By: Michelle Kruse

As a runner and biker, I try my best to watch out for pedestrians when driving my car. As a runner and biker, I try to dress in bright colors and stick to safe paths. I follow all the rules and know that I can’t expect everyone else to do the same. I’m always on the lookout. Last month, my aunt was hit by a car and injured pretty severely. She was following the rules, too. She was crossing a street in a crosswalk, with a walk signal and a green light. A driver didn’t see her and turned right into her. Her shattered pelvis and leg prevented her from attending her father’s funeral a week after her accident.

It scares the heck out of me. I haven’t been on my road bike since and am scared to death to run anywhere but the park by my house or the nearby trails. I used to meet friends for a road run or long bike ride, but I’ve been too scared to do so lately. How does one get over the fear and get back on the bike or even the sidewalk for a run?

By: Michelle Kruse

My training partner and I like to joke that we should be “certified” for running outdoors on the days we do. Neither rain nor wind nor snow nor ice, you get the picture. It’s not that we’re really that crazy, but more that we’ve both find the fresh air and open spaces exhilarating. And I credit my at least weekly winter outdoor workouts with keeping me upbeat all winter long. I have not experienced any of the cabin fever and depression that some of my friends are experiencing because I haven’t been cooped up indoors for months. Here are a few of my tips (and some from my much more experienced workout buddy):

1. Dress appropriately. When I first started working out in the bitter cold, I was dressed all wrong and I paid for it. Invest in some lined workout pants that are made to wick away sweat. I love the pair I bought from Road Runner Sports. Also well worth the money is a thermal half-zip. Buy one made for outdoor workouts. I’ve literally had sweat freeze into icicles on fleece, etc. The thin material on mine by CW-X keeps me dry and unbelievably warm. Plus it’s got thumb holes that prevent your shirt from riding up your arms and leaving a gap between shirt and gloves. In fact, sometimes I get almost too warm in this.

2. Get the right accessories. The right ear wrap or beanie can make all the difference in the world. So can the right gloves. Now is a great time to buy this stuff too – it’s all on sale! Wear sunglasses even if it’s not sunny. They shield your eyes from the wind.

3. Vaseline. We may look goofy, but we rarely meet anyone on the trails on the worst weather days anyway. Rub a layer of Vaseline all over your face when you work out in cold wind and snow. It will save you from any chapping, chaffing, or wind burn.

By: Michelle Kruse

Did anyone see Good Morning America yesterday? The segment’s focus was on new body type research. It seems that pear shapes have it good. I have always gained weight in my hips, thighs and rear. Fortunately for me, researchers say that fat stored in these areas is actually good for you. Researchers were not, however, talking about excess amounts of fat and were cognizant of the fine line between healthy and unhealthy amounts of weight.

Not all of us are quite that lucky. “Apple shapes,” or body types that store fat around the midsection of the body, have more to worry about. You’ve heard from us at Forever Young Diet about the dangers of abdominal or belly fat for a long time now. You know the rules about waist circumference (keep it less than half of your height). I’m about 5’8,” which is equivalent to 68” tall, so my waist circumference should be below 34.” The warnings about belly fat haven’t changed. It’s still dangerous. It still puts you at serious risk for a host of diseases, including heart disease and diabetes. Read these tips from Dr. James O’Keefe for losing belly fat. click here

By Michelle Kruse

I am so excited about our new product. While I’d like to be more green, I admit that I am not always the best. I am getting better, but I know there are a lot of things I could and should be doing to reduce my impact on the environment. That said, know that I think that the sustainability aspect of CardioTabs new Ocean Safe Omega-3 is terrific. But, it’s the little things that excite me the most. Little things like taste and purity. When the softgels first arrived in our offices for us to test, I was very hesitant to bite into the softgel. I’ve had fish oil softgels break before and the fishy smell is no picnic. Prepared for the worst, I hesitantly bit down on the softgel and lo and behold it tasted good. All I could taste was citrus berry. The oil didn’t even feel “oily” going down like liquid fish oil does. (I can’t stand to swallow liquid fish oil, either.) I’m going to have my kids try it tonight. I’m so eager to see how it goes. I have not been able to find a good high-DHA formula that my kids will take more than once. CardioTabs Ocean Safe Omega-3 is so clean tasting, I don’t think they’ll notice if I slip it in their milk or juice.

By Michelle Kruse

I made this with my five year-old daughter the other day. It is easy, healthy, and the kids loved it! Perfect for Thanksgiving and the whole holiday season.

EASY, Kid-Friendly Pumpkin Soup

One yellow onion
2 cups mashed cooked pumpkin (canned works well)
1/2 tsp. nutmeg
1/2 tsp. ground pepper
3 cups fat-free, low sodium chicken broth

Chop the onion and carmelize with olive oil in pan. In large crock pot or stock pot, add pumpkin, nutmeg and pepper. Slowly add chicken broth and heat thoroughly on medium heat.
Optional: Before serving, pour into blender or food processor and blend until smooth, will appear creamy. (Bonus, the kids don’t see the onions!)