouts for all levels, Fitness Blender has a nice library of beginner focused low impact sessions that are just right for someone starting an exercise plan. (You can check out their low impact/beginner workout playlist here). On screen cues help you remember the moves (there’s even an ‘up next’ cue that previews each coming move for you in the left corner of the screen) making it easy to follow along. There’s no music (each video offers an instructors guidance) so you can easily play your own music along with the videos if you like to groove while you sweat.
 
 
If you are interested in: Tough, Hardcore Workouts 

Try: Turbulence Training
 
Certified trainer Craig Ballantyne, creator of Turbulence Trainin--a specific type of metabolic conditioning training designed for peak fat loss--offers some great full-length hardcore workouts on his channel. I prefer his routines to some of the other more popular "hardcore" workout channels out there because Ballantyne really knows his stuff and explains the how and why behind his exercise selection well, which is really important for safety when it comes to high intensity routines. If you like to work hard and push yourself to your limits, then check out his channel!

By: Samantha Donohue, SparkPeople Blogger
6/18/2013  6:00:00 PM   :  36 comments   :  150,526 views

In honor of Heart Awareness Month, I've gathered up recipes that have the ultimate superfood: chia seeds. Chia seeds are a great source of heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids and proteins. If you have not heard of chia seeds, read "What Can You Do with Chia Seeds? Plenty!" for more information. Don't let giggles and jokes about the kitschy Chia Pet commercials dissuade you. I add chia to almost all recipes these days. I love that it's gluten and alergy-free. Try these chia recipes today. 

By: SparkPeople Guest Blogger, – Sandra Gordon, Family Circle
6/18/2013  12:00:00 PM   :  4 comments   :  1,813 views

Brittni Reum's first broken bone happened in her right heel at age 10. She suffered four more fractures over the next three years in her arms and knee—all from seemingly minor mishaps while playing on the monkey bars or shooting hoops in gym class. "Brittni seemed so fragile that I was afraid to let her go outside or play sports," says her mom, Michele, an accounting manager in Jacksonville, Florida. 

By: SparkPeople Guest Blogger, – Jessica Girdwain, Woman's Day
6/17/2013  12:00:00 PM   :  22 comments   :  6,133 views

Pick up an innocent box of granola bars or a bottle of iced tea and you're hit with health claims—from less fat to made with real sugar. In fact, a USDA study showed that 43% of products introduced in 2010 splashed nutrition ads on their packaging. But despite their promises, you could be eating more fat, calories, salt and sugar than you think. Get the facts on the most deceptive claims so they never mislead you again.