LifeBreath Fitness and Holistic Health

From the ages of twelve through nineteen, I gained weight at an alarming rate. By the time I went to for college I was 180 pounds adorned with a size 16 wardrobe. I was very athletic, worked out all the time, but I was ignorant about exercise, inconsistent and my diet was terrible.

I did what a lot of people do – I starved myself during the day – after all, I was on a diet, - and then ate everything that wasn’t nailed down at night. I worked out at least two hours a day, but had no methodology, consistency or scientific knowledge.

I lost my weight and became emotionally healthy at the same time. What did it take? A complete makeover and lifestyle change. For me, it was getting married, moving to the mountains of New Mexico, studying, and consistently eating and exercising properly. The biggest change came emotionally. The healthier my mind became, the more my body followed suit. I’ve been fortunate to become healthier, first in my twenties, then thirties and now in my forties. Each decade has represented emotional, mental, physical and spiritual growth for me. Fitness and eating has become fun and a true path to better health and happiness.

For some people, a fitness makeover comes by way of a 2x4 across the head. What I mean by that is – a heart attack, diabetes, or looking in the mirror and not recognizing the slim, trim thirty year old that used to be there. Whatever the reason, there is no time like the present to get healthier and happier.

Ocean Reef - March – a few months after New Year’s resolutions, promises to become more fit and eat better, and for many, the second trimester of a three month commitment to diet and exercise. At first, there is excitement in the air – "Is this FINALLY the time that I will shed those extra pounds AND keep them off?" And at first, the pounds may have come off easily. Now, reality hits, there may be a little less enthusiasm, and you are settling in to a new, and sometimes difficult, way of life.

I often hear frustration in your voice, "I’ve only lost six (or eight or twelve) pounds in six weeks" or "I fell off the bandwagon yesterday." I hope that you begin to understand that a few pounds a week is perfect and that this is a life long commitment, not just a few weeks or a few months! Fitness, weight loss, eating "clean" (healthy) and exercise are about a way of life, not about a quick fix. Loosing two pounds per week is wonderful! More than this is often water weight and can not be maintained.

Each day, a commitment of one hour for exercise is desirable. I would recommend weight training, cardiovascular training, and to include things like balance, stretching, and agility training. And each day must include some kind of food planning. I am beginning to understand Ocean Reef a little better this year and for many of you it is common to be out and about all day long and to go to some kind of party every night of the week! Wow! Scheduling in time for workouts is challenging, but if I told you that it would extend your life and the quality of your life, would it be worth it? Planning your meals is beneficial too. Bring along healthy snacks wherever you go. Order healthy foods from our restaurants and don’t eat and drink everything that is pushed upon you at parties. Remember that we eat to live, not live to eat. And also remember that parties and activities are about friends and fun and NOT just about food and drinking.

Eat small meals often and make sure you are getting healthy amounts of protein, fats and carbohydrates

Increase your cardiovascular and weight training intensity as you grow used to your old intensity

Find fitness activities that you like to do. And if you don’t think you like any of them – just you wait! When you look and feel great, your mind will be changed.

And most importantly, work on your "inner self" to improve your "outer self" so that health and happiness become somewhat synonymous and that fitness becomes a way of life.

I am often asked what kind of training an individual “should” participate in. A member will come in to the fitness center and want to work on balance, or perhaps strength, loose weight or just tone up. Some want to enhance their golf or tennis. Others just want to be healthier, often through a physician’s recommendation to exercise. Some come in with a pre-concept of what they believe is the best kind of training and others leave it in the hands of a personal trainer. There are different reasons why we begin exercise, but I hope to encourage you to expand your exercise routine. Cross training is a key to a healthier, more active lifestyle.

The professionals do it! More and more, teams are expanding their workout sessions to continue to raise the bar in competition through training in other modalities. Examples: Back in the old days, professional basketball players were taught NOT to weight train. Today it is almost mandatory to be able to have the strength and endurance as highly tuned athletes. Football players are studying ballet. The Olympic ski team trains off season in Martial Arts. Golf and tennis props are strength training. And many teams are training in meditation and breathwork.

On a level for the average person, as we age and mature, in order to stay strong, flexible and agile, we must train in strength, flexibility and agility. You see, when we were children, we played hopscotch, climbed trees, and played throughout the day. We were in training (and we didn’t even know it). As we grow older, many of us don’t take the time to play and be active. In order to keep young, we now must consciously make an effort to “train” towards the things we used to take for granted – flexibility, balance, speed, agility, strength and even breathing.

Many of you participate in things like golf, tennis, fishing, and cardiovascular and/or strength training at the gym. Cudos to you! However, it would behoove you to take time to analyze your training. Does it include enough balance work, resistance training, and flexibility exercises? Do you only participate in one kind of training? If so, I can guarantee that you will become healthier and a better athlete if you begin to cross train more.

I know for myself it has made a huge difference. For years, I trained only in Martial Arts. In class, we did do some cross training the calisthenics and lots of stretching. However when I began weight training and participating in various kinds of cardiovascular training like mountain biking, aerobic classes, and some running, it made a huge difference. I can still hold my own in the fighting ring with the young male black belts in my karate school and I believe cross training has had a huge impact.

Flexibility: lots of stretching and range of motion exercises. You know the old saying…”If you don’t use it, you loose it!” If you aren’t stretching, you will become tight and less mobile.

Strength: include all kinds of strength training. You can use machines, free weights, and even your own body weight. Make sure you execute exercises for your whole body, not just certain body parts. Learn how to strength train properly.

Speed: If you keep going slower and slower, you’ll keep getting slower and slower. Speed it up from time to time. If you participate in a sport where speed is important, speed must be practiced. If you are just living from day to day, you still need to speed it up now and then to keep you from slowing down.

Balance: As many of you may be experiencing, balance is extremely important as you get older. Because we become less active, balance is an issue and must be PRACTICED in order to keep. There are lots of different ways of practicing balance. Tai Chi, dance, and working on balance drills with a trainer are a few examples.

Breathing exercises: Most people take breathing for granted, however, breathing exercises have been proven to help with stress, physical athletic performance and enhanced states of well-being. A friend of mine trains elite ski diving teams. She has begun using breathing in her training. When asked, “What were you doing when you made a mistake on that drill?,” the participants answered, “holding my breath.” You see, there is a direct correlation to breathing and performance. Watch any elite professional athlete (golf, tennis, whatever) and you will notice that their breathing is correct when executing a technique.

Meditation: learning how to focus and let go at the same time. Meditation has been proven to help people relax, lower their blood pressure and develop the mind/body connection, another important component of cross training.

In conclusion, I hope I have encouraged you to take time to ponder upon your current training or even begin a new training regiment. Sometimes we become set in our ways and we may have difficulty changing. I want to encourage you that change is good and that it is NEVER too late to become healthier and happier. Beth Bielat

Of course, this is not true. But what IS true, is that we need to work hard to reach our fitness goals. There is an internal art in knowing the difference between a hard workout, pain and too easy a workout. Working out should never hurt in the “ouch” way.

To train too hard or too easy can be detrimental. If we workout too hard, we can get injured and even create chronic problems. If we workout too easily, the benefits of exercise are missed. I like to use the Perceived Exertion Scale with many of my clients. This is an internal rating system on how hard they are working. Combined with heart rate monitoring, this is a great way to evaluate cardiovascular workouts. For weight training, I set 8 – 15 repetition guidelines that are strenuous, but can be completed.

All salads are NOT created equal. Salad dressings can add hundreds of calories for each serving and they can be filled with hydrogenated oils and other unhealthy ingredients. Try to pick salads that have lots of different color vegetables. Choose dressings that are light in fat, but include healthy fats like olive oil. Ask for dressings on the side while dining out. Try salsa as a dressings – it’s yummy. Remember that one teaspoon of oil has around 14 grams of fat. That equals 126 calories and can be half of your daily fat intake (depending on your gender, size, age, and activity level).

It’s just not true. Lifting weights for almost all women creates beautiful, lean, attractive muscles. It helps reduce body fat; helps create good bone density and muscle mass. Ladies, keep lifting those weights and if you haven’t started yet, you’re missing out on one of the greatest diet secrets ever

No you can’t! Science has not gotten that far yet. We can clone a sheep, but we can not take fat off a particular body part, that is, short of liposuction.

Although the sales of abdominal reducers have flooded the market, they just don’t cut it.

Diet and exercise are the only way to go. Why do you think there have been so many commercials for such a long span of time. Everyone is looking for the magic wand for flat abs, or a “better butt”, or less cellulite.

Diet and exercise – the latest greatest invention - to help lose weight, decrease the risk of most diseases, and make us feel energized and healthy.

There are two different issues at hand here. First, I think it may be unhealthy for most people to weigh themselves every day. Our weight fluctuates on a day to day basis. However, there are some personalities out there that may benefit from daily weighing. If weighing yourself every day is an obsession that leads to beating yourself up, food deprivation or mental anguish – don’t go there.

On the other hand, there are people who are scale-a-phobics. These folks NEVER weigh themselves in fear that they may gain weight. The nation statistics say that most of us gain weight each year as we age. We are scared to death to step on the scale to see if we are one of the statistics (or worse, gain even more).

Just be smart about it – once a week to once a month works well. Personally, I find one of the best monitors is my clothes. I know I’ve had a few too many deviations from healthy eating when my favorite jeans are a little to snug!

Not if you want to live long and healthy. Read the test results. EVERYONE benefits from exercise.

“DITTO” from the last comment. EVERYONE benefits from exercise – at any age and any fitness level!

I can’t tell you how many times a day I hear how impossible it is to eat healthy here at the Reef. I think there’s happy, HEALTHY medium, but it takes a little PLANNING.

There are four steps: planning, shopping, preparing, and then actually carrying out the plan.

If I know that I am going fishing and hiking in the next few days, I know that I need foods to bring on the boat that are easy to eat and I need foods that can’t be refrigerated for hiking. I plan out my week - more or less. Personally, I always have extra food on hand. My husband always teases me about how much food I bring on a morning fishing trip. But to my defense, morning fishing trips with him often turn out from dawn to dusk. Rarely does the food go to waste.

If I am going out to eat, I will be prepared to order healthy, low fat meals. I do not go to a restaurant starving- it’s a surefire way for me to “pig out.”

I make a detailed list of what I need for my meals and lots of healthy snacks. I make sure I don’t go to the grocery store hungry either (no binge shopping here). I look for fruits and vegetables that are in season and tasty. There’s nothing worse than biting into fruit that’s tasteless or old. I try to be creative and find new things to snack on or cook.

Once home, I clean and cut up lots of fruits and vegetables to snack on. I cook fairly large portions of soups, stews, casseroles and meat dishes to have for a few days. I make vegetable salads and fruit salads. Eating fresh takes a little peeling and chopping, but it’s worth its weight in gold – or should I say – it’s worth its weight in your belly! Yummy fresh!

The preparing also includes putting my foods into containers to bring with me for the day. I bring prepared containers to work or play. On any given day, you’ll find me with a cooler full of food. Luckily, I like home cooking better than going out. This also helps me have a handle on WHAT I’m actually eating. When you eat out a lot, you have to take extra special care on what you eat and portions sizes.

Once you’ve done all this work, don’t forget to carry out your plan. You actually have to put the food into the cooler, backpack, golf cart, or boat and EAT IT!

Try to eat often. Make sure you start with breakfast. Try to eat a snack between breakfast and lunch, and lunch and dinner. Here’s some healthy snack ideas for between meals:

Low fat cottage cheese and yogurt. Try mixing them together. It’s delicious and can be a full meal. You can add fresh fruit or a few almond slivers.

A few pieces of chicken breast bites and fruit salad. I often make my chicken breasts in salsa. They’re very moist and tasty.

Oatmeal with some almond or walnut slivers. Quaker Oats makes a new oatmeal with high fiber and protein.

So – start planning – you’ll live a happier healthier life. And remember: when you’re socializing, it’s not about the food and drink, it’s about the PEOPLE and HAVING FUN!

Dr. Marian Nelson is a Tufts University expert on exercises and here’s what she has to say:

“From the top of your head to the bottom of your toes, being physically active is the stimulus that gets most organs in the body to work at their best.”

“If you’re not active, it affects all body systems, literally down to the cellular level, where your ability to transfer oxygen from the bloodstream to cells is diminished and the number of power-producing mitochondria in your cells is less.”

“If you can’t get as much oxygen out of your blood, you can’t walk up a flight of stairs as easily as you get older.” However, “Well into your 90s, all of these systems can be stimulated.” “It’s really quite remarkable.”

One of our fine members dropped off a copy of “Nutrition Action Healthletter.” The name of the article he saved for me is called “While You Wait, The Cost of Inactivity.”

It emphasizes 10 ways inactivity can take a toll on your body and I’d like to highlight them for you.

Diabetes is a disease of inactivity. The growing number of young and old who are being diagnosed with diabetes is staggering. In recent study, researchers found that with as little as 2 ½ hours of aerobic exercise and losing 7 percent body fat, the risk of diabetes were reduced by 58 percent.

Researchers found that the risk colon cancer and breast cancer can be decreased significantly with exercise. The benefits have not been proven in other types of cancer, but it just makes sense that there is a correlation. They believe that between 30 – 60 minutes of activity each day is enough to make create positive changes in risk.

“The evidence is fairly solid that people who are more physically active are at lower risk for cognitive decline and dementia.” Recent studies have also shown that more intense exercise gives bigger benefits.

“Every year, 1.2 million Americans have a heart attack. It’s no surprise that coach potatoes have a higher risk.” “We know that physical activity has beneficial effects on risk factors for heart disease like lipids, blood pressure, and insulin sensitivity.”

“People who are active are 25 percent less likely to have a stroke than their sedentary counterparts.”

Muscle atrophy usually starts around the age of 40 for people with average activity levels. For every decade there after, we may lose 6 percent muscle mass. However, anyone at any age can build muscle through exercise and the earlier you start the better. We must not only use our muscles, but we must overload them in order to make them stronger. Regular progressive overload makes our muscles stronger, keeps us independent, creates less risk of falls and fractures, and keeps us out of the nursing home.

“Fragile bones – osteoporosis- causes more than 1.5 million fractures each year in the U.S. Again, overloading the muscles is important. “Load is more important than repetition, so a small number of repetitions with a heavy load stimulates bone formation more than walking or jogging, where you can do thousands of repetitions but the load isn’t very much.” No more than 15 repetitions with a weight that is quite challenging seems to do the trick.

“If you don’t exercise, you’re going to go to pot. You’re going to gain weight and lose fitness.” You will gain weight each year and the longer you wait, the more exercise you will need to perform to lose that weight.

“Regular exercise may boost the immune system” Moderation is important, however. People who do too little or too much will get more colds, a sure sign that your immune system is off. Researchers have found that vigorous exercise needs to be performed at least two to three times a week to significantly stimulate the immune system for optimal health.

So, I guess it’s pretty easy to figure out and it’s not rocket science. Get movin’ and make it NOW!

“Americans enjoy one of the most luxurious lifestyles on Earth: Our food is plentiful. Our work is automated. Our leisure is effortless. And it’s killing us,” says Geographic senior writer Cathy Newman in the August 2004 National Geographic magazine.

Here’s some of the stats she quotes and information she gives. It’s kind of scary and might be restricted reading for adults only!:

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has declared obesity an “epidemic.”

“Other countries are catching up to the United States , especially newly industrialized nations. KFC opened a drive through restaurant in Beijing in 2002 with more on the way. UK snack food consumption rose 25% in the last five years. Sales of processed food rose 20% in Latin America between 1980 and 2000.”

Obesity is associated with an increased risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, osteoathritis, stroke, and colon, breast and endometrial cancers.

Next year (remember this was written in 2004), obesity is expected to surpass smoking as the leading cause of preventable death in the United States .

The Pugot Sound Ferries increased their seat width from 18 to 20 inches to allow room for bigger bottoms.

An ambulance company in Colorado retrofitted its vehicles with a wench and a plus size compartment to accommodate patients up to a half a ton in weight.

One in four Americans get ZERO exercise, one-third of Americans don’t get the minimum amount the government suggest we need just to avoid chronic disease.

The average child will watch 10,000 commercials per year touting food or beverages, nearly all of them for junk and fast foods.

“For all the Americans who’ve blamed bulging bellies on a slow metabolism, the jig is up. A report earlier this year by the Center for Disease control finally confirms what many of us didn’t want to admit: We’re fat because we eat a lot – a whole lot more than we used to, and most of the increase comes from refined carbohydrates (sugar).”

New York University professor, Marion Nestle is quoted stating, “How about some common sense? It’s a simple matter of eating fewer calories. But nobody wants to talk about calories because doing so does not sell books.

According to the DCD report, we ate 1775 pounds of food per year per person in 2000, while we only at 1497 pounds in 1970. In the 70’s we ate 136 pounds of flour and cereal per year per person, while in 2000 we ate 200. A McDonald’s French fries had 210 calories back then, but today we boast 700 calories in a “super-size.”

Here’s Some More
Helpful Hints to Increase your Metabolism
and Weight Loss Success

A few years ago I wrote an excerpt in Joan Lunden’s book “Growing Up Healthy.” This is taken from the sub-chapter about “the exercise connection.” As parents and grandparents we are responsible to take care of our children. This includes teaching them how to eat and exercise. We do this through traditional “teaching”, but also through “leading by example.”

Having taken on the job of being a parent, you now owe it to your child to teach him how to be healthy through exercise and diet. And don’t wait for schools to take on this responsibility – this is YOUR baby!

Extensive research has proven that there are tremendous beneficial effects to being healthy and fit. Benefits include skeletal health and higher bone mineral density (BMD), better levels of blood lipids, more normal blood pressure, less body fat, and more lean body mass (muscle). Emotional and mental well-being have also been connected to health and fitness.

Pregnancy: It’s not time to start a new, vigorous exercise program, but you can begin with walking, swimming, yoga, tai chi, and other moderate exercise. Your baby is already hearing your message of leading by example and getting the health benefits through you.

Newborns and Infants: Until about the age of four, you will not have any problem getting your child to move and exercise; however, once again you must lead by example. These years are meant for walks, hikes, learning how to swim, and playing – lots and lots of playing!

Young Children: Around the age of four or five, your job as an exercise advisor begins. the President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports recommends that a child be moderately active every day for at least one hour. It doesn’t have to be concurrent- it can include a ten-minute walk, playing for a while after school, and swimming for fifteen minutes. Sedentary days should be few and far between.

It is important to let your child try different activities to find out what she LOVES. I’ve always believed that the best exercise is the one your child will do!

Introduce them to individual and group sports; let them experiment with swimming, soccer, basketball, karate, skateboarding, hiking and dancing.

It’s also important for your children to succeed and feel good about themselves. If your child is the last one picked for a kickball team, he may hide from exercise for the rest of his life. I’m partial to martial arts, dance, and other activities that promote all the components of fitness, including strength, endurance, cardiovascular health, flexibility, great coordination, motor skills, and proper body alignment. find great teachers, coaches and motivators.

Adolescence: Typically, this is when a lot of physical activity comes to a screeching halt. Daily participation declines greatly in males, but even more in females. Unfortunately, the biological drive to be active wanes and other factors become more prevalent, such as peer acceptance, physical capabilities, sexual attractiveness, and body image.

It can get even worse in college, where our children are newly independent, eating junk food, burdened with lots of homework, and spending too much time on the computer. Unless they have some healthy guidelines for eating and exercising, the extra pounds can just pour on. (I’ve seen many of my children’s friends put on the “freshman fifteen!”)

The more physically fit your children are at any age, the healthier they are at ALL ages. by getting your kids up and moving each and every day, you’ll be giving them one if the greatest gifts in line- physical fitness, which will help to ensure quality of life and longevity!

Reflecting on raising my own children who are now happy, healthy adults, there are four very specific rules that were set up in my household that I believe helped us promote both good health and great lifelong study habits.

In conclusion, remember that you – as the adult - are in charge. You are the one who teaches them what to eat and how to exercise.

Do you know anyone who has boundless energy, a wonderful attitude, physical strength, and incredible endurance? I bet they get enough sleep and they sleep well!

Research has proven, over and over again, how important it is to get a good night sleep. In fact, recent studies suggest that decades of chronic sleep deprivation may increase the risk of high blood pressure, heart disease, and diabetes.

Losing just 90 minutes of sleep in one night can reduce your alertness as much as 32 percent. This can impair your memory, your ability to think, your safety at work and play, your ability to drive in automobile safely, and sleep deprivation can impair your ability to recognize you’re impaired! People who were tested scored as low as those who were legally drunk! The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that there are at least 100,000 accidents, and more than 1,500 deaths each year due to driver fatigue.

There are lots of reasons we lose sleep: the snoring spouse, worry, so busy, eating too late at night, alcohol, caffeine, depression, anxiety, and the list goes on. The experts agree that if we only lose sleep occasionally, we can usually make it up. If it is chronic, it will eventually affect us negatively.

However, experts do NOT agree how much sleep is enough. Some physicians hold on to the “8 Hour Rule” and say that EVERYONE needs eight hours of sleep. Others, believe that a good night sleep can range from 5 hours to 11 hours, depending on an individual’s needs, habits, and inherited sleep patterns. It just makes sense to “Go with the flow,” as far as how much sleep you need. If you feel WONDERFUL and you’re getting 6 hours – good for you! If you need 9 hours – that’s equally great. You may even adjust your sleep according to seasons. As winter sets in and the hours of darkness increase, you may need more sleep. Animals naturally adapt to the seasons. Some people seem to need less sleep as they get older.

We all have a “sleep homeostat”, much like our appetite, controlled by our brain chemicals, that oversees our patterns. These patterns can be broken and retrained, should our poor sleep patterns become chronic. Here’s what some of the professional suggest:

One last thing I would like to mention. I believe that we perform very important work during our sleep that helps us with physical rejuvenation, mental clarity, emotional well-being and spiritual fulfillment. It is also a time when we connect to our subconscious and higher states of consciousness. Don’t deprive yourself of sleep with more commitments and activities. It is good and important to get plenty of healthy sleep.

“The immune system is made up of an army of organs, cells, and communications equipment that organize a sophisticated search-and-destroy mission. T-cells and B-cells communicate with killer, helper, and suppressor cells. Once the foreign substance is identified and disarmed, macrophages (big eaters) devour it so the body can easily excrete it.” Komaroff AL (ed); Harvard Medical School Family Health Guide, New York : Simon & Schuster, 1999)

Your immune system fights foreign invaders like bacteria, cancer and viruses. These systems can become overworked and weakened by stress, poor nutrition, smoking, drinking toxins, drugs, and lack of exercise and sleep. Immunodeficiency and autoimmune diseases are the two primary types of disorders. Immunodeficiency occurs from weakened immune function, while autoimmune diseases occur when the body’s own immune system cells attack healthy cells (allergies, lupus, multiple sclerosis, and rheumatoid arthritis).

Research has proven that diet and lifestyle can greatly improve your chances in preventing illnesses and improving your health while boosting your immune system.

The stronger your immune system, the stronger and healthier you become. It’s not too late to boost it up and become more energetic and healthier than ever!

“I’m always sooo tired.” If this sounds like you, diet and exercise may be your prescription for more energy, enthusiasm, and even happiness. If you still feel tired after plenty of rest, a healthy amount of exercise, and a sound and sensible diet, you should check with your doctor – it may be something serious.

There’s no doubt about it, diet and exercise are the medicinal choice for the prevention and/or prescription for many (most) illnesses and diseases. Being well educated is key –but then taking a course of action, accordingly, is the only logical thing to do. Once an illness is diagnosed, it only makes sense to “do what the doctor orders.”

Anemia, Dehydration, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Depression, Hyperthyroidism, Kidney Disease, Sleep Disorders, Mononucleosis, Multiple Sclerosis, Diabetes, Fibromyalgia, Hypothyroidism, Hepatitis C, and Stress

Anemia occurs when oxygen-carrying hemoglobin in red blood cells falls below normal. As your counts drop, the body is forced to work harder and harder to get oxygen to your vital organs. This strains the heart; it can lead to heart attack which makes it a life-threatening disease. Deficiencies in iron and some of the B vitamins can cause anemia. Blood loss, including heavy menstrual cycles, chemotherapy, and chronic diseases like kidney disease, diabetes and hepatitis C can also cause anemia.

Extreme care must be taken in order to exercise while anemia is present. You should be under a doctor’s care. Diet and supplements are also exceptionally important. Medicine may be prescribed.

Lean meats, poultry, fish, legumes, nuts, seeds, whole grains, fortified cereals, green leafy vegetables, and lentils.

The doctors say that there may be 17 million American adults with asthmatic symptoms and as many as six million children. Twenty five years ago, I remember seeing one child in a classroom with an inhaler. Now I’ve seen as many as 7 in a classroom of 20 children. Leading experts believe that asthmatic triggers are on the rise; obesity and being overweight, exposure to viruses and allergens, stress and poor eating and exercise habits.

Stay lean. Experts deduce that being over weight or obese may cause 28 percent of all asthma. This can even run higher in woman. Diet and exercise are a must.

Essential minerals help relax and smooth muscles that line the airways. Dr Nan Kathryn Fuchs, PhD, a nutritionist in Sebastopal , California recommends asthmatics to get at least 400 mg of magnesium each day by choosing whole grains, beans, nuts and seeds.

Antioxidants, like vitamin C and E, trace minerals like selenium, and beta-carotene (present in orange and dark-green leafy vegetables) all offer protection to sensitive lungs.

Researchers at Cornell University reviewed nutritional data on 7500 children and found those who had higher levels of vitamin C, beta-carotene and selenium were 10 to 20 percent less likely to have asthma than kids who were lower in antioxidants.

Try to stay away from dust mites, cockroaches and wood burning stoves.– they can set off asthmatic symptoms

Take care to prevent stomach acid backflow. Try not to eat too late at night or eat foods that set off indigestion.

Avoid dust, pet dander, emissions from stoves and heaters and outdoor pollutants, cigarette smoke and second hand smoke. Limit alcohol, especially wine – it can make symptoms worse.

Relax! Mary Malinski, RN, of Allergy Associates in Portland , Oregon states: “Massage may make you more aware of the stress in your life, and awareness is, for most people, the first step toward reducing stress. Stress often makes asthma symptoms worse.”

Practice breathing better. Everyday breathing can be made better by becoming more cardiovascularly fit, and by practicing diaphragmatic breathing. Learning specialized breathing techniques have been proven to prevent or ease asthmatic symptoms and attacks. Take up yoga, meditation, tai chi or LifeBreath.

Be sure to use medicines appropriately and see your doctor regularly. Let your physician help you find foods you may be allergic to that make your asthma flair up. For instance, milk products are a common allergen for asthmatics.

Osteoporosis is not an old woman’s disease, as many believe. In fact, science shows that bone loss starts even in young adults. In childhood, bones grow rapidly and during adolescence, bone mass often doubles. In the mid-20’s bone mass peaks. Then things begins to shift in the other direction. Women usually lose about .5 – 1 percent of their bone mass each year.

Osteoporosis, bone loss, is often preventable through diet, exercise, and modern medicine. There are many factors that contribute to and sustain healthy bone mass density as we age

Age-related bone loss can be caused by declining estrogen, less physical activity, low calcium intake, and a decreased ability to absorb calcium.

The National Center for Health Statistics says that two-thirds of women over 60 are still not getting enough calcium, even if they take a supplement. Dr. Susan Broy, MD, director of the Osteoporosis Center at the Advocate Medical Center Group in Chicago says, “It’s no mystery why osteoporosis is so prevalent in this country. The average American woman only gets 450 milligrams of calcium a day- nowhere near the 1,0000 – 1,500 milligrams that’s needed to ward off the disease.” Researchers in the Netherlands found that women who got at least 1,000 milligrams of calcium a day – about three glasses of milk- were able to reduce their bone loss by 43 percent.”

Because we are a society that has been trying to reduce our fat intake, we have also, accidentally, decreased our calcium intake. Luckily, there are good low fat dairy foods that can assist us in our daily calcium minimums.

Calcium does not act alone. Vitamin D is also important. In addition to D, other minerals (such as, zinc, copper and manganese) assist in calcium absorption. Make sure you eat a diet rich in calcium, vitamins, and essential minerals

There are calcium-robbers in our diet that may prevent calcium from absorbing, such as, coffee, tea and soft drinks that contain caffeine. Too much salt in your diet is unwise. People with high levels of “bad’ LDL cholesterol are also more susceptible to bone loss. Check with your doctor about the prescription drugs you are taking. They too, can decrease calcium absorption. Smoking is a huge risk factor-Alcohol, too.

Calcium rich foods: meats, fish, eggs, poultry, beans, nuts, low fat dairy products, nonfat milk powder (added to fortified cereals), some green leafy vegetables (like kale), fortified foods like orange juice, soy products. Many experts recommend taking a vitamin rich in calcium and a multi-mineral supplement.

It has been shown that chronic stress can decrease bone mass. Meditation and other stress reducing exercise help the whole body function better. A more relaxed personal outlook is wise for one’s over all wellness.

It has been estimated that over 300,000 hip fractures occur every year. This is only one frightening statistic about the fractures that can occur due to osteoporosis. Keep in mind -hospital time, medical expenses, recovery time, loss in quality of life, loss of productive time and , of course - PAIN!

Exercise is essential. Resistance training and physical activity can help build bone, prevent further bone loss and protect against falls (due to balance, agility and coordination). Cardiovascular training helps lower cholesterol and excess body fat, therefore lowering the chance of osteoporosis. Yoga, tai chi, Pilates, martial arts, and chi kung have been shown to help build and maintain strong bones and these practices also help with balance and athleticism.

There are some amazing new prescription drugs to help prevent bone loss. Check with your doctor. Regular bone scans are a great way to understand where you stand in the bone density game. Come to the Member Fitness Center and let us set you up on a bone-healthy program.

It is believed that around 80 percent of all American adults have had some kind of bout with back pain. For some, it’s an occasional twinge, just like any other pulled muscle – a temporary inconvenience that will be short lived. For other’s, on the opposite end of the spectrum, it is a chronic, debilitating disorder that weakens their quality of life beyond imagination.

When I was 21 years old, my husband and I were in the construction business and I was helping him lift a newly constructed wall into place. The wall was too heavy for just the two of us and we had to quickly drop it. Unfortunately, I dropped it a second too late and it pulled my back out so badly that I walked hunched over, like the Hunchback of Notradame, for weeks. That was the beginning of a 15 year battle with back pain.

What did I do wrong and why did it take 15 years? I continued to do many destructive things that continually halted any kind of healing. I trained in “hard core” karate. I worked construction, often hanging in a back-bend position for hours while painting on scaffolding, and I was pretty stressed out. But the story ends wonderfully and my body finally healed through healthy practices. I diligently stretched, trained in Tai Chi / Chi Kung, meditated, “breathed”, took time for R&R and family, focused on my spirituality, and worked on strengthening my body. Most importantly, I finally gave my body time to rest and heal.

There are many alternative practices that have helped back pain sufferers. As with anything, use your discernment and consult your medical/wellness team. Unfortunately, trial and error and through the process of elimination seems to be the only was to find out what works for you.

Osteopathic medicine, chiropractic medicine, acupuncture and acupressure (Placing pressure on certain points of the body to stimulate energy flow) are some alternatives. If you believe in these practices, be sure to get good referrals from friends, family and your wellness team.

Douglas Schar, DipPhyt, MCPP, a medically trained herbalist in London and editor of the British Journal of Phytotherapy believes herbal remedies to be a good alternative to prescription and non-prescription pain relievers due to some of the unhealthy side effects of these drugs. He recommends Cramp Bark and Valerian Root. Consult your doctor before taking such herbs.

Stretching CAN help some back pain and tightness, but stretching correctly, consistently and using exercises that work with YOUR unique body is important. Most experts agree that walking, stretching, and a daily dose of R&R can significantly reduce back pain. I don’t recommend stretching a cold body –it has been shown that warming up before training can significantly reduce back pain.

I know for me, personally, there is nothing more painful than sitting too long. If I have to sit for any extended period of time, I try to get up often and move around. I love to do trunk rolls every fifteen minutes or so.

Again, be sure to work with your wellness team to create a regiment that works for you. As a trainer, I try to work very closely with physicians and physical therapists with my clients. There are definite does and don’ts that are connected to each individual’s problems. What may be good and progressive for one client might be bad and detrimental to another.

Being overweight can also significantly reduce back pain. As with any weight loss program, it is important to eat well and exercise.

Stress is a major factor in back pain. James W. Carson, PhD., a psychologist at Duke University states, “Our emotions, muscle tension, and thoughts can directly influence the strength of our pain signals.” Stress is an amazing thing. It can literally kill us. Dr.Samo, MD, professor of clinical rehabilitation medicine at the New York University School of Medicine in NY City and author of books on mind/body connection believes that people with certain personality traits are more susceptible to back disorders. These individuals are usually “specifically intelligent, talented, compulsive perfectionists and those who tend to put the needs of others first.” He believes those individuals full of rage are very prone to back problems too.

Almost all experts agree that the “breathing” is the key to better health. According to Dr Art Brownstein, MD, professor of medicine at the University of Hawaii , author of Healing Back Pain Naturally (Harbor Press, 1998), remembering to breathe is essential. “Your breathing is the link between your mind and body. When you’re mentally agitated and upset, you can hyperventilate and not get enough oxygen. When you breathe slowly and deeply, your mind calms down, our nerves calm down, and your muscles stop contracting and start lengthening. With this, blood flow is restored, and healing can occur.” Dr. Mary Puling Schatz, MD, author of Back Care Basics: A Doctor’s Gentle Yoga Program for Back and Neck Pain Relief (Rodmell Press, 1992) suggests, “You can get into a vicious circle, where the reaction of the muscles to continuous spasm and oxygen deprivation causes more spasm and thereby more pain.” She recommends yoga and breathing exercises.

There are a multitude of prescription drugs to help deal with the horrendous pain that can come from back disorders (keep in mind that these are not a cures and can have negative side effects). There are new, less intrusive surgeries that your team may recommend. From my experience, doctors recommend surgery as a last alternative, but there has been many successes.

Lastly, don’t give up. Keep trying. Give your body, mind and spirit time to rest and heal

Sources: Prevention Magazine, Dr. Mary Puling Schatz,, Dr. James Carson, Douglas Schar

The sun helps regulate sleep cycles, stimulates your body’s production of vitamin D, and helps us feel good. However, exposure also leads to wrinkles, aging and skin cancer. The sun is considered the biggest factor in visible aging, but it’s never too late to start protecting your skin, says Dr. Darrel Rigel, MD, clinical professor of dermatology at New York University School of Medicine.

Dr. Rigel recommends that everyone should eat a diet rich in fruits and vegetables which contain antioxidant compounds that reduce the damaging effects of sunshine. Smoking makes a huge difference in skin quality. But he says, the best thing we can do is protect our skin from the sun. Use sunscreen, shade, and wear sun-protecting clothing.

Skin cancer is very serious business, especially down here in South Florida . It accounts for almost half the cancer cases in the U.S. However; caught early, it is also one of the easiest to cure and one that is very preventable.

Choose products with high SPF, apply it often, make sure it’s a broad-spectrum sunscreen, give it time to work (at least 20 minutes before sun exposure), use the right amount (about one ounce to cover an average body), be sure to use it daily (ladies - under your makeup), wear a hat, always wear sunglasses with 100 percent UVA and UVB protection, buy clothes with tight-knit weaves and/or with high SPF protection, avoid being in the sun during days with high UV index ratings, avoid midday sun, stay in the shade.

Forget about tanning booths. Much to popular hype, there are no risk-free tanning booths. “A review study published last October in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute strengthened the evidence that tanning beds are helping drive up rates of melanoma, a cancer that kills one American every hour.(The lifetime risk of developing invasive melanoma has increased a whopping 2,000 percent since 1930.)”

The American Cancer Society recommends getting a professional skin examination every 3 years between the ages of 20 and 40, then annually there after.

See your dermatologist or family doctor if a mole becomes asymmetrical, if the borders become ragged or blurred, or if the color changes, especially if it appears to contain more than one shade of brown, black, red, white or blue. Watch for small pearly white bumps and sores that may bleed and not heal.

Count your moles, write it down. If there are any new moles, consult our physician.

So just remember your ABC’s ( and your E’s and F’s) when it comes to examining your moles. You can memorize this:

A for asymmetrical, B for irregular borders, C for color variations, D for diameter greater than the size of a pencil eraser, E for evolving.

The prostate is a walnut-sized male sex gland that surrounds the urethra and produces the liquid portion of semen. It is particularly vulnerable to cancer because the cells are very active; dividing frequently and creating an increased risk that something can go wrong – a mutation may occur - turning normal cells into cancerous ones. The older you get, the more likely a cell will go aerie.

(This is the second most common cancer, after skin cancer, that causes death in men.)

The average diagnosis age is 70. The disease is very unusual in anyone under 50.

Though you can’t stop aging, change your race or family history, research suggest that you can take steps to interrupt the often deadly events that lead to prostate cancer.

Dr Mitchell Gaynor, MD. clinical professor of medicine at Well-Medical College of Cornell University and a coauthor of Dr. Gaynord’s Cancer Prevention Programs says this, “Preventative measures have been found to improve survival and decrease your chance of dying from prostate cancer.” He believes we have three basic lines of defense: nutrition, exercise and testing.

Gaynor explains, “ Nutrition is the most overlooked aspect of preventing prostate cancer.” He believes that anyone who is willing to improve their eating habits has a whole array of anticancer weapons at their disposal. Here’s what he recommends:

Eat the “good” fats. Gaynor says, “People whose diets are rich in omega-3 fatty acids have a lower risk of prostate cancer.” Omega-3’s are found in cold-water fish, such as salon, mackerel, halibut, and tuna. Flaxseed and canola oil are also good sources. Eat foods rich in soy. “Studies of Asian populations show that their chances of dying from prostate cancer are about one-thirtieth that of American men,” says the doctor. Asian diets are filled with soy products (soy milk and tofu are good sources).

Dr. Gaynor also recommends green tea, “I think green tea is one of the best things you can put you’re your body.” He goes on to explain the antioxidants that counteract free radical damage. He also recommends we eat foods rich in Lycopene like tomatoes and watermelon. Vitamin E has an impact on cancer. This was illustrated in a study done by the National Cancer Institute, showing a one third decrease in prostate cancer. The mineral selenium got attention for prostate-fighters a few years ago when researches found that the rate of prostate cancer was reduced in half in men who took 200 mcg per day. Dr. Gaynor believes garlic is a powerful protection agent too. Eat foods like watermelon, tomatoes, pink grapefruit, pumpkin, citrus fruits and spinach.

The experts aren’t sure why, but exercise has been proven to decrease risk of prostate cancer. It seems the more active men have a lower rate. This may partially be due to the fact that obesity increases risk of all cancers. Dr Gaynor also points out, “aerobic exercise has been linked to changes in the immune system that we know suppress cancer.” As a tai chi/chi kung instructor, I can emphasis that movement stimulates our immune system and keeps vital energy flowing through the body.

It is recommended that every male over 50 years old get an annual exam as well as an annual PSA blood test that may help detect prostate cancer.

There are about 145,000 Americans every year who are diagnosed with colon cancer. You have an increased risk if you are African American, Hispanic or from Eastern Europe . You are also more susceptible if you have a parent, sibling or child who has been diagnosed and if have had polyps or colon cancer removed. You may want to check with your doctor to find out how often and when you should begin screening.

There are different types of screening that you and your physician may consider; colonoscopy, flexible sigmoidoscopy, fecal occult blood test (FOBT) and double-contrast barium enema.

I have a dear friend in Maine who is probably one of the healthiest people I know. Last year she was diagnosed, to my surprise, with type 1 diabetes.- the inherited kind. She exercises daily (a lot) and eats incredibly well. But now, like her mother, she tests her “levels” sometimes more than ten times a day and is on one of the most perfect eating regiments I’ve ever witnessed. However, this is not Type II diabetes – the often preventable kind.

“Diabetes is a disease in which the body does not produce or properly use insulin. Insulin is a hormone that is needed to convert sugar, starches and other food into energy needed for daily life. The cause of diabetes continues to be a mystery, although both genetics and environmental factors such as obesity and lack of exercise appear to play roles.

There are 18.2 million people in the United States , or 6.3% of the population, who have diabetes. While an estimated 13 million have been diagnosed with diabetes, unfortunately, 5.2 million people (or nearly one-third) are unaware that they have the disease. Type I results from the body's failure to produce insulin, the hormone that "unlocks" the cells of the body, allowing glucose to enter and fuel them. It is estimated that 5-10% of Americans who are diagnosed with diabetes have type 1 diabetes.

Type II results from insulin resistance (a condition in which the body fails to properly use insulin), combined with relative insulin deficiency. Most Americans who are diagnosed with diabetes have type 2 diabetes.”

There is a phenomenon the experts call the Diabetes Lifestyle. It refers to the common ways people live that make them high risk for Type II diabetes. These folks are often over weight, have high blood pressure, exercise too little, make poor food choices, and smoke and drink.

There are lots of good reasons to avoid diabetes. Studies show that among type 2 diabetics, the risk of heart attack or stroke was two – three times higher than among non-diabetics. Having diabetes doubles the odds of depression. Quality of life is often dampened. Diabetes can lead to heart disease, nerve damage, blindness and amputation.

According to a clinical trial, here are at least 10 million Americans at high risk for type 2 diabetes and it is believed that they can sharply lower their chances of getting the disease through diet and exercise. Tommy G Thompson (HHS) announced at the National Institute of Health, “In view of the rapidly rising rates of obesity and diabetes in America , this good news couldn’t come at a better time. So many of our health problems can be avoided through diet, exercise and making sure we take care of ourselves. By promoting healthy lifestyles, we can improve the quality of life for all Americans, and reduce health care costs dramatically.” In a nutshell, the study showed that people who made significant lifestyle changes greatly reduced the chances of obesity, diabetes, and all the side effects related to these deadly diseases.

Quit smoking - your odds are six times higher than normal if you smoke only one pack a day. Calm High Blood Pressure - your risk of stroke may double if your blood pressure is 135/85 and that may also lead to stroke. Lower your cholesterol. This too increases the risk of stroke. Reduce your body fat percentage. Drink alcohol in extreme moderation. A diabetic diet is full of healthy whole foods that include whole grains, good carbohydrate choices, low fat milk products, and lean meats. Healthy diabetics eat often and they eat the right kind of foods. Eating often helps keep blood sugar levels on an even keel.

Chromium helps cells to “open its doors” and allow sugar to enter. Magnesium deficiency has been linked to diabetes. Vitamin E appears to reduce free radical damage that causes complications in diabetes like heart disease and nerve damage. Alpha-Lipoic Acid, a potent antioxidant, may also help with these common complications

Exercise! In a Finnish study, people who exercised the most – up to four hours a week – dropped their risk of diabetes by 80 percent, even if they didn’t lose weight. The America ’s Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) recommends for just 30 minutes of exercise five times a with to expect big results.

Here’s an interesting study I found… It has been proven that for every 2 hours spent in front of a TV, your diabetes risk increases 14 percent. It makes sense - we eat more and exercise less. I’ve always been a firm believer that we need to greatly decrease the time spent on computers and tv.

Dry mouth
Frequent urination
Excessive thirst
Extreme hunger
Unusual weight loss
Increased fatigue
Irritability
Blurry vision

It would be wise to use diet and exercise to prevent and control diabetes. Get tested often and look to your body for information- listen for any signs. You may look to a nutritionist for support. Come down to the Member Fitness Center for your exercise regiment.

Being overweight has reached epidemic proportion in the United States . I am not making a moral judgment, nor being judgmental. I am just stating a fact. As you have probably read, the statistics are staggering. But here are some other facts that you may not be aware of:

As a person who has struggled with her weight, I know how difficult it can be to make healthy changes. I have been very fortunate in becoming healthier as I am growing older. This has happened through “tweaking” my daily habits of eating, working out, reducing stress, and creating an upward spiral in my physical, mental, emotional and spiritual lifestyle.

You too can become healthier at any stage in your life. All you have to do is make the decision to do so, and start “tweaking,” – making small changes. I would highly recommend putting yourself into the Medical Center ’s Wellness Program to help get started. Come into the Member Fitness Center for a complimentary consultation – we’d love to help.

Create a diet with potassium. In a study published in the Journal of Human Hypertension, researchers found that prehypertensive patients (120-139 systolic / 80-89 diastolic) who added more potassium to their diet lowered both systolic and diastolic numbers. Good sources of potassium include bananas, potatoes, raisins, tomatoes, lima beans and papayas.

Increase your calcium intake by eating foods like oranges and grapefruit. Plus, you’ll reap the benefits of vitamin C. Research showed that by eating one grapefruit a day you can reduce arterial narrowing by as much as 46 percent and can lower blood pressure 5 points and lower cholesterol by more than 10 points.

Increase your magnesium with foods like pumpkin seeds, halibut, brown rice, chickpeas, and cashews. Magnesium deficiencies have been linked to the many risk factors of heart disease.

Drink more tea. An American Heart Association study a 25 percent decrease in heart disease in men who drank two cups of tea daily. Tea is filled with flavonoid

Hold the salt shaker. Watch out for foods full of salt – cold cuts, canned or jarred foods, crackers, pickles, chips, and condiments like salad dressings and ketchup..

Eat foods full of quercetin, an antioxidant, like black current jelly, strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries. These food are also loaded with salicylic acid (the same compound found in aspirin).

Eat fish rich in Omega-3 fats like tuna. Flaxseed too. This helps strengthen the heart muscle, lower blood pressure, prevent clotting and reduce levels of inflammation that is deadly for the body.

Change your oils from corn or vegetable to olive oil or sesame oil (monounsaturated oils).

Eat apples. Researchers showed that men who eat apples have a 20 percent lower risk of developing heart disease. Beth Bielat

According to experts, including Christian Thompson at the University of San Francisco, more than one third of adults over the age of 65 fall each year. Through a three year long study, evaluators have proven that resistance training and basic functional training greatly reduces the chances of either falling for the first time or falling becoming a recurrent problem.

A January 2008 study by Globe University in Woodbury, MN, found that free-form weight training greatly improved balance and strength and reduced pain levels, compared to fixed weight machines. Participants in the study improved their strength by 54 percent and their balance by 196 percent. In other words, using a combination of functional training and resistance training is best when compared to just traditional resistance machines.

New studies show that short duration workouts have half the dropout rate of longer duration training sessions. Studies have also proven that short duration training, approximately 30 minutes in length, are just as effective as long duration as long as the short duration sessions have high intensity intervals.

We have known for years that exercise can increase our longevity and quality of life, and help us look younger. But one new research project boasts that it can actually REVERSE the signs of aging. “One study published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine concluded that by maintaining aerobic fitness through middle age and beyond, a person can delay aging by up to 12 years,” quotes Club Industry magazine. Club Industry also found, “In another study using mice, researchers discovered that by doing cardio, the mice could actually regenerate brain cells and add grand and white matter in their brain.” This is absolute proof that we can defy aging, improve cognitive functioning, and reduce depression and enhance our mood. This finding is HUGE!

Boot camps and other circuit training sessions that incorporate heavy resistance circuit training (HRC) have been proven to increase participants’ heart rate and, in doing so, are an effective training strategy for both strength and cardiovascular training. “Research has shown that similar, if not identical, cardio benefits can be obtained doing circuit-style resistance training workouts,” says an expert, Everett Aabert, out of Dallas, Tx. Another expert, William Kraemer, a kinesiology professor at he University of Connecticut, believes that there is not a “one size fits all” for all workouts. He believes (as I do) that different workouts need to be incorporated throughout the week for different benefits. There are always the many components of fitness and wellness to consider: balance, agility, strength, cardiovascular health, endurance, coordination, breathing, stress reduction, nutrition, retention, enjoyment and fun, time and so on and so forth. Beth Bielat

I recently had the privilege in writing an article for Joan Lunden’s new book, “Growing Up Healthy, Protecting Your Child from Diseases Now Through Adulthood.” This well researched book presents landmark information about the link between childhood nutrition and chronic illnesses developed later in life. Joan Lunden, one of America’s leading journalists and visible moms, teamed up with Dr. Myron Winick, a top physician in children’s nutrition, to create a guide that shows how to feed children from birth through adolescence to avoid the six major diseases in this country.

The research has shown that there is a link between diet the effects of obesity, heart disease, high blood pressure/hypertension, Type II diabetes, cancer and osteoporosis. The book proceeds to educate parents on good nutrition and substantiates the nutritional information with well-grounded research. At the end of the information chapters, there are wonderful recipes to keep everyone in the family happy and healthy.

My article describes the exercise connection and how important it is for parents to lead by example. I believe that it is the parent’s responsibility to not only educate themselves on nutrition and feed their children well, but to encourage and insist on exercise for their children. The stages that we share with our children: pregnancy, newborn, infant, young children and adolescence, are also stages in exercise that you can share and promote with your family. It is extremely important for your child to be active during this time to avoid the six major diseases.

If you know anyone who is pregnant or has young children, I highly recommend this book. It teaches the entire family how to eat well and lower the risk of disease. With obesity and other diseases growing at an alarming rate, it only makes sense that we must take responsibility and take action! Beth Bielat

Workout Intensity
A Huge Component to a Healthier Life and Weight Loss

For many years I have witnessed a fascinating phenomenon. I watched people working out who never seemed to get much healthier and who never lost the weight they had hoped to.

One woman dredged on the treadmill day after day, year after year on 2.2, reading her book while walking. She was twenty or thirty pounds over weight, about 40 years old and comfortable with her workout intensity. One day we began talking and she seemed receptive to the idea of making some changes in her workout and, more importantly, she seemed to have a new motivation to get healthier. So, we began working together to teach her how to “beef up” her cardiovascular workouts, as well as, her weight training program. We “tweaked” her diet a little and, low and behold, she began loosing a pound here and a pound there. She was still spending the same amount of time in the gym, but she found a renewed sense of passion and strength.

I see it with weight training, too, not just cardiovascular training. It is especially concerning when I see healthy women using three and five pound weights when they would benefit ten fold by using heavier weights.

By making changes in your workout and diet you will become healthier and you will loose weight. Many people do not understand workout intensity and diet. It is extremely important to challenge yourself in your cardiovascular training. This may mean cross-training in different sports, longer aerobic sessions, and/or more intense training. As far as weight training is concerned, some of the same rules apply. You can create more intensity by adding weight, changing exercise order, using different exercises and/or resting less between sets.

The moral of the story? If you have not achieved your fitness and health goals, try changing your workout intensity.

There is some other news that I must reiterate. Golf and fishing are NOT what I would consider cardiovascular or strength training (although wonderful for the soul). AND, diet accounts for about 60% of the success for losing weight.

In conclusion, workout intensity is a just as important as any other principal of training. Make sure you are safely challenging yourself. Change up your exercise program often and practice lots of cross-training.

Remember that the surgeon general has published that about 90% of all diseases are preventable through diet and exercise!!! Beth Bielat

In a study at Italy’s University of Cagliari, women who were taking antidepressants were broken into two groups – one that worked out together for an hour twice and week and one that did no exercise. Only the women who worked out showed a significant improvement of symptoms. Dr. Mauro Carta, M.D., the study’s authors explains, “Exercise decreases levels of the stress hormone cortisol and increases the production of the neurotransmitter serotonin, both of which help alleviate depressive symptoms. The regular social contact the classes provided may also help.”

So ladies and gents, let’s get hopping, bopping, working and jerking – it’ll pick you up and keep you healthy and happy.

Starting a fitness program can be intimidating. Just walking into a fitness center might give you the heebie-jeebies. But those of you who haven’t done much more than walk to your car and back KNOW that you SHOULD start SOME kind of exercise.

So, congratulations – you’ve made it through the first step…you know that exercise can be the magic pill to making you happier, healthier and living lonter. Next, you must take action – but how? - it can be so confusing. Well, it’s simple – START MOVING!!!

All you have to do is walk. Start slow and easy. Add more time and intensity (brisker) as you are able. You can fit walks throughout the day. Once you’re able to walk with comfort start adding other kinds of training that you’re comfortable with or seek professional helper from our fitness staff to guide you along.

Yoga can be a great form of exercise for both beginners and “experts”. Stretching, holding postures for strength and balance, movement, healthy breathing techniques and even meditation are combined for a great workout. Novices and anyone with injuries or ailments should take extra caution to use a qualified instructor who can cater to their needs.

Pilates is similar to yoga, in that it incorporates the same components, but its focus is more towards core strength, posture, rehabilitation, and general strengthening and elongating muscles.

Tai Chi is a gentle system of movements that uses flowing motion, breathing techniques, and is wonderful for the novice. There are great health benefits and anyone would benefit.

Karate / Martial Arts are systems of training where individuals learn to defend themselves, but surprisingly beneficial to all levels of fitness. Participants should be healthy enough to get up and down off the ground and in moderate condition to execute basic movements.

Water Aerobics and Aquatic Therapy is perfect for the novice and for those who have injuries or ailments. It is gentle yet powerful and aerobic/anaerobic yet not too intense.

Strength Training can be performed even by the novice. Because weight training is incremental, all levels benefit. Free weights, machines, and using ones own weight are all forms of weight bearing exercise and a program can be developed for ultimately anyone. The novice should take care to learn from a professional.

Aerobic Classes – there are lots of different kinds and different levels. There is dance aerobics and Zumba for those who like to dance and have fun. Step aerobics, where participants use a platform to step on to add intensity. There are classes using calisthenics, martial arts movements… you name it. But the bottom line is – you want to find a class that teaches to your level.

Strength Training Classes are also available. You can learn a lot about proper form, training techniques and the science behind progression and getting stronger. The group exercise idea is for those who like to train in a group and have group fun. Any group class also helps keep the cost of training down.

LifeBreath is a powerful self-help tool that even helps you become healthier. People at all levels of fitness benefit from learning how to breathe more efficiently and effectively.

Circuit Training is quite action-pact. The idea is that you move from one exercise to another with either little or no rest. It can be all cardiovascular, all strength training, or a combination of both. As a novice, it is important to gauge yours fitness ability or use a professional to help set up a program or a class.

Warm Up / Cool Down. When you begin to workout, it’s a great idea to learn how to warm up and cool down. A warm-up is generally using rhythmic, slow, range-of-motion movements to get your muscles warm and ready to train. And on the other end of your training, a cool down allows your heart rate to slowly come down from aerobic work and lead in to your stretch time.

Stretching is a great way to end your workout. Since you’ve worked your muscles and you’re getting stronger, stretching helps keep them lose, injury-free and supple.

Others: There are lots of ways to move and lots of levels – including novices. You can go: kayaking, swimming, jogging canoeing, hiking, bicycle riding, dancing, snorkeling, and whatever else you could imagine.

One of my favorite quotes: There’s one BEST exercise for YOU. Do you know what it is? Answer – the one you love the best! Find your love and get moving! Beth Bielat