Eating = Love?

There are very few websites that I check regularly, but Hungry For Change is one of them. A recent post got me thinking. The article, called The Recipe for Love? Similar Eating Habits, is about vegetarian (or vegan, or "veg-curious") speed dating in Berkeley, California.

Ok, so obviously if you have the same eating habits it can make things easier in a relationship - not having to cook two different things each night or make concessions for one person or the other when meal planning. And, presumably, if you're both vegetarian or vegan you both care a lot about either your health or the environment or animal cruelty (you get the picture).

But I think the recipe for love may go even beyond that, to eating preferences. I've been on a slew of dates recently where the topic of food has come up in the getting-to-know-you conversation. One guy said he can't handle spicy food. Which makes me think of all of the amazing heat-fueled dishes we'll never share. Another greatly dislikes cilantro. Which makes me imagine eating salsa and gazpacho and pesto - alone. The real kicker though, came when someone told me that he doesn't like Thai food (or other Asian cuisines). Is it wrong that Thai food is so much a part of my life that I decided right then and there that we had no future together?

In introductory nutrition classes you learn that a person's eating habits are based on social, religious, cultural, environmental, economic, and political factors. So really it's no surprise that, if what you like to eat stems from all of those factors, you'd be drawn to someone who likes to eat what you like to eat. Which is why I think maybe the next advent of speed dating should be based on food preferences instead of eating habits. I'd definitely go to a speed dating event at my local favorite Thai restaurant. Heck, I'd probably be there anyway, digging into a steaming bowl of spicy, cilantro-laden deliciousness.

Guest Post! Dynamic Stretches for your Adductors

Your adductors are the muscles in the groin area of your legs that are tight in most people.  Groin pulls are a common injury that can result from a tight muscle and insufficient preparation for activity.

Two stretches that will improve the length in your adductors and prepare the tissue for exercise are the kneeling adductor mobilization and the lateral lunge.  To make a dynamic stretching routine pick (1) ankle mobility stretch, (1) hamstring stretch, and (1) adductor stretch.

Kneeling Adductor Mobilitization – perform 12 times each side

You will feel this stretch in the groin area of the straightened leg.  For a deep stretch, rock back as far as possible.

Lateral Lunge – perform 8 times each side

Keep your toes pointed straight and push your butt back as far as possible in this stretch.  Hold the down position for 2 seconds and then switch to the other side.

-Chris

Chris works at the Boston Sports Club in Westborough, MA as a personal trainer where he helps clients with goals ranging from weight loss to athletic performance.  He graduated from the University of Massachusetts-Amherst in May 2010 with a BS in Kinesiology.  Chris is a Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) through the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA).  In the fall of 2010, he completed his internship in the Rehabilitative Services department at the Fallon Clinic in Worcester, MA.  During his senior year, Chris worked as a Manager and Personal Trainer at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst Residential Wellness Centers.

How Do You Meet the Moment?

Full disclosure: I work for Clif Bar. I also love the products, and the company. They're all about staying true to who they are (as in, not selling out to a big corporation), treating the environment well, giving back to the community, and of course, making delicious, nutritious bars. So, I'm obviously a huge fan of something they've got going right now called Meet the Moment. The idea behind this campaign is for people to share how they "meet the moment" by uploading a photo and adding text to it in order to inspire others. And, as if that wasn't already pretty cool, they donate $5 to your selected charity when you upload your first photo. So, what are you waiting for? Share your Meet the Moment here.

Need inspiration? Here's mine (might look familiar!):

Guest Post! Dynamic Stretching for the Hamstrings

Get off your butt and stretch your hamstrings!  When we are seated, our hamstrings are stuck in a shortened position, which leads to a great tightness in the back of our legs.  You might even be so tight that the closest to touching your toes is just past your kneecaps.

Well, what have you been doing about it?

Your hamstrings are responsible for flexing your knee and extending your hip.  If they are so tight that you cannot come close to touching your toes, chances are you are also a poor runner.  Tight hamstrings significantly shorten the length of your running stride.

Use dynamic stretches to get some length in those hamstrings!

My two favorite dynamic stretches for the hamstrings are the inchworm and squat-to-stand.  Pick one of the ankle mobility stretches and then pick one of the following stretches for your hamstrings.

Inchworm – perform 5 times

In the inchworm you get the added benefit of a calf stretch and you are working your abdominals too when you reach out your arms.  The stretch starts with your feet together and you reaching down to touch your toes.  Walk your hands out slowly as far as you can while keeping your feet flat for as long as possible.  Once your arms are fully extended, slowly inch your feet back to your hands, and get your heels on the ground as soon as possible.

Squat-to-Stand – perform 6 times

This stretch is great for stretching the hamstrings and for improving hip mobility.  Stand with your feet slightly wider than shoulder width apart and toes pointed slightly outward.  Curl your toes up and reach your hands under your toes, keeping your knees straight.  Then, sit down into the stretch and get your butt as close to the ground as you can.  Keep your arms inside your legs and push your knees outward with your elbows so you get a stretch in your adductors (groin).  Keep your head up with good posture and do not shrug your shoulders…relax them!

-Chris

Chris works at the Boston Sports Club in Westborough, MA as a personal trainer where he helps clients with goals ranging from weight loss to athletic performance.  He graduated from the University of Massachusetts-Amherst in May 2010 with a BS in Kinesiology.  Chris is a Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) through the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA).  In the fall of 2010, he completed his internship in the Rehabilitative Services department at the Fallon Clinic in Worcester, MA.  During his senior year, Chris worked as a Manager and Personal Trainer at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst Residential Wellness Centers.