Trot-a-long

As much pessimism as I have toward American culture -- highlighting our annual tradition devoted to devouring stuffing and birds until our belts pop -- I am so super excited that "Turkey Trots" have become a national craze.

Whether trotters are hitting the pavement to make room for their indulgent desires or simply trying to prove to their uncles and aunts that they aren't lazy sacks of potatoes, runners are lacing up before settling down to feast, and I am among them. There's nothing more refreshing to me than an early run to clear my head before being swarmed by relatives who love to shove food in my face. Last year, I was lucky enough to be involved in an old-fashioned post-meal soccer contest, boys versus girls, in the front yard of my cousins' home. Holidays are, after all, about family, not food.

The "Turkey Trot" fever that has swept the nation has turned this voracious holiday into a reason to be thankful for our health, and our ability to run or walk 5 kilometers. A meal is just a meal, and we should be thankful to have one, but instead of rewarding our stomachs, we should reward our hearts by keeping them strong (exercising), sharing some of our love with others (volunteering), and maintaining strong ties with those we love (spending time with family and friends). Happy Thanks Day!

Giving thanks, everyday

Families will gather around the turkey table this Thursday and announce what they are thankful for. While many cousins, aunts, uncles, and grandparents may scramble their brains for something they are lucky to have, a new report notes that giving thanks every day of the year will make you healthier.

Gratitude for everything you have in life can help you realize your fortune and blessings compared with so many other people in the world. Some of the findings show that feeling grateful more often can lead to lower stress levels, help smokers quit, prevent many mental disorders -- including depression, phobias, and alcoholism -- and simply lift spirits.

With so much negativity in the world, giving thanks can reroute negative thoughts and allow you to recognize those patches of sunshine in your life, even in what you feel are the worst of times. Practicing this habit will help you resort to these positive feelings more quickly the next time you feel angry or discouraged. Remember what you have, not what you're without. Having trouble getting started? Think about our country, your family, your pets, your ability to put food on the table before you. Let this Thursday be a kick-off point for this new way of thinking, and start giving thanks year-round.

Bye bye 75-cent brownies

This idea, to me, is genius, yet raises an interesting question for lazy fundraisers: Should bake sales be banned?

As a former Girl Scout, I relied on those devilish boxes of cookies -- distributed during Lent, no less, when most of my Catholic neighborhood was sacrificing sweets for God -- to bring in funds for our troop trip to New York City or another badge for my mom to sew on my blue vest (who ever sees those things anyway?).

However, I think the banishment of bake sales would force fundraisers to seek out new methods of raising dough for their causes. For example, more active services could be offered: raking yards, cleaning attics, or holding dance-a-thons, walk-a-thons, and the like. Such activities are more interactive, encourage socializing and community involvement, and set the example that you can't win people over by dropping a frozen roll of cookie dough on a pan and setting a timer; you have to earn that badge!

To earn a bit of extra cash, homemade granola bars or muffins could be sold as fueling snacks at that walk for hunger.

'Why We Suck'

Denis Leary's new book chimes in at an appropriate time in American history. Similar to this blog's main message, he focuses on our society as "fat, loud, lazy and stupid." I don't see us in such a harsh light, so I leave that to others, like Leary.

I haven't read the book, but according to the article, Leary's "feel-good guide" highlights the downers in our society: all the people who take themselves too seriously. Maybe it is what the disintegrating population needs; a publication that dishes it out like it really is, no sugar-coating involved. Not only does the comedian poke fun at America, he lays it on thick for the planet Earth as well.

I'm not sure if I'll be picking this one up, but if you skim it during your weekly visit to B&N, please post comments!

Change of pace

I would like apologize to all my readers. I am not quite sure how this blog became a "weight control" resource, but I have noticed that it is heading down that road unintentionally. Being a dedicated follower of magazines (Fitness, Shape, Self) and websites that cater to such a demographic, I naturally veered in that direction. I am trying my hardest to avoid posts about how to avoid Halloween candy and how to make holiday meals lighter. I promise such material will not appear here, rather I will focus my entries on commentary regarding the overindulgent American culture.

This nation is about to undergo a dramatic change. I am excited to see how this change affects the unhealthy aspects of our culture and I will be sure to share those observations on this blog. Thanks to all who read, and regardless of party affiliation, get pumped for change!

Family affair

The holidays are here, as are rich foods, gooey desserts, and cold weather, making it easier to forgo any physical activity and instead lay by the fire and watch football or movies. This is the perfect time of year for fitness companies and weight-loss programs to capitalize on Americans' worry over their waistlines. Your lifestyle doesn't have to change drastically just because ice is forming on your windshield. (Likewise, summer isn't the only time to get a game of neighborhood kickball going.)

It may take some extra effort, but dragging your family out after hearty meals can make it much more bearable. Here are a few ideas to get the gang moving and to help them focus on healthy habits year round:

• Make your usual holiday dishes, but cut the recipe in half. Focus on the vegetable dishes and put out some fruit among the desserts.


• Cook as a family. The activity engages everyone and keeps people on their feet.


• Give gifts that encourage fitness: personal training sessions, a bike, a yoga mat, etc.


• If it's nearby, walk or bike to the grocery store to pick up ingredients for your meals.


• Play an active game after dinner, like charades, Wii, or Dance Dance Revolution (known as DDR at my cousins' house).


• Consider snow a lucky advantage for your part of the country -- not everyone gets a winter wonderland! Build a fort and have a snowball fight, or make a snowman family.

The D.C. vibe

My blog is about America, our poor decisions regarding our health, and my pessimistic opinion that things will not change. The election results on Tuesday night, however, have given me -- and America -- a new sense of hope. As a D.C. resident, I have noticed that there are increasing peps in peoples' steps, some are now waving and smiling to strangers, and there is a minute hint of pride in being a citizen of the nation's capital.

Citizens of the District were once seen as highly opinionated, closed-minded, and politically-obsessed individuals who lived to read the Washington Post, Congressional Daily, or Politico, and worked for the other 23 hours of the day. All of the sudden, anyone who lives within 10 miles of Pennsylvania Avenue will turn into everyone's best friend, especially come January. I had a feeling this election would change a lot for citizens all over the U.S., but I never thought I would contemplate putting my 250-square-foot studio on craigslist for $500 a night for those historical few days of 2009.

The President-elect is causing positive pandemonium, and I can safely say that this newfound inspiration is certainly something we all needed. Whether it sparks confidence in the schoolchild who wants to be the kickball team captain or encourages the mother of four to run for secretary of the PTA, we all have dreams, and we should never permanently discard them.

I, for one, am having trouble finishing a t-shirt quilt that I am assembling for my younger sister upon her return from studying abroad in Scotland. I have become discouraged due to lack of materials, time, and overall quilting knowledge. I have all the tools at my disposal and I have the love for the person who will receive this gift, so there is nothing preventing me from completing this personal challenge. The recent election won't help me finish the quilt, but the spirit and fresh ambition of the people around me will inspire me to sit down and sew. I'm no Betsy Ross, but I have a dream, and as an America, I can watch it unfold.

Not so embarrassed...today

Election Day has arrived. Living in the nation's capital and working for a news wire has put this first-time voter in the front row of many political goings-on, and I must say that today, I am proud to be an American.

We may be forced to down 1-dollar Egg McMuffins and sodas on our way to our 10-hour workday in order to be able to pay our health care premiums every month, but we get to chose who is in charge of mandating those premiums. Despite the fact that our choice may be in the minority, and even though it is impossible to agree with every political leader in Washington, voting has helped me realize all the other freedoms that Americans have.

I try to take time to be grateful for the little things with which I am blessed: my job, my apartment, the fact that I live in such an exciting city in such a historically stimulating era. I made a choice today, and millions of Americans will do the same. It reminds me that I am free to make almost any choice I want, and that I chose to treat my body well by exercising and eating right.

Regardless of who you vote for today, take time to think about yourself and your right to choose. It's your country, so you get to chose the leader that you feel will do the best job; likewise, it's your body, so do the same and make the wisest decisions to enhance its capability. VOTE!