Today’ Re-Powering Information – Today’s article from Reuters should come as no surprise to you. Overeating is causing obesity. People are eating about 500 more calories a day and children about 300 more calories a day. I would bet on the fact that those calories are not in the form of fruits or vegetables either. Our diets have chanced dramatically from the 70’s. Not only are we eating more, but we are less nourished. This article is missing the boat when it is not stressing the importance of exercise not only for calories burned per session, but for health and increasing metabolism as well as the detoxifying properties.
It’s still a good eye opener that lends to the reason our nations inhabitants are growing in size.
Overeating to blame for U.S. obesity epidemic
Fri May 8, 2009 12:11pm EDT
By Megan Rauscher
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - The major reason for the obesity epidemic that has gripped the United States in the past three decades is increased food intake, not reduced physical activity, according to a study released Friday at the European Congress on Obesity in Amsterdam.
The study is the first to quantify the relative contributions of food and exercise habits to the growing number of Americans with bulging waistlines.
"In the U.S., over the last 30 years, it seems that the food side of the equation has changed much more than the physical activity side," Professor Boyd A. Swinburn, director of the World Health Organization Collaborating Center for Obesity Prevention at Deakin University, Melbourne, Australia, noted in a telephone interview with Reuters Health.
Weight gain in the American population seems to be virtually all due to the consumption of more calories, with declines in physical activity playing only a minor role, Swinburn explained.
"We absolutely need to continue to promote increased physical activity and a healthy diet because they are both obviously beneficial factors in terms of obesity," he emphasized. "But when it comes to placing priorities, I think it needs to be on reducing energy intake. It's particularly important for policymakers to focus on the energy intake side of the equation."
In the study, Swinburn and his colleagues calculated how much adults need to eat in order to maintain a stable weight and how much children need to eat in order to maintain a normal growth curve.
They then figured out how much Americans were actually eating, using national food supply data from the 1970s and the early 2000s. This information allowed them to predict how much weight Americans would be expected to gain over the 30-year study period if food intake were the only influence.
Next, the investigators determined the actual weight gained over the study period using data from a nationally representative survey that recorded the weight of Americans in the 1970s and early 2000s.
In children, according to Swinburn and colleagues, the predicted and actual weight increase matched exactly, which indicates that the increases in energy intake alone over the 30 years studied could explain the added pounds, they say.
In adults, the data predicted that they would be 10.8 kg (23.8 pounds) heavier, but in fact they were only 8.6 kg (18.9 pounds) heavier. This finding, Swinburn noted, "suggests that excess food intake still explains the weight gain, but that there may have been increases in physical activity over the 30 years that have blunted what would otherwise have been a higher weight gain."
"To return to the average weights of the 1970s, we would need to reverse the increased food intake of about 350 calories a day for children (about one can of fizzy drink and a small portion of French fries) and 500 calories a day for adults (about one large hamburger)," Swinburn noted in a statement from the meeting.
"Alternatively, we could achieve similar results by increasing physical activity by about 150 minutes a day of extra walking for children and 110 minutes for adults, but realistically, although a combination of both is needed, the focus would have to be on reducing calorie intake," he added.
End.
Dream big!
Showing posts with label Exercise and Metabolism. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Exercise and Metabolism. Show all posts
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
HAPPY for No Reason
I was so happy to hear that a few of you read the article yesterday about Matt Long. Can you say INSPIRATION??? WOW, that’s hard to top. But here goes . .
Has anyone see the book “Happy for No Reason”? http://www.amazon.com/dp/141654772X/?tag=googhydr-20&hvadid=2434701625&ref=pd_sl_41xu119nd7_e. I must have seen it enter my inbox about 10 times in the last week from various places including forwards from friends. I have not read it yet, (I promised myself, I would get through the last 13 books I ordered which are no my night stand with book marks in each of them), but it’s on my wish list. Here’s some thoughts from the author, Marci Shmihoff
Does the idea of standing in front of a mirror and appreciating your positive qualities feel uncomfortable and stupid? It did to me-which was a sign that I really needed to try it.
I first learned this mirror exercise in 1990, when I took a week-long course from my mentor, Jack Canfield, on self-esteem. Jack assigned the exercise as homework every night, saying, "Make sure you do this behind a closed door so nobody walks by and thinks you're crazy." Each night my roommate and I took turns going into the bathroom, shutting the door, and whispering sweet nothings to our reflections: "You're kind." "You're loyal." "You have a loving heart."
The first night, I felt like a California New Age woo-woo nutcase, but soon I experienced a rush of sadness; I was such an expert at judging myself-why was it so hard to say nice things?
With practice, it gradually became easier to list reasons to love myself: "You're smart." "You go out of your way to help others." And so on. But the real power of this exercise came when I learned to express appreciation for myself for no reason-to look myself in the eye and simply love who I was, unconditionally.
If you're like most people, consciously recognizing the positive about yourself may feel conceited. After all, we're raised not to "toot our own horns." So we end up not giving ourselves credit or acknowledgment or even worse, beating ourselves up, which shuts down our hearts, contracts our energy, and decreases our happiness levels.
Doing the research for my book Happy for No Reason, I interviewed scores of scientists along with one hundred unconditionally happy people (I call them the Happy 100). One of the things I discovered is that truly happy people have a compassionate, encouraging, and validating attitude toward themselves. This isn't arrogance or self-centeredness; it's an appreciation and acceptance of who they are.
Learning to see the positive about yourself starts by changing your brain's habit of focusing on your negative experiences and instead inclining your mind toward joy.
So today, begin registering your happy experiences more deeply-- consciously look for them. You can make it a game you play with yourself. Have the intention to notice everything good that happens to you: anything you see, feel, taste, hear or smell that brings you joy, a "win" you experience, a breakthrough, an a-ha, or an expression of your creativity-the list goes on and on.
This intention triggers the reticular activating system (RAS), a group of cells at the base of your brain stem responsible for sorting through the massive amounts of incoming information and bringing anything important to your attention. Have you ever bought a car and then suddenly starting noticing the same make of car everywhere? It's the RAS at work. Now you can use it to be happier. When you decide to look for the positive, your RAS makes sure that's what you see.
Adelle, one of the Happy 100, told me about a unique method she has for registering the positive. As she goes about her day, she gives away awards in her mind: the best-behaved dog award, the most colorful landscape design at a fast food drive-through award, the most courteous driver award. This keeps her alert to the beauty and positivity that is all around her. Charmed by this idea, I tried it myself. I liked it so much, I've been giving out these "Happiness Oscars," as I call them, ever since.
Once you notice something positive, take a moment to savor it consciously. Take the good experience in deeply and feel it; make it more than just a mental observation. If possible, spend around 30 seconds, soaking up the happiness you feel. If you want to accelerate your progress, take time every day to write down a few of your wins, breakthroughs, and things you appreciate about others-and about yourself.
You'll know you've really mastered this when you can give yourself an Academy Award-for outstanding achievement in true happiness!
credit: Marci Shimoff
Hope you are enjoying today. Live in the moment and be happy – it beats grumpy any day!
Has anyone see the book “Happy for No Reason”? http://www.amazon.com/dp/141654772X/?tag=googhydr-20&hvadid=2434701625&ref=pd_sl_41xu119nd7_e. I must have seen it enter my inbox about 10 times in the last week from various places including forwards from friends. I have not read it yet, (I promised myself, I would get through the last 13 books I ordered which are no my night stand with book marks in each of them), but it’s on my wish list. Here’s some thoughts from the author, Marci Shmihoff
Does the idea of standing in front of a mirror and appreciating your positive qualities feel uncomfortable and stupid? It did to me-which was a sign that I really needed to try it.
I first learned this mirror exercise in 1990, when I took a week-long course from my mentor, Jack Canfield, on self-esteem. Jack assigned the exercise as homework every night, saying, "Make sure you do this behind a closed door so nobody walks by and thinks you're crazy." Each night my roommate and I took turns going into the bathroom, shutting the door, and whispering sweet nothings to our reflections: "You're kind." "You're loyal." "You have a loving heart."
The first night, I felt like a California New Age woo-woo nutcase, but soon I experienced a rush of sadness; I was such an expert at judging myself-why was it so hard to say nice things?
With practice, it gradually became easier to list reasons to love myself: "You're smart." "You go out of your way to help others." And so on. But the real power of this exercise came when I learned to express appreciation for myself for no reason-to look myself in the eye and simply love who I was, unconditionally.
If you're like most people, consciously recognizing the positive about yourself may feel conceited. After all, we're raised not to "toot our own horns." So we end up not giving ourselves credit or acknowledgment or even worse, beating ourselves up, which shuts down our hearts, contracts our energy, and decreases our happiness levels.
Doing the research for my book Happy for No Reason, I interviewed scores of scientists along with one hundred unconditionally happy people (I call them the Happy 100). One of the things I discovered is that truly happy people have a compassionate, encouraging, and validating attitude toward themselves. This isn't arrogance or self-centeredness; it's an appreciation and acceptance of who they are.
Learning to see the positive about yourself starts by changing your brain's habit of focusing on your negative experiences and instead inclining your mind toward joy.
So today, begin registering your happy experiences more deeply-- consciously look for them. You can make it a game you play with yourself. Have the intention to notice everything good that happens to you: anything you see, feel, taste, hear or smell that brings you joy, a "win" you experience, a breakthrough, an a-ha, or an expression of your creativity-the list goes on and on.
This intention triggers the reticular activating system (RAS), a group of cells at the base of your brain stem responsible for sorting through the massive amounts of incoming information and bringing anything important to your attention. Have you ever bought a car and then suddenly starting noticing the same make of car everywhere? It's the RAS at work. Now you can use it to be happier. When you decide to look for the positive, your RAS makes sure that's what you see.
Adelle, one of the Happy 100, told me about a unique method she has for registering the positive. As she goes about her day, she gives away awards in her mind: the best-behaved dog award, the most colorful landscape design at a fast food drive-through award, the most courteous driver award. This keeps her alert to the beauty and positivity that is all around her. Charmed by this idea, I tried it myself. I liked it so much, I've been giving out these "Happiness Oscars," as I call them, ever since.
Once you notice something positive, take a moment to savor it consciously. Take the good experience in deeply and feel it; make it more than just a mental observation. If possible, spend around 30 seconds, soaking up the happiness you feel. If you want to accelerate your progress, take time every day to write down a few of your wins, breakthroughs, and things you appreciate about others-and about yourself.
You'll know you've really mastered this when you can give yourself an Academy Award-for outstanding achievement in true happiness!
credit: Marci Shimoff
Hope you are enjoying today. Live in the moment and be happy – it beats grumpy any day!
Friday, February 27, 2009
The Real Truth Behind Flu Shots -- And Why So Few People Get the Flu During the Summer...
I know there has been a lot of illness going around camp and especially the schools. I have a 5 year old nephew who has been in the hospital for a week with an intellavirus who now has a pick line implanted for a month of high dosage anti-biotics. I just saw this article and video below from Dr. Mercola’s website regarding the truth about flu shots. I have told you before that in 39 years I have had the flu once (Thanksgiving 1997) and I have NEVER had a flu shot. I remember growing up with friends who had the flu shot every year and got the flu every year. I figured I would take my chances.
Read, watch and listen and form your own opinion. Vitamin D therapy sounds a lot more reasonable to me – especially since some people are deficient.
The Real Truth Behind Flu Shots -- And Why So Few People Get the Flu During the Summer...
Dr. John Cannell is the physician in the first video. He is the founder of the Vitamin D Council and one of the more knowledgeable vitamin D experts out there. He has been a primary resource for me in helping me formulate my understanding of vitamin D.
Only about 1,000 people die directly from the flu virus in the United States each year. While the government claims 36,000 -- the remaining 35,000 deaths are caused by diseases like pneumonia that may follow the flu.
But there's no clear scientific connection between the flu and these more serious afflictions. That means most of the time a flu shot has little impact in actually preventing death.
Barbara Loe Fisher, head of the National Vaccine Information Center, says that the repeated references to 36,000 seems to be an attempt to scare people into getting the shot. Fisher has a new book on the safety issues with vaccines, "Vaccines, Autism & Chronic Inflammation: The New Epidemic."
Her concerns have led her to look at alternatives. One alternative favored by a number of physicians is vitamin D. Dr. John Cannell, executive director of the Vitamin D Council, suggests the reason we even have a flu season is because our vitamin D levels drop, which takes place naturally as we get less and less sun with the approach of winter.
Cannell suggests babies get 1,000 units of vitamin D a day, and those 2 and older get 2,000 units. Many adults and some children need more than that.
Sources:
CBN November 4, 2008
Dr. Mercola''s Comments
Dr. Mercola's Comments:
Close to 150 million doses of flu vaccine have been produced this year, which is the highest number ever available. Yet, the chances of a flu shot being effective in any given year are about as high as your chances of pulling a needle from a haystack. This is because flu shots only protect against certain strains of the flu virus. These strains mutate rapidly, and scientists can only make educated guesses about which strains will be most prevalent this year.
As you might suspect, often they are way off base. As the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states:
“In some years when vaccine and circulating strains were not well-matched, no vaccine effectiveness can be demonstrated in some studies, even in healthy adults. It is not possible in advance of the influenza season to predict how well the vaccine and circulating strains will be matched, and how that match may affect the degree of vaccine effectiveness.”
This does not bode well for the millions of Americans who are being lulled into a false sense of security that getting a flu shot is all they need to do to prevent the flu.
Flu Shots’ Poor Rates of Effectiveness
It really amazes me how effective the drug companies have been at manipulating the culture to actually let them sell these toxic, ineffective and expensive options in pharmacies, airports, college campuses, grocery stores and countless other outlets.
The truth is that:
• Giving young children flu shots appeared to have no impact on flu-related doctor visits or hospitalizations during two recent flu seasons, according to a study published in the October issue of the Archives of Pediatric & Adolescent Medicine.
• The flu vaccine is no more effective for children than a placebo, according to a large-scale, systematic review of 51 studies, published in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews.
• No studies have conclusively proven that flu shots prevent flu-related deaths among the elderly.
• A study published in the Lancet just found that influenza vaccination was NOT associated with a reduced risk of pneumonia in older people. Why is this important? Because 35,000 of the 36,000 “flu” deaths the government claims happen each year are actually caused by diseases like pneumonia, and NOT the flu.
• Research published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine also confirms that there has been no decrease in deaths from influenza and pneumonia, despite the fact that vaccination coverage among the elderly has increased from 15 percent in 1980 to 65 percent now.
I can’t imagine anyone signing up to receive this vaccine even if they were paid to do it, yet tens of millions are conned into thinking money spent on this shot is worthwhile! If people only understood the facts, I doubt many would rationally decide to receive this shot.
Sadly, throwing away the money spent on the flu vaccine is the least of your worries, should you decide to get a flu shot.
What Exactly is in a Flu Shot?
Before you decide to get vaccinated, it would serve you well to find out.
According to Dr. Donald Miller, MD, two-thirds of this year’s flu vaccines contain 25 micrograms of thimerosal. Thimerosal is 49 percent mercury by weight.
Each dose of these flu vaccines contains more than 250 times the Environmental Protection Agency’s safety limit for mercury.
By now, most people are well aware that children and fetuses are most at risk of damage from this neurotoxin, as their brains are still developing. Yet the CDC still recommends that children over 6 months, and pregnant women, receive the flu vaccine each year. This is just inexcusable.
In addition to mercury, flu vaccines also contain other hazardous ingredients like:
• Formaldehyde -- a known cancer-causing agent
• Aluminum -- a neurotoxin that has been linked to Alzheimer’s disease
• Triton X-100 -- a detergent
• Phenol (carbolic acid)
• Ethylene glycol (antifreeze)
• Various antibiotics: neomycin, streptomycin, gentamicin -- which can cause allergic reactions in some people
How many people do you think would knowingly sit down and allow themselves, or their children, to be injected with:
• Formaldehyde?
• Aluminum?
• Mercury?
• Antifreeze?
It’s time word got out that if you got a flu shot, you did exactly that. And for what? Even if you get a flu shot, you can still get the flu, or flu-like symptoms, because it’s anyone’s guess which flu viruses will be in your area.
The powers that be have done an excellent job of instilling fear into the population so they believe that they must get a shot to stay healthy, but the simple reality is it’s doing you and your family more harm than good.
What REALLY Works for the Flu
Getting appropriate amounts of sunshine or UV exposure through a safe tanning bed (or taking a vitamin D supplement when you can’t get healthy amounts of UVB exposure) is one of my KEY preventive strategies against the cold and flu, as it has an extraordinary strengthening effect on your immune system.
Although supplements are clearly inferior to sunlight exposure or safe tanning beds, I am becoming more convinced of the value of vitamin D supplements as they are less potentially toxic than my initial impression, and they are certainly more convenient and less expensive than a tanning bed.
If you are in an area that does not allow you to get adequate sun exposure, and you don’t have access to a safe tanning bed, adults should take 5,000 to 10,000 IU of vitamin D per day, depending on body weight. For children, 2,000 IU per day is typically adequate.
For more information on this amazing flu-preventing vitamin, as well as where to have your vitamin D levels checked and how to cure a cold or flu with mega-doses of vitamin D, please read Avoid Flu Shots With the One Vitamin That Will Stop Flu in Its Tracks.
And, please, think long and hard about whether you want to waste your money on a toxin-laden shot that likely won’t work to prevent the flu. Personally, I have not received a flu shot nor had the flu in over 20 years because I use lifestyle strategies to keep the flu (and other illnesses) at bay.
The good news is that you can do them too, and drastically improve your chances of staying healthy right on through flu season:
• Eat right for your nutritional type, including avoiding sugar
• Get plenty of vitamin D
• Eliminate sugar from your diet
• Eat garlic regularly
• Consume a high-quality krill oil daily
• Exercise
• Get adequate sleep
• Address emotional stress
• Wash your hands regularly (but not excessively)
Read, watch and listen and form your own opinion. Vitamin D therapy sounds a lot more reasonable to me – especially since some people are deficient.
The Real Truth Behind Flu Shots -- And Why So Few People Get the Flu During the Summer...
Dr. John Cannell is the physician in the first video. He is the founder of the Vitamin D Council and one of the more knowledgeable vitamin D experts out there. He has been a primary resource for me in helping me formulate my understanding of vitamin D.
Only about 1,000 people die directly from the flu virus in the United States each year. While the government claims 36,000 -- the remaining 35,000 deaths are caused by diseases like pneumonia that may follow the flu.
But there's no clear scientific connection between the flu and these more serious afflictions. That means most of the time a flu shot has little impact in actually preventing death.
Barbara Loe Fisher, head of the National Vaccine Information Center, says that the repeated references to 36,000 seems to be an attempt to scare people into getting the shot. Fisher has a new book on the safety issues with vaccines, "Vaccines, Autism & Chronic Inflammation: The New Epidemic."
Her concerns have led her to look at alternatives. One alternative favored by a number of physicians is vitamin D. Dr. John Cannell, executive director of the Vitamin D Council, suggests the reason we even have a flu season is because our vitamin D levels drop, which takes place naturally as we get less and less sun with the approach of winter.
Cannell suggests babies get 1,000 units of vitamin D a day, and those 2 and older get 2,000 units. Many adults and some children need more than that.
Sources:
CBN November 4, 2008
Dr. Mercola''s Comments
Dr. Mercola's Comments:
Close to 150 million doses of flu vaccine have been produced this year, which is the highest number ever available. Yet, the chances of a flu shot being effective in any given year are about as high as your chances of pulling a needle from a haystack. This is because flu shots only protect against certain strains of the flu virus. These strains mutate rapidly, and scientists can only make educated guesses about which strains will be most prevalent this year.
As you might suspect, often they are way off base. As the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states:
“In some years when vaccine and circulating strains were not well-matched, no vaccine effectiveness can be demonstrated in some studies, even in healthy adults. It is not possible in advance of the influenza season to predict how well the vaccine and circulating strains will be matched, and how that match may affect the degree of vaccine effectiveness.”
This does not bode well for the millions of Americans who are being lulled into a false sense of security that getting a flu shot is all they need to do to prevent the flu.
Flu Shots’ Poor Rates of Effectiveness
It really amazes me how effective the drug companies have been at manipulating the culture to actually let them sell these toxic, ineffective and expensive options in pharmacies, airports, college campuses, grocery stores and countless other outlets.
The truth is that:
• Giving young children flu shots appeared to have no impact on flu-related doctor visits or hospitalizations during two recent flu seasons, according to a study published in the October issue of the Archives of Pediatric & Adolescent Medicine.
• The flu vaccine is no more effective for children than a placebo, according to a large-scale, systematic review of 51 studies, published in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews.
• No studies have conclusively proven that flu shots prevent flu-related deaths among the elderly.
• A study published in the Lancet just found that influenza vaccination was NOT associated with a reduced risk of pneumonia in older people. Why is this important? Because 35,000 of the 36,000 “flu” deaths the government claims happen each year are actually caused by diseases like pneumonia, and NOT the flu.
• Research published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine also confirms that there has been no decrease in deaths from influenza and pneumonia, despite the fact that vaccination coverage among the elderly has increased from 15 percent in 1980 to 65 percent now.
I can’t imagine anyone signing up to receive this vaccine even if they were paid to do it, yet tens of millions are conned into thinking money spent on this shot is worthwhile! If people only understood the facts, I doubt many would rationally decide to receive this shot.
Sadly, throwing away the money spent on the flu vaccine is the least of your worries, should you decide to get a flu shot.
What Exactly is in a Flu Shot?
Before you decide to get vaccinated, it would serve you well to find out.
According to Dr. Donald Miller, MD, two-thirds of this year’s flu vaccines contain 25 micrograms of thimerosal. Thimerosal is 49 percent mercury by weight.
Each dose of these flu vaccines contains more than 250 times the Environmental Protection Agency’s safety limit for mercury.
By now, most people are well aware that children and fetuses are most at risk of damage from this neurotoxin, as their brains are still developing. Yet the CDC still recommends that children over 6 months, and pregnant women, receive the flu vaccine each year. This is just inexcusable.
In addition to mercury, flu vaccines also contain other hazardous ingredients like:
• Formaldehyde -- a known cancer-causing agent
• Aluminum -- a neurotoxin that has been linked to Alzheimer’s disease
• Triton X-100 -- a detergent
• Phenol (carbolic acid)
• Ethylene glycol (antifreeze)
• Various antibiotics: neomycin, streptomycin, gentamicin -- which can cause allergic reactions in some people
How many people do you think would knowingly sit down and allow themselves, or their children, to be injected with:
• Formaldehyde?
• Aluminum?
• Mercury?
• Antifreeze?
It’s time word got out that if you got a flu shot, you did exactly that. And for what? Even if you get a flu shot, you can still get the flu, or flu-like symptoms, because it’s anyone’s guess which flu viruses will be in your area.
The powers that be have done an excellent job of instilling fear into the population so they believe that they must get a shot to stay healthy, but the simple reality is it’s doing you and your family more harm than good.
What REALLY Works for the Flu
Getting appropriate amounts of sunshine or UV exposure through a safe tanning bed (or taking a vitamin D supplement when you can’t get healthy amounts of UVB exposure) is one of my KEY preventive strategies against the cold and flu, as it has an extraordinary strengthening effect on your immune system.
Although supplements are clearly inferior to sunlight exposure or safe tanning beds, I am becoming more convinced of the value of vitamin D supplements as they are less potentially toxic than my initial impression, and they are certainly more convenient and less expensive than a tanning bed.
If you are in an area that does not allow you to get adequate sun exposure, and you don’t have access to a safe tanning bed, adults should take 5,000 to 10,000 IU of vitamin D per day, depending on body weight. For children, 2,000 IU per day is typically adequate.
For more information on this amazing flu-preventing vitamin, as well as where to have your vitamin D levels checked and how to cure a cold or flu with mega-doses of vitamin D, please read Avoid Flu Shots With the One Vitamin That Will Stop Flu in Its Tracks.
And, please, think long and hard about whether you want to waste your money on a toxin-laden shot that likely won’t work to prevent the flu. Personally, I have not received a flu shot nor had the flu in over 20 years because I use lifestyle strategies to keep the flu (and other illnesses) at bay.
The good news is that you can do them too, and drastically improve your chances of staying healthy right on through flu season:
• Eat right for your nutritional type, including avoiding sugar
• Get plenty of vitamin D
• Eliminate sugar from your diet
• Eat garlic regularly
• Consume a high-quality krill oil daily
• Exercise
• Get adequate sleep
• Address emotional stress
• Wash your hands regularly (but not excessively)
Friday, February 13, 2009
Feel Younger
Today’s re-powering information – Lets finish up today and the week on a positive note. Here’s a fact. Regular exercise can make your real age 9 years younger than your biological age. I’m not tooting my own horn, but I recently started using face book and have connected with some friends from high school. From what I can see of their head shots, many have round faces, the guys have full heads of gray hair and maybe I am kidding myself, but they look much older than me (I’ll be 40 this December – Yikes, I think that’s the first time I said that!). Exercise is your fountain of youth. When I was on the beach 2 weeks ago, I could clearly see the fit bodies confidently and briskly striding along the beach. You can tell that they are older, but they look younger and burst with energy. You have seen these people on the beach and can quickly identify the fit ones who exercise. In comparison it’s also easy to identify the unfit bodies who are meandering or sitting in lounge chairs with snacks in their mouths and supersized beverages in their hands. I’m not judging, but it’s clear the differences in lifestyle.
When exercise is an important part of your life it is the one thing that has the most far reaching effects on the rest of what you do here on earth. When you are fit, you make more conscious nutrition choices, you sleep better, you manage stress, have better mental clarity, more patience for relationships, are more concerned about your environment and much more. There is research to prove all of this which is in addition to the health benefits. People who exercise make more money, they live longer, they are happier, have higher self esteem, recover faster, have better immune systems and more and more and more! I know I am preaching to the choir, but I wanted to reinforce the importance of keeping exercise a priority in your life in hopes that you don’t take it for granted, but also being to positively influence those in your circle by your example.
End:
When exercise is an important part of your life it is the one thing that has the most far reaching effects on the rest of what you do here on earth. When you are fit, you make more conscious nutrition choices, you sleep better, you manage stress, have better mental clarity, more patience for relationships, are more concerned about your environment and much more. There is research to prove all of this which is in addition to the health benefits. People who exercise make more money, they live longer, they are happier, have higher self esteem, recover faster, have better immune systems and more and more and more! I know I am preaching to the choir, but I wanted to reinforce the importance of keeping exercise a priority in your life in hopes that you don’t take it for granted, but also being to positively influence those in your circle by your example.
End:
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Exercise and Metabolism, Pumpkin Zucchini Muffins
Today’s Re-Powering Information – I rarely talk about exercise because I feel like I have it covered for you. Today I wanted to reinforce the importance of your commitment to exercise. I mentioned giggling this morning as I looked at Anthony walking to the car all bundled up and laughed out loud to think that we all have to be just a little bit crazy to head out into the dark and cold to run around a parking lot . . . but clearly there is something of value to be had or none of us would be out there –with some of you approaching 2 years of attendance!
There are plenty of reasons for you to stay in bed. It seems as if everywhere we look these days, news of gloom and doom surrounds us. As the stock market continues to display volatility, housing prices go down, and the "experts" debate various bailout packages, our stress levels go up, creating the perfect storm for our physical, emotional and mental health. Add in the stress of the holiday season, and you've got a recipe for disaster. That’s why I am so glad you have boot camp. It’s the most effective stress-buster. Not only does it keep your body firm and healthy, and help you manage your weight, regular exercise is proven to foster an inner peace that will keep your stress level in check and counteract the damage it can do. Let's take a look at why exercise is more important than ever during these worrisome times.
• You experience the "runner's high" - that exhilarated feeling people get after a vigorous run. It's not a myth, and it's not just for runners. During exercise your body produces feel-good chemicals called endorphins, which foster a natural sense of well-being. It also decreases your cortisol, which is the hormone produced when your body reacts to stress. Cortisol is the culprit behind stresses many negative effects - anxiety, weight gain, elevated blood pressure and much more. You don't have to be a conditioned athlete to enjoy these benefits. I hope there are points in the workout where you just feel like you have “kicked in” and feel your inner thighs getting firmer, your legs becoming more powerful and your mid section getting firmer.
• Exercise offers a healthy, natural outlet for your frustrations. What better way to release the tension than through a good, hard workout? Exercise is the perfect way to knock out worry, aggravation and frustration.
• Physical activity creates an opportunity to clear the mental cobwebs and the emotional baggage. Getting deep into your body during a workout will pull you out of your head, creating a Zen-like state that will continue well after your workout is finished. Getting out in the morning gives you a fresh perspective and sets the tone for a more positive day. The mind and the body are incredibly closely connected - a healthy body goes a long way toward fostering emotional and mental health over the long term.
• Regular exercisers exhibit less physical response to stress. Now there's a positive thought!
• Successful people exercise regularly. The renowned Dr. Ken Cooper has studied the impact of regular exercise on top executives for over 25 years. His research shows that CEOs who exercise consistently are significantly more productive, resistant to the demands of leadership and successful than their sedentary counterparts.
So, while we cannot control the economy, we can absolutely control our reaction to it. It's easy to forgo your exercise routine in favor of brooding or working longer hours, but doing so only exacerbates the effects of what you're already facing. Right now the economy is in wintertime. This gives each of us the perfect opportunity to focus our energy in laying a strong foundation for the arrival of spring - it will come. Learn a new skill, register for that seminar you've always wanted to attend, set some new empowering goals, take care of your body and you will reap a bountiful harvest when the economy turns around.
Most gyms want to take your money and hope you don’t show up to take up space on the equipment and wear down the treadmills. I WANT you to show up for every class you sign up for.
I just did an interview this morning and one of the questions they asked was what is the difference in training a 20 year old compared to a 40 year old and the answer is that it depends on how well the 40 year old took care of themselves. 40 year old athletes are in better shape than a majority of 20 year olds. But if they are the typical American, they are in sad shape by the time they are 40. Check out this quote:
There is no drug in current or prospective use that holds as much promise for sustained health as a lifetime program of physical exercise. – Journal of the American Medical Association.
Fewer than 6% of women over 40 are considered active. 40 is about the average age in boot camp. You’ve heard of the saying “use it or lose it”.. That rings true for your body. As long as you are exercising you will keep your mental state, joint health, muscle, metabolism, endurance, strength, function and more.
So this may have sounded like a little exercise pep talk. I know you can feel the difference in your body and mind when you exercise compared to when you don’t. I can’t encourage or reinforce enough the importance of regular exercise to feel great and stay younger longer.
End
Enjoy a pumpkin zucchini muffin recipe. Sounds yummy right about now!
Pumpkin Zucchini Muffins
Don't let the rich flavor and mouthwatering moistness of these muffins fool you. You'll have a hard time convincing anyone, but this recipe was modified to include less fat and sugar than the original. This is a great treat to share at holiday parties.
Servings: 40 mini muffins
Here's what you need...
• 3 eggs, lightly beaten
• 1 cup natural honey
• 1 cup canned pumpkin
• 1/2 cup butter, melted
• 7 oz pear baby food (or applesauce)
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 3 cups whole wheat flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1 cup shredded zucchini
• 1/4 cup chopped walnuts
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line a mini muffin pan with paper baking cups, or use non-stick cooking spray.
2. In a mixing bowl combine eggs and honey. Add pumpkin, melted butter, pear baby food, and vanilla.
3. In a separate bowl combine all of the dry ingredients. Gradually add dry ingredients to pumpkin mixture and mix until well combined. Stir in the zucchini.
4. Pour into muffin tins, sprinkle the tops with chopped walnuts. Bake for 10-20 minutes or until you can poke a toothpick in a muffin and it comes out clean. Cool in the pan for 10 minutes.
Nutritional Analysis: One mini muffin equals: 92 calories, 3g fat, 15g carbohydrate, 1.5g fiber, and 2g protein.
End
Have a fabulously fit day!
There are plenty of reasons for you to stay in bed. It seems as if everywhere we look these days, news of gloom and doom surrounds us. As the stock market continues to display volatility, housing prices go down, and the "experts" debate various bailout packages, our stress levels go up, creating the perfect storm for our physical, emotional and mental health. Add in the stress of the holiday season, and you've got a recipe for disaster. That’s why I am so glad you have boot camp. It’s the most effective stress-buster. Not only does it keep your body firm and healthy, and help you manage your weight, regular exercise is proven to foster an inner peace that will keep your stress level in check and counteract the damage it can do. Let's take a look at why exercise is more important than ever during these worrisome times.
• You experience the "runner's high" - that exhilarated feeling people get after a vigorous run. It's not a myth, and it's not just for runners. During exercise your body produces feel-good chemicals called endorphins, which foster a natural sense of well-being. It also decreases your cortisol, which is the hormone produced when your body reacts to stress. Cortisol is the culprit behind stresses many negative effects - anxiety, weight gain, elevated blood pressure and much more. You don't have to be a conditioned athlete to enjoy these benefits. I hope there are points in the workout where you just feel like you have “kicked in” and feel your inner thighs getting firmer, your legs becoming more powerful and your mid section getting firmer.
• Exercise offers a healthy, natural outlet for your frustrations. What better way to release the tension than through a good, hard workout? Exercise is the perfect way to knock out worry, aggravation and frustration.
• Physical activity creates an opportunity to clear the mental cobwebs and the emotional baggage. Getting deep into your body during a workout will pull you out of your head, creating a Zen-like state that will continue well after your workout is finished. Getting out in the morning gives you a fresh perspective and sets the tone for a more positive day. The mind and the body are incredibly closely connected - a healthy body goes a long way toward fostering emotional and mental health over the long term.
• Regular exercisers exhibit less physical response to stress. Now there's a positive thought!
• Successful people exercise regularly. The renowned Dr. Ken Cooper has studied the impact of regular exercise on top executives for over 25 years. His research shows that CEOs who exercise consistently are significantly more productive, resistant to the demands of leadership and successful than their sedentary counterparts.
So, while we cannot control the economy, we can absolutely control our reaction to it. It's easy to forgo your exercise routine in favor of brooding or working longer hours, but doing so only exacerbates the effects of what you're already facing. Right now the economy is in wintertime. This gives each of us the perfect opportunity to focus our energy in laying a strong foundation for the arrival of spring - it will come. Learn a new skill, register for that seminar you've always wanted to attend, set some new empowering goals, take care of your body and you will reap a bountiful harvest when the economy turns around.
Most gyms want to take your money and hope you don’t show up to take up space on the equipment and wear down the treadmills. I WANT you to show up for every class you sign up for.
I just did an interview this morning and one of the questions they asked was what is the difference in training a 20 year old compared to a 40 year old and the answer is that it depends on how well the 40 year old took care of themselves. 40 year old athletes are in better shape than a majority of 20 year olds. But if they are the typical American, they are in sad shape by the time they are 40. Check out this quote:
There is no drug in current or prospective use that holds as much promise for sustained health as a lifetime program of physical exercise. – Journal of the American Medical Association.
Fewer than 6% of women over 40 are considered active. 40 is about the average age in boot camp. You’ve heard of the saying “use it or lose it”.. That rings true for your body. As long as you are exercising you will keep your mental state, joint health, muscle, metabolism, endurance, strength, function and more.
So this may have sounded like a little exercise pep talk. I know you can feel the difference in your body and mind when you exercise compared to when you don’t. I can’t encourage or reinforce enough the importance of regular exercise to feel great and stay younger longer.
End
Enjoy a pumpkin zucchini muffin recipe. Sounds yummy right about now!
Pumpkin Zucchini Muffins
Don't let the rich flavor and mouthwatering moistness of these muffins fool you. You'll have a hard time convincing anyone, but this recipe was modified to include less fat and sugar than the original. This is a great treat to share at holiday parties.
Servings: 40 mini muffins
Here's what you need...
• 3 eggs, lightly beaten
• 1 cup natural honey
• 1 cup canned pumpkin
• 1/2 cup butter, melted
• 7 oz pear baby food (or applesauce)
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 3 cups whole wheat flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1 cup shredded zucchini
• 1/4 cup chopped walnuts
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line a mini muffin pan with paper baking cups, or use non-stick cooking spray.
2. In a mixing bowl combine eggs and honey. Add pumpkin, melted butter, pear baby food, and vanilla.
3. In a separate bowl combine all of the dry ingredients. Gradually add dry ingredients to pumpkin mixture and mix until well combined. Stir in the zucchini.
4. Pour into muffin tins, sprinkle the tops with chopped walnuts. Bake for 10-20 minutes or until you can poke a toothpick in a muffin and it comes out clean. Cool in the pan for 10 minutes.
Nutritional Analysis: One mini muffin equals: 92 calories, 3g fat, 15g carbohydrate, 1.5g fiber, and 2g protein.
End
Have a fabulously fit day!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)