Summer means.... Member Party, Playground Crawl and Ice Cream Socials

NWFN Members!
Wow, when summer starts, it REALLY STARTS! NWFN has two great series starting this month, our summer member party is on June 10, and there are all kinds of movies, plays, and reading programs to enjoy throughout the entire summer! Enjoy!

You should have already received an invitation to our Friday, June 10 Member Party with all the details. We would love to get RSVPs by Saturday, June 4 so we have enough of everything. Check your spam or contact Sarah at sryzner@nearwestfamilynetwork.org (The original invitation was sent on May 23rd). RSVPs can also be sent to Sarah.

The NWFN Playground Crawl starts on Friday, June 10 at Herman Park
Our Playground Crawl with Near West Rec will be on FRIDAYS every week through the summer June 10 - August 12. We will travel to a different near west playground each week. Little ones meet at 10 am and then at 11 am organized games with Near West Recreation start for the slightly older kids (think 7 -12). It is a great opportunity to find new parks and meet new families in our neighborhood. Click on the flyer or check our website calendar

Everything we are able to accomplish is due to the dedication and financial and hand-on support from our volunteer board, members, and partners. This past month we would like to thank the following individuals and organizations:

The On the Horizon events are still in the works. If you have ideas and energy to help us move these events forward, please contact Amy at akulisheck@nearwestfamilynetwork.org

New events are added to our calendar as we learn about them. Also be sure to watch for announcements via Facebook page and Twitter throughout the month!

If you have an upcoming event you'd like us to include, please email all the pertinent infomraiton (title, date, time, location, description) to information@nearwestfamilynetwork.org

Muscle vs. Fat

Muscle vs Fat: What’s the Difference?
Weight is weight, right? Does what makes up the weight actually make a difference? Surely a pound of muscle is the same as a pound of fat, right?

Well, it’s not that simple.

What makes up the weight you carry can have an impact on your health, appearance, physical abilities, and general well-being.

Muscle and fat could not be more different in terms of both structure and role

Let’s Talk About Muscle:
Some muscles attach to your skeletal system. Others are key to the circulatory and digestive systems. Your heart is a muscle, and so is your bicep. Muscles are vital to the way your body runs!

Muscles use up calories in order to function, and they generally use up more calories than fat does (1). According to a paper published in the Exercise and Sport Sciences Review, “exercise improves the capacity of muscle to oxidize fat” (2). Since “reduced rates of fat oxidation […] have been shown to predict weight gain” (2), regular exercise can give muscles a boost in their fat oxidation, making it easier for you to control your weight.

Muscle is also denser than fat, which means that a pound of it will take up less space than a pound of fat. This can impact your physical appearance.

Let’s Talk About Fat:
Your body does need some fat, but it doesn’t need a ton of it. Fat helps store energy, insulate organs, and can even help the messenger systems in your body function. It also stores some nutrients, like vitamins A, D, E, and K.

Fat doesn’t use up as many calories as muscle does. Meanwhile, fat cells store more calories than muscle cells do (1). In terms of appearance, a person with a higher body fat percentage will appear larger than a person with a lower percentage, even though they weigh the same.

Sources:
1. “Muscle cells vs fat cells” Medline Plus http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/imagepages/19495.htm.
2. “Exercise improves fat metabolism in muscle but does not increase 24-h fatoxidation” Exercise and Sport Sciences Review http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2885974/.

(c) Food and Health Communications, Inc www.foodandhealth.com