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This week’s FitLabPGH Podcast release is a video podcast providing tips for making your dog(s) part of your active lifestyle. If you are looking for individual advice on dog health and nutrition, we STRONGLY encourage you to consult your veterinarian.

Listen to the audio, or enjoy the Labradors in the video podcast.

Our goal is to include our dogs in our active lifestyle…throughout their lifespan. That means that our movement practice is NOT all about us…we need to make choices to keep the dogs healthy and safe.

Tip 1: Create an active lifestyle for your dogs. Take them for walks or runs. Give them time and space for doggy play. And help them maintain a healthy weight. Active dogs at a healthy weight are less likely to get injured than dogs carrying extra weight. Yes, this means monitoring food and treats to prevent overeating (or undereating). Dogs do not know how much food they need. Ask your vet for advice. Side note: the Labs love the pumpkin treats from Portland Pet Food Company. We split 1 treat into 6 pieces, and each dog thinks she’s getting 3 treats!

Tip 2: Don’t overwork the dogs. This is year-round advice, but it is especially important on hot summer days. We get out early, seek shade and soft surfaces, let the dogs set the pace, and make frequent water stops. Maggie is a water snob and only Berkey Filters filtered water in her Nalgene bottle makes a walk complete.

Tip 3: Let the dogs set the pace. Once you get a dog, your movement practice is no longer ALL about you. We’ve all seen a reluctant dog being dragged along by a focused runner…PLEASE don’t be that dog owner.

Tip 4: Start slowly when introducing your dog to a new movement practice. Whether you have a puppy or a dog who isn’t used to regular movement, start slowly, and gradually build up to a longer movement routine. Side note: don’t “GO Hard” or “Crush It” every day. Listen to your dog, and watch for signs of heat stress or overwork. Include active recovery days in your dog’s routine…remember, the goal is to create a movement routine that your dog can enjoy throughout its lifespan.

Take home message: get outside, and enjoy moving with your dog. While you may sacrifice a bit of fitness to make your dog part of your movement lifestyle, the mental health and quality of life rewards provided by your dog make the “sacrifice” worthwhile.

Check out the FitLabPGH Movement Tips and Lifestyle Hacks videos every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday for tips and hacks to help you, and your dog(s) move more…move better…and stay safe…throughout 2021.

Contact Info for FitLabPGH:
Email: fitlabpgh@gmail.com

Twitter: @fitlabpgh

Instagram: @fitlabpgh

We update via Facebook too!!

Movement Tips and Lifestyle Hacks – YouTube channel (posted on Instagram too)

Fill out our FitLabPGH Features form to be a FitLabPGH featured mover…or fill one out for your 4 legged movement partner (dog, cat, goat or horse!!)

Check out our sister podcast Moving2Live concise but interesting podcasts for the movement and exercise professional and amateur aficionado.

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Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 5:19 — 4.9MB)

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This week’s FitLabPGH Podcast release is a video podcast providing a look inside the FitLabPGH Snack Bin. This is what WE use to fuel our 60-90+ minute movement sessions…primarily hiking, biking, and running. If you are looking for individual advice on nutrition and food choices, we STRONGLY encourage you to consult a registered dietician.

Listen to the audio, or enjoy the Labradors and cats in the video podcast.

What is Ben looking for in a movement snack? It should be able to be stored in a pocket or pack; it is approximately 100 calories; and it doesn’t upset his stomach. For Ben, that means no stevia, monk fruit extract, or sugar alcohols. Everyone’s body is different. Experiment to find what works for you. When in doubt? Consult a registered dietician. The goal is to get outside, enjoy moving, and avoid the dreaded mid-workout bonk/crash/insert your favorite term here.

So here’s the current inventory of our Snack Bin:

• Baby food – pear, mango, spinach (Lisa has not endorsed this option)
• Mini Clif Bars – chocolate chip or crunchy peanut butter
• Whole Wheat Fig Bars from Nuts.com (individually wrapped for convenience)
• Trail Mix – make your own, or head to Trader Joe’s
• Sport Beans (Lisa’s favorite cycling snack). Want to save money? Buy Jelly Belly jelly beans
• Honey Stinger mini waffles (warning: they may crumble in a pocket or pack)
• Skratch Labs Energy Chews – Sour Cherry (2 “warnings” – they contain caffeine and they get sticky when temps get too warm)
• Papa Steve’s No Junk Raw Protein Bars – vegan and whey protein options, many flavors, all “real food” ingredients
• Infinit Nutrition Performance Coffee Cold Brew protein powder, a.k.a., protein for coffee lovers

Take home message: get outside, enjoy moving, and pack snacks to fuel your movement session. Even if you’re planning a fairly short session, be prepared…you never know when a hike or bike ride might become an outdoor adventure.

Contact Info for FitLabPGH:
Email: fitlabpgh@gmail.com

Twitter: @fitlabpgh

Instagram: @fitlabpgh

We update via Facebook too!!

Movement Tips and Lifestyle Hacks – YouTube channel (posted on Instagram too)

Fill out our FitLabPGH Features form to be a FitLabPGH featured mover…or fill one out for your 4 legged movement partner (dog, cat, goat or horse!!)

Check out our sister podcast Moving2Live concise but interesting podcasts for the movement and exercise professional and amateur aficionado.

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