The Naked Chef Starts A Food Revolution

I love to watch the Food Network Channel. Maybe it's because I wish I could cook like those chefs. Or maybe it's really because I wish I could find a way to beam up the delicious concoctions through my TV set and into my house so I can eat what they prepared!

Jamie Oliver is the Naked Chef and after three years of this successful series Jamie is looking to do more. So he started a food revolution! He's mad because so many kids are overweight and even obese because of the foods they are eating. Jamie's Food Revolution is all about replacing junk, snacks and processed food with freshly cooked nutritious meals – in schools and at home.

Jaime won the Ted Prize, an award granting recipients $100,000 and something much bigger - an opportunity to realize a wish to change the world. Jaime will be putting that money to make sure every kid gets good, fresh food at school. See Jaime's Ted speech here. It is very powerful and the statistics are staggering!

You can join Jaime's Food Revolution by signing a petition that he plans to take to the White House for support.

I applaud Jaime for what he is doing and am glad someone is leading the stand to help our kids. Because of my work with 10TV Commit To Be Fit I am more aware of the importance of a healthy lifestyle for adults and kids. If you know a child who you would like to learn more about a healthy lifestyle in Columbus they can join the 10TV Commit To Be Fit Kids Club for some great tips and information.

Commit To Be Fit & Columbus Metro Parks Wellness In The Woods Video

Last month Columbus Metro Parks and Commit To Be Fit held a Wellness in the Woods event. An incredible morning was enjoyed by all participants.

Look for the next Wellness in the Woods coming in April.

Committing To Be Fit

A few months ago I partnered with new client, 10TV Commit To Be Fit! I love the program and the folks I work with at 10TV, especially Andrea, the spokesperson for the program.

Yesterday I spent the day manning the Commit To Be Fit booth at the Kids Sports & Fitness Expo signing people up for the Commit To Be Fit on-line community, (which will be coming soon) and will be a great interactive community filled with tips, recipes, and support. You can join the on-line community now and until it is up and fully running you will receive a weekly eblast full of good health and fitness information.

Since taking on this program, I have looked at my lifestyle a little closer. I definitely think I could become more committed to living a healthier lifestyle and should drop a few pounds. Honestly, I wasn't too thrilled when I saw myself in this photo. It looks like I drop straight down from my shoulders - yikes, not happy about that.

So, I'm actually going to start using the program I promote. I will be paying better attention to the things I put in my mouth and will be signing up for Jazzercise tomorrow (if I'm going to work out I want it to be fun and perfect timing, tomorrow Jazzercise is holding a 1 Day Special!) To make sure I am accountable and watch what I am doing I am going to start using the Commit To Be Fit Progress Tracker. Sure it will take some commitment, but you need to commit to be fit (hence the name of the program).

I'm hoping that the next time I take a photo at the Commit To Be Fit booth I will not look like I drop straight down from my shoulders and have a little more definition in my waistline.

To be continued . . . . .

Winter Hikes At Metro Parks Starting Soon!

Columbus Metro Parks are beautiful any time of the year. But there is something special about hiking in the snow and crisp, fresh air. Beginning in January, Columbus Metro Parks will begin their Winter Hikes series. Bring your friends and family for a hike through the fields and forests of your Metro Parks. Enjoy the sights and sounds of nature in winter.

• 13 hikes

• Refreshments

• Guided and self-guided hikes

• Complete seven hikes for a decorative patch

Hike Schedule:

1. BLACKLICK WOODS - Saturday, January 2nd |10 a.m. 2 or 4 miles
2. SHARON WOODS - Saturday, January 9th |10 a.m. 1.5 or 3.5 miles
3. SCIOTO AUDUBON - Saturday, January 16th | 10 a.m. 2 miles
4. PRAIRIE OAKS * - Sunday, January 17th |2p.m. 1, 3 or 5 miles
5. CLEAR CREEK - Saturday, January 23rd | 10 a.m. 1, 2, 3, 5 or 7miles
6. INNISWOOD - Sunday, January 24th | 2p.m. 2 miles
7. THREE CREEKS - Saturday, January 30th | 10 a.m. 1, 3 or 5.6 miles
8. CHESTNUT RIDGE - Sunday, January 31st |10a.m. 1.4 or 2 miles
9. BLENDON WOODS Saturday, February 6th | 10 a.m. 2, 4 or 6miles
10. HIGHBANKS - Saturday, February 13th | 10 a.m. 2.5 or 5 miles
11. GLACIER RIDGE - Sunday, February 14th | 2 p.m. 2 miles
12. SLATE RUN - Saturday, February 20th | 10 a.m. 2 or 4.5 miles
13. BATTELLE DARBY CREEK - Saturday, February 27th | 10 a.m. 2, 4 or 6miles

* meet at Darby Bend Lakes

Sign-up For Commit To Be Fit Eblast: Great New Local Content

Over the last few weeks, we have been busy collecting new content for the 10TV Commit To Be Fit eblast and website. Our goal is to localize the program more and work with Ohio and Columbus-based organizations, academies, doctors, nutritionists and fitness experts.

We are proud to announce that currently we have a handful of new contributors on board with many more to be added to this imPRessive list:

• Ohio Academy of Family Physicians


• American Academy of Pediatrics - Ohio Chapter


• Four local fitness and food bloggers


• Dine Originals


• Farmer's Market Association


• Ohio Nutrition Council


• Danny Arguetty, Nutritionist at Kripalu


• Robin Davis, Dispatch Kitchen


• American Dairy Association Mideast

Register to receive the new and improved Commit To Be Fit eblast here. Just check the Commit To Be Fit Newsletter box.*

With all this new content, you'll be glad you did!

*(You don't need to click User Interest rankings if you don't want to).

Creativity and Humor Make A Great Campaign during Cankle Awareness Month

It's Monday morning after a long holiday weekend and I have to admit I'm having a bit of a hard time getting back into the groove.

Reading my RSS feeds, I came across the new Gold's Gym summer campaign, Say No To Cankles. Even though I think I still have sleep in my eyes this caught my attention and really made me laugh. Mixing creativity and humor is definitely one way to get me motivated.

This microsite looks like one of those cheesy magazine ads, injects loads of humor for "Cankle Awareness Month", as well as some serious exercise suggestions. While on the site place a vote for the best legs in Hollywood, and sign-up for seven days of free Canklebusting. There is also a link to join Gold Gym's Facebook page where you can use an application to send someone cankles.

Overall, a very clever campaign to get people's attention to join the gym. These are the kinds of people I'd want to work out with. The only suggestion I would make would be to continue the promotion to the brand's other media channels. Their Facebook page, Golds Gear site and Gold's Gym site do not reflect their "Cankle" promotion but instead their "Know Your Own Strength" promotion. Personally, I would suggest adding some of the cankle pieces to create brand continuity and consistency.

The Woman Challenge

This weekend I was reading one of my favorite magazines, Health, when I came across a small blurb for The Woman Challenge.

A program of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, The Woman Challenge encourages women across the country to enlist in an eight week health challenge pledging to get at least 2.5 hours of moderate exercise per week.  An on-line activity tracker monitors your progress as well as gives you news and exercise tips.

I made my pledge this past Sunday with a vigorous walk in the a.m. and bike ride in the p.m. even though the official kick off isn't until May 10th.  Warming up a week before can only help!

Occasionally I will post progress, photos and my imPRession of how this challenge is going. Want to join my virtual team?  I'd love it if you'd join me and post comments along the way. You can see the columbus imPRessions team profile here.