Diet and Health Articels

Welcome to our Focus on the Olympics articles that introduces you to our Olympic athletes and hopefuls that will be competing in Beijing this summer. Before every dive, Laura recites "I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me." from Philippians 4:13.

Meet Laura Wilkinson

Laura Wilkinson was a gymnast until age 13 when a sudden growth spurt made her too tall for the sport and she switched to diving. An eight-time All-American, she dove for the University of Texas but decided to forego her final year of eligibility to turn professional. In December 2001, she graduated with a degree in public relations. Laura and her husband have two dogs and two cats.

Why Root for Her?

At the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games, Laura's victory came as a surprise - she moved from eighth place into first in the final round to win the gold, and was wearing a special kayak shoe to protect her broken right foot; an injury that almost kept her out of the Olympic Trials. She was the first American woman to win an Olympic gold in diving since 1976. In 2004, Laura finished in fifth place. At nearly 30 years of age, Laura, competes against divers nearly half her age - which is why her repertoire now includes one of the most difficult dives in the world: a backward, 3 somersault pike. Laura is only female platform diver to win an Olympic, World and World Cup Championship

Performance Record

• 2005 World Champion gold medalist, women's 10m platform diving
• 2004 World Cup platform gold medalist, women's 10m platform diving
• 2000 Olympic gold medalist, women's 10m platform diving

The U.S. Olympic Diving trials will be held June 18-22.

Halfway through the year, it's a sure bet that at least 45% of people who set out to be more fit this year have already given up. Sure you gave up because you were busy or overworked or there was just one too many things on your plate. Many of you still want to achieve your goals whether it's losing that extra few pounds or just going for the best shape you can.

Determination > Boredom

Determination is a necessary quality whether you are beginning a new project or staying the course of an older one. Determination keeps you going even when you want to quit. Determination pushes you out of bed in the morning and drives with you to the gym. Determination can help you avoid the boredom traps along the way.

• Trap #1 - Expecting results overnight
• Trap #2 - Using a repetitive routine with no variations
• Trap #3 - Not planning ahead for any exercise

Boredom Traps

The problem with boredom is that we are a society that is weaned on instant gratification. We want fast loading computers, fast running cars, the shortest, fastest line at the grocery store (even the do it yourself line is faster if no one is in front of us) and we want the perception that we're going to get there before anyone else.

It's the 10 second rule. You look around in a department store for assistance and if you don't see anyone who can help you in 10 seconds, you feel like you've been looking for several minutes. This may seem delusional, but in retail, remember, the customer is always right.

We want results and we want them now. You work out for a week, getting up every morning and doing your best - you want to feel like you did something by the following day. You want those results and too often when you don't get them, you get bored with the routine and either give up or try to do something else.

Boredom Punishes

Even when you don't get results overnight, you can push yourself too hard. You can do the same grueling routine over and over and over again. You can become convinced that doing it just one more time will get you the results you want, it worked in the beginning right? Remember, we've talked about muscle memory and our muscles are a lot smarter than we are sometimes. Doing the same routine over and over again without varying doesn't build or burn, it just maintains.

Boredom is Boring

Boredom can exist anywhere in a workout routine. It can be the repetitive motions, the repetitive atmosphere or even just using the same equipment over and over. (I love my treadmill, but occasionally I really need to give it a break). Sometimes you need to plan ahead (what may seem to be a boring task) what you will or won't do in your exercise routine in order to avoid more boredom in the future.

What do you do?

We've talked about fitness partners before. The simple truth is some people enjoy working out on their own (I'm one of those) and some people really need and do better when they have a fitness partner to motivate and keep them focused. Now, truth be told, I've only had a fitness partner twice before. The longest partner was named Leslie and she and I worked out together for about 9 months. She was fantastic. She kept me on my toes, she challenged me to push a little further each time and she could make me laugh when I felt like I couldn't go any further.

Fitness partners are absolutely wonderful. They cheer you on, they help you stay focused and they support you in all of your activities. You do the same for them. But where do you find a fitness partner? You can find them in lots of places; you just have to know where to look.

• Your Gym - When you join a gym in your neighborhood, chances are a lot of the people who are going there are looking for the same things you are. They are also likely to be located in your area. Many gyms have post boards where you can see others who are looking for fitness partners and it's a great way to hook up
• Your Workplace - Check out the folks at the office. Your co-workers may not be able to hit the local gym with you, but they might be more than willing to do a lunch time walk or more. It's a great way to get to know your fellow employees or even have a quick brainstorming session while you exercise, efficiently killing two birds with one stone
• Local Volunteer Events - Our homeowners association hosts a yearly walk every spring. There are other events in the area including the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. Attending these types of events can provide you with a wide pool of potential fitness partners.
• Craigslist - Seriously, check out online sources from Weight Watchers to Craigslist. You can find like-minded folks who are looking for a fitness partner too. Always take caution when meeting with someone online for the first time.
• Your Family - My daughter is a fun fitness partner, she never lets me forget a planned bike ride or a walk. She's also a lot of fun to chat with when we're out and about. Your husband, wife, mother, mother-in-law, even the dog all make for fun partners to get you out of the house and moving.

Where did you find your fitness partner?

Welcome to our Focus on the Olympics articles that introduces you to our Olympic athletes and hopefuls that will be competing in Beijing this summer. She enjoys reading, dancing, surfing and going to the beach in her spare time.

Meet Ariel Rittenhouse

Ariel Rittenhouse comes from a family of accomplished athletes. Her mother, Sharon Finneran Rittenhouse, won a silver medal in the 400m individual medley at the 1964 Olympic Games and is a member of the International Swimming Hall of Fame. Her uncle, Michael Finneran, was a diver in the 1972 Olympic Games and her grandmother, Carolyn Finneran, was team manager of the 1976 Olympic swim team. In addition, her aunt, grand uncle and great-grandfather were all collegiate divers. She has four older siblings: Rob (a collegiate water polo player), Ivan (a high school volleyball champion), Ryan (a golfer), and Myra (a gymnast and dancer).

Why Root for Her?

In 2004, Ariel moved to Southern California to train with future Olympian Rachel Kunkel under coach Hongping Li at the University of Southern California's Trojan Dive Club. Under Li, she won her first Speedo National Junior Championship on the 10-meter platform and learned a full pike list on the 3-meter. After two years with Hongping, she moved to the U.S. National Training Center to dive under coach Wenbo Chen and train for the 3-meter synchro event. Under Wenbo Chen, Rittenhouse has won a world cup silver medal for the 3-meter synchro event, a Grand Prix silver, and a Superfinal Grand Prix gold medal with partner Kelci Bryant.

Performance Record

• 2007 Pan American Games women's synchronized 3m silver medalist, 3m 5th place
• 2007 Kaiser Permanente National Championships women's synchronized 3m champion
• 2006 Speedo U.S. Open women's synchronized 3m champion
• 2006 FINA Diving Mexico Grand Prix Super Final women's synchronized 3m champion
• 2006 FINA Diving China World Cup women's synchronized 3m silver medalist
• 2005 Junior National Championships women's platform champion

The U.S. Olympic Diving trials will be held June 18-22.

Exercise myths are great because they are either so patently untrue that it's easy to dismiss them or they sound suspiciously like great advice so they are easy to believe. We've all been taken in by common fitness myths. My favorite was the one I believed for years. If you're not going to give it your all and exercise every day or at least every other day, then exercise is a waste of time. That's complete bunk. Sure, exercising every other day is ideal, but even if you can only get out and walk for an hour or two a week, you're doing more for your body than you would be if you just sat sedentary all the time.

What are some great other fitness myths?

• You burn fat more effectively if you exercise at a lower intensity for a really long time. - Okay - it works like this. Exercise burns calories. Calories are the building block of energy. The harder you work, the more calories you burn. Most of us can't workout at a high intensity for a sustained long period of time. Beginners, especially out of shape beginners, will burn more calories in a longer session than they might in a shorter higher intensity session, but overall you do more effective training if you mix it up. Let's say you're walking, for a minute, pick up the pace and then resume normal pace for five minutes, then for a minute pick up the pace, then resume normal for another five minutes. The higher intensity of that 1 minute will burn a few extra calories for that minute and for the minute that follows. See how that goes?
• Yoga is hardly a workout at all, it's more about stretching. Well, in some cases that is true, but yoga itself is a disciplined form that can be very physically demanding as your muscles are expected to hold you rigid in stances. It also requires balance and continued flow from one stance to another. I've come out of yoga sessions dripping sweat and muscles trembling from the different forms. As with any exercise, that's one you start slow and don't rush into Power Yoga.
• Exercising regularly means you lose weight. You don't exercise, you don't lose weight. - I hate to say this but poppycock. Our bodies are biological machines that are constructed by DNA. I know lots of size 0 women who don't bother to exercise because they never gain weight. That doesn't mean they are fit and healthy, it just means that they won the genetic lottery in that case. I also know women who work out regularly and are in great shape, but they can't lose those 10 extra pounds to save their lives. Exercising is about being healthy and feeling healthy, losing weight is a balanced proportion between exercise, diet and genetics

What fitness myths have you believed in before?