SNEWS best fitness reads from around the web

What did the SNEWS team read this week that other fitness insiders might find interesting? Read on to find out.

• SNEWS has told you before how ridiculously good-looking we are, but there’s another thing you should know: We are also ridiculously smart, which means we are very in touch with our inner geeks. That is why we were happy to read this Kansas City Info Zone story about Bruce W. Perry’s book “Fitness for Geeks: Real Science, Great Nutrition and Good Health.” We’ll probably be picking up a copy soon.

• After reading this Miami Herald story, the SNEWS team has hope that fitness and nutrition will prevail in the battle against childhood obesity. Children at Miami’s Booker T. Washington High School are learning all about health and fitness and implementing those lessons through a program called HealthCorps.

• With all the traveling to trade shows and media events that we do, it’s nice to know that there are some pieces of equipment that can easily fit into our suitcases for daily workouts. Check out this New York Times story that features a few of them, including Vibram FiveFingers shoes and a Gaiam stability ball.

• SNEWS doesn’t like the saying, “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks.” Dogs are pretty bright (especially our very own Shrek – pictured in the team photo on our Facebook page) and old dogs can most certainly learn new tricks. So when we’re old folks, we reckon anybody who tells us we can’t do things might get a shiner (you know, after we slug ‘em a good one), because there’s one thing we know: Awesomeness and fitness know no age limits — not in dogs, not in humans. This Huffington Post article tackles this very subject and discusses how to motivate people in their 70s and 80s to start exercising regularly.

• It’s nice to know that truck stops aren’t just a source of hidden diet disasters (who knew trail mix and Laffy Taffy could add up to so many calories?). This Mother Nature Network blog post highlights TravelCenters of America’s new stay-fit initiative, for which it’s opened exercise centers at about 40 truck stops. Sweet! Maybe instead of stopping for snacks on our next road trip, we’ll make time for a quick gym session.

• Reebok lost the NFL contract quite publicly this year (remember reading about all those Jets Tebow jerseys the company had to eat?), but that was a blessing in disguise. Now it can focus on fitness, which is where the company started in the 1980s. Check out this Boston Herald story on the topic.

• Treadmills are a fitness staple in every gym and many homes. There probably hasn’t been a time in your store’s history when you haven’t carried treadmills. So your customers are either walking or running on them. If they’re running, and they’re new to the activity, the likelihood that they’ll get an injury is high, so share with them articles like this one on Active.com, that teaches how to prevent injury.

• The diet pill and supplement industry makes billions every year despite the many articles that come out denouncing the effectiveness of such pills. They’re expensive, they’re ineffective and they’re dangerous. Check out this New York Daily News story about how a few stimulants on the market can lead to shortness of breath and heart attacks.

• Our First Lady Michelle Obama is somewhat of a fitness bad ass (and we mean nothing but respect by that). I mean, you’ve seen the guns on that woman. Now, according to this Let’s Move blog post, the First Lady issued a challenge to Biggest Loser Contestants to see who could sign up the most people for the Presidential Active Lifestyle Award. The winner will get a new gym worth $30,000 for his or her hometown or school.

• Everybody faces barriers when it comes to getting motivated to exercise. We know we do sometimes. It’s hard to wake up on some mornings and throw on those gym clothes, jump on our elliptical or head out the door for a run. But this Florida Times-Union story gives readers helpful tips on how to overcome some of those barriers.

Have you read anything interesting you’d like to share with us? Maybe we’ll include it next week’s column with a little shout out to whoever sent it to us. Send a link to the story with the subject line “SNEWS Reads” to be considered.

–Compiled by Ana Trujillo