New Year’s Resolutions Slowing Down, Get Cast on Extreme Weight Loss

“EXTREME WEIGHT LOSS SEASON 6” NOW CASTING in 10 U.S. CITIES

In a unique, non-competitive show about weight loss, “Extreme Weight Loss” documents the amazing makeover of courageous, obese people who, in an unprecedented 365 days, set out to safely lose around half of their body weight, ultimately revealing an amazing metamorphosis.

Trainer and transformation specialists Chris and Heidi Powell guide each of the participants through their transformation process. By assuring that they have the proper nourishment and exercise movement, Chris and Heidi will provide a fresh perspective to individuals whose lives have become unmanageable because of their weight.

In each of the two-hour episodes, the participants undergo a transformation not only of their bodies, but of who they are as individuals. “Extreme Weight Loss” will chronicle each participant’s journey in a stand-alone episode as they go about reclaiming his or her life.

Eyeworks USA is beginning a nationwide tour to 10 cities across the country in search of participants for season six of the show. Candidates are asked to either attend an open call in one of the following cities or send in a home audition video. Information about how to apply and casting call specifics can be found on the official casting website at http://www.extremeweightlosscasting.com.

Saturday, February 14th, 2015
AUSTIN: DOUGHERTY ARTS CENTER THEATER, 1110 BARTON SPRINGS ROAD, AUSTIN, TX 78704 (9a-3p)

CHICAGO: COPERNICUS CENTER, 5216 W LAWRENCE AVE, CHICAGO, IL 60630 (10a-4p)

DENVER: ANSCHUTZ HEALTH AND WELLNESS CENTER, 12348 E. MONTVIEW BLVD, AURORA, CO 80045 (10a-4p)

Saturday, February 21st, 2015
NASHVILLE: DAVE AND BUSTERS – OPRY MILLS, 540 OPRY MILLS DR, NASHVILLE, TN 37214 (10a-4p)

OKLAHOMA CITY: KEY HEALTH INSTITUTE, 14701 N. KELLEY AVE, EDMOND, OK 73013 (10a-4p)

SALT LAKE CITY: BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF SOUTH VALLEY, 7631 CHAPEL ST, MIDVALE, UT 84047 (10a-4p)

Saturday, February 28th, 2015
SACRAMENTO: EMBASSY SUITES SACRAMENTO, 100 CAPITOL MALL, SACRAMENTO, CA 95814 (10a-4p)

PORTLAND: MODA CENTER, 1 NORTH CENTER COURT STREET, PORTLAND, OR 97227 (10a-4p)

BOSTON: THE VAULT, 105 WATER STREET, BOSTON, MA 02109 (10a-4p)

LOS ANGELES: EYEWORKS USA, 3650 REDONDO BEACH AVE, REDONDO BEACH, CA 90278 (10a-4p)

**Casting Team Media Relations**
Holland Weathers, Sr. Casting Director 818-929-2278
castingbyholland@gmail.com

*Those who cannot attend a casting call can submit a video for consideration. Must be 18 years old by April 12, 2015 to apply. Must be a legal U.S. resident. For additional eligibility requirements please view the “Eligibility” tab on our website.

Is Your New Fitness Culture Killing You? Five Exercises to Avoid

I recently read a wonderful article entitled, CrossFit’s Dirty Little Secret, a 7 minute read that is well worth your while and honestly brings forth many of the questions that others in the fitness industry have been asking about the knowledge of the staff, background, role and safety provided to members. As with any industry, yoga included, when there is little regulation and a lot of opportunity for cash flow, people come out of the wood work with new systems and overnight trainings that really jeopardize the well being of the average person looking to get in shape. Not swayed? Well, take a look at these suggestions for what to cut out from those intense and extreme workouts….

Five Exercises to Avoid

Hard Pressed Strength Coach Emphasizes the Importance of Working Out Safely

From professional athletes to green gym goers, thousands of people find themselves injured each year when exercising.  To maximize your workout both safely and effectively, Dan Geraci M.S., Head Strength Coach at Hard Pressed, debunks the myths surrounding injury-prone practices.

“Incorrect form when lifting weights is one of the top contributors to sports-related injuries,” says Geraci.  “To prevent pulled muscles and other ailments, it is important to take age and fitness level into account as well as any neck, back or spinal issues you may have.”

Below are five exercises to avoid as well as alternative methods for a safer workout:

1. Box Jumps:  A compound movement that works the musculature of the hip and knee joints, this method also places excessive pressure on the Achilles Tendon which can lead to a rupture or tear.  Missing the box with an uncoordinated misstep can result in a twisted ankle or scraped shins while the repeated jumps on a hard surface can cause knee pain.

o Alternative:  The leg press works these same muscle groups but can create stronger muscles without the negative impact of box jumps.  “The leg press targets the muscles around these joints as well,” says Geraci.  “This produces more explosive and higher jumps, often the reason many turn to box jumps in the first place.”

2. Dumbbell Chest Fly:  Without a spotter or when using heavier weights, dumbbells can be difficult to control properly which can potentially lead to catastrophic muscle tears.  Furthermore, most individuals use a shortened range of motion (ROM) for chest flys, which misses the mark for the most effective portion of the exercise.

o Alternative:  Machine Chest Fly and cables can be much more effective and safe as these alternatives place you in the proper positioning to utilize a full ROM without leaving your muscles and joints vulnerable to free weight errors.

3. Walking Lunges:  Improper form is the main problem with walking lunges as the majority of people perform them incorrectly.  “Bad form leads to increased stress on the knee and places it in a vulnerable position,” says Geraci.  “Putting excessive force on structural components of the knee such as the Patella Tendon and the Meniscus can lead to injury.”

o Alternative:  Doing stationary lunges (and having a spotter) will keep the knee in the proper position and allow you to maintain proper form while reaping all the benefits of lunges.

4. Upright Rows:  This exercise puts the rotator cuff muscles in an extremely pinched space (referred to as the sub-acromial space).  In many individuals the Acromion Muscle is hooked or slightly hooked which leads to increased impingement.

o Alternative:  To work your traps in a similar method, use the Shrug and Pull technique.  This allows you to target the same muscles while moving the joint in a much more natural way, thus decreasing the chance of injury.

5. BOSU/ Stability Balls:  The extremely instable platform these balls provide can lead to a myriad of injuries.  They put you in a vulnerable state while performing movements that often times lead to injury when in completely stable environments.  Contrary to popular belief, doing exercises on these balls has no functional purpose outside of training the body to better perform these exercises while on a stability ball.

o Alternative:  Perform the exercises in a stable environment rather than on the ball.  You will better target the primary muscles (i.e. chest for chest press) while not leaving your joints, muscles and tendons susceptible to injury.  Then, exercise your core muscles and abdominals separately.  “Working your chest with a chest press movement on a stability ball is a poor attempt at a two-for-one type of deal,” says Geraci.  “While killing two birds with one stone sounds good in theory, if it leads to injury you are worse off than when you started.”

About Hard Pressed:

Hard Pressed is Chicago’s premier Strength Training facility with a focus on full-body strength training.  Inspired by the collegiate-style weight rooms Head Strength Coaches Dan Geraci M.S. (University of Michigan) and Ron Israel (University of Florida) experienced at their respective NCAA athletic programs, Hard Pressed offers a streamlined workout that is effective and efficient.  The 30 minute workout is coaching intensive, consisting of a strength training regimen that combines a mix of free weights and state-of-the-art weight machines for maximum intensity and effectiveness.  With a strong concentration on training safely, the program offers a high-intensity workout that maximizes results in a safe and effective manner.  Hard Pressed is located at 219 W. Chicago Suite 600, Chicago IL 60654.  For more information, please visit us at http://hardpressed.me/ or like us on Facebook at “Hard Pressed High Intensity Workouts.”

Make Dining Out Easier With Kids LiveWell

“I wrote this review while participating in a campaign for Mom Central Consulting on behalf of the National Restaurant Association. I attended a live event and received a gift bag and promotional item to thank me for taking the time to participate.” www.momcentralconsulting.com

This past Monday marked a first for me.  For the first time in my blogging I went to an event as a blogger.  Sure, I get invited all the time to attend events; book signings, movie openers, fashion week in NYC, interviews with WWE stars but all were centered around my previous blog http://skyyogastudio.com.  Since I have shifted my focus from fitness studio owner to mom trying to attain a Masters degree in Montessori Education I have also shifted my blogging and so was born FamilyCanBFit. My family is very healthy, we rarely eat out these days (which is an achievement from our history of eating out at restaurants for dinners and 3 times a day on the weekends) and even when we do we do not patron the regular mainstream restaurants that most Americans clamor to.  We eat at small independent healthy geared joints, all have to be vegan or have vegan options on the menu.

Not being a naive mom I know this is not the case for everyone.  I also know that the average parent doesn’t have the decades of training and certifications in health, nutrition and exercise that I do – so eating out can really be a double minefield.  There is the stress of taking children out to eat (will they jump off the back of the booth) and the stress of finding a place they will enjoy eating. There is nothing I dislike more than wasting money on a child who refuses to eat a meal out so we have narrowed our restaurant choices and what our 3 kids are allowed to order (based on prior eating performances and I don’t use that word lightly, my kids provide dinner theatre when they don’t like a meal).

Spotlight stage left, enter Kids LiveWell!

Healthful kids’ meals are the No. 3 restaurant food trend in 2013 for both full-service and limited-service restaurants. Children’s nutrition and whole grain items for kids’ meals ranked in the top 10 of the National Restaurant Association’s “What’s Hot in 2013” chef survey for fullservice.

The first restaurants in the Kids LiveWell program offer a total of 342 healthful children’s menu items, including 390 servings of fruit and vegetables, 144 servings of lean protein, 70 servings of low-fat dairy and 48 servings of whole grain. To date, more than 120 restaurant brands representing nearly 40,000 locations nationwide participate in the program, and participants include independent operators and national chains from quick-service to casual and family dining concepts, and even a Children’s Museum and group of theme parks.

I’m not a fan of dairy, even before I was a vegan, and there is growing evidence in support of cutting this bovine beverage out of our primate diet:

Experts at the Harvard School of Public Health have labeled the milk recommendations a “step in the wrong direction.”  One the most prominent critics is Walter Willett, MD, PhD, professor of epidemiology and head of the nutrition department at the Harvard School of Public Health. “One of the main arguments for USDA recommendations is that drinking milk or equivalent dairy products will reduce the risk of fractures. But in fact there’s very little evidence that milk consumption is associated with reduced fractures,” Willett tells WebMD.

There is also a hypothesized link between cow’s milk and type I Juvenille Diabetes. A study, published in the journal Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, has shed light on a possible new mechanism behind this connection. This study highlights the problem associated with drinking the milk of another species. The protein composition within cow’s milk — particularly the beta-casein A1 molecule — is radically different than that found within human breast milk.

Why mention these facts? I believe it is each parent’s duty to raise their children to the best of their ability and to investigate what is healthiest.  While the KidsLiveWell App can make eating out healthier, and does force restaurants to take a look at what they are feeding our children, it doesn’t necessarily equate to the healthiest meal for your kids. Granted the program limits unhealthy fats and sugars but it doesn’t necessarily ban them.  High fructose corn syrup and hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated oils never pass my kids lips for instance.  We also stay away from food dyes and any ingredient we can not pronounce, most of the restaurants we eat at serve organic produce as well.

Does that mean that a family like mine can not get use out of the Kids LiveWell App? We absolutely can. For starters Qdoba is a Kids LiveWell participant. I spoke with one of their people at the blogger event and was impressed to find that everything is made fresh in house. “Our beans come dried in a large sack, we don’t buy canned, we soak them in house.  Our pork is roasted in house, we don’t buy it from some guy down the road. This is one reason we have a lot of flavor. You can go on our website and see all of the ingredients.  I mean all of them, we don’t leave anything out, it’s all listed there.”

Qdoba is actually one restaurant chain that we have eaten at while traveling.  It is nice to know that a portion of their menu is vegan including their soup and made items are made with fresh ingredients. In the very short time I had to walk around the NRA floor I was able to spot a few signs for Kids LiveWell at other vendors’ booths.

So what makes it onto a Kids LiveWell menu? Items must meat these criteria:

Full Kids’ Meals (entrée, side option and beverage):

• 600 calories or less
• ≤35% of calories from total fat
• ≤10% of calories from saturated fat
• <0.5 grams trans fat (artificial trans fat only)
• ≤35% of calories from total sugars (added and naturally occurring)
• ≤770 mg of sodium
• 2 or more food groups (see below)

Side Items:

• 200 calories or less
• ≤35% of calories from total fat
• ≤10% of calories from saturated fat
• <0.5 grams artificial trans fat
• ≤35% of calories from total sugars (added and naturally occurring)
• ≤250 mg of sodium
• 100% fruit, vegetables or juice; and low fat (1%) and skim milks are permitted
• 1 food group (see below)

Fruit, Vegetables, Whole Grains, Lean Protein and Low-Fat Dairy:
Full meals must include two sources, and a la carte sides must include one source of the following:
Fruit:
Fruit (includes 100% juice):
½ cup or more = 1 star
Vegetables:
½ cup or more = 1 star
Whole Grains:
Contains whole grains = 1 star
Lean protein (skinless white meat poultry, fish, seafood, beef, pork, tofu, beans, eggs):
At least 2 ounces meat, 1 egg equivalent, 1 oz nuts/seeds/dry bean/peas = 1 star (lean as defined by FDA)
Dairy:
Lower-fat dairy (1% or skim milk and dairy): ½ cup or more = 1 star (while not considered low-fat, 2% milk is allowed if included in the meal and the meal still fits the full meal criteria)
                                     Deep fried items not permitted

Did this post whet your appetite for finding healthy kids meals? Well, here is where to find Kids LiveWell:

• Participating restaurants: HealthyDiningFinder.com
• Kids LiveWell App: in the Android Market and iTunes app store.
• Kids LiveWell on Twitter and Facebook

College Students and Grads Get Paid to Sleep on the Job Snooze Director

GOT A KNACK FOR NAPPING?

SLEEPY’S SNOOZE DIRECTOR POSITION MAY BE THE JOB FOR YOU

Mattress retailer offers college students and

recent grads unique opportunity to get paid for “lying down on the job”

NEW YORK, NY, 2013 – Today, Sleepy’s, the Mattress Professionals, announces a search to fill what may be the industry’s “cushiest” job – “Snooze Director”.  As the job market remains difficult for The Class of 2013, at least one lucky applicant has the opportunity to land the job of their dreams.

The Snooze Director will be responsible for testing mattresses in Sleepy’s stores, supporting Sleepy’s social media efforts, researching sleep-related matters, blogging about sleep trends, and vlogging various sleep positions.  In addition to being creative and enthusiastic about sleep, qualified candidates must have at least 18 years of sleeping experience.

“We’re looking for self-motivated sleepers who can provide valuable insight on getting the best possible shut-eye,”said Adam Blank, Sleepy’s Chief Operating Officer. “College students and recent grads are expert nappers and sleepers, yet their lifestyles don’t always allow them to get as much quality sleep as they need. We’d like to give this job opportunity to someone passionate about the importance of sleep.”

How to Apply

Applicants can show off their slumber skills by uploading a video or traditional resume after which the most qualified will come to a Sleepy’s store to demonstrate their sleep savvy. The new Snooze Director will begin the full-time job in early June when they report to Sleepy’s corporate headquarters in Hicksville.  Sleepy’s is looking to put this search to bed as soon as possible, so beginning today, the really restful can check out the job posting and apply by uploading resumes and videos.  Submissions should be accompanied by a brief description highlighting their qualifications as an expert in all things sleep-related. At the conclusion of the search, Sleepy’s will offer the most qualified candidate the opportunity to sleep on the job.

Sleepy’s is the largest mattress retailer in the U.S. and has more than 700 locations on the east coast.  For more information about Sleepy’s, visit www.sleepys.com or the company’s Facebook and Twitter pages and Sleepysblog.com.

About Sleepy’s

Sleepy’s is a privately-owned fourth-generation company with over 900 showrooms in fifteen states, spanning from Maine to North Carolina and available nationally through www.sleepys.com.  Sleepy’s has 7 state-of-the-art distribution centers located throughout the country and delivers over 3,000 mattresses every day.

Throughout Sleepy’s 55-year history, the company has remained committed to making lives better through better sleep with its extensive selection of America’s top brands, including Sealy Posturepedic, Simmons Beautyrest, Stearns & Foster and more. Their innovative sleep products include the latest in cooling gel, latex and memory foam mattresses, like the world-famous Tempur-Pedic. Sleepy’s fast delivery service ensures you won’t have to wait to get a better night’s sleep, and their knowledgeable Mattress Professionals® will guide you to your perfect mattress. Sleepy’s truly believes that everything is possible with a great night’s sleep.®

This is a press release, I was not compensated for sharing it.