Let the Competition Begin!

February 8, 2010

Dear Friends,

Ready, set, go!

It is my honor to announce that the 5th Annual Shape Up RI healthy lifestyle challenge has officially begun. As of today we have 10,000 competitors, and more are joining every day. If you have friends, colleagues, or family members who want to improve their health in 2010, make sure to let them know it’s not too late to join Shape Up RI!

Shape Up RI represents an opportunity for new beginnings. Perhaps you set a new year’s resolution and haven’t yet followed through? Now is your chance to make good on your commitment to achieving your health goals. This year’s campaign is certainly a new beginning for me. After taking two years off to do research, grow Shape Up RI, and launch Shape Up The Nation, today I am returning to medical school full-time to finish my last year. As I jump into the busy schedule and rigors of being a medical student, I have made a personal commitment to stay on track with regular workouts and healthy meals. I am counting on my team--and all of you--to support me. Now that we’ve made the commitment by signing up and setting our goals for the competition, it’s time to get started. Good luck! I am rooting for you and your team.

Yours In Health,

Rajiv Kumar

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Quote of the Week

"It's not about coming in first -- it's about winning for yourself. It's about getting on the path to a healthier lifestyle."
--Barbara Morse Silva

Late Registration is Open!

If you haven't joined, join today!

We have heard from many people who are eager to join but don't have a team. If your team isn't full yet, consider inviting more friends to join.

There are hundreds of Rhode Islanders, from East Providence to Westerly, seeking teams on the Team Building Forum.

Sending a Shape Up RI invitation is a great way to help someone improve their health. Also, when coworkers and friends see you participating in Shape Up activities, it often makes them want to join; so enlist them if you have room. Past results show that larger teams achieve the best results in our program!

Gravity Training, and Zumba, and Men's Yoga -- oh my!

Now that you're enrolled in Shape Up, you can take advantage of scads of free classes and seminars that local gyms and companies are opening up to our members. You can try out martial arts, you can bowl, you can do pilates, you can even tango! So grab a teammate and take off. Find what's offered by going to the shapeupri.org web site and clicking on Calendar.

Jean-O Chili

Last week's "Biggest Loser" show on NBC (8 p.m. Tuesdays on Channel 10) featured Trainer Bob teaching the contestants how to make what sounded like a fabulous Turkey Chili dish. We found the recipe, and it's only 220 calories a serving!

Jennie-O Biggest Loser Black Bean Turkey Chili

Ingredients

1 (20-ounce) package Jennie-O Extra Lean Ground Turkey
1 cup coarsely chopped onion
1 red bell pepper, cut into 1/4-inch cubes
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 jalapeno peppers, seeded and minced (optional)
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 1/2 teaspoons ground coriander
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano leaves
1/2 teaspoon dried marjoram leaves
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 (16-ounce) cans low-sodium whole tomatoes, drained and coarsely chopped
1 (16-ounce) can black beans, drained and rinsed
8 ounce tomato sauce
1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
4 tablespoons low-fat shredded Cheddar cheese

Directions

In a large stockpot, combine turkey, onion, red pepper, garlic, jalapeño peppers, chili powder, cumin, coriander, oregano, marjoram, red pepper flakes and cinnamon.

Cook mixture over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, until turkey is no longer pink. Stir in tomatoes and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer uncovered for 5 minutes. Stir in beans and cilantro. Continue cooking for an additional 5 minutes. Serve topped with cheese. Makes 6 servings.

Nutritional Content

Calories 220
Fat calories 20
Total Fat g 2.5
Sat Fat g 0.5
Chol mg 40
Sodium mg 190
Total Carb g 23
Fiber g 8
Sugars g 6
Protein g 29

Lots of ideas in Team Captain Handbook

If you’re looking for ideas for yourself or your team, remember that anyone can download the Team Captain Handbook (on the Web site, click on Resources then on Downloads on the left). It’s full of ideas on how to motivate yourself and your teammates, plus suggestions for fun ways to get together as a team. Look for healthy eating (have a soda-free week) and easy exercise tips too, as well as ways to squeeze more walking into your day. It also talks about the importance of setting goals as well as how to do that.

It was an inspiring Opening Ceremony!

The biggest surprise at Saturday’s Opening Ceremony at Rhode Island College was the evolution of hula-hooping. For those of us who remember hula-hooping as frantically gyrating activity done as a kid, it was a revelation to see Susan Whitney demonstrate hooping as a sensual, rhythmic, dance-like exercise. About a dozen attendees had a great time joining her on stage to try it for themselves. (You can attend one of her Suela Hooping classes for free on Tuesday and Wednesday nights. See the calendar of events.)

Gold’s Gym of Providence and East Greenwich brought the whole crowd to their feet with energetic demonstrations of a variety of their classes, including Body Vibe, Body Combat and Zumba. We might not have known exactly what we were doing, but we had fun! And it made lots of us curious to see what else we might try out, since all those and more are available via the calendar of events.

Words of inspiration got the crowd going too. Michael Samuelson of Blue Cross Blue Shield, said his favorite activity is mountain climbing but the important thing is to “Move whatever is good for you -- just keep moving. And sustain it once Shape Up is over.”

Barbara Morse Silva, Channel 10 health reporter, says her coworkers kid her because sometimes she just pops up from her desk and starts running in place. “But I don’t care,” she said, “because it means more steps!” The average person, she reminded us, walks about 3,000 steps a day, so it takes an effort to hit 10,000. She also revealed a sneaky psychological strategy: She bought smaller dinner plates for her family. “My kids think they’re eating so much and they’re really not!”

Throughout the kickoff, emcee and Executive Director Colin Murphy quizzed the audience on their Shape Up RI knowledge and handed out numerous door prizes ranging from Whole Foods gift certificates to day-of-beauty treats.

Shape Up consultant Ray Rickman urged participants to commit simple acts of health such as parking as far away as you can in parking lots (“In a year, that’s thousands of steps and several pounds”).

Founder Rajiv Kumar wrapped up the event by urging us to keep our progress going by setting achievable goals -- “Instead of saying you’ll exercise 30 minutes every day, say you’ll do it 2 to 3 times a week” -- and then increase them. Then he led everyone out of the auditorium (past free salads and coupons from Whole Foods) on a walk around the RIC campus.

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.