America the Beautiful

I was in New York City on Tuesday Sept. 11th and I've grieved with everyone in our nation ever since. I have questioned the importance of discussing "great abs" and "fighting flab" with our readers ... it seems so frivolous while "America Attacked by Terrorists" is paramount in our hearts and minds. For that matter any pop culture, which consumes quite a bit of our lives feels oddly too shallow to pursue. Yet we have to take care of out bodies, hearts, and minds, maybe not the same way things were, but the way things are for now. If we move our lives slowly and gently forward the terrorists don't win in the end. So, please keep up your workouts at home or in the gym, take some active time for yourself, your family and your friends, and when you’re out on your walk, run or ride take in your surroundings and be thankful for our beautiful country.

Best in health,
Stephanie

Stephanie Oakes is a fitness correspondent for Discovery Health Channel, a contributing editor for USA Weekend Magazine and the LA Times, and appears on NBC's 'Today in New York'. She can be reached at soakes@beststuff.com.