“Red, Pink and Blue” for Heart, Breast, and Diabetes Health
Stop by and check out Brooke Griffin at the “Red, Pink and Blue” event series on Saturday, June 27, 2009 at The McAlpin, 15W. 4th St. downtown. Brooke will be in the Home Office area demonstrating how to work healthy providing participants with health and wellness tips for work and in the office.
The “Red, Pink and Blue” event series – which will take place Thursday, June 25, Friday, June 26 and Saturday, June 27, 2009 – aims to raise awareness about three of the top 10 health risks for women while raising money for three local non-profit organizations. The “Red” represents heart health, the “Pink” represents breast health and the “Blue” represents diabetes health. The three non-profit organizations benefitting from this event series are The American Heart Association, Pink Ribbon Girls andSpa4Diabetes.
Sat., June 27
Health for Hip Chicks: Women’s Health Expo 1-5pm at The McAlpin, 15W. 4th St. downtown, providing attendees:
- Free Health Screenings (valued at $300+): Including eye, skin, audiology, cholesterol and diabetes checks
- Doctor’s Lounge: Chat with physicians in an informal setting
- SpaSpace™: A model home springs to life as experts show how to ramp up your health with a spa twist room by room.
- Tanya’s Hip Chick Spa – Relax with Tanya’s Image & Wellness Salon who will provide free facials, manicures, massage even hair makeovers
- Including the following vendors:
Stay Healthy in the Office
1. Make A “Health” Drawer: Your filing spaces are your friends. Most cubes have lots of little drawers. Make one of them a “health” drawer. Add a ziplock bag or two with healthy non-perishable snacks in it (maybe dried veggies), a few bags of herbal, non-caffeinated tea (switch over from coffee midday to help you sleep better at night), and a travel-size hand-sanitizing gel for use regularly when there’s a cold going around the office (did you know most colds are transmitted through shared objects like doorknobs?). A decorative canvas bag can store an extra pair of athletic shoes in case you can take a 10 minute walk or stretch break over lunch.
2. Drink Plenty Of Water: Drinking water is very important. It can help you recover from a cold more quickly (though it doesn’t “cure” it), replenish lost fluids after exercise, and assist in weight loss (many people think they are hungry when they are actually thirsty, so make sure to take a drink before diving for the candy machine). Keep a four-cup bottle or thermos near the computer and replenish daily. Don’t overdo though – excess water can dilute important minerals and vitamins in your blood stream.
3. Spend some time outside: Get out of the office and see the sun, even if it’s just for a minute. Even better, use your lunch hour to take a stroll around the block or head to the gym.
4. Pack your lunch: Don’t leave your lunch up to the fast food joint around the corner. Pack a healthy lunch ahead of time, and you’ll know that your lunch is good for you.
5. Clean your desk: Ban bacteria from your desk by wiping down surfaces like your keyboard and telephone on a regular basis.
6. Cut down on coffee consumption: Don’t put yourself on an energy roller coaster-avoid using caffeine as a way to get energy throughout the day, and use water and healthy food instead.
7. Get Blood Back To Your Brain: When you sit in a cube in front of a computer or on the phone for hours at a time, gravity pulls your blood towards your feet. It pools in your feet, ankles, and fanny; if you’re ever noticed your feet looking puffy towards the end of the day, the puffiness may be a side-effect of having blood spending so much time down there! Our arm and leg muscles function as “pumps” to get blood back to the heart. If you’ve got a shelf in your high in your cube, keep daily useables (paperclips, stapler) there; getting up regularly will remind you to stretch. While standing lift your legs up at the knee, one at a time, to help get blood flowing. One enterprising woman kept a postcard pinned up towards the very top of her cube wall – and kept an ever-growing collection of postcards that she exchanged every day in the afternoon. The new postcard each day perked her up, and it gave her a reminder to get up and stretch several times a day.
8. Take charge of your computer and phone: Make sure to take breaks from the keyboard at least once an hour. Use a wrist support at your computer when you are typing or browsing, Your forearm, wrist, and hand should be on a level, not making a V. The Harvard RSI action group suggests some exercises to help prevent repetitive stress injuries (http://www.rsi.deas.harvard.edu/). If you spend a lot of time on the phone and can’t use a speaker phone, don’t hold the phone by crunching your shoulder against your ear. Instead, invest in or ask for a headset or shoulder support for your receiver.
9. Take the stairs : many people rely too heavily on elevators, even when they only work on the first or second floor. If this is you, then walk up the stairs. If you do not need take the stairs, then you can still use them as part of your office fitness plan. Once every hour, get up, and take a stroll. Grab a piece of paper, people will think that you are on important businesses. Avoid walking to the canteen though.
10. Stress Balls: Simple but effective. Squeeze a stress ball repeatedly for a minute in each hand. Aim to form a tight fist each time. This will increase forearm strength and joint strength in the hands. Gets the blood flowing too, good for heavy keyboard users.
Brooke Griffin
Certified Personal Trainer, Wellness Coach, and Fitness Model
2009 Fitness Universe Champion
www.brookegriffin.com
859-229-1581 or Toll Free: 877-204-5915
P.O. Box 176663
Fort Mitchell, KY 41017
Amber Stone’s Body of Stone Fitness
June 25, 2009 by Brooke Griffin
Filed under Fit Moms, Fitness
For anyone living in and around the Tri-County area, there is a new fitness center located in London, KY that you must check-out! Body of Stone Fitness, owned and operated by Amber Stone is the only place in town you can find a fully certified staff of personal trainers with all the required education and experience.
Body of Stone Fitness facility is the only facility in town with instructors certified by the International Youth Conditioning Association.
Amber and her team of trainers offer a wide variety of group exercise classes, personal training, bootcamps, as well as many other additional services. Their mission is to inspire people to make positive changes, thereby realizing their optimal potential.
Amber is living this mission as she recently competed in the Bikini Universe Competition in Miami Beach, Florida and has her sights set on competing in the Fitness America Pageant in Las Vegas, Nevada in November. Amber is the proud mother of two children and resides in London, KY with her husband, Chris Stone.
If you are interested in learning more about Body of Stone Fitness you can contact Amber.
If you or someone you know is interested in learning more about competing in fitness contact Brooke today.
Halibut with Ginger Lime Sauce
June 24, 2009 by Brooke Griffin
Filed under Nutrition, Recipes
Halibut with Ginger Lime Sauce
1/2 cup freshly squeezed lime juice
3 tblspns dark soy sauce
1/4 cup ginger paste (find it in produce section — Garden Gourmet)
2 tblspns finely mince shallots or green onions
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 tsps honey
4 — 6 ounce skinless halibut fillets
salt and pepper
Mix sauce ingredients in a small bowl and allow to stand at least 30 minutes. Can prepare up to 2 days in advance and refrigerate. Bring to room temperature before serving. Serves 4
Pat halibut dry with paper towels – place on a greased, rimmed baking sheet and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Roast at 400 degrees for 12-15 minutes, until fish flakes easily. Serve over a brown rice blend, topped with sauce.
Special Thanks to Amy Callow for this recipe!
Brooke Griffin Wins Fitness Universe
June 23, 2009 by Brooke Griffin
Filed under Events
On June 19, 2009, Brooke Johnson Griffin was crowned the new Fitness Universe Champion. The competition was immense as the top five finalists included past Fitness America and Fitness Universe winners Sherri Vucick and Else Lautala along with fitness veterans Annette Perry and Andi Martin. The routines performed at the Friday night show demonstrated a mix of strength, flexibility, gymnastics, and dance and were some of the most entertaining routines ever seen on a fitness stage. Brooke wowed the judges with her new “Braveheart” themed routine choreographed by the renowned Cathy Savage. During the swimsuit round, Brooke displayed a lean but feminine look in the physique round and captivated the audience with a beautiful custom suit designed by Amy Ardizonne. Brooke is sponsored by Cathy Savage Fitness and Suits by Amy.
To see a video of the winning routine check out Brooke Johnson Griffin on Youtube here:
The Fitness Universe Pageant was held in Miami Beach, Florida and was host to over 250 contestants from several different countries. Contestants vied for the titles of Fitness Universe, Bikini Universe, Model Universe, and Musclemania Champion. The show was hosted by the amazing Lindsay Messina and will be televised on ESPN International.
Brooke also competed in the Bikini Universe Competition and took third place in her class. To see a video of Brooke Johnson Griffin in the Bikini Universe Competition click here:
To learn more about how you can get involved in fitness or to learn more about competing in an upcoming show please contact Brooke or visit Cathy Savage Fitness.
How To Compete in Fitness and Why You Should
June 22, 2009 by Brooke Griffin
Filed under Fitness
Whether it is training for a fitness, figure, or bikini show or working towards finishing a marathon, triathlon, or 5K. Set a goal today and you will be more likely to reach it in the future. Studies have shown that if you set realistic and attainable goals and write them down, you will be more likely to achieve these goals. Here are a few tips to getting started:
- Start by selecting what type of competition that you are interested in and find a date and location that is close to where you live.
- Give yourself enough prep time for training for the competition and hire a coach or seek the advice of a professional in the event that you wish to compete in.
- It is also a good idea to watch an event in person or at least see the actual event that you wish to compete in on DVD, Webcast, or Youtube.
Don’t be discouraged if you have never competed before or you feel you don’t have the necessary skills that some of the professionals have on stage. There is a reason they are professionals as they have been competing for years but remember they too had to start somewhere and were once beginners just like you. Here are a few reasons why you should start competing today:
1. The unbelievable, proud, and exciting feeling that you get while you are on stage, crossing the finish line, or performing your fitness routine……
2. Gives you a goal to work towards making it easier for you to stick to your fitness and nutrition goals
3. Meet amazing new people and make lifelong friends
4. Travel to new locations
5. Media Exposure at various shows and competitions
6. For the challenge of trying something new and maybe out of your comfort zone
7. Be a role model for your children, family and friends
8. The chance to perform on stage in front of people
9. The opportunity to be competitive in a sport or event that you enjoy
10. For the fun of it!
Miss Kentucky’s Outstanding Teen
June 15, 2009 by Brooke Griffin
Filed under Events, Featured
Over the weekend Brooke judged the Miss Kentucky’s Outstanding Teen Pageant. The 2009 Miss Kentucky’s Outstanding Teen Pageant was held June 12-14, 2009, at the Center for Rural Development in Somerset, Kentucky. The pageant promotes health and fitness as each of the contestants must perform a short fitness themed routine in athletic wear on stage for the judges. This performance accounts for a percentage of their overall score. Judges look for healthy, athletic, and toned teens who demonstrate that they engage in a healthy lifestyle. Contestants must also compete in interview, talent, onstage question, and evening wear. The Miss Kentucky’s Most Outstanding Teen Pageant provides contestants with the opportunity to win scholarships and the winner will travel to Orlando, Florida to compete for the title of Miss American’s Outstanding Teen. Congratulations to Madison McCowan, the newly crowned Miss Kentucky’s Outstanding Teen.
On June 14, 2009, Madison McCowan of London was crowned Miss Kentucky’s Outstanding Teen 2009. She is the daughter of David and Angela McCowan and she attends North Laurel High School. Madison’s scholastic ambition is to major in Accounting and Dance and to become a Certified Public Accountant and entrepreneur. Her platform issue is Pay it Forward and her talent was a theatrical jazz dance to “Life of the Party.”
For more information on learning how you can compete or for training please contact Brooke
Photo by Expressions by J Photography
NPC Julie Palmer Fitness Showdown
June 12, 2009 by Brooke Griffin
Filed under Events, Featured
Brooke recently took first place overall at the NPC Julie Palmer Fitness Showdown. The show was held in Toledo, Ohio at the University of Toledo. Brooke is now working towards earning her Pro Card at the upcoming National Fitness Championships in September. The National Fitness Championships will be held in New York this Fall in which the top 2 in each height class earn an IFBB Pro Card. Brooke is sponsored by Suits by Amy and Cathy Savage Fitness. If you or someone you know is interested in learning more about competing please contact Brooke for additional information.
Brooke Griffin on WCPO Channel 9
June 9, 2009 by Brooke Griffin
Filed under Events, Featured
Watch today on the 12:00 news with Tanya O’Rourke on Channel 9 and here on Brooke’s website as Brooke speaks about the upcoming Fitness Universe Show, shares tips for getting fit for the summer, and ways to save money while eating healthy for less. For more information visit the Channel 9 website or watch the full video at www.brookegriffin.com.
Brooke’s WGRR Interview with Chris and Janeen
June 9, 2009 by Brooke Griffin
Filed under Events, Featured
Listen in this week to hear Brooke’s interview with Chris and Janeen on WGRR in Cincinnati as she talks about the upcoming Fitness Universe Show and shares fitness tips for getting fit for the summer and how to eat healthy for less. Chris and Janeen’s morning show airs on weekdays from 5am-9am on 103.5 WGRR. Click here to access Brooke’s LA interview with legendary radio talk show host Charlie Tuna. Check back often for other upcoming events at www.brookegriffin.com
