Water Posts

Behind the Scenes at NoFizzUSA!

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By Bobby DeMuro

So you say you want to work for NoFizz America… or, ok, maybe you don’t say that – but somebody somewhere hopefully does!

Well for those interested in what we do and what it takes, here’s a quick look at what goes into NoFizzUSA, behind the scenes. We spent this past Saturday night (lame, I know) working on a ton of different projects for various programs, events, and giveaways that we are doing… tune in to the video, check out the pictures, and enjoy!

Two computers, two phones, and a video camera all go into our program preparation and recording every week!


Water bottles ready to go for some programs this week at Camp Eagle Rock and the Simmons YMCA, both in Charlotte, NC. The bag next to the bottles is a bag of some sugar supplies; we hold a “how much sugar is in your drink” demonstration at some programs!

We’re donating water bottles to campers and organizations all across the Carolinas – and of course we are recycling all the left over cardboard we’ve been left with from shipments!


Do you like NoFizzUSA? We need your help to promote public health across the country!
Take the hydration challenge, make a tax-deductible donation, or follow us on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube!


[RADIO]: Weight Loss and Goal Setting with Dr. John Bartemus

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By Bobby DeMuro

This week on the 7-Day Challenge Show Radio Exiles, we spoke with Dr. John Bartemus of Transcendent Lifestyle Center in Cornelius, North Carolina.

Dr. Bartemus laid down the law on all these suspicious weight loss and fitness gimmicks that are around nowadays, and gave us great guidelines for how to safely and effectively lose weight (and most importantly, keep it off!).

Not only that, but Dr. Bartemus (a proponent of keeping it simple, and basic living!) offered up a bunch of different tips – from fitness, to health, to nutrition and cooking – that can help you get fit, feel better, and lose weight without any sort of gimmicks or weird products.

Click here to listen to the show.

Finally, he touched on a topic of huge importance; goal-setting. We talked about how to set reasonable, manageable goals that can be attained, but are neither too easy or too hard so as the person setting the goal gives up after a short period of time.

Tune in to hear what we challenge you to do this week!

You can find out more about Dr. Bartemus and his many medical and academic accomplishments by visiting the Transcendent Lifestyle website, or by visiting his office in the Cornelius, North Carolina area near Lake Norman.

Thanks for being a guest, Dr. Bartemus!

You can listen to the show this week (and all of our previous Radio Exiles podcasts) by clicking here.

You can listen by either downloading the show, or via streaming over the internet. As a bonus, all Radio Exiles shows are now available for download on iTunes! Click here to download our podcasts through iTunes.


Do you like NoFizzUSA? We need your help to promote public health across the country!
Take the hydration challenge, make a tax-deductible donation, or follow us on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube!

Charlotte-Based Non-Profit Expands Nationwide!

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For Immediate Release

Charlotte, NC
July 22, 2011 — The non-profit organization formerly known as NoFizz Charlotte, Inc. is very excited to announce a transition to NoFizz America, effective immediately.

NoFizz America will continue on as a tax-exempt 501(c)3 non-profit organization that advocates for healthy hydration and increased physical activity in populations across the country – an expansion of the initial mission, to better reflect national aspirations and current partnerships.

“This is a very, very happy day to be a part of NoFizz America,” said Bobby DeMuro, NoFizzUSA’s Founder and Executive Director. “Whether a staff member, board member, volunteer, hydration challenge participant – or even simply a Twitter follower, this transition to a national organization would not have been possible had it not been for the mind-boggling support and advocacy of those around us.”

“What’s important to remember is that, really, nothing changes,” DeMuro added. “We’re still fighting for the same advocacy, holding the same programs, and issuing the same challenges. The only difference is that we are now doing it on a distinctly national level, after seeing the success we’ve had regionally to affect change in people’s lives.”

NoFizz America has no shortage of events taking place this summer and beyond that promote the nationwide expansion. In fact, it’s been quite a busy summer for the 12-month old organization.

In June, NoFizzUSA officially partnered with both Mecklenburg County and the YMCA of Greater Charlotte to provide summer and fall outreach programs to almost 7,500 young people between those two partnerships alone.

Those programs, along with the rest of NoFizzUSA’s schedule, are ongoing and more information can be found here (for updates and changes to the schedule, please contact us).

Several weeks later, Rubbermaid donated 5,000 water bottles to NoFizz America, allowing us to provide them to participants of our healthy hydration programs as a supplement to the knowledge and discussion promoted during hydration events.

“We’re excited about the potential this holds for our organization,” said DeMuro. “Logistically we’ll continue to expand at a pace that’s right for us, but I’d be lying if I said this wasn’t a very significant move from a psychological perspective.”

Founder Bobby DeMuro at a recent outreach event.

“We are deeply indebted to the Charlotte community for making this movement. NoFizzUSA would’ve gone nowhere without this community – and regardless of where today’s development may take the organization, this truly is Charlotte’s movement.”

About NoFizzUSA:
 NoFizz America is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to promoting physical activity and healthy hydration across the country through community outreach, health education programs, social media health initiatives, and more.

Press Contact:
Bobby DeMuro
Founder, Executive Director
(704) 787-3019
bobby@nofizzusa.org
www.nofizzusa.org

[RADIO]: Let’s Move Columbia with Councilwoman Tameika Isaac Devine

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By Bobby DeMuro

This week on the 7-Day Challenge Show Radio Exiles, we spoke with Councilwoman Tameika Isaac Devine from one of our favorite places – the city of Columbia, South Carolina!

During the show, we profiled Columbia’s amazing Let’s Move! initiative, as well as challenging our listeners to get moving and go outside over the next seven days, by equipping them with the knowledge, tools, and helpful ideas for how to safely get out and get moving!

We spoke to Councilwoman Devine about a variety of physical fitness issues that impact the city of Columbia, the south in general, and families around the area.

Councilwoman Devine also discussed how the Let’s Move campaign is providing solutions to those problems, and what listeners can do in their communities to get their friends and family healthy, active, and moving again!

Click here to listen to the show.

Councilwoman Devine shared a ton of great information with us about the initiative, Columbia’s commitment to fitness, and her own tips and tricks that she uses with her family and children to get outside and live healthy.

You can listen to the show this week (and all of our previous Radio Exiles podcasts) by clicking here.

You can listen by either downloading the show, or via streaming over the internet. As a bonus, all Radio Exiles shows are now available for download on iTunes! Click here to download our podcasts through iTunes.

Thank You, Volunteers!

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By Bobby DeMuro

Some posters our volunteers made this week!

Just wanted to share a quick update on the blog – our volunteers have been doing a lot of fun and important stuff for us lately!

They’ve helped a ton with lesson planning for our summer outreach programs, as well as creating fun stuff (like the posters you can see here!) to leave behind at programs and supplement health and hydration education for the students and summer campers we’re affecting.

They’ve also done a lot of work to organize all those water bottles we got from Rubbermaid last month – and believe me, that was not easy, and is an ongoing task!

So, volunteers, thank you from the bottom of our hearts! And now that you’ve head your moment in the sun, get back to work!

Kidding. Kind of…in the next few months, we’ll do a few quick video profiles of some of our volunteers, so you can get to know them, hear their story, and learn how you can help get involved with NoFizz America!

PS – Want to volunteer your time and/or make a monetary donation to benefit NoFizz America? You can email us here, or visit our secure donation page to help.

Your contributions (in any way!) are always appreciated, and always needed! Thank YOU!

[VIDEO]: We’ve Got Water Bottles!

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By Bobby DeMuro

Remember a few weeks ago when we announced we had partnered with Rubbermaid, and that they were providing us with almost 4,000 water bottles to provide to our outreach program students and participants?

Well, we weren’t kidding – and neither was Rubbermaid. In fact, they gave us so many water bottles, we had to use an entire building to store ‘em! Now THAT is generosity!

Thanks, Rubbermaid!

Stay tuned throughout the summer… while we will be giving out the vast majority of ‘em to our program participants at summer camps, schools, and community centers, we snuck a few away to the office — and you know we’ll be holding a bunch of social media giveaways for our loyal Facebook and Twitter followers!

PS – want to thank Rubbermaid for being great? Shoot ‘em a tweet and tell them you’re a fan of what they did for us!

The 60-Day Summer Hydration Challenge is Here! Are you in?

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By Bobby DeMuro

Join NoFizz America’s 60-Day Summer Hydration Challenge!

We’re challenging you to drink at least 60 ounces of water every day for the next 60 days! Are you in? Join more than 9,000 people who have taken the challenge!

WHEN: July 1 – August 31, 2011

WHO: You! Everyone is eligible to join.

WHERE: Everywhere! Participants from across the world may join the challenge.

COST: Free. The challenge costs nothing, except some willpower!
If you’d like to make a tax-deductible donation to NoFizz America, click here. Thank you for your generosity!

WHY: To empower and educate families and students across the country about the importance of proper and healthy hydration. To highlight the important role drinking water plays in losing weight, maintaining a lean physique, improving energy and concentration levels, and more in the human body.


HOW TO JOIN:

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR FREE.
It’s free – when you register, we’ll e-mail you an info packet on July 1st!
When you register, please indicate that you are signing up specifically for the 60-Day Hydration Challenge.

Drink more than 60 ounces of water every single day for the months of July and August. It’s that simple – grab your water bottle!

Follow our Twitter account, and Facebook page.
We’ll be providing daily articles, tips, and more information about ways and reasons to properly and effectively hydrate!


WHY YOU SHOULD JOIN:

There are plenty of important reasons to stay hydrated. Your body is made up of almost 65% water – and your brain 80% water – making hydration and proper water intake crucial.

You lose water during biological functions, such as breathing, perspiring and urinating. You lose more water during exercise and outdoor activities – especially in the heat of summer.

Consuming an adequate amount of water keeps your skin healthy, your brain functioning properly and your blood flowing freely. It allows you to focus, allows your organs to function at an optimal level, and even assists in weight loss and maintenance of a healthy weight.

Our goal is to help you build a habit of water consumption, while learning the benefits of that habit, and the dangers of overconsumption of sugar-added beverages.

Make one simple change for your health over the next sixty days that will lead to further benefits and achievements!

Visit the NoFizzUSA Facts Page for information on water – as well as studies on the dangers of overconsumption of sugar-added beverages and soda.


FOR THE OVERACHIEVERS:

Feel like going above and beyond over the next sixty days? Great! Here’s a few things you can do:

1. Track your body weight at the start of the challenge, and at the end, and mark the difference.
Drinking water has consistently been linked with improved weight loss and weight maintenance.

2. Share the challenge with your friends and family!
Invite them to sign up for the challenge
, follow us on Facebook and Twitter, and more.

3. At the end of the challenge, share your hydration story with us to feature on our website.
Click here for details on how to share you story with the NoFizz America team!

4. Addicted to Twitter like we are? Join the conversation!
You can follow us here. Hashtags to use for the event include #NoFizzUSA, #60for60 and #SummerOfWater.

5. In the Carolinas? Bring us to your school, community center, or athletic team.
We don’t just hold virtual challenges. In fact, we’ve worked with more than 15,000 students in North and South Carolina through partnerships with Mecklenburg County, the YMCA of Greater Charlotte and other organizations. Interested in bringing us to your organization for a health, hydration, or fitness program? Contact us here.

[VIDEO]: 3 Questions For… Jeromy

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By Bobby DeMuro

Last week at the Carolinas CARE Partnership Home Run 5K, we ambushed one of their super-volunteers, Jeromy Dunn, and quizzed him about water consumption, soda studies, and more.

We asked him three questions:

1) What is the number one source of calories in the American diet?
2) According to Virginia Tech, in a 2009 study, people eat 75 fewer calories per meal on average if they _____?
3) According to the Mayo Clinic, in 2010, what is the recommended amount of water consumed daily by an adult?

You can play too!

Don’t want to hear the answers? Don’t watch the video yet, and don’t scroll down below the video (answers below!). Quiz yourself, or share your answers with us via Twitter and Facebook.

Answers:
1) Soda.
2) Drink a glass of water.
3) Trick question! Depending on age, body weight, activity level, and more, try to drink between 60 and 120 ounces of water every day. More info here.

[VIDEO]: Meet Carolinas CARE Partnership and the Home Run 5K

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By Bobby DeMuro

On Saturday, we spent time at the Carolinas CARE Partnership’s Home Run 5K in McAlpine Creek Park in Charlotte, NC. Carolinas CARE brought us in to hold pre-race stretching and warm-up routines (a video of which will be posted shortly!), and we were able to meet a ton of great runners, participants, and volunteers.

We ran all runners through a pre-race stretching and physical fitness routine, to ensure that they were prepared and able to avoid injury and race a competitive, fast and fun 5K!

Meet Shannon Warren, the Program Director for Carolinas CARE Partnership, and learn about what their organization does for AIDS prevention and programming in the Charlotte region.


Check out some photos below of our time with Carolinas CARE Partnership at the Home Run 5K:

Healthy snacks (and tons of water!) available at the race!


After our stretching warm-up, the runners get ready to take off on the course!


There they go!

[RADIO]: Starting a Distance Running Regimen with Allison Rice

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By Bobby DeMuro

This week on Radio Exiles, we spoke with Allison Rice, a public health and exercise professional and the creator of the fitness website Happy Tales Blog, who challenged our listeners to begin their own distance running regimen over the next seven days, regardless of starting level.

Click here to listen to the show.

Allison laid out some simple tips for runner of all levels and abilities, in order to begin a safe and effective running regimen. From hydration, to stretching, to that very first run, to injury avoidance, Allison shared her thoughts on effectively designing and maintaining a program with an end goal (a race or event!) in mind.

Allison also shared with us her most recent marathon experience (the Flying Pig Marathon in Cincinnati back in May), and gave her tips on what a runner might expect at various new running events and marathons.

Whether an amateur runner, or a seasoned professional in need of a “kick-start,” all can benefit from Allison’s tips to get out there and get running!

You can listen to the show this week (and all of our previous Radio Exiles podcasts) by clicking here.

For those of you in the Charlotte area, you can listen by either downloading the show, or listening via streaming over the internet. As a bonus, all Radio Exiles shows are available for podcast download on iTunes!