Share a Bike in Fort Lauderdale

December 3rd by Eric Needle

B-cycleThere’s a new trend in big cities–sharing bicycles to get around town. Broward County just announced that bike sharing program is about to begin here in Ft. Lauderdale. As a cycling enthusiast, I love the concept and hope to see more people taking a quick ride from the office for lunch. It’s a great lifestyle changer that will save money, gas and congestion. Tourist or local, I hope this takes off.

iBike Promotes The Bicycle

March 14th by Anonymous

ibike.orgThe International Bicycle Fund (IBF) is a non-profit organization promoting bicycle transportation and international understanding. IBF promotes bicycle and other aspects of on-motorized transportation worldwide, especially in less developed areas, with a particular interest in Africa and South America. Areas of activities include: creating a bicycle culture, urban planning, transportation planning, rural mobility, mobility for women, economic development, road safety education, human settlement and quality of life, personal health, environmental quality, energy conservation and responsible tourism.

Their fundraising is done through sponsoring environmental friendly, cultural immersion, small group, bicycle tour program for ordinary active people, to Asia, the Americas, and all regions of Africa.

Join the Local Food Revolution

July 1st by Eric Needle

Locally grown foodThe taste of a juicy tomato, just-picked off the vine at the peak of ripeness, is one of life’s simple pleasures – and for many of us it is a distant memory. When I was growing up my mother always kept a vegetable garden. I remember digging around in the dirt with her, eating sugar snap peas right off the vine, pulling up carrots and picking big juicy tomatoes for grilled cheese and tomato sandwiches.

Interview: Lealyn Wiggins, Curves

April 2nd by Anthony Poponi

CurvesThe wildly popular fitness franchise Curves for Women has 16 locations in Brevard County and serves millions of women worldwide in their desire to be fit and healthy.

The Curves location in Suntree is the largest in the county, serving over 1000 women, and was recently recognized as Franchise of the Year in the Southeastern Region at the annual Curves Convention. Lealyn Wiggins and her partner Linda Gaffey purchased the Suntree franchise in January of 2003. Green Brevard recently spoke with Ms. Wiggins and asked her about being a member turned owner and how it relates to providing a better quality of life for our local residents.

Natural Awakenings

April 1st by Kris Urquhart

Natural AwakeningsIn 1994 the first Natural Awakenings™ magazine was established in Naples, Florida in response to the local holistic health community’s need for an effective way to share information and connect with people searching for alternative therapies. Success of the original Naples/Fort Myers edition was immediate. It didn’t take long for many more community editions to take hold.

Today there are more than 30 editions of Natural Awakenings throughout the United States and Puerto Rico and growing strong.

85 Ways To Improve Your Health

March 3rd by Kris Urquhart

Healthy Living ExposDiscover over 85 ways to improve your health all in one day! With 85 exhibitors and many speakers at the Healthy Living Expo you are sure to find health options just right for you. The expo will be held on Saturday, March 5th at the Florida Tech Clemente Center in Melbourne, Florida.

“This year’s sponsors have made it possible for us to open our doors and make admission free to public,” says expo co-producer Laurie Davey. “You’ll find free tasting of organic beer, wine, food and even chocolate.” Also available will be hundreds of door prizes (win a palm pilot or a massage!) and deals on products and services you won’t find anywhere else – such as low cost cholesterol and health screenings provided by Wuesthoff Health System.

The Importance of Play

February 3rd by John Perrone

Importance of PlayThe American Heritage Dictionary says, “Play is to occupy oneself in amusement, sport, or other recreation.”

As our population increases dramatically, wide open spaces shrink and digital screens command our youths’ attention, it becomes evident that our jobs in Parks and Recreation become extremely important if not mandatory.

Play is an integral part of any person’s healthy development. Every age group invests social, physical and emotional value in active play. It is where a toddler gets the nerve to take that first step, a child learns socialization skills that will be used into adulthood and an older person keeps their will to continue a healthy lifestyle.

Are Diets Dead?

February 3rd by Eric Needle

South BeachLately I’ve heard a lot of talk that diets are not the way to lose weight and get in shape. It is absolutely correct that we need to exercise, to burn more calories than we take in. Yet to discount several diet trends is a mistake.

I’m in decent shape and do something daily, whether it’s riding a bike to school with my son in the morning, using the elliptical walker, or cranking on the free weights while watching the Sci-Fi channel. Yet for years, my weight has been slowly creeping upward.

The Heart Truth

February 1st by Eric Needle

Heart TruthParticipate in National Wear Red Day on Friday, February 4: Wear Red to Support Women and Heart Disease Awareness

Friday, February 4, 2005, is National Wear Red Day—a day when Americans nationwide will take women’s health to heart by wearing red to show their support for women’s heart disease awareness. More women die of heart disease than all cancers combined, yet less than half of women know that heart disease is their biggest health threat and most fail to make the connection between its risk factors and their personal risk of developing heart disease.

Learning to Run

January 3rd by John M. De Marco

Learning to RunAbout a decade ago I published a newspaper column declaring my universal disdain for running. It hurt my shins, I bemoaned. It made me itchy, I groused. It burned my lungs, I whimpered. The long litany of complaints was neatly wrapped up and tied together with numerous strings of justification.

Then, suddenly yet deliberately in early 2003, I tossed off such lame excuses and decided to give my body-and, especially, my mind-the opportunity to become a runner.