While cruising the ‘net for information on the ‘criminalized’ athlete whose doping activity has either harmed or advanced their careers, I came across a CTV article (April, 2009) Banned sledder helps combat inadvertent doping. I was floored to read that Canadian bobsleigh pilot Serge Despres was banned from competing until August, 2009 due to the consumption of a single contaminated supplement in 2007.

Unfortunately, this case is not an anomaly. In 2001, the IOC lab tested 634 supplements from around the world and found that some were incomplete or inaccurately labelled. For instance, more than 25 per cent of the supplements collected in The Netherlands yielded positive tests for banned substances undisclosed on the packaging. An yet, in light of these findings, Despres’ ban for an infinitely small positive – less than a single nanogram of steroids – was not revoked.

What can an athlete do to ensure that the supplements they require to support an intensely active, rigorous and demanding training program are contaminate-free?

Currently, a company called NSF International provides a Safe for Sport Certification analysis program, whereby manufacturers submit nutritional supplements to be tested up to 130 banned substances on the World Anti-Doping Association’s drug list before they are consumed by athletes.

NSF Certified for Sport Product list available here, and includes such Canadian-made products as:

• COLD-FX® Daily Defense
• Myoplex® Advanced Protein Ready to Drink (Vanilla)
• Activ-X Multivitamin for Active Men and Women by Platinum Naturals

Even though Despres’ 2010 Winter Olympic podium dreams have been publicly and humiliatingly crushed, he has used the situation to become part of the solution.  In April he helped launch the Clean Sport Initiative sponsored by Platinum Naturals, to campaign for increased knowledge and information on supplements approved by the NSF. Help support Despres’ cause and join the Facebook group: Clean Sport Initiative.

Bill Graveland/The Canadian Press

FoodScanner Demo from Andy Smith on Vimeo.

Before the promo video for the FoodScanner iPhone App even ended, I had my iPhone in my hand, ready to install this ingenious little app – but where was it? First, it appears I have to download the DailyBurn app – not the FoodScanner. Alright done. Create a profile. Check. Now what? App crash.

Scan, baby, scan

Hmm… my patience is wearing thin. But I want to scan food! I want instant, scanable proof of my daily noshes.

(Come to think of it, I first felt this ‘need to scan’ earlier this week while in Cost-co and fell in love with the NeatReceipt concept. Which I didn’t buy, btw – but I digress…)

Then it dawns – I first need to complete a profile* online at the Daily Burn. So I do, which takes a surprisingly short time to fill in my stats and create a diet goal. Easy to manoeuvre, gender-neutral theme, fun graphics. I’m drawn in with the jockey layout – the locker room, the gym, challenges, motivation, the calendars with their cute little legend.

DailyBurn calendar legend

Before this look-around, I hadn’t considered using a website to help monitor my fitness progress, even though I’ve seen quite a few in my day; I’m just a pen-and-paper, carry it around with me kinda gal when it comes to private stuff. But I was nearly sold when I remember it has a free iPhone app I can carry around with me! And it links into twitter. Tempting…

So, I’m inspired – I head to the bathroom, grab a flash card, my ‘tells me all’ scale, my tape measurer and fill out my anthropometric stats – I haven’t filled out a new flashcard since June 23, 2009.  My scale beeps out the first 6 measurements:

• Weight:
• % Body Fat:
• % Water:
• Bone Density:
• Daily Calorie Requirement:
• Metabolic Age:

My tape measure tells me the rest ~

• Bust:
• Waist:
• Hips:
• Glutes:
• R thigh:
• R biceps:

I’m happy to see there’s only a 0.6lb weight gain (lunch) and I’ve actually increased my biceps by 1 inch – must be the gym sessions at school. Body fat% is a percent higher, and my thighs & butt have another half inch on them each – must be the increased in all the sitting and highlighting journal after journal, article after article I’ve been doing since my Grad program started in Sept .

So, it’s nearly an hour later that I once again return to my iPhone to download the much-awaited FoodScanner App. $0.99 – a sale. Nice. Download now.

Not yet available in Canada.

Why  didn’t you tell me that before, DailyBurn, oh, why? You’ve foiled me for now, but I’ll be back in a couple of weeks when you’ve got the CDN version up and running. I’ll be back then…

Link shared with Lightfoot by Wade Kelly @wadekelly

Commedian Jim Gaffigan once wisely admonished, You’re not allowed cake for breakfast! You’re having fried cake with syrup.”

A far cry from being unhealthy, these Saturday morning pancakes originated from a 1980s Runner’s World Magazine recipe, and can be modifiend in a variety of ways, depending on your likings and dietary requirements. Make a couple of dozen and pop in the toaster for a quick and healthy weekday breakfast. Throw two in a zip-lock baggie to take on a long training ride.

• Dairy-free? Simple: applesause instead of milk, a frozen banana in the place of an egg
• Need more fiber? Add 2 tbsp of ground flaxseed
• Gluten intolerant? Use cup-for-cup replacement with a mixture of puffed millet, quinoa and rice, or GF flour

You can switch up the nuts or leave them out altogether (toasted taste best – almonds, walnuts – even apricot kernels) and play with spices – nutmeg, cinnamon, cloves, ginger. Below are some varieties coming out of the Lightfooted kitchen:

Pancakes

Runner’s Pancakes

Ingredients

1 cup whole wheat flour
1 cup rolled oats
½ cup yellow cornmeal
1 tsp baking soda
1 tbsp baking powder
Handful sunflower seeds
Handful chopped pecans

2 cups skim milk (original recipe calls for 2 cups buttermilk)
1 cup plain low fat yogurt (can use vanilla, add 1/2 cup more if using 2% or skim milk)
¼ cup oil (any oil will do but for health use olive oil)
2 eggs: beaten
2 tbsp maple syrup

In season, fresh fruit eg: blueberries can be added to the mixture

Directions

Mix dry ingredients.
Beat wet ingredients. Add to dry ingredients
Let stand 15 minutes prior to cooking
Use small amount of olive oil to cook pancakes in fry pan or on griddle; makes them crisp and tasty.