Weekly Summary - May 19-24, 2008

Coach’s Corner

SUPPORT – SUPPORT - SUPPORT

A hug is a great gift and one size fits all.

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Red Power Divas – The Power of a Diva Hug

A HUG is a great gift… and one size fits all. It starts with the “bonding hormone,” the chemical oxytocin. A woman’s brain naturally releases this hormone when she cuddles or breast-feeds a baby. However, bonding is not just for moms. Male or female, our bodies flood with oxytocin after a simple 20-second hug. According to Louanne Brizendine, M.D., a neuropsychiatrist in San Francisco and author of The Female Brain, “You cannot hug the people you love too much.” Hugging is a great way to foster closeness and trust between you and your partner, even when you are feeling less than lovely. In addition, you do not have to restrict your hugs to family. Sometimes the best thing you can do for a friend or close coworker is to listen and then reach out with a hug. You both benefit. So today, give someone the gift of a great big Diva Hug!

Support – Support – Support

The foundation of the Red Power Divas philosophy is the power of relationships. It is a Diva tradition to support and cheer other Divas and Divos during training, especially when we are on the Los Gatos Creek Trail. We also encourage other walkers and runners on the trail. I appreciate all who do this and those who are able to stay at the end of their training and cheer your teammates as they finish. We respect an individual’s space and their need to seek balance and to be alone. However, there is an expectation that if you join the RPD you want to train without any commitment and you want support. Part of getting that support is giving the support. It feels good when you are acknowledged by name or just by someone saying, “Go Diva,” “you look good,” “keep working hard.” Diva “High Fives” and “Diva Hugs” are designed to generate team cohesiveness and sprit. So when you are out on the trail acknowledge your fellow Divas and Divos

Nutrition & Health

Sugar Savvy

Diva Karen H, MPH

Manager

Nutrition Services and

HMR Weight Management Program

How much sugar would you guess Americans consume, on average, per year: 10 pounds? 25 pounds? 50 pounds? How about more than 182 lbs. per year! The government’s Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends that we limit our intake to 8 teaspoons per day. Whether from sweet snacks, desserts, sugar added to coffee and soda, it all adds up. One large soda from a fast food restaurant can contain up to 50 teaspoons of sugar – that’s almost a week’s supply!

What to do: It can be easier to cut out sugar from your beverages because that is where we are least likely to notice the sugar missing. Choose smaller portions of treats and limit them to once a day or choose more fresh fruit as a substitute.

Introducing: The FitKidz Program – Starts Saturday, June 14, 2008

The Red Power Divas have launched a new wellness program specifically for children, called FitKidz. This initiative is aimed at educating and empowering kids, helping them to realize that exercise and healthy eating can actually be fun! According to a report by the Institute of Medicine, the United States is experiencing a national epidemic of childhood and adolescent obesity that increases the risks of many deadly chronic diseases.

One-third of American children and youth are currently obese or at risk of becoming obese, the report says. The good news is that Americans have begun to recognize that childhood obesity is a serious public health problem, and initiatives to address it are underway. FitKidz is the Red Power Divas small initiative to help kids stay healthy. We will kick-off the program on Saturday, June 14, 2008.

FitKidz Coaches: Rhonda H and Jamal L

Some of the FitKidz activities planned for 2008 include:

• Starting June 2008, second Saturday of the Month FitKidz Day: All Divas and Divos are encouraged to bring their kids to the second Saturday of the month RPD training. (Bring your sons and daughters, nieces and nephews, grandkids, neighbor’s kids!)
• 50-Mile Club: Each FitKidz participant who completes walking/running a cumulative 50 miles will receive a reward.
• Reach for the Starz: Each FitKidz participant who walks/runs a goal of 370 miles – the distance from San Jose to Disneyland –
  will receive a reward.
• Race Events: FitKidz will have the opportunity to participate in at least two race events as a team.
• Red Power Divas Website: The FitKidz webpage is in development where you will find photos, 50-Mile Club and Reach for the Starz progress reports, current race events for children, and articles focusing on youth health and fitness.
• Collaboration: The Red Power Divas FitKidz program will seek to collaborate with schools, faith groups, and other community organizations to help educate, encourage, and empower youth to practice and understand the value of non-violence, health, and fitness.

Training on Tuesday & Thursday: Campbell Community Center Track – May 27 & 29

Training will continue on Tuesday and Thursday at the Campbell Community Center Track at 6:00 p.m. The Campbell Community Center is located 1 West Campbell Avenue, Campbell, California. Coaches will be available. Meet near the bathrooms next to the track. Whether you arrive earlier or later than 6:00 p.m., please check in with the Diva Coach.

Tuesday & Thursday Leaders Update

Red Power Divas Chapter Updates

Fremont Chapter - Week of May 19-24 Report by Leader Julie L

Julie L and Megan J in this Sunday’s Lupus 5K Walk/Run will represent the Fremont Chapter of the RPD’s

This will be Megan's first race event, and she is looking forward to the race and meeting her fellow RPD’s!

Saturday Diva Training – May 24, 2008

Saturday, 5/24 was another great day of training as many Divas and Divos indicated they were feeling stronger and increasing their training pace. We had eight new Divas/Divos who participated in their first training. CONGRATULATIONS to the winning team, Red GoDivas, who were selected as the most original team name. They shared the two boxes Of HMR nutritional chocolate bars with all the Divas and Divos at the training. Other excellent team names were the Red Heartwalkers, Red Hotz, and Red Running.

Saturday Team Coaches Update, May 24, 2008

Red Heartwalkers – Report by Coach Debbie K

The show of Divas was somewhat smaller this past Saturday; no doubt, the 3-day Memorial Day holiday had something to do with it. In my TEAM, everyone was in good spirits and walked either 3 or 4 miles. I heard a couple of them say they were feeling stronger as each week passed and that they really appreciated my support. I did monitor and remind the Heartwalkers to use their arms when they walk and to drink their water in regular intervals.

Saturday Diva Training – May 31, 2008

Campbell Community Park (corner of Gilman & Campbell Avenues) – May 31, 2008, at 7:30 a.m.

We will hold Diva/Divo training on May 31. Raffle will start at 7:30 a.m. There will be no seminar. If you are participating in the Lupus Foundation 5K on Sunday, attendance at Saturday’s training is optional.

Reminder: Divas/Divos seek balance by making informed decisions about their health, well being, and personal safety. When you are walking or running outside, we recommend you do the following:

• Use sun screen -- protect your skin from the sun
• Wear a hat -- helps to shield the sun
• Wear sunglasses -- protect your eyes from sun
• Bring a water bottle even if you are going to walk or run for a short time -- proper hydration is very important.
• Wear a good pair of shoes and comfortable clothing.
• LISTEN TO YOUR BODY – know when you need to rest and when you need to get out of the sun.

Diva Team Event - 2008 Run for Lupus

This is a great first Diva Team event. The course is flat and fast. This is an opportunity for beginners to get experience in a race event and for experienced runners and walkers to work on their speed and setting a personal best. In addition to the race event, there is a strawberry shortcake breakfast and $10,000 in prizes. This is a fun event for the entire family. The $20 registration fee ends on 5/22 and thereafter is $25.

The following Divas and Divos have indicated they registered or plan to register for the 2008 Lupus Foundation 5K. If I have left your name off this list or if your name is on this list and you do not intend to participate, please email me. I am looking forward to our first TEAM event of the season.

RED POWER DIVAS/DIVOS ROSTER

Name	Sign-in	Sign-out	Personal Record (PR) if Known	Goal Finish Time	Actual Finish Time
1. Heather S
2. Jessica H
3. Gloria R
4. Amanda V
5. Elaine V
6. Pamela C
7. John C
8. Courtnay C
9. Karen H
10. Jamal L
11. Peggy L
12. Mary I
13. Barbara C
14. Royce N
15. Judy H
16. Joan L
7. Debbie K
18. Fereshteh K
19. Kristin V
21. Sharon C
22. Deanna Y
23. Rosemary J
24. Naty M
25. Jennifer M
26. Sandy A
27. Joan W
28. Beth D
29. Nicole R
30. Laura M
31. Julie L
32. Megan J
33.
34.
35.

Diva Gear – Request Only

We have a lot of wonderful Diva/Divo gear available. If you are interested in purchasing Diva and Divo products, those items will be available upon request only. If you request an item, I will make the item available at our Saturday training at Campbell Park (Los Gatos Creek Trail).

Divas Rock

Sharon