Dare You To...

Woooo SUMMER!  How is your summer going so far?  I am finally relaxing, de-stressing, and feeling great.

I've got some great dares coming up, and don't want you to miss out!



If you're interested in following new posts, you can subscribe in many different ways.  First, you can subscribe using the links on the left sidebar ("Join this site," "follow by email,") or by adding the URL <http://dareyoutoblog.com> to your personal reader.

If you used Google Reader in the past, remember that it is SHUTTING DOWN on July 1, 2013!  Yes, that's Monday.  So you may want to switch your favorite blogs and websites over to Feedly (I've been using and enjoying) or BlogLovin(I've heard good things). Both allow you to easily import your Google Reader subscriptions, so you can seamlessly transition from one to the other, without losing any of your favorite blogs!

Links to follow Dare You To via each of these readers have been added to the left sidebar, as we…

The folks at Greatist bring the latest in scientifically-backed health information to the masses via their website, Twitter, Instagram, podcasts, Facebook, YouTube, and Pinterest... and MORE! (Believe it or not..)  It may seem like a lot, but I--and many others--also have just as many outlets for sharing information and ideas.

This month, they asked the Greatist Ambassadors:

How does social media influence your health and fitness?
Well... well.  A zillion thoughts raced through my mind when this came up.  I'll try to touch on all aspects, highlighting the ones I find most influential.


First: What social media?The most popular outlets for all genres are those listed above.  These may be used by celebrities, bloggers, and also those without a large public persona, just as a way to connect with friends.  These include Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, YouTube, and the slowly growing Google Plus (PS: You can find me on ALL of these! See my contact page).  These can largely be ac…

Guest Post! Today, we're hearing from Stephanie, who just moved from her original running blog to a NEW Run for Fun, that launches this week with Stephanie sharing part of her story that has not yet been revealed.  Please read her post below and check out her blog for more on how she found her life worth living. 

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Hi all, Meredith was nice enough to let me blog for you today.  I just converted my website from Blogger to WordPress - Run for Fun. While I have been blogging for a long time, I have not been completely truthful.  My path in blogging has been an amazing one, I have made lifelong friends, enjoyed sharing my running experiences with everyone and hearing about yours, and most of all I have loved  being a support to others whether it be to those pregnant, suffering from infertility, postpartum anxiety or training for a marathon.  I want to continue that; thus with the start of this new blog, I want to add more,  I want to come clean and in turn hope to help more people. …

HAPPY FRIDAY! Here are some fascinating articles and blog posts of late: 
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There was a very interesting, thoughful post last week that got me thinking,  and the title should reel you in on its own:  Please Don't Help My Kids, an article by Kate Bassford Baker.
Remember whenI said I want to learn moreabout GMO (ab)use and labelling?  
Babble.com hasthe lowdown on GMOsfor you and for me.
Want to become a morning person?Greatist tells you HOW.

Pretty Little Liars may be a favorite guilty pleasure among young adults, too,  but what kind of messages about food is it sending to its target audience: teenage girls?   This "Food Horror" video raises serious questions.
As part of mynatural skincarequest, I was excited to see that
Nicole at Making Good Choices explains why and how to
avoid parabensin skincare products.

Is Protein Powder Okay on a Paleo Diet?   Diane Sanfillippo reminds us that it's not food,  but there may be special circumstances where it's useful.
Karen Maidme…

I had such a fun meetup yesterday last week (Can you tell I'm behind on life??) that I have to tell you about.

Rebekah Borucki of BexLife and Danny J. of The Sweaty Betties came to NYC to host a gathering of fit-minded folks for a "Happy Hour" in Madison Square Park.


It was easy to spot the group when I arrived, partially because I could easily see Bex and Danny, but also because many came in workout-ready clothes, since we were going to do a 4-minute mini workout.

In the beginning, people were just talking, meeting, reuniting, mingling, etc. It was nice reconnecting with friends and finally meeting some faces I've known online (HEY MARI!).


So good to spend time with Amber again! :D We got to "meet & greet" with two of our favorites:



Then Bex and Danny J brought us together into a circle, where they introduced themselves, told how they met, and then we went around the group introducing ourselves, sharing fun facts and applauding one another.






 Rebekah…

Good morning!  Today, Healthline.com is helping us start our workweek off right by daring us to practice proper posture!

First, congratulations to Jessica, winner of the Bestowed Giveaway!  Email dareyoutoblog (at) gmail (dot) com to claim your prize.
But for ALL readers: don't forget you can still use the coupon code [ 5OFFBESTOWED01 ] to get $5 off your box order here!

Now, turning it over to Valerie Johnston and her advice on posture:

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Proper Posture and the Osteos
As you begin reading this article, stop!  Evaluate your posture; don’t move a muscle and review what position you hold right now, whether you stand, sit, or lie prone, just as if you were a dancer or a gymnast, trying to evaluate the position of your head and each extremity and how those extremities relate to the body’s core.  Now ask yourself, “Is this good posture, or am I a slouch, a couch potato or a pretzel?”
What you just did is a simplified assessment of a more complicated evaluation called osteopathy, which …

First: Don't forget to enter the Bestowed Giveaway - ends Friday.

Now: Guest Post! 
Today, Everyday Healthdares us both to take a closer look at canned food.I, myself, don't use canned foods a ton, but I do regularly use canned tomato paste, tomatos, coconut milk, fish, and, occasionally, other vegetables like mushrooms and hearts of palm.  Hm, actually, maybe it's more often than I realized!
I've often avoided the issue of what's lurking in those cans, and what from the cans is leeching into my food.  But now, we've got some answers...

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A Closer Look at Canned Food
By: Hillary Monroe, MS RD LDN, Registered Dietitian and writer for Everyday Health Calorie Counter.

In any given grocery store or corner bodega we find canned goods aplenty. It seems like anything and everything can be canned, from the typical soup, green beans, or tuna fish to whole chickens and even cheese. It’s hard to believe but the canning process dates back to the late 18th century in Fr…