First Day of Seasons: 2012 and 2013 (yesterday)

When Do Summer, Fall, Winter, and Spring Begin?

NASA

See chart below to see when seasons begin for 2012 and 2013—namely, the summer solstice, fall or autumnal equinox, winter solstice, and spring or vernal equinox.
The four seasons are determined by changing sunlight (not heat!)—which is determined by how our planet orbits the Sun and the tilt of its axis.

• The first day of summer—the summer solstice—is the longest day of the year, the Sun reaches its most northern point in the sky at local noon. After this date, the days start getting shorter. See our First Day of Summer page!

Seasons of 2012:
SPRING EQUINOX	March 20, 1:14 A.M. EDT
SUMMER SOLSTICE	June 20, 7:09 P.M. EDT
FALL EQUINOX	September 22, 10:49 A.M. EDT
WINTER SOLSTICE	December 21, 6:12 A.M. EST

Seasons of 2013:
SPRING EQUINOX	March 20, 7:02 A.M. EDT
SUMMER SOLSTICE	June 21, 1:04 A.M. EDT
FALL EQUINOX	September 22, 4:44 P.M. EDT
WINTER SOLSTICE	December 21, 12:11 P.M. EST

Continue Article:  First Day of Seasons: 2012 and 2013

Family Surf - ACTIVATE

Father - Son combo.

San Diego's, Jason Jenkins
PHOTO LOCATION:  Fiji, 2012

San Diego's, Carson Jenkins
PHOTO LOCATION: Fiji in a year or two !!!

Father - Son combo.

HBO Documentary Films: The Weight of the Nation Trailer

Passion

100 Reasons You Should Work Out Today

We all have those days that we don't want to work out even though we know we should.

When you need a little motivation, look no further.

Here are 100 reasons you shouldn't skip your workout today.

Print, save, pin or "like" this post so you'll have easy access to it on the days you need it most.

100 Reasons to Exercise Now

1. Because it makes you feel confident
2. Because it helps you get stronger
3. Because exercise helps combat depression
4. Because you'll feel proud of yourself
5. Because you have goals you want to reach
6. Because you'll feel bad if you don't
7. Because you want to move forward, not backward
8. Because it burns more calories than not working out
9. Because it improves your heart health
10. Because you want a great butt
11. Because it prevents diabetes
12. Because you want to be a good example to your kids
13. Because you want to feel good in your clothes
14. Because it reduces your risk of cancer
15. Because your body was made to move
16. Because you want to be an athlete
17. Because you want to look better
18. Because it lifts your mood
19. Because you want to stand taller
20. Because it reduces back pain
21. Because it feels good
22. Because it makes you feel accomplished
23. Because you spend most of your day on your butt
24. Because swimsuit season is always coming
25. Because strong is the new skinny
26. Because dieting only works so much
27. Because it strengthens your bones, too
28. Because it helps you lose weight
29. Because it allows you to eat more food
30. Because it's the best way to spend "me" time
31. Because it helps you
32. ... Read More

Article Link:  100 Reasons You Should Work Out Today
By Nicoles Nichols

San Diego Padres - Opening Day 2012

San Diego Padres Home Opener, Thursday April 5,

vs' Dodgers

4:05pm

2012 Schedule

We may be fatter than we think, researchers report

A new study finds that the widely used body mass index, or BMI, may be understating obesity in many people.

The nation's obesity experts are searching for better ways to measure the nation's state of health and to judge the success or failure of treatment programs. (FDA, Lucas Jackson / February 28, 2012)

As if the nation's weight problems were not daunting enough, a new study has found that the body mass index, the 180-year-old formula used to distinguish between healthy and unhealthy weight, may be incorrectly classifying about half of women and just over 20% of men as being the picture of health when their body-fat composition suggests they are obese.

The study, published Monday in the journal PLoS One, uses a patient's ratio of fat to lean muscle mass as the "gold standard" for detecting obesity and suggests that it could be a better bellwether of an individual's risk for health problems.

The researchers suggested that body fat would predict individuals' health risks better than the BMI. To measure fatness, they used a costly diagnostic test called dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, or DXA, and calculated subjects' level of obesity based on fat-composition standards used by the American Society of Bariatric Physicians.

The results also suggest that the BMI is a poor measure of fatness in men — but not always in a way that underestimates... Read More

Article Link: We may be fatter than we think, researchers report
By Melissa Healy, Los Angeles Times 

Happy St Patrick's Day!

March is Nutrition Month, Call It Cooking Month

But the chances are you already know what to eat. In fact, in a recent study, 85% of Americans were aware of functional foods (those that pack a health punch beyond their nutritional value), but less than 50% of us are actually eating them.

Read more: http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/health/2012/03/09/manuel-villacorta-nutrition-month-call-it-cooking-month/#ixzz1odT9MN6N

As a nation, we have demanded quick, easy meals, and insisted it's all we have time for. In my practice, all I hear is that people are too busy and too stressed to cook. But is time really the problem? In a previous generation, we learned to cook from our parents, especially our mothers. I myself am of the first generation that was raised largely with the packaged foods that became available in the 1960s and 1970s. And I can see the influence of this food in people of my generation—I go to their homes and no one is using the stove. Often, they don't really even know how to. They've turned to prepared, processed foods out of necessity, not just time constraints.

Sweet and Savory Slow Cooked Cuban Picadillo

And let's just be clear—opening a package is not cooking. In 2011, a recent study found, 72% of meals were prepared at home. This was an unexpected piece of good news out of a bad economy. But it's mixed good news, because a lot of that "preparation" wasn't really cooking; it was plating up processed foods.
The fact is, it's not just about eating at home—it's about buying whole

Read more: http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/health/2012/03/09/manuel-villacorta-nutrition-month-call-it-cooking-month/#ixzz1odTYlgIN

By Manuel Villacorta

Burn Maximum Fat in Just 4 Minutes - Tabata Training 101

Does the Popular Interval Training Technique Deliver?

Would you like to swap your usual workout out for one that's just four minutes long? Of course you would! Well, that's the allure of Tabata training, a type of super high-intensity interval training that is becoming more and more popular.

Said to deliver big results such as improved aerobic endurance, anaerobic endurance, muscular endurance and fat burning, Tabata training is all the rage these days. But what is Tabata training, exactly? Maybe more importantly, does it live up to the hype and... Read More

If you're trying to lose weight, Tabata may seem like a quick way to boost metabolism and burn fat. And while it can be, remember that true weight loss comes down to taking in fewer calories than you burn. Because Tabata workouts are so short, they simply... Read More 

Article Link:  Tabata Training 101

By Jennipher Walters

The Secret to Loving Your Body Isn't Losing Weight

I always used to think that if I was skinnier, I'd be happier—not just with my body but with my life in general. Many of us believe that weight loss is the answer to many of our problems and pitfalls. We think that when we lose weight we'll not just feel more confident, but we'll land a mate, improve our marriages, be more successful, have more friends, or just feel happier in general. For a lot of people weight loss—or, rather, being thin—is the golden ticket we've been waiting on.

But many people who have lost any significant amount of weight will probably be quick to tell you that even as a thinner person, life doesn't change that much. You may have lost weight—and that's great for a lot of reasons—but you are likely the same person with the same outlook, same personality, same level of overall happiness. Weight loss alone won't cure you of your body hatred, your lack of confidence, your shy personality or your low self-esteem.

I battled body hatred for many years. It compelled me to diet and exercise until I lost too much weight. I liked the attention I received, but... Read More

Article Link:  The Secret to Loving Your Body Isn't Losing Weight
By Nicole Nichols

San Diego is...

Let's recap the first ten days of February here in San Diego. In one word, INCREDBILE !

These pictures were taken from the mighty cell. Forgive the quality. 

Be One in a Million this American Heart Month

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the United States; one in every three deaths is from heart disease and stroke, equal to 2,200 deaths per day.

"Heart disease takes the lives of far too many people in this country, depriving their families and communities of someone they love and care for—a father, a mother, a wife, a friend, a neighbor, a spouse. With more than 2 million heart attacks and strokes a year, and 800,000 deaths, just about all of us have been touched by someone who has had heart disease, heart attack, or a stroke."
- Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius


February is American Heart Month, and unfortunately, most of us know someone who has had heart disease or stroke. Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the United States; one in every three deaths is from heart disease and stroke, equal to 2,200 deaths per day. These conditions are also leading causes of disability preventing people from working and enjoying family activities. Cardiovascular disease is also very expensive—together heart disease and stroke hospitalizations in 2010 cost the nation more than $444 billion in health care expenses and... Read More

Article Link:  Be One in a Million this American Heart Month 

Extreme Photo of the Week - National Geographic

Link:  Adventure National Geographic

Burn Calories Playing in the Snow

Winter is such an awesome time because the snow and ice allow you to do so many fun activities. Let's see how they compare. This chart shows how many calories you burn per hour. 

Activity	Calories Burned
Building a Snowman	285 calories burned per hour
Having a Snowball Fight	319 calories burned per hour
Making Snow Angels	214 calories burned per hour

Winter Sport	120-lb woman	150-lb woman
Skiing	273	340
Snowboarding	273	340
Snowshoeing	382	476
Cross-Country Skiing	436	476
Ice Skating	327	408
Ice Hockey	436	544
Winter Hiking	327	408
Shoveling Snow	273	340
Sledding	327	408

So skip the gym this weekend, instead grab your honey, best friend or grandmother and play in the snow.


Source: Unknown

Are You a Smart Snacker? QUIZ

Are You a Smart Snacker? Take This Quiz to Find Out 

Snacking is a smart way to keep hunger at bay throughout the day, but the key is snacking on the right things, at the right times, and in the right places. Are your snacking habits healthy--or horrific? Find out how your snacks stack up with this short quiz.


Link:  TAKE QUIZ NOW!! 


By SPARKPEOPLE