Mind and body health

I realize that many college co-eds resort to uh, shall we say, creative means to pay for their educations, but I must admit I was a bit stunned when I heard that a European high school was actually making it easier for students to learn the ropes of pole dancing, in case they needed to put their skills to use in the future.

Am I the only one who equates pole dancing with strip clubs?

Apparently administrators at South Devon College in the United Kingdom don't see the relation. In their eyes pole dancing is merely a source of fitness. At least that's what they used to think. Pole dancing, which is taught at dozens of dance schools around the world is a good source of exercise. However, when a voluptuous female demonstrated her skills during South Devon College's Be Healthy Week activities, she wasn't the only one sweating at the end of the performance.

The busty dancer was trying to show students how invigorating a good pole dance routine can be, but she ended up turning a few more heads than anticipated... and not in a good way. The curvy female's first demonstration was held in an open area of the school and drew a huge crowd of students ranging in age from 14 to 19. Those students ended up getting an eyeful of the dancer twisting, turning, bending and demonstrating other semi-erotic contortions. Needless to say, when she returned the next day for a second demonstration, she was asked to move her show into the more private sports hall.

According to reports, the change of venue didn't sit well with the dancer, who complained that the move enhanced the negative stereotyping that plagues, the art of pole dancing. The dancer was reportedly irate that school administrators didn't see the value of her demonstration. Her goal, she maintains, is to teach kids that there are other ways to burn calories and gain flexibility other than running, swimming and playing soccer.

Meanwhile, school administrators say they stand by their decision, which was based more on the fact that students had been disruptive in class following the dancer's demo. Apparently, many of the pupils recorded the pole dancer on their mobile devices and were too busy swapping pictures and videos to pay attention to teachers.

Do you consider pole dancing a legitimate fitness option?

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Jazzercise: It isn't What You Think

Forget about those fancy elliptical machines that supposedly place less stress on your knees, if you want a high-intensity, calorie-burning exercise, then find the nearest flight of stairs.

Stairs are everywhere, but most fitness lovers tend to pass them by in favor of high-tech gym equipment. But, why? Stairs don't cost a dime to use and provide a workout that returns maximum value in minimum time.

Studies show stair climbing gives you more bang for your buck because of the vertical component still, fitness experts say the exercise doesn't have a big following. Perhaps, it's because most exercisers don't realize the benefits that can be attained by 30 minutes of stair climbing. According to fitness experts, compared to jogging or cycling at a moderate pace without much of an incline, stair climbing burns more calories in the same amount of time.

Fitness experts maintain that walking up stairs at a moderate intensity burns 5 calories a minute for a 120-pound person, 7 for a 150-pound person, and 9 for a 180-pound person. Meanwhile, running stairs multiplies the caloric burn and the cardiovascular benefit.

This fact is not lost on the participants of New York's annual Empire State Building Run-Up race. Earlier this month 320 competitors raced up 86 floors and 1,576 stairs. The winner took two steps at a time and reached the observation deck finish line in 10 minutes and 7 seconds.

New York's race is just one of several stair climbing events held in the world's tallest skyscrapers. Towers from Taipei, Taiwan, to Milan, open their stairwells for races each year. The most popular stair climbing races in the United States include Chicago's "Hustle up the Hancock" and Las Vegas' "Scale the Strat." Denver, Des Moines, Omaha and Philadelphia also host smaller versions of these vertical races.

Do you climb stairs as part of your exercise regime?

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How Often Do You Use Your Home Gym?

Most people complain of bulging bellies and buttocks, but there are just as many individuals who are self conscious about back fat. Unfortunately, like its stubborn counterparts, there isn't one specific exercise that will make it go away.

According to fitness experts, when it comes to storing fat, our bodies dictate where it accumulates. Even more disheartening is the fact that there is no way to spot reduce these fatty areas. Basically, banishing back fat can only be accomplished by combining cardiovascular exec rise with a healthy diet, and strength training.

An effective fitness regime includes fat burning exercises, a diet that contains less than 2,000 calories and consistent weight training. Simply put, you need to eat less and exercise more to promote overall weight loss. Doing so will help eliminate back bulge.

Another way to accelerate weight loss is to incorporate interval training into your exercise regimen. Interval training is a great way to spice up your fitness routine and safely increase your intensity at the same time. To get started with interval training simply increase the pace of your workouts to an intensity that you can only maintain for one minute. Then, slow down for three to five minutes, and repeat four to five more times.

In addition to aerobic activity, you'll need to add strength training exercises that target back muscles to eliminate unsightly bulge. Weight training will tone your back muscles and minimize flab. Another option is to participate in Yoga and Pilates, both of which strengthen core muscles, while burning calories.

Interestingly, studies show that back fat is not nearly as bad for you as belly bulge. According to fitness experts, fatty tissue on the back area is much less concerning than fat in the abdominal region, which puts you at a greater risk for diabetes and heart disease.

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You know your fitness regime needs tweaking when people constantly ask you when your baby is due... and you're not pregnant.

Right, Kate Moss?

The fashionista, who became famous for being super skinny, is... well... not super skinny anymore. But, she's not pregnant either. People just think she is because she gained some weight (gasp!) and stopped exercising.

For the first time ever the 35-year-old catwalk queen is wearing a bra because, as Moss puts it, she has recently "grown breasts." The super model also reveals that the rest of her extra pounds "went to the right places." Consequently, she says she won't be resuming her exercise routine anytime soon. Moss' reason: She just launched a new lingerie collection and she thinks her new breasts will go a long way to help promote it.

So when Moss gains weight, it goes straight to her breasts, and when the rest of us pack on the pounds it goes straight to our hips, thighs and butt? What gives?

For the record, according to fitness experts and other medical experts, it is virtually impossible to gain weight in a specific body part. While fat does accumulate in certain regions of the body, it's not realistic to think that eating 50 chocolate bars a day is going to result in a bigger bust line and smaller waist.

Whether Moss chooses to admit it or not, doctors say, her lack of exercise and increased caloric intake has likely added bulk to her hips and waist as well as her breasts.

Translation: Don't follow Kate Moss' diet and fitness regime to gain bigger breasts.

Oh, and don't follow Mischa Barton's either.

The actress is making news again regarding her skinny stature.

Various news publications have questioned whether the 23-year-old is getting enough to eat and maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

To quell critics Barton recently posted an online message to fans that reads:

"Just so you guys know I'm happier and healthier than ever. I still love my Pilates and yoga, and have cut back on fatty foods a bit. My time in India and Paris really just helped me lose a little bit of weight but there's nothing drastic going on!"

She ends by offering advice to her female fans: "Just be happy and secure with yourself and don't let other people's perceptions of you dictate the way you live your life."

What do you think about Moss and Barton? I don't consider them role models for proper diet and fitness. Do you?

I've written about my weakness for Chinese food in previous blogs. Given that I am addicted to tasty ab-killing Chinese dishes, I often find myself doing double time in the gym following a take-out meal.

If you too enjoy indulging in Chinese food, but you don't have the time to spend two hours working off that extra helping of Mu Shu, then consider these tips that will help you eat smarter:

Chinese 101--You don't have to enroll in a college language course, but it does pay to know some of the lingo. Look for the words "steamed" as well as "Jum" (poached), "Chu" (broiled), "Kow" (roasted), "Shu" (barbecued), "lightly stir-fried," "dry stir-fried," or "braised." Stay away from things that are breaded, fried, or coated in flour.

Choose Chopsticks--Studies show people who eat with chopsticks don't consume as much as those using forks.

Veggies in Volume--Choose dishes that are loaded with healthy vegetables and cut back on all-meat options. Also, you can request that your meal be cooked in vegetable stock to reduce the calories in your dish by 150-300 and the fat by 15-30 grams.

So Long Sauce--Avoid dishes that feature thick gravy or sauces made from sugar, flour, or cornstarch (such as those found on General Tso's or Sweet and Sour Pork). They're loaded with corn syrup. Rather, stick with dishes that include hot mustard sauce, hoisin sauce, or oyster sauce. Another tip: Request that your dish be served with "half sauce." That way, you get half the sauce -- and half the calories.

Forget About Fried Rice--An average serving of Chicken Fried Rice will set you back 450 calories and 14 grams of fat. Choose brown rice instead. It contains just 215 calories and provides a generous 3.5 grams of fiber per cup. Calorie-wise brown rice and white rice are about the same, but the brown version includes double the fiber and vitamins than white.

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