Round one has ended. Report your data today

Reporting is easy. Just log into your account and click on the "The Challenge" tab. Next, select the "Track Results" tab and enter your data in the text boxes on the right hand side. Log into your account here http://members.shapeupri.org/

For video instructions on reporting go to http://www.shapeupri.org/resources/tutorials

Three keys to success in Shape Up RI

February 22, 2010

Dear Friends,

We’re two weeks into our competition, and I hope you’re feeling great. I urge you to work as hard as possible in these early weeks. Our past results show that the participants who make real progress in the first few weeks tend to achieve the best results in Shape Up RI.

What are other keys to success? Here are three:

First, set one achievable goal. Don’t set yourself up for failure. If you’re just getting started on an exercise program, don’t say you’re going to exercise for 30 minutes every single day. Instead aim for two or three times a week. If you’re trying to lose weight, set an achievable goal like 1 pound per week, not 10 pounds per week. Once you start meeting your goal, you can always increase it.

Second, announce your goal. Post it on the fridge. Tell your colleagues about it. Not only will that make you not want to fail, it will empower your friends to help you achieve your goal. We all need help from the people around us in order to succeed.

Third, track your progress. If you track what you’re doing, you’ll stay on track. Writing down your steps, weight, or your exercise minutes shows you where you started, where you’re at, and how much further you need to go. Regular tracking is a proven and effective behavior change method.

Keep up the good work! 

Yours In Health,

Rajiv Kumar

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Who is having more fun than us?

Square Dancing, Adult Hula Hooping, and free bowling are 3 of the many opportunities that local gyms and companies are opening up to our members this week. Encourage your teammates to look over the listings (going to the shapeupri.org web site and click on Calendar) and make plans to try something new and different this week.

Walk of the Week: Stroll Main Street in Wakefield

It’s lovely to walk on nature trails, but when it’s snowy and icy, it’s nice to walk someplace interesting on sidewalks. So pick out one of our charming New England villages and take a stroll. You might Invite your teammates to meet for a Saturday lunch and go walking before and/or after, depending on each person’s schedule.

A good candidate to explore: Wakefield in South County, where you’ll find shops, restaurants and art galleries, with everything lined up right on historic Main Street.

Best Bet for crafts by local artisans: Waves of Creation
Best Bet for a gift and jewelry: The Purple Cow
Best Bet to improve your home: Cherry Lane
Best Bet for antiques: Cheshire Cat Antiques and Consignment (and a new store called Verdigris specializing in antique furniture is opening this month)
Best Bet for intriguing art: Croker and Griffin Art Gallery
Best Bet for a lunch stop: El Fuego Mexican Grill.
Best Bet for healthy food shopping: Alternative Food Coop.
Best Bet for something few other towns have: The Glass Station, where artists make hand-blown glass art on site.

Like even more steps? You’ll notice that the South County Bike Path (5.6 miles between the Kingston RR Station and Rte. 108 in Wakefield) intersects Main Street. Turn right or left and you’ll have lots more space to walk.

How big is your bagel? A portion distortion quiz!

Food portions have changed remarkably over the past 20 years. Anyone eating on the run or at restaurants has probably noticed that food servings have gotten larger. Take this quiz to test your portion distortion knowledge! http://hp2010.nhlbihin.net/portion/

How to keep your pedometer secure

When you’re active, occasionally your pedometer might fall off.

This year, along with your pedometer you received from Shape Up RI a metal clip on a string which can be attached to your pedometer so you won’t lose it if it accidentally falls off. Thread the string around the back prong of the pedometer and attach the clip to your clothing. If your pedometer falls off, it will simply hang from the clip.

Avoid getting the pedometer wet. If you need another pedometer, they’re $6 or $8.50 with shipping. Call Shape Up at 421-0608 or visit Shop to Support.

Send us your team photos and stories!

Every team has a story about why its members joined Shape Up RI. We want to hear about your team and your reasons for joining our family. What is your motivation? What are your goals in the program? How do you plan to achieve success? Have you already seen early progress? All teams who send photos and/or stories will be entered into a drawing for prizes at the end of the competition. Send photos and stories to: news@shapeupri.org

An eating tip (and recipe) from “Why French Women Don’t Get Fat”

When Mireille Guiliano wrote “Why French Women Don’t Get Fat” a few years ago, it was a runaway bestseller in America. French women, she says, are conscious of what they eat and don’t eat until they are full but only until they are no longer hungry. One great conscious-eating tip: When you sit down to a meal, eat half of everything. Then ask yourself, Am I still hungry? If so, eat half of the remaining half. Then ask yourself again, Am I still hungry? If so, eat half of the remaining portion. French women, she says, do not subscribe to the American idea of the Clean Plate Club. (But in a restaurant, they are happy to box up that other half and take it home for tomorrow.)

Here’s a tasty and easy side dish recipe for Guiliano’s Spinach with Raisins and Pine Nuts, an excellent way to increase your dark greens.

http://frenchwomendontgetfat.com/content/spinach-raisins-and-pine-nuts

Spinach with Raisins and Pine Nuts

Ingredients

2 pounds spinach
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons golden raisins
1/4 cup pine nuts
Salt and freshly ground pepper

Yield: 4 Servings

Instructions

Wash the spinach and trim, if necessary.

Heat the oil in a large skillet. Sauté the raisins and pine nuts until golden, 1 to 2
minutes. Remove from the skillet, and set aside.

Add the spinach to the skillet. Season with salt and pepper to taste, cover, and cook over medium heat for 3 to 5 minutes or until the spinach is wilted. Add the raisins and pine nuts, and toss constantly while cooking for 1 more minute. Serve immediately.

Important: The information provided by Shape Up RI is not intended as medical advice, diagnosis or treatment and should not be used as a substitute for the care and advice of a professional health care provider. Before beginning any physical activity and/or weight loss program you should consult your physician. Shape Up RI provides health information meant for people in generally good health. If you have an underlying medical concern, please consult your physician about how this information affects your specific medical conditions.