Saturday, March 31, 2018
Friday, March 30, 2018
BLOG 157 WEIGHT COMPARISONS
BLOG WEIGHT 157 COMPARISONS
The scale. Oh the scale. That piece of equipment can be a
psychological mess, but when it shows a number less than then it was last time,
it’s our best friend. An unhealthy relationship for sure. But I thought it
would be fun and insightful to chat about how much a pound really is. We have
this anticipation that weight loss means a big number, when in fact, when you
compare any number lost to real world items, the accomplishment is quite eye
opening.
3 POUNDS:
·
Human brain
·
A box of wine
·
A 2-slice bread toaster
5 POUNDS:
·
The average coffee maker
·
A bag of sugar
·
A 2 liter bottle of soda
10 POUNDS:
·
Average 3 month old baby
·
Most vacuum cleaners
·
A sack of potatoes
20 POUNDS:
·
A car tire
·
Propane tank
·
Steve Nash 😊
30 POUNDS:
·
60 bottles of water
·
270 eggs
·
15 boxes of spaghetti
·
30 boxes of butter
40 POUNDS:
·
The average 3-year-old child
·
5 gallon bottle of water
·
The average human leg
50 POUNDS:
·
Small bale of hay
·
2 average 2-year-old children
·
50 footballs
·
3 one gallon water jugs
So as you can see, smile, because you lost more than you
think. One pound looks differently on every BODY, but just remember your
Fitness Journey means so much more than that scale. Take the weight off your
shoulders and focus on ALL your progress, because every moment of success
counts 😊
http://www.sparkpeople.com/mypage_public_journal_individual.asp?blog_id=3421351
http://www.theredheadriter.com/2010/10/equals-30-pounds/
http://www.theredheadriter.com/2010/10/equals-30-pounds/
Thursday, March 29, 2018
Wednesday, March 28, 2018
Tuesday, March 27, 2018
Monday, March 26, 2018
Sunday, March 25, 2018
Saturday, March 24, 2018
Friday, March 23, 2018
BLOG 156 ORGANIC FOOD
BLOG 156 ORGANIC FOOD
Organic. The labels screams “healthy”. But why is organic
healthier or better for you?? 73% of Americans eat it. In 2010, sales were at
$28.6 billion when the term was in its early years, thus, today sales are
astounding. After researching and watching the documentary, “In Organic We
Trust”, I want to share what organic truly means.
The 1940s presented organic produce. In the 1960s, organic
purchasing became popular. In 2002, a proper certification was put in place to
obtain the USDA certified label. Organic doesn’t actually refer to the quality
of the produce, rather, it means the item has been regulated. An agent from the
United States Department of Agriculture inspects these organic farms and makes
sure that there is no irradiation (being exposed to radiation), genetic
modification, or antibiotics being used. To my surprise, this does not include
the use of pesticides, so organic foods still do posses these chemicals just in
a lesser form. It is unlikely that the USDA will revoke an organic license,
because as we have learned, the government wants to make money. These licenses
carry high fees and costs (thus the more expensive result of organic produce),
so they don’t want to lose this revenue. For example, in 2010, 13,000 organic
farms went under inspection, but only 10 had their license revoked. Big name
organic companies are actually partnerships with large corporations (again
money involved). Odwalla is under Coca Cola. Kashi is under Kelloggs. Nature
Valley is under General Mills.
The reason to eat organic is because of the toxins. We
assume that pesticides are safe because the government allows them. 60 billion
pounds of pesticides are used per year. There are no studies of chronic
toxicity, only acute/short term and only on animals. Yet, there our youth are
especially at risk when ingesting these toxins so early on and for their
lifetime. Children think that food comes from trucks and the grocery store.
There is a disconnect from farm to table. The rate of neurological disorders
are on the rise and even President Obama told us that 41% of our population
will at some point have cancer in their lifetime. When companies that sell
these pesticides are turned down by the U.S., they go overseas to be used in
their food or to feed their livestock. We trade with these overseas sites, so
eventually they come back to us.
The Environment Working Group EWG.org made a list of the
Dirty Dozen and the Clean Fifteen produce items. The items that contain the
most amount of pesticides include:
·
Celery
·
Peaches
·
Strawberries
·
Apples
·
Blueberries
·
Nectarines
·
Bell Peppers
·
Spinach
·
Lettuce
·
Kale & Collard Greens
·
Potatoes
·
Grapes
The items that contain the least amount of pesticides
include:
·
Onion
·
Avocado
·
Sweet Corn
·
Mango
·
Sweet Peas
·
Asparagus
·
Kiwi
·
Cabbage
·
Eggplant
·
Cantaloupe
·
Watermelon
·
Grapefruit
·
Sweet Potatoes
·
Mushrooms
Pesticides are foreign to our bodies and are toxic to our
internal functions. Eat organic when you can. Always be mindful of your
choices. Take care of your BODY. It is a temple and you only get one. The more
informed, the better YOU can be and that is why I write these Blogs 😊
“In Organic We Trust” (2011). R. Kiplin Pastor.
Thursday, March 22, 2018
Wednesday, March 21, 2018
Tuesday, March 20, 2018
Monday, March 19, 2018
Saturday, March 17, 2018
Friday, March 16, 2018
BLOG 155 DISFIGURED
BLOG 155 DISFIGURED
What we see in the mirror can dictate
our self-esteem, personality, motivation, and overall emotional well-being. Somehow
what we might see isn’t different from what the world sees, but ultimately our
eye’s opinion counts the most. For some, no matter the compliment, no matter
the weight loss, no matter the surgery, the result of that reflection will
never be enough. Being your own worst enemy is no way to live.
The human body comes in all shapes,
sized and heights. In our world of social media what’s deemed as “normal” or
“average” has been skewed. The following definition is lengthy but really hits
the bull’s eye: “Body dysmorphic disorder, also known as
dysmorphophobia, is a common affliction, affecting approximately 1.7% to
2.4% of the population, with roughly
equal distribution among men and women. The disorder usually first surfaces in
adolescence and is characterized not only by obsessive thinking about a flaw
that is usually imagined or if present, hardly noticeable to the general
population, but also characterized by compulsive checking of the perceived flaw
(for example, spending lots of time in front of the mirror), engaging in
behaviors to minimize the appearance of the perceived flaw (i.e., covering it
up with makeup or an article of clothing), and hiding the disorder from others
due to fear of social stigma” (https://www.psycom.net/eating-disorders/body-dysmorphic-disorder).
It's interesting at the studio. Some
people won’t’ work out in front of the mirrors. Some people won’t stop looking
at themselves in the mirror. The trainer and wellness coach reads into this as
part of their fitness journey and self-assessment. As the layers come off and
the time spent in front of the mirror or group increases, I know positive vibes
are starting to take place. I recently watched a movie called, “Disfigured”,
and there were two take-aways from it for me. An anorexic woman tried to join a
Fat Acceptance Support Group. Why?? She viewed herself as fat. The group
rejected her. The second was that the leader of the Fat Acceptance group was
infuriated by a member who wanted to start a walking group for everyone. The
leader said that this went against everything the group stood for. Fat
acceptance isn’t about trying to conform, loose weight, or getting healthy
together. No, the group is about making society accept them for who they are.
The “No Body Shame”campaign, which is about the acceptance of obesity and
bodies of all types, sends a mixed message. Obesity isn’t healthy, bottom line.
Society does still ridicule and have preconceived stereotypes towards larger
people, but that shouldn’t come at a cost of being healthy.
We are our own worst critics. Part of
the reason I post client’s progress online is so that they feel the love and
praise for their success. Not everyone gets that support from home,
relationships, or else- where. I aim to create an encouraging environment,
where yes, every BODY is fit. Learning to love yourself is part of the process
on your fitness journey. For some, self-care has been neglected for so long.
Being healthy isn’t selfish, rather it’s the best action you can take to help
others even more. Inspire through your efforts, your positive choices, and your
BEST YOU!!!!
“Disfigured” (2008), by Glenn Gers.
x
Thursday, March 15, 2018
Wednesday, March 14, 2018
Tuesday, March 13, 2018
Monday, March 12, 2018
Sunday, March 11, 2018
Saturday, March 10, 2018
Friday, March 9, 2018
BLOG 154 COWSPIRACY
BLOG 154 COWSPIRACY
It’s baffling to think of how many people live on this Earth
and how many resources each one of us uses per day. We are told to be mindful
of our water use, to recycle, and to cut back on the energy sources. We are
told these are the main culprits of environmental hazards, but there actually
may be a large secret being kept from us…. what animal agriculture does to our
planet. After watching the documentary on Netflix called, “Cowspiracy: The
Sustainability Secret”, I became aware of what our government doesn’t want us
to know “environmentally” speaking.
I have never been an environmentalist, one who has “gone
green”, and I’m a meat eater for sure. Red meat isn’t in my diet. But I’m not
innocent to the concept of global warming. Climate change is very apparent.
When Al Gore was Vice President, and his movie, “The Inconvenient Truth”, came
out, environmentalists all over called upon society to do every little thing
they can to help. We were told to take shorter showers, monitor sprinkler use,
walk or ride our bikes for transportation, and of course to recycle.
But did you know that
raising cattle produces more greenhouse gases than all planes, trains, and
automobiles combined?? The cattle production line produces methane gas which is
86 times more destructive than the carbon released from vehicles. So why didn’t
you know this??
More shockingly, 34 trillion gallons of water are used per
year for livestock alone. Think of all the grains used to feed them. It takes
660 gallons to produce 1 hamburger, which is the equivalent of about 2 months
of showering for a human. So why take shorter showers when it takes 2500
gallons of water to produce 1 pound of beef??
Agriculture for livestock is only increasing because our
population is growing. In 1812 there were 1 billion people on Earth and now
there are over 7 billion or more. If the average person eats 9 ounces of meat
per day, how can we sustain this?? Some say change to a plant-based diet others
say buy grass fed beef. When in reality it takes 8 months longer to raise a
grass-fed cow than it does a normal cow, so that just means they use more
resources.
Big businesses tell us it’s the oil and coal industry, paper
use, soy and palm oil agriculture, and gases, that are the cause of our
struggling environment. In the past, when people have spoken out against the
cattle industry, even to major environmentalist agencies that protect that rain
forest and Amazon, the consequences have been dire. A nun named, Sister Dorothy
Story, was actually gunned down in Brazil for bringing light to the cattle
topic. In fact, in Brazil over 1,100 activists have been killed. A former
member of Greenpeace USA when interviewed says big industries refuse to admit
it’s the cattle.
It takes 10 acres to raise 1 cow.
Cattle produce 130 times more waist than humans do.
After watching this documentary it was hard to believe no
one talks about it. Even if we all ate a plant- based diet, wouldn’t we use
more water and more land?? How can our planet sustain the growing population??
What can you and I do?? The problem won’t be solved today or tomorrow, or maybe
during our time on Earth, but it’s obvious changes need to be made. The
“Cowspiracy” sure does makes you reconsider that hamburger.
“Cowspiracy: The Sustainability Secret”. (2017). Kip
Anderson, Keegan Kuhn.
Thursday, March 8, 2018
Wednesday, March 7, 2018
Tuesday, March 6, 2018
Monday, March 5, 2018
Sunday, March 4, 2018
Saturday, March 3, 2018
Friday, March 2, 2018
BLOG 153 COMMON INJURY AREAS
BLOG 153 COMMON INJURY AREAS
Our bodies are machines that are amazingly designed to be
resilient and durable. However, certain parts seem to have expiration dates
despite our life capacity. As a trainer, the 3 most common injuries I work with
are knee, back, and shoulder. Most of you reading this can probably attest to
one of these areas if not now, at some point, one or more have given you troubles. For most,
the areas are chronic and we just have to keep pushing through on this journey
despite them.
Knee injuries typically result from wear and tear, overuse,
or from an actual injury. Repetitive movements can cause breakdown. Your knees
are being used daily and practically all day, everyday despite sedentary
increments. I have actually torn both my ACL and meniscus in college playing
basketball. Did you know that the knee is the largest joint in the body?? Below
are common acute and severe knee problems:
- Sprains, strains, or other
injuries to the ligaments and tendons that connect and support the
kneecap.
- A tear in the rubbery cushions of the knee joint (meniscus).
- Ligament tears, such as the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). The medial collateral ligament (MCL) is the
most commonly injured ligament of the knee.
- Breaks (fracture) of the
kneecap, lower portion of the femur, or upper part of the tibia or fibula.
Knee fractures are
most commonly caused by abnormal force, such as a falling on the knee, a
severe twisting motion, severe force that bends the knee, or when the knee
forcefully hits an object.
- Kneecap dislocation
- Pieces of bone or tissue (loose bodies) from a
fracture or dislocation that may get caught in the joint and interfere
with movement.
Back problems are another common injury that most suffer
from at one point or another in their life. Low back pain is very common. Back aches
may be caused by sports, work environment, or just everyday tasks. Some
injuries that may occur can involve discs, the spine (vertebrae), the tailbone
(coccyx), and then the muscles that hold the spine together. This would involve
the low back because the core is not strong. Little known fact that your core
includes your back. Twisting, bending, lifting…. the back can take the blow
when done wrong. Sitting and poor posture can accumulate to injury. (https://www.webmd.com/back-pain/tc/back-problems-and-injuries-topic-overview#1)
Then there are the shoulders. Realistically, every time you
move your arm, you move your shoulder. Common injuries would include sprains
(injury to the ligaments), strains (pulled muscle), nerve damage, separation
from the collarbone, torn rotator cuff, fractures to the bones, frozen
shoulder, overuse, and inflammation. My shoulders seem to get fatigued so fast
during exercise. Sometimes I can feel the over use from years of shooting
basketballs. (https://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/tc/shoulder-problems-and-injuries-topic-overview#2)
At Every BODY’s Fit, the show must go on!!!! There is a
modification and accommodation for each exercise. The Fitness Journey doesn’t
stop. Believe you can still do it, and you CAN.
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