People go to the gym for a variety of reasons, but one thing they all have in common is that they put a lot of effort and energy into burning calories and building muscle. Many of those people, if given the opportunity, would go to a gym that kept the environment in mind when operating their facility; since, as we all know, gyms use up a lot of electricity and space.

Two green gyms come to mind that are doing it right and people are noticing. The Green Microgym in Portland, Oregon and Green Fitness Studio in Brooklyn, New York. Both operate their gyms in different ways, but with one common goal: a greener gym that takes less from the environment.

The Green Microgym uses green fitness equipment from PlugOut (which also sells equipment for home use as well.) PlugOut harnesses the energy created from people working out and subsidizes the electricity needs of the gym. It's a great way to focus on the energy you are creating rather than the calories you are burning and still get the same great physical results in the end. The Green Microgym also uses solar panels, recycled toilet paper and renewable source flooring. 

Green Fitness Studio is impressive with it's long list of ways they are green. From bamboo floors to to recycled rubber to self powered gym equipment to a living rooftop, Green Fitness Studio has really taken it the extra mile.  

What ways are your fitness center going green? Tweet us @PierceMattiePR. 

 As of May 8, 14 brands of pet food were recalled due to aSalmonella bacteria contamination. Although there have been no reports of animals acquiring the illness, the Center for Disease Control has reported that 14 individuals have become sick due to contact with pet food made at the plant. The recent pet food recall has left many pet owners scrambling to replace their recalled pet food brands, yet few are aware of the proper protocol for disposing of contaminated food and rapidly changing their pets' diets. To assist pet owners,petMD.com has pulled together a list of recommendations for what to do if your pet's food has been recalled.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110802/PH45832LOGO )

"There's no doubt about it, pet food recalls like this are scary," states Dr. Jennifer Coates, a practicing veterinarian and petMD.com Spokesperson. "Invariably, owners are halfway through feeding a bag of potentially contaminated food when they hear of the recall, which means they have to go on high alert for a week or two. In the case of Salmonella, we have to watch both pets and people in the household for vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, loss of appetite, and fever."

What to do if your pet's food has been recalled:

1.       Remove the Recalled Food: If you check the labels of your pet food bag and find that it has been recalled, seal it in a plastic bag and place it in a secure garbage can. This helps ensure that neither your pet nor an outdoor animal will eat the contaminated food and risk becoming ill. 

2.       Clean: Thoroughly wash all containers, utensils, bowls, your hands, and any other items that have come into contact with the recalled food. If surfaces are not sanitized, bacteria can attach itself to various objects and people and live for several hours or even days.

3.       Change Food: Switch out your pet's food for a non-recalled brand. Talk with your veterinarian or pet food supplier to get more information on the status of the recall and to identify which brands are considered safe.

How to quickly and safely change your pet's diet:

1.       Find a Similar Pet Food Formula: Pick a new pet food that closely matches the "old" variety. For example, if your pet was eating a lamb and rice product that was recalled, purchase another company's lamb and rice formulation. Read the ingredient list. If you can match up the first few ingredients, the foods will be fairly similar. Also, review the guaranteed analysis on both labels. Avoid big changes in the percentages of protein, fat, and fiber whenever possible.

2.       Offer Small Meals Gradually: Once you get the new food home, start by offering your pet a small meal. If he or she eats it and doesn't develop any tummy troubles as a result, offer another small meal a few hours later. Gradually increase the size and decrease the frequency of your offerings until you are back to your normal schedule in a day or two. If your pet doesn't take to the new food, pick it up and don't offer anything (including treats) for eight hours or so. It is okay to let your pet get a little hungry, so long as you continue to offer the new food every 6-8 hours and then pick it up if it is not eaten. Continue this pattern for 24 hours (cats) to 48 hours (dogs). If you cannot get your pet to eat the new food within these timeframes, consult your veterinarian and try another formulation — but avoid frequent changes in flavor as this can promote finicky eating habits.

3.       Go Easily Digestible: If your dog or cat has an especially sensitive stomach and you are forced to making a rapid diet change, consider switching to an easily digestible formula at the offset and then gradually mix in small amounts of the new, long-term diet a few days later. Probiotics for dogs and cats can also reduce the chance that a pet will develop diarrhea when its diet suddenly changes.

4.       Consult Your Veterinarian: If you can't find a new food your pet likes or if despite all precautions the change in diet results in vomiting, diarrhea or other signs of gastrointestinal distress, talk to your veterinarian. He or she may be able to suggest other pet food brands that are less likely to cause your pet a diet-related illness.

Pierce Mattie PR wellness client 21 Drops was featured in Brisbane's Map Magazine. If you’re working on an aromatherapy story be sure to give our Pierce Mattie lifestyle PR team a call at 212-243-1431 or follow us on Twitter @PierceMattiePR and FaceBook.  

The April issue of Healthcare Global, the pioneering digital media site for healthcare professionals and executives, is live online and available to read today.

As the obesity crisis tightens its grip on the world, consumers are increasingly concerned about the calorific content of what they are eating.

As a result, they are increasingly cooking at home and shunning restaurants and fast food chain. In response to this movement and everybody's quest to eat healthily, many fast food chains - such as McDonald's, Subway and Panera Bread - have started to offer 'healthier' options on their menu.

But how healthy are they really? Do they really contain less fat, sugar and salt than the standard menu favourites?

Continuing along the path of health and wellness, has investigated to new forms of yoga that are taking the world by storm; the hot and sweaty Bikram yoga and gravity-defying AntiGravity yoga.

Elsewhere in the issue the team has looked at what two of the world's biggest companies are doing to support World Malaria Day 2012 on 25^th April and also found out how the new 'Patent Box' legislation will boost pharmaceutical R&D in the UK.

You can read all these stories and more at http://www.healthcareglobal.com or by flicking through the Healthcare Global digital magazine.

Pierce Mattie PR wellness client 21 Drops was featured in Prevention Magazine. If you’re working on an aromatherapy story be sure to give our Pierce Mattie lifestyle PR team a call at 212-243-1431 or follow us on Twitter @PierceMattiePR and FaceBook.  

Beauty from within no longer just means you have a great personality... Nutrition is becoming just as popular in the beauty industry as are the products meant to combat anti-aging. Between beauty supplements, Vita-Mix smoothie mania and recipes targeting various skin issues (inflammation, restoring tissue, healing, etc.), if you have a product with any nutritional value that benefits those looking for anti-aging products, now is the time to promote it.

From superfruits to veggies, the key to all anti-aging products are the antioxidant benefits they provide the skin. Kale is one such veggie that promotes healthier skin between cooking it up, eating it in a salad or mixing it into your smoothie. As are any food that contains Vitamin C (restores tissue and vibrancy to skin), Vitamin A (for oral health--healthy gums = a healthy smile), Vitamin E for better complexion, etc. 

Taking cue from beautiful women abroad in France and Scandinavia, their skin is naturally beautiful because healthy eating is part of their culture. If you need some inspiration to find the right fruits and veggies to target the right nutritional track for your skin based on your age, do a search on Pinterest. Such a great resource of recipes and ideas to get you started.

Which foods are you incorporating into your diet for better skin health? Tweet us @PierceMattiePR. 

The Emmy Award-winning, critically acclaimed and nationally syndicated "The Dr. Oz Show" today proudly announced the top ten finalists to earn a spot in the show's season-long initiative,Dr. Oz's Transformation Nation: Million Dollar You.Beginning today, viewers can vote on which finalist they feel should win the grand prize of $1 million by going to www.doctoroz.com.The winner will be announced on "The Dr. Oz Show" scheduled to air on May 23rd.

Since the health challenge launched on September 26, 2011, Over 1.2 million people have registered for the seven step program that transforms their overall health. The steps include weight loss, knowing family health history, sleep hygiene, stress reduction, fitness and forming a relationship with their doctor. The 1.2 million registrants answered questionnaires and quizzes at the conclusion of each step, and a weigh-in with Weight Watchers required at the start and finish of the program.  Through a partnership with Weight Watchers, registrants entered their starting weight through a complimentary weigh-in at a Weight Watchers center, and also recorded a final weight in the same manner. People were required to lose 10% of their body weight or reach or maintain a healthy BMI between 18.5 and 24.9.

Seven judges poured over the submissions of the top 50 contestants after an algorithm identified those with the highest scoring value.  The group of 50 was required to submit a personal narrative essay describing their personal transformation, motivation and detail of their experience. The seven judges were:

Best-selling author and meditation expert Dr. Deepak Chopra, talk show host Rachael Ray, Center for Disease Control deputy director Dr. Ileana Arias, fitness trainer Jorge Cruise, Weight Watchers Leader Liz Josefsberg, sleep physician Michael Breus, M.D., and  Dr. Vonda Wright.

The finalists are:

1.       Stephanie Lewis-Woodbridge, VA
2.       Mercedes Moebuis-Hampstead, MD
3.       Karl Nielsen-Rochester, NY
4.       Stella Ortega-South Lake Tahoe, CA
5.       Michael Lamb-Athens,GA
6.       Sheila Haines-Sterling, VA
7.       Dawn Villaneuva-Eva Beach, Hawaii
8.       SharonaSankar-King-Manhattan, NY
9.       Jen McElroy-Pingree, IL
10.   Mary Ellen Brunaugh-Vancouver, WA

Continue reading "Wellness PR: The Emmy Award-Winning "The Dr. Oz Show" Reveals The Top Ten Finalists For Dr. Oz's Transformation Nation: Million Dollar You" »

Have you ever dreamed of interning in New York for a fitness PR firm but are not able to get off your college campus, which isn’t located in NY? Now you can! 

Pierce Mattie PR is seeking Summer Social Media Interns to work remotely. In years past our interns have gone on to be published authors, featured in the New York Times, received college credit and most importantly learned the ropes of fitness social media from our experts.

How do you bring an international brand to the U.S., open more than 170 stores in a credit crisis, win loyal customers for repeat business across North America, and earn the #1 Zagat rating in today's economy? Be Likeable.

That's what Red Mango, Inc. Founder and Chief Concept Officer Dan Kim will discuss as a featured speaker at the first annual Likeable U Awards: Creating a More Likeable World, during Internet Week (IWNY) on May 15 at the Desmond Tutu Center in New York City.

"Social Media Beyond the Buzz," the theme of the meeting, is a hot topic for Kim who credits Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest and more for facilitating a dialogue between Red Mango® and consumers that has resulted in an international franchising success story. With more than 500,000 Red Mango followers on social media channels, Kim will discuss the importance of pictures in building social media relationships with the Likeable U crowd.

"Social media is our direct lifeline to our consumers," Kim says, who opened the first Red Mango store in the U.S. in 2007 and continues to expand the brand across the Americas. "I want Red Mango customers to feel that they can directly contact me and have a say in our products. Images are also an important aspect of social media.  Giving fans a visual allows for great feedback."

Contradicting the idea that big brands need big advertising dollars to establish themselves, Red Mango has fostered a grassroots connection with its audience through social media and brick-and-mortar locations, letting its healthy products support the slogan to "Treat Yourself Well"®.  

With more than 170 locations in North America, Red Mango offers over 50 flavors of all-natural frozen yogurt, fruit and yogurt parfaits, and, uniquely delicious smoothies that are made with fresh fruit (instead of frozen fruit) and sweetened with all-natural stevia.    

When you think Summer, you think outdoors...and for those who lead an active, adventurous and fit lifestyle, that means summer sports. More specifically...sports and fitness regimens that include water. Have you ever gone hiking or even rock climbing near water? The last thing you want is to be unsure if the sole of your shoe will slide on the slippery terrain. Or when kayaking, white water rafting or wake boarding...your feet are bound to get wet, but there's got to be a sneaker out there that won't leave you squishing water in your shoes (with that smelly mildew odor when it dries to boot.) That's where Teva comes in. 

Footwear made with the athlete in mind, and to "tell better stories", Teva uses technology that protects feet by wicking away moisture (eVent) and seals out water from entering into the shoe with a membrane (T.I.D.E. Seal). There are even a pretty cool line of water shoes called Gnarkosi, that have a Draine Frame in the sole of the sneaker (to drain the water of course!)

I'm most attracted to their new Fuse-ion water shoes. Reminding me of the Keds days of my youth,  Fuse-ion has that preppy pop kick kind of look, but more modernized and with a whole lot more functionality. 

Have you worn Teva footwear? What types of fitness activities did you use them for? Tweet us @PierceMattiePR.