Save the World Workout

Music has such amazing power to heal and to push us to another level.

I was glad to see that iTunes and dozens of some of the globe’s most popular artists have come together to create the “Songs for Japan” collection, which benefits the Red Cross’ effort to help disaster-stricken Japan.

I have been sick about the disaster in Japan, especially as I was trying to locate my high school friend, Mana. Mana and I had lost touch over the years. Last I knew she was studying in Sendai, which was within the impacted area. Thanks to Facebook, I found her. But I couldn’t help thinking about those who did not survive. Who were still lost, or who are OK but have lost everything.

When I came across the Songs for Japan mix, I downloaded it imediately. It was something little, but it felt like if we all did something little to help those left behind by this tragedy, it would make a big impact.  

For just $9.99 you get 38 songs from top artists such as Eminem, Adele, Lady Gaga, and Bon Jovi — while helping those who need your support.

Here’s the full set list:

The thing about a disaster like the earthquake in Japan, tsunami and nuclear crisis there is an overwhelming feeling of wanting to do something, but not knowing what is within your power. This set list is worth beyond the $9.99 price — and is a little something you can do to help the people of Japan heal.

I have some incredible news….I am heading up Mount Kilimanjaro a third time! This time, I am going with a group of celebrities who have also struggled with their weight. Each one of us is using the trek to get in shape and raise money for charity.

I have former Biggest Losers Heba Salama and Ed Brantley coming, Muhammad Ali’s daughter Khaliah Ali, Top Chef contestant Andrea Beaman and others on board thus far.

We will begin filming the training  this fall. We will leave for the Kilimanjaro trek on Feb. 12.

We are thrilled to be joined by Director Scott Farquharson to make a television series on the project. 

I promise to share details as I can… but I just can’t wait to share this journey with my fellow hikers and the world.

Fat Woman on the Mountain, the book, will be available Sept. 14 on www.fatwomanonthemountain.com

I started today — my birthday –  with one of the best gifts of all: Exercise.

It was a low-key walk around a mile-long loop at Briant Park, I was still pretty sore from the outdoor boot camp class I started yesterday! Nonetheless it was lovely to give myself time to be active so I can have many Happy Birthdays in my future.

(…plus it helped offset the awesome coffee cake my husband picked up for my Birthday breakfast)

Did you know, according to the American Heart Association,  individuals will gain two hours of life expectancy for each hour of regular exercise… even if they don’t start until middle age!

Exercise was a great start to my day — and to they healthy, happy years to come!Wishing all of us long, active lives!

P.S. If you would like to join me on a very long walk, I am heading up Kilimanjaro’s Lomosho Route in February. Send me a note at kara@savetheworldworkout.com if you are interested in joining me!

I have three upcoming speaking engagements where I will share photos and training tips for your own adventures!

7 p.m. June 17, Summit YMCA, 67 Maple St., Summit

Time TK, June 24 at the Health and Weight Loss Festival, Hyatt Morristown

7 p.m. July 13 REI, 280 State Route 10, East Hanover

One year ago Jen Boucher Albers finished her last round of chemotherapy. One week ago, she crossed the finish line of her first marathon relay!

Jen ran the fifth leg of the Vermont City Marathon to benefit the Stowe Weekend of Hope, an event for people affected by cancer and their families. Every member of her team has had cancer or works in the field:

Leg 1 – Bri Johnson: Stage III colon cancer survivor, diagnosed at age 35.
Leg 2 – Kelly Carpenter: Stage III colon cancer survivor, diagnosed at age 28.
Leg 3 – Jenn May: dietitian and nutrition counselor with the Cancer Patient Support Program
Leg 4 – Jarka Ruzickova Welch, in treatment for stage I breast cancer, diagnosed at age 32. (Last treatment in May 2010!)
Leg 5 – Jennifer Albers: Stage II Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, diagnosed at age 34

Congrats to this inspiring group of women who ran for a great cause!

You can donate here:
http://charity.marathonguide.com/RunVermont/Donate/PersonalPage.cfm?MID=5537

And you can read more about SWOH here:
http://www.stowehope.org/

Sara Ivanhoe

I have been away from yoga for a few months while my rotator cuff impingement and stress fracture in my foot healed. Over the past couple of weeks I have been adding it back in — and let me tell you, it is good to be back.

I haven’t been to class, but have been doing what I can with my Exercise TV On Demand Programs. My personal favorite: Sara Ivanhoe’s Yoga on the Edge.

For me, yoga is about slowing down, breathing. In yoga, I take time to stretch, be. Without it, I am rushing around from one moment to the next — not able to tap into my intuition, or body. It is knowing I have everything inside me to do the next pose or challenge.

So my planks are a little short. My downward facing dogs are a bit clumsy. My triangle poses are a little more like trapezoids. At least I am back into it — and ohm, it feels great.

In a week or two, after my practice, practice practice, I will get back to class at Terra Sky in Summit, and maybe even attend Omega’s Being Yoga retreat this summer. But for now, thank you Sara Ivanhoe for creating such a lovely program.

To learn more about Sara Ivanhoe, go to:

http://www.yoganation.com/yoga_on_the_edge_dvd.html

Today marks the first official day of training for hiking Kilimanjaro in February 2011. I spent the last couple months recovering from a stress fracture and a rotator cuff impingement but now I am good to go.

So I decided to make my first training hike on the easy side. My friend Mia and I headed to Natirar in Peapack, N.J. for a lovely stroll around the estate, now owned by the Somerset County Park Commission.

The land was once the estate of Kate Macy Ladd and Walter Graeme Ladd, then a convalescent home and then one of the many homes of Hassan II, the King of Morocco.Somerset County purchased the land from King Hassan’s son in 2003 and opened it to the public.

The land — wide open with a gentle slope along the Raritan River — makes for a nice, easy walk. Mia and I did both the loop walking trail and the nature walk, for about three miles an a stunningly beautiful day.

It was a great easy-going start to my training. Kilimanjaro may be 10 months away, but I have a long way to go before I am really ready for the mountain.Next up: 10 a.m. Saturday May 22, South Mountain Reservation, Millburn, NJ.

On the way home, I saw a bit of wildlife on Route 78 in Bedminster. A huge (maybe snapping) turtle was, in the center lane, holding up traffic. Needless to say, he wasn’t going anywhere fast.

I was working a little late on Tuesday so I opted to pick up takeout from Boston Market. The Market Feast seemed like the best deal — I could get chicken and some veggies to go along with it. When I got to the cash register, they asked me if I wanted to have brownies or apple pie to go along with it.

The meal serves about four — but the dessert is an entire tray of brownies or full apple pie, which seemed a bit much. My daughter saw the brownies and there was no turning back from getting them, but I knew the whole tray couldn’t come home with me (my husband is out of town, and I know myself better than to be alone with mass quantities of sweets).

So I turned to the guy in line in front of me and asked, “Do you like brownies? I just want two of those and you can have the rest.”

The man, who was rather fit and trim, seemed surprised — and was glad to get the goodies (especially because, he said, he had milk in the house).

All was well in the world.My daughter and I had a dessert. I was relieved from having to deal with with the extra sweets in the house. Some random guy got a sweet surprise.

What do you think — does giving away your calories count as a random act of kindness?

Stop by my table at the Women’s Health & Fitness Expo Saturday in Kingston, N.Y, and you could win one of 10 Starbucks Product(RED) gift cards. Not only will you get some free lattes out of it, each time you use it, Starbucks will donate money to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS.

My table will be in the Expo’s Book Nook. I also have water bottles, motivational magnets and my Action Steps 12-week success journal for sale. (A portion of the proceeds will be donated to Global Alliance for Africa, with the hopes of raising enough to install another water tap for a co-op of families supporting AIDS orphans)

I am scheduled to speak at 3 p.m. at the event. Other speakers include Biggest Loser Winners Heba & Ed and Survivor Africa Winner Ethan Zohn. It is going to be an incredible, inspiring day and I hope to see you there!

Hope to see you there!

My family spent the day Saturday at Sandy Hook, a beach along the Jersey Shore to participate in the annual Beach Sweeps Clean Up.

We were there as part of my husband’s Comcast Cares team to do a little post-Earth Day cleanup before beach swimsuit season begins.

For us, it was an eye-opening event to see how every little piece of trash adds up to a big mess.

Hundreds had started sweeping the beach before us and yet from the moment we hit the sand we found junk every few feet.

We took dozens of straws, bottle caps and the little tips of cigars off the beach and put it in our trash or recycling bags.

So next time you are at the beach, or anywhere, please put trash and recyclable items in their place — because they all add up to a big mess!

Here is where you can learn more about participating in a Beach Sweeps cleanup:
http://www.cleanoceanaction.org/index.php?id=aboutbeachsweeps

And there are a couple of neat Clean Ocean Action events coming up such as the Brook 35 Block Party 12-3 p.m. May 15 in Sea Girt, N.J. It will have a Live Horseshoe Crab Exhibit, a Pedals for Progress used bike drive, a live Reggae Band and more.

Just a reminder, I will be speaking Saturday (May 1) at the Women’s Health & Fitness Expo Saturday
http://www.womenshealthexpo.com/
and
June 3 the Summit YMCA, Summit NJ
http://www.summitareaymca.org/

Let me tell you, I have been very mean to my feet.

I had a bad habit of buying running shoes to do all my exercising — even through the thing I do most is walk. A few months ago my feet started yelling back in the form of a brewing stress fracture.

I decided to take it easy until the Spring — and to re-evaluate my footwear. I had a chance to give a pair of New Balance 760 Walking Shoes a try at Fit Bloggin. Let’s just say, I haven’t taken them off much since.

They have a dreamy amount of cushion — and are built for the rocking motion of walking, versus the jumpy motion of running.

I have happy feet!