Working Out with Kids

Hey guys - Barbara did a really great story about getting your kids involved in your working out routines.

You should check it out!

Hey Buddies!

Today is the day... we launched the online version of Barbara's Buddies with a special e-mail to everyone on the list.

You can still get in on the e-mails and online version of the challenge. E-mail us at BarbarasBuddies@wbtv.com!

Later today, the five buddies will be signing up for the blog, so they can tell their stories... in their own words.

Be sure you keep updated with the very latest from the Buddies!

Let The Games Begin!

Today was the BIG Day!

We launched Barbara's Buddies LIVE this morning, as the Buddies joined Barbara at AIM Fitness, with our trainers Jason and Aly.

We started off the morning with a big hello from the entire group, as Barbara explained how the system was going to work.

(click picture to watch)


Then... one by one, we introduced YOU to the Buddies, giving you a chance to hear each of their stories.


Meet Megan:
(click picture to watch)


Megan is a 27-year old literacy facilitator from Cornelius. She says she's struggled with weight her entire life and is ready to take complete control of her heart health.

She's already a member of a local gym, but feels that's not enough. Thankfully, she has no existing health problems and she DOESN'T want that to the change.

Megan is full of energy and ready to take on this challenge head-on.

It sounds like the key for Megan will be squeezing in time to exercise because she has a very busy schedule.


Meet the Weavers:
(click picture to watch)


Meet (from left to right) 37-year old Nyruh, 11-year old Imani and 34-year old Darlene.

This family of three captured our attention because as a group, they're wanting to change some habits and get their hearts in great shape!

Nyruh and his wife Darlene met more than a dozen years ago while serving in the US Army. As you might expect, they were both in great shape.

Since then, Darlene says they've made bad food choices and have settled into a life of inactivity. Now they want to be better role models for their daughter, Imani.

Add to that a family history of heart disease and stroke, and this becomes a need to take charge of their health and keep those risk factors at bay.

We expect to see some military-type Buddy motivation from these guys... and we welcome it!


Meet Fred:
(click picture to watch)


Fred is a 56-year old from Gaston County who has a history of Diabetes.

Sadly, both of his parents died from complications from Diabetes. He is also diabetic and takes insulin daily, as well as medicine for high blood pressure.

He says he is tired and sluggish all the time and that his body constantly aches from head to toe.

Fred's biggest challenges, by his own admission, are eating right and getting in shape. Fred believes this Buddy program is the one thing that will make all the difference for him, because we are all committed to holding each other accountable!


Meet Frankie:
(click picture to watch)


Ms. Frankie is 55-years old and wanted to be part of this Buddy program because she has Type 2 Diabetes, Hypertension, High Cholesterol and suffers from joint problems.

She says she weighs more now than she ever has, and that's preventing her from enjoying life as she could or should.

Frankie used to walk 5 miles every day. She says her biggest challenge now is motivation.

Our trainers will be showing her modified versions of our exercises so she doesn't skip a beat. And like the rest of us, she'll get plenty of attention from our nutritionist.


Meet Amy:
(click picture to watch)


Amy is a 47-year old wife and mother of two.

She says while her family loves her just as she is, she's not at all happy with her weight, especially considering her family history of high blood pressure and diabetes. Popular diets are a challenge for her because they usually involve or exclude foods that aren't conducive for the rest of her family.

Also, finding the time to exercise is a big obstacle because both she and her husband work full time while raising a 12-year old and a 13-year old.

Amy is really hoping that by getting her heart in shape, she'll be able to ward off heart disease and diabetes.

Amy wants to be around for her family and she's committed to finding the time and energy to make this work... Buddy style!

GOOD LUCK TO EVERYONE!

Countdown to Buddies!

Tomorrow is our big day!

Barbara's Buddies gets its official launch and you get your first chance to see the Buddies live and in action!



Our Buddies met up last week for the first time to meet with our trainers Jason and Aly. You can meet the buddies for yourself... live starting at five o'clock.

You can still join the online portion of Barbara's Buddies by e-mailing us at BarbarasBuddies@wbtv.com. We'll be sure to add you to our mailing list of healthy tips.

For more about our Buddies and the Barbara's Buddies process, check out out Barbara's Buddies page on wbtv.com

Come join us and get healthy!

Buddies... on air and online

Hello Buddies.

I'm really excited about this journey we're about to embark on. For the Buddies who will be sharing our stories on air... we're going to get started the end of August though we will likely need to meet in the next two weeks. I'll be giving you guys and gals a call this week to get a better gauge of your schedules.

Online Buddies... we will also launch together at the end of August. As we support each other online... we'll be encouraging everyone to keep a food journal. I'm checking out a few user friendly ones now and I'll pass that information along very soon.

In the meantime... thank you all so much for wanting to be a part of our Buddy system to get in heart healthy shape! I'm convinced that we can all accomplish realistic goals by supporting one another... whether it's on TV or online!!!

Barbara

Today is the Day!

It's the day many of us have been waiting for... especially those of us who have been planning Barbara's Buddies.

This morning, we announced the five people who were selected to join Barbara in her quest to get healthy. There were soooo many interesting and emotional stories for us, that it was almost an impossible task.

This is a cause that Barbara has really taken to heart, and she really wants to work and get a great group so that we can all get healthy.

The five Buddies are:

• Fred Barnes from Gastonia is concerned about his diabetes.
  
• Megan Cahill from Cornelius says she's struggled with weight for most of her life.
  
• Amy Duncan is a wife and mother of two who says she needs accountability.
  
• Frankie Sarvis is concerns about diabetes and cholesterol.
  
• Darlene Weaver says she and her family just moved here from Atlanta and they really need to get into shape and lose weight.

For the people that weren't listed, we still want you to be a part of this process. This is a teambuilding experience and we really need to hold one another accountable.

If you haven't already e-mail us, join our online support group. E-mail us at BarbarasBuddies@wbtv.com. We want to hear from you and hear your stories.



Remember... today is the first day of the rest of your HEALTHY life!

Barbara's Buddies

Hello Ladies and Gents... the time has come to reveal our Barbara's Buddies list.

We plan to do that Monday (7/28) morning on WBTV at 6:35.

This was a REALLY tough decision... and the last thing we want is to leave anyone out... so while we will share the names of those who will be on T.V.... we'll also explain the way we plan to include everyone in this initiative to get in better shape and improve our heart health!!!

Please join us Monday morning... I truly believe this is the start of something amazing. We will succeed if we do it together!!!!!!!!!

Heart disease, Stroke & Diabetes step back because we're stepping up our efforts to be proactively healthy.

Barbara

Making Diets Work

We all new that diets are hard to stick to... there's always something you want, but can't have.

So how can you make a diet work?

We're going to show you exactly how to incorporate the foods you crave into your everyday meals and still shed pounds, so you can beat those diet downfalls!
Check out the article on Prevention.com

But even the perfect diet is bound to get sticky, but you don't want to lose your concentration. So how can you keep the motivation high, when you are feeling so low? Looks like you need to "trick yourself thin."
Check out these tips from Men's Health!

Good Luck!
- The Producer

New Way to Join!!!

Hello all you "On Your Way to a Healthy Life" People!!!!

We have a new way for you to join and take part in the Barbara's Buddies experience.

How?

You can e-mail us at our new e-mail address: barbarasbuddies@wbtv.com

We're looking for people who want to join and be one of Barbara's Buddies... but that's not all! If you want to join, but don't think you can take part in the on-air side, we still want to hear from you!

We want to hear your story, so we can all learn together! Let's get healthy... write us!

We're Live and ONLINE!

That's right, today was the official launch of the Barbara's Buddies program!

We're looking for five of you to join Barbara in her quest to get healthy!

So, how can you be a Buddy?



We're looking for people who would be willing to share their stories on camera, and sometimes via live phone interviews in the mornings.

Have you been trying for a while with no success?
Want to get in shape to lower your risk of heart disease?
Just had a baby and want to shed extra pounds?

We want you!



Join us!

Leave a comment
or e-mail inbox@wbtv.com
or e-mail Barbara bpinson@wbtv.com

We want to hear your stories and we want YOU to join us.

Trimming the Calories, but Keeping it Safe!

Let's be honest. Not everyone who is looking to lose weight, needs to lose a lot of weight. Some people are just looking for that few extra pounds to be where you wanna be.

But giving up your favorite foods can be hard. So how do you cut calories without cutting out everything you love? This article shows how you can easily trim your calorie count, and still get the things you love.
Read More on Yahoo! Health

Whether you are looking to lose just a few pounds, or a significant amount of weight - you need to be careful. While diets can be a good way to get healthy, they can also be VERY dangerous.

This article talks about common Dieting Disasters that could be putting you in more danger, than doing you good.
Read More from Yahoo! Health

Good Luck!

- The Producer

Keeping a Food Diary & Buddying Up!

Grab your pen and paper, it's time to double your weight-loss!

Write it Down, Drop the Pounds
That's all it takes, according to some experts. People who write down what they eat, and keep a food diary every day, lose twice as much weight as others.
Read the rest of the USA Today story here.

(click picture to watch video)


Plus, this whole blog and idea is about finding a buddy to work with to help keep you on track. A buddy can make sure you remember your motivation and is there to ask for advice, someone you can count on when your own will power isn't enough.

Good Luck!

- The Producer

Healthy Juices

Let's talk beverages... a new article on aol.com talks about ranking fruit juices and other beverages... really focusing on which ones are healthiest based on the disease-fighting antioxidant properties. Here's the list:

Pomegranate juice
Red wine
Concord grape juice
Blueberry juice
Black cherry juice
Açaí juice
Cranberry juice
Orange juice
Tea
Apple juice

I don't know about you... but these new studies are always so fascinating to me. The last time I actually thought about healthy fruit juices... I thought about cranberry juice. But you can see, based on this latest survey... my thinking is quite outdated. Maybe it's because I'm not a big juice drinker. I pretty much stick to water... and look to green tea for my antioxidants.

The biggest reason is the amount of sugar I find in most juices... even if it's natural sugar... some juices just seem to be another version of empty calories. We talked about that several months ago in our Sugary Truth segment. Check out what the aol.com article says about it.

"The truth is, you consume a lot of calories with juice. No-sugar-added doesn't necessarily mean no sugar at all. And sugar, even though it's naturally-occurring sugar, can really pack on the pounds if you consume too much."

So here's my question... do I need to drink a few ounces of these juices for the antioxidant benefits? What's an alternative? Just a little juice for thought.

Your thoughts?

Barbara


Here's the link to the full article.

Making a Healthier Nation and Too Soon for Surgery?

The United States not as healthy as you might think, plus how too is too soon to go under the knife for weight loss surgery?

Making a Healthy Nation
With the United States being one of the richest in the world, you might think we'd be one of the healthiest - but we aren't! The Centers for Disease Control has come up with a new plan to make the U.S. a healthier nation.
Click Here to Read More from the USA Today.

Weight-loss Surgery: Too Soon?
If you are trying to shed some pounds, but you can't seem to drop the weight, you might start to think about a weight-loss surgery of some kind. But how soon is too soon? Most patients try an average of 24 diets before finally making the plunge!
Click Here to Read More from the USA Today.

Good Luck!

- The Producer

Stress, Travels and Happy Feet!

Three things that can help you get healthy... from a good way to release stress, staying healthy while traveling to watching out for those flip flops!

Meditation, Yoga Might Switch Off Stress Genes
Researchers say they've taken a significant stride forward in understanding how relaxation techniques such as meditation, prayer and yoga improve health: by changing patterns of gene activity that affect how the body responds to stress.
Read the rest of the story - HealthDay News

Stay Healthy While Traveling
Are you planning a trip and want to stay healthy? How do you keep on track, when you are hitting the road on a vacation or trip? Remember: healthy travel requires planning, preparation, self-discipline, and vigilance.
Read the rest of the story - Food & Drug Administration

Get in Step With Summer Foot Care
We all know it's important to take care of yourself, but sometimes getting (and staying) healthy starts from the ground up - Literally! Why it's important to make sure you are taking care of yourself, from your feet up!
Read the rest of the story - HealthDay News

Good Luck!

- The Producer

I'm here to help YOU out.

As part of this process of losing weight and getting healthy, Barbara is going out on a limb with her buddies and really putting herself out there for you, and for her own health.

So what do I have to do with this?

My role will be purely a "Researcher" of the process. Barbara and I will keep an eye out on the latest health news that you need to know. We'll be looking on the internet for new studies, blogs about healthy lifestyles and finding helpful tips to keep you all on track.

I'll be the eyes and ears of the group, trying to find the information YOU need to succeed.

So here my first post:

1. Barbara has talked about it in her Health Alerts, and her One-a-Week... the importance of eating a big, and healthy breakfast. So why should breakfast be more than a cereal bar, and why do you need to eat so many carbs first thing in the morning?

Click Here to Find Out More from Yahoo! Health.

2. Having a hard time keeping the weight off, after you go through the pain of losing it? It may NOT be your fault, but your hormones may be playing a big role in the problem.

Click Here to Find Out More from Yahoo! Health.

3. There's a new side-affect to getting a stomach by-pass surgery, and the pain may be too much to handle. We're talking kidney stones here! I know from personal experiences (way too many to count) that these are NOT fun. If you are considering the surgery, you need to be informed!

Click Here to Find Out More from Yahoo! Health.

Good Luck!

- The Producer

Barbara's Buddies

I don't know about you guys and ladies... but I'm tired of being border line physically... and I'm not just talking about my weight, but my overall physical appearance and health.

I've mentioned over the years to some of my friends that I've wanted to lose weight and get in shape... and some of them look at me and say, "Barbara... you have got to be kidding... I'm the one who needs to lose weight...." I always reply, "weight loss is relative," because it is.

If you're not comfortable at your current weight and health level... then you're not comfortable. Barring extreme situations like anorexia, I think most folks will support anyone wanting to do a little better. There was a time when I got in great shape and bought practically a whole new wardrobe. Now I can't even fit half of those suits... so I have some amazing outfits that are just hanging in my closet. THAT IS TORTURE!

Along with those 'want to fit again' items is a little black dress... one I want to wear over the Thanksgiving/Christmas holiday season. So I figure if I start changing my lifestyle now... instead of waiting until the end of the year to do a crash diet... I'll get where I want to be by the end of the year in a healthy way.

Are you ready?

I hope so because I'm looking for five buddies to join me... so we can do it together.

I mean, let's keep it real. Doing better is always a good thing. And making a commitment to lose weight and GET IN HEART HEALTH SHAPE is hard to do alone. So let's team up... buddy style. We'll do everything from evaluating and adjusting our foods, staying up on our personal health, and knowing some of the things that might be working against us (i.e. diabetes, high cholesterol), to trying new exercises.

Please blog me your thoughts... and as we progress we'll outline the details about how to join our Buddy list!

Target start time: the end of August.

Barbara Pinson